St. Ignatius’ Principle & Foundation
-Man is created to praise and serve God, and thus to save his soul. The other things on earth are created to help man meet his end.
-Man should use these when they help him, and rid himself of them when they hinder him.
-It is necessary to make ourselves INDIFFERENT to all those created things allowed to our free will and not forbidden to it; so that we are indifferent of health and sickness, riches and poverty, honor and dishonor, long and short life, etc; desiring and choosing ONLY what brings us closest to our end.
St. Ignatius’ Rules:
AIR 1. Aware 2. Identify 3. Respond
1st Rule: “When Going from God to sin.”
Enemy: suggests sense pleasures to imagination.
Good Spirit: stings the conscience.
2nd Rule: “When Going from sin to God.”
Enemy: bites, stings, saddens, places obstacles, disquiets with false reasons.
Good Spirit: encourages, strengthens, gives tears, inspires, eases, removes all obstacles.
3rd Rule: “Consolation”
Consolation = faith, hope & love + sense of God’s closeness & combo of: peace, ease, clarity, holy desires.
4th Rule: “Desolation” (always the enemy)
Desolation = no faith, hope & love + sense of absence of God & combo of: distress, agitation, secrecy, worldly desires.
Non-spiritual desolation is a weakness. Take care of your body.
5th Rule: “Defense”
In desolation, NEVER make a change in spiritual proposals. Be firm. Right choice can NOT be made with the enemy as guide.
1. Am I in a time of desolation? If yes,
2. Am I considering changing a spiritual proposal that was in place before this desolation? If yes,
3. Renounce the lie in Jesus’ name.
6th Rule: "Offense”
Resist by changing intensely against it:
1. Prayer
2. Meditation: Jesus is present • Scripture • Recall God’s fidelity
3. Much examination
4. Suitable penance
7th Rule: “Consider”
In desolation, consider how God has allowed the trial so you can resist — the Good Spirit is always with you. God always leaves sufficient grace.
Remember…
1. “trial” = this is of great value: “Consider it a great joy when trials of many kinds come upon you”(Jk 1:2).
2. “chance to resist” = God is giving me the opportunity to resist & grow stronger.
3. “sufficient grace” = I have enough grace to resist this trial.
8th Rule: “Be patient”
In times of desolation, be patient and think that consolation will soon return. Diligently resist.
Remember…
1. desolation will pass,
2. consolation will return,
3. and a lot sooner than the desolation is saying!
9th Rule: “Reasons for desolation”
3 reasons God allows desolation (and the fruit if we resist):
1. Our fault —> conversion
2. A trial —> learning & wisdom
3. Consolation is a gift —> humility
Remember…
Desolation exposes a person's affective disorder and allows him to work out inordinate attachments, to allow healing, like a cramp in a muscle.
10th Rule: “In consolation”
Think of how you will act in the next desolation (see Rule 14), taking new strength for that time.
Remember…
Consolation is also a great time to seek God in your painful past.
11th Rule: “Balance”
In consolation, receive with humility, remembering how little you can do in time of desolation. In desolation, think how much you can do to resist the enemy with God’s grace (Rule 6).
12th Rule: “Stand firm in the beginning”
The enemy (like a woman) weakens and flees when resisted promptly, by doing the opposite of the temptation. But if you lose heart in the face of temptation, the enemy gains strength and grows fierce.
Remember…
1. The enemy is essentially weak (a coward).
2. The easiest moment to resist the temptation is right away (do the opposite ASAP).
3. God NEVER calls us simply to passively endure desolation (and temptations).
4. Saying a firm NO = essential in the spiritual life (both what is bad & what makes us spiritually soft).
13th Rule: “Break the silence”
The enemy (like a false lover) wants temptations kept secret, knowing he cannot succeed if they are brought to light with the appropriate spiritual person.
Remember…
1. Desolation claims power to interpret our spiritual past, predict our spiritual future & present itself as our spiritual identity. But it’s a LIE. Either an outright lie or a skewed presentation of truth.
2. Desolation is permitted but NEVER caused by God.
3. Confession & spiritual direction & tell it to Jesus —> do NOT hold back in breaking the silence.
14th Rule: “Strengthen the weak point”
The enemy (like a robber) attacks at our weakest point. Take stock of your strengths and weaknesses to know where the battle will be engaged. Then you will be ready for the attack.
Remember…
Develop counter-habit of holiness = opposite acts of virtue to root out sin.
Focus only on 1 vice at a time.
1. Develop a love for what is most difficult, don’t choose spiritual exercises that feel good.
2. Transform your weak point into a strength: build your entire spiritual life around strengthening it.
3. Be aware that the enemy uses our weaknesses, even in non-spiritual areas, like depression, tiredness, physical problems.