On correcting others

In 1551 an Ignatian student, Antonio Brandao, wrote Ignatius a letter with 16 questions. Antonio had been ordained, but had not pronounced his final Jesuit vows. Of his 16 questions, number 10 concerned the correction of others:

10. Should one correct an imperfection noticed in a member of the Society, or allow the individual to be deluded into thinking it is no imperfection?

This question reminded me of the discussion about to what extent Catholic bishops ought to publicly admonish pro-choice Catholic politicians, as well as some good discussion at Flos Carmeli about splinters and beams. Ignatius answers:

The first part of the tenth question concerns the correction of another. An important factor in doing this successfully is the authority enjoyed by the person giving the correction, or his love - and this love must be perceived. Lacking either of these, the correction will be ineffective; there will be no amendment. Hence correcting others is not for everyone.

Moreover, no matter how one makes an admonition (after having judged that it will lead to the person's amendment), he should not state things too forthrightly, but along with some commendation and in a roundabout way. For one sin can bring another in its train: the sin already committed may dispose a person to take the bestowal of correction badly.

As to the second part of the tenth question - as to whether a person ought to leave someone else under the false impression that something is not an imperfection - our reverend Father has said that for the first person's own progress it would be better to do this: the more attention one pays to others' faults the less he will dwell within himself and see his own faults, and the less progress he himself will make. However, in a case where a person is advancing in perfection and has his own passions under control and in good order, our Lord expands his heart so that he may be a help to others as well as to himself, that person may well correct someone who does wrong [first by praying about it and then by approaching that person privately].

Comments

[Karen H.]

Hi Steve,
This is genius stuff and you must have taken it to heart. This is exactly what I felt you did in responding to my post about churches and planning. I realized from your comment that I hadn't been very balanced in my post and, yet, I didn't feel ashamed or taken to task, but I did see that I needed to seek forgiveness. I could sense that there was love there and correction too. Thank you.
Peace,
Karen

[Steve Bogner]

Well Karen - I'm glad that I was able to have a positive effect!

And yes, I think there is a good bit of genius in Ignatius' answer to Brandao. His answer is the application of concepts that originate in his other writings. What I like about his approach to correction is that it is practical. It is a concrete way (though perhaps, not the only way) we can approach living in a church where believers are not all on the same spiritual level, where we have a diveristy of views. It respects the person holding the error, and it recognizes that approaching that person in a certain way could drive them into further error. And it puts a responsibility back on the person doing the correction - are we qualified to correct someone, and do we have a loving relationship to the person? It also reinforces Ignatius' view that idle words are of no use and don't need to be spoken.

[Nancy Ullrey]

I've only been reading blogs for a short time now, and this is one I am visiting more frequently and enjoy very much. This particular entry reminds me of a more contemporary take on the spirit of this teching of St. Ignatius.

In his book "Spirituality of the Beatitudes" Fr. Mike Crosby, OFMCap. writes that "Correction without care equals control." I had the privelage of attending a retreat led by Fr. Mike based on this book about six years ago, and this phrase has really stuck with me. Basically, the way I understand that saying of Fr. Mike's is that until I can communicate my care for the other person, any sort of "correction" will be experienced by that person as control, and they will react accordingly.

For myself, I have experienced the truthfulness of this saying both as the "corrector" and the "correctee." And I agree with Steve that St. Ignatius provides a wonderful way of being in community with each other, as evidenced by this bit of advice.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and journey and I hope to share in the dialogue more often.

Blessings!