Discerning the Will of God: An Ignatian Guide to Christian Decision Making

You have a major decision to make: Do I marry this person? Do I put aside the stability of my current job to take another? or to start a new company? or to enter a different profession? Do I put financial security aside to pursue further studies? For a Catholic: Should I become a priest, a deacon, or a religious?There are all sorts of manuals written to address decision making in one's personal life or in leadership roles. For Christians, there is also the spiritual process of discernment: learning what is God's will for you. Note the assumptions: that God has a personal will for you beyond that you be a good and loving human being. And another is that, for most people anyway, God doesn't just tell you what to do in some vision or in a voice from heaven. You have to uncover God's will for yourself.You have a prayer of a chance to learn God's will, but most of us don't really know how to approach this matter in prayer. "Discerning the Will of God: An Ignatian Guide to Decision Making," by Timothy M. Gallagher, OMV, describes the three ways of Christian discernment that were developed by the founder of the Jesuit Order, St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556). In brief, these modes are: (1) understanding God's will in such a way that one has no doubt from the start, (2) experiencing clarity in decision-making through the "discernment of spirits," and (3) while one is in a state of tranquility, coming to an understanding of God's will through rational decision making.Gallagher explains the Ignatian methods in easily accessible language. (He provides Ignatius' original text as an appendix.) In addition, he employs numerous real-life examples of people making decisions through Christian discernment. These illustrate the three modes as they have been practiced in actual, modern-day situations.Sometimes the story-telling overwhelms the narrative. If this book were a crabcake sandwich, you wouldn't complain about there being too much filler. But even a crabcake sandwich needs something to hold the crab meat together, and so you have the start of this book: there's not enough of the author's words to hold it together meaningfully. Fortunately, Gallagher gets the proportions right as he begins to explain the Ignatian process.The readership is expected to be Catholic, but Ignatian discernment applies equally to all Christians. Indeed, I think it can be adapted by those from other religious traditions as well. The point, ultimately, is to discover the path that best allows one to serve and praise God. At the end of the book, Gallagher addresses why one should have to discover God's will anyway--why doesn't God just tell us what God wants? Ultimately it comes down to God's desiring us to grow though the discovery process. Enter that discovery process, and grow as a human being and a person of faith, by learning Ignatian discernment. You will not find a better guide to do that than in Timothy Gallagher.

This is very much a beginner's guide to discernment. It spends a lot of time repeating the essential points of Ignatian discernment. It is a very easy to read style, making heavy use of stories and examples to help illustrate the ideas to the reader in real world contexts. That said, if you are already well versed in discernment, you way find it too introductor and repetitive, and you may want to seek out more advanced material.

Asking “the big questions in life” is not only stressful because of possible confusion, but the eight of the moment can add to anxiety. Having Ignatius as a guide, through the wonderful writing of Fr Gallagher cam set the heart at ease. That sort of interior peace as one discerns makes this book a “must read”. Ignatius’s own writings can be hard to understand, and Fr Gallagher is masterful in making Ignatius accessible. I am thankful for this book.

This book delivers on its promises. I have witnessed Father Gallagher speak on this topic and he is an expert, born of experience. His wisdom, patience, and kindness come through clearly in his writing. I found the range of examples to be very enlightening and inspiring. He goes deep enough into the subject to make it richly meaningful without going too deep. His writing style is accessible to a wide range of readers.Read it carefully with an open mind and heart. Have patience and give it time to work. It is both mystical and practical, employing both faith and reason. The Ignatian Rules of Discernment are as all things of beauty, simple yet profound. In many ways they are obvious, good decision making. But they are not enough by themselves. Father Gallagher's advice and guidance will help you apply them fruitfully.

A simple read, but great way to recenter yourself if you're struggling to make a decision or unsure on how to take a next step in your life.

This series of books is AMAZING! I suffered my whole life with depression- then by accident I ended up at a seminar by Fr. Gallaher. It was life transforming. It gave me the tools and information I needed to once and for all end a life-long fight with depression. He is inspired and a God send. His interpretation of Ignatius is so easy to understand and put to use in daily life. Now I have read the whole series and with eating right have been free of depression for years. My family can deal better with this information. It helped a friend or mine with anger management issues as well. Every time I meet someone that has read these books or gone to a seminar they talk about their release from life-long issues. This should be required reading for everyone!

On first read, the book seemed a bit too simple. Also, I had expected it to be the Ignacian Exercises. It is not the Exercises, but is an introduction to them, including anonymous examples from real life. The Ignacian Exercises are not at all what I took them to be before reading this book. After reading it the third time and spending the time to meditate on it and apply it, I saw it is not simple. This is a great introduction to an Ignacian Retreat and I highly recommend it.

Students of spiritual direction will find this text a very helpful introduction to Ignatian discernment. Gallagher provides both a Christocentric and practical understanding of the goals and means of choosing "what God wants for me" between two equally worthy choices. Read this first, then for greater depth in recognizing how God uses "consolations and desolations" and "discernment of spirits" read his "Spiritual Consolation" and "Discernment of Spirits." As an interfaith pastoral therapist and spiritual director, I find this text helps me easily apply Ignatian process Jewishly, by shifting from a Christocentric to an "Imago Dei" theological anthropology.

I am sure the author is well meaning with this book...it just didn't strike a chord with me at all. I am a Christian but not a Catholic - so that may have been part of it. I found it disturbing - (and I've seen this message in other books too) to keep waiting for some outside sign from God as to what to do with our lives. Maybe it happens to some - but not for me. We have feelings (hearts) we have reason (minds) - so I think it's a better and less frustrating approach to get information - seek advice from persons who seems trustworthy - but then to listen to the still small voice in our own hearts and minds. Waiting endlessly for what we sincerely desire is just a hamster on a wheel exercise in my opinion. (although waiting is often necessary). But I would add if you are Catholic - this book may work very well for you - so these are just my thoughts. I do agree that we need help too and not only our own selves as reference.

Liked the style. Light and interesting discussion on the subject of discernment which was tackled by discussing some real life experiences. The practical guide to the two different ways of discerning are at the end of the book. In a nutshell it is about prayer, listening and seeking guidance. Highly recommended.

An excellent introduction and guide to Ignatian Spirituality. Written in a very accessible and light style.

Buenísimo! Una manera muy sencilla de presentar lo que es el discernimiento...me parece que el autor escribe de una forma muy coloquial donde el lector se puede identificar fácilmente cuando se encuentra en un momento de decisión importante en su vida. Me encantó que el proceso conduce a una decisión con mucha paz, buscando encontrar únicamente lo que Dios quiere de uno. Es así la forma para sentirse libre y en paz al tomar la decisión correcta. Lo recomiendo mucho para todos los que busquen tomar una decisión en su vida acompañada de paz y libertad.

Heavy topic, covered very well. I think I have almost all of Timothy Gallagher's books. I read them and re-read them. I jot notes in the margins and highlight passages. They speak to me in many ways and I always glean something new each time I crack them open.Excellent companion for moments before the Blessed Sacrament.