As it is understood in Christian Initiation

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• As it is understood in Christian Initiation

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• From the Latin discernere
• Sifting through, separating apart

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• Listening to God
• Learning how to remain in Christ
• Recognizing Gods voice here and now
• Perceiving something concealed
• Outward signs of inner conversion

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• It is a spiritual discipline.
• It draws us closer to God 1) when we practice
  discernment, and 2)by the results of our work.
• It is prayerful.

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• 4. It is meant to uncover Gods action.
• 5. It is a sacred undertaking.

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• Decision making is
• Primarily rational
• Discernment
• Combines the heart, the spirit and the intellect

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• Decision-making is about
• Surfacing pros and cons
• Discernment is about
• Intuitions,inclinations and urgesseeing
  potential messages in the seemingly unrelated

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• Decision making concerns itself with
• Possible outcomes
• Discernment concerns itself with
• Gods movement and direction/action

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• Decision-Making Decisions are made based upon
  the BEST information
• Discernment Decisions are made based upon
  observing Gods action and direction.

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• Decision making may include prayer
• Discernment is a prayer from start to finish

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• Decisions are made with a consideration to their
  timeliness pay attention to the clock and
  calendar
• Discernment concerns itself with Gods time,
  which is eternal. It is measured not in seconds
  and minutes, hours and seasons, but in
  conversion, and repentance, in change and growth.

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• Write your definition of discernment now.
• Did it include elements of
• Ongoing activity of prayer/listening
• Conversation with God and others
• Reflection to uncover the ways God is at work
• Interpreting Gods activity in each stage of the
  catechumenal process?

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• Hand on this spiritual discipline to catechumens
  and candidates because this is how Jesus lived
• Be in conformity with The Rite of Christian
  Initiation of Adults which calls for discernment
  to be part of initiation preparation

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• Jesus was captured by a transformative vision
• THE KINGDOM OF GOD

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• Jesus relied on a
• continuous relationship
• with God

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• Jesus pattern was to
• yield his whole self to God
• and then
• to listen for Gods direction

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• Jesus became God-with-us by
• Receptive practices of silence, solitude,
  listening, prayer, reverent attention and trust
• Active practices of exercising kindness,
  compassion, justice, healing, and proclaiming
  Gods presence now.

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• Does your initiation process model Jesus way of
  living?
• Does your initiation process offer times for both
  receptive and active spiritual practice for
  catechumens and candidates?
• Do team members live Jesus transformative life?

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• How well am I living as Jesus did?

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• Paragraph 1 at the proper time
• Paragraph 6 periods for making inquiry and
  maturing
• Paragraph 10 a sponsor stands as witness
• Paragraph 11 godparents give testimony
• Paragraph 18 A rite of acceptance should be
  delayed until candidates have had sufficient
  time

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• Paragraph 37 Evangelization leads to
  conversion called away from sindrawn toward
  Gods love
• Paragraph 42 The prerequisite for making this
  first step
• Paragraph 43 Time should be set aside to
  evaluate
• Paragraph 75 The catechumenate is an extended
  timeduring which dispositions manifestedbrought
  to maturity.
• Paragraph 76 Time spent in the catechumenate
  should be long enoughfor conversion and for
  faith to become strong.

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• Paragraph 119 At this second step, on the
  basis of the testimony of godparents and
  catechists and of the catechumens reaffirmation
  of their intention, the Church judges their state
  of readiness and decides on their advancement
  toward the sacraments of initiation. Thus the
  Church makes its election, that is, the choice
  and admission of those catechumens who have the
  dispositions that make them fit to take part, at
  the next major celebration, in the sacraments of
  initiation. (emphasis mine)

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• Before the rite of election is celebrated, the
  catechumens are expected to have undergone a
  conversion in mind and in action and to have
  developed a sufficient acquaintance with
  Christian teaching as well as a spirit of faith
  and charity. (emphasis mine) With deliberate
  will and an enlightened faith they must have the
  intention to receive the sacraments of the
  Church, a resolve they will express publicly in
  the actual celebration of the rite.
• Paragraph 120

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• Paragraph 121.2 Before the rite of election
  the bishop, priests, deacons, catechists,
  godparents and the entire community, in accord
  with their respective responsibilities and in
  their own way, should, after, considering the
  matter carefully, arrive at a judgment about the
  catechumens state of formation and progress.

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• Paragraph 122 Within the rite of election the
  bishop celebrant or his delegate declares in the
  presence of the community the Churchs approval
  of the candidates.

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• 122 (continued) Therefore, to exclude any
  semblance of mere formality from the rite, there
  should be a deliberation prior to its celebration
  to decide on the catechumens suitableness. This
  deliberation is carried out by the priests,
  deacons, and catechists involved in the formation
  of the catechumens, and by godparents and
  representatives of the local community.

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• 122 (cont) If circumstances suggest, the group
  of catechumens may also take part. The
  deliberation may take various forms, depending on
  local conditions and pastoral needs. During the
  celebration of election, the assembly is informed
  of the decision approving the catechumens.

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Worksheet time

• Time to reflect
• To imitate the Blessed Mother and ponder
• Time to figure things out.

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• Trust in God in the Spirit
• Called to discipleship
• Public, inter-dependent, communal
• Discerning Gods action is HOW the initiation
  process takes place from the beginning
• We hand on this spiritual practice by doing it
• Not negotiable

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• Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts
• Which we are about to receive
• From thy bounty,
• Through Christ, our Lord.
• Amen

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• Self-assessment
• A look at your initiation process
• Suggesting skills to develop individually and
  communally
• Anchor this in the community of the faithful
• When precisely should discerning happen?

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• Hinge One Our own images of God
• Hinge Two Level to which we trust God
• Hinge Three Patterns we have to sustain our
  relationship with God

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• Image of God
• Great judge in the sky? Far away, judgmental,
  scornful, hoping he can catch us doing wrong,
  meting out punishment swiftly, stern
  disciplinarian? Obedience and fear.
• Nearby? Loving parent, seeking us when we have
  run away? Patiently waiting, always ready to
  guide/correct, always respecting our free will?

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• Do you believe that Gods will, Gods ways and
  Gods kingdom are the most important things to be
  considered?
• Are you able to give up your will for the sake of
  discerning Gods will?
• How far do you trust God is at work in/through
  your initiation process?

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• Receptive spiritual practices we offer in our
  initiation process include
• Active spiritual practices we offer in our
  initiation process include
• We reflect on these processes by

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• To build an emotional relationship with the Lord
  by
• Worship and praise Make a joyful noise
• Journaling The Lord numbers the hairs on your
  head.
• Exercise Clear the mind by moving the body
• Music with a timbrel, lyre and harp
• Lectio Divina Put yourself on the way with
  Jesus

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• To build an intellectual relationship with the
  Lord by
• 1.Scripture study Ignorance of the
  Scripture is ignorance of Christ. (St. Ambrose)
• 2. Ongoing formation Faith is supported by
  reason and understanding. Knowledge and
  understanding are gifts of the Spirit.

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• Personal ongoing spiritual development through
• 1. Knowing yourself
• 2. Praying for yourself and your spiritual
  desires
• 3. Engaging in spiritual direction

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• The Rite presumes the following has been
  happening throughout the initiation process
• Ongoing invitation to the Holy Spirit
• A willingness to do Gods will
• Those within it gifted by God to discern spirits
• That the practices of discernment have permeated
  the process and so are part of the
  catechumen/candidates learning

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• Paragraph 43 sponsors, catechists, deacons,
  priests/pastors
• Paragraph 75 Priests, deacons, catechists, the
  faithful, godparents
• Paragraph 119 Testimony given by godparents and
  catechists

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• Paragraph 121 Bishop, priests, deacons,
  catechists, godparents, the entire community in
  accord with their respective responsibilities
• Paragraph 122 Priests, deacons, catechists
  (those involved in their formation), godparents
  sponsors, the local community and the
  catechumens themselves

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• In individual conversations
• In group conversations/discussions
• During celebrations of the Word
• During Team meetings

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So What?
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The Spirit is saying
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Now What?
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• Train other initiation team members around
  discernment
• Make time to do it by going year-round
• Form sponsors and godparents as spiritual
  companions
• Change gatherings to include times of silence,
  solitude and lectio divina into your initiation
  process regularly

• You could do one or more of the following to
  begin discern-ment in your initiation process

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• I hope you take home with you
• WHAT discernment is
• WHY we do it based on Jesus and Rite
• HOW we can do it in initiation ministry
• WHEN we can do it
• SOME IDEAS about what comes now
• WONDER and AWE for the work of God in this
  ministry
• CHALLENGE to make that more possible by our
  choices

• And so we come to a close

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• SEND US AS YOUR BLESSING LORD