while all the time they are mere figures, mere phantasms of devotion.
But, in fact, all true and living devotion presupposes the love of God, and indeed, it is neither more nor less than a very real love of God, though not always of the same kind. For while that love is shining on the soul, we call it grace, which makes us acceptable to God’s divine majesty; when it strengthens us to do well, it is called charity; but when it attains its fullest perfection, in which it not only leads us to do well, but to act carefully, diligently, and promptly, then it is called devotion.
The ostrich never flies, the hen rises with difficulty and achieves but a brief and rare flight, but the eagle, the dove, and the swallow are continually on the wing and soar high. Even so, sinners do not rise toward God, for all their movements are earthly and earthbound. Well-meaning people, who have not as yet attained a true devotion, attempt a manner of flight by means of their good actions, but rarely, slowly, and heavily. While really devout men rise up to God frequently, and with a swift and soaring wing. In short, devotion is simply a spiritual activity and liveliness by means of which divine love works in us and causes us to work quickly and with love. And just as charity leads us to a general practice of all God’s commandments, so devotion leads us to practice them readily and diligently. Therefore, we cannot call anyone who neglects to observe all God’s commandments either good or devout, because in order to be good, a man must be filled with love, and to be devout, he must further be very ready and apt to perform the deeds of love. And insofar as devotion consists in a high degree of real love, it not only makes us ready, active, and diligent in following all God’s commands, but it also excites us to be ready and loving in performing as many good works as possible, even those that are not enjoined upon us, but are only matters of counsel or inspiration.
Even as a man just recovering from illness walks only as far as he is obliged to go, with a slow and weary step, so the converted sinner journeys along as far as God commands him, but slowly and wearily, until he attains a true spirit of devotion; then, like a sound man, he not only gets along, but he runs and leaps in the way of God’s commands and hastens gladly along the paths of heavenly counsels and inspirations. The difference between love and devotion is just like that which exists between fire and flame: love is a spiritual fire which becomes devotion when it is fanned into a flame. And what devotion adds to the fire of love is that flame which makes it eager, energetic, and diligent, not merely in obeying God’s commandments, but in fulfilling his divine counsels and inspirations.
Chapter 2
The Nature and Excellence of Devotion
Those who sought to discourage the Israelites from going up to the Promised Land told them that it was “a land which eateth up the inhabitants thereof” (Num 13:32); that is, that the climate was so unhealthy that the inhabitants could not live long, and that the people there were “men of a great stature,” who looked upon the newcomers as mere locusts to be devoured. It is just so, my daughter, that the world runs down true devotion, painting devout people with gloomy, melancholy faces, and affirming that religion makes them dismal and unpleasant. But even as Joshua and Caleb protested that not only was the Promised Land a fair and pleasant country, but that the Israelites would take an easy and peaceful possession of it, so the Holy Spirit tells us through his saints, and Our Lord has told us with his own lips, that a devout life is very sweet, very happy, and very loveable.
The world, looking on, sees that devout people fast, watch and pray, endure injury patiently, minister to the sick and poor, restrain their temper, check and subdue their passions, deny themselves in all sensual indulgence, and do many other things which in themselves are hard and difficult. But the world sees nothing of that inward, heartfelt devotion which makes all these actions pleasant and easy. Watch a bee hovering over the mountain thyme; the juices it gathers are bitter, but the bee turns them all to honey, and so tells the worldly that though the devout soul finds bitter herbs along its path of devotion, they are all turned to sweetness and pleasantness as it treads. And the martyrs have counted fire, sword, and rack as nothing but perfumed flowers because of their devotion. And if devotion can sweeten such cruel torments, and even death itself, how much more will it give a charm to ordinary good deeds? We sweeten unripe fruit with sugar, and it is useful in correcting the crudity even of that which is good. So devotion is the real spiritual sweetness that takes away all bitterness from mortifications, and prevents consolations from disagreeing with the soul. It cures the poor of sadness and the rich of presumption; it keeps the oppressed from feeling desolate and the prosperous from insolence; it averts sadness from the lonely and dissipation from social life; it is as warmth in winter and refreshing dew in summer; it knows how to abound and how to suffer want; how to profit alike by honor and contempt; it accepts gladness and sadness with an even mind, and fills men’s hearts with a wondrous sweetness.
Ponder Jacob’s ladder: it is a true picture of the devout life. The two poles which support the steps are types of prayer, which seeks the love of God, and the sacraments, which confer that love. The steps themselves are simply the degrees of love by which we go on from virtue to virtue, either descending by good deeds on behalf of our neighbor, or ascending by contemplation to a loving union with God. Consider, too, the beings who tread this ladder: men with angels’ hearts, or angels with human forms. They are not youthful, but they seem to be so by reason of their vigor and spiritual activity. They have wings with which to fly and attain to God in holy prayer, but they also have feet with which to tread in human paths by a holy, gracious intercourse with men. Their faces are bright and beautiful, inasmuch as they accept all things gently and sweetly. Their heads and limbs are uncovered, because their thoughts, affections, and actions have no motive or object save that of pleasing God. The rest of their bodies is covered with a light, shining garment, because while they use the world and the things of this life, they use all purely and honestly, and no further than is needful for their condition — such are the truly devout.
Believe me, dear child, devotion is the sweetest of sweets, the queen of virtues, the perfection of love. If love is the milk of life, devotion is the cream thereof; if love is a fruitful plant, devotion is the blossom; if love is a precious stone, devotion is its brightness; if love is a precious balm, devotion is its perfume, that sweet odor which delights men and causes the angels to rejoice.
Chapter 3
Devotion Is Suitable to Every Vocation and Profession
When God created the world, he commanded each tree to bear fruit after its kind (Gen 1:12); and even so he bids Christians — the living trees of his Church — to bring forth fruits of devotion, each one according to his kind and vocation. A different exercise of devotion is required of each — the noble, the artisan, the servant, the prince, the maiden, and the wife. And furthermore, such practice must be modified according to the strength, the calling, and the duties of each individual.
I ask you, my child, would it be fitting for a bishop to seek to lead the solitary life of a Carthusian? And if the father of a family were as careless in making provision for the future as a Capuchin, if the artisan spent the day in church like a religious, if the religious involved himself in all manner of business on his neighbor’s behalf as a bishop is called upon to do — would not such a devotion be ridiculous, ill-regulated, and intolerable? Nevertheless, this mistake is often made, and the world, which cannot or will not discriminate between real devotion and the indiscretion of those who fancy themselves devout, grumbles and finds fault with devotion, which really has nothing to do with these errors.
No indeed, my child, the devotion which is true hinders nothing, but on the contrary, it perfects everything. That devotion which runs counter to a person’s rightful vocation is, you may be sure, a false devotion. Aristotle says that the bee sucks honey from flowers without damaging them, leaving them as whole and fresh as it found them. But true devotion does better still, for it not only does not hinder any vocation or duty, but it adorns and beautifies it. Throw precious stones into honey, and each will grow more brilliant according to its color. In like manner, everyone fulfills
