HKB
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Often appears with: religious persecution and toleration · justice as a virtue · the problem of evil and theodicy · the nature and attributes of God · spiritual direction by a confessor · speaking from within · scripture prooftexts · reason and the intellect · prudence and practical wisdom · prophecy among gratuitous graces · obedience to religious superiors · monastic foundation opposition
Usually: detachment (4) · curiosity (3) · argument (2) · reflection (2) · exhortation (2) · commentary or gloss (1) · crisis of belief (1) · injustice endured (1) · the test or trial (1) · skepticism (1)
“y es muy posible, "and this is quite possible," but he who has ever heard a Divine locution will see at once that this assurance is something quite different.” Teresa of Ávila, Saint, The Life of St. Teresa of Jesus, of the Order of Our · insight
“We think we may measure our progress by the years which we have given to the exercise of prayer; we even think we can prescribe limits to Him who bestows His gifts not by measure when He wills” Teresa of Ávila, Saint, The Life of St. Teresa of Jesus, of the Order of Our · insight
“Prophecy first and chiefly consists in knowledge, because, to wit, prophets know things that are far (*procul*) removed from man's knowledge.” Thomas, Aquinas, Saint, Summa Theologica, Part II-II (Secunda Secundae) · insight
Emerson says people discern character in society through an inevitable judicial investigation, but the true judgment comes from letting others judge themselves and from a teacher who speaks from within.
know each other very well,—which of us has been just to himself and whether that which we teach or behold is only an aspiration or is our honest effort also. We are all discerners of spirits. That diagnosis lies aloft in our life or unconscious power. The intercourse of society, its trade, its religion, its friendships, its quarrels, is one wide, judicial investigation of character. In full court, or in small commit…
Aquinas explains magnificence as money spent for great works, but then begins his treatment of gratuitous graces, dividing them into knowledge, speech, and operation, introducing prophecy and rapture as key knowledge-graces.
and other some evangelists; and other some pastors and doctors": and this pertains to diversity of ministries, of which it is written (1 Cor. 12:5): "There are diversities of ministries." With regard to gratuitous graces, which are the first object to be considered, it must be observed that some of them pertain to knowledge, some to speech, and some to operation. Now all things pertaining to knowledge may be compris…
Teresa explains that divine assurance in prayer is different from imaginary locutions, then describes how her new confessor’s spiritual direction fit her “way,” leading her superiors to stop hindering her foundation plans.
he would understand me; but he had never spoken to me before, nor I to him, and, indeed, he was a person of whom I had no previous knowledge whatever. 12. Afterwards, I saw clearly that my spirit was not deceived; for my relations with him were in every way of the utmost service to me and my soul, because his method of direction is proper for those persons whom our Lord seems to have led far on the way, seeing that …
Teresa criticizes judging spiritual progress by the number of years spent in prayer, arguing God gives in different times, and that real humility and discerning spirits assess progress by fruits rather than duration.
good people. I found myself afterwards so beset on all sides, good people thinking they were doing good, and I knowing not how to defend myself, nor what to do. 27. O my God, if I were to say in what way, and in how many ways, I was tried at that time, even after that trial of which I have just spoken, what a warning I should be giving to men to hate the whole world utterly! It was the greatest of all the persecuti…
Anthony tells Vincent that counsel for suicide temptation is mostly warning the person about the devil’s sleights, delivered gently—often by commending pride then insinuating doubt with Scripture and authorities like John Gerson.
that he hath finally persuaded him, by some illusion showed him for the proof, that God's pleasure is that he shall for his sake with his own hands kill himself. VINCENT: Now, if a man so found it, uncle, what counsel should he give him then? ANTHONY: That would be somewhat out of our purpose, cousin, since (as I told you before) the man would not be in sorrow and tribulation, of which our matter speaketh, but in…