Reddit reviews The Discernment of Spirits: An Ignatian Guide for Everyday Living

> I felt the damned fire losing its fury.

Is this primarily an emotional experience? Feelings of doubt, feelings of uncertainty, loss of feelings of enthusiasm, loss of feelings of love for God? You say that (at least this time) it is not because of encountering anything specific that you intellectually rejected.

I would tend to regard it as "desolation", which can be normal. I suggest reading St. Ignatius's rules for what to do in desolation. https://www.amazon.com/Discernment-Spirits-Ignatian-Everyday-Living/dp/0824522915

Do we love God, or do we just enjoy the way that practicing our religion makes us feel? (Do we love our spouse, or do we just enjoy the way that our spouse makes us feel?) Sometimes the feeling goes away for a while so that we know what the answer to this question is. Love is what we choose to do, and is not a feeling but an action.

It sounds like you're having a difficult time discerning, and I'd recommend reading The Discernment of Spirits. There's also a podcast of Fr Gallagher talking about this.

>What about all the saints who willingly gave away everything and ended up with nothing, but happy?

It may not be in your vocation to do give away everything. Be clear about your vocation in life. If you are to be a religious, then yes you may end up giving away everything (if it is part of the order you join). If you are married, you can't give away everything, though you can live a sparing/sharing life that Fr Dubay describes in Happy Are You Poor.

Interesting! I am reading something similar: The Discernment of Spirits: An Ignatian Guide for Everyday Living by Fr. Gallagher. I am also reading Fire Within by Thomas Dubay.

...and The Dark Elf Trilogy because it was recommended by a friend and given to me for free on the Kindle. I am on the third book of the trilogy now and hope to finish it within the week so I can move on to another fiction series.

The primary concern would be discernment of spirits. By recognizing where God is leading you spiritually each day and in each moment will get you aligned with his will.

If you want to know what gift you express best, then I'd listen to what trusted spiritual friends or a spiritual director say about you. I wouldn't ask about this too much or go looking for it too much, for it can lead to pride, which can insinuate itself into our spiritual lives. Instead trust and ask the Holy Spirit to use you in whatever way he wills, even (and perhaps especially) in those areas where you are weakest.

Fr. Timothy Gallagher, author of Discernment of Spirits also has a podcast on the 14 Rules of St. Ignatius of Loyola and many other related topics worth checking out here. The rules are definitely beneficial, I highly recommend the podcast if you're not sure about where to start.

Get this book: http://www.amazon.com/The-Discernment-Spirits-Ignatian-Everyday/dp/0824522915

Or this one for a short version: http://angeluspress.org/Rules-For-Discerning-Spirits