“In Ignatian spirituality, discernment is usually considered in one of two senses: discernment of spirits or discernment of God’s will.” – Fr. Mark Yavarone, OMV
“I have no doubt God called me to become a spiritual director. But he wanted me to be a certain person, a specific Deanna, before I began.” – Deanna Bartalini
“Given the complexity of discerning between consolation and desolation, St. Ignatius also highly valued spiritual direction. A skilled spiritual director can help us navigate these experiences, offering guidance, perspective, and support.” – Jen Arnold
“Discerning God’s will today means considering how it will affect us, our lives, and our loved ones in the future. God wants to love us there. Will we let Him? ” – Claire Dwyer
“The Lord is inviting us to regularly inspect our own fortress—our invaluable soul—to learn its vulnerabilities and build up our defenses with His help.” – Megan Hjelmstad
“I knew deep down that I was likely being tempted, but it was difficult to cut through the noise on my own.” – Megan Hjelmstad
“St. Benedict leaves us with this sound advice from his renowned Rule: ‘As soon as wrongful thoughts come into your heart, dash them against Christ and disclose them to your spiritual father.’” – Megan Hjelmstad
“This is why St. Ignatius invites us to both humility and confidence in Rule Eleven, reminding us of God’s merciful grace in consolation and sufficient strength in desolation.” – Megan Hjelmstad
“When we feel strong and consoled in our relationship with the Lord, it is the perfect time to earnestly beg His loving help for times of future weakness, doubt, and desolation.” – Megan Hjelmstad
“This is a humbling realization for those of us often tempted by self-reliance, perfectionism, or productivity: we cannot manufacture consolation any more than we can manufacture authentic connection in any human relationship.” – Megan Hjelmstad