This month, we recommend the book “An Introduction to the Devout Life” written by St. Frances de Sales, Doctor of the Church. His feast day was January 24th. After it was published in 1609, it was so popular that if you said you were reading “The Introduction” people would know which book you were talking about. It is considered a spiritual classic. It is a compilation of letters and notes used in the spiritual direction of his cousin who was the wife of an ambassador to the Duke of Savoy. It talks about gaining a firm resolution to the devout life, prayer and sacraments, the practice of virtue, some ordinary temptations and how to overcome them, and renewing and confirming the soul in devotion. Here is a link to the PDF for those who like to read online.

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