Devout life: pleasant, happy and loveable

An Introduction to the Devout Life
Part 1, Chapters 1-8

Group members: Ed, Suwan, Bancha & Linda

In our group we shared and agreed that St. Francis writes in a conversational style that is both simple and personal for the reader. This simple use of language allows the ‘ordinary’ person to access his work; he introduces holiness as an option for everyone; he makes the distinction between charity and devotion; furthermore he emphasizes the importance of having a ‘good’ spiritual director and finally he informs us that we must begin with self-purification before we embark on this journey towards the devout life and that this should be ongoing.

All of us felt inspired and personally challenged to share the following with others; to try and adopt and promote this type of holiness with the young; advise others to seek spiritual direction as part of their lives; to challenge ourselves to begin this journey ourselves (self purification) and finally that we witness to the way of ‘holiness’ through a devout life as being “pleasant, happy and loveable”, as described by Francis himself.