Our Lenten Journey with St Francis de Sales – 13 March – Monday of the Third Week in Lent – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“O Lord, deal with us,
not according to our sins,
nor requite us according to our iniquities.”
Psalm 102:10
“Hear, O God, my prayer,
and despise not my supplication.
Be attentive to me and hear me.
I am grieved in my exercise
and am troubled,”
Psalm 54:2-3
TRUE AND LIVING DEVOTION
St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritas
“ONE MAN SETS GREAT VALUE on fasting and believes himself to be leading a very devout life, as long as he fasts rigorously, although, the while, his heart is full of bitterness — and while he will not moisten his lips with wine, perhaps not even with water, in his great abstinence, he does not scruple to steep them in his neighbour’s blood, through slander and detraction.
Another man reckons himself as devout because he repeats many prayers daily, although. at the same time. he does not refrain from all manner of angry, irritating, conceited or insulting speeches among his family and neighbours.
This man freely opens his purse in almsgiving but closes his heart to all gentle and forgiving feelings towards those who are opposed to him, while that one is ready enough to forgive his enemies but will never pay his rightful debts, save under pressure.
Meanwhile, all these people are conventionally called religious but, nevertheless, they are in no true sense really devout. …
But, in fact, all true and living devotion presupposes the love of God — and indeed, it is neither more, nor less, than a very real love of God, … And forasmuch as devotion consists in a high degree of real love, it not only makes us ready, active and diligent, in following all God’s Commands but, it also excites us to be ready and loving, in performing as many good works as possible … Devotion is simply a spiritual activity and liveliness, by means of which, Divine Love works in us.” – ( Introduction to the Devout Life, Chapter 1: What true devotion is.)
AnaStpaul 