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Treasures from the Divine Office The 24th January is the feast day of St. Francis De Sales; he was important to the renaissance of the Catholic faith after the Reformation. He founded the Institute of the Visitation and many other associations and several religious congregations have been formed under his patronage including the Salesians. The Reading in the Daily Office for that day is from one of his many publications ‘The Devout Life’. The passage is from the “Introduction”, which is a masterpiece of psychology, practical morality, and common sense, and was translated into nearly every language even in the lifetime of the author, and it has since gone through innumerable editions. In it we read his advice as to how we cope with our every day lives and still bear fruit in our devotional (spiritual) lives.
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| Reading from the Introduction to
the Devout Life by St Francis de Sales
At the creation God commanded the plants to bear fruit each according to its kind and he likewise commands Christians, the living branches of the vine, to bear fruit by practising devotion according to their state in life. The practice of devotion must differ for the gentleman and the artisan, the servant and the prince, for the widow, the young girl or wife. Further, it must be adapted to their particular strength, circumstances and duties. Is the solitary life of a Carthusian suited to a bishop ? Should those who are married practise the poverty of a Capuchin ? If workmen spent as much time in church as religious, if religious were exposed to the same pastoral calls as a bishop, such devotion would be ridiculous and cause intolerable disorder. Yet this foolish mistake is often made. True devotion never causes harm, but rather perfects everything we do; a devotion which conflicts with anyone’s state of life is undoubtedly false. The bee sucks honey from the flowers without injuring them, leaving them as whole and fresh as when it found them. Devotion goes further, not only is it unharmful to any state of life; it adorns and beautifies it. Precious stones of all kinds when steeped in honey become more brilliant thereby, each one according to its colour, so every one becomes more loveable and more perfect in his vocation if he combines it with devotion. It makes the care of family peaceful, the love of husband and wife more sincere, the service of one’s king more faithful, and every task more pleasant and a joy. It is not only erroneous, but a heresy, to hold
that life in the army, the workshop, the court, or the home is incompatible
with devotion. Purely contemplative; monastic or religious devotion
cannot be practised in these callings; yet, these are not the only kinds
of devotion; there are many others suitable for those who live in the
world, and capable of leading them to perfection.
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