Do entender e memoria.
The Nature of Understanding
The author sets aside complex scholastic definitions of understanding to focus on the practical necessity of memory and good will.
I make a distinction in understanding, according to our custom of speaking, regarding understanding, because scholars divide understanding into four branches: namely, agent understanding, possible understanding, speculative understanding, and practical understanding; and I see that there was a treatise that spoke extensively on this, but it seems to me that it doesn't really pertain to my purpose, so I refrain from making a greater explanation about it. But regarding this understanding, according to our custom of speaking, it requires a greater memory and a good will.
The Dual Nature of Memory
Memory is distinguished between the rational soul and the physical senses, noting how past experiences can pierce the heart as if they were present.
In memory, I make two distinctions: one that pertains to the rational soul, and another to sensuality. But, my child, experience shows me that we have memories of some sad things that we don't receive any sense of, and this memory seems to belong primarily to the head; and that also comes through seeing people, hearing words, which pierces the heart as if the event were present when it is remembered and felt.
Practical Wisdom in Remembering
While memory varies in capacity, the author advises relying on written records rather than human fallibility.
In recalling certain memories that have already troubled the body, if we have a constant remembrance of them, it doesn't exert any force, and when we see them, because such a sight represents what we have already felt, it makes a manifest change, as these memories and similar ones pierce the heart for good or for ill, causing us to feel again what we have already felt; but regarding the understanding of general memory, I must take account of it, which is divided into many differences, for some recall anything they hear in a sentence and not the entire letter, while others do the opposite; some remember well the stories and deeds that take place, but cannot recall proper names; few have found themselves entirely perfect, but it suffices that they are so in a reasonable manner; and the more it is for understanding, the greater advantage it will give. I give, however, this advice: no matter how great someone thinks they are, never rely too much on it, because it easily fails where it is understood in many ways; and therefore, always take care in everything, as much as you can, to put things in writing, or to have them remembered as if you thought the weak had it; for, according to my experience, this is the most certain way of the art of memory, even though I know well that the other often helps in times of need for those who know it well, if they have a reasonable natural ability.
Read the original Latin
Eu faço deferença do entendimento, segundo nosso custume de fallar, ao entender, porque o entender partem os leterados em quatro ramos, scilicet entender agente, possivel, speculativo, e pratico; e desto vy hũu trautado que largamente fallava, mas por me parecer que nom muyto perteece a meu proposito leixo de fazer sobrello mayor declaraçom. Mas quanto ao boo entendimento, segundo nosso custume de fallar, se requere mais grande memoria e boa voõtade.
Na memoria faço duas deferenças, hũa que perteece aa alma racional, e outra aa sensualidade. Esto filho pero que a esperiencia me demostra, que dalgumas cousas tristes avemos lembramento, que nom recebemos algũu sentido, a qual lembrança me parece principalmente aa cabeça perteecer; e aquello medes per vista de pessoas, ouvir de palavras, trespassa o coraçom como se o feito presente fosse quando el se nembra e o sentia.
No filhar dalgumas mezinhas que o corpo ja torvarom, se dellas avemos hũa simprez lembrança nom faz força, e se as veemos, porque tal vista representa o que ja sentimos, faz manifesta mudança, por trespassarem estas lembranças e semelhantes em bem e no contrairo ao coraçom, e tornar a sentir o que ja sentimos; mas no que perteece ao entendimento da geral memoria he de fazer conta, a qual se departe em muytas deferenças, ca huus filham logo qualquer cousa que ouvem em sentença e nom de todo a letera, e outros per o contrairo; algũus bem se lembram das estorias e feitos que se passam, e dos nomes proprios nom podem ser lembrados; poucos acharom em todo perfeitos, mas abasta que o sejam em razoada maneira; e quanto mais for para o entendimento dara grande avantagem. Dou porem conselho que por grande que alguem asynta, que nunca em ella muyto se fy, porque fallece ligeiramente onde compre per muytas guisas; e porem sempre se proveja em toda cousa, que bem poder, de poer as cousas em scripto, ou mandar que o lembrem como se pensasse que a fraca tivesse; ca, segundo tenho praticado, esta he a mais certa maneira da arte memorativa, ainda que bem sey como a outra muytas vezes presta em tempo de necessidade aos que a bem sabem, se teem razoadamente a natural.
The Loyal Counselor — Opening companion
Rule yourself daily, not just on retreat
Chosen Portion turns the mirror into a daily practice — a short reading and examining question each morning before you lead anyone.
Chosen Portion makes the mirror daily: the ruler-formation questions this collection preserves become a two-minute morning examination in the app.
- A daily formation reading drawn from centuries of counsel to those in authority
- One pointed examination question a day — two minutes, before the meetings start
- Track your practice over weeks and watch the examined life become a habit