Pope Francis: Inner peace leads to good choices

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Source: Vatican News

Pope Francis continued his catechesis on discernment during Wednesday morning's General Audience, which took place in the Paul VI Hall. The Pope reflected on the need to confirm our decisions with the presence of a long-lasting inner peace.

"One of the distinctive signs of the good spirit is the fact that it communicates a peace that lasts in time. A peace that brings harmony, unity, fervour, zeal."

The Pope offered the example of someone who decides to dedicate an extra half-hour to prayer each day.

He said that person should ask themselves whether the other moments of their day are more serene or anxious, if they care more or less for their work, or if their relationships with difficult people are more or less tranquil.

"The spiritual life is circular," he said. "The goodness of a choice benefits all areas of our lives. For it is participation in God's creativity."

Pope Francis said one aspect of post-decision discernment is the awareness of "feeling in one's proper place in life" and a useful part of a larger plan.

He noted that St Peter's Square has two points from which the columns of Bernini are perfectly aligned. In the same way, he said, we understand that we have made a good decision when our day becomes more ordered and integrated and we discover renewed energy.

Another sign of good discernment, said the Pope, is when we "remain free" in relation to what we have decided and are "willing to revisit the decision" to find a possible teaching from the Lord.

"This is not because He wants to deprive us of what we hold dear, but in order to live it with freedom, without attachment," he said. "Only God knows what is truly good for us."

Pope Francis went to say, the desire to possess is the enemy of goodness, pointing to the many cases of domestic violence which he said often are the result of the desire to possess the affection of another person.

"We can only love in freedom, which is why the Lord created us free, free even to say no to Him."

In conclusion, the Pope said that the "fear of God" or "respect of God" is an indispensable gift of Divine Wisdom that helps us in our discernment.

"It is the fear that casts out all other fears, because it is oriented to Him who is Lord of all things. In His presence, nothing can disquiet us."

LINKS

Watch Audience on the Vatican Youtube channel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPuiYOtvTw4

Read the official text here: https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2022/12/07/221207a.html