Spiritual Gifts Guide
of the Holy Spirit
God has given you unique spiritual gifts—charisms—to serve others and build His kingdom. Discovering your charisms helps you understand how the Holy Spirit is personally inviting you to participate in His work.
Understanding Charisms
Charisms (from the Greek charisma, meaning "gift of grace") are special abilities given by the Holy Spirit to all Christians through Baptism and Confirmation. Unlike natural talents, charisms are supernatural gifts meant specifically for building up the Body of Christ and serving others.
While talents can be used for good or selfish purposes, charisms are always oriented toward love and service. They empower us to be channels of God's grace in ways that exceed our natural abilities.
You likely have 2-4 charisms that are particularly strong in your life. Discovering them helps you understand where you're called to serve and how God has uniquely equipped you for His purposes.
The Gifts
While not an exhaustive list, these 25 charisms represent the most commonly recognized spiritual gifts given by the Holy Spirit for service in the Church and world.
The ability to organize people, tasks, and resources to accomplish goals that serve the Church and others. Those with this gift bring order and efficiency to ministry.
The ability to use hands and creativity to create art, crafts, or other works that reflect God's beauty and inspire others toward faith and wonder.
The ability to perceive whether something is from God, from human nature, or from the evil one. Those with this gift sense spiritual realities others miss.
The ability to use technology and digital platforms to spread the Gospel, build community, and serve the Church's mission in the modern world.
The ability to come alongside others with words that comfort, strengthen, and urge them forward in faith. Those with this gift lift spirits and inspire perseverance.
The ability to share the Gospel in a way that draws others to faith in Christ. Those with this gift naturally find opportunities to share God's love.
An extraordinary trust in God's promises and providence, even in difficult circumstances. Those with this gift inspire others to believe and trust God more deeply.
The ability to give generously of resources, time, and self with joy and without attachment. Those with this gift experience deep fulfillment through generosity.
The ability to connect across cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic differences, bringing diverse people together in Christ and enhancing community.
The ability to be a channel of God's healing power—physical, emotional, or spiritual. Those with this gift bring restoration and comfort to the suffering.
The ability to joyfully support others in their work and calling, often behind the scenes. Those with this gift find fulfillment in enabling others' success.
The ability to create welcoming, warm environments where people feel at home and cared for. Those with this gift make strangers feel like family.
The ability to pray for others with unusual faithfulness and see remarkable answers to prayer. Those with this gift feel called to stand in the gap for others.
The ability to study, understand, and communicate truth in ways that enlighten others. Those with this gift love learning and sharing wisdom from faith and reason.
The ability to see God's vision and guide others toward it with clarity and conviction. Those with this gift naturally inspire people to follow and work together.
The ability to feel deep compassion for those who suffer and respond with practical, loving action. Those with this gift are drawn to the marginalized and hurting.
The ability to write, perform, or lead music that draws people into worship and encounter with God. Those with this gift help others experience God through song.
The ability to mediate conflict and bring reconciliation between people or groups. Those with this gift help restore broken relationships and build unity.
The ability to receive and communicate messages from God that speak to the present moment. Those with this gift call people to deeper faithfulness and awareness.
The ability to identify needs and meet them with joy, often in practical, hands-on ways. Those with this gift express love through action and deeds.
The ability to nurture, guide, and care for a group of people over time, helping them grow in faith. Those with this gift take responsibility for others' spiritual welfare.
The ability to explain truth clearly in ways that help others understand and apply it. Those with this gift make complex ideas accessible and transformative.
The ability to live simply and joyfully with few possessions, freeing oneself for greater service. Those with this gift find freedom in detachment from material things.
The ability to see situations from God's perspective and offer insight for decisions and direction. Those with this gift help others navigate complex situations.
The ability to compose words that reveal truth, beauty, and goodness in ways that touch hearts and minds. Those with this gift communicate God's love through the written word.
Ready to discover which charisms the Holy Spirit has given you? Take this free Spiritual Gifts Inventory to begin your discernment journey.
Take the Free Assessment →This free inventory is provided by the Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. It takes approximately 15-20 minutes to complete.
The Process
While a spiritual gifts inventory is a helpful starting point, true charism discernment is an ongoing process that involves prayer, experience, and community confirmation. Here's how to continue your journey:
Complete a spiritual gifts assessment to identify potential charisms. This gives you a starting point for exploration.
Try serving in areas related to your top charisms. Do you experience joy, energy, and effectiveness? Do others benefit?
Ask trusted friends, mentors, or spiritual directors if they see these gifts in you. Charisms are confirmed by community.
True charisms bear fruit—both in your own spiritual life and in tangible benefits to others. Does your service produce good fruit?
Bring your charisms to prayer. Ask the Holy Spirit to confirm, clarify, and guide you in using them for God's glory.
Go Deeper
In our 15-week journey, we dedicate time in the Spirit module to charism discernment—not just taking an assessment, but exploring your results in community, praying through what they mean, and discovering how to use your gifts in daily life.
Because charisms aren't just about knowing your gifts—they're about living them.
Explore A Symphony of Grace"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good."
— 1 Corinthians 12:4-7
More Resources
Discover Your Spiritual Strengths
Explore the 42 virtues from St. Albert the Great and discover which character strengths are most developed in your life.
Take the AssessmentCreate Sacred Rhythm
Download our free Rule of Life starter template to create intentional rhythms for prayer, rest, relationships, and service.
Get the TemplateUnderstanding Your Design
Explore the personality and psychology frameworks we use in the Mind module of A Symphony of Grace.
Explore Frameworks