To ‘learn earn how to discern’. It rhymes, which may be a helpful metaphor. Discernment calls for a certain ear for the poetry of God in our life and in our world. We listen intently for the voice of God, for the ‘still, small voice of calm’ in the harsh and discordant din with which our world often contrives to surround us. To discern requires a discerning attitude, which is the result of a consistent self-discipline in being open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
The first problem in the process is self-awareness. An eminent French thinker referred to this as ‘amour-propre’ or ‘love of self’. There is, of course, a correct love of self which we often refer to as self-esteem. This is as objective as possible sense of my dignity as a creature of God and my talents and potential.
However, there is also this lingering and lurking selfish self-love which can blind me to many important things, including my own best interests and what God wants in my life. Hence the need to beg God for what St Ignatius calls ‘detachment’ or the leaving aside, in real freedom, of my egocentric desires and preoccupations in favour of his loving designs and projects for me. Paradoxically, of course, this freedom from self-seeking will lead to a true self-fulfilment.
The other precondition for true discernment is regular prayer. The Cardinals all went into a period of prayer as part of the process of the conclave, invoking the Holy Spirit on their discernment for their choice of a successor to Francis. I imagine that a historical analysis of conclaves would reveal that the best choices were made by conclaves made up of the most prayerful and detached groups of cardinals. The Popes of my lifetime have been impressive men. This says something about those who participated in the discernment leading to their election.
Discernment has personal and communal dimensions. Personal prayer and reflection, combined with conversations with others, are how the process moves along. I like the Latin word ‘murmurationes’ (singular, ‘murmuratio’ for the word-nerds) or quiet, informal chats that the Cardinals are expected to engage in as part of their deliberations in a conclave.
What should we discern about? Obviously about important things, such as what I should do with my life and how I should serve God in that choice, or which Cardinal I should vote for! I don’t have enough time and energy to be discerning deeply about whether to take tea or coffee at breakfast!
However, some areas of discernment may, at first glance, seem trivial, but they may turn out not to be so. How much sleep to get, to give my prayer life more time and energy, may be one of the most important discernments I ever make.
THE POPE’S PRAYER INTENTION FOR
JULY FOR FORMATION IN DISCERNMENT
Let us pray that we might again learn how to discern, to know how to choose paths of life and reject everything that leads us away from Christ and the Gospel.
By Fr Chris Chatteris SJ
English