Discernment

The Latest

Synod on Synodality delegates meet in round table discussion groups Oct. 21, 2023.

The Synod on Synodality’s listening ‘method’ comes from the Jesuits

Oct 24, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Synod on Synodality delegates in Rome this month are participating in a “conversation in the Spirit,” a method of communal... Read more

Daiane Silva Pereira, 29, has been to every World Youth Day that Pope Francis has attended. Each of them played an important role in her discernment of religious life and now she's in Lisbon for WYD 2023 as a member of the religious community Comunidade Canção Nova.

Brazilian missionary developed her vocation by following Pope Francis’ WYD events

Jul 31, 2023

By ACI Digital

Daiane Silva Pereira has been to three World Youth Days and is now at WYD Lisbon with members of her... Read more

Pope Francis gives his Angelus address June 29, 2023.

Pope Francis: Discernment helps us find the gems among the junk

Jul 30, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

“Let us not waste time and freedom on trivial things ... while life offers us every day the precious pearl... Read more

Pope Francis gives his message during the weekly general audience in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall on Jan. 4, 2023

Pope Francis: Benedict XVI brought us to ‘encounter with Jesus’

Jan 4, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis began his message Jan. 4 with a reference to his predecessor, Benedict XVI, who died on Dec. 31. Read more

Pope Francis speaking at the general audience at the Vatican, Dec. 14, 2022

Pope Francis: Remain vigilant against pride and ‘well-mannered demons’

Dec 14, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis encouraged Christians Wednesday to be vigilant against spiritual pride and the temptations of “well-mannered demons.” Read more

Pope Francis speaking at the general audience, Dec. 7, 2022

Pope Francis: Freedom is found in offering to God what is hardest to give up

Dec 7, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis spoke Wednesday about how freeing it can be to let go of the things that we are most... Read more

Pope Francis arriving for the general audience on St. Peter's Square, Oct. 26, 2022

‘Lazy, tepid, sad’: Pope Francis explains how desolation can be turned to good

Oct 26, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis explained on Wednesday how times of spiritual desolation — described by St. Ignatius of Loyola as feelings of... Read more

Pope Francis delivered his Angelus address on Sept. 18, 2022.

Pope Francis announces decision to extend Synod on Synodality to 2024

Oct 16, 2022

By Courtney Mares

The pope explained that he made the decision to provide more time for discernment. Read more

Pope Francis speaking on St. Peter's Square, Vatican, Oct. 12, 2022.

Pope Francis: Desire points our discernment in the right direction

Oct 12, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

At his public audience on Wednesday, Pope Francis spoke about the role desire plays in spiritual discernment, comparing it to... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims on St. Peter's Square, Oct. 5 2022.

Pope Francis shares a spiritual life hack: Know the ‘passwords’ of your heart

Oct 5, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis shared a spiritual life hack for discernment at his general audience on Wednesday. Read more

Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square, Sept. 28, 2022

Pope Francis: The first element of discernment is prayer

Sep 28, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

Prayer is the first element of discernment, Pope Francis said in his general audience message on Wednesday. Read more

Pope Francis greeting pilgrims and visitors to the weekly general audience on Aug. 31, 2022

Discernment is ‘indispensable for living’: Pope Francis launches new catechesis series

Aug 31, 2022

By Courtney Mares

“God invites us to evaluate and choose: He created us free and wants us to exercise our freedom. For this... Read more

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Three Catholic dating tips in a society of 'swiping' and 'ghosting'

Feb 14, 2022

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

Dating in today’s world can be hard. We live in a society where “swiping right” and “ghosting” are a part... Read more

Landry Weber, a K-State player who is discerning and intends to enter seminary.

K-State football player plans to enter seminary

Jan 7, 2022

By Christine Rousselle

Landry Weber, a 23-year-old wide receiver for Kansas State University’s football team, will soon be going “pro” in something very... Read more

Nathan de Brito and Pope Francis at World Youth Day 2013 (L) Nathan de Brito and Bishop Joaquim Wladimir Lopes Dias en 2021 (R). Facebook de Mons. Joaquim Wladimir Lopes Dias

Boy who embraced pope during WYD in Rio is now a young man discerning religious life

Jan 5, 2022

By Cynthia Perez

During World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro, in 2013, a boy made his way through the crowd to hug... Read more

What is it that God is calling you to do with your life?

Taking time to ask, 'What is God's will?'

Dec 24, 2021

By Autumn Jones

Discerning your vocation is about more than pursuing a celibate vocation alone, said Father Ryan O’Neill, director of vocations for... Read more

Potential postulants wait and see as COVID puts convent plans in question 

Apr 30, 2020

By Mary Farrow

If everything were going according to plan, Jessica would be entering the convent on August 22.  Read more

CNA

Discerning in, and discerning out: What happens when seminarians leave?

Dec 31, 2019

By Michelle McDaniel

Catholic journalists know that discernment stories are popular because they give readers hope. And they often follow a pattern: They... Read more

Pope Francis praying.

Better formation in discernment is Pope's prayer intention for March

Mar 2, 2018

By Hannah Brockhaus

In his prayer video for March, Pope Francis asked for prayers that Christians be better educated to discern between the... Read more

Pope Francis hears confessions of teenagers in St. Peter's Square.

Pope: Everyone needs help living the faith – no one can do it alone

Jan 28, 2017

By Elise Harris

On Saturday, Pope Francis stressed the importance of having a solid guide in the spiritual life since no one –... Read more