Fenelon's Finest

by Francis Fenelon

French Enlightenment Series Vol. 1

Price: $23.00
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Book description:

Fenelon, the man, the myth, the legend…He was a brilliant writer, philosopher and bishop.

Similar to Pascal, Fenelon is classically trained, and writes, refers to both the same writers and similar theological issues. This last segment is also the dividing line between the two. Fenelon as a bishop, he will pursue God and express his experiences and ideas on a more relational and experiential platform God

Fenelon writes: Do we enjoy the contemplation of God? Do we feel a sincere joy when we pray to him, and when we meditate upon his presence?  “Prayer,” says Augustine “is the measure of love. He, who loves much, prays much. He, whose heart is closely united to God, has no sweeter consolation than in communion with Him.

Regarding the infamous issue of passivity or quietism Fenelon writes:  “It is He, Who has created all that is.  I am free, and I cannot doubt it; I have an intimate and immoveable conviction that I am free to will, or not to will. There is within me a power of election, not only to will or not, but to decide between different objects. This is in itself a proof of the immateriality of my soul.”

Regarding Prayer, he writes: Let us pray then, but let us pray with all our duties before us. Do not let us make eloquent and abstract prayers that have no connection with the practice of virtue, but let us pray to become more humble, more docile, more patient, more charitable, more modest, more pure, and more disinterested in the performance of our duties. Without this, our prayer will be an illusion to ourselves, and a scandal to our neighbor: an illusion to ourselves, for how often do we see a devotion that only nourishes pride and misleads the imagination; and a scandal to our neighbor.

Fenelon is indeed one of the most unappreciated and misunderstood writers of this era. His works are heartfelt by one who similar to David, longs to be united with the one he loves; God Himself, for Himself.

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