| A SHORT COURSE ON MORALITY III. “Making Sense of Your Emotions” EMOTIONS! WHAT ARE THEY? E-mails & E-motions (Passions), “I feel” (passive), the way we react. • “movements of the sensitive [physical] appetite [desire]” (CCC 1763) Animals have (purely physical) emotions. • They dispose us/incline us towards good and away from evil. The emotions are part of our nature (which was designed by God) = good. • “In themselves passions [emotions] are neither [morally] good nor evil. They are morally qualified only to the extent that they engage reason and will” (CCC 1767). • Jesus himself was angry, rejoiced, wept and had (perfect) fear. Emotions must be expressed (acknowledged) not denied. But how? • Car accident with the angry lady. Circumstances: e.g., Patience - tiredness, low points (know yourself!) “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might” (Deut 6:5) • The whole person who loves. LOVE (attraction of the good) is the most fundamental emotion (I am not speaking of virtue of love). Sexual attraction is natural – “impure” thoughts & sexual thoughts. JOY = realized(1), stable(2) possession(3) of the desired(4) good(5). TWO CATEGORIES Concupiscible (seek the suitable good & fly from the hurtful): Love/Hate, Desire/Aversion, Joy/Sadness. • All desire the truth, but not all love it. Irascible (resist attacks against the good sought) Anger, Hope/Despair, Courage/Fear. SCRIPTURE • “…perfect love casts out fear. - For fear has to do with punishment, and he who fears is not perfected in love” (1 John 4:18). • “Be angry but do not sin” (Eph. 4:26). Punks on the bus. ORIGINAL SIN Disorder (competition for dominance between body & soul). • Guidance of emotions not so much control. “Always follow your heart”? • Sentimentality = I love the feeling that I have when I am with you. In prayer = I love the feeling or God??? • The virtue of love is a decision not merely a feeling! Call to sacrifice (the parent with the sick child in the night) PRAYER “My prayer has been empty/dry for the last 20 years”. • How am I praying? Perhaps called to something deeper! “The best way to pray is the way you pray best!” • Do I love the gifts of the Giver or the Giver of the gifts? • The call to fidelity - the moral life test. Dealing with… ANGER, HATRED, HURT, SHAME, GUILT, GRIEF, FEAR, REGRET… 1. Action: Perhaps something needs to be done (or undone) or said (apology, confession, restitution…) - • “When you…I felt…because…” 2. Prayer: Not, “Lord, have mercy on that fool and help him realize what he’s done”, but, “Lord, I don’t understand exactly why…but bless him. Make him holy. Help us to learn from this”. • Morning offering (general intention) 3. Counsel: Prudent advice. Be careful not to simply keep things alive by talking about them too much (even to a confessor or spiritual director). • General/repeated confessions – abortion e.g.. • Sound knowledge to dispel misunderstandings (e.g., false guilt) 4. Conversion: Perhaps something needs to change in me (attachment, friends) 5. Healing: prayers of healing by myself and perhaps with others. 6. Forgiveness: “Lord, I forgive. Help me to forgive with my whole heart”. The Emotions & the Spiritual Life SUGGESTED READING: Feeling and Healing Your Emotions, Conrad W. Baars (Bridge-Logos Publishers, 1997). THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH (1762-1775) |
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