Theology Day 2017: Discernment and Self-honesty: Wisdom from the Benedictines
Document Type
Presentation
Publication Date
2017
Abstract
The practice of discernment of spirits can increase the self-honesty we need for decision-making life. Benedictine practices help us notice and reflect on what moves within – imaginings, emotions, inclinations, desires – and then act on that understanding. The Christian tradition of discernment of these inner movements began with the desert tradition, continued with Saint Benedict and was given modern expression by Saint Ignatius. The ultimate intention is to grow in loving relationship with God, others, and even to self.
Becky Van Ness is an adjunct faculty at Saint John’s University where she serves as the Director of the Spiritual Direction Program and is an oblate of Saint Benedict’s monastery. Van Ness earned a Master of Arts degree in Christian Spirituality and the Graduate Certificate in Spiritual Direction and directed retreats at Creighton University. She promotes and participates in Monastic Interreligious Dialogue, which operates under the aegis of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue in Rome.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Van Ness, Becky, "Theology Day 2017: Discernment and Self-honesty: Wisdom from the Benedictines" (2017). Theology Day Lectures. 40.
https://digitalcommons.csbsju.edu/sot_theology_day/40