Digital Verbum Edition
The sixteenth century saw an enormous revival in Christian spirituality. The Lives and Letters of the Counter-Reformation is a small but quintessential glimpse into that tumultuous century, revealing the lives and personal writings of some of the biggest spiritual and ecclesial leaders of the Catholic Church—whose legacy still guides the Church today.
Beginning with St. Charles Borromeo—who championed the Counter-Reformation by weeding corruption out of the church and reforming the teachings of seminaries—this collection covers four must-know spiritual leaders in that century, including the French religious order foundress, St. Jane Frances de Chantal, the missionary and co-founder of the Jesuit order, St. Francis Xavier, and the Spanish priest and scholastic Doctor of the Church, John of Ávila.
Integrating completely with your Verbum library, these resources link directly to other texts and Scripture references they cite. Discover new connections as you trace theological concepts or historical events across your library, or build your sermons or term papers with quotes and references that come straight from the source. The perfect time to begin is now.
Interested in other Counter-Reformers or spiritual writings from this era? You’ll love our Post-Reformation Catholic Thought and Piety Collection (27 vols.) and our Catholic Spirituality Collection (12 vols.).
Originally written in 1610, the Life of St. Charles Borromeo, Cardinal Archbishop of Milan has stood as one of the most trusted sources on the saint. Written by a colleague of St. Charles, this two-volume biography provides occasional excerpts from his writings and a first-hand account of his life and the region’s history during the Reformation.
Giovanni Pietro Giussano (1553–1623) originally pursued the practice of medicine, having received his Doctor of Medicine degree at the age of 19. After only a few years and inspired by St. Charles Borromeo, Giussano devoted himself to the ecclesiastical life and joined the household of Borromeo as a priest and oblate of St. Ambrose. When St. Charles passed away, Giussano retired to Monza and wrote his biography of the archbishop.
Originally written in 1610, the Life of St. Charles Borromeo, Cardinal Archbishop of Milan has stood as one of the most trusted sources on the saint. Written by a colleague of St. Charles, this two-volume biography provides occasional excerpts from his writings and a first-hand account of his life and the region’s history during the Reformation.
Giovanni Pietro Giussano (1553–1623) originally pursued the practice of medicine, having received his Doctor of Medicine degree at the age of 19. After only a few years and inspired by St. Charles Borromeo, Giussano devoted himself to the ecclesiastical life and joined the household of Borromeo as a priest and oblate of St. Ambrose. When St. Charles passed away, Giussano retired to Monza and wrote his biography of the archbishop.
Francis Xavier (Francisco de Jasso y Azpilicueta) was a Catholic missionary born in Xavier, Spain in the early part of the sixteenth century. A student of Ignatius of Loyola, he led extensive missionary expeditions throughout Asia, most notably India, Japan, and Borneo. This authoritative biography includes numerous letters and writings of St. Francis Xavier, all translated from their original Spanish.
Henry James Coleridge (1822–1893) was a professor of Scripture at the Theological College of St. Bueno’s, North Wales. He was ordained as a Catholic priest He served as editor for The Month and The Messenger, for which he also wrote numerous articles and essays. His works include The Preparation of the Incarnation, The Public Life of Our Lord, The Life and Letters of St. Francis Xavier, and The Life and Letters of St. Teresa.
Francis Xavier (Francisco de Jasso y Azpilicueta) was a Catholic missionary born in Xavier, Spain in the early part of the sixteenth century. A student of Ignatius of Loyola, he led extensive missionary expeditions throughout Asia, most notably India, Japan, and Borneo. This authoritative biography includes numerous letters and writings of St. Francis Xavier, all translated from their original Spanish.
Henry James Coleridge (1822–1893) was a professor of Scripture at the Theological College of St. Bueno’s, North Wales. He was ordained as a Catholic priest He served as editor for The Month and The Messenger, for which he also wrote numerous articles and essays. His works include The Preparation of the Incarnation, The Public Life of Our Lord, The Life and Letters of St. Francis Xavier, and The Life and Letters of St. Teresa.
This work represents the first time St. John of Ávila’s letters were translated and printed in English, its publication riding on the heels of the saint’s beatification by Pope Leo XIII in 1893. The preface, written by Right Rev. Aidan Gasquet of Stanbrook Abbey, contains a brief biography.
John of Ávila (1499–1569) was a Spanish priest, scholastic author, and religious mystic. He was originally on track to study law, but after a while at the University of Salamanca, he withdrew and spent the next three years living in austere piety. He moved on to the University of Alcalá de Henares to study philosophy and theology, and was ordained into the priesthood in 1526. Most of his work was done in Andalauía, a place of considerable spiritual apathy, where he preached and thousands would flock to hear his sermons. St. John of Ávila also served as the first rector for the University of Baeza, which became a model of educational institutions for Jesuits. He was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Benedict XVI in October of 2012, and is affectionately remembered as the Apostle of Andalusia.
First published in 1625, this historical biography has passed down through the centuries and remains an authoritative text on the life of St. John of Ávila.
Longaro Degli Oddi was a Roman Catholic priest and Jesuit who lived at the end of the seventeenth century.
A close and carefully translated early edition of St. Jane Frances’s letters, this volume provides remarkable insight to the saint, her relationship and missions with St. Francis de Sales, and the state of her personal spirituality. Translation notes occur throughout, and include detailed insight to the long-forgotten recipients of her letters.
Jane Frances de Chantal (1572–1641) is a Catholic saint and foundress of the Congregation of the Visitation. She was born in Dijon, France, and after the death of her husband in 1600, she took a vow of chastity and grew a reputation as an excellent manager of her late husband’s estates and provided care for the needy and poor. She became friends with St. Frances de Sales and adopted his practices of religious devotion.
This descriptive and engaging biography covers the life of Jane Frances Fremiot de Chantal, from childhood to death. Its engrossing narrative is supported with extensive footnotes that provide the historical and cultural background to the saint’s life.
Emily Bowles was a nineteenth-century Catholic biographer known for writing about spiritual women. She was also a novelist and poet, in which Catholicism and spirituality were prominent themes.
Interested in other Counter-Reformers or spiritual writings from this era? You’ll love our Post-Reformation Catholic Thought and Piety Collection (27 vols.) and our Catholic Spirituality Collection (12 vols.).
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9/29/2014
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