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THE FUNDAMENTALS: VICE and VIRTUE
DISCERNING between the DEMONIC and the ANGELIC (and the HUMAN)
DISCERNING
in the SELF
and the OTHER
(Discernment as Natural Contemplation)
EXAMPLES of CONTEMPLATIVE DISCERNMENT
IGNATIUS of LOYOLA and DISCERNMENT of SPIRITS in the EXERCISES
Theological dictionary of
the New Testament. 1964-c1976.
(G. Kittel, G. W. Bromiley & G. Friedrich,
Ed.) (Vol. 3, Page 949-950). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
LIKE διακρίνειν, this bears several divergent meanings, “separation,” “distinction,” “strife,” “appraisal,” “exposition.”1 In the Septuagint it occurs only at Job 37:16, where the meaning is not clear. In the NT it usually means “differentiation,”
BIBLICAL TERMS
1 Corinthians 12:10 between spirits [of the spirits of the prophets]
[there is given]. . . TO another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. ἄλλῳ δὲ ἐνεργήματα δυνάμεων, ἄλλῳ [δὲ] προφητεία, ἄλλῳ [δὲ] διακρίσεις πνευμάτων, ἑτέρῳ γένη γλωσσῶν, ἄλλῳ δὲ ἑρμηνεία γλωσσῶν·
Heb. 5:14 between good and evil.
BUT solid food is for the mature, for those who have their faculties trained by practice to distinguish good from evil. τελείων δέ ἐστιν ἡ στερεὰ τροφή, τῶν διὰ τὴν ἕξιν τὰ αἰσθητήρια γεγυμνασμένα ἐχόντων πρὸς διάκρισιν καλοῦ τε καὶ κακοῦ.
Rev. 14:1: disputes over opinions
AS for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not for disputes over opinions. Τὸν δὲ ἀσθενοῦντα τῇ πίστει προσλαμβάνεσθε, μὴ εἰς διακρίσεις διαλογισμῶν. [N.B. It is best to take διάκρισις here in the sense of “evaluation.”2]
Liddell and Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon.
διακρίνω [ρῑ], fut. -κρῐνῶ, Ep. and Delph. -κρῖνέω Il.2.387, SIG614.8 (ii b.c.):—separate one from another, ὥς τ᾽ αἰπόλια .. αἰπόλοι ἄνδρες ῥεῖα διακρίνωσιν Il.2.475, cf. Hdt.8.114; part combatants, εἰς ὅ κε δαίμων ἄμμε διακρίνῃ Il.7.292, etc.; εἰ μὴ νὺξ .. διακρινέει μένος ἀνδρῶν 2.387; δ φιλέοντε Od.4.179; κρόκην καὶ στήμονας συγκεχυμένους δ. Pl.Cra.388b:—Pass., to be parted, of hair, Plu.Rom.15: more freq. of combatants διακρινθήμεναι (Ep. inf. aor. 1 Pass.) ἤδη Ἀργείους καὶ Τρῶας Il.3.98, cf. 102, 7.306, etc.: also in fut. Med., διακρινέεσθαι Od.18.149, 20.180; διακριθέντες ἐκ τῆς ναυμαχίης Hdt.8.18; διακριθῆναι ἀπ᾽ ἀλλήλων Th.1.105, cf. 3.9; διακρίνεσθαι πρός .. part and join different parties, Id.1.18.
b. Pass., to be divorced, Leg.Gort.2.46.
2. in Philosophy, separate, decompose into elemental parts, opp. συγκρίνω, chiefly in Pass., Anaxag.12, cf. Arist.Metaph.985a28, [Epich.]245, Pl.Phd.71b, Prm.157a, etc.
3. ἄστρων διακρίνει φάη σελάνα prob. sets apart, removes, i.e. outshines, B.8.28.
II. distinguish, καί κ᾽ ἀλαὸς διακρίνειε τὸ σῆμα Od.8.195; οὐδένα δ. without distinction of persons, Hdt.3.39; οὐχὶ δ. τὴν πενιχρὰν ἢ πλουσίαν Diod.Com.2.8: pf. Pass. in med. sense, διακεκρίμεθα τάς τε καθαρὰς ἡδονὰς καὶ .. Pl.Phlb.52c: plpf. in pass. sense, διεκέκριτο οὐδέν no distinction was made, Th.1.49; διακεκριμέναι distinct, varied, B.Fr.24.
III. decide, of judges, ὀρθᾷ δ. φρενί Pi.O.8.24; δ. δίκας Hdt.1.100; διὰ δὲ κρίνουσι θέμιστας Theoc.25.46; also, determine a fever, mark its crisis, Hp.Coac.137; ἡ νοῦσος μάλιστα διακρίνει ἐν οὐδενί has usually no crisis in any patient, Id.Morb.2.71; δ. αἵρεσιν Hdt.1.11; δ. εἰ .. Id.7.54; δ. περί τινος Ar.Av.719:—Med., νεῖκος δ. get it decided, Hes.Op.35; τὸ ζητούμενον Pl.Phlb.46b; decide among yourselves, ταῦτα .. ὅπως ποτ᾽ ἔχει δ. D.32.28:—Pass., bring an issue to decision, ἐπέεσσί γε νηπυτίοισι ὧδε διακρινθέντε Il.20.212; δἴ τινι τᾶν πολίων ῃͅ ἀμφίλλογα, διακριθῆμεν Foed.Dor.ap.Th.5.79; διακριθεῖμεν περί τινος Pl.Euthphr.7c; of combatants, μάχῃ διακριθῆναι πρός τινα Hdt.9.58; πρός τινα ὑπέρ τινος LxxJl.3.(4).2; δ̔́πλοις ἢ λόγοις διακρίνεσθαι Philipp.ap.D.12.7; διακρίνεσθαι περὶ τῶν ὅλων Plb.3.111.2; τινί with one, Ep.Jud.9: abs., PMagd.1.15 (iii b.c.), etc.; also πόλεμος διακριθήσεται Hdt.7.206; of a person, to be judged, Polem.Call.18.
IV. set [a place] apart for holy purposes, Pi.O.10(11).46.
V. interpret a dream, etc., Ph.2.54, Junc.ap.Stob.4.50.95.
VI. question, τοὺς ἰατρούς Arr.Epict.4.1.148.
VII. doubt, hesitate, waver, Act.Ap.11.12 (s.v.l.): usu. in Med. and Pass., μηδὲν διακρινόμενος ib. 10.20; μὴ διακριθῆτε Ev.Matt.21.21, cf. Ep.Rom.4.20.fut. = future
Ep. = Epice, in the Epic dialect
SIG = Sylloge Inscriptionum Graecarum, ed. W. Dittenberger, editio tertia, Leipzig 1915–24 [Hildesheim 1960]. (SIG2 = editio altera, 1898–1901.)
freq. = frequent, frequently
inf. = infinitive
aor. = aorist
Id. = Idem
Leg.Gort. = Leges Gortynensium (GDI 4991, Schwyzer179).
Anaxagoras Philosophus [Anaxag.]. v b.c.
See entry in Author and Works List for specific works.
prob. = probable, probably
i.e. = id est
Diodorus Comicus [Diod.Com.] iv b.c.
See entry in Author and Works List for specific works.
pf. or perf. = perfect
plpf. = pluperfect
Theocritus Poeta Bucolicus [Theoc.] iii b.c.
See entry in Author and Works List for specific works.
Foed. = Foedus
Dor. = Doric
ap. = apud (quoted in)
Philippides Comicus [Philippid.] iv/iii b.c.
See entry in Author and Works List for specific works.
abs. = absolute, absolutely
PMagd. = Papyrus de Magdola, rééd … par Jean Lesquier, Paris 1912 (PLille II 2–4); republished in PEnteux..
Ph. = Philo
s. v. l. = si vera lectio
usu. = usually
ib. = ibidem (i.e. in the same work)
DISCERNMENT
BEHIND the practice of discernment lies the central question of human existence:
“What are we made for? What is our goal and purpose?”
Pope John Paul II beautifully summarized the Christian answer:
The oblation [of the self],
constitutes the intimate and most precious core of a person’s response to
God who calls, finds its incomparable model, indeed its living root, in the
most free oblation [of] Jesus Christ
(Pastores Dabo
Vobis 36)
DISCERNMENT of SPIRITS
1. A gift from God
2. Invites us to ask: Does this thought, suggestion, idea lead towards or away from God and Eternal Life?
3. Traditional distinctions: but be careful of relying exclusively or too heavily on “feelings”: these are heavily influenced by personality, habit, and recent experience:
Meaning, purpose, hope, joy, clarity are of God
Isolation, nihilism, lack of purpose, confusion, cynicism lead away from God.
PREREQUISITE: KNOWLEDGE of SELF and BROKENNESS
1. Tendency toward isolation, fear, suspicion consequence of the Fall – resonance of Original Sin.
2. Expressed and experienced to different degrees and indifferent ways in different persons/personalities
3. Practice of Virtue aims at restoring lost balance and capacity for spiritual vision
THE GOAL of BALANCE: RESTORATION of BROKEN/LOST CAPACITY
1. Traditional Aristotelian and Classical model of Virtue and Vice except:
2. Balance/virtue
a) requires grace
b) is not only a preparation for contemplation
c) it enables a capacity to make the Gift of Self to God and others out of love: i.e freedom
VOCATIONAL DISCERNMENT
1. A gift from God
2. Invites us to ask: Which is the path on which God desires me to make the Gift of Self?
3. This is never a solitary journey: we need the help of others to see the truth of ourselves, and to see beyond ourselves
4. I must know myself well enough to have the freedom to choose.
5. In choosing and giving my choice to God I engage in an act of consecration: I make of myself a gift to Christ and His Church.
SUGGESTIONS for VOCATIONAL (and Daily) DISCERNMENT
1. Ask for the Grace of God to see, hear, and understand the “still, small voice of the One Who loves you and gave his life for you”
2.Seek Peaceful Awareness of your subjective responses to: present events, relationships, and prominent memories within your personal history
3. Contemplate God’s Presence and Will ( i.e. God’s desire, purpose, goal) for me
a. In Eternity: Loving union with God and all the Saints
b. In time: growth in Love of God and neighbor, becoming more like Christ and thus offering every more deeply – through God’s grace – the Gift of Self.
4. Grow in Freedom from confusing attachments, addiction, compulsion
5. Open Yourself to God in His Church: Necessary and prominent in this dimension is the Christian community, consisting of formators, spiritual director, friends, family.
6. Freely Choose and Offer Yourself and your vocational Choice to God
7. Persevere – and Trust that God gives grace to grow in self-offering and
[8. Do not make a major vocational discernment during a time of desolation]
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QUESTIONS
for DISCERNMENT: |
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How (and where) do I experience God’s call?
1. Do I seek personal union with Christ through nourishment in: (RF 102)
prolonged and silent prayer (CCC 2709-2719)
listening to the Word of God
devout participation in the sacraments
devout participation in the liturgy (especially the Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Hours
participation in community life
2. Am I discovering how the liturgical year offers the pedagogical mystagogy of the Church, allowing its spirituality to be absorbed by my interiorising the scriptural texts (through lectio divina) and liturgical prayers? (RF 102)
3. Do I study the Catechism of the Catholic Church, both to learn from it and eventually to use it in teaching? (RF 59)
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How able am I to respond to God’s call?
1. Am I deepening in my relationship with Jesus Christ (RF 61)
2. Am I able to understand more of my personality and offer it to Christ: that is, am in honest in who I am before God and others? (RF 62-63)
3. Am I growing in the human virtues, including “sincerity of mind, a constant concern for justice, fidelity to one’s promises, refinement in manners, modesty in speech coupled with charity” (RF 63, Vat.2, Optatum Totius,11)
4. Do I listen to the Lord speaking to me through my spiritual director and formators (RF 65)
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What do I understand the Priesthood to be?
1. Have I seen and accepted that priesthood is an offering of myself for the pastoral care of the People of God (RF 69)
2. Do I re-read my own personal history in light of the priest’s call to pastoral charity? (RF 69)
3. Am I seeking to integrate my spiritual and human maturity, to integrate my life of prayer and theological understanding? (RF 70)
4. Am I deepening in my relationship with my diocese and especially with the presbyterate of my diocese? (RF 71)
This Webpage was created for a workshop held at Saint Andrew's Abbey, Valyermo, California in 1990
