We must cling closely to God through our Protestation, which will protect us from the world, the devil, and the flesh

October 30, 2021 • 2 min

From Introduction to the Devout Life, page 284

CHAPTER XVIII.

The three last and principal counsels for this introduction.

On the first day of every month repeat the protestation inserted in the first Part, after your meditation; and at all times protest that you are determined to observe it; saying with David: “No, my God, never will I forget thy justifications, for in them Thou hast given me life.” (Ps. cxviii.)

When you feel any disorder in your soul, take your protestation in hand, and, prostrate in the spirit of humility, recite it with your whole heart; this will cause you to feel great ease and comfort.

Make an open profession, not that you are devout, but that you desire to become devout. Do not be ashamed to practise those necessary actions which conduct the soul to the love of God.

Acknowledge frankly that you would rather die than commit a mortal sin; that you are resolved to frequent the sacraments, and to follow the counsels of your director, though it is not necessary to name him, for various reasons.

For this candid profession of our desire to serve God, and to consecrate ourselves entirely to his love, is very acceptable to his Divine Majesty, who would not have us be ashamed either of Him or of his cross.

Besides, it cuts short many propones and invitations which the world might make to draw us the contrary way, and obliges us in honour to act according to what we profess.

As philosophers profess themselves philosophers that they may be allowed to live like philosophers, so we must profess that we are desirous of devotion, that we may be allowed to live devoutly. If anyone tell you that you may live devoutly without the practice of these counsels and exercises, answer him mildly that, your infirmity being so great, you stand in need of more help and assistance than others.

Latest book snippets

See all 518 | Random Book Snippet

Recent Blog Posts

See all

  • Law and Sin December 1, 2021 • 7 min

    St. Paul talks a lot about the law, and that it’s good, and St. John talks a lot about lawlessness, and that it’s evil. In fact, St. Paul calls the Antichrist the lawless one, and St. John says there are many antichrists before the final one. What can we learn from all this?

  • How to overcome temptations November 30, 2021 • 11 min

    Evil is light a black hole. The more you stare at it, or the closer you get, the more you are pulled in. There’s only one way to avoid getting sucked into this black hole: cling fast to God.

  • Biblical words of comfort for those who suffer injustices November 29, 2021 • 10 min

    When you feel like you can’t handle any more of the difficulties God is putting in your life, don’t despair. Jesus is going to rescue you from it soon. Here are some of the promises from the Bible to comfort and reassure you:

  • Thoughts on what Heaven will be like November 28, 2021 • 13 min

    The goal of this life is to be convinced that the Love of God is worth not sinning. And one of the best rewards we will receive, if we believe this and put it into practice faithfully until death, is Heaven. So it’s helpful to think about Heaven and what it will be like.

  • Death and Life November 27, 2021 • 8 min

    We’re so afraid of bad things happening, but that’s exactly what Jesus came here to save us from. The more we love Jesus and trust in him, the less our problems in life can hurt us.

  • How the Saints were helped in bad times, and what they recommended us to do November 26, 2021 • 9 min

    The Saints universally recommend that we meditate on the Passion of Christ, as the best thing we can do for our salvation. It’s also extremely helpful in dealing with bad times.

Books

Movies