The Autobiography of Madame Guyon is a deeply moving and spiritually rich account of the life of Jeanne Marie Bouvier de la Motte Guyon, a 17th-century French mystic and advocate of Quietism. In this candid and heartfelt memoir, Madame Guyon shares the story of her spiritual journey, marked by profound experiences of divine love, intense personal suffering, and unwavering faith in God.
Born into a devout Catholic family, Madame Guyon recounts her early life, her arranged marriage, and her eventual embrace of a life devoted to prayer and spiritual contemplation. Her teachings on inner stillness, surrender to God, and the transformative power of divine grace challenged the religious norms of her time and brought her into conflict with both church authorities and society.
Through her autobiography, Madame Guyon provides insights into her mystical experiences and the trials she endured, including imprisonment for her beliefs. Her writings have inspired countless readers with their emphasis on the accessibility of a direct and personal relationship with God, free from intermediaries.
The Autobiography of Madame Guyon is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of faith, making it an essential read for anyone interested in Christian mysticism and the spiritual struggles of a remarkable woman.
– from the introduction:
“IN THE HISTORY of the world few persons have attained that high degree of spirituality reached by Madame Guyon. Born in a corrupt age, in a nation marked for its degeneracy; nursed and reared in a church, as profligate as the world in which it was embedded; persecuted at every step of her career; groping as she did in spiritual desolation and ignorance, nevertheless, she arose to the highest pinnacle of pre-eminence in spirituality and Christian devotion. She lived and died in the Catholic Church; yet was tormented and afflicted; was maltreated and abused; and was imprisoned for years by the highest authorities of that church.”
Download the book here (168 pages):
Madame Guyon Autobiography
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