Book Recommendation: Thy Will Be Done by St. Francis de Sales

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This book is the first one I have chosen for spiritual reading for Advent. 

Thy Will be Done! "Fifty-eight letters to souls troubled by problems that afflict each of us today: anger, frustration, grief and sickness, difficulties in praying, and even lack of faith - with wise, practical remedies for each. Lovingly written by St. Francis de Sales." That beautiful description is from the front cover of the book which is published by Sophia Institute Press.

The following is from the back cover:

Three centuries ago, people flocked to St. Francis de Sales, seeking his help for their problems. St. Francis spent countless hours ministering to them face-to-face and wrote over 20,000 letters! From these letters to persons in many countries and in all walks of life, we’ve selected the ones which will be most helpful to you today.

Each is a hand-written response to someone like you seeking help with an actual problem. You’ll be consoled by the warmth, the wisdom, and the holy sympathy you’ll find in these pages as the love of this great saint reaches out to us across the centuries. Whatever your circumstances may be, there’s wisdom here to make your life holier . . . and happier.

Wisdom for difficult situations . . .
 To a pious wife: how to be devout without irritating your husband
 To an old man, preparing for death
 To a woman who judges herself harshly
 To a woman distressed by her lack of spiritual progress
 To a newlywed, teaching the duties of married life and how to fulfill them
 To a new widow who finds life alone a terrible burden
 To a young man, showing him how to treat his parents better
 To a nun, on placing ourselves in the presence of God
 To a married woman trying to bear patiently her live-in parents-in-law
 To a pregnant woman, tired, sick, and discouraged, who thinks she doesn’t pray enough
 To a childless woman, helping her to accept this sorrow
 To a priest, on staying faithful to his calling
 To a nervous woman, showing her how to be less troubled
 To a woman troubled by sinfulness in the world
 To a businessman, showing him how to find God in his busy life
 To an overworked woman
 . . . plus help for dozens of other problems we all face!

Solutions to common troubles . . .
 Family problems — how to keep calm, and even use troubles to improve your family
 Anxiety about the future: your job, your children, anything at all. It can be overcome!
 Your flaws -- the right response to them. Plus, ways to bear those you can’t overcome
 Family, work, prayer: which should come first? How to set your priorities
 Three criteria for judging pastimes. Do you really know which are spiritually healthy and which are dangerous?
 Helplessness: coping when you’re not in control, especially during times of sickness or loneliness
 The roots of heresy — why you must understand Scripture in light of Church teachings
 Temptation and sin: how to turn them into spiritual victories

“Francis de Sales modeled himself so closely on our Lord that many times I asked myself with astonishment how, considering human frailty, a mere creature could reach so high a degree of perfection.”
St. Vincent de Paul

“He seemed to have been sent especially by God. A great saint, remarkable not only for the holiness of his life, but for the wisdom with which he directed souls.”
Pope Pius XI