26 March 1980

Abstract

Christian direction according to Cassian (continued). Correlation of the three principles of obedience without an end, incessant self-examination, and exhaustive confession. ~ The practice of discretio, between laxity and excess. Anti-ascetic meaning of this notion. Historical context: monastic organization against individual asceticism without rule. Difference from ancient conception of discretio: the Christian no longer finds his measure in himself. ~ Two questions: 1. Why does man lack discretio? The presence of the devil, source of illusion, within the subject. The need to decipher the secrets of one’s conscience. 2. How to make up for this lack of discretio? The examination-confession apparatus (dispositif). (a) Object of the monk’s examination: his thoughts (cogitationes). The activity of sorting (the metaphor of the moneychanger). Descartes’ malicious demon, a constant theme of Christian spirituality. (b) Function of confession in the exercise of discretio. An indispensable mechanism; its never-ending and permanent character. Exagoreusis. Paradox of an alethurgy of oneself linked to renunciation of self. ~ Three concluding remarks: 1. Christian critique of the gnosis: dissociation of salvation and perfection, knowledge of God and knowledge of self; 2. The obligation to tell the truth about oneself in Western societies; 3. The form of power this presupposes.