Characteristics of True Devotion

This book is meant for all, layman and clergy alike. This advice is even more important today than it was over a century ago! How many have false ideas of devotion and substitute devotions for devotion? In reading this book and Fr. Grou's 'Spiritual Maxims', which he recommends you read after this, we recommend taking no more than a chapter a day and meditating on its contents. Take this holy advice to heart, for the goal here is sanctification. Home-schoolers could take a chapter a week as part of the religious education of high-school children. For grade school we recommend 'A Mother Speaks to Her Children' by the Countess of Flavigny. Of course, parents, you must live a truly devout life if you wish your children to follow your example. Fr. Grou says: "Early embrace His love, and this Holy affection will preserve you from the poisoned flattery which the world will some day offer you; and you Christian parents, you teachers of the young, you who could the conscience, hasten to bend it under the yoke of Christ. "For idleness of heart at prayer is the mortal sin of sloth", Fr. Grou warns us. He also says: "True devotion is sever upon itself, but indulgent for others;..." This reminds us of the Spiritual Maxims, which he recommends be studied after this book.