This Wednesday, July 31
st we celebrate the feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola. You may recall that St. Ignatius was one of the founders of the Jesuit Order. Later in his life he became known for his good sense of discernment of spirits which has influenced the Jesuits and much of the Christian world to this day. Being able to discern what is going on in one’s heart, what is of God and what is not of Him, makes an eternal difference. At some point he wrote a number of rules or ways of discernment for those going on a 30 day retreat, pointing out how the good spirits lead us toward God and how the bad spirits try to bring about our eternal destruction. The first two rules are:
"The first rule: In the persons who go from mortal sin to mortal sin, the enemy is commonly used to propose to them apparent pleasures, making them imagine sensual delights and pleasures in order to hold them more and make them grow in their vices and sins. In these persons the good spirit uses the opposite method, pricking them and biting their consciences through the process of reason.
"The second: In the persons who are going on intensely cleansing their sins and rising from good to better in the service of God our Lord, it is the method contrary to that in the first rule, for then it is the way of the evil spirit to bite, sadden and put obstacles, disquieting with false reasons, that one may not go on; and it is proper to the good to give courage and strength, consolations, tears, inspirations and quiet, easing, and putting away all obstacles, that one may go on in well doing."
These two rules are maybe the most basic when it comes to the spiritual life. When we are living our lives according to our way, our ego, the Lord still tugs at our heart. Yet many people shun this tugging through constant noise or business. Moreover, when we are in grace with God, the evil one in his attempt to bring us back to sin tries to sadden us or use other false reasons to get our minds and actions off of holy things and off of God. To choose God, may we give our hearts fully to Him who desires our eternal life and happiness.