In the Seventh Rule, St. Ignatius reminded us that natural feelings are not a reliable measure for determining spiritual truths or God’s closeness. In the Eighth Rule, St. Ignatius encourages us in patience, as well as hope that consolation is returning soon.
The 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 (source).
In this rule, St. Ignatius offers the same advice that parents usually offer to their children: just be patient. Or, in other words, this too shall pass. To one trapped in the agonies of desolation, this might seem dismissive; however, there is more to this rule than meets the eye.
First, St. Ignatius tells those of us in desolation to “labor” or work to “be in patience.” He acknowledges that working toward this patience takes significant effort and that it doesn’t happen instantly; patience itself takes time. The question, then, is how do we work to arrive at this patience? Especially when all the ‘vexations’ of desolation are pulling us in the opposite direction?
A few friends and I have been praying through a beautiful study on the Marian virtues, and we recently reached the chapter on Heroic Patience. Although patience seems simple enough in theory, we were each wrestling with the difficulty of putting this virtue into practice. The Holy Spirit worked through our conversation in beautiful ways, and I came away with some keen new insights on patience and fallen human nature.
The first is that it is difficult to be patient with others (or with our circumstances) when we are largely impatient with ourselves. It is often necessary to extend more patience and grace to ourselves in moments of failure—real or perceived—than anyone else. This is not to say we should excuse our sin, but that we must acknowledge the disparity between our often-lofty expectations for ourselves contrasted with the reality of our human weakness. This patience with ourselves when we sin—or simply make mistakes—helps us to acknowledge our need for God’s mercy, and to seek that help more readily. In turn, we will develop greater patience with God and others, as well as patience with our imperfect circumstances.
Another insight on practicing patience revolves around the truth that we are both body and soul. The pace of our impatient minds and hearts directly affects our actions. When we are struggling to be patient, especially in spiritual desolation, there is often a degree of internal anxiety. This anxiety causes us to rush both internally and externally. We rush because we want to find some answer or perceived solution that can bring relief. We might subconsciously hurry through prayer, work, interactions, or other activities. We might also project this impatience onto others, expecting them to respond with the same frenzied pace or urgency.
We can combat this temptation to unnecessary anxiety and impatience by quite literally slowing down—especially physically. Consider pausing for a slow, deliberate Hail Mary or Our Father. Sit on a porch swing or take a leisurely walk. Sip a glass of water. Take several long, deep breaths. Hum or listen to a tranquil hymn or song. Fun fact: this is actually the psychology behind elevator music; it was adopted to create a more relaxing atmosphere to ease passengers’ nerves while they waited to ascend or descend to their destination. Doing something that demands a naturally slower pace can directly impact your mind and soul, and help to slow the internal frenzy prompted by desolation.
These insights help us to work toward patience, and to further employ the actions outlined in the Sixth Rule: to ‘change ourselves intensely against the desolation itself.’ St. Ignatius reminds us that strengthening our resolve in these four ways will help most when waiting for consolation to return: prayer, meditation, examination, and suitable penance.
As a brief recap, “mediation” refers to mental prayer and reflection. Meditating on God’s Word and His truth helps dispel the enemy’s lies of desolation. “Examination” means thinking back to when the desolation started and what might have prompted it, then responding accordingly. “Suitable Penance” involves acting against the temptation itself: if tempted to cut prayer short, pray an extra minute. If groggy, change your prayer posture. If tempted to skip confession, a retreat, or another spiritual commitment, contact a friend for accountability and follow through. Finally, “prayer” includes petitioning God for help in the moment. It is always a good idea to ask God for help as soon as desolation begins and for as long as it lasts. In my experience, sometimes the best I can do is, Lord, help! I have no patience of my own [or faith, hope, persistence, charity, etc.]! Give me Yours! Thankfully, God loves nothing more than to answer this cry for help; He always responds with the grace we need to take the next step.
St. Ignatius intentionally draws out one final hope-filled truth in this Eighth Rule. He tells us that we “will soon be consoled,” and that we ought to make an act of faith and hope in this divine truth. Indeed, consolation is coming, and sooner than we might think! It’s tempting in desolation to think that things won’t get better, especially anytime soon; as a result, we think we won’t have the strength to endure the trial. The enemy’s goal in this temptation is to lead us into hopelessness and despair. However, even if our difficult circumstances persist, the desolation we feel within that circumstance can lift—or at least become lighter.
When I was delivering my first child, I reached a point where I didn’t think I could continue. I had already endured twelve hours of natural labor and had become extremely fatigued and weak. All I could think was, I can’t possibly endure twelve more hours of this! The midwife ordered some monitoring to determine what interventions they might need to consider; in the process, she declared, “oh, it’s because you’ve reached the transition point! Baby is almost here and you’re doing great!” Instantly, I was filled with renewed strength and determination; even as the pain remained and intensified, it was as if the finish line had been moved up. I could do it! One hour later, our beautiful baby girl was safely snuggled in my arms.
Thus, St. Ignatius entreats us to labor, to be patient, and to remember God’s opposing truth: this desolation is passing in nature. It will not last forever, and consolation will return soon—even sooner than we think, especially when we employ the actions he recommends. When you make an act of hope and faith in desolation, you will likely buoyed by a new sense of hope, peace, or perseverance—even if that challenging situation or relationship remains.
Within the mystery of suffering, God allows us to experience spiritual desolation because He can always derive a greater good from it than the suffering itself. We need only cooperate. Often, this greater good is our spiritual growth and maturity. As Father Gallagher shares in his teaching on the Eighth Rule, “Without desolation, we remain spiritual children.” We will explore this truth more deeply in Rule Nine, where St. Ignatius will instruct us in the three main reasons that desolation occurs. In the meantime, we can be assured of this: consolation is returning soon—and whenever we cooperate with God in spiritual desolation, it is not fruitless, but in fact, becomes victorious.
______________________________________________________
Find out more about Discernment of Spirits with this free video series by Dan Burke.
Image: Unsplash+
