VATICAN CITY, APRIL 25, 2004 (Zenit.org).- On a day he beatified six people, John Paul II offered young people practical advice on discovering God’s will in their lives.
The Pope cited the example of Polish Prince Augustus Czartoryski (1858-1893), who gave up his title of nobility to become a priest of the Salesian Society of St. John Bosco.
The prince “elaborated an effective method of discerning divine signs,” the Holy Father said in his homily at the beatification Mass today in St. Peter’s Square. “He presented to God in prayer all his questions and underlying doubts and then, in the spirit of obedience, followed the advice of his spiritual guides.”
In this way, “he understood his vocation to undertake a life of poverty to serve the littlest ones,” the Pope said.
“The same methods enabled him, throughout the whole of his life, to make such decisions so that today we can say that he fulfilled the designs of Divine Providence in a heroic way,” John Paul II added.
Czartoryski’s priestly life lasted only a year, due to tuberculosis which he suffered from his youth.
“I wish to propose his example of holiness above all to young people who today seek to discern the will of God in regard to their lives and wish to proceed faithfully every day according to the divine Word,” the Pope said.
“My dear young friends,” he added, “learn from Blessed Augustus to ardently request in prayer the light of the Holy Spirit and wise guides, so that you will be able to know the divine plan for your lives and be capable of walking always on the path of holiness.”
