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1 0 4
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
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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
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
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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 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
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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,
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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 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
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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
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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 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
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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
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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