Pope Leo XIV expressed his closeness in prayer to the Dominican provincial priors gathered in Krakow for their General Chapter. The Pope highlighted the meeting's theme, which focuses on preaching to various audiences, including those unfamiliar with Jesus and those who have distanced themselves from Christ. Pope Leo encouraged the priors to listen attentively to the Holy Spirit during their deliberations. He expressed his hope that the priors would strengthen their commitment to serving the Body of Christ and living their vocation as contemplative preachers.
5 months ago
Pope Leo XIV has extended his prayers and assurance of closeness to the Dominican provincial priors gathered in Krakow for their General Chapter 1. The Pope conveyed his message in a letter addressed to Fr. Gerard Timoner, the Master of the Order of Preachers 1.
Pope Leo XIV expressed confidence that the General Chapter would be an opportunity for renewal, rooted in hope and the knowledge of their calling as preachers 1. The meeting's theme is particularly timely, focusing on the Dominican charism of preaching to various audiences: those who do not yet know Jesus, the Christian faithful, those who have distanced themselves from Christ, and young people in these situations 1.
A central theme of the Pope's message is the invitation to "listen attentively to the Holy Spirit" 1 2. Pope Leo XIV prayed that their deliberations would allow them to be guided by the Holy Spirit, who continually leads the Church towards the fullness of truth 1.
The Pope expressed his hope that the Dominican priors would strengthen their commitment to serving the Body of Christ in the evangelical way of life chosen by Saint Dominic 1. He emphasized that their shared experience of fraternity and prayer should strengthen their bonds of communion and inspire them to live more fully as contemplative preachers 1. Pope Leo XIV concluded his letter by entrusting the General Chapter to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and imparting his blessing 1.
How does the Church guide discernment of the Holy Spirit?
The Church guides the discernment of the Holy Spirit through various means, emphasizing both intuitive spiritual gifts and acquired human knowledge, always with the assistance of grace . This guidance helps individuals distinguish between impulses that lead to good and those that lead to evil, recognizing the influence of the Divine Spirit, the human spirit (with its fallen nature), and both good and evil angels .
The process of discernment involves understanding the origin and truth of one's thoughts and impulses . Key principles include:
Source of Impulses: Discernment aims to determine from what spirit the soul's impulses emanate . These influences can be broadly categorized as:
Mode of Action and End Goal: St. Ignatius of Loyola, a significant figure in the Church's teaching on discernment, provides rules to distinguish spirits by their mode of action and their ultimate goals .
The Church offers two primary ways to form judgment in discernment:
Intuitive Light (Gift of God): This is a charismatic gift, a grace gratis data, which infallibly discovers the quality of a movement . It is granted mainly for the benefit of one's neighbor, as seen in the early Church and in the lives of saints like St. Philip Neri .
Acquired Human Knowledge: This is obtained through study and reflection, always with the assistance of grace . It involves:
Discernment requires sensitivity to grasp where grace or temptation is present . It involves asking questions about what another person is trying to communicate and what is happening in their lives, which helps in appreciating their thoughts and emotions . This kind of listening seeks to discern the salutary promptings of the good Spirit and the traps laid by the evil spirit, requiring courage, warmth, and tact to distinguish truth from illusions or excuses .
In summary, the Church guides discernment by providing clear principles for identifying the source and end of spiritual impulses, offering both supernatural gifts and practical methods of study and self-reflection, all aimed at leading souls towards God's will and true spiritual growth .