Benedict & Discernment

Living Discernment through the lens of prayer and community is the formation theme for GSE in 2026. To give some context for our theme we offer you, Listening, Thinking and Discernment – The Old and the New, a presentation by Dr Carmel Posa sgs. This deep engagement in understanding discernment was a keynote from our 2025 Triennial Conference, and is the perfect way to launch our year. 

Drawing on Chapter 3 of the Rule of Benedict, Carmel explores the practice of giving and receiving counsel in community, with discernment described as “the mother of all virtues.” Rooted in the monastic tradition and understood as a gift of the Spirit, discernment is presented not as a private exercise, but as a shared, relational practice that calls for humility, patience, and deep listening with the ear of the heart.

In a world that often seems to have forgotten how to think—let alone listen—this keynote offers a timely and challenging reflection. What wisdom might Benedict’s teaching offer us as we journey into the future? As GSE celebrates its 15th anniversary in 2026, it is a question worth asking now more than ever.