FLOUNDERING?
Have you ever found yourself floundering in life? Have you ever felt unsure about what God wants, unable to make a decision, stuck, wondering what the right course of action is, or feeling like you made a wrong turn somewhere?
If you have, welcome! You're part of the human race. We all need help in making good choices, and this newsletter, based in the Catholic faith tradition, which offers a treasure chest of wisdom and counsel to help you discern God's will for you, will give you insightful tips to help you navigate the twists and turns of your unique path towards God. May God always be at the helm of your life, sailing you safely towards eternal joy.
NOTE FROM FR. JIM
It is the New Year, a time when many of us traditionally renew commitments, make specific plans, and set goals for ourselves.
People concerned about lining up their commitments, plans, and goals with God's will are, by definition, people concerned with discernment.
One of the things I am asked most, and this was true while I was still a seminarian, is how we can know what God wants for us.
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ADVICE FOR MAKING GOOD DECISIONS BY ST. IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA
- The First Rule. Be sure that the love you have for the choices before you is solely for the
sake of our Creator and Lord.
- The Second Rule. Imagining a person, a stranger, in your same situation, consider what you
would say to him or her, in order to bring that person to act and elect for the greater glory
of God and the perfection of his or her soul. Then apply the advice you would give to that
person to yourself.
- The Third Rule. Consider, as if you were at the point of death, what procedure or norm you
would wish you had used to make your decision. Then use that norm to guide your choice.
- The Fourth Rule. Imagining your condition on judgment day, think of what you would wish you
had decided regarding the present matter. Apply that decision now, so that on that day, you will
have complete contentment and joy.
- Note: When the decision has been made, offer it in prayer to God, and beg His Divine Majesty to
receive and confirm it, provided it is conducive to His greater service and praise.
- (paraphrased from "The Second Method of Making a Sound and Good Election" (#184-188),
in The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius.)
RETREATS AND WORKSHOPS
Fr. Jim Sullivan and Christine Watkins are offering dynamic retreat called Making Holy Choices, to help people discern God's will in their lives. (See www.holychoices.org to find out how to bring this retreat to your parish, school, or center.)
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