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A collection of five inspiring essays by three closely linked mystical thinkers of the seventeenth century – Francois Fenelon, Madame Jeanne Guyon, and Pere Lacombe – whose focus on the availability of intimacy with God made them scandalous in their day.
Christian Counsel and Spiritual Letters, by Archbishop Fenelon, offer wise advice on how to find the keys to true devotion and peace.
Method of Prayer and On the Way to God, by Fenelon’s close friend Madame Guyon, demonstrate the critical importance of constant prayer.
Spiritual Maxims, by Pere Lacombe, the spiritual mentor of Madame Guyon, emphasizes the importance of expressing a passionate love for God.
Each stirring work is divided into short chapters, making Spiritual Progress ideal for morning or evening devotions or for Bible study. This treasured collection of classic Christian wisdom is certain to lead readers closer to the heart of God.
Table of Contents:
Editor’s Preface
Chapter 1: Christian Counsel by Francois Fenelon
Chapter 2: Spiritual Letters by Francois Fenelon
Chapter 3: Method of Prayer by Madame Guyon
Chapter 4: On the Way to God by Madame Guyon
Chapter 5: Spiritual Maxims by Pere Lacombe
About the Authors
About the Authors:
Francois Fenelon (1651-1715) was the archbishop of Cambrai. He met Christian contemplative Madame Jeanne Guyon in 1688, apparently appreciating and affirming some of her doctrines and contemplative practices but on other occasions distancing himself from them. In 1689, he was appointed tutor to the grandson of Louis XIV. He became archbishop in 1695. Fenelon wrote letters of spiritual counsel that are highly valued to this day.
Jeanne Guyon (1648-1717) wrote from the depth of her own spiritual experiences. Growing up in France during the decadent times of Louis XIV, she was devout at an early age but was then caught up in the worldliness around her. After an arranged marriage at the age of fifteen, she became increasingly interested in spiritual things; and, for the rest of her life, she continued to seek God diligently. She also began to teach others and write books on Christian devotion. Many of these books have become Christian classics. Guyon paid a heavy price for some of her views and her writings. Throughout her life, she underwent various trials, including persecution and imprisonment for her beliefs. Her commentary on Song of Solomon was used to sentence her to prison.
Very little is known about Pere Lacombe (1643-1713), other than that he was a Barnabite priest who mentored Madame Guyon. Lacombe guided Guyon along a series of interior experiences. Under his spiritual guidance, Guyon was able to go from a deep sense of God’s presence to a mystical death, and then to a state in which she no longer possessed God but He possessed her. It was this experience that led Guyon to write A Short and Easy Method of Prayer in 1685. In 1686, King Louis XIV ordered that Lacombe, who had publicly defended Guyon, be imprisoned in the Bastille and afterward in the castles of Oloron and of Lourdes.
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