Chapters 10 and 11

Ch. 10
1.  How has God used your "women's intuition" to influence your husband's choices?

2.  As a couple, how do you discern God's will when faced with a decision?

Ch. 11
3.  What do you do/say to encourage a healthy lifestyle in your home?

4.  Share an example of a healing prayer that has been answered.

Action Point-Practice holding your tongue when your husband says/does something you consider foolish and take the opportunity to pray for him instead.

Personal Reflection-How does the Catholic understanding of redemptive suffering help you cope when your loved ones are ill?

Chapter 11: Mary's Memory

Lk 1: 26-38

1.  Reflect on the gifts and graces that you have been given.  How does this help you to trust?

2.  How can you cooperate more fully with the will of God?

3.  Mary was taken into the home of St. John following the death of Jesus.  How does his gospel reflect this?

4.  How does your relationship with Mary lead you closer to Christ?

Chapter 11: Spiritual Consolation and Spiritual Desolation: Finding Our Balance (Rule 11)

1.  What helps you to maintain balance in your spiritual life?

2.  Why is a humble heart so essential?

3.  How do you foster daily spiritual awareness?

4.  Examine your daily fluctuations between consolation and desolation this week.  Strive to apply Ignatius' rules to achieve a greater level of balance.

Chapter 11: Faith in God's Living Word

1.  Share a situation in which God's Word truly spoke to you.

2.  What role do the Scriptures play in your daily life?  In your family?

3.  What is your favorite Bible story/verse?

4.  How do you share God's Word with your children?

5.  As Catholics we read Scripture within "the living Tradition of the whole Church" (CCC 113).  How does that change our experience?

Action Point-Make a list of five things you could do to incorporate God's Word more effectively into your everyday family life.  Pick one item from the list and commit to applying it faithfully for six weeks.

Chapter 11: The Return to Divine Favor

1.  What helps keep you going when you want to give up?  (page 185)

2.  How can we move from imperfect contrition (remorse) to perfect contrition (repentance)?  (page 185)

3.  How can we teach our child(ren) and ourselves that obedience is an essential response of love?  (page 192)

4.  How do you express your agapao of your husband and child(ren)?  Your phileo of them?  (pages 192-193)

5.  How have your falls helped you grow in holiness?  (page 196)

6.  What part of St. Francis de Sales advice resonates with you?  (page 199)