Page 269 - 聖母軍團員手冊（英文版，2014年5月-2022年1月更新版）

Legion HANDBOOK D10944_1 26/02/2014 15:53 Page 264

264 THE PATRICIANS CHAPTER 38
3. The Paper is followed by a general discussion. All the
other parts of the meeting exist for this part and are to be
directed towards its full functioning. There can be no
discussion if the individ ual members do not contribute. The
Patrician problem consists in induc ing persons, who are
initially unequipped or reluctant to talk, to do so. This
problem must be solved for their own sakes and for the health
of the Church.
Accordingly, every aid is to be brought to bear, and all
adverse influences should be withdrawn. A harsh attitude
towards erron eous or foolish statements (of which there will
be plenty) would be fatal. It would frustrate the Patrician
purpose which is to coax each one to disclose himself.
Therefore, freedom of speech is paramount and is to be
fostered even if awkward things are uttered. It is to be
remembered that those things are being repeated like a chorus
outside where they receive no correction.
So the main thing is that the contributions be made and
not that they be wise and correct. The perfect ones may shine
the most, but the common ones accomplish the most; they
are training the inarticulate to speak.
It is psychologically important that the contributions be
directed to the meeting and not to any key-person in it. The
idea is that when a speaker finishes, each listener is left face-
to-face, so to speak, with that talk as something which calls
for comment, almost as if it were a conversation between two
persons. In the latter case, reply would at once be
forthcoming, and this readiness to reply is the position which
it is sought to establish in the Patricians.
It would disturb this psychological balance if people’s minds
were distracted elsewhere. For instance, it would form such a
distraction for the chairperson to divert attention to himself or
herself by inter jecting a comment or even appreciation; or for
the reader of the Paper to intervene repeatedly to deal with
points raised on that Paper; or for the Spiritual Director to
solve each difficulty as it arises. Any tendency in those
directions would be destructive. It would transform the
meeting into a panel discussion in which a few individuals put
questions and receive answers from a few experts.
It is desirable that an atmosphere should be created which
encourages timid persons to speak.