Author Topic: How are temperaments made? (Read 1985 times)

spouse of Jesus · « **Reply #10 on:** December 08, 2011, 11:19:54 PM »

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The cholerics are considered by this author to be the highest of the temperaments, those who are most passionate when they turn to God... EXCEPT for a fifth temperament he calls the "nervous."

I have studied temperament and as far as I know, our faith is the only one who says good things about melancholic. Others dislike us!

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Having a sanguine temperament does not in itself mean a person will be so frivolous, shallow and flighty as to leave their religion or prefer a piece of music to his/her religion. I doubt sanguines are more prone to apostatizing than people with the other temperaments. All have weaknesses which can be a danger to the soul if not recognized and acted against in a spirit of prayer.

As far as I know sanguines don't fully leave their faith, though it is very easy for them break it's commandments on and on! While a melancholic is not tempted by worldly allures, he might lose his faith completely by reading dark novels of nihilists!

Raoul76 · « **Reply #11 on:** December 09, 2011, 12:30:24 AM »

spouse_of_Jesus said:

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As far as I know sanguines don't fully leave their faith, though it is very easy for them break it's commandments on and on! While a melancholic is not tempted by worldly allures, he might lose his faith completely by reading dark novels of nihilists!

That's how I spent my twenties. I wish I was joking!

I was in such bad shape that the Protestant philosopher Kierkegaard actually helped put me on the right track with his Concluding Unscientific Postscript -- to his credit, despite not being Catholic, he saw the anti-Christ and meaningless messages being peddled by the likes of Hegel. In that book, at the end, he talks about giving all credit for everything you do to God, which may have been hypocritical in his case, who knows, but it got me thinking, the light began to go on. He sort of cut through the intellectual fog I was in. So may God have mercy on his soul, I hope he was in invincible ignorance though it's unlikely.

I guess you will have to rethink what you said about me being a choleric, spouse. I am proof that melancholics can change; they can become massive cholerics, and then maybe even sanguines!

But you misread what I said, this author is not at all positive about melancholics, he considers them to be more troubled than cholerics or sanguines, probably because those two are a little more active in personality.

I'll post the chapter, Roman Catholic, I have 40 pages left in this chapter on the temperaments. Father Gabriel is compiling all this, he said he was going to send it out to people. The unofficial deadline, which I intend to meet anyway, is May.

Raoul76 · « **Reply #12 on:** December 09, 2011, 12:37:42 AM »

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Authentically solid virtue is by nature unattainable for the sanguine. Nevertheless grace has a way of gaining a foothold in his soul. Their ardent imaginations understand and admire virtue, and, incapable of being discouraged, because they never question themselves, they throw themselves freely into all the excesses of devotion and of virtue, except without persevering very long. An accurate portrait of this kind of character can be read in the wonderful story that M. Bougaud has left us concerning the troubles that Saint Jane Chantal was given by her son, M. de Rabutin. We see him piously walking away from the altar, a moment later taking up with a friend who chooses him as his second in a duel, killing an adversary that he doesn’t even know, then repenting with an ease and, especially, a sincerity that will never be understood by those of a different character, or who haven’t studied nature as it is in nature.

Yeah, the sanguines remind me of American businessmen, who I've always felt a kind of horror towards. People who just lightly undertake the greatest tasks, while I sit and wrack my brains and torment myself about the slightest thing. I'd always had a huge prejudice against this kind of "normal" person, but when I became Catholic I tried to see the good in them, and to look at my own flaws. Catholics, after all, are not supposed to be tormented, or to try to prove how deep they are by being in a gloom all the time.

Telesphorus · « **Reply #13 on:** December 09, 2011, 08:00:00 AM »

What is "normal" in America today is not normal. People in the past had more authentic personalities, I'm convinced of it.

Roman Catholic · « **Reply #14 on:** December 09, 2011, 08:52:07 AM »

Quote from: Telesphorus

What is "normal" in America today is not normal. People in the past had more authentic personalities, I'm convinced of it.

I agree. What is usual or common in America today is not normal.