A Man of Good Zeal: A Novel Based on the Life of Saint Francis de Sales

by John E. Beahn

A generation ago, those who wanted to learn more about Francis de Sales' life could turn to A Man of Good A Novel Based on the Life of St. Francis de Sales , published by American novelist John Edward Beahn in 1958. This imaginative re-telling of the saint's story, based on the historical records of his life and times, now comes to life again in the TAN Legend series of biographical fiction.

St. Francis was born in 1567 in Savoy, a duchy of the western Alps whose fortunes were largely shaped by developments in neighboring France, Switzerland, and Italy. Military and political conflicts there were heightened and complicated by religious tensions between Catholics and Protestants, whose leader John Calvin had settled in nearby Geneva and won a following in some districts of Savoy as well. Francis aristocratic father had great plans to position him for rapid advancement in this turbulent He sent the young man to law school, maneuvered for his appointment as a senator, and chose a noble heiress as his future wife—but God had other plans.

This new edition of A Man of Good A Novel Based on the Life of St. Francis de Sales tells the inspiring story of how Francis risked his life to win thousands back to the Catholic faith, transformed the Diocese of Geneva as its bishop, and wrote the spiritual classics that eventually led Rome to name him a Doctor of the Church.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Religion

252 pages, Paperback

First published May 19, 2012

About the author

John Edward Beahn (1910-1990) was born in Philadelphia, served in the United States Army during World War II, and became a business executive who discovered his writing gifts later in life. He contribute articles to several Catholic magazines and wrote popular biographical novels of the saints.

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very dry and difficult to read. The lack of a chapter structure makes it hard to find a good stopping point. This author has other great works but this one would not be among the best.

[Stephen Heiner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good novel written by John Beahn about the life of a Catholic saint. The subject this time is St Francis de Sales and as someone who has read his masterpiece, Introduction to the Devout Life, it was wonderful to see quotes from that text sprinkled throughout the novel as points of reference.

The conceit of using a cousin of St. Francis to give us distance with which to observe the development of St. Francis from minor noble to major prelate was also helpful.

"[S]uperiority over others is a responsibility rather than a privilege - that good masters, like good princes, attend to the welfare of their subordinates with confidence of receiving loyalty and acclaim, yet without seeking that as their principle end." (p. 13)"

"Condescension to the wishes of others is a derivative of charity which makes indifferent things good and dangerous things permissible." (p. 20)

"[T]hose who will not 'labor' to detach themselves from wealth, from power, from pleasures and the rest of worldly things cannot cultivate love for the Blessed Eucharist, and may even join those who oppose Christ's doctrine." (p. 35)

"[A]mongst the best of men there must always be divergent views, divergent opinions, and a degree of disagreement arising from different objectives." (p. 135)

"Just as the desire to be set over others as their governor...indicates an inordinate will, so also does absolute refusal to accept such appointment by one's superior." (p. 142)

"[F]or to bishops belongs the duty of perfecting all others, clergy and laity. 'It belongs to the perfection of a religious to occupy himself in working out his own salvation, whereas it belongs to the perfection of a bishop to work out the salvation of others." (p. 174)

"[T]he wound of love, granted by God, completely transforms the recipient." (p. 179)

"[S]ingularity is distinguished by St. Bernard as the fifth degree of pride." (p. 190)

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars for Beahn. 5 stars for Saint Francis himself.

Well - this novel about Saint Francis was a com si com sa rollercoaster experience. (So and so in french)

Quite frankly, I found the novel formation of this book not one I particularly like. Because Beahn narrates from the perspective of the character named Louis (who is in actual fact the cousin of Francis), you begin this novel trying to find out whether or not what he (Lewis) Is saying is true or false. Only to find out later that some of what the novel contains could be false - poses a big problem. Yes, Beahn does indeed use facts and quotes pericopes from the works of Saint Francis (which is great news for first time encounters with the works of Saint Francis), BUT however it is still a struggle to determine what Saint Francis has actually said or would of actually acted in such and such a scenario. You really do not grasp the true character of Saint Francis. And louis, mind you, is plain annoying.

Interestingly enough, as i have already read the sermons of Saint Francis prior to reading this, I find that the character depicted within the book is not AT ALL alike the Saint Francis you encounter within his own works.

It would be pertinent also to mention that towards the end of this book, Beahn starts to state propositions which I had a problem with.

For instance, on page 190 he speaks about Saint Jane Frances De Chantal, being at this point within this book where Saint Francis comes into contact with her. Beahn makes note describing a conversation where Saint Janes persistence in having Saint Francis as her spiritual director as she saw in her dream is being depicted.

Now here is where Beahn interposes and starts to say that dreams are "due often to natural causes than to divinely inspired ones"... and that even Francis was skeptical of dreams blah blah blah.

Now, here's the main problem. By the time I'm on page 150 I am feeling spiritually dry and irritated. So reading this novel has NOT been easy. At all. And to top it off, coming towards the end of the novel, where i just start to get into it again, Beahn has to make this sadistic comment!

I mean, I am making a face here. 😕 Beahn is no expert at dreams and looking back, all the way back into scripture, dreams were a common sign, commonly used by God Almighty. So, yes. I am having a problem with Beahn.

He actually states that the dream she had was due to the fact her husband died. I mean, i donot see how her husband dying would create, circumstantially stimulate within her brain this dream that shows her particularly Saint Francis as her director and her alongside him will open a new women religious order. I see a problem here with Beahn. He makes Saint Jane sound crazy.

And i bought the 3 other books, tan legends edition about Saints in the formation of a novel. Kill me now.

So, do I recommend this novel. No. The novel format for someone who is quite shallow and does not want to think or reflect or whatever will find this perfect. But for others who really want and NEED spiritual nourishment and development within their spiritual combatant lives should avoid this. Only on the condition that you are being introduced to this particular saint and his works do I even dare suggest for you to read it.

I hope this helps.

[Mary · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don’t like giving one stars to religious books, but this one was too dry for my liking.

[Gabrielle Maher · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t know if I would call this a “novel” as much as a biographical narration of life events in the first person with occasional dialogue. Despite it not being in the style of Louis de Wohl, I still enjoyed it. I didn’t know much about St. Francis’ life before I read it, and I felt that at the end that I knew his life and his spiritual charism. So now when I go to read his writings I understand more of why and who he wrote them for.

[Drew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. I’m not sure precisely why, but I enjoyed the first half more than the second half. If it had finished strong, I would rate it higher.

[Diego Estrada · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es una lectura casual y tranquila. A short win.

San Francisco de Sales es BUENO. Un santo noble, sin mucha locura o show. Hizo lo que tenía que hacer.