All around us rages a battle for our eternal souls. Yet we can be unaware of this battle even when we feel its effects. Through his Fourteen Rules of Discernment, Saint Ignatius provides us a powerful aid to light up the spiritual battlefield, helping us to respond to everyday situations and common challenges in the spiritual life with the victorious grace of Jesus Christ.
It was as if someone had turned on the lights.
A friend had mentioned the Fourteen Rules of Discernment, and I immediately started to research. The more I discovered, the more I wanted to learn. As a young adult fumbling to motivate myself in the spiritual life, I suddenly understood why. These rules that Saint Ignatius of Loyola had written centuries before clearly explained my sporadic habits and struggles in prayer. I was both irritated and astonished that I hadn’t learned about this golden key—this foundational framework for understanding prayer—sooner.
No matter: the Ignatian Rules were practical and immediately applicable to my prayer and discernment, and I quickly began to experience the fruits. The Lord had gotten my attention and ignited in me a little mission; I began telling anyone who would listen about the rules. Soon, I found myself teaching several workshops a year. More than a decade later, I’m more deeply convinced than ever that the truths contained in the Rules of Discernment are foundational for personal prayer and holiness—and I’m still sharing with anyone who will listen.
Saint Ignatius’ timeless teaching provides an eye-opening context for our everyday experiences in the spiritual life. His Rules instruct us how to respond in times of ease (consolation) and difficulty (desolation) so that we can persevere in the battle. Over the course of several weeks, we’ll explore each rule in depth, learning how it presents in daily life and how we can practically respond in a given situation.
First, though, let’s get to know our wise teacher a little better.
From Soldier to Saint
Saint Ignatius did not set out to become a saint. A soldier living in Spain in the early 1500s, Ignatius of Loyola sought fulfillment strictly by winning battles and the affections of beautiful women. He was, by his own estimation, a “man given over to the vanities of the world” (source below). When fighting in Pamplona at the age of twenty-six, his Spanish fortress became surrounded by French militants; there was no hope of victory. When other Spanish officers suggested surrendering to prevent more casualties, Ignatius passionately refused. During the battle, one of his legs was utterly shattered by a cannonball and the other was seriously injured.
The French treated Ignatius graciously, attempting to set his leg as they marveled at his courage. After a fortnight, he was sent home on a litter to Loyola, where expert doctors discovered that he would need a second operation after his taxing journey. Ever the hero, Ignatius uttered not a word while clenching his fists through the pain. Afterwards, he became dangerously ill and made his last confession before wavering at death’s door—yet the Lord spared his life and Ignatius miraculously recovered.
Still, he remained consumed with vanity. When Ignatius discovered that this second operation had left his legs uneven and would cause a limp, he begged the surgeon for a third surgery to prevent it. Even as the surgeon warned that the third would be more painful than the others, Ignatius readily conceded.
This prolonged recovery meant that Ignatius was stuck in bed for months on end. He spent hours daydreaming about vainglories like gallantry in battle or winning the hand of a noblewoman far outside his league. Eventually, Ignatius asked for some books to curb his boredom, thinking of the frivolous novels he had always enjoyed. The only books to be found in the house were the Life of Christ and Lives of the Saints; desperate for diversion, Ignatius read them anyway. The more he read, the more he began to dream of these feats, too—imagining himself imitating the actions of Christ and of the saints.
Fleeting Fulfillment and Lasting Peace
Over time, something significant happened:
“When he was thinking of the things of the world he was filled with delight, but when afterward he dismissed them from weariness, he was dry and dissatisfied. And when he thought of… performing the other rigors he saw that the saints had performed, he was consoled, not only when he entertained these thoughts, but even after…he remained cheerful and satisfied” (source below).
In short, the most attractive worldly enticements thrilled him only briefly; afterward, Ignatius felt emptier than before. Conversely, the acts of virtue and self-denial that initially repulsed him began to uplift Ignatius the more he dwelt upon them, and ultimately left him satisfied and at peace. In time, Ignatius understood that these movements came from two opposing spiritual influences: one, the ‘evil spirit’ or devil, and the other, God.
This revelation led to a profound conversion. These spiritual movements also formed Ignatius’ keen awareness of spiritual consolation and desolation, from which was born the deeply influential Rules of Discernment—essentially, the “rules of engagement” within the battle of prayer.
After his conversion, Ignatius immediately set about amending his life, denying himself, and seeking God’s will in all things. In time, Ignatius became a priest, a prolific writer, a spiritual director and formator, and the founder of the Society of Jesus (eventually called the Jesuit order). He was also one of the most influential and charitable theologians of the counter-reformation, and ultimately became the great Saint of the Church he is today.
An Epic Battle
The heart of Saint Ignatius’ Rules is this: in every moment, a great battle is being waged all around us, a battle between good and evil. The object? To win the most valuable territory in the universe—your soul. First and foremost, the fourteen Rules of Discernment help us to realize that this battle exists. Most humans go through life oblivious to (or unwilling to acknowledge) the battle itself, even though we still deeply feel and react to its effects every day. Once we admit to this spiritual battle, the Rules of Discernment further help to illuminate the enemy’s most common tactics so we can learn to respond victoriously with God’s help.
Like Saint Ignatius, I spent many years as an Army officer. I learned early on about a concept we call the “fog of war.” This term refers to the confusion and uncertainty that can thwart a soldier or unit’s situational awareness in the heat of battle. No matter how perfect the initial battle plan might be, as soon as the battlefield erupts with noise and smoke and chaos and pain, it’s easy to become disoriented—especially at night—losing sight of the enemy’s position and even friendly positions.
Cutting through the Fog
For centuries, soldiers have sought ways to clear the fog. The response has focused largely on communication and illumination. In the 19th century, Morse code and flares took center stage. When shot into the air, a flare could illuminate the battlefield for up to fifteen seconds, giving immediate insight into enemy positions and activity. In an instant, friendly forces could respond with strategic repositioning or opening fire to ward off a covert enemy attack. As technology developed in the 20th century, illumination and communication tactics turned to radar and radio communications; by the time I began serving in the 21st century, we were using night vision goggles and GPS tracking.
Like the physical battlefield, the spiritual battlefield is replete with the fog of war, no matter how perfect our battle plan might be. The evil one’s ‘enemy’ actions might appear friendly at first as he seeks to lure us into temptation, or we might perceive God’s firm boundaries of protection as a threat. Sometimes, we might become disoriented when we expect an easy victory, yet experience what feels like a sudden defeat. In response to this spiritual fog of war, we need spiritual illumination and communication to help dispel the confusion.
Illuminating the Spiritual Battlefield
Thankfully, Saint Ignatius created the Rules of Discernment for us as a sort of spiritual ‘flare’ or night vision device to cut through the fog. These rules can serve as a powerful spiritual weapon throughout our earthly pilgrimage. Though we will never be exempt from the spiritual battle in this life, our Lord does not ask us to battle alone. Our Lord has gifted us Saint Ignatius of Loyola’s wisdom, his example, and his intercession along the way. God’s supernatural help is also ever-present as He strengthens us through the grace of greater awareness.
In the coming weeks, we will navigate the spiritual battlefield as we work through each of the fourteen Rules of Discernment, unpacking specific tools to help us persevere along the journey. Together, we will let our all-powerful, loving Lord illuminate the spiritual battlefield so we can persevere in prayerful communication with Him Who is our greatest ally and protector.
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For more on Spiritual Warfare and Discernment of Spirits, see Dan Burke’s brand-new video series here.
Source: Cámara, Luis Gonzàlez De. St. Ignatius’ Own Story: As Told to Luis González de Cámara With a Sampling of His Letters. Translated by William J. Young, Loyola University Press, 1980.
Image: Unsplash
