How do we discern the Holy Ghost's "voice"?

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I went to a talk the other day; it was by a well versed Catholic man speaking on the Holy Ghost and evangelisation. I got the feeling that he was really *in touch * with the Holy Ghost, and indeed often I hear of the need for us to submit to the Holy Ghost.

I want all of this. The problem is that I feel utterly unable to discern the Holy Ghost’s presence, voice, or otherwise in my life… indeed most of the time I feel like I’m just making connections myself and then attributing them to the Holy Ghost: I find this very upsetting.

I literally don’t know what to do… and I feel like it’s leading to a spiritual entropy, because the more I am unable to discern the Holy Ghost the more I can feel that heretical lingering voice saying… well, I won’t even write it, but you get the point.

I don’t want to feel disillusioned, but the more I feel unable to say “God, please help me here… and discern that help,” the more I am left thinking “well… what do I do…”

Grr. 😦
 
The Spirit of God speaks to us in a multitude of ways, but the first thing I found helpful is to pray,

“Come Holy Spirit, and fill the hearts of the faithfull, and kindle in them the fire of Your Divine Love. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created, and You shall renew the face of the earth. Oh God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit instructed the hearts of the faithful, grant, that by the same Spirit we may be truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolation. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen”

I journal Scripture and I find the Holy Spirit to be my true inspiration for writing. I will meditate on a word, a sentence or a paragraph and then write about it. There are times I have few if no ideas but before I realize it, I’ve written a page or two, and it’s good! I know I didn’t write that… I only know the Holy Spirit guides me over and over. I don’t worry if nothing happens, and I am grateful when I’m lead.

Have you ever been in Mass, or a talk, or somewhere that reminds you that you are being spoken to…a tug, a pull, a word from someone that makes a spiritual impact, the Spirit is at work. He is obviously leading you right now since you have such this beautiful desire to know His voice. Relax, let go, let the Spirit work, today, tomorrow, in His time. He already planted the seed and called you in that talk, you are listening. God bless you and may His Holy Spirit give you the wisdom to discern His Holy Will for you.

Peace
 
Good question.

One I am anxious to know the answer to as well.

I could make random personal observations, but I would rather hear from others wiser than myself.
 
Frist of all, let’s disabuse ourselves of this notion that God has some individual “plan” for each of us (ie, God has some ideal preference about who we should marry, where we should live, what job we should take, how many children we should have, etc). This is a purely protestant notion with no foundation in Scripture or Church teaching.

Thus, if you have a job offer in Topeka, and you pray for guidance, don’t expect an answer. God has never promised that he would guide you in these decisions. He has no “plan” for you to take the job in Topeka, or to hold out for one in Syracuse. You may feel that the Spirit is leading you to one decision or another, and maybe this is actually the case, but this would be be a special and unusual case - it is NOT something that every Christian should expect.

For the vast majority of Christians, God does not care if you marry Jane or Mary (or Bill or Frank), or if you are a waiter or a stock-boy, or if you live in Savannah or Seattle. God has no “plan” for you, except that you abide by His Church and live forever with Him in Heaven.

So, what does the voice of the Holy Ghost “say” to you? Live your life according to the Gospels and the precepts of the Church.
 
I am a bit surprised by Davidfilmer’s answer. I had thought that God would wish us to pray when we make choices that would/could assist us in assuring we keep God’s will. I am not disagreeing that your view is correct but I thought by praying in all instances would assist in making better choices. E.G. possibly marrying A rather than B could ensure or strengthen our committment to God’s will if, for example, B turned out to be abusive, have alcohol problems further down the line hence causing anguish and distress to the person and possibly weakening that person’s faith.
 
pepipop said:
I am a bit surprised by Davidfilmer’s answer. I had thought that God would wish us to pray when we make choices that would/could assist us in assuring we keep God’s will. I am not disagreeing that your view is correct but I thought by praying in all instances would assist in making better choices. E.G. possibly marrying A rather than B could ensure or strengthen our committment to God’s will if, for example, B turned out to be abusive, have alcohol problems further down the line hence causing anguish and distress to the person and possibly weakening that person’s faith.
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There isn’t really any other approach that works though. If you assume the Holy Spirit guides you on an individual level, then you have to ask how you can discern what is the Holy Spirit and what is simply your subconscious.

Once you assume personal revelation you also face the problem of all the other people on the planet who have personal revelations that run counter to your own. In all cases people with diametrically opposed opinions will claim the same theological rationalizations for doing what they do, even if at opposite sides of a deadly conflict.

David’s approach is about as logical and practical as you can get within the assumptions of Catholicism, even if it doesn’t give the maximum warm and fuzzy feeling some might desire.

Personally I applaud it because people are more likely to make choices based on reality rather than what they happen to be feeling at a given moment of meditation.
 
mellestad said:
There isn’t really any other approach that works though. If you assume the Holy Spirit guides you on an individual level, then you have to ask how you can discern what is the Holy Spirit and what is simply your subconscious.

Once you assume personal revelation you also face the problem of all the other people on the planet who have personal revelations that run counter to your own. In all cases people with diametrically opposed opinions will claim the same theological rationalizations for doing what they do, even if at opposite sides of a deadly conflict.

David’s approach is about as logical and practical as you can get within the assumptions of Catholicism, even if it doesn’t give the maximum warm and fuzzy feeling some might desire.

Personally I applaud it because people are more likely to make choices based on reality rather than what they happen to be feeling at a given moment of meditation.
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Yes, I recognise his point entirely. However, it seems to negate the fact that we are asked to pray in all circumstances and to pray constantly. I would have thought that through prayer we would obtain answers to the correct choice of spouse, job, etc… hence the direction to choose these would be given by the holy spirit?
 
pepipop said:
Yes, I recognise his point entirely. However, it seems to negate the fact that we are asked to pray in all circumstances and to pray constantly. I would have thought that through prayer we would obtain answers to the correct choice of spouse, job, etc… hence the direction to choose these would be given by the holy spirit?
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Ah, I see. If that is the case then I guess that wouldn’t make sense. Maybe he would argue that prayer should be more about reminding yourself to follow the Churches teachings than to expect a divine response?

Serious question: When Catholics pray, are they supposed to be having a personal discussion with God, or is it more about reciting something that reminds them of a doctrine?

Most of the prayer I see from Catholicism is memorized stuff repeated which would lead me to think the latter, but most of what I’ve seen is from TV, so reality might be totally different.
 
mellestad said:
There isn’t really any other approach that works though. If you assume the Holy Spirit guides you on an individual level, then you have to ask how you can discern what is the Holy Spirit and what is simply your subconscious.

Once you assume personal revelation you also face the problem of all the other people on the planet who have personal revelations that run counter to your own. In all cases people with diametrically opposed opinions will claim the same theological rationalizations for doing what they do, even if at opposite sides of a deadly conflict.

David’s approach is about as logical and practical as you can get within the assumptions of Catholicism, even if it doesn’t give the maximum warm and fuzzy feeling some might desire.

Personally I applaud it because people are more likely to make choices based on reality rather than what they happen to be feeling at a given moment of meditation.
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The Catechism states: The Spirit prepares men and goes out to them with His grace, in order to draw them to Christ. The Spirit manifests the risen Lord to them, recalls His word to them and opens their minds to the understanding of his Death and Resurection. He makes the mystery of Christ, supremely in the Eucharist, in order to reconcile them, to bring them into communion with God, that they may “bear much fruit”. (737)

And: “The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes with sighs too deep for words” (Rom 8:26) The Holy Spirit, the artisan of God’s works is the master of prayer (741)

No, there are no new Revelations. But loving understanding of Scripture given to a simple contemplative soul during prayer is not just a feeling, it’s the brushstroke of the Master artisan. It’s a matter of faith. One should always go to the Church and Scripture for guidance. God loves each and every one of us individually, hence we are guided individually. This does not perclude free will, we choose ultimately our fate.
 
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