Spiritual journeys in very different times than our own

Introduction to the Devout Life

Part 1, chapters 9 to 24

English-speaking group

Amaladoss Sanjone, Lijo Vadakkan, John Baptist Barnabas

At the very outset all of us agreed that there was a sudden shift in his style of writing. It was quite different from the first eight chapters.  Even the language used in the first few chapters of this section was observed to be rather unsuitable for our times as there was too much stress placed on certain realities like death, hell, punishment, purgatory etc. But then talking with the professor we came to the conclusion that such a language and style of writing had to be studied basing ourselves on the particular situation in which it was written where death was an immediate and imminent reality.

So we also said that these teachings could not be applied directly as it is and had to be modified and applied to suit our times.  We have to adapt to our situation. We have to take into consideration the spirit behind these writings, the importance given to the gift of life, the joy in experiencing the goodness of the Lord etc. These chapters also insist in us the necessity to purge away from evil inclinations.

Another aspect of his writing is the didactic style that he uses in his writings.  He puts two things in confrontation: the beauty of virtue and the ugliness of sin. “See how God has been good to you and see how you have responded to this goodness of the Lord”. This is a constant tension in his writings and we could also see the influence of this teaching in the life of Don Bosco and his educational pedagogy.

He also speaks about purifying oneself from venial sins. He says that any affection or attachments to evil inclinations can slowly damage and destroy the soul. He gives the example of a spider that cannot kill the honey bee but can spoil the honey. So too the influence of evil inclinations and venial sins in the life of people who aspire towards perfection.

In the penultimate chapter he gives a very actual message for the human soul. He says “when the human heart is encumbered with useless and superfluous and dangerous clinging it becomes incapacitated to earn after God which is the true devotion.  He gives the example of children running after butterflies and no one blames them for it; but when it is done by adults, it is ridiculous. This is a very actual message for the post-modern man of today.

Report by Amaladoss Sanjone
Photo by Joe Boenzi: Statue of St Francis at Salesianum, Wilmington (Delaware)