“With heavenly matters, we must sometimes wait patiently, for years, until God chooses, in His own perfect timing, to act.” – Glenn Dickinson
“I began to feel unwell; a chronic illness flareup had come out of nowhere. By the next morning, I was doubled over in pain.” – Megan Hjelmstad
“As we persevere against one desolation, it’s not uncommon for Satan to pivot and distract us with another.” – Megan Hjelmstad
“Consolation increases our confidence in God and helps us to rely more on His unfailing strength.” – Megan Hjelmstad
“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
“(St. Elisabeth of the Trinity) understood the connection between renunciation and praise — Praise is the radiance of the splendor of God in a soul, the showing forth of His attributes in the world. In her thought, renunciation creates a precondition that allows such a collaboration with God to be realized.” – Anthony Lilles
