tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3878156483700577169.post1018068620332819200..comments2020-02-24T17:20:19.483+00:00Comments on <center>From the Desert</center>: On Authority IIGregory the Eremitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11652447286252910371noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3878156483700577169.post-52263179061495022342010-03-21T14:43:53.611+00:002010-03-21T14:43:53.611+00:00Hi Anonymous, thanks for your comments. "Doci...Hi Anonymous, thanks for your comments. "Docile" is one of those words that seems to have overtones of laziness or of unthinking receptivity in everyday language. But in the jargon of the Church it comes from the latin "docilis", which simply means "easy to teach" or "receptive to learning". It contrasts with "obstinate" or with the attitude of "I'm not going to listen to you because I don't like what I hear". What is expected is that the faithful will make a positive effort to learn what they don't know and to understand what is puzzling in a positive frame of mind.<br /><br />For your second comment, I agree, that's one of the big challenges in the Christian life. But were you thinking of everyday life or of something more specific?Gregory the Eremitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11652447286252910371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3878156483700577169.post-88040500350638349642010-03-21T14:35:14.335+00:002010-03-21T14:35:14.335+00:00rightly or wrongly, "docile" conjours fo...rightly or wrongly, "docile" conjours for me an image of lazy acceptance, yet I am sure that this is not what you meant.<br /><br />I am also struck reading this how difficult it is for a faithful Catholic to "avoid those things that do not agree with it [doctrine]".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com