In this episode of Charisms for Catholics, host Jill Simons dives into the importance of letting go of preconceived expectations about how our charisms—or spiritual gifts—should manifest in our lives.

Using real-life examples, Jill explains that charisms like writing, leadership, or teaching don’t have to follow a specific path or look the same for everyone. Whether you’re writing a book or encouraging friends through heartfelt notes, what matters most is staying open to how the Holy Spirit leads you to use your gifts in your unique circumstances.

Tune in to discover how embracing the freedom and individuality of your charisms can deepen your impact in the body of Christ!

00:28 – Announcement: Enrollment is open for the Charism Coaching Certification Program, designed for professional coaches and trained spiritual directors.

02:08 – Jill dives into the episode’s main topic: letting go of rigid expectations about how our charisms “should” show up in our lives.

03:54 – She emphasizes that everyone’s expression of their charisms is unique due to life circumstances, personality, and vocation.

04:42 – Jill offers a thought experiment contrasting two people with the same charisms (leadership, knowledge, and teaching) but very different life situations, illustrating how charisms manifest differently.

07:54 – Encouragement to reflect on outside expectations and embrace greater freedom in how the Holy Spirit invites us to use our charisms, followed by an invitation to discover or discern your own on the Many Parts Ministries website.

Learn more about charisms and charism discernment at https://manypartsministries.com.

In this episode of Charisms for Catholics, host Jill Simons explores the intriguing question: Are the charisms that individual Catholics receive from the Holy Spirit the same as those attributed to religious orders?

Jill shares her personal experiences and observations from working extensively with individual discernment of charisms, while acknowledging that her expertise with religious orders is more limited. She discusses how different religious communities describe their foundational charisms—such as prayer, hospitality, preaching, and contemplative practice—and reflects on how these might or might not align with the traditional list of spiritual gifts familiar to lay Catholics.

Listeners are encouraged to consider the connections between their own spiritual gifts and the charisms of communities or orders they are drawn to!

00:01:18 - Registration announcement for the Charism Coaching Certification Program, including details about prerequisites and what's included in the course.

01:40 - Jill introduces today's big question: Are individual charisms the same as those of religious orders? She outlines her experience and knowledge limitations related to religious orders’ charisms.

03:53 - Exploration of specific religious orders, including Benedictines, Cistercians, Trappists, and Franciscans, and attempts to map their order-level charisms to individual charisms like prayer, service, and preaching.

07:31 - Jill discusses unique charisms of less well-known orders (e.g., Children of Mary) and emphasizes that there isn’t an official, exhaustive list of charisms recognized by the Church.

10:59 - Conclusion and invitation for listener feedback, clarifying that joining an order may sometimes be the path through which the Holy Spirit grants a new charism to an individual.

Learn more about charisms and charism discernment at https://manypartsministries.com.

In this episode of Charisms for Catholics, host Jill Simons dives into the intriguing question: Do families have charisms?

Drawing from both experience and observation, Jill explores whether spiritual gifts, or charisms, can be shared among family members and even passed down through generations. She discusses how certain gifts like prophecy, intercession, and knowledge sometimes appear as a "common thread" within families, though this evidence is mainly anecdotal. Jill also unpacks the parallels between family dynamics and the charisms found in religious orders, and offers practical wisdom on how families can discern and nurture individual and collective spiritual gifts.

Whether you’re curious about your family's unique spiritual mission or eager to cultivate a more charism-aware household, this episode offers thoughtful insights and invites listeners to join an ongoing conversation about God’s work within the family unit!

1:32 - Wisdom Guide offers details about the Charism Coaching Certification Program, mentioning its requirements and benefits for professional coaches and spiritual directors.

02:36 - Jill explores whether families can share a charism, noting there are often consistencies in charisms through family lines—sometimes among parents and children, or across generations.

04:05 - She gives examples of charisms like prophecy, intercession, and knowledge frequently running in families, suggesting a mix of biological and spiritual influence.

05:19 - Jill discusses whether families carry unique charisms only when together (similar to religious orders) and highlights curiosity about how family dynamics may foster shared grace and mission.

07:34 - She concludes with the idea that while collective discernment of a family charism can be helpful, the core is for each family member to discern their own charisms, and invites listeners to share their experiences or insights.

Learn more about charisms and charism discernment at https://manypartsministries.com.