Download this pdf for common questions regarding a Catholic framework for groups following the writings of Luisa Piccarreta.
The info is based on answers given by the Association of Luisa Piccarreta in Corato, Italy.
Question 1
Can both priests and the laity teach the Divine Will?
ANSWER: Yes, both priests and the laity are able to share and teach the Divine Will.
Question 2
Can people create their own round prayers? Or do they need to follow exactly the prayers of Luisa Piccarreta?
ANSWER: Yes, people can pray both Luisa Piccarreta’s prayers from her writings and make up their own inspired round prayers.
Question 3
Can people form their own Divine Will study groups without a priest present at the meetings?
ANSWER: Yes, people can form their own Divine Will study groups even if a priest is not teaching or present in the group.
Question 4
Is there a certain set of prayers a group must follow in order to start and end a Divine Will cenacle group?
ANSWER: No, there is not a standard group of prayers a group must pray. They are free to choose how they want to start and end their meetings.
Question 5
If there is a difference of opinion among priests regarding a question related to the Divine Will, whom could a lay person contact to know the correct answer?
ANSWER: If a question arises and priests differ in their opinions about what is permissible or about the correct interpretation of the volumes, a lay person can contact their local bishop. If their bishop is not knowledgeable about the Divine Will, they can contact the Luisa Piccarreta Association in Corato, Italy for guidance.
Question 6
May a group read the volumes together and afterward offer their own personal reflections and discuss what they read?
ANSWER: Yes. A group may meet, read, and then offer personal reflections on what each person has read. Insights, inspirations, and stories of how the volumes impact them may all be shared and discussed.
Official Reference:
Luisa Piccarreta Association – Little Children of the Divine Will - Corato, Italy
en.luisapiccarretaofficial.org
WHO IS THE LUISA PICCARRETA ASSOCIATION?
“There is no specific format, nor any particular prayers, that a Divine Will study group is required to use when gathering to read the volumes together.
As an Association, we usually meet in person. We have a spiritual assistant, but meetings are also often led by lay people.
Each group is free to choose the structure and style of its meetings. The only essential criterion is that everything remains consistent with the teachings of the Church.
Lay people may lead the meetings; there is nothing that prohibits this.
Religious sisters may also guide study or prayer groups.
It is essential that whoever leads the meetings be in full communion with the Church, with the bishops, and with the Pope…
It is possible to create new prayers, as long as they are not presented as prayers written by Luisa Piccarreta and do not replace the official prayers of the Church.”
Luisa Piccarreta Association - Little Children of the Divine Will, Corato, Italy
Email: info@luisapiccarretaofficial.org
Website: en.luisapiccarretaofficial.org
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When determining how a Divine Will cenacle or study group should conduct itself, an individual Catholic priest does not automatically have greater authority simply because he is a priest. The important question is whether guidance represents a personal pastoral recommendation or an instruction coming from competent ecclesiastical authority.
General Order of Authority
1. Competent Catholic Church Authority
The highest authority belongs to the Catholic Church and the competent ecclesiastical authorities. In matters particularly connected with Luisa Piccarreta, special importance belongs to the Archbishop of Trani-Barletta-Bisceglie, the diocese responsible for Luisa's Cause and closely connected with the preservation and ecclesial guidance of her spiritual legacy, together with the competent authorities of the Holy See.
2. The Local Diocesan Bishop
A diocesan bishop possesses genuine governing and teaching authority within his own diocese. Divine Will groups should remain in communion with their local Church and respect legitimate directives given by their bishop.
3. The Official Luisa Piccarreta Association in Corato
The Public Association of the Faithful “Luisa Piccarreta - Little Children of the Divine Will” in Corato is canonically recognized and operates under ecclesiastical oversight. Its official website is LuisaPiccarretaOfficial.org. Because of its specific relationship to Luisa's spiritual legacy and the Archdiocese of Trani-Barletta-Bisceglie, its guidance deserves substantial weight for groups wishing to follow this spirituality faithfully within the Catholic Church.
4. Catholic Priests Knowledgeable About the Divine Will
A Catholic priest can provide important spiritual direction, theological instruction, sacramental ministry, and pastoral guidance. Particular weight should be given to priests who are knowledgeable about Luisa's writings and who teach in communion with their bishops and the Church. However, a priest's personal preference for how a cenacle should operate should not automatically be treated as a universal Church rule.
5. Lay Teachers, Independent Organizations, Websites, and Study Leaders
These can provide valuable assistance and formation, but their guidance should be evaluated in light of the teachings and directives of competent Church authorities and the recognized ecclesial structures associated with Luisa's spirituality.
What This Means for a Divine Will Cenacle
If a priest recommends that a Divine Will cenacle be conducted in a particular manner, while official guidance from the recognized Association in Corato indicates something different, one should first determine whether the priest is expressing a personal recommendation or communicating an actual directive of competent Church authority. That distinction is important.
For a group seeking the safest and most Church-connected path, substantial weight should be given to guidance coming through the official Association and ultimately the Archbishop of Trani-Barletta-Bisceglie, while also remaining obedient to legitimate directives of the group's own diocesan bishop and working respectfully with local priests.
A Simple Principle
Priesthood itself does not make every personal opinion about Divine Will cenacle practices a universal rule.
The greater question is: What has the competent Church authority actually directed or approved?
Official reference: LuisaPiccarretaOfficial.org - the website of the Public Association of the Faithful “Luisa Piccarreta - Little Children of the Divine Will” in Corato.
