2. The Joy and Beauty of True Devotion

My dear Philothea,

Some people speak about the devout life the way the Israelites once spoke about the Promised Land. They warned everyone not to go there. They said it was a terrible place where people could not survive, and where giants lived who would destroy anyone who entered.

That is how many people talk about devotion today. They imagine that people who love God are always gloomy, serious, and unhappy. They think a holy life is dull, lonely, and full of sadness.

But Joshua and Caleb told the truth. They said the Promised Land was beautiful, rich, and well worth entering. In the same way, Jesus and the saints assure us that a life devoted to God is not miserable at all. It is joyful, peaceful, and deeply satisfying.

The world notices the sacrifices that devout people make. It sees them praying, helping the sick, giving to the poor, forgiving those who hurt them, fasting, and denying themselves many pleasures. From the outside, these things can seem difficult and even unpleasant.

What the world cannot see is the love inside the heart.

Love for God changes everything.

Think of bees gathering nectar from bitter thyme. The plant itself tastes bitter, yet the bees transform it into sweet honey. Devout souls do something similar. The sacrifices they make may be hard at first, but love turns them into something sweet. What once seemed difficult becomes a joy.

That is why the martyrs could endure terrible sufferings with peace and even happiness. Their love for God was so great that it filled their hearts with a sweetness stronger than pain.

Devotion is like sugar added to fruit. It softens what is bitter and makes what is good even more delightful.

It brings peace to the poor and contentment to the rich. It gives comfort to those who suffer and humility to those who are honored. It brings hope to the lonely and self-control to those surrounded by pleasures.

Devotion warms the heart in the cold winters of life and refreshes it during life’s hot summers. It teaches us how to be thankful when we have plenty and patient when we have little. It helps us receive both praise and criticism with a peaceful heart. It teaches us to accept both joys and sorrows with trust in God.

In every season of life, devotion fills the soul with a quiet sweetness that the world cannot give.

Think, too, of Jacob’s ladder in Scripture. It is a beautiful picture of the devout life.

The two sides of the ladder are prayer and the sacraments. They hold everything together and draw us closer to God.

Each step on the ladder is another act of charity, another virtue, another step toward holiness.

Sometimes we climb upward by prayer and contemplation, drawing closer to God. At other times we climb downward by serving our neighbor with love. Both movements belong to the same holy life.

People who live this way seem almost like angels walking on earth. They are full of life because God’s grace strengthens them. They know how to lift their hearts to heaven in prayer, yet they also know how to walk beside others with kindness and friendship.

Their faces are cheerful because they accept whatever God sends with peace. Their thoughts, words, and actions have one simple purpose—to please God. They use the good things of this world with gratitude, but they are never ruled by them.

Such is the beauty of a truly devout soul.

Believe me, dear Philothea, devotion is the very flower of charity. If charity is milk, devotion is its rich cream. If charity is a flourishing plant, devotion is its beautiful blossoms. If charity is a precious jewel, devotion is its brilliant sparkle. If charity is a fragrant balm, devotion is its sweet perfume—a fragrance that brings joy to people on earth and delight to the angels in heaven.

1. What Devotion Really Is

 

 
You want to live a devout life, dear Philothea, because you are a Christian and you know that devotion is very pleasing to God. But before you begin, you must understand what true devotion really is.

A small mistake made at the beginning can become a much greater mistake later. In the end, it may be very hard to correct. There is only one true devotion, but there are many false kinds that only look like devotion. Unless you learn to tell the difference, you may be deceived and begin following strange ideas or empty religious practices.

There was once a painter named Aurelius who made every face in his paintings look like the woman he loved. In much the same way, people often shape devotion according to their own likes, habits, and opinions.

A person who loves fasting may think he is very devout because he eats very little. Yet at the same time, his heart may be filled with bitterness and anger. He may be very careful not to drink wine, or perhaps even water, but he is not careful about speaking badly of his neighbor. By gossiping, accusing, and ruining another person’s good name, he does far more harm than he would by taking a drink.

Another person may believe himself devout because he says many prayers every day. But as soon as his prayers are finished, he speaks proudly, sharply, and unkindly to the people in his home and to his neighbors.

Someone else may gladly reach into his purse and give money to the poor. Yet he cannot find enough gentleness in his heart to forgive an enemy.

Another person may forgive his enemies easily, but he will not pay the money he honestly owes unless he is forced to do so.

People sometimes call such persons devout, but they are not truly devout at all.

When King Saul’s servants came to David’s house looking for him, David’s wife, Michal, placed a statue in his bed and covered it with David’s clothes. From a distance, it looked like David was lying there. But it was only a statue dressed to resemble him.

Some people do something very much like this. They cover themselves with the outward signs of devotion. They say prayers, fast, attend religious services, or perform other holy-looking actions. Because of this, the world believes they are truly devout. But beneath the outward appearance, there may be no real devotion at all. They are only imitations of devotion, like a statue dressed in someone else’s clothes.

True devotion, dear Philothea, begins with a deep and complete love of God. It cannot be only a small part of our life while the rest of our heart remains unchanged.

God’s love within the soul may be spoken of in different ways.

When divine love makes the soul beautiful and pleasing to God, it is called grace.

When this love gives us strength to do what is good, it is called charity.

But when charity becomes so strong that we do good eagerly, faithfully, often, and with a willing heart, it is called devotion.

Think of different kinds of birds.

An ostrich does not fly at all. A hen may fly, but only a little way. She rises slowly and heavily, and she does not fly very often. Eagles, doves, and swallows are different. They rise high into the air, and they fly swiftly and often.

Sinners are like the ostrich. Their hearts do not rise toward God. Their thoughts and desires remain close to the earth and fixed upon worldly things.

Good people who have not yet grown strong in devotion are a little like hens. They do rise toward God through their prayers and good works, but they may do so slowly, rarely, and with some difficulty.

Devout souls are like eagles, doves, and swallows. They rise toward God often and gladly. Their good works are more ready, loving, and generous. They do not have to be dragged along the path of goodness. Their love gives them wings.

Devotion is the joyful strength and readiness that God’s love places within us. Charity works in us through devotion, and devotion helps us perform works of charity with eagerness and affection.

Charity teaches us to obey all of God’s commandments without leaving any of them out. Devotion helps us obey those commandments carefully, promptly, and cheerfully.

A person who refuses to keep God’s commandments cannot truly be called either good or devout. To be good, a person must possess charity, which is the love of God. To be devout, that love must also be active, willing, and joyful in doing good.

Devotion does even more than help us obey what God commands. It encourages us to perform other good works that are not strictly required but are lovingly recommended to us. It makes us more willing to follow God’s gentle counsels and the good inspirations He places within our hearts.

Think of a person who has just recovered from a serious illness. At first, he walks only as much as he must. Even then, he walks slowly and carefully because he is still weak.

A sinner who has recently turned away from sin may be like this. He begins to walk along the path of God’s commandments. He does what God asks, but perhaps he does it slowly and with difficulty. His heart has begun to heal, but it has not yet grown strong.

When he grows in devotion, he becomes like a person restored to full health. He no longer walks slowly because he must. He runs and even springs forward along the way of God’s commandments.

He also advances eagerly along the paths of God’s counsels and inspirations. When he sees an opportunity to do good, he does not turn away or delay. Love makes him ready.

Charity and devotion are not two completely different things. They are as closely joined as fire and flame.

Charity is the spiritual fire of God’s love burning within the soul. When that fire becomes bright, warm, and active, its flame is called devotion.

Devotion does not add a different kind of love to charity. It causes that love to burn more brightly. It makes us ready, active, and diligent in obeying God’s commandments. It also helps us respond generously to His counsels and to the quiet inspirations He places in our hearts.

True devotion, then, is not merely saying many prayers, fasting often, giving money away, or appearing religious before others. All these things may be good, but they are not true devotion unless they come from a loving and obedient heart.

True devotion is loving God so deeply that we become ready and glad to serve Him. It is doing what is good not only because we must, but because we love Him.

Charity is the fire.

Devotion is the flame.