Jean-Pierre de Caussade, of the Society of Jesus in France, was one of the most remarkable spiritual writers in the 18th Century. His works have gone through many editions and have been republished, and translated into several foreign languages. In these Counsels, De Caussade's repeated advice is to welcome the gifts from God that can only be experienced in the present moment. This abandonment to God won't always give us the things we think we want, but it will give us peace.
In Abandonment to Divine Providence, Jean-Pierre de Caussade wrote that the present moment is holy and that people should abandon themselves to present, a stance that is in stark contrast to the Catholic focus on the future and life after death. For de Caussade, living in the moment meant having a complete trust and faith in God, for God's will defined and guided all things. The practical advice contained in his guidebook for the faithful was originally a series of letters written for the Nuns of the Visitation of Nancy, meant to help them navigate the confusing and difficult work of spiritual enlightenment, and comes together here in two distinct parts, one for the theoretical foundations of abandoning oneself to the present moment and one with practical advice on how to live such a life. Though a departure from the standard Christian perspective, Abandonment to Divine Providence remains a deeply spiritual work with a message that many Christians may find freeing and inspiring. The present book is an English translation of the Tenth French Edition of Fr. de Caussade's "Abandon � la Providence Divine," edited, to the great benefit of many souls, by Fr. H. Rami�re, S. J. It is divided into two unequal parts, the first containing a treatise on total abandonment to Divine Providence, and the second, letters of direction for persons leading a spiritual life. The "Treatise" comprises two different aspects of Abandonment to Divine Providence; one as a virtue, common and necessary to all Christians, the other as a state, proper to souls who have made a special practice of abandonment to the holy will of God. The "Letters of Direction," now for the first time translated into English, were addressed to Nuns of the Visitation at Nancy. Fr. de Caussade had been stationed in this town for some time, and when later he was called away, his letters to the Nuns carried on the powerful influence he had exercised over them. They were treasured and preserved with religious care, and thus have come down to our own days. Fr. de Rami�re, S. J., collected these letters, and edited them with painstaking labour.
God is to be found in the simplest of our daily activities and especially through total surrender to whatever is His will for each of us. That is the message of this 18th-century inspirational classic by Jean-Pierre de Caussade. Its encouragement to live in the present moment, accepting everyday obstacles with humility and love, has guided generations of seekers to spiritual peace and holiness. In this timeless spiritual classic, de Caussade presents the simple, profound gospel message that Jesus lived and taught: My meat is to do the will of my Father in heaven. The author states, The will of God gives to all things a supernatural and divine value for the soul submitting to it. The duties it imposes and those it contains become holy and perfect because everything it touches shares its divine character.This special volume of the famous spiritual treatise also includes the many insightful letters of Father de Caussade on the practice of self-abandonment. These numerous letters provide a great additional source of wisdom and much practical guidance for how to grow in abandonment and to deepen our union with God in our daily lives.De Caussade shows that this practice of self-abandonment to God's will is the key to attaining true peace and virtue, and that it is readily available to all people - from beginners to those well advanced in the spiritual life. He also shows how to determine what God's will is for us. He reveals that it is not extraordinary feats that God expects for our growth in holiness, but rather heroic attention to every detail in our lives and humble acceptance of our daily lot in life as coming from His hand. The rich spiritual lessons in this book have stood the test of time, offering real and practical assistance to all people because its message is simple and clear, one that the reader will find to be a rare treasure of inspiration and direction to be referred to again and again.
""The Rev. Jean Pierre de Caussade was one of the most remarkable spiritual writers of the Society of Jesus in France in the 18th Century. His death took place at Toulouse in 1751. His works have gone through many editions and have been republished, and translated into several foreign languages. The present book gives an English translation of the tenth French Edition of Fr. de Caussade's ""Abandon ? la Providence Divine,"" edited, to the great benefit of many souls, by Fr. H. Rami?re, S. J. ...] ""It is divided into two unequal parts, the first containing a treatise on total abandonment to Divine Providence, and the second, letters of direction for persons leading a spiritual life. ""The ""Treatise"" comprises two different aspects of Abandonment to Divine Providence; one as a virtue, common and necessary to all Christians, the other as a state, proper to souls who have made a special practice of abandonment to the holy will of God."" - Introduction
Written to help those who despair of ever becoming holy, Fr. de Caussade explains in Self-Abandonment to Divine Providence how surrendering our will to God is key to attaining peace and holiness in this life, and that it is readily available to all people-- from beginners to those well advanced in the spiritual life. This edition contains over 150 letters from Fr. de Caussade to his spiritual children on the practice of self-abandonment. These exchagnes provide insights and practical tips for applying the timeless lessons found in this classic guide to achieving holiness.
Focusing on key writings by three of the most important representatives of the Jesuit order, Louis Lallement, Jean Pierre Caussade and Claude de la Columbiere, this work takes the reader to the heart of one of the most influential spiritual traditions within the Catholic Church.
In Abandonment to Divine Providence, Jean-Pierre de Caussade wrote that the present moment is holy and that people should abandon themselves to present, a stance that is in stark contrast to the Catholic focus on the future and life after death. For de Caussade, living in the moment meant having a complete trust and faith in God, for God's will defined and guided all things. The practical advice contained in his guidebook for the faithful was originally a series of letters written for the Nuns of the Visitation of Nancy, meant to help them navigate the confusing and difficult work of spiritual enlightenment, and comes together here in two distinct parts, one for the theoretical foundations of abandoning oneself to the present moment and one with practical advice on how to live such a life. Though a departure from the standard Christian perspective, Abandonment to Divine Providence remains a deeply spiritual work with a message that many Christians may find freeing and inspiring. The present book is an English translation of the Tenth French Edition of Fr. de Caussade's "Abandon � la Providence Divine," edited, to the great benefit of many souls, by Fr. H. Rami�re, S. J. It is divided into two unequal parts, the first containing a treatise on total abandonment to Divine Providence, and the second, letters of direction for persons leading a spiritual life. The "Treatise" comprises two different aspects of Abandonment to Divine Providence; one as a virtue, common and necessary to all Christians, the other as a state, proper to souls who have made a special practice of abandonment to the holy will of God.The "Letters of Direction," now for the first time translated into English, were addressed to Nuns of the Visitation at Nancy. Fr. de Caussade had been stationed in this town for some time, and when later he was called away, his letters to the Nuns carried on the powerful influence he had exercised over them. They were treasured and preserved with religious care, and thus have come down to our own days. Fr. de Rami�re, S. J., collected these letters, and edited them with painstaking labour. However, for this Abridged Edition, only the first part, which is the treatise on total abandonment to Divine Providence, is available. The second part, which contains the spiritual counsels of Fr. de Caussade and his letters of direction for persons leading a spiritual life, is only available through the Unabridged Edition.
