In his Fifth Rule, Saint Ignatius charged us to never change a practice or commitment in a time of spiritual desolation. Rather, we are to persevere until the desolation passes. In the Six Rule, St. Ignatius expands on this by giving us practical instruction on how exactly we can persevere through spiritual desolation.
Sixth Rule. Although in desolation we ought not to change our first resolutions, it is very helpful intensely to change ourselves against the same desolation, as by insisting more on prayer, meditation, on much examination, and by giving ourselves more scope in some suitable way of doing penance (source).
St. Ignatius is not simply telling us to stay the course but to double down on our resolutions. In short, it’s not our spiritual commitments themselves that must change—but the strength of our resolve behind them.
The analogy of a physical battlefield can help deepen our understanding. Take a soldier and his weapon. Each soldier is intentionally assigned a weapon particular to his mission prior to a battle. As the battle heats up, a soldier might be tempted to question the effectiveness of his predetermined weapon and wish for something “better.” Yet it would be foolish for the soldier to go in search of a new weapon and lose precious ground, or even expose himself to greater danger. The soldier is more effective employing the weapon he already has—simply with greater internal confidence and conviction, rather than wavering in uncertainty and trepidation.
In the spiritual life, a commitment we have previously discerned is our predetermined weapon; it is our confidence in employing it that can make all the difference when the spiritual battle heats up. Changing ourselves intensely against desolation, as St. Ignatius says, requires sticking to our previously discerned prayers and commitments with greater internal conviction. This can be as simple as using more intentional responses and postures in prayer when we are tempted to do the opposite.
I have been tempted to drag my feet or slack off in prayer countless times in desolation—even in slight ways that seem insignificant at the time. I have remained in bed for a few extra seconds of comfort while praying my morning offering, only to doze off in the middle of my prayer, I have procrastinated for five more minutes of “more important” work or mindless scrolling before sitting down to prayer. I have cut my Holy Hour short by two minutes, delayed confession by a day, and talked myself out of registering for a retreat even when it seemed like a clear invitation from the Lord.
I have also learned the value of “changing myself intensely” against the desolation itself by pushing back. I have forced myself out of my cozy bed to kneel on the floor or stand in the chill morning air so I’m more alert while praying my morning offering. I’ve encouraged myself to stay a minute—or even thirty seconds—past the end of my Holy Hour when it feels dry, distracted, or fruitless. Sometimes the most powerful moments of consolation in prayer have happened during those extra seconds of perseverance. I have firmly directed myself to pull up a rosary podcast when I’m feeling burnt out and tempted to doom scroll on my phone. I’ve sat down and worked through a more thorough examination of conscience when tempted to put off my regularly scheduled confession because I didn’t really feel like I “needed” it.
You, too, are invited to push back firmly against temptations in desolation. As the Letter of James says, “…resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:7-8). These temptations may feel powerful and hard to resist, but when we push back against them by entreating God’s help, we find that Satan is actually extremely weak, and ultimately powerless against the Lord’s grace.
Practically speaking, you can push back in the ways mentioned above and more. You can change your physical posture in prayer when feeling tired or distracted. You can rebel against the enemy by responding promptly to prayer when tempted to procrastinate. You can pray or read scripture out loud, engaging more of your senses, if you find your mind wandering. You can stay an extra minute when tempted to cut mental prayer or meditation short. You can listen to a guided examen or text a friend for accountability when tempted to talk yourself out of confession. You can also employ little “penances” as St. Ignatius alludes to: for example, slowing down when rushing through a rosary or chaplet, choosing to say the prayers more slowly and thoughtfully while calling to mind God’s presence.
In the event you do give into a temptation in desolation, know that you’re not alone—you’re a fallen human being in need of a Savior. This is who we all our in our human weakness; the tragedy is not in falling but in failing to rise. We can always rise again with God’s help if we are humble enough to accept it. Simply recite an Act of Contrition, make an act of faith in God’s abundant help and mercy, and then begin again—and again and again.
As we seek to use these simple means to remain engaged in the spiritual battle, we will find that we can fight with more vigor in the face of desolation, and make better use of our future consolation as the desolation passes. This allows us to move beyond our limited human perceptions so we can be more docile to God’s grace in all circumstances, regardless of our feelings—a lesson that St. Ignatius will lead us to in the Seventh Rule.
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