toward communal discernment

7/23/2019 Toward Communal Discernment

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T O W A R D C O M M U N A L

D I S C E R N M E N T

S O M E P R A C T I C A L

S U G G E S T I O N S

B y W I L L I A M A . B A R R Y

O M E T H I N G I N T E R E S T I N G h a p p e n e d in th e S o c i e ty o f J e s u s

b e t w e e n t h e 31 s t G e n e r a l C o n g r e g a t i o n ( 1 9 65 - 6 6) a n d t h e

3 2 n d ( 1 9 7 4 - 7 5 ) . E v e r y r e f e r e n c e t o s p i r i tu a l d i s c e r n m e n t o r

t h e d i s c e r n m e n t o f s p ir it s i n th e d o c u m e n t s o f G C 3 1 re f e rs

to in d i v id u a l d i s c e r n m e n t w h e r e a s t h e p r e p o n d e r a n c e o f s u c h

r e f er e n c e s i n G C 3 2 a r e to d i s c e r n m e n t i n c o m m o n . G C 31 i s

o b v i o u s l y c o n c e r n e d t h a t t h e S o c i e t y r e c o v e r t h e d y n a m i c o f t h e

S p i r i t u a l E x e r c i s e s a n d e s p e c i a l ly t h e i n d i v i d u a l d i s c e r n m e n t o f

s p ir it s . W h i l e n o t n e g l e c t i n g t h e n e e d f o r s u c h a c o n t i n u i n g

r e c o v e r y , G C 3 2 m a k e s a n e f f o rt t o e n c o u r a g e c o m m u n i t i e s t o

b e c o m e c o m m u n i t i e s o f d i s c e r n m e n t :

C l e a r l y , t he r e qu i s i t e d i s pos it ions f o r t r ue c o m m un i t a r i a n d i s c e r n -

m e n t a r e s uc h t ha t t he y w i l l no t be ve r i f i e d a s o f t e n a s t hos e f o r

o r d i n a r y c o m m u n i t y d i a lo g u e . N e v e rt h el es s , e v e r y c o m m u n i t y

s hou l d s e e k t o a c qu i r e t he m , s o t ha t w he n ne e d a r is e s it c a n e n t e r

in to t h i s spec ia l w ay of seek ing the w i ll o f Go d .1

W h a t h a p p e n e d b e t w e e n 1 96 6 a n d 1 97 5?

I n N o r t h A m e r i c a , t o t ak e a n e x a m p l e , t h e d i re c t e d r e t re a t

m o v e m e n t s p r e a d l i k e a b r u s h f i re t h r o u g h t h e S o c ie ty . A t G C 3 1

i t w a s a l m o s t t i m i d l y s u g g e s t e d : T h e s c ho l as ti cs s h o u l d b e p e r m i t -

t ed o n o c c a s io n d u r i n g t h e i r f o r m a t i o n t o m a k e t h e S p i r i tu a l

E x e r c i se s a l o n e u n d e r t h e d i r e c t i o n o f a n e x p e r i e n c e d s p i r it u a l

f a t h e r . . .,2 B y t h e t i m e o f G C 3 2 h a r d l y a s c h o l a s ti c in N o r t h

A m e r i c a m a d e t h e E x e r c i se s in a n y o t h e r w a y . S p i r i t u a l d i re c t io n

w i t h a n e m p h a s i s o n t h e d i s c u ss i o n o f t h e a c t u a l r e l i g io u s e x p e r i e n c e

o f t h e d i r e c te e a ls o to o k o n g r e a t i m p o r t a n c e . B u t a l o n g w i t h th i s

i n c r e a s e d i n t e r e s t in i n d i v i d u a l s p i r it u a l d i r e c t i o n a n d t hi s r e c o v e r y



T O W R D C O M M U N L D I S C E R N M E N T

105

o f t h e o r ig i n a l i n t e n t i o n o f S t I g n a t i u s i n g i v i n g t h e E x e r c i se s a l so

w e n t a r e n e w e d i n t e r e st i n o t h e r a s p e c t s o f I g n a t i a n s p i ri tu a l it y .

T h e I n s t it u t e o f J e s u i t S o u r c e s u n d e r G e o r g e G a n s s b e g a n p u b l is h -

i n g E n g l i s h t r a n s la t i o n s o f o r i g in a l J e s u i t d o c u m e n t s , t h e m o s t

i m p o r t a n t b e i n g t h e a p p e a r a n c e i n 1 9 7 0 o f G a n s s s o w n t ra n s l at io n

o f t h e

Constitutions. 3

T h e I n s t i t u t e a l so m a d e a v a i l a b l e in t r a n s l a t io n

s u c h s c h o la r ly w o r k s a s d e G u i b e r t s

Th e Jes ui ts : their spir i tual doctr ine

and pract ice4

a n d b e g a n p u b l i s h i n g o r i g i n a l s t u d i e s t h a t m a d e i t

p o s s i b l e f o r E n g l i s h - s p e a k i n g J e s u i t s t o r e c o v e r t h e i r s p i r i t u a l

h e r i ta g e . F i n a l l y i n 1 96 9 t h e A m e r i c a n A s s i s t a n c y S e m i n a r o n

J e s u i t S p i r i t u a li t y u n d e r t h e d i r e c ti o n o f G e o r g e G a n s s b e g a n

p u b l i s h i n g t h e v e r y i n f lu e n t ia l m o n o g r a p h s e ri es ,

Studies in the

Spir i tual i ty ofJesu i t s .

T h u s , t h e S o c ie ty in N o r t h A m e r i c a r e s p o n d e d

t o th e c a ll o f V a t i c a n I I a n d G C 3 1 t h a t r e l ig i o u s t r y to r e c o v e r

t h e c h a r i s m o f t h e i r f o u n d e r s .

V e r y e a r l y i n t h e

Studies

s e r ie s , i n A p r i l 1 97 0 , I g n a t i a n d i s c e r n -

m e n t b y J o h n F u tr e l l a p p e a r e d . 5 T h i s m o n o g r a p h , b a s e d o n

F u t r e l l s d o c t o r a l d i s s e r ta t i o n , f o c u s s e d n o t o n l y o n i n d i v i d u a l

d i s ce r n m e n t b u t a ls o o n c o m m u n a l d i s c e rn m e n t m o d e l l e d o n th e

d e l i b e r a t i o n t h a t l e d t o t h e f o u n d i n g o f t h e S o c i e t y o f J e s u s . A

y e a r a n d a h a l f l a te r J u l e s T o n e r s A m e t h o d f or c o m m u n a l

d i s c e r n m e n t 6 w a s p u b l i s h e d b y

Studies

t o b e f o l lo w e d in N o v e m b e r ,

1 97 2 b y F u t r e l l s C o m m u n a l d i s c e r n m e n t : r e fl ec ti o ns o n e x p e ri -

e n c e . 7 F i n a ll y , i n J u n e 1 97 4 , T o n e r s T h e d e l i b e ra t i o n t h a t

s t a rt e d t he J e s u i t s : a c o m m e n t a r y o n t h e Del ibera tio pr imoru m pat rum

n e w l y t r a n s l a te d w i t h a h i s t o ri c a l i n t r o d u c t i o n 8 m a d e its a p p e a r -

a n c e. S i n c e t h a t t im e n o t h i n g m o r e o n c o m m u n a l d i s c e r n m e n t h a s

a p p e a r e d i n t h e

Studies

se r ies .

E v e n a c u r s o r y r e a d i n g o f t h e se f o u r p u b l ic a t i o n s m a k e s i t

c le a r t h a t F u t re l l, T o n e r a n d o t h e r J e s u i t s w e r e g i v i ng n u m e r o u s

w o r k s h o p s o n c o m m u n a l d i s c e r n m e n t t o g ro u p s o f r e li g io u s . D u r -

i n g t h es e s a m e y e a r s W i l l ia m J . C o n n o l l y o f t h e C e n t r e f o r

R e l ig i o us D e v e l o p m e n t i n C a m b r i d g e , M a s s a ch u s s e ts w a s in

d e m a n d t o c o n d u c t s im i l a r w o r k s h o p s a n d i n t r o d u c e d m e t o t h e

p r o c e s s w h e n t o g e t h e r w e f a c i l i t a t e d s u c h a w o r k s h o p f o r a l l t h e

J e s u i t s u p e r i o r s o f t il e N e w E n g l a n d P r o v i n c e i n 1 9 7 2 . I n s h o r t

o r d e r I w a s a s k e d t o f a ci li ta t e a n u m b e r o f s u c h w o r k s h o p s i n N e w

E n g l a n d a n d a b r o a d . A s t in t as v i c e - p r o v i n c i a l f o r f o r m a t i o n t o o k

m e o u t o f c i rc u l a ti o n f or s u ch w o r k u n t i l 1 9 84 w h e n , w i t h J o s e p h

M c C o r m i c k , I w a s a s k e d t o w o r k w i th t h e J e s u i t s o f a la r g e u r b a n

a r e a to h e lp th e m m o v e to w a r d c o m m u n a l d i s ce r n m e n t . W h a t



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T O W R D C O M M U N L D I S C E R N M E N T

intrigues me is the silence about communal discernment since the

surge of interest in the early nineteen-seventies which culminated

in the call of GC 32. Wa s it just a flash in the pan? Or is communal

discernment still going strong, but silently?

For some time I have had close to hand my folder with detailed

process notes on the workshops in which I was involved. I wanted

to describe the process as I saw it with the hopes that such a

description would be helpful to others. The invitation in 1984 and

work with those Jesuits over the year 1984-85 have given me the

impetus to write this article. If the process of communal discern-

ment has in fact fallen into disuse, perhaps we need a stimulus to

bring it back into use. In 1970 Futrell argued strongly .that the

times required a recovery of the Ignati an practice of com mun al

discernment:

If true communal discernment of experiments to enable the Society

of Jesus to renew itself and to adapt to the signs of the times

today is a condition for the survival of the Society in the modern

Church, then it is vital that all Jesuits learn to engage in authentic

Ignatian communal discernment. 9

Some sixteen years later, I believe, the need is still there, and not

just for Jesuits.

I have entitled the article Towa rd Co mm una l Discernment

quite deliberately. M an y of the workshops in which I have partici-

pated have not reached the point of engaging in true communal

discernment either because no question for discernment arose or

because of lack of time or because other things needed to happen

first. I suspect that many attempts at communal discernment falter

for lack of the prerequisites outl ined by both Futrell (1970 and

1972) and T on er (1971). Since both of these men have provided

relatively detailed outlines of the actual process of discernment

they use once these prerequisites are attained, I want to concentrate

on the process of moving toward that attainment.

Communal discernment presupposes before all else that those

who will engage in it have experienced the discernment of spirits

in themselves. That is, each individual must have engaged in a

process of contemptative prayer such as that proposed in the

Spir itua l Exercises and have experienced the movem ents of the

different spirits and have discerned which move ment s were of

God, which not. Secondly, communal discernment presupposes



T O W R D C O M M U N L D I S C E R N M E N T 1 7

t h a t t h e in d i v i d u a l s c a n a n d w i l l c o m m u n i c a t e t o o th e r s t h e i r

e x p e r i e n c e s i n p r a y e r a n d i n p r a y e r f u l r e f l e c t i o n . T h e a b i l i t y to

d o s o c a n n o t b e p r e s u p p o s e d s in c e m a n y o f u s o l d e r r e li g io u s w e r e

b r o u g h t u p i n a t r a d i t i o n w h e r e s u c h c o m m u n i c a t i o n w a s n o t

o n l y n o t e n c o u r a g e d b u t o f t e n e n o u g h a c t i v e l y d i s c o u r a g e d . T h e

r e c o v e r y o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l ly d i r e c t e d r e t r e a t a n d t h e d e v e l o p m e n t

o f a ty p e o f s p i r i t u a l d i r e c t i o n w h i c h r e q u i r e s t h e c o m m u n i c a t i o n

o f r e l i g io u s e x p e r i e n c e a r e g i v i n g u s t h e t o o ls f o r t h e k i n d o f

c o m m u n i c a t i o n c o m m u n a l d i s c e r n m e n t r e q u i r e s . B u t t he w i ll i n g -

n e ss to c o m m u n i c a t e e x p e r i e n c e m u s t a ls o b e p r e s e n t , a n d t hi s is

o f te n t he r o c k u p o n w h i c h a t t e m p t s a t c o m m u n a l d i s c e r n m e n t

s h a t t e r . L e t m e e l a b o r a t e o n t h i s p o i n t .

W h e n w il l a n y o f u s - - u n l e s s w e a r e i n v e t e r a t e n a r c is s i s t s - -

r e v e a l o u r i n t i m a t e s el ve s t o o t h e r s ? I s i t n o t w h e n w e t r u s t th e

o t h e r , t r u s t th e o t h e r n o t t o l a u g h o r s c o rn o r d o w n p l a y o u r

e x p e r i e n c e ? S u p p o s e y o u s t a r t t o t e ll m e a b o u t a n e x p e r i e n c e o f

p r a y e r t h a t m e a n t s o m e t h i n g t o y o u a n d s w if tl y I c h a n g e t h e

s u b j e c t o r s ay : T h a t s o u n d s o d d t o m e . I t w i ll b e a l o n g t i m e

b e f o r e y o u w il l t a k e th e c h a n c e a g a i n . W h e n p e o p l e a p p r o a c h a

c o u n s e l l o r f o r h e l p b e c a u s e t h e y a r e d e e p l y t r o u b l e d , t h e y w i ll t e st

t h e w a t e r s w i t h h i m o r h e r b e f o r e t h e y r e v e a l t h e i r i n t i m a t e s e l v e s .

A n d d i r e c te e s o n l y g r a d u a l l y r e v e a l t h e m o s t i n t i m a t e a s p e c t s o f

t h e i r r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h G o d a s t h e y c o m e t o t r u s t t h e i r s p i r i t u a l

d i r e c to r s . S o i t is n o t e a s y t o e n t r u s t o u r i n n e r e x p e r i e n c e t o

o t h e r s .

I f t h is is t h e c a se in o n e - t o - o n e r e l a t i o n s h i p s , h o w m u c h m o r e

d i ff ic u l t t o r e v e a l o u r s e l v e s i n a g r o u p . I n a n e a r l i e r a r t ic l e I

a t t r i b u t e d a g r e a t d e a l o f t h is d i f f ic u l t y t o f e a r a n d o f f e r e d a c o u p l e

o f a p p r o a c h e s t o o v e r c o m e t h e f e ar . 1° I d o n o t w a n t t o r e p e a t

m y s e l f h e r e . R a t h e r I w il l d e v e lo p m o r e a t l e n g t h s o m e o f t h e

p r o ce s se s w e h a v e u s e d t o h e l p p e o p l e i n g r o u p s t o e n t r u s t t h e m -

s elv es m o r e t o o n e a n o t h e r .

F i r s t w e e x p l a i n t h e r o l e o f t h e f a c i l i ta t o r s b y a n a n a l o g y to t h e

r o l e o f t h e s p i r i tu a l d i r e c t o r . T h e s p i r i tu a l d i r e c t o r h e l p s i n d i v i d u a l s

t o r e c o g n i z e t h e i r d e si r es w i t h r e g a r d t o t h e L o r d , t o m a k e t h e s e

k n o w n t o t h e L o r d , a n d t o p u t t h e m s e l v e s i n t o a r e c e p t iv e p o s i t i o n

s o t h a t t h e L o r d s r e s p o n s e m a y b e h e a r d . T h e s p i r i t u a l d i r e c t o r

d o e s n o t m a n u f a c t u r e d e s ir e s o r p r a y e r e x p e r i e n c e s f o r t h e d i r e c t e e

b u t h e lp s th e p e r s o n t o n o t i c e w h a t i s h a p p e n i n g i n t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p

w i t h th e L o r d , t o d i s c e r n w h a t l e a d s t o w a r d t h e L o r d a n d t o d e c i d e

w h a t t o d o a b o u t t h e d i s c e r n m e n t . S o to o t h e f a c i l i t a to r s o f t h e



1 8 T O WA R D C O MMU N A L D IS C E R N ME N T

group try to help the group to articulate its desire as a group with

regard to the Lord and to help them to approach the Lord in

prayer with that desire. Here it is important to remind the

individuals that they are asking the Lord to relate to them precisely

as member s of this group wi th the gro up s desire.

ust

as individ-

uals ask the Lord for what they desire, trusting that the Lord has

their good at heart, so too the individuals in this group context

approach the L ord with the gro up s desire trusting that the Lor d

has the good of this group at heart.

The facilitators suggest a way for the individuals to approach

the Lord in prayer. After the prayer period is over, they return to

the group. The facilitators then help them to report to one another

as mu ch or as little as the y wish of what hap pen ed dur ing the

prayer.

ust

as the spiritual director of an individual helps the

person to notice and articulate what happened as much as possible

without judg in g it, so too the facilitators of a group ask the gro up

to try to listen without ju dg me nt to the experiences shared. Indeed,

since the assumption of such group sharing is that we are hoping

to hear what God is saying to us as a group, these periods of

sharing are approached, as far as possible, with the same contem-

plative attitude one hopes to have in private prayer.

Secondly, we point out that the process is a slow one of growing

in trust in the Lord and in one another. They already trust the

Lord, but they probably have not thought mu ch about the Lord s

desires and hopes for the group as such. And most groups need to

develop a trust in one another as deeply prayerful and honestly

searching for God s will for the group. Co mm un al discernment

means that each m em ber of the group trusts that God will reveal

his will for the group through their individual prayer and through

their sharing of the fruits of that pray er. To engage in this process

I must trust that all the others are sincerely praying and trying to

rema in open to discern Go d s will. After all, my future is on the

line since I am willing to abide by the g roup s decision.

We have usually struct ured the day into three sessions, mor ning,

afternoon and evening. The whole group gathers at the beginning

of each session, a nd we give th em some orie ntati on for private

prayer. Each one prays for forty-five minutes to an hou r and then

takes a few minute s for reflection. I f the group is less tha n ten, all

the sharing sessions are in one group. If it is larger, we break it

up into groups of ten or less for the sh aring and ask that someone

summarize for the whole group in a report. Each session, therefore,



T O W R D C O M M U N L D I S C E R N M E N T 1 0 9

la s t s a t l e as t tw o - a n d - a - h a l f h o u r s . A s t h e p r o c e s s g o e s o n , w e m a y

h a v e t o v a r y t h e s t r u t u r e a c c o r d i n g t o w h a t i s n e e d e d . F o r

e x a m p l e , a t t h e b e g i n n i n g o f a se ss io n w e m a y n e e d t o ca n v a s s

t h e g r o u p t o f i n d o u t w h a t t h e i r d e s i r e s a r e .

S o m e g r o u p s b e g i n t he d i s c e r n m e n t p r o c e ss w i t h m u c h g o o d

w i ll t o w a r d o n e a n o t h e r . E v e n s o t h e i n d i v i d u a l s w i ll s t i l l n e e d

t im e t o d e v e l o p th e d e e p e r t r u s t in o n e a n o t h e r a n d t h e L o r d t h a t

t hi s p r o c e s s e n t ai ls . S u p p o s e t h a t s u c h a g r o u p s p u r p o s e is t o

d i s c o v e r h o w t h e y m i g h t b e s t u s e t h e i r t a le n t a p o s t o l i c a ll y . T h e i r

n u m b e r s h a v e d e c l in e d a n d t h e y fe el s t r a in e d a n d o v e r w o r k e d a n d

r e a l iz e th a t t h e y c a n n o l o n g e r c o n t i n u e t o d o a ll t h e w o r k t h a t

t h e y h a v e b e e n d o i n g . W e w o u l d s u g g e s t f o r t h e f ir st p e r i o d o f

p r a y e r t h a t t h e y u s e a t e x t l ik e I s a ia h 4 3 , 1 - 7 :

F e a r n o t , f o r I h a v e r e d e e m e d y o u ;

I h a v e c a ll ed y o u b y n a m e , y o u a r e m i n e .

W h e n y o u p a s s t h r o u g h t h e w a t e r s I w i l l b e w i t h y o u ;

a n d t h r o u g h t h e r i v e r s , t h e y s ha ll n o t o v e r w h e l m y o u ;

w h e n y o u w a l k th r o u g h f i re y o u s ha ll n o t b e b u r n e d ,

a n d t h e f l a m e s h a l l n o t c o n s u m e y o u .

• F o r I a m t h e L o r d y o u r G o d ,

t h e H o l y O n e o f I sr a el , y o u r S a v i o u r .

B e c a u s e y o u a r e p r e c i o u s i n m y e y e s ,

a n d h o n o u r e d , a n d I l o ve y o u ,

I g i v e m e n i n r e t u r n f o r y o u ,

pe op l e s i n e xc ha nge f o r you r l i f e .

F e a r n o t , f o r I a m w i t h y o u .

W e i n d i c a te t h a t t h e Is r a e li te s h e a r d t h is c o n s o l i n g w o r d w h e n

t h e y w e r e i n e x i l e , t h e i r t e m p l e d e s t r o y e d a n d t h e i r h o p e s a t t h e i r

l o w e st . W e s u g g e s t t h a t t h e y a s k t h e L o r d t o g iv e t h e m a s e n se o f

h e a r i n g t h e se w o r d s a s a p p l y i n g t o t h e m a s m e m b e r s o f t h i s g r o u p .

T h e y t h e n p r a y p r i v a t e ly f o r f o r ty - f iv e m i n u t e s o r s o a n d a f t e rw a r d s

r e t u r n t o t h e g r o u p w h e r e e a c h o n e i s a s k e d to s h a r e w h a t e v e r h e

o r sh e w i sh e s o f w h a t h a p p e n e d d u r i n g t he p r a y e r . F o r m o s t

g r o u p s s u c h a n i c e b r e a k e r is r e a s s u r i n g a n d t h e v a r i e t y o f

e x p e r i e n c e s e n l i g h t e n i n g . I n a f e lt w a y t h e y r e a l iz e h o w s i n c e r e

a n d f a it h -f i l le d e a c h o n e i s. T h e y a r e o f t e n s u r p r i s e d a t h o w e a s y

a n d e n j o y a b l e it is t o t a lk a b o u t p r a y e r w i t h o n e a n o t h e r . D e p e n d -

i n g o n h o w t h i s f i r s t s e s s i o n g o e s , w e m i g h t e i t h e r s u g g e s t a

r e p e t i t io n f o r t h e n e x t s e s s io n o r s u g g e s t t h a t t h e y a sk t h e L o r d t o



1 1 T O W A R D C O M M U N A L D I S C E R N M E N T

help them to know his dreams for them as a group. During

the group meetings we remind them to listen to one another

contemplatively and to note inner reactions as they listen. If they

feel antipathy to what one member is saying, for example, they

might want to ask the Lord s help to see things from that person s

perspective. After the group has articulated its vision and dream

as best it can, they might be ready to ask the Lo rd s help to

discover what blocks them from realizing the dream. Now the har d

part begins because they will be addressing neuralgic issues that

may bring to light resentments, mistrust, and other negative

emotions. The facilitators now begin to earn their keep.

Any group that has a history together has got some bodies

buried somewhere. We have been talking about groups who begin

the process with much good will toward one another. Often enough,

however, groups do not begin with much good will and trust.

Then the negative feelings may have to be addressed even earlier.

One group displayed so much anger, resentment, suspicion and

misunderstanding at the very first session that even the facilitators

wondered whether they had opened Pando ra s box. But we pointed

out that their reality had surfaced rather quickly and suggested

that they might feel as the apostles did after the crucifixion when

they boarded themselves up in the upper room. Imagine their

feelings of guilt and anger and suspicion and fear. And into their

midst came Jesus saying Peace be with you . We suggested that

they might want to spend an hour in prayer with this text

(Jn 20,19-23) and then return. When they returned to the group,

the atmosphere had noticeably shifted. Where before accusations

and angry denunc iations of others prevailed, now each one spoke

of his own fears and failings and at the same time voiced a trust

that the Lord would be with them. We had not yet reached the

promised land, but we were on the way toward becoming a group

that eventually migh t be able to engage in communal discernment.

In his 1972 mono graph Futrell makes a perceptive comment: A

com mun ity must have achieved the fruit of the First Week of the

Spiritual Exercises s c o m m u n i t y in order to begin true communal

spiritual d isc ern ment . 11 He does not spell out what that might

mean, but I believe that this prerequisite is crucial, and in at least

one case, I believe, I sa~v a group achieve that fruit. It yeas a group

of male religious who were chapter delegates. Th ey asked Joseph

McCo rmick and me to facilitate a four-and-a-ha lf day process that

would help them toward being more discerning and open during



T O W R D C O M M U N L D I S C E R N M E N T 111

t h e c h a p t e r w h i c h w o u l d f o l l o w . T h e c o n g r e g a t i o n w a s r e e l i n g f r o m

a h e a v y f in a n c ia l b l o w a n d f r o m d e p a r t u r e s t h a t h a d l e f t t h e m

d e m o r a l iz e d , a n g r y a n d s u sp i c io u s . A m o n g t h e m e m b e r s o f t h e

g r o u p w e r e s o m e w h o m t h e o th e r s h e ld r e s p o n s ib l e f o r t h e i r

p r o b l e m s . E a r l y in o u r s e s s io n s f ee l in g s o f a n g e r , s u s p i c io n , g u i lt

a n d h e lp l e s sn e ss e m e r g e d . T h e f ir st t w o d a y s w e r e s t o r m y , b u t w e

c o u l d s e n se a g r a d u a l g r o w t h in t r u s t . A s o n e m a n s a i d: W e h a v e

t h o u g h t t h e u n t h i n k a b l e a n d s aid t h e u n s a y a b l e . T o w a r d t h e e n d

o f t h e s e c o n d d a y w e s u m m a r i z e d t h e s i t u a t i o n i n t h i s f a sh i o n :

Y ou s e ns e you r s e l ve s a s b r oke n , ne e dy , he l p l e s s , a nd s i n f u l p r e -

c is el y a s m e m b e r s o f t h is c o n g r e g a t i o n a n d a s c h a p t e r d e l eg a te s .

A n u m b e r o f y o u h a v e i d en t if ie d w i th S i m o n t h e P h a r i se e w h o

s c o r n e d J e s u s f o r l e t ti n g t h e s i n fu l w o m a n w a s h h i s f e et . S o m e o f

y o u h a v e v o i c e d r e s e n t m e n t a t b e i n g p u t i n t o t h e p o s i t i o n o f

p i c k i n g u p t h e p i e c es o f a m e s s c a u s e d b y o t h e r s. S o m e h a v e

v o i c e d fe a r s t h a t a s a g r o u p y o u w ill n o t h a v e t h e c o u r a g e t o m a k e

t h e n e c e s s a r y d e c is io n s . S o m e f e a r t h a t e v e n G o d c a n n o t c h a n g e

y o u . A n d y e t y o u h a v e a l s o d e s i r e d h e a l i n g , h a v e d e s i r e d t h a t

J e s u s m a k e y o u b r o t h e r s a g a in . W e s u g ge s t t h a t y o u p r e s en t

y o u r s e l v e s t o j e s u s a s y o u a r e a n d a s k h i m f o r w h a t y o u w a n t .

P e r h a p s y o u m i g h t w a n t t o d o a r e p e ti ti o n o f L u k e 7 , 3 6 - 5 0 o r

y o u m i g h t w a n t t o u s e t h e w a s h i n g o f t h e f e e t i n J o h n 1 3.

W e a ls o s u g g e s t e d s p e a k i n g t o J e s u s o n t h e c r o ss a n d u s i n g t h e

t r i p le c o l l o q u y o f t h e F i r s t W e e k o f t h e E x e r c i se s .

T h e s h a r i n g a f t e r t h i s p e r i o d o f p r a y e r w a s v e r y e m o t i o n a l a n d

v e r y h o n e s t . O n e m a n a s k e d w i t h t e ar s f o r t h e f o r g iv e n e s s o f t h e

g r o u p . A n o t h e r r e p o r t e d e m p t in e s s i n p r a y e r a n d a s k ed t h e g r o u p

t o p r a y f o r h i m . A c o u p l e o f m e n s a id t h a t t h e d e s i r e f o r h e a l i n g

w a s g r o w i n g i n t h e m . M o s t o f t h e o th e r s r e p o r t e d c o n s o l a t i o n a n d

a se n s e o f b e i n g h e a l e d . T e a r s w e r e s h e d . A t th e e n d o f t h e s h a r i n g

t h e y b r o k e u p i n to d y a d s f o r r e c o n c i l i a t io n . T h e n e x t d a y m e n

c o n t i n u e d t o a s k o n e a n o t h e r f o r r e c o n c i la t i o n . W e s p e n t t h e la s t

t w o d a y s f o c u s s i n g o n J e s u s r e l a t io n s h i p w i t h h i s a p o s tl e s i n t h e

g o s pe l o f M a r k . A t t h e e n d o f t h e p r o c e s s t h e y f el t h o p e f u l a n d

m u c h m o r e t r u s t i n g a s t h e y p r e p a r e d t o e n t e r t h e ir c h a p t e r . A s a

r e su l t o f t h e F i r s t W e e k e x p e r i e n c e t h e y s e e m e d a b le t o d r e a m

a n d t o h o p e a g a i n a s a g r o u p .

I f s p i r i tu a l d i r e c t o r s n e e d to h a v e g r e a t t r u s t i n t h e L o r d a s t h e i r

d i re c t e e s f ac e s o m e o f t h e v e r y p a i n f u l a n d h a r r o w i n g e x p e r i e n c e s

s o m e t i m e s a s s o c i a te d w i t h t h e p r o c e s s o f c o n v e r s i o n , i t is e v e n



2

T O W A P , . D C O M M U N A L D I S C E R N M E N T

m o r e i m p e r a t i v e f o r t h o s e w h o f a c i li ta t e g r o u p s t o w a r d c o m m u n a l

d i s c e r n m e n t . I t i s a l l t o o e a s y t o g l o ss o v e r s e r i o u s d i v i s i o n s i n a

g r o u p , t o l e t s l e e p i n g d o g s l ie , a s i t w e r e . I t i s a l l t o o e a s y t o

p r e s e n t t e c h n i q u e s t h a t o n l y c a n w o r k i f p r e r e q u i s i t e s o f t r u s t a n d

c o n t e m p l a t i v e p r a y e r a r e p r e s e n t . I t i s a ls o a ll t o o e a s y t o g i v e u p

h o p e t h a t t h e L o r d c a n w o r k h i s w o n d e r s e v e n o n a g r o u p t h a t

s e e m s a t f i r st h o p e l e s s l y d i v i d e d . P e r h a p s t h e y d o w a n t t o b e h e a l e d

a s a g r o u p . I h a v e n e v e r b e e n a f a c i l i t a t o r a l o n e p r e c i s e l y b e c a u s e

I f ee l t h e n e e d f o r a n o t h e r s o t h a t to g e t h e r w e c a n r e m i n d o n e

a n o t h e r t o p r a y o u r s e l v e s a n d t o e n tr u s t t h e g r o u p t o t h e L o r d

a n d t o tr u s t t h e g o o d w i l l o f t h e g r o u p i n s p it e o f e v e r y t h i n g . A f t e r

a l l , w e t r y t o s a y to o n e a n o t h e r , t h e y h a v e i n v i t e d u s t o h e l p

t h e m t o b e c o m e a d i s c e r n i n g g r o u p ; s o t h e y m u s t h a v e s o m e h o p e

i n t h e L o r d w h o w a s c a l le d t h e m t o g e t h e r . A g r o u p i s c l o s e t o

b e c o m i n g d i s c e r n i n g w h e n t h e m e m b e r s c a n s a y , as o n e m a n d i d ,

D u r i n g t h e S p i r i tu a l E x e r c i s e s I c a m e t o t ru s t d e e p l y t h a t J e s u s

h a d a d r e a m f o r m e . N o w I b e l i e v e t h a t h e h a s a d r e a m f o r u s .

N O T E S

1 D e c r e e 1 1, T h e u n i o n o f m i n d s a n d h e a r t s , o f th e 3 2 n d G e n e r a l C o n g r e g a t i o n o f t h

S o c i e t y , p a r a g r a p h 2 3 . I n Documents o f the 3 s t an d 32 nd General Congregation of the Society of

Jesus

( S t L o u i s , I n s t i t u t e o f J e s u i t S o u r c e s , 1 97 7) , p 4 7 5 .

2 D e c r e e 8 , T h e s p i r it u a l f o r m a t i o n o f J e s u i t s , o f t h e 3 1 st G e n e r a l C o n g r e g a t i o n o f

t h

S o c i e t y o f J e s u s , p a r a g r a p h 1 24 , i n Documents o f the 3 s t an d 32nd General Congregations of the

Society of Jesus (S t Lo u i s , In s t i t u t e o f Je su i t So u rces , 1 9 77 ) , p 1 0 8 .

:~ Ig n a t i u s o f L o y o l a ,

The Consti tutions of

the

Society of Jesus

t r a n s G e o r g e E . G a n s s ( S t L o u i s ,

I n s t i t u t e o f J e s u i t S o u r c e s , 1 97 0) .

d e G u i b e r t , J o s e p h : The Jesuits: their spiritual doctrine and practice. A historical stud y. T r a n s

W . J . Y o u n g ( S t L o u i s , I n s t i t u t e o f J e s u i t S o u r c e s , 1 96 4) .

5 F u t r el l, J o h n C a r r o l l: I g n a t i a n d i s c e r n m e n t ,

Studies in the spirituali ty o fJesuits

I I , 2 (A p r i l ,

1 9 7 0 .

6 T o n e r , J u l e s J . : A m e t h o d o f c o m m u n a l d i s c e r n m e n t o f G o d s w i ll ,

Studies in ~

h e

spirituali ty of Jesuits

I I I , 4 (Sep t , 1 9 7 1 ) .

7 F u t r e ll , J o h n C a r r o l l : O o m m u n a l d i s c e r n m e n t : r e f l e ct io n s o n e x p e r i e n c e , Studies in the

spirituali ty of Jesuits

IV , 5 (N o v , 1 9 72 ).

s T o n e r , J u l e s J . : T h e d e l i b e r a t io n t h a t s t a r te d t h e J e s u i t s : a c o m m e n t a r y o n t h e Deliberatio

primorum patrum.

N e w l y t r a n s l a t e d w i t h a h i s to r i c al i n t r o d u c t i o n ,

Studies in the spirituality of

Jesuits

V I, 4 ( Ju n e , 1 9 74 ).

9 Fu t re l l ,

op.cit.

(1970), p 70.

I0 B a r r y , W i l li a m A . : R e l i g i o u s c o m m u n i t y : a d i a g n o s i s a n d a p r e s c r i p t i o n , Review for

Religious

1 9 8 5 , 4 4 , p p 4 0 5 -4 0 9 .

IJ Fut re l l , op.cit. (1972), p 169.

(3393/86) Prin ted by H obbs he Prin tersof S outhampton



N O T E S O N C O N T R I B U T O R S

BRIAN O LEARY S.J. holds a doctorate in spiri tual theology from the Gregorian Universi ty,

Rome. He presently resides at Manresa House, Dollymount, Dublin. His work includes

research in Ignatian spirituality, lecturing at the Milltown Institute of Theology and

Philosophy, and the ministry of spiritual direction.

DERMOT MANSFIELD SJ. is attached to the Jesu it Centre of Spirituality at M anresa House,

Dollymount. Among other works undertaken there he has contributed for some years to

the training programmes for spiritual directors. Previously, he was attached to the Jesuit

House of Studies at Milltown Park, and to the former Retreat House at Rahan, Tullamore,

Co Offaly.

PAUL EDWARDS S.j. a graduate of Oxford and Bristol universities, spent most of his working

life at St Michae l s College, Leeds where he was Senior History Master, then Depu ty-

Head and, after an inte~ val in the Bristol Universi ty Chaplaincy, teacher-chaplain. From

1978-84 he was Master of Campion Hall in the Univers ity of Oxford and is now on the

staff of St Beuno s Spiritual Exercises Centre, North Wales.

PAMELA HAYES R.S.C.J. is a me mb er of the English province of the Society of the Sacred

Heart . She studied history and then theology before postgradua te studies in spirituality.

For many years she was Principal Lecturer in Religious Studies at St Mary s College,

Fenham, Newcastle upon Tyne, and a member of the Shap Working party on World

Rel igions. She is now engaged in a minist ry of lecturing in spirituality and guiding retreats,

mainly in the North-East of England.

OLGA WARNKE I.B.V.M. has had a dist inguished teaching career in French literature at

St Michael s College in the Universi ty of Toronto. She has worked extensively in the

ministry of spirituality and directed retreats in Canada, USA and Ireland. In 1985 she

was made Doctor of Divinity

honor i s causa

at Regis College in the School of Theology at

the University of Toronto.

DAVID TOWNSEND S.J. worked in Schweppes Research Laborator ies before entering the

Society of Jesus. After ordination to the ministerial priesthood he studied counselling at

Keele University. He is on the staff of the St Beuno s Spiritual Exercises Centre, North

Wales, and has directed retreats, workshops and long courses in North America and in

Southern Africa.

WILLIAM BARRY

S . J . w a s

born in 1930 of Irish immigran t parents, entered the Society of

Jes us in 1950 and was ordained in 1962. He has a PhD in clinical pyschology from the

University of Michigan. He t aught pastoral theology at YVeston School of Theology,

Cambr idge , Mass. from 1969-78 and was co-founder of the Center for Religious Develop-

ment, Cambr idge . Since 1978 he has been working in religious formation and spiritual

direction.

S I G L

Gen Jg Neh

Exod Ruth Est

Lev 2, 2 Sam Jo b

Num 1, 2 Kg Ps

Deut 1, 2 Chr Prov

Jos Ezr Qoh Eecl)

OLD TESTAMENT

Cant Hos Nah Bar

Isai Joel Hab Tob

Jer Amos Zeph (Soph) Jud

Lain Obad Hag Wis

Ezek Jo n Zech Sir (Ecclus)

Dan Mic Mal 1, 2 Macc

Mt Jn 1, 2 Cor

Mk Acts Gal

Lk Rom Eph

NEW TESTAMENT

Phil 1, 2 Ti m Heb 1, 2, 3 Jn

Col Tit Jas Jude

1, 2 Thess Phm 1, 2 Pet Apoc

Exx

Th e Spiritual E xercises of St Ignat ius Loyola

M H S J M o n u m en ta H i s to r ica S o c ie ta t is J e s u