Notes from lecture of P.Etienne Caruana

Before taking up the subject matter, I would like to start by laying the groundwork. In this case, the groundwork consists of a number of assumptions I will need to make if I am to treat the matter from a Christian standpoint. The first assumption is that I believe (as do other Christians) that human beings are created in God’s image, and are called by creation and redemption to enter into a communion with the triune God. The second assumption I will be making is that I following a Christian psychological and anthropological model. According to this model, we see the human being as being a unity of different aspects, largely a unity of body and soul. Our body links us to the material world, and presents certain features which we share with other living creatures, especially other animals. Our soul is however our distinguishing feature, because it does not only represent the life-giving quality that is to be found in other animals. Rather, the soul presents some finer qualities, such as that of being a “self”, that is, it is given a distinct identity, separate from other similar selves. Our soul possesses the quality of intellect, or reason. It also possesses an emotional quality, as well as a will that moves the human person towards “goals”.

Having said that, let me move to the title of the subject I will be considering. Why “cruel masters, obedient servants”? Who are the cruel masters, and who the obedient servants? Well, they are none other than our emotions. Thus, what I am saying here is that our emotions can be very cruel masters (if we allow them to control our behaviour and decisions), but they can be very obedient servants if we allow our emotions to shed light on the inner workings of our “self”. [Here I give as an example the behaviour of a young golden Labrador named Beuno]

Beuno gives us a very good example of how our emotions/desires/drives/appetites tend to work in us – they take us in all directions, if possible simultaneously. But, when there is one thing that is so important that it puts all other things in the shade, then all our drives are aligned and focussed on to that goal/objective.

I have observed time and again that when one’s emotions are simply given free rein and left to go out of control they tend to become tyrannical – the person is unable to attend to anything because his or her emotions take them in all directions. On the other hand, when the desires, emotions, etc, are “reined in” (not killed, however!) they can be very helpful servants. In the work upon which I am building this talk – Prayer: Living with God (Simon Tugwell, OP; chapters 6 and 8 ) – the image the author gives is taken from Plato. It is that of the charioteer (reason) and the galloping horses (emotions). It is up to the charioteer to rein in and steer the horses such as to make them gallop only in one direction, and that which the charioteer decides upon.

It is very unfortunate that in the history of Christianity our desires/emotions have been viewed with suspicion – negatively, to say the least. More often than not they were seen as being contrary to doing God’s will, because they were severely damaged by the Fall, and could lead one astray. Such thinking is faulty for the following reasons:

1. It is not only our desires that have been tainted by sin, but also our reason. There is no point in taking sides with our reason against our desires, because our reason can be equally subject to error.

2. Our desires were part of God’s original design for humankind. They are part of the plan, and serve an important purpose in our development. They cannot be simply struck off as unnecessary. All that God has made is good (deep down).

Thus it is important to rediscover God’s purpose for our desires; how can we allow our desires to further our growth in relating to God. We should seek to allow God to heal our passions/desires (together with the rest of our faculties), so that the whole man can keep company with God.

We are therefore called to grow by allowing our emotional powers to develop and mature (and not to suppress them). I think the key word here is harmonisation. The mind is not to stop the emotions, but to harmonise them – to go in one direction.

“A man whose passions are ordered and harmonious can have a far more richly and intensely emotional life, fully emotional, but always subject to the overall guidance of clear thought and vision. He can see where he wants to go, and has the energy to get there.”

Do not be afraid if it gets worse before it gets better. When we free our emotions from the grips of our rational mind, they may go in all directions. Only then can the healing process begin.
Continence (emergency braking) vs. Temperance (smooth driving)

There is a process of humility/humiliation as we own the results of our actions. No need to fear. “Know yourself” is a useful tip here as elsewhere. The more in tune you are with yourself, the quicker you are in recognising your emotions and bringing them to the light.

Tugwell focuses on two broad representatives of our emotions:

1. Anger: “the capacity to get worked up about something”
In a proper way, anger helps us fight sin in all its manifestations

2. Desire (appetites): We are meant to want things: it underlines our neediness. All other appetites are rooted in one most basic need – God. In man, this tendency must be realised freely and consciously in love.

Anger is useful in tackling difficulties – taking up the challenge – our sense of adventure, in fact. We should not brush aside, for example, our frustration and indignation – they may be alarm signals that things are not right.
Desires – sexuality – love – need for God

Here again the emphasis is on harmony not suppression. In a strange way, man’s desires are partial expressions of God’s desire (it’s as if God is desiring in and through me). It is possible to find this unity in and through Jesus Christ. We have to relearn how to have desires that are not disordered and contradictory. A good point to note in this process is that at least it serves as a reminder that we are not self-sufficient. A common temptation is that of trying to control our desires – the idea being that I am in control – but that is also sinful because it is “self” control. When things go wrong there is also the other tendency to shut off – to harden our heart so as to protect ourselves. In reality what we need to do is to centre our love more on God – then the healing process begins and spreads out to our other loves. We need therefore to learn how to trust in God. We need to be patient with ourselves, thus we allow God’s Spirit to permeate and possess our whole heart. This transforms all our appetites and interests, as we begin slowly to spontaneously think and feel in accordance with God. We begin to experience peace and order in our life. We can also see the love that give to each other as coming from God’s love for us – and for that person.

Likewise, we will notice progressively that there is a greater unity between our own will and that of God. We begin to want what God wants.