ABOUT THE CONVERSATION

I would draw here a concept that we all surely know: the need of our sanctification. Since we worked hard in our things and inevitably we live immersed in the chaotic life of and in the current society's hedonistic climate, if we are not very vigilant and careful, we can easily lose our way and tend to forget that we too must 'sanctify' being fully in the world, not through some kind of heroism of which there are ever the occasion, but in living normally our lives everyday.

The 'conversation' is a means of personal training for those who want to enrich the spirit and better direct their lives. The conversation must be held by a well formed and trained person who speaks to a specific audience, which is listening in silence. The conversation is a means of training because it concerns every time a specific topic of moral and spiritual content.

To get a good formative effect the Conversation should have certain characteristics:

  • it should be materially well prepared. The speaker should gather information in advance, considering with others the topic to be discussed and maybe a canvas to follow. Usually it is good to prepare something written down to not lose the thread while talking;
  • it must be prepared from a spiritual standpoint. The speaker should pray and ask the intercession of a Saint and of his Guardian Angel, both before preparing the conversation, either to request assistance, so that the effect of the speech training shall be the best possible;
  • it should be in tune with the likely cultural and personal factors characterizing the audience, for example the professional and cultural level of individuals. The speaker will try to make themselves understood without being too simplistic or too complicated. Moreover, the conversation must have a discursive tone, not a doctoral or solemn like, and should not create the impression to the audience to attend a school lesson;
  • it should be measured in length, possibly comprised within twenty minutes, and, in order not to lose effectiveness, must never exceed thirty;
  • it must clearly explain a few concepts, at most three or four, so that listeners will not forget easily;
  • it should enhance the effectiveness of the concepts with a few quotes from the Gospels or even from other spiritual books, and appropriately inserted in the speech. No more than three or four quotes, read from books that the speaker himself brings;
  • it should seek the audience's empathy, by inserting examples related to the topic, or even related to some personal experience. Are allowed humorous jokes about. Between quotes stories and jokes it's not expected to exceed the number of five.

Who's listening to the conversation in silence without ever interrupting the speaker receives many benefits <:

  • they learn to respect the other's views, so that even in times of common conversation they will cure to avoid overpowering other voices;
  • they exercise the virtue of prudence and fortitude: listening in silence we learn a humble and discreet behavior. If unlikely the speaker says something that the listener doesn't share or understand, he should not suddenly show it, but it is good to take note and then go to gather information to ascertain the truth. Only some time after he'll confidentially and eventually seek for a clarification.
  • while listening one can learn, or maybe remember many things that onew probably knew, but that has been lost in the tumult of a world overwhelmed by hedonism and practical atheism.
On these pages are some ideas for those who want to prepare a conversation. I also expect to be suggested corrections for errors, and other works to be published