Vincentian Discernment
0 likes1,375 views
1. The document discusses Vincent de Paul's method of discernment which had three parts: openness to God's will, evaluation of reasons for and against a decision, and consultation with wise individuals. 2. It also examines Vincent de Paul's spiritual way which involved experience, faith, and practical action guided by wisdom and embracing extremes. 3. Key aspects of Vincent's discernment discussed include indifference to outcomes, weighing pros and cons, and seeking counsel from others.
Vincentian Discernment
- 1. St. Vincent’s Spiritual Way: Discernment based on the article “Vincentian Discernment” by Fr. Hugh O’Donnell, C.M.
- 2. Fr. Hugh O’Donnell, C.M. defines discernment as a process by which the Spirit calls us to use our freedom to act in a certain way. He defines it as “a choice, not between good and evil, but between two or more goods.” Vincent de Paul with Ladies of Charity, women with orphans; dove of Holy Spirit above
- 3. Vincent de Paul’s method of discernment had three parts: 1. an openness to God’s will 2. an evaluation of reasons for or against an action 3. a consultation with wise persons
- 4. 1 Openness to God’s will The cornerstone of Vincent's discernment is precisely “holy indifference”, or to put it another way, the willingness to do whatever God wants. This can also be called “unrestricted readiness”.
- 5. 2 Evaluation of reasons for or against an action After “indifference” or “unrestricted readiness,” the second step is to weigh the evidence, the pros and cons, with a listening heart.
- 6. 3 Consultation with wise persons The third step is to seek counsel from a wise woman or a wise man, often a superior or director.
- 7. Vincent’s Spiritual Way 1. Experience 2. Faith 3. Action Vincent de Paul with galley convicts
- 8. 1 Experience The cornerstone for Vincent is experience. Mother Suzanne Guillemin, DC said it more powerfully perhaps than Vincent when she said, "Les événements, c'est Dieu,” which can be translated as "Circumstances, that's God!" God is here! The God whom we worship is present in history and in relationships. That is why the poor are our masters— God is here.
- 9. 2 Faith Step two in Vincent’s Way of discernment is a dialogue between experienced events and the gospel.
- 10. 3 Action For Vincent, a practical action is one that flows from God's wisdom and love. We must act with prudence, which means to act from wisdom. Secondly, an action is good when it embraces the extremes. “And” is the great life-giving word for Vincent as he embraces the extremes. Be wise as serpents and simple as doves. Finally, Vincent in his practical wisdom taught that we must always be firm regarding the goal but gentle and flexible regarding the means.
- 11. Closing thoughts: • Isn’t “unrestricted readiness" depersonalizing? Are we just robots? No– we are uniquely made… we have an aptitude for particular skills and abilities, and an inclination toward particular interests. And we must be unrestrictedly ready in the face of our God of Divine Goodness. We must believe that God loves all people more than we do. If that is true, it is not a big sacrifice to be unrestrictedly ready, to be most willing instruments and channels of his love.
- 12. Further thoughts: • Concretely we need to believe that God can get us to where there is life for ourselves and for others better than we can. • Consultation and dialogue are good and necessary BUT even as we participate in a discernment process, the most important things are still hidden from us—the persons and the events. The most unexpected people come into our lives and they turn out often to be the best blessings.
- 13. Further thoughts: • Discernment involves a purification of spirit, love, and “a shift to presence.” Activity remains important, but a shift to presence means that we are fully sensitive to the needs and feelings of others.
- 14. Further thoughts: • Sometimes we get stuck, because the problems are so great. One tendency consequently is to say to ourselves, "Whatever I can do is only a drop in the ocean," and then decide to mind our own business and go our own way. Another temptation is to take upon ourselves the entire social agenda and burn out in a year or two or three. How do we live between those two options?
- 15. • …The Quakers, and especially Thomas Kelly who wrote a book called A Testament of Devotion, are very helpful in this question. The Quakers have a thing called "concerns." God is concerned with all of creation, God is concerned with all our brothers and sisters, God is concerned with all those who are in need, but God knows that you and I cannot do it all.
- 16. • …So, in the midst of His concern for all of us, He gives each of us a concern— a specific concern— like children or the homeless. Maybe God gives a person two or three "concerns." Anyway in the midst of this very large agenda, God speaks a personal word to each of us calling us to respond to some brothers and sisters here and now in this place and in this time. The insight that within the universal concern that God has for all creation, he addresses a specific concern to you and me, is helpful and freeing.
- 17. • …This allows us not to cop out and not to burn out, but to live in the peace of God as we give ourselves wholeheartedly in communion with God's concern for all. It calls us to listen to what God is calling us to in the midst of this large social agenda. Among the many concerns of the kingdom and of humanity, we are called to attend to what one, two or three concerns God gives to me, to us, to live now!
- 18. Source: O'Donnell, Hugh C.M. (1994) "Vincentian Discernment," Vincentian Heritage Journal: Vol. 15: Iss. 1, Article 2. Available at: http://via.library.depaul.edu/vhj/vol15/iss1/2 Images: Depaul Image Archive, pixabay.com