Discernment Flashcards
What does the acronym “SHIP” stand for?
Spiritual, Human, Intellectual, Pastoral
How does Acts 6:3 describe the first deacons?
“Seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and wisdom”
Who was the first Christian martyr?
St. Stephen, a deacon and a great defender of the faith
Which of the first seven deacons was the first martyr of the Christian faith?
St. Stephen, known as a great defender of the faith (Acts 6:8 - Acts 7:60)
Who were the first seven deacons written about in Acts 6:5?
St. Stephen the protomartyr (the first Christian martyr), St. Philip the Evangelist, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus.
Why is St. Philip known as “the evangelist”?
St. Philip was a key figure in the Church’s early mission to the Gentiles. He is also remembered for his dramatic baptism of the Ethiopian queen’s attendant (Acts 8: 27-39)
To what service is the deacon called?
“In persona Christi servi” - In the person of Christ the servant
Who do deacons serve?
Deacons serve the bishop in his service of the people of God
What must always be at the heart of the deacon’s life and ministry?
The Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ
How does Pastoral ministry differ from humanitarian aid?
Pastoral ministry originates in and is sustained by interior intimacy with the servant mysteries of Christ
A deacon can either be a bridge to Christ or an obstacle. What seven competencies in human skills and virtues are of great importance?
Moral character, education, emotional maturity, communication skills, prudence, humility, and professional demeanor
Men who are attracted to the diaconate must be men who…
Desire to encounter the Lord, receive his love as their way of being, carry his capacity to listen for pain in the human heart, and know where relief for that pain can be found within the church
From where does the desire of a deacon to assist the needy come from?
This desire to assist the needy flows from the deacon’s inherent intimacy with Christ the Servant
What is the centeral question of discernment?
Do I want to be a man who is living Christ’s own servant mysteries?
What is the aim of diaconal discernment?
The aim of diaconal discernment is to assist men to remove what hinders cooperation with the Holy Spirit, and to cultivate the virtues that are most favorable to His inspirations
What is the sum of diaconal discernment?
Noticing and yielding to only the movements of the Spirit in the soul
What assists in diaconal discernment to notice the movements of the Spirit in the soul?
Prayer, spiritual reading, receiving the sacraments, the practice of virtues, and conversation with spiritual leaders
What is the largest obstacle to knowing the will of God?
Our personal sin
What is considered the “hard part” of formation?
It is one’s availability to receive God
What is spiritual direction?
Spiritual direction is the art of listening to the affective movements of a person’s heart and assisting that person in relating these movements to the indwelling Trinity
What are the five components of Lectio Divina?
C - Contemplation
R - Reading
A - Action
M - Meditation
P - Prayer
What are the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary?
The Annunciation, the Visitation, the Birth of Jesus, the Presentation, and the Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple
What are the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary?
What are the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary?
