Episode 2515: The Gift of Free Will and Our Response to God’s Call - Nightly Episode

“O my God, at the end of this day I thank You most heartily for all the graces I have received
from You. I am sorry that I have not made better use of them. I am sorry for all the sins I have
committed against You. Forgive me, O my God, and graciously protect me this night. Blessed
Virgin Mary, my dear heavenly mother, take me under your protection. St. Joseph, my dear
Guardian Angel, and all you saints of God, pray for me. Sweet Jesus, have pity on all poor
sinners, and save them from hell. Have mercy on the suffering souls in purgatory. Amen.”

"The Gift of Free Will and Our Response to God’s Call"
Welcome to tonight’s episode, where we will reflect on one of the most profound gifts God has given us: our free will. We’ll explore how our ability to choose is not only a gift but also a responsibility to align our will with God’s. Drawing from the wisdom of St. Joseph of Cupertino, who emphasizes the central role of our will in the pursuit of virtue, and St. Louis De Montfort, who speaks of Mary’s unique role in shaping the future of the Church, we will see how our choices have the power to shape both our personal sanctity and the greater work of God in the world.
In this episode, we’ll consider how free will plays a crucial role in our spiritual growth and how, with the grace of God, we are called to use this gift to become saints. Through this lens, we will also reflect on the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the one who perfectly aligned her will with God’s, and how she continues to form souls for the Kingdom of God.
We will close with a prayer asking for the grace to conform our will to God’s, just as Mary did, so that we may become instruments of His divine plan.
St. Joseph of Cupertino, known for his deep humility and mystical experiences, offers us a powerful reflection on free will. He writes: “What God wants, above all, is our will, which we received as a free gift from God in creation and possess as though our own.” This statement invites us to reflect on the unique nature of free will as something that is both a gift from God and, at the same time, truly our own possession.

The beauty of free will lies in the fact that it allows us to love God and choose Him freely. Without free will, love would not be authentic. God desires that we offer Him our hearts and our wills not out of compulsion, but out of love. This is the essence of what it means to be in relationship with God: to willingly seek Him, to choose Him above all else, and to conform our desires to His will.
St. Joseph continues by saying, “When a man trains himself to acts of virtue, it is with the help of grace from God, from whom all good things come.” This is a reminder that we do not walk the path of virtue alone. While we must make the choice to pursue holiness, it is God’s grace that empowers us. Every act of virtue, every good decision, is a cooperation between our will and the grace of God. In this way, free will is not something that stands apart from God’s action in our lives—it is the means through which we participate in His divine work.
The challenge for each of us is to train our wills, to form them through prayer, the sacraments, and acts of virtue, so that we can freely and joyfully say “yes” to God in all things. In this sense, free will becomes the very arena in which our sanctification takes place. By choosing God in the small decisions of our daily lives, we prepare ourselves for the larger moments of surrender that He may ask of us.
This brings us to the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose “yes” to God changed the course of history. St. Louis De Montfort speaks of Mary’s unique role in shaping the future of the Church: “There are great men who are to come; but Mary is the one who, by order of the Most High, shall fashion them for the purpose of extending His empire over that of the impious, the idolaters and the Mahometans.” De Montfort envisions Mary as the one who forms saints men and women who will extend God’s reign over the world.
Mary is the model of perfect surrender. In her “fiat,” her simple but profound “Let it be done to me according to your word,” she gave her will completely to God. She is the first and greatest example of what it means to fully align one’s will with God’s. And because of her perfect union with God’s will, she continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the saints of today and tomorrow.
St. Louis De Montfort reminds us that Mary’s role in forming saints is not something of the past; it is ongoing. She is still at work, by the order of the Most High, shaping those who will extend God’s kingdom in a world that is often hostile to His truth. This is a call for each of us to turn to Mary, to allow her to guide us in conforming our will to God’s, so that we may become the saints God has called us to be.
In our modern world, where we are bombarded with choices and distractions, it is easy to let our will be swayed by lesser things by selfish desires, by comfort, or by fear. But Mary shows us the way of surrender, the way of trust. She teaches us that when we give our will to God, we do not lose ourselves; rather, we find true freedom and purpose.
Finally, the words of Scripture remind us of the peace and blessing that come when we align ourselves with God’s will. In Numbers 6:24-26, we hear this beautiful blessing:
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.”
This peace is the fruit of a heart that is united with God’s will. When we give our will to God, we are blessed with the peace that only He can give a peace that the world cannot offer. It is a peace that comes from knowing that we are walking in His plan, trusting in His grace, and being formed by His love.
As we conclude today’s episode, let us remember that our free will is a precious gift from God, a gift that allows us to love Him, to choose virtue, and to participate in His divine plan. Whether through marriage, consecrated life, or the everyday decisions we make, we are called to use our free will to glorify God and extend His kingdom.
And as St. Louis De Montfort reminds us, we are not alone in this journey. We have the powerful intercession and guidance of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who continues to form saints for God’s kingdom. Let us turn to her, asking for her help in aligning our will with God’s, so that we may live fully in His grace and peace.
Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
We thank You for the gift of free will, which allows us to choose You and to love You with all our hearts. We ask for the grace to align our will with Yours, trusting in Your goodness and surrendering our desires to Your divine plan.
Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, help us to say “yes” to You in all things, just as she did, and to embrace the path of holiness You have set before us.
May Your peace, which surpasses all understanding, fill our hearts as we seek to do Your will. And may we always trust in Your grace, which strengthens us and guides us in our journey of faith.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.