The following is from the 1885 version of The Devout Life by Saint Frances de Sales. I will be reading this book in the coming months (the 2022 Ascension Publishing Group version by Catholic Classics – pictured) and offering my own commentary. Some years ago I began a path of devotion in my life, praying every day, reading the Bible every day, and heading the call of the Holy Spirit on my life. It changed my life drastically for the better, and I have since put a lot of importance into daily devotions to keep me centered and focused on the things of God.
PART I
COUNSELS AND PRACTICES SUITABLE FOR THE SOUL’S
GUIDANCE FROM THE FIRST ASPIRATION AFTER
A DEVOUT LIFE TO THE POINT WHEN IT ATTAINS
A CONFIRMED RESOLUTION TO FOLLOW THE SAME.
CHAPTER I
What True Devotion Is
You aspire to devotion, Philothea, because, being a
Christian, you know it to be a virtue extremely
pleasing to the Divine Majesty. But since small
faults, committed in the beginning of any business,
grow in the progress much greater, and become in
the end almost irreparable, you must first know what
the virtue of devotion is; for, since there is but one
true kind, and many vain and counterfeit, if you
cannot distinguish that which is true, you may easily
be deceived, and attach yourself to some imprudent
and superstitious devotion.
As Aurelius painted all the faces of his pictures to
the air and resemblance of the woman he loved, so
everyone paints devotion according to his own passion
and fancy. He that is addicted to fasting thinks
himself very devout if he fasts, even though his heart
be at the same time full of rancour; and scrupling
to moisten his tongue with wine, or even with water,
through sobriety, he makes no difficulty of drinking
deep of his neighbour’s blood by detraction and
calumny. Another accounts himself devout if he
recites daily a multiplicity of prayers, though he
immediately afterwards utters the most disagreeable,
arrogant, and injurious words amongst his domestics
and neighbours. Another cheerfully draws an alms
out of his purse to relieve the poor, but cannot draw
meekness out of his heart to forgive his enemies.
Another readily forgives his enemies, but by some
means, never satisfies his creditors but by constraint.
These are esteemed devout, when, in reality, they
are by no means so.
Here I see the author pointing out what true devotion is, not just an occasional doing of good, but rather a constant practice. Although I think that small, less frequent acts are certainly a type of devotion, the author here is going to the heart of the matter, really emphasizing what devotion ought to be. The other point, is that we can be very practiced and wise in some forms of devotion, yet still heed to other vices. As the author continues he will bring to light the importance of the fullness of devotion in all things, that is, being aligned with what God commands us to do with our lives. Doing so, I believes, brings great fulfillment and maturity to our lives.
As Saul’s servants sought David in his house,
Michol laid a statue in his bed, and covering it with
David’s clothes, made them believe it was David
himself; so many persons, by covering themselves
with certain external actions belonging to devotion,
make the world believe that they are truly devout,
whereas they are actually nothing but statues and
phantoms of devotion.
True devotion, Philothea, presupposes, not a partial,
but a thorough love of God. For inasmuch as
divine love adorns the soul, it is called grace, making
us pleasing to the Divine Majesty; inasmuch as it
gives us the strength to do good, it is called charity ;
but when it has arrived at that degree of perfection,
by which it not only makes us act well, but also work
diligently, frequently, and readily, then it is called
devotion.
What a beautiful quote that is, and really sums up some key Christian concepts: grace, charity and devotion. There is a lot today in Christendom around grace, and it really is an introductory concept, realizing the beauty of God’s plan with the world and His salvation for us.
As ostriches never fly; as hens fly low, heavily, and
but seldom ; and as eagles, doves, and swallows fly
aloft, swiftly and frequently, so sinners fly, not to
wards God, but direct all their courses on the earth,
and towards worldly objects; and good people who
have not as yet attained to devotion fly towards God
by their good works, but rarely, slowly, and heavily;
whereas devout souls fly up to Him by more frequent,
prompt, and lofty flights. In short, devotion is
nothing but that spiritual agility and vivacity, by
which charity works in us, or we by her, with alacrity
and affection; and as it is the business of charity to
make us observe all God’s commandments generally
and without exception, so it is the part of devotion to
make us observe them cheerfully and with diligence.
Wherefore, he who observes not all the commandments
of God, cannot be esteemed either good or
devout; since to be good, he must be possessed of
charity, and to be devout, besides charity, he must
show cheerfulness and alacrity in the performance
of charitable actions.
“He who observes not all the commandments of God, cannot be esteemed either good or devout…” This quote threw me off at first, thinking one has to follow all the commandments to be considered good. The key word here I think is “esteemed.” To be esteemed, meaning held with great respect, then yes the fullness of all the commandments should be realized.
As devotion, then, consists in a certain excellent
degree of charity, it makes us not only active and
diligent in the observance of God’s commandments,
but it also excites us to the performance of every good
work with an affectionate alacrity, not commanded,
indeed, but only counselled. For as a man newly
recovered from any infirmity walks as much as is
necessary for him, but slowly and at his leisure, so a
sinner, just healed of his iniquities, walks as fast as
God commands him, yet slowly and heavily, till such
time as he attains to devotion; for then, like a man in
sound health, he not only walks, but runs and springs
forward in the way of God’s commandments, and,
moreover, advances with rapidity in the paths of his
heavenly counsels and inspirations.
To conclude: charity and devotion differ no more
one from another than the fire does from the flame ;
for charity is a spiritual fire which, when inflamed,
is called devotion. Hence it appears that devotion
adds nothing to the fire of charity, but the flame,
which makes it ready, active, and diligent, not only
in the observance of the commandments of God, but
also in the execution of his heavenly counsels and
inspirations.
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