What does this teach us about the various ways that God can speak to us? How might God be speaking to you and you are failing to recognize it as His voice?
Do you find this idea of inspirations to not be in the common vocabulary of Christians today? Why do you think we shy away from the idea that God can (and does) speak to all of us clearly?
How can we better equip ourselves to be able to respond to the inspirations that God gives us?
Lisa C: Happy St. Mother T day
Sep 4 2016, 7:08 PM
Guest16 (guest): yes, St Teresa of calcutta. such a blessing to all!
Sep 4 2016, 7:08 PM
VisitationSiste: Yes we watched it today- very moving
Sep 4 2016, 7:09 PM
VisitationSiste: Although I never met Mother St Teresa I feel like I knew her
Sep 4 2016, 7:09 PM
Lisa C: You know Jesus who is in her
Sep 4 2016, 7:10 PM
VisitationSiste: That’s it- you are right Jesus lived in her
Sep 4 2016, 7:10 PM
Lisa C: I suspect He still does
Sep 4 2016, 7:11 PM
VisitationSiste: Definitely
Sep 4 2016, 7:11 PM
Lisa C: I think He lives in our souls and I souls do not die
Sep 4 2016, 7:11 PM
VisitationSiste: Beautiful point
Lisa C: Our bodies will come back, but right now He is in her sould
Sep 4 2016, 7:12 PM
Lisa C: soul
:14 PM
Lisa C: I told my parents about the chair that is there
Sep 4 2016, 7:14 PM
VisitationSiste: We had a ceremony of sorts with it at Mass
Sep 4 2016, 7:15 PM
VisitationSiste: We had it as the Presider’s chair and then had a statue of Mother T with petitions and one could write the prayer and sit in the chair
7:20 PM
VisitationSiste: Speaking of inspirations tonite, that little ceremony or offer to the congregation was an inspiration- a last minute one6, 7:20 PM
Lisa C: I was wondering how you always think of things to do
Sep 4 2016, 7:20 PM
Lisa C: Inspiration
6, 7:26 PM
Lisa C: Being conscious of Jesus at all times helps me figure out what to do
Sep 4 2016, 7:26 PM
Guest7252 (guest): (Judy) We all know that God can speak to us in many ways– in Scripture, in homilies and talks given at conferences, in a hymn or other reflective type of song. in poetry, in nature, in the obvious needs of others, in the direct request of another, in the command of another. These are external communications.
Sep 4 2016, 7:26 PM
Lisa C: Conscience is also a big part of inspiration, but it is the part that was inculcated over time
Sep 4 2016, 7:26 PM
Carol Ann: Hi!
Lisa C: People who know God can also bring God to us
Sep 4 2016, 7:27 PM
Lisa C: Adoration also
29 PM
Guest7252 (guest): (Judy) But there are internal ones also such as suddenly thinking about someone and feeling impelled to call or write to them; a strong inclination to perform some good action; becoming aware of an inner voice that you know is the Lord’s asking you to do something-perhpas a good deed, confession, read a particular spiritual book, make a particular sacrifice, pray for a particular person
Sep 4 2016, 7:29 PM
Lisa C: The Holy Spirit often has us doing things before we know it without our even thinking
Sep 4 2016, 7:29 PM
VisitationSiste: The Lord uses many avenues to reach us- is there a particular way you most recognize Him
VisitationSiste: The Lord uses many avenues to reach us- is there a particular way you most recognize Him
Sep 4 2016, 7:31 PM
Guest7252 (guest): (Judy) God could be speaking to us in any of the above manners but we can look at them, or pass they off, as just our own thought and thus be unaware of God’s inspiration
VisitationSiste: For another example I had wanted to give holy cards of t Teresa to the Sisters today- forgot all about it until one Sr says somerthing about a Marian card or picture and immediately I remembered
Sep 4 2016, 7:35 PM
Carol Ann: Hi Ruth!
Ruth (guest): Hello everyone! Reading Judy’s response now.
Sep 4 2016, 7:36 PM
Guest7252 (guest): (Judy) Let us rejoice in the canonization of our latest saint, a true inspiration from the Lord.
Sep 4 2016, 7:37 PM
VisitationSiste: So inspirations may be different from memories but God uses all things to help us do His wo
6, 7:39 PM
Ruth (guest): Occasionally, if we need it, because of some reasonable doubts, he even gives us a sign, if we ask for it.
Sep 4 2016, 7:40 PM
Guest7252 (guest): (Judy) When I first looked at these questions, I felt that they were the hardest ever. I almost was not going to answer the first one since I did not think that there was really an answer to the second part of the question. I guess the Lord started to send me an inspiration, and so I was off and running.
Sep 4 2016, 7:40 PM
VisitationSiste: Think of how many inspiration St Teresa followed Sept 10 was called Inspiration day in the MC’s-
7:42 PM
Guest7252 (guest): (Judy) Welcome Guest 4595 is it? Is that you Brian?
Sep 4 2016, 7:42 PM
Ruth (guest): I find it helpful,too, to learn that St. Teresa of Calcutta did all those loving services for others often over long periods of time without any consolation. She discerned what God was asking her to do and just did it.
Sep 4 2016, 7:43 PM
Guest4595 (guest): Hi Lisa , Carol Ann , Judy , Sister Susan , and Ruth ! God Bless You ! Brian
6, 7:43 PM
Guest7252 (guest): (Judy) Maybe we all need to take as our motto that popular phrase of the day “Just do iPM
Guest4595 (guest): Amen Judy !
Sep 4 2016, 7:44 PM
Ruth (guest): God bless you, too, Brian, and your family, those away at college and the almost empty nest.
Sep 4 2016, 7:45 PM
Carol Ann: How do you describe these inspirations to non-religious people? Or to those who are religious but think that anyone who feels God is speaking to them is delusional?
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Lisa C: God will make Himself known to them in time
Sep 4 2016, 7:46 PM
Lisa C: God is not unfair
Sep 4 2016, 7:46 PM
Guest4595 (guest): Thank’s Ruth ! Lian is doing fine and Mitch is having some difficulty . Mom and Dad are missing them both !
Sep 4 2016, 7:46 PM
Lisa C: Jesus told St. Faustina that He will save people because she asked Him so we can ask too
Sep 4 2016, 7:46 PM
Guest7252 (guest): (Judy) You could begin by asking them if they have ever had a sudden impulse to write to someone or to call them. If they answer in the affirmative, you can try to explain that God might well have put that idea in their mind.
Sep 4 2016, 7:47 PM
Ruth (guest): And if the task seems overwhelming, just START; aim to do one little part FIRST, and then another. My biology professor in college, quoting Napoleon said: “Divide and conquer!” (Students were complaining about the volume of work we had to do.)
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Guest7252 (guest): (Judy) It would be more real to them if they had followed the inspiration and learned that the person really wanted to hear from them at that time because of some problem they were having.
VisitationSiste: One can live from inspirations and duties of one’s state in life
Sep 4 2016, 7:50 PM
Guest4595 (guest): A social worker that I work with was a atheist . God brought many people into his life and he returned to the Catholic Church . Father Baron videos helped him alot and local priest Father Baker spent alot of time with him ! We would all plant seeds from time to time at work . A St Augustine Conversion . God is GREAT !!!
Sep 4 2016, 7:51 PM
Guest7252 (guest): (Judy) The Rule of a Religious Congregation is surely a communication of the will of God for the individual.
Sep 4 2016, 7:52 PM
Ruth (guest): “Duties of one’s state in life” somewhere I heard or read about early on, and that helped me a lot through many rough spots. Interestingly in some ways it is harder now that I am sorta’ semi-retired and have been since the 2009 “fall.”
Sep 4 2016, 7:52 PM
Carol Ann: Yes, I see what you all are saying.
4 2016, 7:53 PM
VisitationSiste: I think inspirations are so important esp if they come from the Lord It shows His will to us which should be our main motive in life4 PM
Guest4595 (guest): RUTH I mentioned to Will about Bishop Baron coming to Lake Placid and he may go . He is such an inspiration and was a key encouragement in his conversion ! 7:54 PM
Ruth (guest): And when one is sick or in pain or over-tired, his will may be just to REST and not feel too guilty about it! God gives to his own even in their sleep.
Sep 4 2016, 7:55 PM
Carol Ann: How do you stay stron when you know you have been inspired but no one believes you, and demand that you change because they don’t like it
Sep 4 2016, 7:56 PM
Ruth (guest): Brian, if you tried to contact me by phone and the machine was full, it’s OK to try again. Sometimes I don’t here the phone even when I am at home, especially if I am in my prayer room — where lately I’ve also been sleeping.
Sep 4 2016, 7:56 PM
Guest7252 (guest): (Judy) Question 2 The idea of inspirations is common among those committed to an active prayer life and participation in the life of the Church–member of Prayer Groups, Sodalities, Third Orders or Associates, organizations active in corporal works of mercy, Pro_Life Advocates, are a few that come to mind. But they can also be found among devout individuals with active prayer lives.
Sep 4 2016, 7:56 PM
Lisa C: I do not think it matters if they believe you, but I would check with a priest if not at all believed me.
57 PM
Guest7252 (guest): (Judy) You could also pray for a confirmation from the Lord.
Sep 4 2016, 7:57 PM
Guest4595 (guest): Always strong resistance comes when we are doing God’s Will ! Saint Teresa taught us as we said ealier just to keep following God’s will no matter what .
Sep 4 2016, 7:58 PM
Carol Ann: Okay, I will tell the person
Sep 4 2016, 7:58 PM
Lisa C: No one can make you change
1 PM
VisitationSiste: I think the more we know the inspiration to be of God, the more we feel we need to follow it
Sep 4 2016, 8:01 PM
Lisa C: He wrote us a book of love letters
Sep 4 2016, 8:02 PM
Guest4595 (guest): The importance of building strong Faith communities through instruments like this chat will be vital in the years to come !
Sep 4 2016, 8:02 PM
Carol Ann: Isn’t that what is to happen at the end of time?
Sep 4 2016, 8:02 PM
Ruth (guest): In Munich, when I was studying medicine, the psychiatry professor presented in our lecture hall a patient who had fallen asleep on the steps of a public building where he’d had the “inspiration” to go and pray. He was not a vagrant. He was an engineer, belonged to a charismatic-type or Pentecostal church community.
Sep 4 2016, 8:03 PM
Lisa C: Jesus came into the world, He died on the cross, He saved us all. I am not sure an appearance would help. People might say it was a hologram projection or something.
Sep 4 2016, 8:03 PM
Carol Ann: Is the Ignatian rule good here? Does it draw you closer to God or push you away?
Sep 4 2016, 8:03 PM
Guest7252 (guest): (Judy) You and I believe that, but there are those who do not believe that the Bible is the Word of God. And Yes, God will come at the end of time, but He will come as judge then. I mean an appearance that would be of an evangelical nature.
Sep 4 2016, 8:04 PM
Guest7252 (guest): (Judy) I imagine that such an appearance would need to be accompanied by some significant sign.
Sep 4 2016, 8:04 PM
Lisa C: I trust that He will be known by all even if it is at the last second before death (read St. Gertrude).
Sep 4 2016, 8:05 PM
Carol Ann: I wish that evangeliCal appearance would happen too
Sep 4 2016, 8:05 PM
Guest4595 (guest): We live in a very very hypervigilant world people can really see Jesus in us when we are truly one with Him !
, 8:05 PM
Lisa C: Romans 14:11 It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.'”
Sep 4 2016, 8:06 PM
Carol Ann: There are some saying that 2017 is key, since it is the 100 year anniversary of Fatima
Sep 4 2016, 8:06 PM
Lisa C: I stopped worrying and just pray for everyone.
016, 8:06 PM
Lisa C: God will not fail His children
Sep 4 2016, 8:07 PM
Guest4595 (guest): Every day we have an opportunity to share Christwith those around us !
Sep 4 2016, 8:07 PM
VisitationSiste: LOve covers all of us His Love whether one knows it or not
Sep 4 2016, 8:07 PM
Lisa C: It’s called the good news, because it is done
Sep 4 2016, 8:07 PM
Guest4595 (guest): Amen Sister !
Sep 4 2016, 8:07 PM
Carol Ann: I meet very interesting people at work. One is convinced that we are alreday on the fourth trumpet
Sep 4 2016, 8:08 PM
Lisa C: We just need to trust God and pray for everyone
Sep 4 2016, 8:08 PM
VisitationSiste: 4th trumpet?
016, 8:10 PM
VisitationSiste: This is important re inspirations from St Francis: The delight we take in God’s inspirations is an important step gained towards His Glory, and we begin at once to please Him:10 PM
Carol Ann: Of revelation. The man he follows has his own prophecy school, after years of study, and is considered inspired
Sep 4 2016, 8:11 PM
Guest4595 (guest): We must work together to help save others for the Lord Jesus ! Just like the world trade center firemen we must be willing to go up the stairs prepared to give our lives in order give others hope to go down the stairs to the safety of the Lord’s arms forever !
Sep 4 2016, 8:11 PM
Lisa C: The third that died? Maybe they go to purgatory
:13 PM
Ruth (guest): When the man said that the Holy Spirit had led him to pray on the steps of those buildings, the prof tried to provoke him by asking, “None of us here believe in i the Holy Spirit. What is it like to feel the Holy Spirit is inspiring you?” I was in the front row and responded loudly enough that students way back — 200 to 300 of us — could also hear. “Herr Professor, speak for yourself, but NOT for ME; I believe in the Holy Spirit.” My friend added: “And so do I!” And throughout the lecture hall there w
Sep 4 2016, 8:13 PM
VisitationSiste: do you respond to your inspirations
Ruth (guest): was a chain of people repeating, “And so do I!”
Sep 4 2016, 8:13 PM
Lisa C: Yes, if I know they are from God I feel like I have to respond
Sep 4 2016, 8:14 PM
Guest7252 (guest): (Judy)The reference is from the 8th Chapter of Revelation: “The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them turned dark. A third of the day was without light and also a third of the night.”
Sep 4 2016, 8:15 PM
Carol Ann: Yes, this man says this was world war one, though I always was taught it was more about the war in heaven
8:16 PM
Guest7252 (guest): (Judy) Hi Sister Mary Roberta!
Mary Roberta Viano: Hello! Better late, than…I hope. Our recreations are going longer and longer…
7 PM
Guest4595 (guest): What a privilege for us to live in this time when soo many are in need of Christ ! Let’s lead them Home to Jesus now !
Sep 4 2016, 8:17 PM
Ruth (guest): Hello, Sr. Mary Roberta; we are chatting about inspiration.
Sep 4 2016, 8:18 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: I follow the Holy Spirit’s inspirations until someone else with a contrary inspiration stops me.
Sep 4 2016, 8:18 PM
Guest7252 (guest): (Judy) I think that I do follow my inspirations. I m following one now that I will share with at a later date. It came through my spiritual director, and I hemmed a hawed a bit, but after careful thought and reflection, I decided that I would do well to follow it.
Ruth (guest): I wish I followed the inspirations of the Holy Spirit more closely. I almost NEVER get done all that I feel “inspired” to do.
Sep 4 2016, 8:19 PM
Guest4595 (guest): You inspire all of us Ruth !!!
Sep 4 2016, 8:19 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: and too often I think I have good arguments against following the Spirit’s inspirations, but they’re usually selfish ones..
Guest7252 (guest): (Judy) I think that some of our reluctance to follow inspirations could come from fear.
Sep 4 2016, 8:20 PM
VisitationSiste: Confirmation of an inspiration helps
VisitationSiste: from SFDS: consent only perfects the good action; for if we are inspired of God, and take pleasure in that inspiration, and yet, nevertheless, refuse our consent to His inspiration, we are acting a very contemptuous, offensive part towards Him. PM
Ruth (guest): That’s what’s good about having a spiritual director; sometimes they see further than we can; and it makes it easier not to mistake our own wishes for those of the inspiration of the Holy Spir
8:21 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: As SFdS says in one of his Conferences: “The Holy Spirit will have no putting off but desires great promptitude in obeying His inspirations…”
Sep 4 2016, 8:22 PM
VisitationSiste: yes and SFDS”Consent once given, you must carefully seek to produce the intended results, and carry out the inspiration, the crown of true virtue
2 PM
Carol Ann: Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven
Sep 4 2016, 8:22 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: He continues: “It’s our slothfulness which makes us say, ‘ I will begin presently,” and that’s our destruction.”
Sep 4 2016, 8:23 PM
Guest7252 (guest): (Judy) Question 3 on equipping ourselves to recognize inspirations. We first need to pray fro the grace to recognize inspirations and discern if they are from God (perhaps with the aid of a true spiritual friend or a spiritual director, and they pray for the grace to give assent to, and then to fulfill the inspiration.
Sep 4 2016, 8:23 PM
Guest7252 (guest): (Judy) And then pray for the grace.
Sep 4 2016, 8:23 PM
Guest4595 (guest): Soo true Sister ! Years ago the Holy Spirit inspired me to pray for pastors from Africa to come to Buffalo to help build the church . I have seen these men come to our city and begin to build up the church ! Praise God !
Sep 4 2016, 8:23 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: and more – he says: “We do not wish to be roused by any external objects which would draw us out of ourselves and we imitate the sluggard …”
Sep 4 2016, 8:24 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: “the sluggard who, when his friends tried to induce him to come out of his house, complained, ‘How can I? There is a lion in the way and bears are round about who will certainly devour me.'” Hmm…
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Ruth (guest): There was a time when I was living in a suburb of Munich that I felt the Lord was leading me to do some sort of strange things — for instance, make a blanket and put it on the figure of the Christ Child in the crib in church. That upset the pastor a great deal. So afterward I submitted myself in obedience to a retired Latin teacher who had lived in the community practically all her life. I knew her through a Bible Study group. But I also asked God to show me who he wanted me to submit myself to and he
Sep 4 2016, 8:26 PM
Carol Ann: For those of us who are contemplative on the quiet side that’s pretty scary…
Sep 4 2016, 8:26 PM
Ruth (guest): did, with a very specific sign.
Sep 4 2016, 8:27 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: and in his Treatise he points out that “without inspiration our sould would live idle, useless lives, but with the coming of the divine rays of inspirations we feel a light mingled with a life-giving warmth…”
Sep 4 2016, 8:28 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: “warmth that enlightens our understanding and awakens and animates our will by giving it the strength and will do do the good that appertains to eternal salvation.”
8:29 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: so not an inspiration to treat ourselves to a special ice cream but maybe to treat someone else with it instead9 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: to show that someone else some of God’s love
Sep 4 2016, 8:29 PM
Ruth (guest): By the way; the event in Lake Placid is called: INSPIRE CALLED TO LOVE.
8:32 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: May God inspire each of us in a special way this week to serve Him better! Good night!
Sep 4 2016, 8:32 PM
Ruth (guest): wow! You certainly get around Sister, Susan. Join the Cloistered Monastery, See the world!
Sep 4 2016, 8:32 PM
Lisa C: God be praised!
Sep 4 2016, 8:32 PM
VisitationSiste: Yes! blessings on all!