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SD5 – The Journey Through the Dark Night – Spiritual Desolation: Be Aware, Understand, Take Action with Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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BA6 - "Refuse to Accept Discouragement" - Begin Again: The Spiritual Legacy of Ven. Bruno Lanteri with Fr. Timothy Gallagher

The Journey Through the Dark Night – Spiritual Desolation: Be Aware, Understand, Take Action with Fr. Timothy Gallagher

Fr. Timothy Gallagher clarifies the difference between spiritual desolation and the “dark night” of St. John of the Cross. Spiritual desolation is the enemy’s discouraging pull away from prayer and hope; the right move is to resist it. The dark night, by contrast, is God’s painful but purifying gift within prayer that prepares a person for deeper union—first at the level of the senses, later at the level of the spirit, each with active cooperation on our part but primarily God’s work. Think “too much light” rather than darkness: the soul isn’t yet ready, so the brightness stings until it adjusts. Mother Teresa’s long interior darkness is presented as a classic dark night permitted for her sanctification and, in time, for others’ good. While “dark night” is often used broadly—as by Flannery O’Connor, Gerald May, John Paul II, and in popular speech—discerning its technical meaning requires using the term the way John of the Cross does.

Practically: everyone encounters spiritual desolation; not everyone is led into the dark night. Don’t be quick to label a rough patch a dark night; look for its context—usually a transition from more active prayer to a simpler, receptive communion. Doubts can mean very different things: some are part of ordinary faith, some are the enemy’s discouragement (reject them), and some arise amid a true dark night (endure them with guidance). Wise spiritual accompaniment helps a person tell these apart, just as St. Ignatius himself learned discernment over time. Our task is to be faithful—regular prayer, sacraments, spiritual reading, and steady self-gift—while God, the protagonist, gives growth and fruit in due season. Paths vary, as Therese’s “many flowers” image shows; our part is to keep showing up and let God lead.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions:

When have I felt discouragement in prayer, and did I treat it as an attack to resist or a grace to receive?
How is my current prayer more active effort or more quiet receptivity before God?
Do I have a wise spiritual guide to help me distinguish desolation from a true dark night?
Where do I notice “too much light” in prayer that feels painful because I’m not yet ready to receive it?
What simple, faithful practices (Mass, confession, Scripture, Rosary) anchor me when feelings fade?
Am I quick to label difficulties as a dark night instead of patiently discerning their source?
How is God inviting me to “make space” by letting go of attachments that dull my receptivity?
In seasons of dryness, do I keep showing up to pray out of love rather than consolations?
What desires for holiness arise in me when I ponder the saints, and how will I act on them this week?
Where do doubts in me come from—honest seeking, enemy discouragement, or purifying growth in prayer?

From Setting the Captives Free: Personal Reflections on Ignatian Discernment of Spirits

“The dark night, therefore, is an experience of infused contemplative prayer felt as painful because it is purifying; it prepares the person for greater union with God through higher states of infused contemplation. The difference between this purifying experience of prayer and the discouraging lies of spiritual desolation is evident. The first is a gift of God; the second is a trap of the enemy. By accepting the first, we grow; by rejecting the second, we grow.”

Father Timothy M. Gallagher, O.M.V., was ordained in 1979 as a member of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary, a religious community dedicated to retreats and spiritual formation according to the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. Fr. Gallagher is featured on the EWTN series “Living the Discerning Life: The Spiritual Teachings of St. Ignatius of Loyola”. For more information on how to obtain copies of Fr. Gallaghers’s various books and audio which are available for purchase, please visit his website: frtimothygallagher.org

For the other episodes in this series check out Fr. Timothy Gallagher’s “Discerning Hearts” page

SD4 – Embracing Consolation, Understanding Desolation – Spiritual Desolation: Be Aware, Understand, Take Action with Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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Embracing Consolation, Understanding Desolation – Spiritual Desolation: Be Aware, Understand, Take Action with Fr. Timothy Gallagher

Fr. Timothy Gallagher and Kris McGregor explore St. Ignatius of Loyola’s teaching on spiritual desolation, distinguishing between its spiritual and non-spiritual forms. Non-spiritual desolation arises from physical or emotional depletion—like fatigue, illness, or stress—which can influence one’s prayer life if not addressed. Examples include the mother losing sleep to care for a sick child or the priest exhausted after Holy Week. Such tiredness, embraced in love, can be holy but still requires recovery. St. Ignatius’ rules, however, focus specifically on spiritual desolation: heaviness of heart in the relationship with God, discouragement in prayer, or the sense of distance from the Lord. St. Teresa of Avila’s advice—“take care of the body for the love of God”—is highlighted, since physical well-being supports spiritual vitality and prevents the enemy from exploiting human weakness.

Spiritual desolation manifests: darkness of soul, disturbance, attraction to lesser distractions, agitation, loss of confidence, discouragement, absence of love, and the sense of being cut off from God. These movements are lies from the enemy, aiming to erode spiritual growth. The remedy is awareness, recognition of the falsehood, and decisive action—whether resisting distractions, choosing Scripture over the phone, or persevering in prayer. Consolation and desolation are direct opposites, not only in feelings but also in the thoughts they inspire. Consolation leads to hope, gratitude, and openness to God, while desolation brings doubts, lies, and withdrawal. The key is to act promptly before discouragement snowballs, trusting that small, courageous steps open the way for grace and renewed closeness with the Lord.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions:

When have I noticed spiritual desolation in my life, and how did I respond?
What signs help me distinguish spiritual desolation from ordinary emotional or physical fatigue?
How well do I “take care of the body for the love of God” through sleep, nutrition, exercise, and rest?
Where do I feel a pull toward “low and earthly things,” and what grace do I need to resist it?
When discouraging thoughts arise, do I name them as lies and counter them with truth in Christ?
What small, concrete step can I take today to pray when I least feel like praying?
How might I “make space for God” by limiting screens, noise, and constant input this week?
Which healthy human remedies (friendship, counseling, medical care, recreation) would support my spiritual life right now?
When consolation comes, do I form and follow through on good resolutions promptly?
When desolation comes, do I avoid making changes to my spiritual commitments?

From Setting the Captives Free: Personal Reflections on Ignatian Discernment of Spirits:

“Rule 4 is the companion to rule 3 and describes its exact opposite: spiritual desolation. As in rule 3, Ignatius does not give a definition but rather a list of experiences of spiritual desolation. I have italicized each:

Fourth Rule. The fourth is of spiritual desolation. I call desolation all the contrary of the third rule, such asdarkness of soul, disturbance in it, movement to low and earthly things, disquiet from various agitations and temptations, moving to lack of confidence, without hope,without love, finding oneself totally slothful, tepid, sad and, as if separated from one’s Creator and Lord. For just as consolation is contrary to desolation, in the same way the thoughts that come from consolation are contrary to the thoughts that come from desolation.”

For more information on how to obtain copies of Fr. Gallaghers’s various books and audio which are available for purchase, please visit his website: frtimothygallagher.org

For the other episodes in this series check out Fr. Timothy Gallagher’s “Discerning Hearts” page

IP#254 David Scott – The Love That Made Mother Teresa on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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David Scott – The Love That Made Mother Teresa on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor

In this episode, Kris McGregor and David Scott discuss his book The Love That Made Mother Teresa. Mother Teresa’s life reveals that God is love, not in abstract terms but through tangible works of mercy. Anecdotes highlight her care for the sick, the dying, and the forgotten, showing love expressed in small but profound acts. Scott notes that her childhood—marked by her mother’s openness to the poor—helped shape this vision, and her vocation was further clarified through her “call within a call.” Mother Teresa’s “little way,” akin to St. Thérèse’s spirituality, demonstrated how holiness is lived through daily acts of generosity rather than grand gestures.

The book explores her toughness and courage, her kinship with figures like Dorothy Day, and the hidden sufferings she endured, including spiritual darkness. Scott frames her witness as God’s response to a century dominated by ideologies that devalued the human person—she embodied a “revolution of love” that countered worldly powers. Her legacy continues through the Missionaries of Charity and her enduring example of Matthew 25 lived out: feeding the hungry, comforting the afflicted, and recognizing Christ in those most difficult to love. The takeaway is simple yet demanding: to “do little things with great love,” allowing even small sacrifices in everyday life to transform hearts and the world.

You can find the book here.

About the Book

The countless sweet photos of her smiling at babies showed Mother Teresa to be a single-minded advocate for the poor. But she was a woman with a will whose strength has been matched by few souls in history. Mother Teresa broke death’s stranglehold on the poor of Calcutta, and she showed us how to conquer the sin and darkness in what she called the “slums of the hearts of modern man.”

Part biography and part spiritual reading, these pages bring to light little-known stories from Mother Teresa’s life that will help you to grow in your love of God. You will learn her approach to reading Scripture, what enabled her to persevere through agonizing nights, and the remarkable — some would say mystical — events that led her to start the Missionaries of Charity.

In considering Mother Teresa, her private visions, and her secret sufferings, David Scott has discovered scores of early episodes and chance encounters that point to later, larger meanings. These remarkable patterns, he suggests, show that Mother Teresa’s life was choreographed from above, as if a divine script had been written for her from before her birth.

In these pages, you will meet for the first time the Mother Teresa who challenged the ancient Goddess of Death and became the first saint of our global village. You will read her long-secret letters describing the dark nights of her soul. The woman you will meet is one that God Himself sent to you as a clear sign that despite pain and suffering in our lives and in our world, God’s good love will prevail . . . beginning in the slums of our hearts.

We are all called to holiness, and the saints are sent to us as “real life” examples of God’s love. With Mother Teresa as your guide, you’ll learn how to follow God’s call and find holiness in a world marked by the shadow of death and growing indifference to God. Indeed, you’ll learn how to be an everyday missionary of Christ’s love in the ordinary activities of your daily life.

About the Author

David Scott is the current Vice Chancellor of Communications in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and former Editor of Our Sunday Visitor. Scott has published several books, including studies of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta and Dorothy Day. Hundreds of his essays and articles have appeared in journals and periodicals throughout the world, including the Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, as well as National Review, Commonweal, Crisis, Inside the Vatican, National Catholic Register, Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, Beliefnet.com and elsewhere. Scott holds a master’s degree in religion and scripture from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

IP#303 – Susan Conroy – Praying with Mother Teresa on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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Susan Conroy – Praying with Mother Teresa on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor

Susan Conroy reflects on her friendship with Mother Teresa, which began when she was 21 and traveled to Calcutta to volunteer with the Missionaries of Charity. She recalls the joy and peace that radiated from Mother Teresa’s presence, describing it as an encounter with holiness that overflowed into her own service among the poor and suffering. Susan highlights Mother Teresa’s humility, noting that despite global recognition and awards, she lived with deep self-forgetfulness, seeing herself only as a simple instrument in God’s hands. This humility revealed a profound truth about sanctity: greatness is found in becoming small, gentle, and surrendered to God’s will.

The discussion also explores the themes found in Susan’s book Praying with Mother Teresa, which shares the prayers and spiritual practices Mother Teresa lived daily. Mother Teresa taught that the first vocation of every person, including her own sisters, is to belong to Christ, and from that relationship flows the mission of serving others. She invites us to see their own “Calcutta” in family, home, and community, where acts of love, patience, and kindness are most needed. Through stories and insights, Susan conveys that Mother Teresa’s legacy is not merely admiration but imitation—living a mission of love rooted in humility, prayer, and closeness to Christ.

You can get a copy of the book here

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

How does Mother Teresa’s humility challenge your understanding of true greatness before God?
Where do you notice “heavenly joy” arising in the midst of difficult or messy places in your life?
In what concrete ways can you “belong to Jesus” first, before any external service today?
Who in your home most needs your patience and kindness right now, and what will you do about it?
What would it look like to let God “write the story” while you remain a simple instrument in his hand?
Where is your “Calcutta” nearby—someone lonely, sick, or forgotten whom you can love this week?
How might you move from admiring holy people to imitating their virtues in daily choices?
After receiving Holy Communion, how will you allow Christ to shine through you in practical actions?
When did you last leave someone “better and happier,” and how can that become your daily habit?
Which moments at home reveal your “true colors,” and how can grace reshape them?

From the book description

Praying with Mother Teresa brings us into the heart of Mother Teresa’s prayer life! Author Susan Conroy, a personal friend of Mother Teresa, gives us a meditative look at Mother Teresa’s insights on suffering, joy, peace, humility, and poverty, and brings us right into the prayer life of one of the most beloved women of our time, Saint Teresa of Calcutta. Each prayer has been carefully, and prayerfully, selected for use in daily prayer. Mother Teresa gave Susan her blessing and approval to share these words and prayers with others “to bring them peace and joy too.”

About the Author

In the summer of 1986, 21-year-old Susan Conroy journeyed to Calcutta alone to help the Missionaries of Charity. She developed a personal friendship with Mother Teresa that lasted throughout the course of 11 years, until Mother Teresa was called home to God. Susan is the author of nine books, including bestselling Mother Teresa’s Lessons of Love & Secrets of Sanctity, and lives in Portland, Maine.

SD3 – Insights into Rules 10 through 14 – Spiritual Desolation: Be Aware, Understand, Take Action with Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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Insights into Rules 10 through 14 – Spiritual Desolation: Be Aware, Understand, Take Action with Fr. Timothy Gallagher

Fr. Timothy Gallagher and Kris McGregor explore St. Ignatius of Loyola’s Rules 10–14. Fr. Gallagher explains how times of consolation are opportunities not only to rejoice in God’s grace but also to gather strength for inevitable periods of desolation, much like Joseph storing grain for famine. Rule 11 invites humility in consolation and trust in God’s power during desolation, helping us avoid overconfidence when prayer feels easy or despair when it feels dry. Such experiences, though painful, can become occasions for deeper prayer and growth. Desolation itself is never from God but permitted in His providence so that, with grace, we may resist discouragement and grow in freedom.

The later rules shift toward understanding temptation. Rule 12 counsels resisting temptation immediately, before it grows overwhelming, while Rule 13 warns against secrecy and highlights the freedom that comes from sharing struggles with a wise confessor or spiritual companion. Rule 14 addresses our most vulnerable points, urging self-knowledge so that weakness can become strength through grace. Fr. Gallagher ties this teaching to a broader message of Christian hope, drawing on Scripture, St. John Paul II, and even Tolkien to show that God’s redemption always surpasses evil. We need to seek accompaniment, cultivate awareness of God’s presence in daily life, and live with humility and trust, becoming agents of renewal through the quiet witness of a discerning life.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions:

In a season of consolation, how can I “store grain” for the next famine through concrete habits of prayer and virtue?
Where might I be overextending myself when things feel easy, and what humble limit would keep me steady?
When desolation returns, what is one truth about God I will cling to first?
What small, practical action can I take today that contradicts a tempting thought at its very beginning?
Which recurring fear or shame do I still keep hidden, and whom could I safely tell this week (confessor or trusted guide)?
What is the weakest point in my “castle walls,” and what grace-building practice will I place there?
How has the Lord recently shown me His nearness, and how will I remember it when prayer feels dry?
When I notice spiritual heaviness, what change in routine will I avoid making until light returns?
How will I practice the daily Examen to notice God’s movements and the enemy’s suggestions?
What hope from Scripture can I memorize now to pray in dark hours?

From Setting the Captives Free: Personal Reflections on Ignatian Discernment of Spirits

“Tenth Rule. The tenth: Let the one who is in consolation think how he will conduct himself in the desolation which will come after, taking new strength for that time.

Eleventh Rule. The eleventh: Let one who is consoled seek to humble himself and lower himself as much as he can, think- ing of how little he is capable in the time of desolation with- out such grace or consolation. On the contrary, let one who is in desolation think that he can do much with God’s sufficient grace to resist all his enemies, taking strength in his Creator and Lord.

Twelfth Rule. The twelfth: The enemy acts like a woman in being weak when faced with strength and strong when faced with weakness. For, as it is proper to a woman, when she is fighting with some man, to lose heart and to flee when the man confronts her firmly, and, on the contrary, if the man begins to flee, losing heart, the anger, vengeance and ferocity of the woman grow greatly and know no bounds, in the same way, it is proper to the enemy to weaken and lose heart, flee- ing and ceasing his temptations when the person who is exer- cising himself in spiritual things confronts the temptations of the enemy firmly, doing what is diametrically opposed to them; and, on the contrary, if the person who is exercising himself begins to be afraid and lose heart in suffering the temptations, there is no beast so fierce on the face of the earth as the enemy of human nature in following out his damnable intention with such growing malice.

Thirteenth Rule. The thirteenth: Likewise he conducts him- self as a false lover in wishing to remain secret and not berevealed. For a dissolute man who, speaking with evil inten- tion, makes dishonorable advances to a daughter of a good father or a wife of a good husband, wishes his words and persuasions to be secret, and the contrary displeases him very much, when the daughter reveals to her father or the wife to her husband his false words and depraved intention, because he easily perceives that he will not be able to succeed with the undertaking begun. In the same way, when the enemy of human nature brings his wiles and persuasions to the just soul, he wishes and desires that they be received and kept in secret; but when one reveals them to one’s good confessor or to another spiritual person, who knows his deceits and malicious designs, it weighs on him very much, because he perceives that he will not be able to succeed with the mali- cious undertaking he has begun, since his manifest deceits have been revealed.

Fourteenth Rule. The fourteenth: Likewise he conducts him- self as a leader, intent upon conquering and robbing what he desires. For, just as a captain and leader of an army in the field, pitching his camp and exploring the fortifications and defenses of a stronghold, attacks it at the weakest point, in the same way the enemy of human nature, roving about, looks in turn at all our theological, cardinal and moral vir- tues; and where he finds us weakest and most in need for our eternal salvation, there he attacks us and attempts to take us.”

For the other episodes in this series check out Fr. Timothy Gallagher’s “Discerning Hearts” page

IP#305 Dr. Peter Kreeft – I Burned for Your Peace on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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Dr. Peter Kreeft – I Burned for Your Peace on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor

Dr. Peter Kreeft joins Kris McGregor to discuss his book I Burned for Your Peace: Augustine’s Confessions Unpacked. He describes St. Augustine as both passionate and brilliant, a rare union of heart and intellect. This blend makes the Confessions timeless—deeply personal yet profoundly theological. The book is written as a prayer, which gives it burning honesty, since St. Augustine is speaking directly to God. The famous line, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in you,” is its central theme, showing how St. Augustine’s restless search for truth, meaning, and joy ultimately led him to God through divine grace. His journey of confronting sin, wrestling with doubts, and being guided by his mother St. Monica demonstrates both his humanity and his uniqueness, while also reflecting the universal struggles of every person.

As a guide through St. Augustine’s work, Dr. Kreeft compares the Confessions to a Christmas tree that he helps decorate without obscuring its beauty. St. Augustine’s humility, honesty, and recognition of suffering is essential for spiritual growth. Augustine shows that life is a story with a beginning, middle, and end directed toward God, and his conversion reveals that no one can reach this destiny without grace. His mystical experiences, struggles with evil, and deep relationship with God illustrate both the darkness of sin and the light of divine love. For Dr. Kreeft, reading St. Augustine is not just encountering a saint of the past but a companion for today, someone who reveals what it means to be fully human and fully oriented toward God.

You can find the book here.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

How does Augustine’s description of a restless heart invite you to examine what you are truly seeking in life?
In what ways can you speak to God in prayer with the same honesty Augustine shows in the Confessions?
What role does suffering play in your spiritual journey, and how might you unite it with Christ’s own suffering?
How do you recognize God’s grace working in your life, even when your will resists conversion?
What can Augustine’s relationship with his mother, Monica, teach you about the power of intercession and perseverance in prayer?
How do you respond when you see sin in yourself compared to when you see it in others?
What aspects of Augustine’s story mirror your own search for truth, meaning, and love?
How can humility, understood as standing in God’s light, shape the way you view yourself and others?
In what ways does the narrative of your own life reflect God’s ongoing work of redemption?
How do Augustine’s mystical experiences challenge or inspire your own understanding of encountering God?

About the Book

Popular author and philosopher Peter Kreeft delves into one of the most beloved Christian classics of all time–Augustine’s Confessions. He collects key passages and offers incisive commentary, making Confessions accessible to any reader who is both intellectually curious and spiritually hungry.

The Confessions is a dramatic personal narrative of a soul choosing between eternal life and death, an exploration of the timeless questions great minds have been asking for millennia, and a prayer of praise and thanksgiving to God. I Burned for Your Peace is not a scholarly work but an unpacking of the riches found in Augustine’s text. It is existential, personal, and devotional, as well as warm, witty, and thought-provoking. With Kreeft to guide them, readers of the Confessions can overhear and understand the intimate conversation between a towering intellect and the God whose peace he at last humbly accepts.

About the Author

Peter Kreeft, Ph.D., Professor of Philosophy at Boston College, is one of the most respected and prolific Christian authors of our time. His books cover a vast array of topics in spirituality, theology, and philosophy. They include Doors in the Walls of the World, The Greatest Philosopher Who Ever Lived, How to Be Holy, Because God Is Real, You Can Understand the Bible, and Summa of the Summa.

SD2 – The Practical Guidance of Rules 5-9 – Spiritual Desolation: Be Aware, Understand, Take Action with Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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The Practical Guidance of Rules 5-9 – Spiritual Desolation: Be Aware, Understand, Take Action with Fr. Timothy Gallagher

Fr. Timothy Gallagher and Kris McGregor discuss St. Ignatius’ rules on spiritual desolation and distinguishing between the actions of the good spirit and the enemy during the discernment process.

In particular, Rules 5 through 9 provide practical guidance, advising against changes during desolation, promoting active spiritual tools, and addressing the causes and purposes of desolation. Fr. Gallagher makes note of the trial aspect, encouraging patience, and stresses the humility of recognizing spiritual consolation as a gift from God.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions:

How does Ignatius define discernment of spirits, and what is its purpose in our spiritual lives?
Explore the actions of the good spirit and the enemy in different spiritual situations, such as moving away from God or striving to grow closer to Him.
How does the good spirit’s biting and stinging impact a person going away from God, and what role does discomfort play in leading them back to God?
In contrast, how does the enemy attempt to hinder a person growing toward God, and what tactics does Ignatius describe in this scenario?
Summarize the key points from Rules 5 to 9, focusing on the importance of not making changes during desolation, active use of spiritual tools, and understanding the causes and purposes of desolation.
How does Ignatius present desolation as a trial, and what opportunities for growth does it offer to individuals experiencing it?
Explore the significance of working to be patient during spiritual desolation and the encouragement to stay the course.
What are the three principal causes Ignatius highlights for spiritual desolation, and how does understanding these causes contribute to spiritual growth?
Reflect on the concept that all spiritual consolation is a gift from God, and how recognizing this truth fosters humility and spiritual maturity.

From Setting the Captives Free: Personal Reflections on Ignatian Discernment of Spirits:

“First Rule. The first rule: In persons who are going from mortal sin to mortal sin, the enemy is ordinarily accustomed to propose apparent pleasures to them, leading them to 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 a contrary method, stinging and biting their consciences through their rational power of moral judgment.

Second Rule. The second: In persons who are going on intensely purifying their sins and rising from good to better in the service of God our Lord, the method is contrary to that in the first rule. For then it is proper to the evil spirit to bite, sadden, and place obstacles, disquieting with false reasons, so
that the person may not go forward. And it is proper to the good spirit to give courage and strength, consolations, tears, inspirations and quiet, easing and taking away all obstacles, so that the person may go forward in doing good.

Third Rule. The third is of spiritual consolation. I call it consolation when some interior movement is caused in the soul, through which the soul comes to be inflamed with love of its Creator and Lord, and, consequently when it can love no created thing on the face of the earth in itself, but only in the Creator of them all. Likewise when it sheds tears that move to love of its Lord, whether out of sorrow for one’s sins, or for the passion of Christ our Lord, or because of other things directly ordered to his service and praise. Finally, I call consolation every increase of hope, faith and charity, and all interior
joy that calls and attracts to heavenly things and to the salvation of one’s soul, quieting it and giving it peace in its Creator and Lord.

Fourth Rule. The fourth is of spiritual desolation. I call desolation all the contrary of the third rule, such as darkness of soul, disturbance in it, movement to low and earthly things, disquiet from various agitations and temptations, moving to lack of confidence, without hope, without love, finding oneself totally slothful, tepid, sad and, as if separated from one’s Creator and Lord. For just as consolation is contrary to desolation, in the same way the thoughts that come from consolation are contrary to the thoughts that come from desolation.

Fifth Rule. The fifth: In time of desolation never make a change, but be firm and constant in the proposals and determination in which one was the day preceding such desolation, or in the determination in which one was in the preceding consolation. Because, as in consolation the good spirit guides and counsels us more, so in desolation the bad spirit, with whose counsels we cannot find the way to a right decision.

Sixth Rule. The sixth: Although in desolation we should not change our first proposals, it is very advantageous to change ourselves intensely against the desolation itself, as by insisting more upon prayer, meditation, upon much examination, and upon extending ourselves in some suitable way of doing penance.

Seventh Rule. The seventh: Let one who is in desolation consider how the Lord has left him in trial in his natural powers, so that he may resist the various agitations and temptations of the enemy; since he can resist with the divine help, which always remains with him, though he does not clearly feel it; for the Lord has taken away from him his great fervor, abundant love and intense grace, leaving him, however, sufficient grace for eternal salvation.

Eighth Rule. The eighth: Let one who is in desolation work to be in patience, which is contrary to the vexations which come to him, and let him think that he will soon be consoled, diligently using the means against such desolation, as is said in the sixth rule.

Ninth Rule. The ninth: There are three principal causes for which we find ourselves desolate. The first is because we are tepid, slothful or negligent in our spiritual exercises, and so through our faults spiritual consolation withdraws from us. The second, to try us and see how much we are and how
much we extend ourselves in his service and praise without so much payment of consolations and increased graces. The third, to give us true recognition and understanding so that we may interiorly feel that it is not ours to attain or maintain increased devotion, intense love, tears or any other spiritual
consolation, but that all is the gift and grace of God our Lord, and so that we may not build a nest in something belonging to another, raising our mind in some pride or vainglory attributing to ourselves the devotion or the other parts of the spiritual consolation.”

For the other episodes in this series check out Fr. Timothy Gallagher’s “Discerning Hearts” page

The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff

Msgr. John Esseff John Esseff and Kris McGregor reflect on the queenship of Mary, drawing from stories of apparitions and her motherly role in salvation history. Mary’s title as queen is not tied to worldly grandeur but to her humility, purity, and tender care. Msgr. Esseff highlights how Mary appeared to the lowly—Juan Diego at Guadalupe, children at Fatima, Bernadette at Lourdes—always offering comfort, healing, and intercession. Her queenship flows from her role as the Mother of God, and her love extends universally, desiring to bring every person closer to Christ. Her presence in sacramentals like the Miraculous Medal continues to be a source of grace and healing for those who turn to her in need.

Mary’s humility as the key to her victory over Satan—being the “heel” that crushes the serpent’s head. Esseff ties this to Jesus’ teaching that the last shall be first, and he invites reflection on how God’s generosity will surprise us in heaven, welcoming even those we might least expect. Mary’s queenship, united with Christ the Good Shepherd, is shown in her concern for the lost, sick, and forgotten. The episode concludes with a call to childlike trust: to become small, dependent, and open to God’s love, learning from Mary’s example of humility and her constant readiness to care for those in need.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

How does Mary’s humility as the “heel” crushing the serpent challenge my own understanding of strength and greatness?
In what ways do I turn to Mary as a mother when I am in need of comfort, healing, or guidance?
What can I learn from Mary’s appearances at Guadalupe, Lourdes, and Fatima about God’s love for the poor, the sick, and children?
How do I respond to Christ’s teaching that “the last shall be first” in my daily life and relationships?
Do I approach God with childlike trust, allowing myself to be cared for as a son or daughter?
How can I imitate Mary’s example of going “in haste” to serve others, as she did for Elizabeth?
What areas of my life most need Mary’s intercession and the healing power of her Son today?
How does the reality of God’s generosity in welcoming the unexpected into heaven challenge my attitude toward others?

Msgr. John A. Esseff is a Roman Catholic priest in the Diocese of Scranton. Msgr. Esseff served as a retreat director and confessor to Saint Teresa of Calcutta. He continues to offer direction and retreats for the sisters of the Missionaries of Charity. Msgr. Esseff encountered St. Padre Pio, who would become a spiritual father to him. He has lived in areas around the world, serving in the Pontifical missions, a Catholic organization established by Pope St. John Paul II to bring the Good News to the world, especially to the poor. He continues to serve as a retreat leader and director to bishops, priests and sisters and seminarians, and other religious leaders .

SD1 – Journey Through Desolation – Spiritual Desolation: Be Aware, Understand, Take Action with Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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Journey Through Desolation – Spiritual Desolation: Be Aware, Understand, Take Action with Fr. Timothy Gallagher

Fr. Timothy Gallagher and Kris McGregor explore the reality of spiritual desolation through the lens of St. Ignatius of Loyola’s life and teaching; including the Ignatian process of becoming aware, gaining understanding, and then choosing how to act when facing inner movements of the heart. Drawing from St. Ignatius’ conversion, he highlights how worldly pursuits left Ignatius feeling empty, while reflecting on the saints stirred lasting joy—helping him discern God’s call. Spiritual desolation is one of the enemy’s common tactics, often causing discouragement, apathy in prayer, or withdrawal from community life. Recognizing it for what it is allows a person to actively reject it rather than remain trapped by it.

Fr. Gallagher reflects on St. Ignatius’ physical suffering after his leg injury, showing how God can work through painful or even seemingly disastrous circumstances to bring about transformation. Both his struggles and the spiritual struggles of other saints remind us that holiness emerges in the midst of weakness, mistakes, and trials. Discernment is not about dwelling on desolation, but about the hope and freedom found in God’s grace—freedom from discouragement and freedom for deeper prayer, service, and joy in following Christ.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions:

How can I become more attentive to the inner movements of my heart and notice when I am experiencing spiritual desolation?
When have I mistaken desolation for something like depression or discouragement in daily life?
How do I respond when I sense emptiness after pursuing worldly desires compared to the joy that follows choosing God?
What lessons can I learn from St. Ignatius’ suffering and how God used it to bring about his conversion?
Where might God be working through difficult or painful circumstances in my own life?
How do I tend to act when prayer feels dry or unfruitful—do I persist or pull back?
In what ways can I share my own spiritual struggles so that others may recognize their experiences in mine?
How does recalling the humanity and struggles of the saints encourage me in my own spiritual journey?
What practical steps can I take to reject discouraging thoughts and turn instead toward God’s grace?
How can I grow in “freedom for”—a greater capacity to love and serve God joyfully in my vocation?

From the Prologue of Setting the Captives Free: Personal Reflections on Ignatian Discernment of Spirits:

“Five hundred years ago, Ignatius entered the realm of the heart and crafted a set of guidelines for responding to interior experience, both joyful (spiritual consolation) and discouraging (spiritual desolation), on the spiritual level. These guidelines, when well explained, equip hearers to be aware of, understand the significance of, and take action in response to their spiritual experience. Said differently, they take Christian anthropology—the fact that only in Christ can the human person be understood fully—seriously, and render it operative. When one applies these guidelines, the full Christian understanding of the human person ceases to remain a theological construct and is rendered concretely applicable in daily living. For over three decades, I have seen many apply these guidelines with much fruit.“

For the other episodes in this series check out Fr. Timothy Gallagher’s “Discerning Hearts” page

For more information on how to obtain copies of Fr. Gallaghers’s various books and audio which are available for purchase, please visit his website: frtimothygallagher.org

St. Ephrem of Syria – The Doctors of the Church: The Charism of Wisdom with Dr. Matthew Bunson – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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St. Ephrem of Syria – The Doctors of the Church: The Charism of Wisdom with Dr. Matthew Bunson

Born: 306 AD, Nisibis, Turkey
Died: June 9, 373 AD, Edessa, Turkey

Dr. Matthew Bunson and Kris McGregor discuss the life and contributions of St. Ephraim, who was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1920 by Pope Benedict XV. This recognition was part of an effort to appreciate the Eastern churches and celebrate their spiritual and ecclesiastical heritage. St. Ephraim, known as the “Harp of the Holy Spirit,” is notable for his hymns and poetry, which served both as theological teaching tools and defenses against heresies such as Arianism.

St. Ephraim was born around 306 in what is now modern Turkey and died in 373. He was a prolific writer, composing up to 3 million lines of poetry and 400 hymns. His hymns focused on themes like creation, the Eucharist, and Mary, and were used to counter heretical teachings through memorable and orthodox lyrics. His work established a tradition of integrating hymns and poetry into Christian liturgy, deeply influencing subsequent church practices.

Despite not being ordained a priest, Ephraim had a significant impact as a deacon, poet, and teacher. His practical life included serving his community during famines and plagues, and his hymns and writings provided deep theological insights. Pope Benedict XVI highlighted Ephraim’s ability to combine poetry and theology, making his teachings a part of the Christian prayer life.

The importance of liturgical music that is both beautiful and theologically rich, following Ephraim’s model. It suggests that modern hymn composers should strive to create music that is not only pleasant but also profound in its theological content. St. Ephraim’s life and work serve as a powerful example for today’s Christians to use their gifts in service to God and the church.

For more on St. Ephrem and his teachings

St. Ephraim the Syrian (306-373)
Nisibene Hymns – Miscellaneous Hymns
On the Nativity of Christ in the Flesh
For the Feast of the Epiphany
On the Faith (“The Pearl”)
On Our Lord, On Admonition and Repentance
On the Sinful Woman

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

St. Ephraim’s Influence: How does St. Ephraim’s integration of poetry and theology inspire you to use your unique talents in service to God and the Church?
Liturgical Importance: Why is it essential for hymns and liturgical music to be both beautiful and theologically rich?
Serving with Humility: In what ways can you follow St. Ephraim’s example of humility and service in your own community?
Facing Heresies: How can we use creative arts today to defend and teach the faith, as St. Ephraim did against Arianism?
Legacy of Faith: What can we learn from St. Ephraim’s dedication to catechizing and deepening the faith of his community, and how can we apply this in contemporary settings?
Multifaceted Contributions: Reflect on the significance of St. Ephraim’s contributions as a poet, teacher, and deacon. How can you utilize all your gifts to serve God?
The Role of Hymns: Consider the role of hymns in your personal spiritual life. How do they help you deepen your faith and understanding of God?
Evangelization through Music: How can we better integrate the theological depth of hymns in our efforts towards the new evangelization?
Historical Context: Reflect on the historical context of St. Ephraim’s life. How did the challenges he faced shape his ministry, and what lessons can we draw from this for our own times?
Living the Faith: How does St. Ephraim’s commitment to living out his faith through service and hymnody challenge you to embody your beliefs in everyday actions?

From Vatican.va, an excerpt from the teachings of Pope Benedict XVI General Audience 2007:

“The figure of Ephrem is still absolutely timely for the life of the various Christian Churches. We discover him in the first place as a theologian who reflects poetically, on the basis of Holy Scripture, on the mystery of man’s redemption brought about by Christ, the Word of God incarnate. His is a theological reflection expressed in images and symbols taken from nature, daily life and the Bible. Ephrem gives his poetry and liturgical hymns a didactic and catechetical character: they are theological hymns yet at the same time suitable for recitation or liturgical song. On the occasion of liturgical feasts, Ephrem made use of these hymns to spread Church doctrine. Time has proven them to be an extremely effective catechetical instrument for the Christian community.

Ephrem’s reflection on the theme of God the Creator is important: nothing in creation is isolated and the world, next to Sacred Scripture, is a Bible of God. By using his freedom wrongly, man upsets the cosmic order. The role of women was important to Ephrem. The way he spoke of them was always inspired with sensitivity and respect: the dwelling place of Jesus in Mary’s womb greatly increased women’s dignity. Ephrem held that just as there is no Redemption without Jesus, there is no Incarnation without Mary. The divine and human dimensions of the mystery of our redemption can already be found in Ephrem’s texts; poetically and with fundamentally scriptural images, he anticipated the theological background and in some way the very language of the great Christological definitions of the fifth-century Councils.

Ephrem, honoured by Christian tradition with the title “Harp of the Holy Spirit”, remained a deacon of the Church throughout his life. It was a crucial and emblematic decision: he was a deacon, a servant, in his liturgical ministry, and more radically, in his love for Christ, whose praises he sang in an unparalleled way, and also in his love for his brethren, whom he introduced with rare skill to the knowledge of divine Revelation.”

For more visit Vatican.va

For more from Dr. Matthew Bunson, check out his Discerning Hearts page.

Dr. Matthew E. Bunson is a Register senior editor and a senior contributor to EWTN News. For the past 20 years, he has been active in the area of Catholic social communications and education, including writing, editing, and teaching on a variety of topics related to Church history, the papacy, the saints and Catholic culture. He is faculty chair at Catholic Distance University, a senior fellow of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, and the author or co-author of over 50 books including The Encyclopedia of Catholic History, The Pope Encyclopedia, We Have a Pope! Benedict XVI, The Saints Encyclopedia and best-selling biographies of St. Damien of Molokai and St. Kateri Tekakwitha.