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Conference 6 – Discerning the Will of God with Fr. Timothy Gallagher O.M.V.
Fr. Timothy Gallagher explores second mode discernment, a process described by St. Ignatius of Loyola in which one discerns God’s will through a pattern of spiritual consolation and desolation. He presents several real-life and historical examples—such as George, Alice, Walter, and Ignatius himself—who experience moments of deep spiritual joy, peace, or warmth (consolation) and contrasting times of emptiness, discouragement, and confusion (desolation), particularly in prayer. These interior shifts, when carefully observed and prayerfully examined, become key indicators in discerning God’s direction. Certain decisions can become clearer over time as one sees a consistent inner response during these highs and lows. Importantly, experiencing spiritual desolation is not shameful but a common part of the journey.
St. Ignatius’s rules for discernment help a person understand which thoughts are coming from God and which are tactics of the enemy meant to confuse or derail one’s spiritual progress. During times of consolation, one is often drawn to decisions aligned with God’s will, while desolation might tempt one to abandon those same decisions—hence St. Ignatius’s rule to never make significant changes during desolation. Gallagher encourages listeners to become familiar with these rules, to practice them, and to seek support from a spiritual director. He illustrates this with Ignatius’s own 40-day discernment regarding Jesuit poverty and a modern example of a young man discerning a Jesuit vocation.
You can find various handouts spoken of by Fr. Gallagher in the links below:
- Handout 1: https://www.discerninghearts.com/PDF/Discerning_the_Will_of_God-DISCERNING_HEARTS.pdf
- Handout 2: https://www.discerninghearts.com/PDF/Text-of-St-Ignatius-SpirEx,175-188.pdf
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
- When have I experienced a deep sense of God’s love or closeness in prayer, and how did it affect my decisions?
- Can I recognize moments of spiritual desolation in my life, and how did I respond to them?
- Do I remain faithful to prayer even when it feels dry, difficult, or fruitless?
- How do I discern whether a spiritual consolation is truly from God?
- Have I ever been tempted to abandon a spiritual commitment during a time of discouragement?
- In times of peace, what direction does my heart consistently feel drawn toward?
- Do I seek help from a spiritual director or trusted guide when facing interior confusion?
- What practical steps can I take to become more aware of my interior spiritual movements?
- How might God be using my emotional highs and lows to guide me in a current decision?
- Have I learned to reject the voice of the enemy when it tries to sow doubt or fear in my spiritual life?
