Ten Principles to Help Guide You in Writing a Spiritual Will
"1. 'God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him' (1 Jn 4:16). It is absolutely necessary to believe, if not in God as he is traditionally described or defined, then in Power or Spirit (God has many names, after all!), and at the very least, something that is bigger and better than yourself. It is necessary to believe in the existence of goodness and love, both outside and inside of yourself. It is because of this goodness, both in you and outside of you, that you have been prompted to pass on some of what you have experienced in life and relationships to others.
"2. Whatever you write must be thoroughly honest, genuine, and transparent. Always keep in mind how frequently and how easily we can fool ourselves, or even be in denial about some of the negatives inside of us.
"3. The quality of your relationships to family and friends, both positive and negative, and what you have learned from them, are good areas to draw from as you name the values you have developed.
"4. Your hopes and dreams, realized and/or discovered to be unattainable so far in your life, can also provide profound areas of reflection.
"5. Awareness and love of mother earth – all of creation – can feed the choices you will make.
"6. Never forget that your sufferings and failures and what you have learned from them can be valuable 'gifts' to others. Write about those, too.
"7. Your travels, at home and abroad, introducing you to a world you could never have imagined, have acquainted you with beauty and challenge and left lasting memories.
"8. The people of other races, cultures, and beliefs have surely opened you to many discoveries about them and yourself. Be sure to reflect on those.
"9. May 'the eyes (and ears) of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holly ones' (Eph 1:18). Recognize and remember what good and not-so-good challenges have marked your life and brought you to this reflection.
"10. Writing a spiritual will can be a sharing in the Communion of Saints. It is a strengthening and partaking of the spiritual as well as human bonds between members of the Church in heaven and on earth, united through grace, prayer, and good works."
