Signs of the Times  

    ""In a time of desolation, never forsake the good resolutions you made in better times.  Strive to remain patient--a virtue contrary to the troubles that harass you--and remember that you will be consoled."                                                                 St. Ignatius


      NOTE:  For more of a bio sketch on St. Ignatius, please listen to our most recent installment on Blogtalkradio--following is highlighting excerpts from his "Spiritual Exercises:"


                               MOVEMENTS PRODUCED IN THE SOUL

     The following are some rules for perceiving and understanding the different movements that are produced in the soul--the good that should be accepted; the bad that should be rejected.

     The enemy is accustomed ordinarily to propose apparent pleasure to those persons who go from mortal sin to mortal sin.  He thus causes them to imagine sensual delights and pleasure in order to hold them more and more easily and to increase their vices and sins.  The good spirit acts in these persons in a contrary way, awakening the conscience to a sense of remorse through the good judgment of their reason.

      This takes place in those who earnestly strive to purify themselves from their sins and who advance from good to better in the service of God our Lord.  For these persons, it is common for the evil spirit to cause anxiety and sadness and to create obstacles based on false reasoning, thus preventing the soul from making further progress.

      It is characteristic of the good spirit to give courage and strength, consolation, tears, inspiration and peace, making things easy and removing all obstacles so that the soul may make further progress in good works....

      I call it "consolation" when the soul is aroused by an interior movement which causes it to be inflamed with love of its Creator and Lord and consequently can love no created thing in this world for its own sake, but only in the Creator of all things....I call "desolation" all that is contrary to the third rule, as darkness of the soul, turmoil of the mind, inclination to low and earthly things, restlessness resulting from many disturbances and temptations which leads to a loss of faith, loss of hope, loss of love.  It is also desolation when a soul finds tself completely apathetic, tepid, sad, and separated, as it were, from its Creator and Lord....

           ........The enemy is weak in the presence of strength, but strong if he has our will. He will lose courage and take flight when we make a show of determination.  In like manner, if we lose courage and begin to retreat, the anger, rage, and vindictiveness of the enemy becomes great beyond all bounds...The enemy will lose courage and take flight as soon as a person who is following the spiritual life stands courageously against his temptations and does exactly the opposite of what the enemy suggests....

      .....It belongs to God and his angels to bring true happiness and spiritual joy to the soul and to free it from the sadness and disturbance which the enemy causes.  It is the nature of the enemy to fight against such joy and spiritual consolation by proposing (seemingly) serious reasons, subtleties and continual deceptions.  Also, it is characteristic of the evil one to transform himself into an angel of light, to work with the soul in the beginning, but in the end, work for himself.  At first, he will suggest good and holy thoughts, and then, little by little he strives to gain his own end by drawing the soul into his hidden deceits...."

   For just a few Scriptural references to Satan, the devil, the Evil One, the Enemy, see Eph. 6 and also 1 Peter 5:6-11:

      :"Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.  Discipline yourselves, keep alert.  Like a roaring lion, your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.  And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you.  To him be the power forever and ever.  Amen."

      A few exercises you can try individually or with spiritual friends:

  Since we know the devil will attack our weakest side, as Ignatius says, we can combat this attack by knowing where we are weak and making a move to strengthen that side.  This week make it your goal to discover your weakest areas and resolve to strengthen that side.

   Pay close attention this week to the inner movements in your soul.  Discern the source of your thoughts and feelings by using Ignatius's descriptions.

    "The enemy is weak in the presence of strength," writes Ignatius.  Stand firm in the presence of temptations this week, relying not on your own strength but on the strength of God.

   For further reading on the "Spiritual Exercises:"

    "The Spiritual Exercies of St. Ignatius" translated by Anthony Mottola.  New York: Doubleday, 1964.  This is the basis for the 32-day Ignatian retreat. It is better to think of this as a workbook--it sketches out the retreat experience with appropriate meditation exercises.  It is best used in the context of a leader who can guide you through the retreat.

For more info on the Jesuits or discerning a vocation,  go to www.Jesuits.org