The Devil in The Details

If you’re practicing mental prayer and still feel spiritually dry, Rule 9 explains why—and what God may be trying to show you.

Why does God allow desolation even when you’re doing everything right? In this episode, we break down Rule 9 from St. Ignatius’ 14 Rules for the Discernment of Spirits. We dive into the three core reasons God permits spiritual dryness: our own negligence, a test of our love, and a deep reminder that we are not the source of consolation—He is. We also get practical about how to recognize desolation, track your progress, and build a concrete Rule of Life that will anchor you in the battle. Whether you’re new to Ignatian discernment or well into your spiritual journey, this one will challenge and encourage you.

Timestamp Summary:

00:00 The Importance of Mental Prayer

01:24 Introduction to Spiritual Warfare and Discernment

02:06 Exploring the First Rule of Discernment

03:02 The Role of Dopamine and Temptation

04:18 The Importance of Spiritual Commitments

07:08 Principle Causes of Desolation

16:34 Creating a Rule of Life

18:37 Practical Tips for Maintaining Spiritual Health

27:43 Using Technology to Support Spiritual Practices

28:25 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Connect with us!

Instagram:

Dan ➡ https://www.instagram.com/danburkeofficial/

Jordan ➡ https://www.instagram.com/dothe_harderthing/

Questions? - Leave them in the comments below, or send them over to "[email protected]"

Dan and Jordan Burke reveal why new Catholics are prime targets for spiritual attack, expose the lies that endanger souls, the common tactics that the enemy uses against new converts, and share how to fight back with the truth of the Church.

Timestamp Summary:

0:00 The Devil's Influence and Catholic Responsibilities

3:05 Challenges and Importance of Authentic Discipleship for New Converts

7:46 Heaven and Hell: The Stakes of Faith and Salvation

17:00 The Importance of Understanding Sin and Salvation in Catholicism

22:23 Authentic Discipleship and the Consequences of Knowing Jesus

29:07 The Importance of Mental Prayer and Authentic Discipleship

Key Takeaways:

• Understanding the significance of being an "authentic disciple" is critical for new Catholics, involving full adherence to Church teachings.
• Mortal sin is a fundamental rejection of God, and confession is crucial to maintain a state of grace.
• Spiritual practices, including regular mental prayer and sacramental participation like the Eucharist, are vital to deepening one's relationship with Jesus.
• Misconceptions such as "being a good person" is sufficient for salvation are highlighted as dangerous pitfalls.
• The episode stresses that church membership does not equate to automatic salvation, underscoring the higher responsibility and potential for strict judgment.

Connect with us!

Instagram:

Dan ➡ https://www.instagram.com/danburkeofficial/

Jordan ➡ https://www.instagram.com/dothe_harderthing/

Questions? - Leave them in the comments below, or send them over to "[email protected]"

You’re not your sin, your disorder, or your struggle—you’re a child of God called to fight forward, overcome, and be free.

In this episode of The Devil is in the Details, we dive into Rule Eight of St. Ignatius’ discernment framework—perseverance in desolation. But this one hits deeper than you might expect. We talk identity lies, spiritual EMDR, and what it really means to refuse to be ruled by your lower nature. This isn’t just about staying patient in the storm—it’s about realizing you were never meant to identify with it. If you’ve ever said, “I’m just not a morning person” or “That’s just who I am,” this one’s for you. Get ready to fight forward—with clarity, with grit, and with grace.

Resources Mentioned in this series:

Immediate Action Plan

Habitual Sin Course: 

Examination of Conscience

Holy Habits App

Seven Deadly Sins

Hidden Faults

Free Video Series on Spiritual Warfare and Discernment of Spirits

Avila Institute Class on Discernment of Spirits

Fr. Gallaghers book on Discernment of Spirits

Dans best selling book - Spiritual Warfare and Discernment of Spirits

Timestamp Summary:

00:00 Introduction and Series Overview

00:38 Rule Eight: Perseverance in Desolation

01:09 The Concept of Patience

02:16 Identity and Negative Cognitions

02:52 Personal Stories and Overcoming Challenges

05:51 The Importance of Positive Cognition

12:44 Desolation and Human Nature

16:57 Hospital Experiences and Finding Peace

17:57 A Painful Experience

18:12 Spiritual Conversations in the Ambulance

19:47 Finding Peace Amidst Pain

21:03 A Stressful Drive

22:53 Spiritual Warfare and Vigilance

24:15 The Battle of Life

31:39 Balancing Awareness and Paranoia

34:36 Concluding Thoughts and Encouragement

5 Key Takeaways from Rule 8: Perseverance in Desolation

1. You are not your disorder, sin, or struggle.
   
   One of the biggest lies the enemy tells is that your weakness is your identity. But in Christ, your identity is rooted in grace—not your passions, inclinations, or past failures.
2. Patience is not passive—it’s a choice.
   
   Rule 8 calls us to work to be patient in desolation. That means engaging your will, choosing to fight even when you feel nothing, and refusing to be dragged by your emotions.
3. Negative self-talk can be demonic bait.
   
   Repeating phrases like “I’m just not a morning person” or “I’ve always been like this” forms psychological and spiritual chains. These “negative cognitions” reinforce falsehoods that give the enemy a handle on your soul.
4. Victory comes through fidelity, not feelings.
   
   Desolation often feels like failure, but it’s not. By leaning into prayer, penance, and meditation (as taught in Rule 6), you’re choosing God even when He feels absent. That choice is the victory.
5. Spiritual warfare requires readiness, not paranoia.
   
   Like a cop prepared for a worst-case call, the Catholic must walk into each day ready for battle—not with fear, but with clarity and peace. “Fight forward” by staying vigilant, grounded in truth, and armed with the sacraments.

Even in desolation, God has not abandoned you. In this episode, Jordan and Dan Burke explore Rule 7 of St. Ignatius’ spiritual exercises, revealing how faith, prayer, and mental discipline can help you recognize God’s presence—even when He feels distant.

Resources Mentioned in this series:

Immediate Action Plan

Habitual Sin Course: 

Examination of Conscience

Holy Habits App

Seven Deadly Sins

Hidden Faults

Free Video Series on Spiritual Warfare and Discernment of Spirits

Avila Institute Class on Discernment of Spirits

Fr. Gallaghers book on Discernment of Spirits

Dans best selling book - Spiritual Warfare and Discernment of Spirits

Timestamp Summary:

0:01 Overcoming Desolation Through Adjusted Thinking and Spiritual Guidance

3:10 Spiritual Growth Amidst Mental Health Challenges

5:19 Embracing Trials to Achieve Virtue and Strength in Faith

9:31 Balancing Physical and Spiritual Strength Against Life's Challenges

12:50 Delayed Consequences and Human Decision-Making

15:26 Overcoming Sin and Building Virtue Through Divine Grace

18:25 Navigating Spiritual Growth Through Consolations and Desolations

21:42 Strategies for Resisting Desolation in Spiritual Practices

23:41 Renouncing Negative Thoughts Through Faith and Prayer

26:09 Harnessing Divine Help for Spiritual and Psychological Challenges

31:36 Overcoming Trauma Through Faith and Scripture

40:13 Combating Temptation Through Scripture and Spiritual Identity

Key Takeaways:

• Rule 7 of Ignatius’s guidelines provides strategies for overcoming spiritual desolation by recognizing and resisting negative influences with divine help.
• Feelings of weakness during desolation are opportunities to reinforce one's faith, leveraging God’s unwavering presence, even when it is not felt.
• Practical steps include using renunciations to counteract lies and distractions, replacing them with scripture-based truths and prayer to invite divine assistance.
• The episode highlights a robust interaction between faith and psychology, illustrating how spiritual teachings can support mental health and emotional well-being.
• Ignatian spirituality draws deeply from biblical teachings, offering time-tested strategies for personal and spiritual growth.

Even in desolation, God has not abandoned you. In this episode, Jordan and Dan Burke explore Rule 7 of St. Ignatius’ Discernment of Spirits, revealing how faith, prayer, and mental discipline can help you recognize God’s presence—even when He feels distant.

Resources Mentioned in this series:

Immediate Action Plan

Habitual Sin Course: 

Examination of Conscience

Holy Habits App

Seven Deadly Sins

Hidden Faults

Free Video Series on Spiritual Warfare and Discernment of Spirits

Avila Institute Class on Discernment of Spirits

Fr. Gallaghers book on Discernment of Spirits

Dans best selling book - Spiritual Warfare and Discernment of Spirits

Timestamp Summary:

0:01 Overcoming Desolation Through Adjusted Thinking and Spiritual Guidance

3:10 Spiritual Growth Amidst Mental Health Challenges

5:19 Embracing Trials to Achieve Virtue and Strength in Faith

9:31 Balancing Physical and Spiritual Strength Against Life's Challenges

12:50 Delayed Consequences and Human Decision-Making

15:26 Overcoming Sin and Building Virtue Through Divine Grace

18:25 Navigating Spiritual Growth Through Consolations and Desolations

21:42 Strategies for Resisting Desolation in Spiritual Practices

23:41 Renouncing Negative Thoughts Through Faith and Prayer

26:09 Harnessing Divine Help for Spiritual and Psychological Challenges

31:36 Overcoming Trauma Through Faith and Scripture

40:13 Combating Temptation Through Scripture and Spiritual Identity

Key Takeaways:

• Rule 7 of Ignatius’s guidelines provides strategies for overcoming spiritual desolation by recognizing and resisting negative influences with divine help.
• Feelings of weakness during desolation are opportunities to reinforce one's faith, leveraging God’s unwavering presence, even when it is not felt.
• Practical steps include using renunciations to counteract lies and distractions, replacing them with scripture-based truths and prayer to invite divine assistance.
• The episode highlights a robust interaction between faith and psychology, illustrating how spiritual teachings can support mental health and emotional well-being.
• Ignatian spirituality draws deeply from biblical teachings, offering time-tested strategies for personal and spiritual growth.

When desolation strikes, don’t just endure—fight back. In this episode, Jordan and Dan Burke unpack Rule 6 of St. Ignatius’ Discernment of Spirits, revealing how proactive prayer, meditation, and discipline can break the enemy’s grip.

Resources Mentioned in this series:

Immediate Action Plan

Habitual Sin Course: 

Examination of Conscience

Holy Habits App

Seven Deadly Sins

Hidden Faults

Free Video Series on Spiritual Warfare and Discernment of Spirits

Avila Institute Class on Discernment of Spirits

Fr. Gallaghers book on Discernment of Spirits

Dans best selling book - Spiritual Warfare and Discernment of Spirits

Timestamp Summary:

0:00 Series Continuation

7:24 The Intersection of Faith, Psychology, and Spiritual Warfare

12:51 Fighting Spiritual Desolation Through Prayer and Discernment

18:56 Spiritual and Physical Fitness Require Consistent Training and Endurance

22:18 Overcoming Spiritual Desolation Through Intense Prayer and Discipline

Key Takeaways:

• The importance of acknowledging and addressing the devil's influence in everyday spiritual life.
• Rule 6 from St. Ignatius' spiritual exercises urges intensified prayer and reflection during times of desolation.
• A call for integrating psychological understanding with supernatural faith to maintain spiritual health.
• The potential pitfalls of over-relying on secular psychology in spiritual matters.
• Strategies to combat spiritual desolation include increased prayer, meditation, and doing the opposite of what desolation tempts.

Rule 5 in spiritual warfare: When the enemy turns up the volume, stay the course—never make a change in desolation.

Resources Mentioned in this series:

Immediate Action Plan

Habitual Sin Course: 

Examination of Conscience

Holy Habits App

Seven Deadly Sins

Hidden Faults

Free Video Series on Spiritual Warfare and Discernment of Spirits

Avila Institute Class on Discernment of Spirits

Fr. Gallaghers book on Discernment of Spirits

Dans best selling book - Spiritual Warfare and Discernment of Spirits

Timestamp Summary:

0:01 The Importance of Rule 5 in Spiritual Warfare

5:00 Challenges of Translating Spiritual Texts and Their Impact

7:39 Spiritual Warfare: Desolation, Sin, and the Voice of the Enemy

15:57 The Importance of Consistent Prayer Despite Physical Challenges

18:33 Resisting Temptation and Overcoming Spiritual Desolation

25:15 Spiritual Decision-Making and the Influence of Desolation

Key Takeaways:

• Rule 5 of Ignatian spirituality teaches that one should not change a spiritual commitment made during consolation when in a period of desolation.
• The enemy's voice is louder and more persuasive during times of desolation, pushing for urgency and causing anxiety.
• It is crucial to rely on prior spiritual decisions made during times of consolation to navigate through the fog of desolation.
• Practical applications of Rule 5 encompass both spiritual and other significant life decisions, reflecting the interconnectedness of secular and spiritual life.
• Discernment and spiritual warfare require active engagement and a firm grasp of spiritual principles to combat the enemy’s tactics effectively.

Learn how the enemy attacks through spiritual desolation—and how to fight back with wisdom from St. Ignatius.

Resources Mentioned in this series:

Immediate Action Plan

Habitual Sin Course: 

Examination of Conscience

Holy Habits App

Seven Deadly Sins

Hidden Faults

Free Video Series on Spiritual Warfare and Discernment of Spirits

Avila Institute Class on Discernment of Spirits

Fr. Gallaghers book on Discernment of Spirits

Dans best selling book - Spiritual Warfare and Discernment of Spirits

Timestamp Summary:

0:01 Understanding Spiritual Desolation and Its Impact on Faith

3:48 Spiritual Awakening and Psychological Healing Through Therapy

5:45 Understanding Emotions Through Nuanced Language and the Emotions Wheel

8:02 Identifying Emotional Triggers Through Spiritual Discernment and Therapy

15:39 Understanding Spiritual Desolation and Consolation in Daily Life

19:36 Awareness and Vigilance in Spiritual and Psychological Desolation

29:07 Understanding Desolation and Strategies for Spiritual Discernment

Key Takeaways:

• Desolation comprises feelings of disturbance, anxiety, and spiritual heaviness, which may indicate demonic influences.
• Understanding and naming emotions with precision can be a powerful tool against desolation.
• Staying "sober and alert" involves spiritual vigilance and self-awareness to counteract any potential misleading influences.
• Regular spiritual practices such as mental prayer, the sacrament of reconciliation, and the daily examen can aid in maintaining spiritual and psychological awareness.
• Dan emphasizes the importance of discernment in one's journey to becoming spiritually and psychologically awake.

Discover the joy, peace, and clarity of spiritual consolation as we unpack Ignatius’ Rule 3 and its life-changing impact.

Resources Mentioned in this series:

Immediate Action Plan

Habitual Sin Course: 

Examination of Conscience

Holy Habits App

Seven Deadly Sins

Hidden Faults

Free Video Series on Spiritual Warfare and Discernment of Spirits

Avila Institute Class on Discernment of Spirits

Fr. Gallaghers book on Discernment of Spirits

Dans best selling book - Spiritual Warfare and Discernment of Spirits

Timestamp Summary:

0:00 Understanding Consolation in Spiritual Warfare and Discernment

4:15 From Anti-Catholicism to Embracing Marian Devotion

5:25 A Cleansing Sorrow and Spiritual Liberation

9:52 Understanding Consolation and Desolation in Everyday Life

12:12 Emotional Reflections on the Passion of Christ

14:04 Understanding Consolation and Desolation in Spiritual Discernment

Key Takeaways:

Discover how the enemy works to derail your spiritual progress—and how God equips you to overcome every obstacle.

Resources Mentioned in this series:

Immediate Action Plan

Habitual Sin Course: 

Examination of Conscience

Holy Habits App

Seven Deadly Sins

Hidden Faults

Free Video Series on Spiritual Warfare and Discernment of Spirits

Avila Institute Class on Discernment of Spirits

Fr. Gallaghers book on Discernment of Spirits

Dans best selling book - Spiritual Warfare and Discernment of Spirits

⏰ Timecodes ⏰

Key Takeaways: