"The Virgin Mary is a great teacher of discernment,” Pope Francis said in his Wednesday general audience on Jan. 4, 2023.

On the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God and the 54th World Day of Peace, Pope Francis reminded Christians to "imitate the shepherds: let us learn to see! To understand by seeing with our hearts."

Pope Francis reflects on Christmas and on St. Francis de Sales, who tells us “to desire nothing and reject nothing, to accept everything that God sends us.”

‘Why is the manger so important? Because it is the sign, and not by chance, of Christ’s coming into this world. It is how he announces his coming.’

In his final general audience on the theme of discernment, Pope Francis says, "The goal of discernment is to recognize the salvation God is working in my life."

In his weekly general audience, Pope Francis speaks about the necessity of diligence when entering the final phase of the journey of discernment.

In his weekly general audience, Pope Francis says the goodness of a choice benefits all areas of our lives, and there are signs to confirm these decisions.

In his Wednesday general audience, Pope Francis asks, “How can we recognize true consolation?”

Pope Francis continues his weekly audiences on discernment: Spiritual consolation “is an experience of interior joy, consisting in seeing God’s presence in everything.”

“Do not fear desolation; face it with perseverance, do not evade it,” Pope Francis said in his weekly general audience, continuing on his theme of discernment.