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Madame Jeanne Guyon was one
of the main leaders and writers of the
seventeenth century movement known as
Quietism, which downplayed the
importance of works in religion and
emphasized a total surrender to God.
Soon after her marriage as a
teenager to a wealthy middle-aged
nobleman, Jeanne came to realize that true
happiness could only be found in devotion to
God. She turned her back on high society
life and spent her time reading devotional
books and doing charitable works. She became
influential in the French courts, where she
helped many women live a pure life.
Her teachings were in sharp contrast to the
lavish and sexually immoral culture of the
day.
After the death of her
husband, Jeanne dedicated herself entirely
to Christian ministry. She traveled through
the towns of France and Switzerland,
reaching out to all segments of society,
sharing her insights on how to live a holy
life. Hers was not a public ministry, but
mainly one of personal evangelism,
challenging people to live a holy life by
placing their faith in Christ.
While respected by many,
Madam Guyon was often despised by the Church
and spent several years in prison for her
teachings on the possibility of knowing God
on a personal level. Though her church
leaders often despised her, she remained
true to her Catholic roots until death.
Despite the controversy she causes, her
writings were embraced by both Catholics and
Protestants in France, Germany, Holland, and
England, sparking personal revival as her
follows were drawn into a more personal
relationship with God with a deeper devotion
to Him.
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