Fr. Jacob Dankasa – My Blog

http://www.texascatholic.com/2021/06/17/father-dankasa-prayer-rest-and-compassion-a-call-to-a-life-of-christian-sacrifice/

The words of St. Francis de Sales in “Introduction to the Devout Life” give light to the above question. Here are extracts from St. Francis de Sales:

Christians aim at a devout life because devotion is most acceptable to God. There is the grace of true devotion, but there are also many spurious and idle semblances of it. And unless we know what is real, we may mistake and waste our energy in pursuing an empty and profitless shadow. Here are examples to explain a true devotion:

One man sets great value on fasting and believes himself to be leading a very devout life, so long as he fasts rigorously, but his heart is full of bitterness. And while he will not allow water to touch his lips because of his abstinence, he nevertheless uses his lips to slander and detract his neighbor. Another man reckons himself as devout because he repeats many prayers daily, although at the same time he does not refrain from all manner of angry, irritating, conceited or insulting speeches among his family and neighbors. Another man freely opens his purse in almsgiving but closes his heart to all gentle and forgiving feelings towards those who are opposed to him. Another person is ready enough to forgive his enemies, but he will never pay his rightful debts except under pressure. While all these people are conventionally called religious, they are in no true sense really devout. Many people dress up an exterior with the visible acts expressive of earnest devotion, and the world supposes them to be really devout and spiritual-minded, while all the time they are mere lay figures, mere phantasms of devotion.

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: when that Love shines on the soul we call it Grace, which makes us acceptable to His 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. Therefore, 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. – (cf. St. Francis de Sales in Introduction to the Devout Life. Part 1, Chapter 1)