On Discernment

What is discernment – How one acquires it – Where it is applied – What its results are

Introduction

Among all the paths of the spiritual life, none is as delicate, as refined, and as difficult as the path of discernment. All the Fathers without exception teach that discernment is:

• the barometer of spiritual health,

• the instrument by which a Christian distinguishes God’s will from deception,

• the mother of the virtues,

• the crown of spiritual maturity,

• the eye of the soul,

• the governor of the spiritual vessel of the Church and the soul.

Even though love is the center of the Gospel, without discernment love may turn into indiscriminate leniency, emotionalism, weakness, or even heresy.

St. John of Sinai clearly states:

“Discernment is light in ignorance, the return of the lost, light in darkness, knowledge for beginners, wisdom for the perfect.” (Ladder of Divine Ascent, Step 26)

When the Fathers speak of discernment, they do not simply mean "good judgment" or "rationality." They mean a gift of the Holy Spirit, cultivated through obedience, humility, prayer, and repentance.

This present study will examine in depth:

• What discernment is

• How it is acquired

• Where it is applied

• What its results are

• Discernment as a Gift of the Holy Spirit in the Church

1. What Is Discernment?

1.1. Patristic Definition

The Fathers define discernment in various ways, but its essence is the same. Discernment is:

"The healthy and infallible judgment of thoughts and things, so that they rightly correspond to time, manner, place, and circumstance."

It is the Christian's ability to:

• distinguish good from evil,

• God's will from egotistical will,

• the energy of grace from the energy of passion,

• truth from error,

• the proper measure from excess or deficiency.

St. Isaac the Syrian defines discernment as:

"Light that illumines the soul to see the path of righteousness."

1.2. Discernment: Instrument and Light of the Soul

Discernment functions as:

• the eye of the soul,

• the rudder of life,

• a subtle sensor of grace,

• a balance between silence and speech, rest and vigilance, generosity and frugality, severity and leniency.

St. Anthony the Great says:

"Discernment is the greatest of virtues. Without it, no virtue is safe."

That is:

• Fasting without discernment becomes pride,

• Love without discernment becomes complicity,

• Prayer without discernment becomes psychological illusion,

• Obedience without discernment leads to delusion,

• Humility without discernment becomes defeatism.

1.3. Discernment: Foresight and Insight

According to the Fathers, discernment is:

• a kind of foresight,

• the ability to foresee coming events before they occur,

• a spiritual radar that warns the soul of dangers.

St. Maximus the Confessor says:

"The discerning mind perceives future events through the purity of heart."

This is not divination or prophecy, but rather:

• a pure heart,

• an illumined mind,

• a humble life,

• a peaceful spirit.

1.4. Discernment as a Gift of the Holy Spirit

Discernment, as is rightly said, is:

“A gift of the Holy Spirit, a reward to those who keep a sensitive conscience and the divine commandments.”

It is not a natural talent, but a spiritual gift, because:

• man is limited,

• passions cloud judgment,

• ignorance and prejudice distort the truth.

Only the Holy Spirit can:

• purify the eyes of the soul,

• dispel confusion,

• free the heart from passions,

• reveal the path of salvation.

2. How Is Discernment Acquired?

Discernment is not given automatically. The Fathers teach that it is the result of spiritual struggle, purity, prayer, obedience, experience, and above all, humility.

Let us see its foundations:

2.1. Purity of Conscience

St. Paisios says:

“Discernment is the talent of the Holy Spirit. And the Spirit gives it to those with a sensitive conscience.”

The person who:

• keeps the commandments,

• avoids sin,

• confesses regularly,

• struggles humbly,

• purifies the mind and heart,

• receives the gift of discernment from the Holy Spirit.

2.2. Humility and Obedience

The great teacher of discernment, St. John of the Ladder, teaches:

“Discernment in a beginner means knowledge of one's own weakness.”

For beginners, discernment means knowing that one lacks discernment.

This humility leads to obedience:

• to God,

• to the Church,

• to one’s spiritual father,

• to the rule,

• to tradition.

Obedience gives birth to discernment, because it crushes ego. Where there is ego, there is no discernment.

2.3. Prayer and Stillness

St. Gregory Palamas says:

“Watchfulness and prayer cleanse the mind and give birth to discernment.”

The mind that constantly runs, absorbs images and noise, and is swept by passions, cannot discern.

Prayer:

• calms the spirit,

• brings light,

• removes the passions,

• purifies the eye of the soul.

Thus, a person gradually receives the gift of spiritual vision.

2.4. Experience, Trials, and Mistakes

Discernment is also cultivated naturally through experience.

St. Poimen the Great says:

“Discernment is acquired through much experience.”

Thus the spiritual life has difficulties, falls and traps. Through mistakes, one learns to be cautious, restrain oneself and mature.

3. Where Is Discernment Applied?

Discernment is the virtue that touches every area of life:

• spiritual,

• moral,

• psychological,

• social,

• familial,

• monastic,

• ecclesiastical.

3.1. In Spiritual Life

This is the center:

• discernment in prayer,

• in fasting,

• in almsgiving,

• in asceticism,

• in repentance,

• in silence and speech,

• in understanding inner thoughts.

The Fathers emphasize that the devil primarily attacks discernment because it is the source of salvation.

3.2. In Human Relationships

• discernment in how we speak,

• when we speak,

• what we say,

• in leniency or strictness,

• in giving advice to others.

Without discernment:

• love becomes indulgence,

• truth becomes harshness,

• sincerity becomes offense.

St. Paisios spoke of “a good kind of strictness” and “a good kind of leniency,” depending on the other’s spiritual state.

3.3. In Church Governance

It is rightly said:

“Discernment is the Church’s precise instrument. It is the rudder of the spiritual vessel.”

Indeed, bishops, presbyters, spiritual fathers, and monastics need high levels of discernment to guide:

• souls,

• communities,

• pastoral decisions,

• difficult circumstances.

Without discernment in the Church schisms arise, misguided decisions are imposed and balance is lost.

3.4. In the Handling of Thoughts

Discernment is the art of distinguishing between thoughts.

St. Cassian the Roman teaches that there are:

• thoughts from God,

• thoughts from nature,

• thoughts from the devil.

Discernment gives the ability to know:

• when a thought is a temptation,

• when it arises from inner wounds,

• when it is an inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

4. What Are the Results of Discernment?

4.1. Freedom from the Passions

The person who has discernment:

• is not swayed by passions,

• is not manipulated by anger,

• is not easily offended,

• is not confused by thoughts,

• is not afraid of temptations.

Instead, they have inner peace, clear judgment and spiritual self-mastery.

4.2. Certainty of God’s Will

Discernment gives one:

• immediate understanding of God's will,

• clarity in dilemmas,

• confidence in decisions,

• spiritual assurance.

St. Porphyrios said:

“By God’s Grace, the soul immediately understands what it must do.”

This is the fruit of discernment.

4.3. Protection from Deception

Discernment:

• dissolves delusions,

• prevents spiritual disasters,

• protects from "formulas" and "zeal without knowledge,"

• guards against ego and pride.

That’s why the devil attacks discernment more than any other virtue.

4.4. Leads to Theosis

Discernment is the fruit of the mind’s illumination by the Holy Spirit. An illumined mind leads to theosis.

St. Maximus the Confessor says:

“The mind that discerns rightly is united to God.”

Therefore without discernment, there is no illumination, and without illumination, no theosis.

5. Discernment: The Crown of the Spiritual Life

Discernment is:

• an anchor in the storm,

• a compass on the road to salvation,

• light in darkness,

• humble wisdom,

• divine guidance.

St. John of the Ladder places it at the end of the Ladder (Step 26), to show that it is the summit of all virtues.

Without discernment:

• stillness becomes egotism,

• asceticism becomes cruelty,

• prayer becomes delusion,

• love becomes tolerance of sin,

• freedom becomes lawlessness.

With discernment:

• all things are balanced,

• all things are illumined,

• all things become therapeutic.

Conclusion

Discernment, as described by the Fathers:

• is not a human talent,

• not a rational skill,

• not instinct,

• nor genius.

It is:

• a gift of the Holy Spirit,

• the result of purity,

• the fruit of humility and obedience,

• the foundation of salvation,

• the light and compass of the soul,

• the instrument of the Church,

• the protection from delusion.

As it is beautifully said:

“It is the rudder of the Church’s spiritual vessel, by which she steers her children through the storms of life.”

Let us all pursue this crown of virtues, with humility, prayer, and obedience to God’s will. Then truly, the word of Christ will become light in our hearts:

“If your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light.” (Matthew 6:22)