Christian Perfection (Christian Classics)

Francois de Salignac de la Motie-Fenelon, the Archbishop of Cambrai, 1651-1715, was born at the Chateau de Fenelon in Perigord and descended from a long line of nobility. He studied at Saint-Sulpice seminary and after being ordained priest in 1676 he was director of the "New Catholics", a college where women who had been converted from French Protestantism were instructed. In 1698 Louis XIV entrusted to him the education of his grandsons, the Dukes of Burgundy, Anjou, and Berry. Fenelon enjoyed great popularity in official circles at this time and received two special honours: election to the Academie Francaise in 1693 and elevation to Archbishop of Cambrai in 1695. Although Fenelon is now being "rediscovered" for the depth of his spiritual writings, he was known as an educationalist, as well as mystic, theologan and writer in his own lifetime. He argued that girls should be Christian and accomplished, hence, should learn history, mathematics, music, as well as reading and writing. Fenelon was opposed to the coercive style of education of his day and is credited with introducing new methods of education for girls. Fenelon met Madame Guyon, the leading exponent of Quietism in October 1688. Her views on spiritual progress in one's interior life appealed to Fenelon at this time. Fenelon was satisfied that he could prove God's existence in his mind, but now he concentrated on his need to experience God for himself. Within 10 years, Fenelon discovered that Madame Guyon's teaching perfection supplied him with just the answers he needed in his own spiritual pilgrimage and found himself defending Madame Guyon against leading ecclesiastical figures. Many of the scores of spiritual letters Fenelon wrote have been collected into two volumes, "The Spiritual letters of Archbishop Fenelon: letters to women", and "The Spiritual letters of Archbishop Fenelon: letters to men". This volume is a selection from these two titles which has been so that unnecessary duplication is avoided.