Note: this post is part of a series based on the book Prayer and Temperament by Michael and Norrissey. This is only an overview and I’m indebted to the authors for everything you’re about to read. Please excuse any confusion or errors on my part and turn to the original work for clarification. Part 1 of this series can be found here. Please take the test to know which type you are. Other personality types include SP (Franciscan), SJ (Ignatian), and NF (Augustinian).
People whose decisions are formed by intuiting and thinking are considered Thomistic, after St. Thomas Aquinas. Only 12% of people seem to fall into this category and they generally make up the leaders of a community. In their research, Michael and Norrisey found that only 8% or those actively involved in the Church were NT types. Thomistic types are inclined to be contemplative, driven by a love of truth that can lead to perfectionism and a need to be in control. Self-doubt and fear of failure are often a result of their competitive nature. Though more inclined to mysticism than other types, their intellectual approach to situations can at times make them insensitive. Thomists are future-oriented with strong goals. St. John the Evangelist, the contemplative mystic par excellence, and St. Teresa of Avila, a close runner-up, both seem to have been Thomistic in spirituality.
Thomistic prayer is by nature a search for the truth that becomes a prayerful dialogue. The temptation is to replace prayer with study, so Thomists must be careful always to engage the feelings as well as the intellect to avoid allowing prayer to become an impersonal exercise. Generally, Thomistic prayer means reflecting on a virtue, fault, truth, or mystery, using the questions who, where, what, when, why, how, and with what helps to flesh out the depths of what is being contemplated. An examination of conscience is a Thomistic form of prayer.
Being very driven, Thomistic types benefit from setting goals in the spiritual life. They will be drawn more readily to contemplation, but must know that contemplative prayer is only ever a gift, not something that can be achieved. When meditating, they should be sure to take a short lesson or consolation away from their time of prayer, something they can continue to focus on throughout the day. They will particularly be drawn to the books of John, 1 John, Wisdom, Hebrews, Psalms, Ephesians, and Colossians.
From the book: (There are a dozen more in the book. Buy it and see what you think!)
(Matthew 11:29; Luke 14:7-11; 1 Corinthians 4:7) Take the virtue of humility. Reflect upon it, What does it mean? What is the connection between humility and authenticity? What does Jesus mean when he says, “Learn of me, for I am meek and humble of heart”? If you have some good spiritual book, you might read what it says about the virtue of humility. Think of some examples of persons in the Bible who were humble (Moses, Mary, Joseph). Where have you been humble in the past? What are some examples of your failure to be humble? What changes do you need to make in your life in order to be more humble? What do you need to do in order to grow in humility? What might you do this day to practice humility? End the period of prayer with petitions to God, Jesus, Mary, and the saints to help you to be more humble.
(Matthew 5:20-26, John 2: 13-17) What is the difference between the anger of Jesus and the anger Jesus condemns in this passage from Matthew? Why is anger so wrong that Jesus equates it with the command against killing? St. Thomas defines anger as the desire to attack violently anyone who poses a threat to something we consider valuable. What about self-defense of our country, our family, ourselves? How far are we justified to go to defend ourselves? Is the anger you sometimes feel a justifiable anger, similar to that of Jesus, or the kind of anger Jesus condemns in the Sermon on the Mount? What does one do about one’s anger?
As a couple:
Pick a word or concept that’s significant in your relationship with one another or together with God, such as obedience, trust, or joy. Use a concordance to find instances of this word in Scripture. What does each verse teach you about this concept?
Pick a doctrine of the faith, such as the Immaculate Conception or the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Read what the Catechism has to say about it, including any relevant Bible passages. Discuss how this doctrine actually applies to your day-to-day life.
With your children:
Discuss articles of the faith with them Socratically, encouraging them (using leading questions, if necessary) to discover these truths themselves. Possible topics could include why Jesus died, why we love Mary, or why the martyrs were willing to give their lives for Jesus.
Read a passage of Scripture together (such as the Sermon on the Mount). Interrupt the reading throughout to discuss the theological implications. (“What do you think it means to be poor in spirit?” “Does Jesus want us all to be poor?” “Who comforts people who mourn? How?”)
Other suggestions:
Read the same Bible verse in a few different translations. What light do the differences shed on the text?
Read the day’s readings each day. Write down five things you learn.
Do 15 minutes of spiritual reading. Spend 15 minutes talking to God about it.
Trace a character through the Bible (Absalom, Elijah, Peter). Make an outline of his life. What virtues or vices does he emulate?
I got ISFJ — what category does that put me in?
I studied St Thomas. He was concerned with Truth and how we can arrive at the truth not only of the world around us but the Truths of the Catholic Faith. Did Jesus not say to Pilate “I have come to bear witness to the Truth” Too many people today are on the side of Pilate and asking “What is Truth?”
Jesus spent three years teaching his disciples what this truth was and it was in his teachings and when he had finished the teachings he said in Matthew 28 “All authority is given to me in heaven and on earth, Go to all nations baptising them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, Teaching them to observe all I have commanded you, and I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world” So Jesus wantd His disciples to teach with Authority his truth.
Of course, it an be difficult for people to discern truth with so many falsehoods around and St Thomas spent his life examining what the Church taught and explaining its truth by putting his thesis, proving his thesis, and examining then all the objections to them. I am afraid he taught no Spirituality but only Truth and if his writings did evoke spirituality it was because of the beauty that lay behind he truths he explained. It is a generation that abandoned Truth that abandoned St Thomas Aquinas. No, those who followed him were very unlike the people you pictured. Truth brought them closer to God especially when they read the thesis on the Real Presence, for this did not bring fear of God but a wonder of God into their lives and yes, if I contemplated it for a week it would not suffice.
I was just reading a book written in the seventies about the new catechetics. The author was saying that half the pupils left school because of the inadequate teaching of the Faith. The programme was changed and now 95 per cent of pupils leave the schools because of the inadequate teaching. Your teaching method is an example of teaching in the schools. You believe people can work these things out for themselves — they cannot, they need to be taught.
I am making points with you I hold dearly and I hope you do not read this as though I was putting you down or being one of your Thomists though I know I am writing fiercely. I rejoice in the work you do, but on these points I feel you have been misled by others.
I’m an INFJ , thanks for the article!
Lei recently posted…Feng Shui Symbols
Well, I would say the book got my spirituality pretty well! I am ENTJ. And is anyone surprised that I have “Thomistic” spirituality? I used the Summa for my 5 am meditation every day, and that was fruitful for me. It even suggests that I should read the catechism as part of my prayer life! Perfect!
Its fantastic. Thank you.
steffy recently posted…Gautama Buddha’s Daily Routine
Thank you for this excellent article on Thomistic spirituality for NT personalities. Besides the catechism, and the Summa (which is a huge undertaking), what devotional literature is available that uses this approach? I am especially interested in something to use for Lent.