Pope Francis: gift of counsel illuminates the will of God

Last updated on: May 7, 2014 at 12:53 pm by CNA Daily News

Pope Francis: gift of counsel illuminates the will of God 2014-05-07T12:53:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Vatican City, May 7, 2014 / 06:53 am (CNA/EWTN News).- During his General Audience on Wednesay, Pope Francis reflected on the Holy Spirit’s gift of counsel, explaining that through it we learn to be docile to the Lord rather than attached to our own ideas.

“It illuminates our heart and makes us more sensitive to the voice of the Spirit, so that we do not get carried away in our thoughts, feelings and intentions by selfishness or our own way of looking at things, but by the will of God,” the Pope observed May 7.

Addressing the thousands of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square to hear his discourse, the Roman Pontiff continued his catechesis on the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Counsel "is the gift with which the Holy Spirit helps us to make decisions in our concrete lives, following the logic of Jesus and his Gospel” he noted, adding that through it “God enlightens our hearts and directs our thoughts, words and actions in accordance with his saving will.”

In leading us toward Jesus, and through him to God the Father, “the Holy Spirit guides us in our daily interaction with others and enables us to make right decisions in the light of faith” the Pope continued.

By the gift of counsel we “grow in the virtue of prudence, learning to overcome our self-centeredness and to see all things with the eyes of Christ,” the Bishop of Rome stated, and at the same time it “leads us to conform more and more to Jesus, as a model of our actions and our relation with God, and with our brothers.”

“What can we do to be more docile to this gift of Counsel?” he asked, observing that “the essential condition is prayer.”

“Thanks to the intimacy with God and to the hearing of his Word, a profound harmony with God matures in us and leads us to ask ourselves constantly: What is it that the Lord desires? What is his will? What is it that pleases him?”

Like the other spiritual gifts, counsel also “constitutes a treasure for the whole Christian community,” the Pope went on to say, adding that not only does God speak to us “in the intimacy of the heart,” but also by “the voice and testimony of the faith of our brothers, who help us to see more clearly and to recognize the will of God.”

Offering thanks for the gift of counsel, Pope Francis prayed that all might “seek to support one another along the path of faith, as we seek to be ever more docile to the working of the Holy Spirit in our hearts.”

“May the intercession of the Virgin Mary, in this month of May, help us to live out Christian lives with more docility to the voice and love of the Holy Spirit.”

Concluding his address, the Roman Pontiff extended personal greetings to pilgrims present from various countries around the world, including England and Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Slovakia, Korea, the Philippines, China, India, Canada, the United States, Spain, México, Guatemala, Colombia, Perú, Uruguay, Venezuela and Argentina.

He also gave special welcome to the family and friends of the 30 young men who made an oath and became Swiss Guards during yesterday’s swearing-in ceremony.

Vatican

Previous Post

May 7, 2014

New prayer released for Pope's Holy Land pilgrimage

Next Post

May 7, 2014 Nigerian cardinal urges action to free kidnapped girls

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What was the primary legal document in Biblical times?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Scroll Land deed Tablet Contract