Discovering God's will
Discerning Life Ministries
Discovering God's will
St. Ignatius of Loyola's Rules for Discernment of Spirits
Discernment of Spirits Reflection Guide, Part I
Discernment of Spirits Reflection Guide, Part II
Discernment of Spirits Reflection Guide, Part II
A guide to learning and applying the Rules for Discernment of Spirits using St. Ignatius' First Week Rules from his Spiritual Exercises
Discernment of Spirits Reflection Guide, Part II
Discernment of Spirits Reflection Guide, Part II
Discernment of Spirits Reflection Guide, Part II
A guide to learning and applying the Rules for Discernment of Spirits using St. Ignatius' Second Week Rules from his Spiritual Exercises
Why have a Reflection Guide for the Rules?
Help, I don't have a Spiritual Director!
I was fortunate enough to be taught these rules in my early 20's when I was a member of the People of Praise community. These rules helped me navigate through 30 years of being single waiting for my vocation of marriage. They were also very helpful when discerning my charisms and using those gifts in ministry. I believe they guided me away from many a trap the enemy had prepared for me.
I developed this Reflection Guide at a time when I did not have a spiritual director and needed one. I needed someone to remind me of the rules and how I should respond to Desolations and Consolations in the moment. As I listened to Mary Frances Sparrow teach St. Ignatius of Loyola's Rules for Discerning Spirits for both the First Week and the Second Week (now available in the book, Burning with Love for God: A Guide to the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius), I kept seeing a flow chart in my mind. I was a Business Analyst at the time and had been doing many flow charts for my work. I thought it would be fun to see if it could be done with these rules.
Over the past ten years, I have shared the original document, taught these rules to many people, and have added onto the guide several new things as I have learned them through experience and study.
One day, Jen Messing, from 'Into the Deep' (idretreats.org), encouraged me to share it with more people. After more research and input from others, including Fr. Timothy Gallagher, Part I on the First Week Rules is now available for you to download. I use it to teach the rules to my directees in spiritual direction, have developed a 4-talk retreat on incorporating these rules in our prayer, and I personally refer to them often as I continue to follow the Lord. Currently it is only available via download, but printed copies are available by request.
I pray that this guide helps you in your journey too.
My Ministry
Spiritual Direction
Spiritual Direction
Spiritual Direction
A Catholic spiritual companion that will walk with you on the journey of deepening your relationship with God, improving your prayer, and learning how to understand and respond to God's call for your unique mission
Prayer Challenges: Acedia, Distractions, Dryness, Hearing God's Voice
Director for Spiritual Exercises
(19th Annotation)
Discernment
Spiritual Direction
Spiritual Direction
Discernment is needed whether we are in transition or just wanting to grow in our faith
Types of Discernment offered:
God's Will in Decisions
Spiritual Gifts (Charisms)
State in Life
Discernment of Spirits by St. Ignatius of Loyola
Retreat Speaker
Spiritual Direction
Retreat Speaker
Day Retreats
Evening Retreats
Weekend Retreats
Speaker Series
for
Catholic and Ecumenical Christians
Retreat Topics
Searching for and Maintaining Peace
Searching for and Maintaining Peace
Searching for and Maintaining Peace
Based on the book by Fr. Jacques Philippe, these 2 talks explore why we lose our peace, how to regain our peace, and how to find true peace.
Discernment of Spirits in Prayer
Searching for and Maintaining Peace
Searching for and Maintaining Peace
St. Ignatius’ has practical and helpful advice about how to understand and respond to the good times and the dry or distracted times in prayer without losing our peace and hope.
These talks consider how knowing the rules for discernment of spirits might apply to your prayer, daily challenges, decision making, and your acts of charity toward others.
Acedia
Searching for and Maintaining Peace
Distractions in Prayer: Blessing or Curse?
Restless? Bored in your spiritual journey? Feel like giving up? It might be something serious. Acedia is the unnamed demon of our times and affects us all at one time or another. This talk looks at the signs and remedies for Acedia.
Distractions in Prayer: Blessing or Curse?
Distractions in Prayer: Blessing or Curse?
Distractions in Prayer: Blessing or Curse?
Based on the book by Sr. Vilma Seelaus, these talks look at the different temptations and distractions in each of the seven mansions described in St. Teresa de Avila's Interior Castle with suggestions for growth in each stage.
Breaking the Habit of Not Praying
Distractions in Prayer: Blessing or Curse?
Breaking the Habit of Not Praying
"I want to pray but I just can't find the time!" These talks consider why prayer is a habit to develop and looks at ways to develop that habit.
Temperaments and Prayer
Distractions in Prayer: Blessing or Curse?
Breaking the Habit of Not Praying
A look at the four temperaments and how they affect our preferences and struggles in prayer and spiritual growth