If we are supposed to have “strong” devotion, what does that mean?What is the difference between a strong devotion and being arrogant?How does devotion help combat our imperfections?If consolations are good, why is it important for us to not surrender ourselves to them?Why is important to understand devotion as a continual process/battle instead of an end goal?Can our interior inclinations be “helped” by our outward virtuous behavior? How can we practice outward acts of homage so that our hearts are moved t to conform to our actions?How can we have better control over our dark and painful thoughts and temptations using the wisdom of St. Francis?
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May 11, 4:07 PM
SrSusan: newsletter for chathttps://visitationspirit.org/2025/05/newsletter-for-sunday-chat-may-11/
May 11, 4:07 PM
SrSusan: https://visitationspirit.org/2025/05/newsletter-for-sunday-chat-may-11/
Newsletter for Sunday chat May 11 | Visitation Spirit
May 11, 4:17 PM
Carol Ann: Hi Sr Susan!
May 11, 4:17 PM
Carol Ann: Happy Mother’s Day
May 11, 4:18 PM
SrSusan: HI Carol Ann! Thank you!
May 11, 4:18 PM
Carol Ann: I missed you all last week
May 11, 4:19 PM
SrSusan: How have you been? It’s been just Ruth and I last week
May 11, 4:19 PM
SrSusan: We reinstalled the guest sign in because we lost chatters
May 11, 4:19 PM
Carol Ann: Oh, okay. I logged in with Facebook tonight
May 11, 4:20 PM
SrSusan: Simone was in Austria but I think she is back now
May 11, 4:21 PM
Carol Ann: Oh, I didn’t know she had to go again. I hope all is okay
May 11, 4:21 PM
SrSusan: I think so
May 11, 4:23 PM
SrSusan: welcome viewer
May 11, 4:23 PM
Carol Ann: That’s good nees
May 11, 4:24 PM
SrSusan: I am hoping she is able to be here but of course its Mothers Day so…
May 11, 4:24 PM
SrSusan: Hi Simone!
May 11, 4:24 PM
Simone (Guest): Hi Sister Susan, Hi Carol!
May 11, 4:24 PM
SrSusan: Is it Mothers Day in Canada?
May 11, 4:24 PM
Simone (Guest): It is.
May 11, 4:24 PM
Simone (Guest): I guess.. Happy Mother’s Day to you too Sister.
May 11, 4:25 PM
Carol Ann: Hi Simone!
May 11, 4:25 PM
SrSusan: So good to have you both back!
May 11, 4:25 PM
Simone (Guest): Peter was preaching a really good sermon today on Mary – and her Spiritual Motherhood – I really liked it – specially since Spiritual Motherhood is one of my most beloved topics
May 11, 4:26 PM
Simone (Guest): Thanks Sister..
May 11, 4:26 PM
Simone (Guest): I am very exhausted though.
May 11, 4:26 PM
Simone (Guest): It was emotionally and physically almost too much for me in the end to be honest
May 11, 4:26 PM
Simone (Guest): now it is just jet lag plaguing me..
May 11, 4:33 PMSimone (Guest): well.. since this is a Salesian chat.. I would say that we do things promptly and with love for God.. isn’t that the first chapter of the Introduction?
May 11, 4:34 PM
Simone (Guest): so.. a strong devotion – would be to lean in.. to grow in “promptness” and love.. just thinking out loud here
May 11, 4:34 PM
Carol Ann: I think external devotion here is jn our behavior, not so much as whether people see us in church a lot
ay 11, 4:35 PMSimone (Guest): I remember that I had a total different definition in my head about the word ” devotion” when I started to read the Introduction.. now I see it more as the attitude- with which I fill my spiritual life
May 11, 4:35 PMSrSusan: more like our way of life with God rather than a particular prayer practice
May 11, 4:36 PM
Simone (Guest): I like that .” our way of life with God”.. yes.
May 11, 4:36 PM
SrSusan: so strong dedication to the Lord perhaps?
May 11, 4:36 PMCarol Ann: Yes. It can be confusing because devotion has more than one meaning
May 11, 4:37 PM
Carol Ann: To preach the Gospel by our actions
May 11, 4:37 PM
SrSusan: Yes I am glad too Ruth and I were going it alone
May 11, 4:37 PM
Simone (Guest): I also like “strong dedication to the Lord”.. When our life with GOD becomes – us pleasing him.. and not seeking Him.. so we are pleased
May 11, 4:37 PM
SrSusan: q What is the difference between a strong devotion and being arrogant?
May 11, 4:38 PM
Simone (Guest): A strong devotion should lead to a life of humility – therefore arrogance would be excluded
May 11, 4:38 PM
Carol Ann: Attitude?
May 11, 4:41 PMSimone (Guest): Carol.. I liked your answer.. attitude.. that just nails it
May 11, 4:42 PM
Carol Ann: I’m not sure I fully understand it thiugh
May 11, 4:42 PM
SrSusan: I don’t know how devotion and arrogance really comes to be in relation tho unless one is arrogant about one’s strong devotion?
May 11, 4:42 PMSimone (Guest): what do you mean Carol.. what do you not understand.. I found the question a little bit random too
May 11, 4:43 PM
Simone (Guest): I wonder.. if the writer of this question was assuming that some people come across very pious – and often also arrogant.. in all their pious behaviour
May 11, 4:43 PM
Carol Ann: Is it because if we are arrogant we presume there is favor we do ‘t actually have?
May 11, 4:43 PM
Simone (Guest): Like.. they are better than others.. because they pray more – or are veiled.. etc…
May 11, 4:43 PM
SrSusan: that’s what I was thiking
May 11, 4:43 PM
SrSusan: thinking
May 11, 4:45 PM
SrSusan: How does devotion help combat our imperfections?
May 11, 4:45 PM
Ruth (Guest): Isn’t that the situation that got Jesus crucified? Pharasies “humbly” following the letter of the law but jealous because Jesus LIVED the law both of Moses and of his Father in heaven
May 11, 4:47 PM
Simone (Guest): Very good point Ruth
May 11, 4:47 PM
Carol Ann: We must keep our heart attached to our minds
May 11, 4:48 PM
Simone (Guest): I think a genuine devotion helps to combat our imperfections- in the way that we detach more and more from our sinful attitude and grow in love for Him. The more we love Him, the more painful it is when we give into our imperfections
May 11, 4:48 PMRuth (Guest): I am not sure devotion DOES combat my imperfections. It just helps me become more aware of my imperfections.
May 11, 4:48 PMSimone (Guest): but awareness leads to repentance.. and repentance leads to confession.. and confession leads to grace and victory
May 11, 4:50 PMSrSusan: The closer we are to the Lord thru strong devotion the more His light and grace heals us
May 11, 4:50 PMSimone (Guest): Amen
May 11, 4:50 PM
Carol Ann: And the more we will want to ne healed
May 11, 4:50 PM
Ruth (Guest): I wish! I try! I pray!
May 11, 4:51 PM
Carol Ann: Isn’t this another way to say humility
May 11, 4:51 PM
Simone (Guest): Good point Carol.. our desire to be healed is also growing
ay 11, 4:52 PMSrSusan: q If consolations are good, why is it important for us to not surrender ourselves to them?
May 11, 4:52 PM
May 11, 4:53 PM
Carol Ann: Because the consolation itself is not Christ
May 11, 4:54 PM
Ruth (Guest): I confess. I long. I fall. I fail! Again and again and again. I don’t think it is a bad attitude, just weakness, handicaps, circumstances, EVEN with regard to simple, practical matters that are no longer simple for ME.
May 11, 4:56 PMSimone (Guest): All I can see to this question is.. that consolation have to be also be approached with holy indifference like everything else. Otherwise.. we would treat them like Christ.. which would be an idol then
May 11, 4:56 PM
Carol Ann: The consolation is given as Jesus sees it is necessary, just as desolations are
May 11, 4:57 PM
Ruth (Guest): “CONSOLATION of the TRUTH.” This is part of formal prayer in today’s Mass and has been in a number of Masses, recently.
ay 11, 4:58 PMSimone (Guest): does that imply.. that the truth is consoling Ruth? Or is there another meaning.. which I cannot see right now?
May 11, 4:58 PM
Simone (Guest): also.. good for you Ruth to be so attentive at mass.
May 11, 5:00 PMSrSusan: People like consolations because they “feel good” but faith and following the crucified Lord is not always going to console
ay 11, 5:01 PMSrSusan: q Why is important to understand devotion as a continual process/battle instead of an end goal?
ay 11, 5:01 PMRuth (Guest): My pastor always misreads as “Constellation of the Truth” — which has a very different meaning — suggestive of relativism — and I wonder if I should (privately of course) point out the difference. He is a humble man and overall his preaching has definitely improved. I complimented him after Mass and said nothing about the “misspeaking”.
May 11, 5:02 PM
Simone (Guest): devotion is the means to reach the goal.. namely unity with God.. but if devotion is becoming the goal.. then we empty it of the love for God.. and it becomes self serving
May 11, 5:02 PM
Carol Ann: That is kind of you. Many of the parishioners might not know the difference
May 11, 5:05 PM
SrSusan: Good point Simone and I think it goes back to how we understand devotion
May 11, 5:05 PM
Carol Ann: Inagree with you Simone
May 11, 5:06 PM
Ruth (Guest): Carol, I was wondering if anyone else noticed, but did not want to ask, thinking that would draw attention to the wrong thing: e.g. his witness today about what drew him to even consider the priesthood.
May 11, 5:09 PMSrSusan: q Can our interior inclinations be “helped” by our outward virtuous behavior?
May 11, 5:10 PMCarol Ann: Sometimes i think that when we worry so much about receiving consolations or being devoted i enough imforget that all things come from Him a d all are without merit on my part
May 11, 5:13 PM
SrSusan: I think we can affect our interior by outward behavior to some extent
May 11, 5:14 PM
Simone (Guest): as for the question.. sometimes it can be helpful when the exterior behaviour informs the interior.. but it will never be a full substitute
May 11, 5:15 PM
Ruth (Guest): Carol,why do,you say all are without merit on your part. Even recognizing God’s goodness and generosity toward you does involve some merit. The merit of praising him and thanking him.
May 11, 5:13 PM
SrSusan: I think we can affect our interior by outward behavior to some extent
May 11, 5:16 PM
Carol Ann: I guess I am thinking that the grace is unearned, and yes, im happy to,have it!
May 11, 5:17 PM
Simone (Guest): as for “inside out” – that is something that describes Salesian Spirituality best for me. .. starting on the inside with the love for God.. and working it more and more outside – into the world.. LIVE JESUS.. right?
May 11, 5:17 PM
Elsine (Guest): Maybe I am wrong but Sometimes an exterior can le
May 11, 5:14 PM
Simone (Guest): as for the question.. sometimes it can be helpful when the exterior behaviour informs the interior.. but it will never be a full substitute
May 11, 5:15 PM
Ruth (Guest): Carol,why do,you say all are without merit on your part. Even recognizing God’s goodness and generosity toward you does involve some merit. The merit of praising him and thanking him.
May 11, 5:18 PMSimone (Guest): but…as a foundation for an ongoing devotion I think.. the anchor for our love has to be inside.. and not in the exterior
May 11, 5:19 PMCarol Ann: It must be anchored in aChrist
May 11, 5:20 PM
SrSusan: How can we practice outward acts of homage so that our hearts are moved t to conform to our actions?
May 11, 5:21 PM
Elsine (Guest): Yes but sometimes I believe when we are young a simple exterior can lead us to God and maybe pulls out the interior spirituality that we never knew we had.
May 11, 5:21 PM
Simone (Guest): here Elaine.. is what you meant.. right?
ay 11, 5:21 PM
Ruth (Guest): Wow, Simone, that is deep. I do think that “faking it ‘til you make it” has some merit, smiling when you feel down, whistling I. The dark. Maybe it is a little like a child “plays” at, e.g. BEING a mommy, not for a moment trying to fool anyone, but learning the role — sort of learning by DOING even if it is only pretending.
May 11, 5:22 PM
Ruth (Guest): Whistling in the dark.
May 11, 5:26 PM
SrSusan: How can we have better control over our dark and painful thoughts and temptations using the wisdom of St. Francis?
May 11, 5:26 PM
Simone (Guest): there is no doubt that the “fake it till you make it “- approach does work. in every way. But.. it is an approach for the NOW.. not for ongoing growth. Whistling in the dark does help to reduce anxiety. .for sure.. but does not make us courageous – or addresses the root for our anxiety. Devotion is about ongoing growth – into His heart – addressing and overcoming the deep strongholds. and this is a very internal process
May 11, 5:26 PM
SrSusan: thats the last q
SrSusanwers
May 11, 5:27 PM
Carol Ann: Is it like the eight thoughts? Every dark thought has a virtue to combat it
May 11, 5:28 PM
Simone (Guest): Ladies.. although this is a very interesting last question.. I have to leave.. I am so tired, I hardly can see my keyboard anymore.. it was lovely to hear all your deep thoughts again.. and I hope we can meet next Sunday again. Blessings on your week..
May 11, 5:28 PM
Ruth (Guest): When I was 13 I started attending daily Mass, partly just because I could. And I longed for the TRUTH. Sometimes the preaching was so bad that occasionally I would go into the entry area and look at the books so that the preaching would not anger me, that is, so that I would not have to hear it. I would come back when The Eucharistic celebration continued.
May 11, 5:29 PM
Carol Ann: God bless you Simone!
May 11, 5:29 PM
Elsine (Guest): God Bless everyone.
May 11, 5:30 PM
Carol Ann: OhnRuth, even so Young you were clearly called
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