Conversion (Acts 9)

In An Introduction to the Devout Life, St. Francis de Sales writes of the necessity, and the ongoing nature, of conversion for followers of Christ. The conversion of St. Paul, recounted by Saint Luke in Acts 9, was an extraordinary conversion that birthed St. Paul's ministry across the Mediterranean world. St. Francis writes, "St. Paul was purged with a perfect purification in a moment, as were St. Mary Magdalen, St. Catherine of Genoa, St. Pelagia, and some others, but such purifications are miracles of grace." 

For the rest of us, St. Francis likens our ongoing conversion to the angels who, though they could fly, ascended and descended on Jacob's ladder one step at a time. 

St. Francis urges us to "put off the old man, and forsaking sin be clothed with the new man; paring and shaving away all hindrances which come between [the soul] and the love of God; such a purging is the foundation of future health." Here is the encouraging news: St. Francis counsels that "the discipline of purification can and must cease only with our life; therefore be not discouraged by infirmities; our perfection consists in struggling against them, which we cannot do unless we perceive them, neither can we conquer unless we come into collision with them. Victory does not lie in ignoring our infirmities, but in resisting them."

St. Francis concludes his chapter on purifying the soul by writing, "It is a favorable feature of this war, that so long as we fight, we must be victorious." Glory be to God!

Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet every day for the salvation of souls.