LISTENING FOR GOD’S CALL
A Guide for discerning God’s will in your life.
What is Discernment?
Discernment is the art of sifting, separating and distinguishing our interior thoughts and feelings to better know and understand our own desires in light of the will of God. We are constantly making decisions as we go about our lives. Many decisions can be made simply by engaging our own intellect. Questions such as which car shall I buy, or which university should I apply for can be a process of weighing up the pros and cons using our God given intellect.
There are however some decisions that are irreversible and have such an impact on our lives that we must take them carefully. For some of these decisions, we already know God’s will. The decision to be baptised, to be confirmed, are clearly in God’s will as a part of the initiation of all Catholics. Other decisions are less clear – both options are approved by the Church, but will take us in different directions. The decision to be married, who to marry, and the decision to become a priest are all decisions in this category. It’s right to marry, it’s right to become a priest, but what is God calling me to do and be? It’s in making these decisions that we need the practice of discernment.
Discernment weighs our desires against one another whilst surrendering these desires to the will of God,
in order to determine which decision aligns with the influence of the Holy Spirit in our lives and the desires that the Holy Spirit has placed within our hearts. Discernment is a deep reflection on one’s own desires through an active engagement with the divine, acknowledging that God is at the centre of this process and that we seek God’s will for our lives. Through discernment, we can make decisions that bring us into unity with the will of God, while avoiding those actions that draw us further away.
This guide sets out a process for utilising Ignatian discernment to support a deep listening to God. It provides a structured and reflective framework for making good choices. It might be suitably applied to a range of significant decisions, such as discerning a call to the priesthood, religious life or marriage, a decision in family life, a career change, or other major life events. It is important to be patient and allow sufficient time for discernment to make a good decision. Nonetheless, it is also said that ‘ever since discernment became popular, no one has made a decision since!’ The goal of discernment is to make a decision, not to consider the same question perpetually. Once that discernment is made, and a decision is taken, then we journey ahead in light of that decision.
1. Clarify Your Question
The first step in discernment is to clarify the question. What is it that you are trying to decide? This decision must be practical and something you can decide, as opposed to something hypothetical or outside your authority. When you make the decision, something will or won’t happen as a result.
To begin crafting your question, it is crucial to narrow your discernment as much as possible and structure it in one of two ways’.
1. A decision between doing or not doing something: I am called to become a priest, or I am not.
2. A decision between two options: I will get married, or I will become a priest.
In some cases, an individual is not yet ready to discern a final outcome – like being ordained to priesthood – so the question might be in relation to preliminary steps: ‘I will apply to become part of the Canali program.’ This question is the ‘object of your discernment.’ In this case it lowers the consequences of the decision to simply discern the next step rather than the final outcome, keeping in mind that a discernment for priesthood (as with marriage), involves others – does the Church also discern that you are called to this ministry.
Formulate your question here by choosing one format and typing it out below.
There will be an option to save your answers at the end.
“For I know the plans I have for you,
says the Lord, plans for welfare and not
for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”Jeremiah 29:11 RSVCE
2. Get Informed
Discernment is not gambling; it utilises both the spiritual and empirical to allow for making a good choice. At this point, you should gather information to be as informed as possible so as to make the best decision. You need to know the facts and engage your brain before you start to discern. Sometimes the facts answer the question for you. For example, if you’re considering priesthood and you’re already married, then you already have an answer. If you’re considering married diaconate and you’re only 25, you’ll discover that you have to be 35 to be ordained a married deacon. Research anything you don’t know and determine the specifics to create a fuller picture, consider the consequences of the decision, list the costs, locations, timeline, required actions and people involved. Speak to key people in your life, including trusted mentors, friends and family. Check in with those who will be affected by this decision. Using this information gathered, produce a pros and cons list of the decision, listing why you should or should not decide one way or the other.
Discernment checklist:
Is the decision:Pros and Cons: