Devotion: Finding the Right Fit

Introduction to the Devout Life
part 1, chapters 1 -4.
English-speaking Group 2
Caesar DIZON (Filippine), Showrilu CHINNABATHUNI (India), Joseph MINJA (Tanzania)

A). what has struck us in terms of content?
- emphasis on devotion life
- images used [of persons such as- Arelius, Saul, Joshua, Caleb, David, Michal, Jacob Abraham, Isaac, David, Job, Tobias, Sarah, Rebecca, Judith; expressions – charity, love, countries; Israel, promised land

Most striking were the following: (a) That your devotion must fit your vocation; (b) that devotion helps you fulfill your duties better; (c) That it is necessary to have a spiritual guide; (d) that we should not be discouraged by our imperfections; (e) that it is not enough to be purified from sin but also from the attachment to sin.

B). what images have stayed with me, and what do they say to me?
- When I read the advice that one’s devotion should be consistent with one’s vocation, I was reminded of Don Bosco telling Dominic Savio not to take any form of penance that is not appropriate to him.
- youth
- mother Teresa of Culcuta

C). what difficulties do I encounter in reading this text (1607 vs 2007)?
- to personalize/ make it personal from whomever it was written to.

D). what do I take from these chapters of the the Introduction to the Devout Life as useful to share with others in my apostolate (formation, parish, youth ministry, school)?
- guiding
- seek the will of God
- Importance of the spiritual direction and a spiritual director
- spiritual exercises
- When giving spiritual direction, I must always take into consideration the concrete life situation of my directee.

(Joseph)