Francis de Sales, The Devout Life

If birds stop beating their wings, they quickly fall to the ground.  Unless your soul works at holding itself up, our flesh will drag it down.  You must renew your determination regularly. Oddly, a spiritual crash leaves us lower than when we began. 

Clocks need winding, cleaning, and oiling.  Sometimes they need repair.  Similarly, we must car for our spiritual life by examining and servicing our hearts at least annually.

There is plenty of time for other things.  You do not have to do it all every day.  Stay with it.  Time flies away.  Keep your eyes on heaven.  Don't throw it away for earthly things.  Look at Jesus Christ and be faithful to him.

Live, Jesus!  To whom, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory, now and forevermore.  Amen.

Francis de Sales,  Introduction to the Devout Life

Who is Francis de Sales?  Saint Francis de Sales, August 21, 1567-December 28, 1622, was Bishop of Geneva and a Roman Catholic saint.  As an accomplished preacher he sought to bring Protestants back to Catholicism.  He is mostly known for his writings on spiritual formation.