Where should we place Discernment in our life?

[littleone]

Is there a place for discernment in every persons life.
What does God want us to do with discernment.
How do we get discernment.
Is it a gift for all.

 

[dosdog]

Is there a place for discernment in every persons life.
What does God want us to do with discernment.
How do we get discernment.
Is it a gift for all.

What kind of Spirit is at work when someone receives a vision, a revelation, or a more routine favor? To determine this is called the discernment of spirits. It is of great importance to find the right answer. It is evident that there can be three sources: good spirit, evil spirit, auto-suggestion

causes of error in revelations

Faulty interpretation of visions by the recipient- Joan of Arc in prison had a revelation that she would be delivered by a great victory–it was her martyrdom, which she did not suspect.

Human action may mingle with the divine action-St. Catherine Labouré foretold many events correctly, but failed on others

A true revelation may later be altered involuntarily by the recipient-This happens especially with intellectual locutions which need to be translated into words

Secretaries may alter without intending to do so-accuracy of the text is disputed in the works of Mary of Agreda

Causes of False Revelations

Pure bad faith, fakery

Overactive imagination.

Illusion in thinking one remembers things that never happened.

The Devil may give false visions or revelations-Magdalen of the Cross , it all came true–ecstasies, levitation, prophecies, simulated stigmata. At door of death she confessed. Exorcism was needed.

Predictions by falsifiers.-there was an epidemic of prophecy especially on “the great Pope and the great King” inspired by the 17th century commentary on the Apocalypse

degree of certainty or probability is possible?

When God so wills, OT prophets, for they furnished certain signs of their mission we must work by exclusion-hypnotism, somnambulism, telepathy, thought-reading, Inquiries to be made about the alleged recipient

What are the natural qualities or defects, physical, intellectual, and moral

what books he has read, what information he may have picked up from other more learned persons.

What virtues does the person have?

watch out for the work of satan–he may really promote good things for a while, provided that in the long run he gains.

Humility is a major key

Has the person claimed revelations before?

Has the recipient suffered great trials before or after the revelation-Extraordinary graces are very likely to bring great trials, as St. Teresa of Avila remarked,

Has the recipient been fearful of deception, open to Superiors or Director, and never desired revelations?

It is probably good to employ the testimony of expert psychologists as to ecstatic states etc

Is there a revelation of the vices and sins of others? This does not always prove a revelation is false, but calls for careful checking

Is the information useful for salvation of souls? If it is merely to satisfy curiosity it is unlikely to be of divine origin.

Is all in accord with the dignity and gravity of the Divine Majesty? Some alleged revelations descend into vulgar speech

Are there sentiments or peace of disquiet?

Revelations to direct princes or clergy are suspect

1. Signs of the spirit of God: fits with teaching of Church; serious; gives light to the soul, docility, discretion: no hurriedness or exaggerations; humble thoughts; confidence in God, rightness of intention, patience in suffering, self-denial, sincerity and simplicity in conduct, no attachments not even to the gifts, great desire to imitate Christ in all things (a very strong sign), gentleness, kindness;
2. Signs of the evil spirit: (the opposite of the above–spirit of falseness or lie, suggestion of useless things, curious things, impertinent things, darkness, restlessness in the soul, a bold, obstinate spirit, many indiscretions, pride, lack of hope, disobedience, vanity, self-satisfaction, impatience, rebellion of the passions, hypocrisy, pretense, attachment to earthly things, forgetfulness of Christ and of imitating him, a false charity including bitter zeal, indiscretion-
   Fr. William G. Most

ewtn.com/faith/teachings/maryd8.htm

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Is there a place for discernment in every persons life.
What does God want us to do with discernment.
How do we get discernment.
Is it a gift for all.

A good book to read on the subject is Weeds Among the Wheat Discernment: Where Prayer and Action Meet , by Fr. Thomas H. Green.

I read it when I was going through discernment for the diaconate.

Jim

 

[TOP]

I think discernment should be high priority in a persons life. I wasn’t religous when I started to have trouble discerning twilight dreams I was having for some time, just after an intervention. I had such problems with them that I was placed in the hospital 5 times the last year. First it was thought I may have a tumor in my head because of my history with cancer. That checked out fine. Then I was diagnosed with pscychosis due to depression. I spoke to 3 Priests about my problem and only had 1 take me seriously and helped me interupt. I got to the point that I said that “Jesus is Lord” in these dreams to test them. Sometimes they would stop immediatly. I continued to see a Dr. to put my familiy’s mind to rest. I don’t see the real need for it as much of a need for discernment to test the spirit. Having that would have set my mind at ease, knowing from where these dreams came from, and allowing me to deal with them accordingly, whether it be mental or spiritual. I now finding the more I learn about myself, grace , the church and the Lord the easier it is to accept my problems for what they are and presue a more tranquil life. So in a nutshell I’m not as scared of the enemy’s tactics as much as I used to be , because of educating myself about discernment. Now I can start to be fruitful and not live in fear. Tim

 

[BLB_Oregon]

I’m not sure I follow the question. I define discernment as listening to God when you consider your own life and when you plan your own actions. If you don’t do that, isn’t your prayer life kind of just talking to yourself?

 

[Polish]

Dear Little One,
I don’t know much about discernment of vision, dreams, apparitions as I’ve had little experience with these things.

However, discernment in the every day life is something I’m well acquainted with. I’ve wasted years and years thinking I was doing God’s Will only to finally admit that my life is basically a failure. It took me a very long time to be able to learn to wait on the Lord and to put my feeble trust in Him alone.

God made me a creative person with a vivid imagination. I have ideas galore and have tried to follow through on many of them. Now - finally - I can look back and see that deep down, really deep down, everything I engaged in was out of pride, to win acclaim for myself. Obviously my discernment was not in accord with His will.

Now, at last, I’m at peace in letting God lead my life. I discern by putting my life and trust in His hands. I’ve learned to discern by following His lead.

So, I suppose what I’m trying to relate is that when a question arises I ask Him. It’s quite amazing how He answers things for me. Nothing is ever - I ask a Him and then He answers. What really happens is I ask Him and then wait on Him. Then out of the blue, at the most unexpected time, His will is revealed and His answer is truth.

What a glorious God we have!!!

 

[littleone]

I’m not sure I follow the question. I define discernment as listening to God when you consider your own life and when you plan your own actions. If you don’t do that, isn’t your prayer life kind of just talking to yourself?

Many people look at certain gifts and think that they have this or that. I believe that without discernment as a priority at the top of the list somewhere, a person would be bound to err, leading them into following wrong teaching, leading others into deception also saying that they have gifts they donot.