Spiritual Gifts Inventory

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Spiritual Gifts Inventory

Spiritual Gifts Inventory

Discover your Spiritual Gifts and discern how you can answer God’s call

The Church is calling all Catholics to participate in a new evangelization, and your Spiritual Gifts, also known as "charisms," empower you to play an essential role. Catholics are to actively help spread the faith through our relationships at work, in our families and among friends. Our charisms are tools given to us help people experience the reality of Christ and to be a sign of God’s loving presence in the world.

What is a Charism (Spiritual Gift)?

“Charism” is the Greek word used in the New Testament for “favor” or “gratuitous gift.” Charisms, or spiritual gifts, are special abilities given to all Christians by the Holy Spirit to give them the power both to represent Christ and to be a channel of God’s goodness for people. Whether extraordinary or ordinary, all charisms ought to be exercised in the service of God. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2003)

Why should I discern my Charisms?

God is calling you to a work of love that will fill your life with purpose and joy, and discerning your charisms can help you discover that call. You can clarify your decision-making, be more effective in life and gain more understanding of others.

The first step in discerning your spiritual gifts is to take the inventory below. This is a tool to put you on the path of discernment and discovery of the charisms you have been given. Once completed, Lisa Gorton will tabulate your results and email them to you along with the list of potential spiritual gifts you have.

Please note: this inventory is used in conjunction with the Spiritual Gifts Workshop, Candidates Program or for Confirmation Class. Please do not complete this inventory outside of those sessions. Thank-you!

: The Spiritual Gifts Inventory
: Be sure you complete this form WITH YOUR NAME and an email address if you would like for a response to be sent to you. Thank-you!
Name (first and last)
Email
: DIRECTIONS FOR COMPLETING THE INVENTORY

Read each statement carefully and literally to determine to what extent it is true in your life.

Select your answer:
0= NEVER (If you have no experience with something described, don't worry about it. Just mark "0" for that question and go on. All people will answer "0" to some statements.)
1=LITTLE
2=SOME
3=OFTEN

Answer on the basis of what has actually happened in your life not what you wish or think should be true or hope to be true in the future. Only what you have literally experienced in your life.
1. When I find myself in a disorganized situation, I help things become better organized.: 0123
2. Others have told me that I seem unusually fulfilled and content as a single person.: 0123
3. One of the most satisfying ways to express my Christian faith is to create physical objects that are useful or beautiful.: 0123
4. I have accurately "recognized" whether a person's words or actions were of divine, demonic or merely human origin.: 0123
5. People tell me that I am a remarkably effective listener or counselor who is able to comfort and heal others by talking with them.: 0123
6. Talking about Catholicism with those who have little knowledge of it is one of the most fulfilling and important things I can do.: 0123
7. I have trusted God to bring the seemingly impossible to pass and have seen God provide in a remarkable way.: 0123
8. It gives me great joy to give as much as I possibly can to those in need.: 0123
9. I have seen God heal the sick in a remarkable way through my treatment, care and/or prayers.: 0123
10. It is much more fun and effective for me to work in the background and help some one else succeed than to be "up-front" myself.: 0123
11. I know that hospitality is an important part of living as a Christian and I do whatever I can to make guests and visitors feel welcome.: 0123
12. Others have told me that my prayers for them have been answered in wonderful or even extraordinary ways.: 0123
13. I read and study a great deal in order to understand the universe God has made.: 0123
14. One of the most helpful and fulfilling things that I do as a Christian is to find ways in which people can work together to change things for the better.: 0123
15. I am drawn to and work well with people who are ignored or rejected by society.: 0123
16. People of a different race or culture have told me that they feel very comfortable with me and have been spiritually nourished by my presence and friendship.: 0123
17. Singing or playing a musical instrument is one of my favorite ways to pray.: 0123
18. I understand the importance of Christian community and do everything I can to make it possible or Christians to spend time together sharing their experiences of following Jesus.: 0123
19. I know that it is vital that God's people respond to his call today with their whole hearts; I do whatever I can to make this clear to other Christians.: 0123
20. One of the most important ways I express my faith as a Christian is by doing the practical work that it takes to make good things happen.: 0123
21. People tell me that I have helped them learn new concepts or skills that made a real difference in their lives.: 0123
22. I could live more comfortably, but choose not to in order to live like the poor and identify with Jesus.: 0123
23. I love the experiential wisdom of the Catholic tradition and enjoy solving practical problems by applying spiritual truths in creative ways.: 0123
24. I love to use words creatively and have been told that I am an unusually gifted writer.: 0123
25. Providing the planning and coordination that it takes to make good things happen is a very fulfilling way for me to live my faith and serve others.: 0123
26. Being single is a positive state of life that enables me to serve God and others more freely.: 0123
27. I am particularly good at solving problems related to the creation, repair, or maintenance of material objects.: 0123
28. My own faith has been strengthened when I have "sensed" the Spirit of God resting on or dwelling in certain people, places, or things.: 0123
29. People talk to me when they are troubled or in need of direction and have told me that they have been greatly comforted or helped as a result.: 0123
30. Non-Christians or non-practicing Christians have told me that I have helped them develop a living faith in Christ and his Church.: 0123
31. Other people have observed that I am unusually willing to take risks to step out into the unknown because I have a deep trust in God's love and provision.: 0123
32. I give money and things freely to others because God has given so much to me.: 0123
33. I have prayed for and/or cared for others and unexpected healing has occurred as a result.: 0123
34. Using my gifts to help another person accomplish something significant is a creative experience for me; I have been told that my assistance makes a big difference.: 0123
35. People tell me that they have been encouraged and even healed because I have invited them to spend time in my home or with my family and/or friends.: 0123
36. I have sensed a "call" to pray intensely for people or places that I don't know well and have prayed for the situation until I felt that I was "done.": 0123
37. I love the rich intellectual heritage of Catholicism, which is an important source of nourishment for my intellectual and spiritual life.: 0123
38. Others have told me that I am a person of unusual vision and direction and have worked with me to make a vision happen.: 0123
39. I identify with the pain of those who suffer or are oppressed and seek to comfort them with the love of Jesus through my actions.: 0123
40. I move freely outside the culture of my childhood in order to share Christ with more people.: 0123
41. I am musically gifted; my ability to write or perform music has delighted and nourished others and given me much satisfaction.: 0123
42. People have told me that they have been spiritually encouraged and strengthened by being part of a small Christian group that I facilitated.: 0123
43. I have known that God wanted to say to certain people in particular situations and have been told that others were encouraged or moved to action because I shared the message I have been given.: 0123
44. I'd rather be active and do something practical for God or other people than just sit around talking.: 0123
45. I enjoy spending time learning new things and then figuring out how to help others learn them as well.: 0123
46. I am readily accepted by the poor because I live simply.: 0123
47. I make a practical use of information or ideas that I learn and have helped others do the same in their own lives.: 0123
48. Writing is a good way to pray and is one of my favorite spiritual exercises.: 0123
49. I have been told that my ability to organize has enabled others to better accomplish a complex task that served God and people.: 0123
50. I readily identify with the celibate lifestyle of many of the saints.: 0123
51. I enjoy making beautiful or useful things, especially when I know that it benefits others and gives glory to God.: 0123
52. I have sensed that a person, place or thing was affected by an evil spirit and have had this sense confirmed by later events or other evidence.: 0123
53. Individuals who talk to me about their lives tell me that they grow personally and spiritually as a result of our time together.: 0123
54. I have shared how God's presence and love has blessed my life in a way that is meaningful or intriguing to non-Christians or non-practicing Christians.: 0123
55. I am very confident that God answers prayer and will provide all that I need to serve others and fulfill my God-given mission in life.: 0123
56. I give sacrificially when confronted with the urgent needs of other people, the Church or groups that work for worthy causes.: 0123
57. Others have told me that God used me to heal them of serious physical or mental illness when the chances for recovery were small.: 0123
58. Others have told me that my personal assistance enabled them to achieve things that they could never have done by themselves.: 0123
59. I gladly open my home and give food and shelter to others, even when I am not prepared to have guests.: 0123
60. Praying for others is one of my favorite spiritual practices; seeing God answer my prayers in such wonderful ways has greatly strengthened my faith.: 0123
61. I enjoy discovering "new" ideas or truths for myself by reading or observing situations first hand.: 0123
62. I know that providing the sense of direction and hope that enables a group of people to accomplish new things is one of the most effective ways in which I serve God and others.: 0123
63. People who are struggling with suffering or injustice have told me that I have been a real source of practical help and comfort.: 0123
64. I am frustrated when I have little opportunity to relate to or work among people of a different language or cultural background.: 0123
65. Writing or performing music is a wonderful, creative experience for me; others have told me that they really enjoy my music.: 0123
66. One of the best ways that I can serve God and others is by doing whatever it takes to enable a group of Catholics to come together and explore their faith.: 0123
67. When I share truths from Scripture or Catholic teaching with others, I do it in a way that calls for a personal response and sparks worship, repentance, or action in individuals or groups.: 0123
68. I am able to see unmet organizational needs or "holes" that others miss and enjoy doing what it takes to fill the "hole" and make a difference.: 0123
69. People tell me that I am able to explain complicated matters in a way that is clear, easy to remember, and interesting.: 0123
70. I am drawn to the spiritual challenge of living simply in a materialistic culture.: 0123
71. Other people tell me that I am very perceptive, and talk their problems or decisions over with me in order to take advantage of my insights.: 0123
72. I find writing to be a very satisfying and creative means of expressing my faith.: 0123
73. I enjoy and am unusually good at coordinating the many "pieces" of a larger task or goal.: 0123
74. I am glad that I am single because I am freer to serve God.: 0123
75. Others have noticed that I am unusually competent and creative in dealing with my physical surroundings.: 0123
76. Others acknowledge that I have accurately "recognized" the presence of God's Spirit or an evil spirit in a person, place, or thing in the absence of tangible evidence.: 0123
77. One of the most satisfying ways to express my faith is by listening and talking to those who seek out my encouragement, nurture, or counsel.: 0123
78. I enjoy sharing with non-Catholics the joy and peace which my Catholic faith has given me.: 0123
79. When making important life decisions, I rely upon the guidance, love, and providence of God to an unusual degree.: 0123
80. I do without things myself in order to be able to give more to others.: 0123
81. I know that many of the sick that I care and/or pray for will be healed in remarkable ways.: 0123
82. Personally providing the practical assistance that enables someone else to achieve good things is one of the best ways that I can serve God and help people.: 0123
83. Strangers and newcomers have told me that I have made them feel especially welcome and comfortable.: 0123
84. God seems to use my prayers as a way through which his love can reach others; people are often helped in remarkable ways when I pray for them.: 0123
85. Others have told me that the insights that I have gained from my study have helped them grow in their own intellectual and spiritual lives.: 0123
86. I am able to communicate my ideas and vision for a better future in a way that motivates others to work to help make the vision happen.: 0123
87. One of the most important ways I express my Catholic faith is through practical deeds of love and care for the poor, the sick or those suffering from injustice.: 0123
88. I have learned a new language well in order to be an effective agent of God's purposes among people of a different culture than my own.: 0123
89. I often express my faith in and love for God through music.: 0123
90. I enjoy and have been told that I am particularly good at guiding and encouraging the spiritual growth of a group of Christians.: 0123
91. I identify with the ministry and experience of the Old Testament prophets or of prophetic saints because God seems to use me in the same way.: 0123
92. Other people tell me that I really know what it takes to get a job done, and that my personal willingness to do whatever is necessary makes a big difference.: 0123
93. I have explained aspects of the Catholic faith to others and have seen them "get it" and grow spiritually as a result.: 0123
94. Others have told me I have sacrificed a great deal materially in order to follow Jesus and be close to the poor.: 0123
95. I have helped others make good decisions that reflected the purposes of God in the midst of uncertainty.: 0123
96. People really enjoy my writing and have told me that their lives have been touched or enriched by reading things that I have written.: 0123
97. An important way I express my faith is by providing the planning and coordination that enables good things to be accomplished.: 0123
98. I am emotionally and spiritually fulfilled without the special intimacy of marriage.: 0123
99. Working creatively with my hands is a form of prayer or contemplation for me.: 0123
100. I have been able to help others because I can tell the difference between unusual human behavior caused by emotional disturbance and that influenced by a demonic presence.: 0123
101. Others have said that talking to me has really helped them grow spiritually and/or discern God's direction for their life.: 0123
102. I have shared my faith with people who have no church background and have seen them desire to known more about the Catholic faith as a result.: 0123
103. When I or others close to me are in need, I am excited by the opportunity to trust in God and see how wonderfully he will provide.: 0123
104. I am so confident that God will meet my own financial needs that I am free to give sacrificially.: 0123
105. I have been used by God to restore strength and health to someone who suffered from a serious emotional or physical illness.: 0123
106. One of my favorite ways to live out my faith is to use my abilities to personally help someone else accomplish a task or lifework to which God has called him or her.: 0123
107. I express my Catholic faith by welcoming guests or strangers to my home or community as I would welcome Jesus.: 0123
108. I know from experience that praying is one of the most helpful and satisfying things that I can do for someone else.: 0123
109. Study is an important spiritual exercise for me because, when I study anything, I know that I am contemplating an aspect of God's loving activity in the universe.: 0123
110. I have successfully led a group through the process of turning a faith-based vision or goal into reality.: 0123
111. I find it very satisfying to personally serve those who are sick, powerless, or rejected by society and have been told that my efforts make a real, practical difference in their lives.: 0123
112. I enjoy worshipping and sharing my faith with Catholics of another ethnic or cultural background.: 0123
113. Others have told me that my music has given them a lot of pleasure and/or drawn them closer to God.: 0123
114. I have helped a specific group of Christians grow spiritually by bringing people together on a regular basis to pray, study, or share their faith.: 0123
115. Others have told me that I have really helped them by sharing an encouraging or challenging word from God with them at a critical moment in their life.: 0123
116. I am a jack-of-all-trades, willing to do whatever it takes to serve God and others and to make good things happen.: 0123
117. One of my favorite ways to express my Catholic faith is by helping others learn truths, information, or skills that will help them grow spiritually and as human beings.: 0123
118. I identify with the saints who embraced poverty for Christ's sake.: 0123
119. I often come up with good, faith-based solutions to complex problems.: 0123
120. One of the best ways I can express my human experience and/or Christian faith is through writing.: 0123

Saint Gabriel and Good Samaritan Catholic Churches

Spiritual Gifts Inventory

Discover your Spiritual Gifts and discern how you can answer God’s call

The Spiritual Gifts Inventory

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