Description: This week, Dan and Melissa discuss Saint Ignatius’ Discernment of Spirits: Rule 8 and his exhortation to work at achieving patience during desolation, looking ahead to the inevitable end of our suffering and returning to consolation with God.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

• Eighth Rule. “Let him who is in desolation labor to be in patience, which is contrary to the vexations which come to him: and let him think that he will soon be consoled, employing against the desolation the devices, as is said in the sixth Rule.What is desolation?”
• We must work to be patient. It is not easy.
• How can we practice patience?
• How does the enemy trick us into believing we must make a change in our spiritual lives?
• How does one cope with long term experiences of desolation such as terminal illness?
• Saint Ignatius suggests that we insist upon prayer, meditation, much examination and extending ourselves in penance.

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.
• James 4:7-8 “Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” (USCCB Bible link)
• The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
• Fire from Above by Dr. Anthony Lilles

• Questions? Send an e-mail to Questions@myavila.com or call 818-646-7729. Please leave your name, location, and question(s).