Spiritual direction is about someone accompanying you in discerning
the pattern of God’s movements in
your heart and mind. Good spiritual
direction will keep you honest and
accountable. your spiritual director
will help you to know if you need
more internal work in your discernment efforts, like personal prayer,
or external efforts, such as visiting
potential communities and talking
to people lay, vowed, and ordained
about how they live out their God-given vocations.
While God directs you through
the inclinations of your heart, God
won’t make the decision for you.
saint Angela of Merici, who founded
the Ursuline religious community of
women in the 16th century, said why:
“God has given free will to everyone,
and therefore he forces no one but
only indicates, calls, persuades.”
FATHER Andrew Carl with his father after
receiving his doctorate degree.
What will make you happy?
gentle but clear opinion about his
all-consuming focus in words he
would never forget: “Jimmy, Christ-
mas is not about getting what you
want. Christmas is about trusting
that someone loves you enough to
give you what will make you happy.”
the gift you truly want deep down
and that will ultimately make you
happy. The overarching issue in dis-
cernment is: “Who is Jesus for me?”
The overarching question is: “Can i
When Father Jim Motl, o.P., a
legendary dominican teacher of
preaching for some 30 years, was
growing up, every Christmas season
would find him
waiting at the
mailbox for the big
arrival: the sears
department store
catalogue, in black
and white except
for the toys and
women’s cloth-
ing sections. He
wasted no time
pouncing on the color pages and
making a list of the toys he wanted
from santa.
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Enter #187 at VocationMatch.com
VISION 2013
