“As we start responding to God’s “pricks” of grace and stop allowing unhealthy pleasures to rule over reason, we begin to overcome sinful enticements. In response, the actions of God and Satan seem to switch.” – Megan Hjelmstad
“Obedience is the foundation to authentic humility. But when you truly love someone, you want to do as much for them as possible rather than only what is required.” – Debra Black
“St. Ignatius tells us that when we’re committing sin, Satan will try to keep us enslaved to ongoing sin by making it look attractive or feel good.” – Megan Hjelmstad
“Saint Ignatius created the Rules of Discernment for us as a sort of spiritual ‘flare’ or night vision device to cut through the fog.” – Megan Hjelmstad
“As motives continue to be examined, the retreatant prays an exercise known as the Three Classes of Men. The purpose of this exercise is ‘to choose that which is better’ (Sp. Ex. 149).” – Debra Black
“The retreatant takes an honest look at the worldly things that capture his/her fancy and upon which they have built their identity. In prayer, they are led to consider materialism and all the ‘stuff’ in their life from the honest perspective of how they see themselves with that stuff.” – Debra Black
“Wealth, poverty, illness, and health are neither good nor bad. What determines their goodness or badness is our intent and use of these.” – Debra Black
“Coupled with the meditations of the Exercises, healing takes place and self-reliance is slowly replaced with God-reliance. The enemy loses his hold on them.” – Debra Black
“It is important to ‘own’ our sin. But it is also important to stand in awe of Him who in that very same moment has chosen to suffer the consequence of it.” – Debra Black
“The spiritual life, our relationship with God, is eternal and never-ending. Similarly, the Spiritual Exercises have no ‘end’.” – Debra Black
