HOW DO YOU KNOW? HOW CAN YOU TELL? March 2023 By Al Mansfield
Are you serious about wanting to follow the Lord and receive His direction? If so, you would probably agree that it's not always easy to hear the Lord or to figure out exactly what to do in the concrete circumstances of life. If there is an acknowledged expert in this whole area of discernment, it would have to be St. Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Jesuits, whose masterpiece, The Spiritual Exercises, contains specific Rules for Discernment of Spirits.
I was first introduced to The Spiritual Exercises and Rules for Discernment of Spirits by Fr. Harold Cohen, SJ, with whom I worked closely for over 30 years. Fr. Cohen was an excellent spiritual director and retreat master. I remember him presenting the Rules for Discernment in many teachings over the years. I would like to respectfully dedicate this blog to his memory.
The Spiritual Exercises are composed in terms of "weeks." St. Ignatius has 14 Rules for the First Week and 8 Rules for the Second Week. In this blog (and next month's as well), I will try to express these Rules in words and terms that are easily understandable. My hope is that this will be of some help to all of us as we try to hear the Lord and distinguish between the spirits that may be at work within us. This month's blog will cover the 14 Rules of the First Week. They are as follows:
For those persons who go from one mortal sin to another, the evil spirit usually suggests apparent pleasures, leading them to keep on sinning. The good spirit does the opposite, piercing their consciences to make them realize their sinful condition.
For those persons who are serious about repenting of sin and who are sincerely trying to serve the Lord, the evil spirit tries to disturb, discourage, and put obstacles in the way. The good spirit, on the other hand, gives inspiration, strength, and consolation to encourage them to do good.
Consolation is an inner movement of love of God for Himself alone; tears shed for love of God or sorrow for sin; an increase of faith, hope, and love; and inner joy and peace.
Desolation is an inner darkness, disturbance, disquiet; a lack of confidence, hope, or love; a feeling of sadness and of being separated from God.
In Desolation: Never make a change during times of desolation. Stick to what you had resolved when you did not experience desolation. Just as the good spirit guides and counsels during consolation, the evil spirit does so in desolation.
In Desolation: Don't change your resolutions or basic direction; however, do more prayer, reflection, examination and suitable sacrifice.
In Desolation: Consider how weak you are without the Lord's grace, when left to your own resources. Rely on the grace you have, since the Lord will never abandon you, even though you don't feel His presence.
In Desolation: Be patient and remember that it won't last long. Continue to pray, examine yourself, and offer sacrifices.
There are three possible reasons why you are in Desolation: 1) You have been lukewarm, lazy, or negligent in your spiritual exercises. 2) God is allowing this to test you, to see how faithful you are without His consolation and manifest presence and graces. 3) To increase your self-knowledge and to wean you off sensible consolation; to humble you and strengthen your faith.
In Consolation, remember that Desolation will come, so try to prepare for it by building up strength against it.
In Consolation, humble yourself and remember how weak you were in times of Desolation. In Desolation, encourage yourself with faith in the Lord and His promises (cf. Phil. 4:13).
The enemy is weak against determination and strength of will, but ferocious against any sign of weakness. Maintain a strong front against the enemy and his temptations. "Resist the devil and he will flee from you" (James 4:4).
The enemy wants his designs to be kept hidden in darkness. Expose his workings to the light by telling a confessor or a wise, spiritual person, then his plots will not succeed.
The enemy attacks wherever you are the weakest. Therefore, it is helpful to know where you are strong spiritually and where you are at your weakest. Be aware that the enemy will attack you at your weakest area, where you are the most vulnerable.
Although these Rules for Discernment of Spirits were written specifically for those making The Spiritual Exercises, the principles can also be applied to other situations in ordinary life. We thank the Lord for the spiritual wisdom with which he gifted St. Ignatius Loyola. Let us ask for the grace of the Holy Spirit as we seek to discern the voice of the Lord amidst the confusion of the world, the flesh and the devil. Next time, God willing, we will try to review the 8 Rules for the Second Week of the Exercises.