Journeys and guides

Introduction to the Devout Life

Part First, Chapters 1 to 8

A report of the group discussion involving

Fr. John Christy, Fr. Lourdusamy Arokiadoss and Fr. Mackley Gomes

Virtue is the most pleasing thing to God.

• A genuine and a living devotion to God presuppose love of God.
• Devotion is spiritual agility and vivacity by which charity works in us.
• Devotion is queen of virtues since it is the perfection of charity.
• True devotion is love in action.
• Chartity is a spiritual fire when it bursts into flames then it is called true devotion.

There are beautiful comparisons made between charity and devotion
Charity Devotion
Milk Cream
Plant Blossom
Precious stone Lustre
Rich ointment odour

Devotion is possible for every vocation.

• The world tries to say that devout people are unhappy by which trying to make devotion undesirable, but devout people are happy and loveable. In fact they are like spiritual sugar.
• Jacob’s ladder is the true picture of devout life.
• True devotion adorns and beautifies one’s vocation and occupation

Altarpiece, Immaculate Conception Church (1619) Panaji Goa

True devotion never harms rather is perfects things. As honey bees extract honey from the flowers without hurting them or disturbing them, so true devotion brings out the best in every situation.

There is no journey without a guide for our journey. A faithful friend and a guide is a true medicine for our life and immortality.

Qualities of a good guide

1. S/he must be full of charity
2. S/he must be a person of Knowledge.
3. S/he must be a person of prudence.

The one who is guided should have the following:

1. Simplicity
2. Humility
3. Confidence

The spiritual journey starts with purifying our souls. And it's an ongoing process.
We are always victorious provided we have the willingness to fight.
Soul should rise from sin to devotion
Eg. As the dawning of the Sun ( is not sudden but gradual)

The first purgation is of Mortal sin. There should be renewal of the heart and conversion of the soul.
Second purgation is the affection of sin.
We try to live in the effect of the sin and not the affection of the sin.
We need to purify ourselves from all its affection.
We also need to have strong and living conviction of the evils of sin.

Ruins of Augustinian Convent (1622), Holy Hill Panaji, Goa

The value of a general confession:

• summons us to know ourselves 
• assumes wholesome sorrow 
• calms our minds 
• excites us to good resolutions 
• Provides our spiritual director with the opportunity to advise us better and helps us to reveal ourselves with confidence.

Eg, just like when we dislike someone we dislike also his relatives, in the same manner when hate sin we will also dislike the occasions that lead to sin

Affection for sin always leaves us with a ‘wearines in spiritual life’, which makes us fall again. We need to increase our repentance and contrition.

Report by Arokiadoss
Photography by Joe Boenzi