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IDL of SFS for IDEAL LIFE

IDL-1. Theme: True Devotion

IDL of SFS:

St. Francis De Sales says, “Devotion is a virtue very pleasing to God. Small mistakes made at the beginning of any project grow infinitely great as it progresses and in the end are almost impossible to correct. Hence you should know, before everything, what is the virtue of devotion.

There is only one true devotion while there is a very large number of false and meaningless ones. So if you cannot recognize true devotion, you could be deceived and waste time in following some devotion that is irrelevant and irrational.”  (Ref: SFS – IDL, Part-1, Chapter – 1, p. 35)

IDEAL for LIFE:

Today all of us seek devotion and are in need of devotion to grow in faith and love of God. But most of us run after seeking God in false and meaningless devotions which can dissuade us from the focus that we move towards God. So let us carefully choose and begin the path of devotion, in order that we please God through our pious practices and please God in just and right ways.

God bless us all... Live Jesus!

IDL-2. Theme: True Devotion

IDL of SFS:

St. Francis De Sales says, “Dear Philothea, devotion that is true and living presupposes the love of God, rather it is nothing else that a true love of God. It is not however love as such. In so far as divine love enriches us it is called grace, which makes us pleasing to God. In so far as it gives us the strength to do good, it is called charity. But when it grows to such a degree of perfection that it makes us not only to do good but rather moves us to do it carefully, frequently and promptly, it is called devotion.” (Ref: *SFS – IDL, Part-1, Chapter – 1, p. 36* )

IDEAL for LIFE:

Today we express our love in different ways. We love God, people, objects, nature, birds and animals, privileges and powers of the world. But we do not love God enough who created all that exists in the world. Most of us do not love God, may be because we do not see him visibly. Let us remind ourselves that just as we devote ourselves to things, people and honorary titles and privileges of the world, if we devote our lives in loving God, life will be lovely and loveable for all. So let us love God and show our true and genuine devotion with everyone and everything in the world. 

 *God bless us all... Live Jesus!*

IDL-3. Theme: True Devotion

IDL of SFS:

St. Francis De Sales says, “Ostriches never fly, hens fly only awkwardly, quite low and rarely; but eagles, doves and swallows fly often, swiftly and very high. In the same way, sinners do not fly towards God but rather all their movements are on the earth and for the things of the earth. People who are good, but have not yet progressed in devotion, fly towards God by their good deeds but rarely, slowly and with difficulty. Persons who are devout fly to God frequently, promptly and freely.” (Ref: SFS – IDL, Part-1, Chapter – 1, p. 36)

IDEAL for LIFE:

As much our efforts so much shall be our reach to the destiny of devout life. Efforts make us great and help us to see the pinnacle of success in spiritual fervour or any project of life for that matter. The good efforts done by good people for a good purpose always bear fruit. Similarly, in the path of devotion, we need to put as much efforts as possible to obtain spiritual maturity and become closely united with God.  So let us not be like ostriches or hens that fly rarely but let us be like eagles or swallows flying very high to reach the point of success in devout life.

God bless us all... Live Jesus!

IDL-4. Theme: True Devotion

IDL of SFS:

St. Francis De Sales says, “Devotion is nothing else than a spiritual agility and liveliness by means of which charity realises its actions in u s, or we do so by charity, promptly and lovingly. Just as it is the work of charity to make us keep all the commandments of God in general and without any exception, so it is the work of devotion to make us do so promptly and earnestly. Therefore, whoever does not keep all of God’s commandments cannot be considered either good or devout, because to be good one must have charity.” (Ref: SFS – IDL, Part-1, Chapter – 1, p. 36)

IDEAL for LIFE:

Today some of us have a general opinion that devotion or a devout person means to spend time in churches or holy places whole day or larger portion of his or her life. It is true that spending time in the church or holy place makes us holy or contributes to be devout. But it does not suffice, because, devotion and devout way of life becomes meaningful when visibly and meaningfully done in charitable actions.

Most of us are satisfied being happy and contented in devotion by remaining seated in worship places but outside worship places, we act differently and are indifferent to the situations and circumstances of life. Charitable actions please God and the other to whom the act is done. Charitable actions make us good and devout, when we follow the commands of God and live by his commands in our lives. So let us make efforts to manifest our devotion in charitable actions loving, helping, supporting, encouraging and caring for one another in kindness.

God bless us all... Live Jesus!

IDL-5. Theme: True Devotion

IDL of SFS:

St. Francis De Sales says, “A man, who has recently recovered from some illness, walks only as much as he needs to, but slowly and with difficulty. So also a sinner healed of his sinfulness moves ahead to the extent that God commands him and that too slowly and with difficulty until he acquires devotion. After that, like a man in good health he not only walks but runs joyfully in the way of God’s commandments (Ps 118: 32). Even more, he moves ahead and runs in the path of God’s counsels and inspirations.” (Ref: SFS – IDL, Part-1, Chapter – 1, p. 37)

IDEAL for LIFE:

We all of us know how difficult it is exert our bodies when we are sickly or ill. We feel wearisome and worn out. We long to be well again to begin life as usual without sickness or illness, because, life goes well when we are not mentally, physically, spiritually sick. Just as a healthy person understands the importance of the body, mind, and spirit when one is unhealthy or sickly so also a sinner understands the power of grace when in sin and wishes to obtain grace to make oneself active and alive in the world.

The power of devotion is such that once we acquire it life becomes graceful, peaceful and joyful. So let us engage in devout practises that make us run after and run towards God for fullness of life, for fullness of life is obtained when we completely devote our lives in loving God and his creation.

God bless us all... Live Jesus!

IDL-6. Theme: The Nature and Goodness of Devotion

IDL of SFS:

St. Francis De Sales says, “To discourage the Israelites from entering the Promised Land, they were told that it was a country that devoured its inhabitants. It  was implied that its climate was so unhealthy that no one would be able to live there for long, and further that the people there were monsters who devoured other men like locusts (Num 13: 33-34). In the same way, my dear Philothea, the world defames holy devotion as much as it can. It represents devout persons with faces that are dissatisfied, sad and sulky. It proclaims that devotion makes people depressed and unbearable.” (Ref: SFS – IDL, Part-1, Chapter – 1, pp. 37-38)

IDEAL for LIFE:

The discouragement and distractions are all over, in a specific manner for being good and devout in life. The good and devout are put to test a lot, undergo pains and sufferings; they are shown as people sad and sorrowful, distressed and depressed. But in actuality devout life does not devour us with pains and sadness rather it gives us delightful and joyful experience of being with God and with one another.

Although Israelites were discouraged in going to Promised Land but by the insistence of Joshua and Caleb that it was good and beautiful, the Israelites were able to reach the Promised Land (Num 14: 7-8). The Catholic Church presents to us every day the lives of Saints were pleasant, beautiful and pious, although they had to face difficulties and temptations. They had their tempting hours; we too have today various tempting ways and means, moments and hours in the world. We need to let go temptations and sufferings of life and sore high in the path of devotion, a pleasurable experience and journey with God and one another.

God bless us all... Live Jesus!

IDL-7. Theme: Nature and Goodness of Devotion

IDL of SFS:

St. Francis De Sales says, The world sees the devout persons fast, pray, put up with insults, serve the sick, give to the poor, keep awake to pray, control their anger, stifle and smother their passions, deny themselves sensual pleasures. They do these as well as other kinds of actions which, in themselves and of their very nature and character are difficult and austere. But the world does not see the interior and whole-hearted devotion which makes all these actions pleasant, delightful and easy.” (Ref: SFS – IDL, Part-1, Chapter – 1, p. 38)

IDEAL for LIFE:

Most of us look at the external factors and come to a conclusion as pleasant or unpleasant about an act done. But looking at a little deeper level, we come know that most of the times what we see or manifest externally need not necessarily be the same internally. Some of us smile or laugh externally but cry internally or some of us cry externally but inwardly experience a kind of consolation and healing.

In order to be devout we undertake various ways and means of purification or cleansing process. The process or pathways externally may be seen as something difficult or different, but there is an internal and whole-hearted joy and peace.  So let us not judge the book by its cover rather read in it what’s inside to find the original treasure stored. Devotion has a pleasant surprise and a joyful ambience in and around us, let us experience the treasure of devotion by doing it and experiencing it.

God bless us all... Live Jesus!

IDL-8. Theme: Nature and Goodness of Devotion

IDL of SFS:

St. Francis De Sales says, “Look at the bees on the thyme. They find there a very bitter juice, but as they suck it they change it into honey since that is their nature. Worldly people! It is true that the devout find much bitterness in their exercises of mortification, but in doing them they change them into the most delightful sweetness. The fires, the flames, the wheels and the swords were like flowers and perfumes to the Martyrs because they were devout. If the most cruel torments, and even death itself, are made delightful by devotion, what will it not do for the practice of virtue?”   (Ref: SFS – IDL, Part-1, Chapter – 2, p. 38)

IDEAL for LIFE:

We all know that there is no gain without pain. Pain or sorrow is something that haunts us at all times, irrespective of religion and region, generation and gender. But what shapes us or sharpens or strengthens us is our pain and suffering that we go through. It gives us learning experience to deal with things of life.

Our natural tendency as human beings is to pick up the delightful moments than sorrowful moments, because that’s how we are and that’s how we usually dispose ourselves. But we need to understand that bitter experiences give us better moments if not now but later for sure. At times in pursuit of devotion, we experience failings and fallings in life. If martyrdom can give delights of devotion, certainly the practice of virtue in the path of devotion could give us more delights. So let us not give up such efforts rather try to devote ourselves to devout ways and devotions of life, thus experience the delight of joy from God.

God bless us all... Live Jesus!

IDL-9. Theme: Nature and Goodness of Devotion

IDL of SFS:

St. Francis De Sales says, “Sugar sweetens fruits that are not quite ripe and puts right anything unpleasant or harmful in those that are fully ripe. Indeed, devotion is the true spiritual sugar, removing unpleasantness from mortifications, and what may be hurtful from consolations. Devotion takes away discontent from the poor and anxiety from the rich, despair from the oppressed and arrogance from the powerful, sadness from the lonely and dissipation from one who is with others. Devotion serves as fire in winter and dew in summer. It is able to live in prosperity and suffer need. It draws equal profit from honour and contempt. It receives pleasure and pain with a heart that hardly changes and fills us with a wonderful delight.”  (Ref: SFS – IDL, Part-1, Chapter – 2, p. 38)

IDEAL for LIFE:

We all know the nature of sugar. It adds taste to mouth and gives a pleasant experience, unless otherwise when our intake of sugar is more and makes it unpleasant and insatiable. Devotion is compared to sugar that sweetens the fruits and keeps away the unripe fruit from harm. Devotion is as well compared to winter season when we need the warmth and to summer season when we need chillness for the body.

Devotion has the power to give us the most delightful experiences of sweetness, warmth and chillness, provided we do it without exaggeration and extremes. Most of us experience devotion as burdensome and unfruitful, it is because we have an exaggerated form of devotion or have not yet begun the right forms of devotion. So let us experience devotion as delight by following genuine paths leading to devotion.  Let us make the experience of devotion sweet, make it warm and chill to soothe the mind, heart, body and soul.

God bless us all... Live Jesus! 

IDL-10. Theme: Nature and Goodness of Devotion

IDL of SFS: 

St. Francis De Sales says, “Look carefully at Jacob’s ladder (Gen. 28:10ff) since it is a true image of the devout life. The two sides, between which we go up, and to which the rungs are fixed, represent prayer which asks for and receives the love of God and the Sacraments which give it. The rungs are the various degrees of charity by which we move from virtue to virtue, either coming down by action to help and support our neighbor or going up by contemplation to loving union with God.”  (Ref: SFS – IDL, Part-1, Chapter – 2, p. 39)

IDEAL for LIFE: 

We all of us know that ladder helps us to go up and come down safe and secure. We also have observed the rungs which are bars made of iron or clubs to support our climbing up and down the ladder. The devotion is compared to a ladder, which helps us walk towards God with a delightful experience and at the same time the more we go up to God in devotion the better we shall reach out to brothers and sisters in need. 

The bars of ladder are a different degree of pious practices that we engage by means of prayers, sacraments, virtues, values and good works. Most of us are not able to climb the ladder up and down, because of the unfocussed mind and unsteady feet. We are distracted, get slipped and fall down. Let us remember, devotion cannot be reached all of a sudden, it takes time, and it needs focussed mind and steady feet. So let us walk towards the path of devotion slowly but steadily, consistently but carefully. 

God bless us all... Live Jesus!