Self-Abandonment to Divine Providence [Paperback]

Father Jean-Pierre de Caussade (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1987

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.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Fr. Jean Pierre de Caussade (1675-1751) was a French Jesuit and author. He is most well-known for his treatise on abandonment to Divine Providence and also his posthumously-published letters to the Visitation Nuns, where he served as confessor and spiritual director from 1733-1740. Fr. de Caussade also served as a preacher in south and central France, as the rector of two colleges, and as spiritual director for a Jesuit house. Influenced by both St. Francis de Sales and St. John of the Cross, he taught that the perfection God expects from us consists mainly in our purifying the innumerable little actions that occur in the course of every day, in our heroric attention to every detail in our lives, and our humble acceptance of the lot God has chosen for us.

Product Details

• Paperback: 449 pages
• Publisher: TAN Books & Publishers (June 1, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0895553120
• ISBN-13: 978-0895553126
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #843,363 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

62 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Paraclete At Work, March 1, 2003

By 

Arthem "arthem" (Knoxville, TN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Self-Abandonment to Divine Providence (Paperback)

This book fairly lept at me from the shelf. I wasn't particularly looking for it, but I found it nonetheless. For a former Ayn Rand afficianado & neo-Objectivist, the very title ought to have been anathema. However, it was a greater sense of peace that I was after, and to some extent, this book is helpful at understanding one's true relation to God, particularly in terms of recognizing and submitting to His will.

I had previously attempted Kempis' "The Imitation Of Christ", and found that it was difficult to disassociate from the intended audience of that book (cloistered religious). I'll try to review it in the near future. In any case, my experience with Thomas a Kempis made me a little gun-shy with regard to spiritual primers intended for religious communities. One of the challenges of "Self-abandonment" is the extent of its direct communication between the author (as spiritual director) and the nuns with whom he communicates. Nevertheless, the more generalized introductory sections overcome this difficulty.

I happened to be in the midst of "Self-abandonment" at the time of my grandmother's death. I must say that in retrospect I could not have found a better companion for those days. de Caussade does an excellent job at communicating the spiritual benefits of acceptance, duty, and forgiveness. It ought to be the goal of every Christian to make each day, and each moment of each day a paean to the Lord - seeing His will in all things - even small things and most particularly in painful things is a crucial step toward living a truly Christian life.

Finally, I don't know whether to call this book "life changing," as I believe that one must already be at a certain level of acceptance prior to realizing benefits from the approach that de Caussade recommends. Nonetheless, it is a useful and helpful aid to the continuing trauma of living in the world but not of the world.

50 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The true meaning of God's omnipresence, November 4, 2000

By 

Joseph Edghill "jedghill" (Gahanna, OH USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Self-Abandonment to Divine Providence (Paperback)

God's omnipresence is taken for granted by all Christians. But it is so easy to assume this applies merely to the physical and material world. If He is omnipresent in a physical sense, then He must also be present in every circumstance we experience our lives, no matter how small. Thus, we can experience God just by yielding to what life brings. DeCaussade, in this beautiful book (I am in my third reading), has introduced me to this "new" way of experiencing God: I now "see" Him everywhere. This view of God brings great comfort and assurance. I find myself struggling less with life, accepting things that I would once have found distasteful, and discovering many new blessings from God. If you long for a more settled life you will gain much from this book.

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books I've ever read, October 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Self-Abandonment to Divine Providence (Paperback)

Absolutely fantastic book, life-changing, second to "The Imitation of Christ", this book is really worth reading. Makes you realize that everything that happens is ordained of God and teaches you to be content with what God brings into your life.