Discerning the Will of God: An Ignatian Guide to Christian Decision Making
Every Chrstian has a Mission. What's Yours?\ "Is it time to change jobs?" "Should I marry?"\ "Am I called to religious life?"\ Sooner or later, every thoughtful Christian asks such questions. For everyone ready to make the shift from "What do I want for my life?" to "what does God want for my life?" Fr. Gallagher offers this new book to help you make sense of your major life decisions.\ Drawing from the timeless methods of Ignatius Loyola and richly illustrated with examples and stories, this...
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Drawing from the timeless methods of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, this thoughtful meditation is enriched with examples and stories that offer practical and profound wisdom for aligning personal desires and goals with God’s will. With guidance on recognizing God’s infinite love, opening the heart to what God wants, making use of silence, the Eucharist, scripture, spiritual direction, finding clarity, and understanding discernment as part of the overall spiritual life in Christ, this discussion addresses questions asked by many Christians throughout life, such as What does God want for my life? Is it time to change jobs? and Should I marry? Focusing on major life decisions such as marriage and career, these insights can be adapted to any of life's decisions, helping the thoughtful Christian find a spiritually inspired mission.
Acknowledgments xiIntroduction: When Faced with a Major Life Choice 1Text of St. Ignatius 9Part 1 Preparation1 The Question: Which Choice Does God Want? 132 The Foundation: God's Infinite Love and Our Response 18"We Love Because He First Loves Us" 18"To Do Your Will Is My Delight" 253 The Disposition: Openness to Whatever God Wills 31"Whatever You Want, Lord" 31"Loved to the Death by Jesus Christ" 39Sent by Jesus 454 The Means 50Spiritual "Exercises" 50Holy Eucharist 50Sacred Spripture 52Silence 55Spiritual Direction 58Review of Spiritual Experience 62From Preparation to Discernment 645 Clarity beyond Doubting: The First Mode 69"He Could Not Doubt about the Matter" 69"This Certitude and Deep Peace" 71"There Was No Doubting It" 71"It Had Always Been Clear" 78First Mode of Discernment: Questions to Consider 806 An Attraction of the Heart: The Second Mode 83"With Deep Devotion and Tears" 83"Experience of Consolations and Desolations" 86"Again That Consolation Would Be Given Me" 88"Only When There Was Peace in My Heart" 91"The Room in My Heart" 92"When I Was Most Joyful" 95"Like a Magnet Drawing Me" 98Second Mode of Discernment: Questions to Consider 1007 A Preponderance of Reasons: The Third Mode 102A Further Mode of Discernment 102A Time of Tranquility 104Third Mode of Discernment: First Way 106"She Suggested Looking at the Advantages and Disadvantages" 110Third Mode of Discernment: Second Way 113"When I Took the First Point" 115Third Mode of Discernment: Questions to Consider 118Part 3 Fruit8 The Value of theProcess of Discernment 123Concluding the Process 123The Process and Growth 126The Process and Grace 1319 The Fruit of Discernment 135"And This Gives Me Peace and Joy" 135"In Your Will Is Our Peace" 137Appendix: Complete Text of St. Ignatius 141Notes 145
