The First Step: Purifying the Soul

I got Ryan several books for Christmas, and we started reading one of them together called An introduction to the devout life by Saint Francis De Sales. It is an old classic and sometimes the writing is a little flowery, so much so, that sometimes I read whole chapters without knowing what in the world it is talking about, but it is getting easier to follow and the chapters are very short which is nice. 

Yesterday’s chapter was called “The First Step: Purifying the Soul.” Here are a few of my favorite quotes from this section that are encouraging to me as I attempt to change some habits in my life, and I hope they encourage you as well.

“Before the captive maiden can be engaged to the Israelite, she was obliged to shave her head and pare her nails (Deut 21:12), and so the soul which aspires to be the bride of Christ must put off the old man, and forsaking sin, be clothed with the new man, pairing away and shaving off any hindrances which come between it and the love of God.”

I like the idea of the maiden shaving her head and pairing her nails as an act of preparation. First she had to be clean, before she could even be presented. In the same way, the first step (or preparation) I take when I want to change something is reflection and repentence. First, I have to take the time to see the way I am living my life. Then I need to confess my shortcomings and errors to God and ask for his grace to move forward differently. 

“Such purifications are a miracle of grace. Ordinary purification and healing, whether of body or soul, are accomplished by little and little, progressing slowly and often hardly at all.”

This is my favorite part, because it really challenges the whole notion of instant gratification that so many people, myself included, can fall prey too. 

Then it goes on to say that we must be patient and courageous, not falling into either the trap of instant discouragement at slow progress (this is me), or the trap of believing you’ve already arrived. And I would add a third trap to be on the look out for, which is, believing the illusion that it is you who needs to (or even can) fix yourself. The key is to move closer to God (little by little), because he is the only one who can help. His love and his grace are what can renew and change us from the inside out. 

Just as it says above… “Such purifications are a miracle of grace,” they are not natural, but supernatural. So if you can, reflect on and thank God today for all the ways he has already changed you and ask that he would continue the work he has begun in you. 

Happy New Year everyone!