Temptation & Discernment

[Kateri89]

I bought this book from a Catholic bookstore today.  I only read the first chapter but so far it's sounding like it's exactly what I needed to read.  So I just thought I'd recommend it to anyone who is having a difficult time with discernment.  To clarify, the title is "Temptation & Discernment" by Segundo Galilea.

 

It talks about St. Ignatius and St. John of the Cross' rules of discernment and how to recognize if the things we discern are good or subtle evil.  For example, I loved this one line from the book that says " It should be noted that among the many wiles of the devil for deceiving spiritual persons, the most common is deceiving them under the appearance of good rather than of evil, for the devil already knows that they will scarcely choose a recognized evil".  So if you're like me and feel like you're constantly misunderstanding what God is asking of you, this book already seems to be a big help.   :saint:

[BarbTherese]

Yep! Ye olde nick :brutebeast: can be that devious and tricky, cunning and deceptive.  And the inexperienced can think "Why would Satan tempt me to a good ............. surely never and impossible" :cloud9:  This can be another reason why a good spiritual director is such a gift of God, for there is nothing to which that thing would not stoop to deceive a person desiring to serve God and neighbour.  The nun that taught me in college said that if that thing could see only one inch of good to be completed, it would if it could shift heaven and earth to stop it.

Edited April 18, 2013 by BarbaraTherese