Catholic Controversy: St. Francis De Sales Defense of the Faith (Paperback)

~ Francis Desales (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

After being repeatedly rebuffed in his attempts to re-evangelize Calvinist Protestants who would not listen to Catholic preaching for fear of reprisals, St. Francis resorted to writing leaflets and inserting them into copies of his sermons, then posting them on walls, slipping them under doors and handing them to anyone he could. Four years later almost 72,000 had returned to the ancient Catholic Faith! These tracts have been gathered together and entitled The Catholic Controversy. The works are still as fresh and powerful today and give some of the most cogent arguments against Protestantism ever penned, presenting a defense of the Catholic Faith that in some respects has never been equalled.

Product Details

• Paperback: 413 pages
• Publisher: T A N Books & Publishers (June 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0895553872
• ISBN-13: 978-0895553874
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #65,014 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Traditional Catholic Doctrine, Both Deep and Wide, December 1, 2003

By	R. Newman (Tenn. United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

In addition to what is common in all other positive reviews of this compilation of writings by St. Francis, there yet remains at least one other strength of this book that is to be praised. That strength is his cohesion to the traditional Catholic Faith. There are other books that give overviews of the Catholic Faith, but often times their consistency with Scripture and Tradition should be questioned. That is something that one need not worry about with this work. Not only does St. Francis give sound arguments for the Catholic Faith, but he does so with plenty of Scripture, Church Father quotes, and reference to Church Councils. He also shows an understanding and love for Catholicism that is sopping wet with intellectual genius and passion for Christ! He will make a knowledgeable Reformed churchman (that was his intended audience, after all) take a few steps back and rethink his doctrine of the "visible/invisible church distinction" and how God has commanded the Gospel to be preached and succession of church leaders to continue. Not only does he understand Catholic doctrine, but he also understands his opponents, and often quotes from Calvin, Bucer, and other Reformers. Also, his treatment of the Papacy is probably one of the most concise anywhere. So I challenge you to read it, but I warn you, you may find yourself defending Catholic doctrine afterwards, even if you're Protestant when you first read this book!

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Catholic Controversy, September 5, 2003

By	bill_the_great (Interlochen, MI) - See all my reviews

Up until the time of St. Francis de Sales, the printing press had been used as a battering ram for reformers of all stripes to destroy christendom.

However, with the start of St. Francis de Sales' mission to the French Calvinists that changed dramatically. When people refused to listen to him because of contempt or fear of reprisal, he printed tracts and slipped them under doors or put them up on public squares to bring the Calvinists back to the Faith.

The result: nearly 72,000 French whose parents abandoneded the Faith a generation ago were brought back to the Catholic Church.

If you read this book (a collection of the tracts St. Francis wrote), you'll see exactly how it happened. The arguments are cogent, simple, easy-to-follow and strike at the heart of whatever matter they address. The arguments against Protestantism in general and Calvinism in particular are relevant and still thorns in the side of the Reformed apologetic several hundred years later. If you're Catholic or Protestant you owe it to yourself to read this collection of tracts!

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Defense of the Faith, January 21, 2001

By	Barry E. DeWalt (Redding, CA USA) - See all my reviews

St. Francis de Sales endangered his life when he entered the Chablais region in order to defend the faith. During his journey, St. Francis de Sales tied himself to tree limbs with his belt so the wolves could not get to him at night.

It is said that when St. Francis de Sales arrived in the area there were only 7 Catholics left. When St. Francis finished, there were about the same number of Calvinists left.

Facing death threats and doors shut in his face, St. Francis de Sales wrote several pamphlets defending the faith. For several years he slipped these under doors so the people could read them. This book is a compendium of those pamphlets.

St. Francis de Sales uses scripture like no other. His arguments are as persuasive today as they were then. For those looking to understand the biblical basis for Catholic teachings (i.e., purgatory, papal infallibility) this book is a must.

I recommend this book to Catholics who are interested in knowing the scriptural and logical reasoning behind the teaching of the Church. I also recommend the book to protestants who have an honest interest in finding out, from a Catholic source, just what that Church teaches. Buy the book.