Should I Say Something?
Fraternal Correction with Charity and Prudence

Free 3-Week Live Online Course:
Mondays, August 17, 24, and 31 at 8:15 PM ET

Also included: a free 45-minute one-on-one coaching/spiritual direction session with Dr. Matthew DuBroy.
Spaces are limited; learn more below.



When someone we love is doing something wrong, charity does not always permit us simply to remain silent. But neither does every fault need to be confronted, and an imprudent correction can sometimes cause more harm than good.

In this free mini-course, we will examine fraternal correction as an act of charity and mercy. We will consider when we are obliged to speak, when it may be better to remain silent or wait, what kinds of faults call for correction, and how our relationship to the other person affects our responsibility. We will also study how a correction should be made: privately or publicly, directly or through another person, firmly or gently.

The goal is to learn how to seek another person’s true good without falling into harshness, cowardice, pride, or meddlesomeness.

Dates & Times (Live Sessions via Zoom):

• Dates: Mondays, August 17, 24, & 31

• Time: 8:15-9:30 PM EST
  

  **Recordings will be available for any missed sessions.**
  

A practical study rooted in the Catholic tradition

We will draw especially upon the treatment of fraternal correction given by the Dominican theologians John McHugh and Charles Callan in their classic work, Moral Theology: A Complete Course.

Their treatment considers four central questions:

• What is fraternal correction?

  We will examine its foundation in love of neighbor, its character as an act of mercy, and its proper purpose: the spiritual good and amendment of the person being corrected.

  
  

• When should correction be made?

  We will consider the general duty to correct, the seriousness of the fault, our certainty about what has occurred, and whether speaking is likely to help or instead make matters worse.

  
  

• Who should make the correction?

  Our responsibility is not the same in every relationship. Parents, pastors, teachers, and superiors may have duties that do not bind an unrelated private person in the same way. Correcting an equal, a subordinate, or a superior may also require a different approach.
  
  

• How should correction be made?
  We will consider the proper dispositions, timing, and manner of correction, as well as the ordinary progression from private admonition to involving others or someone in authority when necessary.

Throughout the course, we will return to one guiding principle:
Fraternal correction should be carried out in a way genuinely ordered toward the spiritual good of our neighbor.

More Than a Three-Week Course

Along with the three live classes, participants will have the opportunity to schedule a free 45-minute one-on-one coaching/spiritual direction session with Dr. Matthew DuBroy.

This private session is an opportunity to discuss questions about your own spiritual life and receive individualized guidance informed by the Catholic spiritual tradition.

Your free registration includes:

• Three live 75-minute classes on fraternal correction

• Recordings of all three sessions

• One optional 45-minute coaching/spiritual direction session with Dr. Matthew DuBroy
  
  

One-on-one sessions have limited availability. After enrolling, you will receive instructions for scheduling a session while spaces remain.

By registering, you agree to receive emails about this course and future emails from the Aquinas Institute for Christian Perfection. You may unsubscribe at any time.