Recommendation | Welcoming the Publication of the Catholic Classics Series · 5
Saint Francis of Sales, 10
Preface | People Beloved by God·20

Part 1: A Longing for a Devotional Life
Chapter 1: True Faith·39
Chapter 2: The Nature and Superiority of Faith·44
Chapter 3: Devotion is Suitable for Every Vocation and Occupation·48
Chapter 4: Leadership is Needed for Progress in the Devotional Life·51
Chapter 5: Beginning a Devotional Life with the Purification of the Soul·56
Chapter 6: The First Stage of Purification: Turning Away from Deadly Sins · 60
Chapter 7: The Second Stage of Purification: Avoiding Sinful Tendencies · 63
Chapter 8: How to Purify the Second Stage · 66
Chapter 9 Meditation 1: Creation·68
Chapter 10: Meditation 2: The Purpose of Our Creation·72
Chapter 11 Meditation 3: God's Grace·76
Chapter 12 Meditation 4: Sin·80
Chapter 13: Meditation 5: Death·84
Chapter 14 Meditation 6: Judgment·88
Chapter 15 Meditation 7: Hell·92
Chapter 16 Meditation 8: The Kingdom of God·95
Chapter 17 Meditation 9: Choosing the Kingdom of God·99
Chapter 18 Meditation 10: Choices and Resolutions for a Devotional Life·103
Chapter 19: General Confession 107
Chapter 20: A Vow to Serve God and Repent · 110
Chapter 21: Purification 1: Conclusion·113
Chapter 22: Purification 2: Why We Must Abandon the Habit of Sin · 115
Chapter 23: Purification 3: Freeing Yourself from Attachment to Harmful Things · 118
Chapter 24: Purification 4: Purification of the Soul·120

Part 2 Prayer and the Sacraments
Chapter 1: The Necessity of Prayer·125
Chapter 2: Preparing for Meditation Step 1: Contemplating Being in God's Presence · 130
Chapter 3: Preparing for Meditation Step 2: Asking God for Help · 134
Chapter 4: Preparing for Meditation, Step 3: Imagination: Conjuring the Mystery · 136
Chapter 5: The Second Stage of Meditation: Reflection·138
Chapter 6: The Third Stage of Meditation: Resolution·140
Chapter 7: Conclusion and Spiritual Bouquet·142
Chapter 8: Some Notes on Meditation·144
Chapter 9: Dryness of Mind During Meditation · 147
Chapter 10: Morning Spiritual Practice · 149
Chapter 11: Evening Spiritual Exercises and Examination of Conscience·152
Chapter 12: Spiritual Seclusion·154
Chapter 13: Desire, Arrow Prayer, and Good Intentions·158
Chapter 14: Precautions for Participating in Mass·167
Chapter 15: Other Public Devotion 171
Chapter 16: Respect for Adults and the Intercession of the Holy Spirit·173
Chapter 17: Hearing and Reading God's Word·176
Chapter 18: The Sensitivity of the Holy Spirit·178
Chapter 19: The Sacrament of Confession·182
Chapter 20: Holy Communion·187
Chapter 21: Preparation for Holy Communion·192

Part 3: Cultivating Virtue
Chapter 1: Choosing Virtue 1·199
Chapter 2: Choosing Virtue 2·206
Chapter 3: Patience·212
Chapter 4: External Humility·219
Chapter 5: Inner Humility·223
Chapter 6: Humility and Humbleness·231
Chapter 7: Practicing Humility and Preserving Reputation·237
Chapter 8: Gentleness and Anger·243
Chapter 9: Tolerance for Oneself·250
Chapter 10: Passion and Dedication·254
Chapter 11: Obedience·258
Chapter 12: Purity·262
Chapter 13: Preserving Purity·267
Chapter 14: Richness and Poverty of the Mind·270
Chapter 15: How to Be Poor in a Wealthy World · 275
Chapter 16: Spiritual Wealth in Poverty · 282
Chapter 17: Harmful and Wrong Friendships·286
Chapter 18: Romance·289
Chapter 19: True Friendship·293
Chapter 20: The Difference Between True and False Friendship · 298
Chapter 21: Avoiding Bad Friendships · 301
Chapter 22: Other Lessons on Friendship·307
Chapter 23: External Austerities·311
Chapter 24: Dialogue and Silence (320)
Chapter 25: Clothing·324
Chapter 26: Conversations About God·327
Chapter 27: Careful Dialogue and Respect for Others·330
Chapter 28: Wrong Judgment·334
Chapter 29: Slander·342
Chapter 30: Precautions for Conversation·351
Chapter 31: Wholesome Entertainment·355
Chapter 32: Prohibited Entertainments·357
Chapter 33: Dancing and Other Entertainments·359
Chapter 34: Healthy Use of Dance and Entertainment·363
Chapter 35: Sincerity 365
Chapter 36: Proper Conduct·369
Chapter 37: Hope·373
Chapter 38: To the Married · 377
Chapter 39: The Sanctity of Marriage·390
Chapter 40: To Widows·396
Chapter 41: To Unmarried Women·403

Part 4: Everyday Temptations
Chapter 1: Attitudes toward Criticism of the World·407
Chapter 2: Courage·412
Chapter 3: Being Tempted and Giving in to Temptation·415
Chapter 4: Examples of Overcoming Temptation·419
Chapter 5: Comforting the Tempted Soul · 423
Chapter 6: Temptation and Sin·425
Chapter 7: How to Deal with Temptation·428
Chapter 8: Minor Temptations · 431
Chapter 9: How to Deal with Minor Temptations · 433
Chapter 10: How to Strengthen Your Soul·435
Chapter 11: Mental Anxiety·437
Chapter 12: Sorrow·441
Chapter 13: Spiritual and Emotional Comfort·446
Chapter 14: Spiritual Dryness·457
Chapter 15: A Parable · 466

Part 5: Renewal of the Soul
Chapter 1: Renewal for Performance·475
Chapter 2: Reflections on God's Grace Calling Us to a Devotional Life·478
Chapter 3: Examining Your Devotional Life·483
Chapter 4: Examining Your Attitude Toward God·486
Chapter 5: Examining Your Attitude·490
Chapter 6: Examining Love for Others · 492
Chapter 7: Checking Your Emotions·494
Chapter 8: The Attitude Behind Examination of Conscience·496
Chapter 9: Reflection and Meditation to Renew Your Resolutions·498
Chapter 10: Reflections and Meditations 1: The Value of the Soul·499
Chapter 11: Reflection and Meditation 2: The Excellence of Virtue·502
Chapter 12: Reflections and Meditations 3: The Examples of the Saints · 504
Chapter 13: Reflection and Meditation 4: Jesus Christ, Who Loves Us · 506
Chapter 14 Reflections and Meditations 5: God's Eternal Love · 509
Chapter 15: Resolution, the Fruit of Reflection, and the Conclusion of Spiritual Lessons·511
Chapter 16: A Resolution to Reflect on After Practicing Devotion·514
Chapter 17: Response to Allegations·516
Chapter 18: The Last Three Key Lessons·519

To live correctly in everyday life
Must-read books

There are countless books out there about how to live.
But among them, few books have helped so many people over such a long period of time as this book, Introduction to the Devotional Life.
This is because this classic contains the deep religious experiences and meditations of adults who have walked the path of spirituality firsthand.
So this time, Catholic Publishing House has redesigned this book and published it again to make it easier for anyone to read.

I want to teach faith to those who live in this world, those who do housework or participate in social life.
A patient and courageous person can live in the world without being tainted by its customs, can find a spring of piety even in the midst of bitterness, and can fly without burning the wings of his holy hope for a godly life amidst all the world's desires.
- Saint Francis of Sales

Adults teach directly
A Guide to Religious Life

《Introduction to the Devotional Life》 is a book written by Saint Francis de Sales, the bishop of Geneva, Switzerland, around the 17th century. It is a book that guides us, who live in this difficult world, to lead a proper devotional life.
Saint Salesian was called the “saint for the laity” because he devoted his life to helping ordinary believers enter deeper spirituality.


The saint wrote this book in the form of an epistle, speaking directly to believers and informing them about their devotional life.
This book, which is so approachable, describes in simple and detailed terms the stages one must go through in the process of living a life of faith and the things one will encounter at each stage, giving an easy understanding of what a life of faith is like.
This book is divided into five parts, organized by stage of the devotional life.
From Part 1, "A Longing for a Devotional Life," to "Prayer and the Sacraments," Part 3, "Asceticism," Part 4, "Daily Temptations," and Part 5, "Renewal of the Soul," this book is designed to help us understand at a glance the devotional life we ​​should lead.


Additionally, this book contains many analogies and examples to make it more accessible to us.
So it is easy and comfortable to read.
It provides specific information on how we can practice in our daily lives the parts of a life of faith, such as how meditation, prayer, and the sacraments benefit us, why things like humility and obedience are called virtues and why we are encouraged to practice them, and what attitude we should take when faced with the numerous temptations that come our way.

The joy of reading classics

Reading the classics is both a pleasure and a source of wisdom.
Just as old wine develops a deeper and richer flavor, classics contain wisdom that has been loved by many and has deeply moved them.
These books are different from other books that catch people's attention for a short while and then disappear.
Because the path of life is contained within it.


Christianity also has classics.
These classics are like the water of life that quenches the thirst of our souls as we live in this chaotic world.
These are books that exude the fragrance of wisdom that remains unchanged to people over time.
These books show us the eternal path to enlightenment that has been followed for hundreds of years, and guide us along that path.
As we read these books, we come to realize our inseparable relationship with God and are enlightened on the path to finding peace of mind.

《Introduction to the Devotional Life》 is one of those works that has been recognized as a classic.
It's hard to believe that this book was written 400 years ago, as it contains information that is essential to modern people.
Therefore, this book is a must-read classic for not only seminarians, catechumens, and newly baptized people who have just entered the path of priesthood or monasticism, but also for laypeople who feel weary of their religious life or are wondering how to live their religious life.
With the classic Introduction to the Devotional Life, which has inspired countless people for over 400 years, you will be able to move forward joyfully toward God with unwavering faith, no matter your position.