Discerning the Presence of the Lord
- During
the recent past, when were you most aware of the Lord’s presence? Was
it at Mass, when praying, reading the scriptures, enjoying nature,
talking with a friend, etc? Briefly describe the incident.
- What
did you experience when the Lord revealed Himself to you? Was it joy,
awe, peace, fear, hope, encouragement, etc? Did you tell the Lord what
you felt?
- What did you notice about the
Person of the Lord when he revealed himself to you that would account
for the feelings evoked within? Was He compassionate, accepting,
attentive, understanding, loving, angry, etc? Try and describe the God
of your experience in a few words.
- How did you decide to respond to the revelation of the Lord?
Did it find expression in a prayerful way, e.g. in gratitude and praise?
Did it find expression in any kind of resolution, e.g. to be reconciled
to someone, to avoid temptation, to work for justice etc?
Discerning Positive from Negative Inspirations
- Were you aware of any promptings or inspirations from the Holy Spirit in the recent past? Did you respond to them or not?
- Did
you experience any kind of negative inspiration, feeling, attitude,
mood, desire which may have led to a sinful thought, word or deed in
the recent past? If so, tell the Lord that you are sorry for having
saddened the Holy Spirit, and ask for His forgiveness with confidence.
Concluding Observations
- How Often Should The Discernment Method Be Used?
As often as you like. But most people find that once a week is enough. Anything more could be impractical.
- How Much Time Should Be Spent on The Exercise?
Normally, between five and fifteen minutes will be sufficient. During a retreat one might spend a bit longer.
- Should The Results of The Discernment Be Written Down?
Strictly speaking, it isn’t necessary to do so. However, when you do it can have distinct advantages.
- To express something on paper has the effect of impressing it upon the mind and memory.
- To review one’s notes after a few months could reveal interesting and important trends, that might otherwise be overlooked.
- If
one is fortunate to have a spiritual director, notes of the discernment
exercise can be very useful as a basis for dialogue with him or her
e.g. by Email.
- During times of darkness
and desolation, the recorded account of past graces and consolations
can be a source of encouragement.
- The written highlights of the discernment process can be used as the starting points for future periods of prayer.
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