Foster virtues that please God

Introduction to the Devout Life

Part III: Containing Counsels Concerning the Practice of Virtue

(summary of Chapters 1-15)

Group: John Baptist Barnabas, Amaladoss Sanjone, Lijo Vadakkan

John Baptist, Amaladoss and Lijo tackle Part Three of the Devout Life

Part three of the Introduction to the Devout Life takes the theme of how-to live the Christian life even farther than the earlier chapters. In this part the author explains how to practice individual virtues. Many virtues are described here, but at the same time St. Francis de Sales urges us to work on only one or a few virtues at a time, whatever needs strengthening in us the most. Probably each "Philothea" should begin by reading over all of the chapters, not yet following any of the instructions contained within, considering each virtue in turn.

We should choose a virtue which will go with our duties and not with our taste. St.Francis suggests that we should choose the best virtues and not the highly esteemed, the  most popular and the visible virtues. Every calling demands the practice of certain virtues. In practicing the virtues we should trust in wise man’s counsel and not trust in our own wisdom. We should always think well of those who practice virues although they practice them imperfectly.

Lijo poses with two little virtues in Ethiopia

By our patience we win our souls. This is very clearly seen in the life of our Lord Jesus. Be patient in whatever God sends in our lives.  Humility is an important virtue that we should practice. We should be like empty vessels in order to get filled with God’s graces. (Prophet Elisha and the widow). A man who aims at real goodness will not be keen about outward tokens of honour. Humility is a virtue that holds God’s abundant graces. So we have to accept the objection and lowliness in order to get filled with graces and favours like Mary our mother. Humility also forbids us to aim at praise, honour and glory. We should foster our virtues because they are pleasing to God.

Humility and meekness are important for us. Humility makes our lives acceptable to God and meekness makes us acceptable to men. In the practice of humility, we should learn to live without anger.  In all our everyday affairs and duties, we should lean solely on God’s providence, by means of which alone our plans can succeed. Love alone leads to perfection. But the three chief means for acquiring it are obedience, chastity and poverty. Obedience is the consecration of the heart, chastity of the body and poverty of all wordly goods to the love and service of God.

Each one of us need the virtue of purity. Purity is the lily among virtues by which we approach the angels. There is no beauty without purity. In order to be pure, we should be modest in our seeing, hearing, speaking, smelling and touching. Try to be poor. Never desire for others goods. Love the poor and poverty, this will lead us to be poor.

Amaladoss makes a point

Synthesis by Amaladoss Sanjone
Photo service: Joe Boenzi and Lijo Vadakkan