“Make a sound and firm resolution to submit yourselves totally to (God's) will...” Prologue to the Legacies
The biggest question is how do we know what God’s will is?
In "Also in Your Midst," a book about St. Angela Merici written by Martha Buser OSU, she speaks of God’s will as “something we come to know from within.” She likens this to the image of how sheep know their shepherd. Sheep can be all mixed up in a group, yet when the shepherds go their different ways, the sheep know which one to follow. It is something within that pulls us in the right direction.
A word used in the context of spirituality for seeking God’s will is ‘discernment.’ God desires us to make free and wise choices in our lives, and this is ongoing work—a work of our lifetime.
In her writings, St. Angela often reminds us to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit—to listen with our hearts. The voice of truth is found within us. We need to listen to our heart’s desires, not just the surface wants and needs of life.
When making choices, we usually confer with our friends or people who can help, guide, and counsel us. We usually don’t make important decisions in isolation, and usually, we pray about our choices. We need to reflect on our lives and the experiences that have taught us lessons of value. Listening attentively to the voices that surround us in life, in all the possible facets, will lead us to know more of God’s will for us. We must have faith in our God, the Good Shepherd, to give us the grace we need to “see into our heart.”
Sister Donna Frey, OSU
Ursuline and Catholic Identity