Discerning the Will of God An Ignatian Guide to Christian Decision Making

by Gallagher, Timothy M., OMV

• ISBN13: 9780824524890
• ISBN10: 0824524896
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-09-01
• Publisher: Crossroad

Summary

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 spiritual sense of your major life decisions.

Author Biography

Timothy M. Gallagher, OMV, is a priest and a popular retreat leader who lectures around the world. He is the author of several books on Ignatian spirituality, including The Discernment of Spirits, The Examen Prayer, An Ignatian Introduction to Prayer, and Meditation and Contemplation. He lives in Boston.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. xi
Introduction: When Faced with a Major Life Choice	p. 1
Text of St. Ignatius	p. 9
Preparation
The Question: Which Choice Does God Want?	p. 13
The Foundation: God's Infinite Love and Our Response	p. 18
ôWe Love Because He First Loves Usö	p. 18
ôTo Do Your Will Is My Delightö	p. 25
The Disposition: Openness to Whatever God Wills	p. 31
ôWhatever You Want, Lordö	p. 31
ôLoved to the Death by Jesus Christö	p. 39
Sent by Jesus	p. 45
The Means	p. 50
Spiritual ôExercisesö	p. 50
Holy Eucharist	p. 50
Sacred Spripture	p. 52
Silence	p. 55
Spiritual Direction	p. 58
Review of Spiritual Experience	p. 62
From Preparation to Discernment	p. 64
Clarity beyond Doubting: The First Mode	p. 69
ôHe Could Not Doubt about the Matterö	p. 69
ôThis Certitude and Deep Peaceö	p. 71
ôThere Was No Doubting Itö	p. 71
ôIt Had Always Been Clearö	p. 78
First Mode of Discernment: Questions to Consider	p. 80
An Attraction of the Heart: The Second Mode	p. 83
ôWith Deep Devotion and Tearsö	p. 83
ôExperience of Consolations and Desolationsö	p. 86
ôAgain That Consolation Would Be Given Meö	p. 88
ôOnly When There Was Peace in My Heartö	p. 91
ôThe Room in My Heartö	p. 92
ôWhen I Was Most Joyfulö	p. 95
ôLike a Magnet Drawing Meö	p. 98
Second Mode of Discernment: Questions to Consider	p. 100
A Preponderance of Reasons: The Third Mode	p. 102
A Further Mode of Discernment	p. 102
A Time of Tranquility	p. 104
Third Mode of Discernment: First Way	p. 106
ôShe Suggested Looking at the Advantages and Disadvantagesö	p. 110
Third Mode of Discernment: Second Way	p. 113
ôWhen I Took the First Pointö	p. 115
Third Mode of Discernment: Questions to Consider	p. 118
Fruit
The Value of the Process of Discernment	p. 123
Concluding the Process	p. 123
The Process and Growth	p. 126
The Process and Grace	p. 131
The Fruit of Discernment	p. 135
ôAnd This Gives Me Peace and Joyö	p. 135
ôIn Your Will Is Our Peaceö	p. 137
Appendix: Complete Text of St. Ignatius	p. 141
Notes	p. 145
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