How do you practice spiritual discernment?

There are various ways to engage in spiritual discernment, such as remaining open-minded, reflecting on one’s life, praying, working with a spiritual guide, and so on. In this Hozana article, discover ten ways to engage in effective spiritual discernment.



Practicing Detachment

The first way to discern is to cultivate a certain indifference.

In the principle and foundation of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, it is stated: “For this, it is necessary to make ourselves indifferent to all created things.”

Of course, God will not ask us to do something we have absolutely no desire to do, or that goes completely against our deepest desires. But doing God’s will first and foremost requires a certain openness—and therefore a degree of indifference.

Reflecting on One’s Life

Reflecting on one’s life allows us, in particular, to see how God has been present in our Christian life, to identify our deepest desires, to see what has brought us joy, to recognize the emotions and feelings that various situations have evoked in us, and so on.



Knowing Yourself Well

A good understanding of oneself is essential for sound discernment. It can be important to identify one’s qualities, talents, and abilities; areas for improvement; one’s aspirations and deepest desires; what brings us joy; our interactions with others; our capacity to give of ourselves and serve others; and so on.

Prayer

It is essential to be rooted in prayer in order to gain a deeper understanding of what the Lord is calling us to. There are different methods of prayer for discernment. They may be structured, based on a specific method (such as lectio divina, using a text chosen from Scripture), or less structured.

Seek Advice from Others

God also speaks  through people. Your family, those around you, and your friends are people who know you and who can help you see things more clearly, share their insights, and better reflect who you are, and so on.

Of course, we shouldn’t make a decision based solely on their advice, but they can be a source of support.

Seeking Guidance

Spiritual guidance is necessary for discernment. We often find that a spiritual guide is a priest or a religious, but any baptized person can provide guidance, provided they are properly trained. Pope Francis, in fact, reminded seminarians and priests studying in Rome during an audience on October 24, 2022, that “spiritual direction is not a clerical charism; it is a baptismal charism. Priests who provide spiritual direction have this charism not because they are priests, but because they are laypeople, because they are baptized.”

Good to know: It should be noted that the Jesuits, for example, train both clerics and laypeople in spiritual direction.

Going on a Spiritual Retreat

Another way to discern is to go on a spiritual retreat. This involves going to an abbey, a monastery, or a spiritual center to step back from daily life in order to enter a state of inner silence and listen to God.

To learn more, check out our articles on spiritual retreats:

Following Your Conscience

Spiritual discernment also involves knowing how to follow your conscience. Conscience is “man's most secret core and his sanctuary. There he is alone with God whose voice echoes in his depths.” (No. 1776 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church).

Following Your Deepest Desires

Good discernment requires listening to your deepest desires. What moves me in the depths of my being? What brings me deep joy? Deep desires are an important element because, by responding to them, we can be sure we are responding to the happiness to which God invites us.

Taking Your Time

Time is an important element in discernment. Sometimes people rush into a relationship or consecrated life but then fail to persevere. Spiritual discernment, therefore, requires taking one’s time. Engagement is a time of discernment for both partners, just as the seminary is for those considering a priestly vocation. Of course, before considering getting engaged or entering the seminary, it is advisable to take the necessary time.

With Hozana, put Christ at the center of your life

Deepen your union with Christ through Hozana to make sound decisions. To this end, we recommend several communities, such as:

  • This community for 

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