Discernment means “to come to know.” In order to come to know the Lord, you’ve got to prepare a proper foundation for your soul to hear what God has to say. The goal is to make Jesus the compelling and motivating force in your life. It takes work to develop virtues. The word “virtue” calls to mind manliness and valor, as well as moral values. Aristotle said virtue is that which makes a thing to be what it is, and to do its work well. This is appropriate in preparing ourselves to accept the Lord. For example: What is the virtue of a knife? Sharpness. A knife needs to be sharp to be used as a tool to cut; the sharper the knife is the better it cuts.
It is the same with you and the Lord. Developing the virtues of Poverty, Chastity, Obedience, Penance, and Prayer will make you a better man. Virtues stabilize the soul in such a way that Jesus becomes the force and focus in your life. That’s what being a strong, Catholic man is all about. Priesthood is all about the Lord, and love for the Lord and His people. When the soul begins to stabilize and strengthen, it’s not so prone to want but is inclined to serve. And thus, we are more able to hear and be receptive to the gentle nudges of the Holy Spirit, directing us in the way that God wants us to go.