Chapter 4
MORAL DISCERNMENT
Joel A. Reyes, JD, PhD
Learning objectives
At the end of the lesson, students will be able to:
[Link] secular understanding of discernment and theological
understanding of discernment;
[Link] the biblical texts as basis of the discernment of spirits;
[Link] the negative criteria in the discernment of spirits;
[Link] the Christian anthropological meaning of soul and spirit;
[Link] oneself the process of discernment of spirits; and
[Link] the process of moral decision-making
MORAL DISCERNMENT
Joel A. Reyes, JD, PhD
Moral Discernment
• Discernment of spirits is closely related to
the virtue prudence because Christian
morality involves so much work of
discernment.
• Through this spiritual process, we may be
able to be in communion with the Church in
terms of moral teachings.
• Men and women should be open to the
guidance of the Holy Spirit for it is God alone
who absolutely knows the concrete nature
and purpose of mankind and creation.
The Morality of Human Acts
As a starting point in exploring the matter of
moral discernment, it is fitting to understand
first the nature on the morality of human acts.
According to St. Thomas Aquinas, human acts
are moral acts because they express and
determine the goodness or evil of the individual
who performs them. The morality of acts is
defined by the relationship of man’s freedom
with the authentic good.
The Morality of Human Acts
As a starting point in exploring the matter of
moral discernment, it is fitting to understand
first the nature on the morality of human acts.
According to St. Thomas Aquinas, human acts
are moral acts because they express and
determine the goodness or evil of the individual
who performs them. The morality of acts is
defined by the relationship of man’s freedom
with the authentic good.
The Morality of Human Acts
Hence, acting is morally good when the choices of
freedom are in conformity with man’s true good and
thus express the voluntary ordering of the person
towards his ultimate end: God himself, the supreme
good in whom man finds his full and perfect
[Link] makes man a moral subject. When
he acts deliberately man is, so to speak, the father of
his acts. Human acts, that is, acts that are freely chosen
in consequences of a judgment of conscience, can be
morally evaluated. They are either good or evil.
The Sources of Morality
The morality of human acts depends on:
1) the object chosen;
2) the end in view or the intention; and
3) the circumstances of the action.
They make up the “sources” or constitutive
elements of the morality of human acts.
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1750)
The Sources of Morality
The object chosen is a good toward which
the will deliberately directs itself. It is the matter
of a human act. The object chosen morally
specifies the act of the will, insofar as reason
recognizes and judges it to be or not to be in
conformity with the true good. Objective norms
of morality express the rational order of good
and evil, attested to by conscience. (CCC, 1751)
The Sources of Morality
In contrast to the object, the intention resides in the acting
subject. Because it lies at the voluntary source of an action and
determines it by its end, intention is an element essential to the
moral evaluation of an action.
The circumstances, including the consequences, are
secondary elements of a moral act. They contribute to increasing
or diminishing the moral goodness or evil of human acts (for
example, the amount of a theft). They can also diminish or
increase the agent’s responsibility (such as acting out of a fear of
death). Circumstances of themselves cannot change the moral
quality of acts themselves, they can make neither good nor right
an action that is in itself evil. (CCC, 1754)
Discernment Outside Christian
Theology
Republic Act 9344 Juvenile Justice and Welfare
Act of 2006
•A child above fifteen (15) years but below
eighteen (18) years of age shall likewise be
exempt from criminal liability and be subjected to
an intervention program, unless he/she has acted
with discernment, in which case, such child shall
be subjected to the appropriate proceedings in
accordance with this Act
Discernment Outside Christian
Theology
Supreme Court Resolution
Discernment as the capacity of the child at
the time of the commission of the offense to
understand the differences between right and
wrong and the consequences of the wrongful
act.
Psychology
Discernment is a term used to describe the
activity of determining the value 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 thing. As a virtue, a discerning individual is
considered to possess wisdom, and be of good
judgement; especially so with regard to subject
matter often overlooked by others.
Moral Discernment
• When confronted with moral problems
and the insights of reason come to end
the Holy Spirit, through his inspiration,
moves that person to choose which way
or thing God wants him or her to go or to
do.
• Hence, there is a need to consider all
things as subordinate to our relationship
with God and to integrate them all into our
love of God.
Moral Discernment
• How can we do that? It is through the
spiritual process of discernment.
• How do we know that the decision that
make comes from God or from just other
natural source?
Moral Discernment
• Though, “the fruit of the spirit is love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, generosity,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal
6:23), it is never easy to discern the Spirit.
• “Test everything; retain what is good.
Refrain from every kind of evil” (1 Thes
12:21f).
Moral Discernment
• “Do not conform yourselves to the
standards of this world, but let God
transform you inwardly by a complete
change of your mind. Then you will be
able to know the will of God – what is
pleasing to him and is perfect.” (Rom
12:2).
Moral Discernment
• St. John also warns, “Beloved, do not
trust every spirit but test the spirits to see
whether they belong to God, because
many false prophets have gone out into
the world.” (1 Jn 4:1).
Evangelii Gaudium
He proposes, amid the crisis of communal
commitment, something much more in the
line of an ‘evangelical discernment,’ which is
an approach of a missionary disciple, an
approach nourished by the light and strength
of the Holy Spirit (no. 50).
Evangelii Gaudium
The pope exhorts all the communities
to an ever watchful scrutiny of the
signs of the times. He said that we need
to distinguish clearly what might be a
fruit of the kingdom from what runs
counter to God’s plan.
Evangelii Gaudium
This spiritual exercise involves not only
recognizing and discerning spirits, but
also – and this is decisive – choosing
movements of the spirit of good and
rejecting those of the spirit of evil (no.
51).
Amoris Laetitia
Pope proposes for the Church’s pastors a
responsibility for ‘pastoral discernment’ not
only of promoting Christian marriage but
also of the situations of a great many who no
longer live the reality of Christian marriage.
In this pastoral discernment, there is a need
‘to identify elements that can foster
evangelization and human and spiritual
growth (no. 293)
Amoris Laetitia
“The way of the Church is not to condemn
anyone for ever; it is to pour out the balm of
God’s mercy on all those who ask for it with
a sincere heart” (no. 296). Hence, in
discerning ‘irregular’ situations, the pope
said, speaking of everyone in whatever
situation they find themselves, “No one can
be condemned for ever, because that is not
the logic of the Gospel.” (no. 298)
Gaudete et Exsultate
He said that the only way to know if
something comes from the Holy Spirit is
through discernment, which calls for
something more than intelligence or common
sense (no. 166).
Gaudete et Exsultate
“If we ask with confidence that the Holy
Spirit grant us this gift, and then seek to
develop it through prayer, reflection, reading
and good counsel, then surely we will grow
in this spiritual endowment” (Ibid.).
Christus Vivit
The Pope introduces a ‘vocational
discernment’ to the youth of today. He raises
the real question: ‘For whom am I?’ and not,
‘Who am I?”.
Christus Vivit
“Of course you are for God. But he has
decided that you should also be for others,
and he has given you many qualities,
inclination, gifts and charisms that are not
for you, but to share with those around you”
(no. 286).
Christus Vivit
“When the Lord thinks of each of you and
what he wants to give you, he sees you as
his close friend. And if he plans to grant you
a grace, a charism that will help you live to
the full and become someone who benefits
others, someone who leaves a mark in life, it
will surely be a gift that will bring you more
joy and excitement than anything else in this
world. Not because that gift will be rare or
extraordinary, but because it will perfectly fit
Reasons why it is never easy to
discern the spirits.
[Link] Spirit itself is invisible and
transcendent.
[Link] are prone to rationalize in our own
favor.
[Link] issues are complicated and do not
admit ready solutions.
Negative criteria in the
discernment of spirits
[Link] the discernment process does not
issue forth in the classic “fruits” of the
Spirit – love, joy, peace, patient,
endurance, kindness, generosity, faith,
mildness, and chastity (Gal 5:22-23), it is
probably not “of the Spirit.”
Negative criteria in the
discernment of spirits
2. If the discernment process leads to the
doctrinal or moral positions which are
clearly inconsistent with the doctrinal
tradition of the Church and/or with
recognized norms of biblical and
theological scholarship, it is probably not
“of the Spirit.”
Negative criteria in the
discernment of spirits
3. If the discernment process intensifies
the isolation and even spiritual
eccentricities of those involved in it
rather than enhancing the life of the
whole Body of Christ (Eph 4:15-16), it is
probably not “of the Spirit.”
Negative criteria in the
discernment of spirits
4. If the discernment process ignores
pertinent information, rejects the
counsel of others who have knowledge
and experience in the matter at hand,
and formulates its judgments by
imposition rather than by corporate
reflection, it is probably not “of the
Spirit.”
Rules for the discernment of spirits
1. God always works in peace and usually
slowly.
2. Enlightened discernment usually
needs the help of objective evaluation
by others.
3. The workings of the good spirit are
discerned by the good results which
ensue and the workings of the false
spirits by the evil results.
Rules for the discernment of spirits
[Link] Christians in particular a basic
criterion for the discernment is a
person's love for Christ.
5. A last criterion finally is the bond with
the community of faith.
Discernment is a process of
spirituality that comes from authentic
Christian prayer and worship concerning
moral and spiritual decision making
through (STOP) Searching, Thinking,
consultation with Others and Prayer that
would contribute to the formation of a
basic relevant vision with the use of
Sacred Scripture and the teachings of the
Church.
“Our Father, let what you want be done,
and be done in me and in everyone.”
In a summary, discernment does not
answer the question: “What is the best
way in principle to do the right thing?”
Rather: “What is the best way for me, in
this situation to do the right thing?”
