Catholic Prayer Question from Protestant

[freerf]

I’ve been taught (as a Protestant) that when asking God for direction through prayer, He’ll give you a sense of peace about that path which He directs you to.

For example, after a particularily discouraging month at work one might pray, “Lord should I look for a new job?” and find that God gives them a sense of peace at the notion of looking for a new job. or conversely, find that God gives them a sense of peace at the notion of staying at their current job, despite being dissatisfied.

Does Catholic teaching have any equivalent notion?

 

[jmcrae]

I’ve been taught (as a Protestant) that when asking God for direction through prayer, He’ll give you a sense of peace about that path which He directs you to.

For example, after a particularily discouraging month at work one might pray, “Lord should I look for a new job?” and find that God gives them a sense of peace at the notion of looking for a new job. or conversely, find that God gives them a sense of peace at the notion of staying at their current job, despite being dissatisfied.

Does Catholic teaching have any equivalent notion?

Yes, in fact this is one of the steps of St. Ignatius’ process for discernment. The other steps include discerning whether it is against God’s revealed will (for example, if you get a “sense of peace” about getting into a homosexual relationship, or robbing a bank, or having sex outside of marriage, you know from God’s revealed will that it isn’t what God wants you to do) - but if you have a sense of peace, and it isn’t against God’s revealed will, then you can go ahead and do it.

 

[freerf]

Yes, in fact this is one of the steps of St. Ignatius’ process for discernment. The other steps include discerning whether it is against God’s revealed will (for example, if you get a “sense of peace” about getting into a homosexual relationship, or robbing a bank, or having sex outside of marriage, you know from God’s revealed will that it isn’t what God wants you to do) - but if you have a sense of peace, and it isn’t against God’s revealed will, then you can go ahead and do it.

Thanks, I’d like to explore this more personally and my Protestant sources don’t seem to have a source for the idea. . .do you have any references?

 

[jmcrae]

You can get it from TAN Books - just click on the link below.

The Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius, TAN Books, 2010. ISBN 9780895551535

 

[Alan55]

I recommend “Discerning the Will of God: An Ignatian Guide to Christian Decision Making” by Timothy Gallagher, OMV. Fr. Gallagher applies the method taught in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius to Christian decision making. He writes very clearly and practically. All of his books are wonderful. A link:

amazon.com/Discerning-Will-God-Ignatian-Christian/dp/0824524896/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_3

 

[freerf]

Excellent! Thank you both.