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"God has determined...
that I should reach that, which will be my greatest happiness.
He looks on me individually. He calls me by my name.
He knows what I can do, what I can best be,
what is my greatest happiness, and He means to give it to me."
St. John Henry Newman (1801-1890) in Meditations and Devotions
Introduction. At our Baptisms and Confirmations, God gave us each unique gifts: a piece of Him. These gifts are the tools we need to further His plan. In Pastores Dabo Vobis, St John Paul II encourages, "each soul must be helped to embrace gifts entrusted to them, as a completely unique person." The purpose of this post is to describe a sampling of God's special gifts and saints who used similar ones to glorify God. How can we use the saints to find our gifts, and become instruments in the hand of God?
Background. In secular life, personality tests pretend to define God's gifts in us: Myers-Briggs, Truity, HIGH5, Hexaco, etc. In Catholic life, we have the saints, who already know our way. At Confirmation, we pick mentor-saints. Who and why did you pick your saint? Do you still speak to them? Remember a "God moment" in your life, where and what were you doing? What was God telling you? All these are discerning moments, many of which, occur in Adoration of our Blessed Sacrament. Discernment starts our journey to greatness where we can set the world on fire.
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Category A: types of settings. In gifts discernment, certain places and situations give different souls comfort. Consider the below settings and matching saints. There is no wrong answer and it will take some patience. We cannot put God's brilliance into categories, so not everything is neat and structured. Proof is the 9 choirs of angels and how their gifts mix and match: St. Michael is an archangel, but he leads the choirs of angels. In both categories A and B, please pick 1-2 items listed under each that speaks to you. Like trying on clothes, if something doesn't fit, pick another until you find your inner Goldilocks.
1. Organization-focused: Have you ever thought, "I have a vision; I see the big picture. I think I can organize, serve or steer a hierarchy towards God." Are you a leader like St. Ignatius of Loyola, Jesuit founder? Or are you a Teresa of Avila, the founder of the Discalced Carmelites? Are you gifted in hospital administration, for which St Basil is patron? Other saints with this gift were St Maximillian Kolbe (publication founder), St Madaleine Sophie Barrat (society founder) or the Venerable Mary Ward (order founder). Have you heard of their work? If you have OCD, it may be a gift. Those who thrive on making order out of chaos make charismatic administrators or assistants i.e. St. Vincent De Paul. Herein resides our famous church leaders, i.e. canonized popes, clergy, pastors, laypersons, caregivers and nuns.
2. Smaller group and hospitality-focused: Are you a group leader, "We can get this done faster together, let's divide and conquer. Or I think I can be a good role model or coach." Are you more relaxed in community--which includes raising a family? Perhaps you are a Mother Mary or a St Benedict, who welcomed all travelers with food, shelter, clothing and companionship? Women might overlap gifts with St Margaret Clitherow who worked in her house. She was martyred for hiding priests to celebrate "illegal" sacraments. Others who fall here are humble country priests, hosts of Bible study, leaders of choir practice or other small groups.
3. Individual-focused: "I want to help 1 person at a time." The hospitalier saints are in this group: St. Camillus de Lellis, St. Julian the Hospitalier, St John of God, etc. Herein lies those with Mercy gifts: priests, doctors, counselors, nurses, paramedics, etc. Saints who could read hearts, often fall here.
4. Introvert: "Let me work quietly, behind the scenes. Or. I am not a delegator, let me do it myself." St Martha of Bethany, St Paula assistant to St Jerome, St Therese of Lisieux, St. Joseph etc. Herein lies the cloistered, those in service. helpers or crafts-gifted souls.
5. Outdoor-focused: Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, St Kateri Tekakwitha, St Isadore the Farmer, St Sebastian etc. St. Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals and nature, see movie, "Brother Moon and Sister Sun." These people are most comfortable in a natural setting.
6. Miscellaneous/Other. Martyrs fall here with these examples: St Stephen. St. Joan of Arc, St Tarcisius, St Philomena, the virgin martyrs, etc. These people were blessed with role model charisms: supernatural courage and the ability to surrender, all through total trust in God.
Please pick 1-2 of the above and pray for guidance as God is not always direct. He loves us and wants us to keep coming back. Is that mean? No, it is a kindness. Imagine poor Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemene who foresaw his passion. If we knew all our suffering in one sitting, we might despair. God knows how much information we can take. One battle at a time, as in this Joan of Arc movie. Do we want to read God's mind and foresee our deaths?
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Category B: communication styles. When are you in a zone or feeling joy from communications with others? What unsolicited compliments do you get when you accomplish something easily and supernaturally well? This might be the Holy Spirit exercising your gift in you. Does this work create followers or produce lasting fruit? Below is a list of ways we express ourselves best. For the B-items below, pick 1-2 that best represent your comfort zone and communication style.
1. Expression style: which fits you? God's personal messenger was St. Gabriel the Archangel. Ask him to tell you.
2. Creativity-focused: does the Holy Spirit speak through the things you create?
3. Healing-focused: Drawn to suffering of others. Like an airborne kite, it tugs at their heartstrings.
4. Mercy-focused: Some of these saints were able to read hearts of those in pain.
5. Restoration-focused: St Bishop Charles Borromeo was the mastermind behind the formal Catechism.
6. Lifestyle-focused: This communicates your vocational role to others.
7. Other: With God, nothing is impossible. Some of my favorite patients are Down's or autistic folks. Down's people radiate the purest of innocence and love. It is edifying to look in their eyes and see Jesus, who lights up their smiles. Additionally, certain autistics are savants. Park them in front of a piano, drawing board or ask them a math question. In their lane of comfort, they can run circles around us "smart" people.
Conclusion. Hopefully, you can identify several sub-categories under groups A and B, plus saints who rocked those gifts. Since they have God's ear, immerse yourself in their lives. What would they think and do in modern times if they were here? Journal, and take your thoughts to Adoration. If you want to go deeper, google gifts assessments or charism inventories. When you are ready, consider a setting change. Ask God for patience and courage but avoid being overwhelmed. It is fun to get answers: why God made you and to learn His plan. Past, present or future, no one can do what you can. Enjoy the journey, engage with the saints you meet and finally, be at peace with who you were meant to be!
Prayer
Thank you, Lord, for all your gifts!
Open my eyes to your ways & tune my ears to your voice.
Teach me what is important as I reflect on who I am
and the meaning of my life.
Make the next steps clear & inflame me with the desire to take action.
All the saints above, pray for us
Mother Mary, pray for us.
Jesus, I trust in you!
Look to Him and be Radiant: Saints for the Smarts
Multiple Intelligences in Religious Ed- Patron Saints | Google Drive
Spiritual Gifts Assessment | Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church | Carmel, IN
Science cannot explain suffering. As Lay Passionist and nurse, she challenges modern health care assumptions; contraception, abortion, euthanasia, herd immunity and more. Behind every health dilemma, God asks us to abide in Him. Author of 7 books & >20 peer-reviewed nursing journal articles; she also writes as "The Catholic Nurse" on Substack, see "Archives." She is a veteran of the Army Nurse Corps. Her primary charism is mercy through which she explores redemptive suffering, spiritual healing and the joy of bringing of souls to God.
