Description: This week Dan and Melissa discuss Rule 7 of Saint Ignatius' Discernment of Spirits, which encourages the soul seeking God to resist any agitations put forth by the Enemy.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

• How can we resist the agitations sent by the Enemy to draw us away from forming a relationship with Christ?
• If I do not feel God's presence, does that mean He has abandoned me in my desolation?
• Will God rescue me from my desolation?
• How do I recognize God's presence during spiritual desolation?

Resources: 

• Spiritualdirection.com - website
• EWTN Global Catholic Radio
• Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation
• EWTN Religious Catalogue - online
• The Discernment of Spirits by Father Timothy Gallagher, O.M.V.
• Fire from Above by Dr. Anthony Lilles
• Questions? Send an e-mail to [email protected] or call 818-646-7729. — please leave your name, location and question.

Description: The Discernment of Spirits, Rule 6 states that when on experiencing spiritual desolation, he or she needs to make a change against the spiritual desolation itself. 

Topic/Questions covered in the show:

• Is suffering meritorious for the soul when experienced outside of or without Christ?
• What are the characteristics of true peace vs. false peace?
• How can one experience the peace that Jesus promises in Scripture?
• According to Rule 6 of the Discernment of Spirits, we must insist more on prayer, insist more on meditation, be spiritually awake, and insist more on penance. 
• How does spiritual desolation manifest itself in everyday life?

Resources:

• Spiritualdirection.com - website
• EWTN Global Catholic Radio
• Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation
• EWTN Religious Catalogue - online
• The Discernment of Spirits by Father Timothy Gallagher, O.M.V.
• Questions? Send an e-mail to [email protected] or call 818-646-7729. — please leave your name, location and question.

Description: This week Dan and Melissa discuss the fifth rule of Saint Ignatius' Discernment of Spirits which states that one is never change spiritual commitments while experiencing spiritual desolation.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

• Does spiritual consolation always precede spiritual desolation?
• When in spiritual desolation one should never change the commitments he or she has made when in spiritual consolation.
• Is there any reason why one could change his or her situation while in desolation?
• Loving God despite the experience of spiritual desolation is a proof of love.

Resources:

• Spiritualdirection.com - website
• EWTN Global Catholic Radio
• Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation
• EWTN Religious Catalogue - online
• The Discernment of Spirits by Father Timothy Gallagher, O.M.V.
• Questions? Send an e-mail to [email protected] or call 818-646-7729. — please leave your name, location and question.

Description:

This week Dan and Melissa explore the meaning of spiritual desolation and how to recognize it through the examen prayer.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

• Rule 4 - "I call desolation all the contrary of the third rule, such as darkness of soul, disturbance in it, movement to low and earthly things, disquiet from various agitations and temptations, moving to lack of confidence, without hope, without love, finding oneself totally slothful, tepid, sad, and, as if separated from one's Creator and Lord. For just as consolation is contrary to desolation in the same way the thoughts that come from consolation are contrary to the thoughts that come from desolation."
• Is distraction in prayer a type of desolation?
• What is the difference between depression and spiritual desolation?
• Spiritual desolation (Rule 4) as the opposite of spiritual consolation (Rule 3).
• Tactics of the enemy to draw a soul away from God.
• The importance of the examen prayer to recognize the spiraling effect of negative thoughts and overcome the desolation that follows.

Resources:

• Spiritualdirection.com - website
• EWTN Global Catholic Radio
• Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation
• EWTN Religious Catalogue - online
• The Discernment of Spirits by Father Timothy Gallagher, O.M.V.
• The Examen Prayer by Father Timothy Gallagher, O.M.V.
• Questions? Send an e-mail to [email protected] or call 818-646-7729. — please leave your name, location and question.

On this week's show, listen as Dan and Melissa discuss Saint Ignatius of Loyola's third rule of Discernment of Spirits, "Spiritual Consolation".

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

• Saint Ignatius' Third Rule of Discernment of Spirits: "The third is of spiritual consolation. I call it consolation when some interior movement is caused in the soul, through which the soul comes to be inflamed with love of its Creator and Lord, and, consequently when it can love no created thing on the face of the earth in itself, but only in the Creator of them all. Likewise when it sheds tears that move to love of its Lord, whether out of sorrow for one's sins, or for the passion of Christ our Lord, or because of other things directly ordered to his service and praise. Finally, I call consolation every increase of hope, faith and charity, and all interior joy that calls and attracts to heavenly things and to the salvation of one's soul, quieting it and giving it peace in its Creator and Lord."
• What is spiritual consolation?
• How can I recognize if I am experiencing it?
• Can a person with an affinity toward one spirituality (i.e. Carmelite, Franciscan, Ignatian) benefit from the writings and teachings of a different spirituality

Resources:

• SpiritualDirection.com - website
• EWTN Global Catholic Radio
• Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation
• EWTN Religious Catalogue - online
• The Discernment of Spirits by Father Timothy Gallagher
• Divine Intimacy by Father Gabriel of Saint Mary Magdalen, O.C.D.

Dan and Melissa discuss the second rule of Saint Ignatius of Loyola's Discernment of Spirits, focusing on movement toward God and recognizing the effect of the enemy on our spiritual progress.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

• Discernment of Spirits - Rule 2: "In persons who are going on intensely purifying their sins and rising from good to better in the service of God our Lord, the method is contrary to that in the first rule. For then it is proper to the evil spirit to bite, sadden and place obstacles, disquieting with false reasons, so that the person may not go forward. And it is proper to the good spirit to give courage and strength, consolations, tears, inspirations, and quiet, easing and taking away all obstacles, so that the person may go forward in doing good."
• When confronted with temptation it is important to recognize the thoughts pushing us toward sin are from the "bad spirit" who seeks to disrupt our spiritual progress.
• Using an examination of conscience at the end of the day can make us more acutely aware of our daily sins and successes.
• God is always drawing us to Himself, but we must recognize His work in our souls through the world around us.

Resources:

• SpiritualDirection.com - website
• EWTN Global Catholic Radio
• SpiritualDirection.com - website
• Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation
• EWTN Religious Catalogue - online
• The Discernment of Spirits: An Ignatian Guide for Everyday Living by Father Timothy Gallagher, O.M.V. (Oblates of the Virgin Mary)
• Navigating the Interior Life by Dan Burke
• The Examen Prayer: Ignatian Wisdom for Our Lives Today: by Father Timothy Gallagher, O.M.V. (Oblates of the Virgin Mary)
• Ephesians 5:14 - “”Awake, O sleeper and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” USCCB Bible link
• Questions? Send an e-mail to [email protected] or call 818-646-7729. — please leave your name, location and question.

This week, Dan and Melissa discuss the first Rule of the

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

God will "prick us" to disturb the conscience through the

Knowing how the enemy works and how the flesh works can help you

The life of Saint Augustine is a good example of overcoming

Resources:

This week Dan and Melissa explore Saint Ignatius of Loyola's techniques for tackling the negative thoughts and lies that enter into our minds and lead us away from God.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

Resources:

This week Dan and Melissa discuss a follow-up question about the writings of Father Anthony de Mello leading someone to the Catholic Church.  Also, Dan answers questions regarding the need to disclose your past during spiritual direction, as well as discerning God’s voice in prayer.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

Resources:

Who is Fr Anthony de Mello and can we trust his spiritual writings to lead us to a deeper union with Christ? Dan and Melissa discuss the problems with Fr de Mello’s influential spiritual guidance and the Catholic Church’s position on non-Christian teachings.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

Resources: