Discernment of Spirits

Discernment of Spirits is a term in Roman Catholic theology to indicate judging various spiritual agents for their moral influence. These agents are:

1. from within the human soul itself, known as concupiscence
2. Divine Grace
3. Angels
4. Devils

The first and the last being evil, and the second and third good, the judgment required is to discern the cause of a given impulse. Although some people are regarded as having a special gift to perceive this by intuitive light, most people are regarded as needing study and reflection, and possibly the direction of others.

Ignatius Loyola cited two signs to judge: evil spirits act on the imagination and the senses, and the good spirit, upon reason and conscience. Then, they can be judged by their mode of action and by the end they seek.

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed (1913). Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company. 

External links

• Catholic Encyclopedia "Discernment of Spirits"
• Rules for the Discerning of Spirits: A Brief Summary of the Church's Traditional Teaching

This Christian theology article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.v · Categories: Catholic theology and doctrine Roman Catholic Church stubs Christian theology stubs Wikimedia Foundation. 2010. Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат? Brazilian battleship São Paulo Alaskacephale Look at other dictionaries: Discernment of Spirits — • In the restricted sense, spirits indicate the various spiritual agents which, by their suggestions and movements, may influence the moral value of our acts Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Discernment of Spirits      …   Catholic encyclopedia discernment of spirits — Paul regards the ability to recognize gifts of the Spirit [[➝ spirit]] as itself a gift (1 Cor. 12:10); it enables a person to establish the presence or the absence of God or, a worse case, the activity of an evil power disguised as good. One… …   Dictionary of the Bible discernment of spirits —  Распознавание духов …   Вестминстерский словарь теологических терминов Discernment — is a term used to describe the activity of determining the value and quality of a certain subject or event. Typically, it is used to describe the activity of going past the mere perception of something, to making detailed judgments about that… …   Wikipedia discernment —    This word (from the Latin discernere, meaning to distinguish or to sift ) refers to the process of evaluating available options and then making a decision. Discernment of spirits refers to the process of deciding whether a course of action is… …   Glossary of theological terms spirits, discernment of —  Духов различение …   Вестминстерский словарь теологических терминов Private Revelations —     Private Revelations     † Catholic Encyclopedia ► Private Revelations     There are two kinds of revelations:     (1) universal revelations, which are contained in the Bible or in the depositum of Apostolic tradition transmitted by the Church …   Catholic encyclopedia State (theology) — The term state is used in various senses by Catholic theologians and spiritual writers. It may be taken to signify a profession or calling in life, as where St. Paul says, in I Corinthians 7:20: Let every man abide in the same calling in which he …   Wikipedia Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius — • A short work composed by St. Ignatius of Loyola and written originally in Spanish Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius     Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius …   Catholic encyclopedia State or Way — • Stages in the spiritual life Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. State or Way     State or Way (Purgative, Illuminative, Unitive)      …   Catholic encyclopedia 18+ © Academic, 2000-2024 Contact us: Technical Support, Advertising Dictionaries export, created on PHP, Joomla, Drupal, WordPress, MODx. Mark and share Search through all dictionaries Translate… Search Internet Share the article and excerpts Direct link … Do a right-click on the link above and select “Copy Link”