Monday, May 26, 2003 11:36 AM
Discernment (2)
Fr. John Abberton’s letter on Discernment, sent to this list a few days ago (17/5/03), produced quite a response. Here is a second letter from Fr. Abberton.
For many years (over 20) I have been spiritual director to a mystic. This person has been made known to my bishop more than once. He asked me to look after her. My present bishop has said nothing either positive or negative about her. My former bishop came to believe that she is a genuine mystic. Over the years I have had to learn some hard lessons about discernment, diabolical interference and the effects of human weaknesses, and human strengths, (since not everything that distorts or confuses is necessarily classed as a “weakness”).
The lady I direct is not usually given to seeing “signs” around her. When she is, they seem to be of a particular kind and are related to something we can recognise through Scripture or by referring them to established devotions or approved apparitions (such as Fatima). Personally, I try not to show any particular enthusiasm for such things. I believe this is healthy. I am not a psychologist and even if I was, I do not think I could claim to understand all there is to know about the human mind and how it is connected to the soul. In such matters we must exercise caution and reticence. I tend to be supiscious of those who are continually “seeing” so-called signs or who are too ready to tell everyone about what they claim to see.
In any case, there is something we need to recognise before we start looking for new signs. It is this: God has already given us a multiplicity of signs. Look at the wonderful things we can see and contemplate in Creation. Look at the people around us, look at the Church, her teachings, the Icons, the holy places, the traditions. Look at the Holy Scriptures. In the Book of Revelation there is a “Great Sign” It begins with the opening of Heaven and the appearance of the “Ark of the Covenant” (a title for Mary in the Catholic Church). Both the Church and Mary are identified with the Great Sign of the Woman clothed with the sun.
There are “signs” in the events of our own lives. St. Teresa of Avila spoke about praying with our memories in which we recognise how God has acted in the events of our lives. We need a strong devotion to the Holy Spirit so we can learn from the lessons He sets before us about our past and our present (and then, our future).
Those who see signs in clouds or flowers or what we might call “God-incidences” may be right to ask what God might be saying to them, but such signs, if they are genuine, cannot be taken in isolation. As with other spiritual communications we must test them. My own feeling is that a so-called sign is often given in confirmation of something. Even then, I would be very skeptical about “signs” that appear as “shapes” here and there, or strange things in photographs. Please note I say, skeptical. I do not want to be dismissive of everything, but we can be so easily deceived. Let me give you two examples. You have my permission to laugh.
I live in a large, three-story priest’s house (presbytery). At the moment two priests live with me. They are Jesuits who are studying at nearby universities. My housekeeper said that she thought “something” was in the house (she felt she was being watched – and it was not me!). In a small oratory that we have in the house, the figure on a wooden crucifix would often be seriously lopsided – hanging at an unusual angle. I thought it was because of a loose fitting.
Once day I came into the oratory to find that a curtain that is normally hanging in front of a cupboard had been wrapped around the statue of Our Lady. I tested everything: the angle of the curtain, the possibility of a freak draught. Nothing fitted. It was extraordinary. I could not imagine anyone in the house doing such a thing. I started to believe that it was diabolical even though something at the back of my mind was saying “No, that doesn’t make sense!” What was it? One of the priests later told us he had been in there praying and had seen a mouse! He chased it and moved the curtain to see where it had gone. He forgot to put the curtain back (by the way, he caught the mouse!). The crucifix has also been repaired.
2. On a visit to Ars (the home of St. John Vianney – France) I took some photographs of his bedroom (preserved in the old presbytery). On the prints there appeared what looked like faces of him or a representation of the Holy Spirit. I and a good friend looked at these with amazement. I looked for a natural explanation. I could not find one. I tried to remember (note the weaknesses of memory!) if anything there could have caused such things. The room was covered with an open grill wasn’t it? No, I discovered later (on my next visit), it is not. That room (alone amongst all the others) is covered by glass. Apart from the reflection of the flash, I noticed it was covered in greasy finger marks from pilgrims who had pressed on the glass.
Let us be careful, reticent and skeptical without being unduly dismissive. Be careful what you tell each other, it may save embarrassment later.
Fr. John Abberton
