Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.

Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.

The meditations of St. Francis of Sales on the loving nature of God and the Holy Spirit contain abundant spiritual insight - this edition contains all twelve of his books, complete and unabridged with annotations. A superb compendium of thoughts which examine the multi-faceted nature of holiness in the Christian religion, the Treatise on the Love of God is lauded for its immense expressions of emotional and spiritual depth. The supreme will of God, acting in myriad ways, is shown to be the origination of all love on the Earth. The author discusses topics such as God's influence over his creations, the manner in which men often shun or repulse the love of God, and how such love - when accepted - can progress a living soul's fulfillment. Following the lessons of God will result in benevolence, yet such a following requires humbleness: we must concede to God being the source of all that is good, loving and worthy in the universe.

Introduction by Piers Paul Read

St. Francis de Sales, famous Doctor of the Church, is one of the four or five greatest masters of the spiritual life--a wise, learned and gentle teacher for all. In these 12 sermons, preached to the Visitation nuns in Lent of 1622, St. Francis covers most of the central teachings of the Christian life, including fasting, temptation and how to resist it, God's special providence toward those living a spiritual life, and the hidden spiritual meanings of the events of Our Lord's Passion.

This masterpiece of Christian literature by a sixteenth-century priest explains how to live a holy life in the secular world. Drawn from the letters of St. Francis de Sales, it presents clear and direct advice about praying, resisting temptation, and maintaining devotion to God.
A key figure in France's Counter Reformation, St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622) served as Bishop of Geneva and was canonized in 1665. The popularity of his prolific writings on spirituality led to his nomination as the patron saint of authors and journalists. Today's readers feel a special affinity for St. Francis, whose suggestions for living a truly Christian life don't involve withdrawal from the world. In this enduring spiritual guide, his remarkably modern advice appears in the form of letters. The saint's frank and practical counsel ranges from embracing meditations that strengthen the resolve to maintain a virtuous existence to performing daily exercises that renew the soul.

We are proud to introduce The TAN Classics Made Simple - a brand-new companion series to our bestselling TAN Classics collection.

TAN Classics Made Simple booklets are designed to give you an orientation course before you embark on an exploration of the great works of Catholic literature found in our best selling TAN Classics line.

Each full-color booklet covers the highlights of TAN Classics in 36 easy-to-read pages. Designed to provide you with the vital facts and features about the life of the Saint, their work, their call to Holiness and the events of their time.

Including: Introduction to the TAN Classic, Major Events Timeline, Author Biography, How to Read a TAN Classic section, Words to Know, And much more

Perfect for parishes, schools, or simply a personal introduction to the TAN Classics, these booklets will provide you with a map and compass for navigating the best of Catholic writing

If your life seems to make no sense or if you don't know which path to take, St. Francis de Sales will console and inform you. He'll show you what God's will is and how He reveals it -- yes, even to you, and even in the seemingly random events of your life. No matter what you're going through, you'll see why you should love and trust in God's will -- and long for its fulfillment. Best of all, you'll learn a sure method for discovering God's will in any situation -- today!

How to do God's will joyfully. . . regardless of your circumstances. St. Francis's practical, sensitive answers to the everyday tribulations all Christians face. You'll find holy wisdom on family problems, work, virtue, temptation, mourning, prayer, charity, guilt, and dozens of other real-life issues.

Between 1594 and 1598, a preacher named Francois converted 72,000 Protestants to the Catholic Faith. These are his words. ONE OF the most remarkable and well-documented events in Catholic history began when a young priest, Francis de Sales, volunteered to re-evangelize the Calvinists of the Chablais. Finding his preaching forcefully rejected, Francis de Sales shrewdly switched tactics and began a written apologetics campaign, posting pamphlets on walls and slipping them beneath doors under the cover of night. His defense of the Faith was so clear and thorough that at the end of four years nearly the entire population of 72,000 had returned to the Catholic Faith These powerful little tracts are as relevant today as they were in the late 1500s. De Sales draws support from Scripture, the Fathers and Doctors of the Church to address questions still frequently posed by modern Protestants. Revered as some of the most cogent arguments against Protestantism ever penned; they present a defense of the Catholic Faith that has never been equaled. "A full and complete demonstration of the Catholic religion." -Pope Pius IX

During his life, Francis de Sales had a gift for giving spiritual direction to lay people living ordinary lives in the world. He firmly believed that everyone could grow in holiness, even while engaged in very active occupations, and his books and volumes of letters addressing this need remain beloved works to this day. What is the secret of their longstanding value? It is the intimacy and at the same time practicality of the saint's direction -- for he speaks to us person to person. We recognize ourselves in what is said because he speaks of those things that each of us has experienced.

This collection of maxims and sayings gathered from his many pages of spiritual counsel are words of advice that every friend of St. Francis has always been fond of repeating -- words that serve as means of encouragement, points for meditation, counsels, exhortations, reminders. For St. Francis speaks as clearly to our twenty-first century condition as he did to that of his own spiritual family.