Introduction to the Devout Life
Part 1, chapters 9 to 24
A report of the second group discussion involving
Fr. John Christy, Fr. Lourdusamy Arokiadoss and Fr. Mackley Gomes
1. What strikes me in these chapters?
Through his prescribed exercises in the form of picturesque meditations, St Francis De Sales in his Bestseller Filotea gently guides a soul to make a free fundamental option to break away from apparent but false good to the real and true good
- A resolute breakaway from Mortal Sin.
- A continuous struggle with Venial sin
- A detachment from worldly distractions
- A conviction to remain alert and maintain a spirit of temperance through mortifications.
2. What significance do these chapters have in the following sectors?
In formation? And with the younger confreres?
- Cultivating a non-judgmental and non-confrontational attitude in the formator toward those in formation.
- Developing the method of loving kindness and not of instilling fear
- Introducing the lovely meditation techniques
- Building convictions based on love and freedom as opposed to cultivating compulsive habits motivated by fear and conformism.
- Instilling in those being formed a taste of real love and a gradual repugnance and distaste for sin.
- Gently leading them to make a general confession, and Persevere in their quest -- in striving towards perfection
In school?
- Imbibing the skill of narrating Lively imaginative stories which motivate the young students to act out of conviction rather than conformism
- Give them a taste for a True Love and Spiritual Life
With people in the parish community?
- Learn to Inspire the faithful
- Never Judge and condemn, but understand and encourage
- Gently prepare the faithful for reception of the sacraments
- Help the faithful realize that it’s a lifelong process and offer to be a companion along life’s Journey
- Encourage people to take resolutions and keep them through self motivated and true love motives sacrifices and mortifications.
Report by Mackley
Photos by
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