SALESIAN LITERATURE

Table of Contents

Prologue

Book One: The Beginner

• Part 1: The Formative Years 

• Part 2: Dark Night of the Senses

Book Two: The Proficient

• Part 1: Francis, Zealous Priest 

• Part 2: The Wound of Love

Book Three: The Perfect

• Part 1: Francis, Zealous Bishop 

• Part 2: Union with Christ

SUMMARY OF THE BOOK “A MAN OF GOOD ZEAL”

A Man of Good Zeal is a biographical novel that chronicles the life of Saint Francis de Sales (1567–1622), as narrated by his cousin and secretary, Louis de Brens. Born into a noble Savoyard family, Francis was groomed by his father, M. François, for a prestigious career as a lawyer and senator. However, despite his father’s maneuvers—which included choosing a wealthy heiress for him to marry—Francis felt an internal call to the priesthood.

His formative years included rigorous studies in Paris and Padua, where he excelled in both social graces and intellectual pursuits. Yet, his journey was marked by a profound "Dark Night of the Senses" in Padua, during which he was crippled by a fear of eternal damnation. He found spiritual liberation after meeting Father Lorenzo Scupoli, whose book, The Spiritual Combat, became a foundational influence on his life. This crisis solidified his resolve to serve God, leading him to accept the position of Provost of the Cathedral chapter in Annecy, an appointment confirmed by a papal brief that finally overcame his father's stubborn opposition.

As a priest, Francis became famous for his revolutionary approach to missionary work. Eschewing the military force favored by the Duke of Savoy, Francis insisted that "prayer is greater than powder" and that the Faith should be restored through gentleness and preaching. He and Louis ventured into the Protestant stronghold of Chablais, where Francis used handwritten tracts and personal courage—even surviving assassination attempts—to win back thousands to Catholicism.

In 1602, Francis was consecrated Bishop of Geneva. His episcopacy focused on the "perfection of charity," and he worked tirelessly to reform the clergy and educate the laity. He became a spiritual guide to many, most notably Jane Frances de Chantal, with whom he founded the Order of the Visitation. His letters of direction to laypeople were eventually compiled into the spiritual classic Introduction to the Devout Life, followed later by his more profound Treatise on the Love of God.

Francis’s later years were characterised by "holy indifference," a state where he sought only the divine will regardless of personal success or humiliation. He acted as a frequent mediator of peace between the Duke of Savoy and the King of France. He died in 1622 in Lyons, having spent his final days preventing a military attack on Geneva. His legacy, as noted by Jane Frances, was a diocese transformed by his "holy instructions" and "exemplary life".

To understand Francis’s approach to life, consider his own analogy of a child: he believed a person should be like a small child who holds fast to their father's hand with one hand while using the other to gather berries along the path. For Francis, one must labor in the world with diligence, but never let go of the Heavenly Father's hand, lest they stumble and fall.