Discernment and the Holy Spirit

When I was on retreat earlier this year I had a conversation with my priest about discernment. There was something in my life I was trying to make a decision about, and I felt I had interpreted some pretty specific signs, leading me to believe I had discerned a very clear and certain way forward on that particular question.

His response surprised me. As he explained, discernment of God's will in your life is less about concrete signs and more about reading the push and pull of all the directions of your life. Big decisions rarely come with an "I'm the right choice!" kind of sign, and the more I thought about it, the more I realized he was correct. You will see God move in one direction, and then the other, and it is up to you to discern what is going on.

Which leads me to another thought: there was a time in my life when I always needed to know what came next. Spoiler alert: life doesn't work that way. If William Shakespeare tells us life is a stage or a play, that's fine, but I can tell you all I know is that there is another act coming and I don't know what my lines or costume are. You just have to show up and play along. And, usually, it works out fine.

What changed my attitude about needing to know "how things turn out" was the realization that there is never just one purely right choice. Think about if you are considering a new job, a relationships or a trip somewhere. There have been countless, infinite instances where you could have chosen another job, another date, another trip - and so what? There was never one singular path you were destined for. You make a decision based on what you know at the time, using the best information and guesses you have. And then, you move on.

The other element that makes this easier is trust in God. I write, and think, so much about this because I do not think it is the most natural part of human nature to say, "Okay, God, you take this one!" But that's where the Holy Spirit comes in. This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday, also known as the birth of the Church and we are right in the middle of the Pentecost Novena (not too late to join!). In my own prayers during this novena, I am not exactly asking for anything concrete, but rather, the ability to discern via the Holy Spirit where my path is taking me, generally speaking. That's it. The gift of discernment. And then to follow His will, wherever it takes me, without shock or question, but with full trust. That must be one of the greatest gifts of the Holy Spirit - full trust in our Lord.

The Original Novena

FYI, friends: tomorrow, May 26th, marks the start of the original novena, aka the Pentecost Novena! You can join in here. 

I love this prayer, both because it is a prayer to our Advocate, the Holy Spirit, and also because I like imagining the scene of its original incarnation. The Pentecost Novena is also called the "original novena" because it took place over the nine days after Jesus's Resurrection while the apostles and His mother waited in the upper room, praying as He asked. They waited nine days - the length of all our novenas, now.

What would you ask the Holy Spirit for? Here are the gifts of the Holy Spirit, if you are developing your relationship with the Advocate, according to St. Paul, whose entire Christian life was a movement of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12):

The Holy Spirit is given to each of us in a special way. That is for the good of all. To some people the Spirit gives a message of wisdom. To others the same Spirit gives a message of knowledge. To others the same Spirit gives faith. To others that one Spirit gives gifts of healing. To others he gives the power to do miracles. To others he gives the ability to prophesy. To others he gives the ability to tell the spirits apart. To others he gives the ability to speak in different kinds of languages they had not known before. And to still others he gives the ability to explain what was said in those languages. All the gifts are produced by one and the same Spirit. He gives gifts to each person, just as he decides.

You can also always simply ask the Holy Spirit to guide you and use you for His will during this prayerful time. Here is a simple way to ask His guidance before embarking on these nine days:

"Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth. 

O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen."

5 Million Rosaries

I have been a fan of Matthew Kelly, the founder of Dynamic Catholic, since reading Rediscover Catholicism as I went through RCIA (how appropriate!). For me, it was less about re-discovering and more about discovering, for the first time. I like how he discusses the "genius" of Catholicism as it relates to becoming the best version of yourself, as God created you. There is much to be said for that.

Anyway: I just learned that Dynamic Catholic is holding a 5 Million Rosaries prayer event for our nation. As the website says:

"The truth is, there’s no group of people in America in a better position to change things than Catholics. And one of the most effective ways we can change things is through prayer. If the 72 million Catholics in America came together and prayed, something incredible would happen.

That's why we are asking people all over the country to join us in praying 5 million Rosaries for America! The Rosary is an incredibly powerful prayer. It has the power to bring peace. The power to heal. The power to transform your life, the lives of your loved ones, your community, and our nation."

You know I am a.) all about prayer; and b.) all about Mary, so I really love this idea. The rosary is Our Lady's sword for fighting evil in this world, and is one of the most powerful prayers that can be prayed, period. I am envisioning 72 million Catholics praying together, for our nation: its leaders, the armed forces, school and churches, the sick and lonely and the families and individuals who love this country and call it home.

I am praying with the Dynamic Catholic team for our country. How about you?