The Characteristics of True Devotion

First published in Paris in 1788, The Characteristics of True Devotion is one of the clearest and most practical guides ever written on the subject of real Catholic piety. In these pages, Father Jean Nicolas Grou, S.J., explains what devotion truly is—not a collection of feelings or outward practices, but a firm and generous dedication of the heart to God. He shows how to recognize true devotion, what its purpose is, why it matters, and how it can be lived out in ordinary life, whether in the cloister or in the world.

This edition is based on the earliest and most trustworthy English translation, made by Father Alexander Clinton, S.J., during Father Grou’s exile in England. The text has been carefully compared with the original French and other English versions, to preserve the clarity and simplicity of the author’s teaching while correcting past errors and omissions. The result is a reliable version of a book that, despite its earlier popularity, is now hard to find in print.

Readers will find in this book a helpful way to examine their own spiritual life and to measure it not by passing emotions or external actions, but by a sincere and steady desire to please God in all things. It is particularly useful for those who want to avoid falling into self-deception or shallow forms of piety. Father Grou’s practical counsel, firmly rooted in Catholic Tradition, remains a sure guide for anyone seeking to serve God with a pure heart.