bearing blog: Introduction to the Devout Life: Plan of attack.

Alternate title: I hope this is the most important post I make all year. And on the Feast of the Transfiguration, too! An auspicious (if audacious) day to lay out a plan for "transfiguring" one's own spiritual life.

The following is my plan for implementing the advice in Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales.

First, the setup, in two phases.

SETUP PHASE 1

Begin by setting out on "St. Francis's Three-Step Program" to rid yourself of mortal sin and of any attachment to it.

(1) Read Part 1, Chapter 8 and then pray the "novena" formed by the ten meditations in Chapters 9--18 of Part 1.

(2) Prepare for confession with these readings: Part 1, Chapter 19; Part 2, Chapter 19; Part 1, Chapters 20 and 21. Make a good confession, preferably a general one, preferably general, accusing yourself directly, simply, and specifically as described in Part 1, Chapter 19 and Part 2, Chapter 19.

(3) While still in the confessional: Let a solemn resolution as described in Part 1, Chapter 20 be part of your Act of Contrition.

SETUP PHASE 2

If you haven't figured it out yet, choose the virtue you're to focus on.

To help you discern the virtue to choose, I recommend these readings:

From Part 1: Chapters 22-24, describing the attachments (other than to mortal sin) that can hinder the devout life
From Part 3, Chapters 1 and 2: "The Choice of Virtues" and "Further Advice on Choice of Virtues"
If necessary, a quick reading of the remainder of the chapters in part 3, perhaps according to this thematic arrangement, in order to narrow down which virtues you will choose

Then, once you've chosen a virtue, read more carefully the relevant chapters of part three. I did this here, here, and here. Use that to develop (cue orchestra flourish): THE PLAN.

* * *

OK, so I've already chosen my virtue and I've started the novena (yeah, I know, I didn't mention it; it struck me as sort of an individual thing to do rather than a corporate one, so I didn't invite my readers to come along. I'm up to number 9 as of this morning). Here are my goals, or rather"desires" after St. Francis's words, to which I guess I'll be committing myself come Sunday.

To learn to pass with peace and tranquillity from my prayer to my work
To refuse to multitask, accepting all my duties peacefully, taking them in order, one by one
To learn to be faithful in my duties while being detached from their outcome
To keep checking in with God during the day, "holding fast to his hand while handling the things of this world with the other"

Each desire calls for some specific resolutions, or habits to develop. Now here is where I apply what I learned about gluttony: I am not going to try to begin all these resolutions at once! I will take them one or a few at a time, recognizing that it might take me YEARS to work on them all.

FIRST DESIRE

Learn to pass from prayer to my duties "with such gentleness and tranquillity that the soul is not disturbed."

The meditation for this goal is found in Part 2, Chapter 8. I wrote about it here.

The first habit I will develop so that I can work on this goal is the habit of a short morning prayer. But really, praying a "good" morning prayer is not the part I'm trying to learn; rather, it's the ending of morning prayer, and the passing with tranquility from prayer to the duties of caring for my family. So the prayer itself has to be short, sweet, and easy.

Resolution 1: I will meditate on St. Francis's Part 2, Chapter 10, "Morning Prayer," and use its counsel to compose a brief morning prayer which I will write down and keep at my bedside.

Resolution 2: I will try to pray the Morning Prayer daily and I will endeavor, with God's help, to pass from the morning prayer to my duties "with gentleness and tranquillity." If I forget to pray it first thing in the morning, I will do it as soon as I remember, and again will endeavor to return to my duties "with gentleness and tranquillity."

Resolution 3: If I am interrupted at my Morning Prayer, I will endeavor to allow myself to be interrupted, passing "with gentleness and tranquillity" to attend to whomever interrupted me; and I will count the interruption as a morning offering.

SECOND DESIRE

Refuse to multitask, but rather, "Accept all the duties that come my way peacefully, taking them in order, one by one."

Resolution 1: I will look people (especially children) in the eye when speaking to them or when being spoken to; give them my whole attention, not just what's left over from my work.

Resolution 2: I will learn to respond cheerfully and constructively to interruptions by setting a time period in which I will respond immediately to all interruptions from others -- however trivial their requests may seem.

Resolution 3: After Resolution 2 ends, I will still refuse to reject interruptions automatically with "I have to finish this first." Instead, I will practice pausing to consider whether the principle of obedience can help me discern whether to allow the interruption.

Resolution 4: I will attend carefully to any feelings of anxiety, and will refuse to act on their urges without pausing to reflect on what I ought to do.

Resolution 5: I will attend carefully to any feelings of over-eagerness, and will refuse to act on their urges without pausing to reflect on what I ought to do.

Resolution 6: I will practice pausing, when interrupted, to remind myself to be faithful in small things as well as in great ones -- in other words, not to be fooled into thinking that the more unusual, more interesting, or grander task is the one I should choose to take up.

THIRD DESIRE

Learn to be faithful in duties while detaching myself from the outcome: "do my part peacefully, assured that, if I trust in God, the result will always be for the best even though it may not seem so to me."

(See here)

Resolution 1: I will practice responding cheerfully and constructively to any discoveries that "my" work has been undone, or done for naught, or must be repeated.

Resolution 2: I will meditate on St. Francis's Part 2, Chapter 11, "Evening Prayer," and use its counsel to compose an Evening Prayer which I will write down and keep by my bedside.

Resolution 3: I will pray the Evening Prayer before retiring each night, commending all my work to God.

FOURTH DESIRE

Keep checking in with God: "Hold fast with one hand to that of your heavenly Father while gathering and handling the things of this world with the other; turn to him from time to time to see if he is pleased with what you are doing, being careful never to let go of his protecting hand."

(See here.)

Resolution 1: I will endeavor to embrace God's work in love at every moment by writing an extremely short (one-breath) prayer that will help me offer my work to God.

Resolution 2: I will begin by reciting the short prayer whenever I am called to nurse the baby.

Resolution 3: I will extend the short prayer to other times of the day.

Resolution 4: I will pray for the grace to discover a "place" I can retire to in spirit, even in the midst of my work, for rest and refreshment.

Resolution 5: I will practice standing aside from my work to go to that place, spiritually, several times a day.