As we journey with God, every faithful person has two contrasting kinds of experiences.  At times we feel an attraction to prayer, to loving and serving God – these are times of spiritual consolation.  At other times we feel less attraction to the things of God, perhaps even discouraged in our spiritual life – these are times of spiritual desolation.  How do we respond in these two times?  How can we respond when we feel discouraged?  How do we discern God’s voice within us in both times and receive God’s help?  St. Ignatius Loyola’s teaching on the discernment of spirits is a very practical guide for how to respond to the spiritual reality of the different spirits at work in our lives.

In this 7-week class, you will learn St. Ignatius’ teaching on the discernment of spirits and through daily prayer, begin to integrate it into your own spiritual life. 

“These Ignatian guidelines set captives free, free from the discouragement and sadness of spiritual desolation.  They offer hope precisely where persons may have felt hope was not possible, and so release new energy for the spiritual journey.”  Fr. Timothy Gallagher, O.M.V., Setting Captives Free: Personal Reflections on Ignatian Discernment of Spirits