Introduction to the Devout Life


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(4.8 stars; 76 reviews)

First published in the early 17th century, it has proven its value as a daily spiritual guide and helpful reference for living an authentic Christian life. Written specifically for laymen, it began as letters from Saint Francis to a married woman who was seeking holiness amidst the distractions of her life of wealth and status. It contains treasures of wisdom for every reader, from eager beginner to lifelong Christian. Summary by Wikipedia and Phil Chenevert.

Chapters

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Preface by the Author 12:51 Read by Phil Chenevert
Part I COUNSELS FOR THE SOUL'S GUIDANCE Ch 1: What True Devotion is 5:50 Read by Beth Thomas (1974-2020)
Part 1 Ch 2. The Nature and Excellence of Devotion.. 5:14 Read by Dylan P. Straub
Part 1 Ch 3 Devotion is suitable to every Vocation and Profession 4:39 Read by Sam Isaacson
Part 1 Ch 4.The Need of a Guide for those who would enter upon and advance in the Devout Life. 5:54 Read by Sam Isaacson
Part 1 Ch 5. The First Step must be Purifying the Soul. 4:39 Read by Sam Isaacson
Part 1 Ch 6. The First Purification, namely, from Mortal Sin. 3:00 Read by Sam Isaacson
Part 1 Ch 7. The Second Purification, from all Sinful Affections. 3:47 Read by Sam Isaacson
Part 1 Ch 8. How to effect this Second Purification 4:07 Read by royalcrowncola
Part 1 Ch 9. First Meditation Of the End for which we were Created 3:54 Read by Dylan P. Straub
Part 1 Ch 10. Second Meditation-Of the End for which we were Created 3:54 Read by Dylan P. Straub
Part 1 Ch 11. Third Meditation - On the Gifts of God. 3:43 Read by Dylan P. Straub
Part 1 Ch 12. Fourth Meditation.- On Sin 4:41 Read by J A Carter
Part 1 Ch 13. Fifth Meditation - Of Death 5:33 Read by J A Carter
Part 1 Ch 14 - Sixth Meditation - Of Judgment 5:07 Read by J A Carter
Part 1 Ch. 15 - Seventh Meditation - Of Hell 3:50 Read by J A Carter
Part 1 Ch. 16 - Eighth Meditation - On Paradise 4:16 Read by J A Carter
Part 1 Ch. 17 - Ninth Meditation - On the Choice Between Heaven and Hell 3:40 Read by Dylan P. Straub
Part 1 Ch 18 - Tenth Meditation - How the Soul chooses the Devout Life. 4:22 Read by Dylan P. Straub
Part 1 Ch 19 - How to make a General Confession. 2:48 Read by Dylan P. Straub
Part 1 Ch 20 - A hearty Protest made with the object of confirming the Soul’s resolution to serve God, as a conclusion to its acts of Penitence. 4:53 Read by Cameopro77
Part 1 Ch 21 - Conclusion of this First Purification. 2:32 Read by Sam Isaacson
Part 1 Ch 22 - The Necessity of Purging away all tendency to Venial Sins. 4:37 Read by Sam Isaacson
Part 1 Ch 23 - It is needful to put away all Inclination for Useless and Dangerous Things. 2:49 Read by Sam Isaacson
Part 1 Ch 24 - All Evil Inclinations must be purged away. 2:26 Read by Sam Isaacson
Part 2 COUNCILS ON THE NECESSITY OF UPLIFTING THE SOUL TO GOD - Ch 1 - The Necessity of Prayer. 5:31 Read by Dylan P. Straub
Part 2 Ch 2 - A short Method of Meditation. And first, the Presence of God, the First Point of Preparation. 4:48 Read by Dylan P. Straub
Part 2 Ch 3 - Invocation, the Second Point of Preparation. 1:35 Read by Dylan P. Straub
Part 2 Ch 4 - the Third Point of Preparation, representing the Mystery to be meditated to Your Imagination. 2:23 Read by Dylan P. Straub
Part 2 Ch 5 - Considerations, the Second Part of Meditation. 1:40 Read by Dylan P. Straub
Part 2 Ch 6 - The Third Part of Meditation, Affections and Resolutions. 2:03 Read by Cameopro77
Part 2 Ch 7 - The Conclusion and Spiritual Bouquet 2:04 Read by Cameopro77
Part 2 Ch 8 - Some Useful Hints as to Meditation. 5:09 Read by Cameopro77
Part 2 Ch 9 - Concerning Dryness in Meditation. 2:48 Read by Cameopro77
Part 2 Ch 10 - Morning Prayer. 3:16 Read by Cameopro77
Part 2 Ch 11 - Evening Prayer and Examination of Conscience 2:05 Read by Dylan P. Straub
Part 2 Ch 12 - On Spiritual Retirement. 4:25 Read by Dylan P. Straub
Part 2 Ch 13 - Aspirations, Ejaculatory Prayer and Holy Thoughts. 9:57 Read by Dylan P. Straub
Part 2 Ch 14 - Of Holy Communion, and how to join in it. 4:30 Read by Dylan P. Straub
Part 2 Ch 15 - Of the other Public Offices of the Church. 2:14 Read by Dylan P. Straub
Part 2 Ch 16 - How the Saints are united to us. 3:02 Read by Dylan P. Straub
Part 2 Ch 17 - How to Hear and Read God’s Word. 2:26 Read by Dylan P. Straub
Part 2 Ch 18 - How to receive Inspirations. 5:26 Read by Dylan P. Straub
Part 2 Ch 19 - On Confession 6:55 Read by Dylan P. Straub
Part 2 Ch 20 - Of Frequent Communion. 5:46 Read by Dylan P. Straub
Part 2 Ch 21 - How to Communicate. 4:29 Read by Dylan P. Straub
Part 3 THE PRACTICE OF VIRTUE - Ch 1 - How to select that which we should chiefly Practice. 10:09 Read by Jibchmarl
Part 3 Ch 2 - The same Subject continued. 8:25 Read by Jibchmarl
Part 3 Ch 3 - On Patience. 10:45 Read by Lisa57
Part 3 Ch 4 - On Greater Humility 6:59 Read by Lisa57
Part 3 Ch 5 - On Interior Humility. 10:56 Read by fshort
Part 3 Ch 6 - Humility makes us rejoice in our own Abjection. 8:12 Read by fshort
Part 3 Ch 7 - How to combine due care for a Good Reputation with Humility 8:43 Read by fshort
Part 3 Ch 8 - Gentleness towards others and Remedies against Anger. 9:24 Read by fshort
Part 3 Ch 9 - On Gentleness towards Ourselves 5:23 Read by fshort
Part 3 Ch 10 - We must attend to the Business of Life carefully, but without Eagerness or Over-anxiety. 5:54 Read by Phil Chenevert
Part 3 Ch 11 - On Obedience. 6:41 Read by Phil Chenevert
Part 3 Ch 12 - On Purity. 3:59 Read by Kenita
Part 3 Ch 13 - How to maintain Purity. 4:21 Read by Kenita
Part 3 Ch 14 - On Poverty of Spirit amid Riches. 5:58 Read by Kathrine Engan
Part 3 Ch 15 - How to exercise real Poverty, although actually Rich. 8:27 Read by Twinkle
Part 3 Ch 16 - How to possess a rich Spirit amid real Poverty. 4:13 Read by Twinkle
Part 3 Ch 17 - On Friendship: Evil and Frivolous Friendship. 4:33 Read by Twinkle
Part 3 Ch 18 - On Frivolous Attachments 6:02 Read by Twinkle
Part 3 Ch 19 - Of Real Friendship. 6:00 Read by Kathrine Engan
Part 3 Ch 20 - Of the Difference between True and False Friendship. 4:29 Read by Kathrine Engan
Part 3 Ch 21 - Remedies against Evil Friendships. 7:07 Read by Kathrine Engan
Part 3 Ch 22 - Further Advice concerning Intimacies. 4:58 Read by Kathrine Engan
Part 3 Ch 23 - On The Practice of Bodily Mortification. 10:45 Read by Stephen
Part 3 Ch 24 - Of Society and Solitude. 6:31 Read by Stephen
Part 3 Ch 25 - On Modesty in Dress. 4:48 Read by Stephen
Part 3 Ch 26 - Of Conversation; and, first, how to Speak of God 3:16 Read by fshort
Part 3 Ch 27 - Of Unseemly Words, and the Respect due to Others. 5:04 Read by TriciaG
Part 3 Ch 28 - Of Hasty Judgments. 11:50 Read by Phil Chenevert
Part 3 Ch 29 - On Slander. 12:27 Read by fshort
Part 3 Ch 30 - Further Counsels as to Conversation. 4:58 Read by John
Part 3 Ch 31 - Of Amusements and Recreations: what are allowable. 3:33 Read by John
Part 3 Ch 32 - Of Forbidden Amusements. 2:34 Read by John
Part 3 Ch 33 - Of Balls, and other Lawful but Dangerous Amusements. 6:17 Read by John
Part 3 Ch 34 - When to use such Amusements rightly. 2:51 Read by John
Part 3 Ch 35 - We must be Faithful in Things Great and Small. 6:13 Read by sbelcher
Part 3 Ch 36 - Of a Well-Balanced, Reasonable Mind. 4:42 Read by Sean Lally
Part 3 Ch 37 - Of Wishes. 5:12 Read by Sean Lally
Part 3 Ch 38 - Counsels to Married People. 14:19 Read by Heidi Olson
Part 3 Ch 39 - The Sanctity of the Marriage Bed. 2:00 Read by Kathrine Engan
Part 3 Ch 40 - Counsels to Widows. 9:49 Read by Jibchmarl
Part 3 Ch 41 - One Word to Maidens. 1:42 Read by Jibchmarl
Part 4 CONCERNING ORDINARY TEMPTATIONS - Ch 1 We must not trifle with the Words of Worldly Wisdom. 7:16 Read by fshort
Part 4 Ch 2 - The need of a Good Courage 3:48 Read by Cyndy
Part 4 Ch 3 - Of Temptations, and the difference between experiencing them and consenting to them. 6:41 Read by fshort
Part 4 Ch 4 - Two striking Illustrations of the same 3:35 Read by Mich_elle
Part 4 Ch 5 - Encouragement for the Tempted Soul. 3:21 Read by fshort
Part 4 Ch 6 - When Temptation and Delectation are Sin. 5:16 Read by fshort
Part 4 Ch 7 - Remedies for Great Occasions. 4:46 Read by royalcrowncola
Part 4 Ch 8 - How to resist Minor Temptations. 2:40 Read by Dylan P. Straub
Part 4 Ch 9 - How remedy Minor Temptations. 2:54 Read by Dylan P. Straub
Part 4 Ch 10 - How to strengthen the Heart against Temptation. 3:00 Read by Dylan P. Straub
Part 4 Ch 11 - Anxiety of Mind. 5:43 Read by Dylan P. Straub
Part 4 Ch 12 - Of Sadness and Sorrow. 5:16 Read by Dylan P. Straub
Part 4 Ch 13 - Of Spiritual and Sensible Consolations, and how to receive them. 14:48 Read by Dylan P. Straub
Part 4 Ch 14 - Of Dryness and Spiritual Barrenness 10:26 Read by Dylan P. Straub
Part 4 Ch 15 - An Illustration. 7:17 Read by Dylan P. Straub
Part 5 PRACTICES FOR RENEWING AND CONFIRMING THE SOUL IN DEVOTION. Ch 1 - It is well yearly to renew Good Resolutions by means of the following Exercises. 3:11 Read by Keren Turton
Part 5 Ch 2 - Meditation on the Benefit conferred on us by God in calling us to His Service. 4:59 Read by Keren Turton
Part 5 Ch 3 - Examination of the Soul as to its Progress in the Devout Life 4:33 Read by royalcrowncola
Part 5 Ch 4 - Examination of the Soul’s Condition as regards God. 6:48 Read by royalcrowncola
Part 5 Ch 5 - Examination of your Condition as regards yourself. 3:27 Read by royalcrowncola
Part 5 Ch 6 - Examination of the Soul’s Condition as regards our Neighbour. 2:00 Read by royalcrowncola
Part 5 Ch 7 - Examination as to the Affectations of the Soul. 3:34 Read by royalcrowncola
Part 5 Ch 8 - The Affections to be excited after such Examination. 2:07 Read by royalcrowncola
Part 5 Ch 9 - Reflections suitable to the renewal of Good Resolutions. 1:28 Read by royalcrowncola
Part 5 Ch 10 - First Consideration—of the Worth of Souls. 3:22 Read by discourser
Part 5 Ch 11 - Second Consideration—on the Excellence of Virtue. 2:17 Read by discourser
Part 5 Ch 12 - The Example of the Saints. 2:06 Read by Sean Lally
Part 5 Ch 13 - The Love which Jesus Christ bears to us. 3:46 Read by Phil Chenevert
Part 5 Ch 14 - The Eternal Love of God for us. 2:00 Read by Phil Chenevert
Part 5 Ch 15 - General Affections which should result from these Considerations, and Conclusion of the Exercise. 2:46 Read by Gina Eltora
Part 5 Ch 16 - The Impressions which should remain after this Exercise. 2:06 Read by Phil Chenevert
Part 5 Ch 17 - An Answer to Two Objections which may be made to this Book. 3:37 Read by Phil Chenevert
Part 5 Ch 18 - Three Important and Final Counsels. 4:22 Read by Phil Chenevert

Reviews

what a blessing!


(5 stars)

I have listened to this version at least yearly for some spring cleaning for the soul.

very thorough


(5 stars)

The book is a spiritual classic with very wise and thorough advice. Highly recommended!

Awsome


(5 stars)

Much love. Blessed be God in His Angels and in His Saints

Very Good!


(5 stars)

Most of the chapters are read well

One of top spiritual classics of all time.


(5 stars)

One of the best.


(5 stars)

A spiritual masterpiece.