Choose a topic from Part 2B:
1. Devotion, in the religious sense, is the will to giveoneself steadily to the service of God.
2. Devotion is not a virtue, but the act of a virtue.Indeed, it is anact of charity, as all the moral virtues arewhen they are supernatural. But specifically it is an act of thevirtue of religion.
3. The extrinsic cause of devotion in a person is God. Theintrinsic cause (which is in the person himself) is meditation orcontemplation. When a person thinks upon God and ponders hisgoodness and loving kindness, he is stirred to a love of God thatbegets devotion. And, pondering his own insufficiency and hisfaults, a man is moved to turn to God and to lean upon him; out ofthis consideration too, devotion arises.
4. The direct and chief effect of devotion is joy in God.Its secondary and indirect effect is sorrow for one'sshortcomings and sins.
"Though the path is plain and smooth for people of good will, those who walk it will not travel far, and will do so only with difficulty if they do not have good feet, courage, and tenacity of spirit.
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St John of the Cross, OCD - Doctor of the Church
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"This is the greatest wisdom -- to seek the kingdom of heaven through contempt of the world. "
Thomas á Kempis
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"The greatest glory we can give to God is to do his will in everything."
St Alphonsus de Liguori
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