Authenticity: A Biblical Theology of Discernment

The information and advice Fr. Dubay gives mirror the teachings of St. John of the Cross. Not surprising, given Fr. Dubay's knowledge of Carmelite spirituality. Fr. Dubay is easier to read than St. John of the Cross or St. Teresa of Avila. However, the serious pray-er will eventually want the source materials written by St John and St. Teresa. Starting with Fr. Dubay will make them much easier to understand and absorb. Fr. Dubay gives practical guidance for the Christian who wants to know God more deeply. Discerning the real from the imagined is hard enough; when the word is really from God, seeing past our own inclinations and avoiding mistaken interpretations is even harder. Fr. Dubay is a sure guide, especially needed in these days when it is so hard to find a holy and knowledgeable spiritual director.

I was interested in this book because of the topic and the author. The topic, because of my 15 years in a charismatic community which professed to be able to discern the movements of the Holy Spirit and his counterfeits. The author because I respect him after reading Fire Within. Thomas Dubay argues that the gift of discernment of spirits is real, but it is reserved for the mature, well-trained, obedient person. It is not a gift that should be claimed rashly for oneself. Fr. Dubay emphasizes the role of Church authority in determining the validity of private revelations. He mentions how St. John of the Cross warned readers to beware of private locutions, even legitimate ones. We are not to run after extraordinary phenomena for their own sake, but should be content with an ordinary life of prayer and sacrament. Even when St. John believed he had personally heard from God, he consulted a priest. If the priest disagreed with John's revelation, John would always obey the confessor.Thomas Dubay systematically discusses the pitfalls in discernment. For example, he discusses how even a valid "word" from God may be misinterpreted by even the sincere, mature Christian. He uses the scriptures and the Spanish mystics to describe the qualities of a prophet. He describes the importance of conversion to Christ in being able to discern his will. Other elements are important too: obedience to authority in the larger Church. Unity of a community is an essential sign that it is being guided by the Holy Spirit. An appreciation for sound doctrine. The living of a moral life. The author's musings on the selectivity of our minds in rationalizing our positions, particularly in dissent against the magisterium, made me examine my conscience. There was a passage that jived perfectly with The Seven Storey Mountain, which I had just finished.