Fénelon, François de Salignac de la Mothe (1651-1715)

Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 6: Fathers of the Church-Gregory XI -- from Herbermann, Charles George (1840-1916)

Francois Fenelon -- from The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge

Fenelon, François de Salignac de la Mothe (1651-1715) -- from Wikipedia Article

Existence of God -- from Project Gutenberg

Maxims of the Saints

Description: In 1688, Archbishop Fenelon met Madame Guyon, and came to deeply admire her for her Christian piety. The two of them swiftly became very close friends. However, the church urged Fenelon to condemn Guyon, for her attitude towards mysticism sparked concerns of heresy. Ultimately, Fenelon refused to abandon his friend, and in response to the church’s condemnation, he argued in forty-five points that saints from all eras had held views similar to Guyon’s. These points are the Maxims of the Saints, and Fenelon’s defense serves as one of the earliest arguments in favor of the movement that later became known as Quietism.

Kathleen O’Bannon
CCEL Staff

Spiritual Progress

Description: Spiritual Progress is a collection of five powerful works intended for daily devotions and personal reflection. These five inspiring works are composed by three closely linked mystical thinkers of the 17th century--Francois Fenelon, Madame Guyon, and Pere La Combe. Fenelon, an archbishop, wrote the first two works, Christian Counsel and Spiritual Letters, which illustrate his keen sense of spiritual counsel. Madame Guyon, a close friend of Fenelon, wrote the next works, Method of Prayer and On the Way to God, which indicate the importance of constant prayer. Pere La Combe, the spiritual director of Madame Guyon, wrote the final work, Spiritual Maxims, which emphasizes the importance of desire and love for God. Each stirring work is divided into short chapters, making Spiritual Progress ideal for morning or evening devotions. It is thus a wonderful book full of guidance for one's spiritual progress.

Tim Perrine
CCEL Staff Writer