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DEVOTION

 

The virtue of devotion is nothing other than a general inclination and readiness of the soul to do what it knows to be agreeable to God. (Letters to persons in the world, Do the will of God joyfully)

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Devotion is no other thing than a spiritual nimbleness and vivacity by which charity works in us, or we in her, readily and heartily. (Introduction to the Devout Life, Part I, Chapter 1)

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Charity and devotion differ no more, the one from the other, than the flame from the fire. (Introduction to the Devout Life, Part I, Chapter 1)

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The true essence of devout love con­sists in the movement and effusion of the heart which   immediately follows com­placency and ends in union. (Treatise on the Love of God, Book 1, Chapter 7)

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He who desires love ardently shall shortly love with ardor. (Treatise on the Love of God, Book 12, Chapter 2)

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If charity be a milk, devotion is its cream; if it be a plant, devotion is its flower. (Introduction to the Devout Life, Part I, Chapter 3)

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Man gives himself wholly by love, and gives himself as much as he loves. (Treatise on the Love of God, Book 10, Chapter 3)

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Such as love is, such is the zeal which is its ardor. (Treatise on the Love of God, Book 10, Chapter 12)

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We must bring the razor to the division of the self and the spirit. (Letters to Persons in Religion, II, 16)

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To live according to the spirit is to think, speak and act according to the virtues that are in the spirit, and not according to the sense and sentiments which are in the flesh. (Letters to Persons in Religion, III, 47)

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Feeling and sweetness in devotion may come   from   the   friend   or   the   enemy. (Letters to Persons in Religion, I, 2)

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The less we live after our own tastes, and the less of choice there is in our actions, the more of solidity there is in our devotion. (Letters to Persons in the World, II, 6)

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True devotion does no harm whatever, but rather gives perfection to all things; but when it goes contrary to our lawful vocation, then without doubt it is false. (Introduction to the Devout Life, Part I, Chapter 3)

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True devotion advances boldly, with­out stopping to worry about details. (SXX 9)

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Complacency draws the divine sweetness into our heart; but the love of benevolence makes our heart pass out of itself. (Treatise on the Love of God, Book 5, Chapter 9)

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How happy we shall be if one day we change our own self into that love, which, making us no more separate, will perfectly empty us of all multiplicity! (Letters to Persons in Religion, II, 16)

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Generous devotion does not wish to have companions in all that it does, but only in its aim, which is the glory of God and the advancement of our neighbor in divine love. (Spiritual Conferences, 1)

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