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We believe God is speaking through the Holy Spirit in a variety of ways. We’re committed to intentionally listening to God’s invitation in our lives and responding to that invitation, whatever the cost. We also commit to vulnerability and honesty in our close, safe and trusted relationships, recognizing that God’s invitation to us often comes through the voice of another. Our commitment to obedience is a commitment not to ignore or discount God’s invitation or challenge to us, especially when it’s confirmed by a community that knows us and has been prayerfully listening with us.

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When decisions may bear a high risk, cost, or impact on ourselves or our loved ones, we relinquish any illusion of autonomy. Our commitment to invite others into our larger decisions is one expression of our commitment to community and to the freedom available in allowing others to help shoulder our burdens.

.03

After postulancy, each member chooses five or six individuals who will make up their designated discerning community. These may include members of the Order or non-members as well as their spiritual director. Ideally, each will know the member’s heart well and is more prone to listen than to give advice.

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On occasions when a member desires input on a decision or feels stuck in their life with God, they can gather their discerning community for a clearness committee.

.05

Through prayerful discernment and conversation with their spiritual director, a member may also invite their discerning community to serve in the traditional monastic role of a “superior” with regard to a particular issue. The member freely chooses beforehand to submit to the wisdom of their discerning community in that singular case.

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By inviting others to know us and speak into our lives, by listening openly, and by discerning in community, we practice relinquishing the illusion of autonomy and control. By allowing others to help discern and thereby help direct the decisions in our lives, in the context of friendship and love, we’re getting at the heart of humility.

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We expect one’s discerning community will more often clarify and confirm rather than contradict a member’s expressed desires. If one has reached a point in prayer where they are willing to relinquish control of their decision and its outcome, their desires are likely ordered in the right direction—that is, at God’s disposal.

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To this end, the process is more valuable than the decision itself or its outcome. Our commitment toward a willingness to consent to the direction of the Holy Spirit, as spoken into by others, makes room for God to be at work apart from the narrow constraints of our control.