True Devotion Involves a Holistic Approach to Our Spiritual Life

This latest chat is a deep and engaging discussion on the nature of devotion, the importance of a balanced spiritual life, the role of grace in our spiritual journey, the impact of our devotion on others, and the call to rise up in our spiritual practices. 

The conversation also touches on the paradoxes in spiritual life and the importance of humility and detachment. 

Enjoy this exploration of the spiritual life!

And check out our Living Jesus Chat Room of the Visitation Sisters. Each Sunday we read a passage of St. Francis de Sales and then gather great insights and sharing.

What is Devotion?

Question: What is devotion? How can we recognize the facade of true devotion?

Sherry: I remember when I started to read the Introduction the first time. I was so confused about his definition of devotion.

Chrissy: The rosary is an example.

Denise: We could self-examine.

Lydia: Devotion-love, loyalty, fidelity.

Sherry: I cannot find exactly how St. Francis describes it. But I remember it is basically our love for God expressed in a deep willingness to obey and do his will – and fast!

Caroline: Devotion I think is prayers that we say regularly, our favorites.

Sherry: That’s how I understood it first. But I find that St. Francis defines it differently. In short, devotion is simply a spiritual activity and liveliness by means of which Divine Love works in us and causes us to work briskly and lovingly.

Denise: Chrissy mentioned the rosary, a true devotion.

Sherry: So, you are all right. It is a spiritual activity.

Caroline: So then specific prayers may be the literal interpretation, but there is a deeper meaning.

Visitation Sister: St Francis meant it in a broad sense: our growth in holiness, dedication to God.

Sherry: I considered it more an attitude than an action.

Denise: That we participate regularly.

Caroline: Devotion to God rather than to prayer.

Visitation Sister: Yes.

Denise: Good replies.

Sherry: Yes, Caroline, that’s how I understood it too.

Lydia: Devotion to God includes prayer. It is how we talk to Him.

Visitation Sister: Yes, true.

A Balanced Spiritual Life

Question: Why is it important to have a holistic approach to our spiritual life?

Caroline: We must pray, study the Bible, do spiritual reading, and perform acts of love that show our devotion.

Sherry: Because every way of seeking God brings out new facets of our love for Him and others.

Visitation Sister: A holistic approach to our spiritual life means balance which St Francis de Sales advocated for. And we are less likely to become caught up in something that is too one sided.

Denise: Balance.

Chrissy: That’s interesting.

Sherry: I think it is dangerous to our spiritual vitality if we nestle ourselves in a corner where we just seek GOD in the way we want to.

Rebecca: Funny this reminds me of a conversation I had with my 9th grade Biology Club moderator, Jim Baker.

Lydia: I guess that would be a kind of modernism, Sherry.

Caroline: Because we are meant to be in community.

Denise: Catholics may not be so inclined to do this, traditional orthodox Catholics.

Caroline: Not inclined to which part, Denise?

Denise: Yes, that sounds like modernism. Was this a concern during St Francis time?

Rebecca: Interesting question, Denise.

Lydia: I think the Protestants were starting around that time. They wanted things their way.

Denise: To get stuck in one way, I guess. Right.

Caroline: How is a balance in the spiritual life modernism?

Lydia: It is not, Caroline.

Sherry: Caroline, I think the “non balance” is more modernism.

Caroline: Then I’ve lost the thread….

Sherry: If you just do what you want. All good, Caroline. All good.

God is the First Mover

Question: If devotion is Divine work within us and devotion also helps increase Divine life within us, how do we ever begin before we have this life in us and/or before we have any devotion?

Denise: Grace.

Caroline: Yes, grace. Jesus gives us the desire and we choose to respond.

Sherry: All true and living devotion presupposes the love of God.

Rebecca: Yes, indeed! Is it stormy where you are? And I’m not sure where that is any more.

Chrissy: God inspires us by His creation and that we have the breath of life.

Caroline: Yes, grace. Jesus gives us the desire and we choose to respond.

Sherry: I love the sentence you wrote, Chrissy.

Denise: The Holy Spirit works within us first.

Visitation Sister: Yes, we cooperate with the Holy Spirit.

Denise: And our blessed Mother, she did for me.

Chrissy: The Word hovered above the waters in the creation story and what He spoke won’t go back void.

Sherry: I think, Caroline, you worded it well. We are cooperating – or responding to the grace given.

Rebecca: Chrissy, Isaiah 45, I think, near the beginning of the chapter.

Rebecca: Above act I do not know.

Caroline: It might be Isaiah 55:11-12.

Devotion Is Not Just for Ourselves

Question: How is greater devotion beneficial for those around us, not just for ourselves?

Caroline: When we let Jesus in, He shines through us to others.

Sherry: What the Holy Spirit touches the Holy Spirit changes – and if we are changed our relationships are changed. Our way of loving changes – those around us will for sure notice a difference.

Rebecca: I sure hope so! That Jesus shines through.

Visitation Sister: Yes.

Sherry: Live Jesus! Right?

Visitation Sister: Yes.

Caroline: Amen!

Visitation Sister: He must increase, and I must decrease.

Denise: Love this truth.

Caroline: To die is to live.

Sherry: If we can say this, Caroline. We have reached the state of devotion for sure.

Caroline: We have a God who seems to love paradoxes.

Sherry: The upside-down kingdom… as Peter always calls it.

Caroline: If we live only in this world, we will miss everything. Life is spiritual, not physical.

Rebecca: Yes, Caroline, that is the verse I was thinking of: The word that goes forth from my mouth, does not return to me empty.

Chrissy: It can inspire us to live as little Christs. Martyrs spurs us into a greater devotion to God.

Caroline: Https://youtu.be/_zxdx2uo5ve?Si=r2y96effpqxnng2m.

Sherry: What is this clip about Caroline?

Caroline: It is the passage from Isaiah set to a catchy little tune.

Sherry: Oh, I see. Thank you.

Rebecca: Thanks, Caroline.

Rise Up!

Question: St. Francis draws a distinction between well-meaning people who grow slowly in true devotion, and “really devout men.” Who “rise up to God frequently, and with a swift and soaring wing.” What can we do to rise up to God frequently, and avoid the trap of falling into the first category?

Chrissy: Humility.

Denise: And these are the contrasts, the paradox of spiritual life! Pain and Joy, Cross, and Resurrection!

Caroline: Living two lives at once.

Lydia: It reminds me of the parable where the workers who came early got paid the same as the workers who came late. Do people always have control of how they come to God? Some have parents who teach them early and some have to find God on their own.

Lydia: Yet in the end, God saves them all the same.

Denise: I think not, conversion is a mighty work of the Spirit.

Caroline: If you look for God, He will find you.

Lydia: God is fair so He will get to everyone, I hope.

Denise: A simple yes to his grace and it all begins. Or a simple following of those first promptings. It’s not simple.

Chrissy: For me I had to be broken. I didn't want God at first.

Denise: My conversion began in pain also.

Visitation Sister: Yes, myself as well.

Chrissy: I’m glad I’m not the only one.

Caroline: That sounds familiar, Chrissy. He gets a lot of us that way.

Chrissy: I think that some had the faith given to them and was passed down from family, I not so much. We don’t want to suffer, and I find that by suffering God's graces pour into us.

Sherry: We are the Body of Christ, Chrissy. You are not the only one.

Chrissy: Amen.

Caroline: Sometimes it is there but below the surface. Like me with Divine Mercy. After my father passed, I found one of the first prints to be in the US wrapped around his First Communion certificate. He must have said it at least once and I inherited it.

Rebecca: Precious, Caroline! How long ago was that?

Caroline: It must be 2007-2008.

Sherry: That’s lovely, Caroline. I think that detachment is also helping us to be part of the “second category” in the example. Cause if we are detached to worldly things – it is always easier to rise up to God.

Chrissy: That’s true.

Denise: Not feeling so well, so saying good night. A lovely chat tonight, thank you all, chat sisters.

Visitation Sister: Feel better, Denise, and thank you for being here.

Chrissy: Great chat.

Caroline: Good night.

Visitation Sister: God bless you!

If you enjoyed this article, why not join us at our Living Jesus Chat Room of the Visitation Sisters. Join us at 7:30 p.m. ET each Sunday! We read a passage of St. Francis de Sales and then gather great insights and sharing!