GUILORÉ, François. - Jesuit, spiritual director, b. Dec. 25, 1615, at Croisic (Nantes), d. June 29, 1684, in Paris. Having asked the Father General to be assigned to rural missions, his request was granted, and from 1656 he devoted himself to spiritual ministries and preaching.
In 1673, transferred to the novitiate in Paris, he spent the rest of his days there in hearing confessions, providing spiritual direction both within and outside the community, and in confraternities and charitable associations (such as that of the magistrates in Paris), works of preservation, assistance to prisoners, similar to the future societies of St. Vincent.
G. is counted among the most eminent spiritual writers of the 17th century; his works, with many editions, translations, and reprints, had already reached 60,000 copies during his lifetime. The most notable are: *Maximes spirituelles pour la conduite des âmes* (Paris 1670); *Les secrets de la vie spirituelle, qui en découvert les illusions* (ibid. 1673; ed. Watrigant, ibid. 1922); *Les progrès de la vie spirituelle selon les différents états de l'âme* (ibid. 1675); *Conférences spirituelles pour bien mourir à soy-meme et pour bien aimer Jésus* (ibid. 1683); *Retraite pour les dames* (ibid. 1684); *Les oeuvres spirituelles du p. F. G.* (ibid. 1684).