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.
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.
I call desolation all that is contrary to [consolation], 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 loss of faith, loss of hope, loss of love.
For just as consolation is contrary to desolation, so the thoughts that spring from consolation are the opposite of those that spring from desolation.
In time of desolation one should never make a change. . . . Although in desolation we should not change our earlier resolutions, it will be very advantageous to intensify our activity against desolation.
A person who is in consolation ought to think of how he will conduct himself during a future desolation and thus build up a new strength for that time. A person who is in consolation would also take care to humble and abase himself as much as possible.
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. On the contrary, if a person begins to take flight and loses courage in the midst of fighting temptation, no wild beast on earth is more fierce than the enemy as he pursues his evil intention with ever increasing malice.
The enemy behaves like a false lover who wishes to remain hidden and does not want to be revealed. . . . In like manner, when the enemy tempts a just soul with his wiles and deceits, he wishes and desires that they be received in secret.
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. . . . It is well for a person show has been tempted to examine the course of the good thoughts that were suggested to him.
In those who are making spiritual progress, the action of the good angel is gentle, light, and sweet, as a drop of water entering a sponge. The action of the evil spirit is sharp, noisy, and disturbing, like a drop of water falling upon a rock. In those souls that are going from bad to worse, the action of these two spirits is the reverse. . . . When the disposition of the soul and that of the spirits are similar, they enter silently as one coming into his own house through an open door. (pp. 193-197)
Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith. (1 Peter 5:4)One of the most important aspects to walking with the Spirit is discernment. The spiritual realm is surprisingly full and active. The seemingly "empty space" that surrounds me is full of such activity. I become aware of it as I start swimming against the stream of the world.
Ignatius writes so clearly, I feel at home with him immediately. He has very concrete and distinct descriptions of spiritual activity and the warfare I face. What is striking is that all the thoughts and feelings associated with them that I sense do not originate within myself. This is a great comfort and gives room for discernment.
It may be that the miracle of coherence that exists between people as they speak and communicate may be based on this similarity of the thoughts and feelings they encounter from outside themselves. The connection between two people as they talk about "water" or a "chair" exists not only in the similarity of the objects, but in the similarity of their comprehension of the objects. Such similarity has something to do with how they are made, but perhaps also has to do with a continual common sea of thoughts and feelings that they float in in the spiritual realm. Just a thought.
I love the simplicity that Ignatius uses to define these movements within my spirit. I find his ideas helpful in the realm of everyday spiritual warfare. Rather than being stories from The Exorcist, he speaks of daily battles in which the war is won or lost.
The three fronts he mentions in these passages are my weakness, my spiritual progress, my hidden thoughts, and good things that distract me from God. In these fronts he is quite plain in dealing with evil spirits. Resist them. In weakness, stand and oppose. With spiritual progress, intensify and do not waver. With shameful hidden thoughts, reveal them as temptations. With good things that take me away from God, resist and review them so that I am not fooled again.
One other thing I have become aware of is how certain people seem to show up on these fronts to encourage or discourage me. They almost seem to know what I am going through and make it harder or easier. What is really strange is that some people I would think would be on the good side are not and some of the most unlikely people come to encourage me out of the blue that I would not even know were my allies. Such is the nature of spiritual warfare.
I struggle with opposing and resisting because of these people who come. I do not want to oppose certain people, but I must. I cry out to God, Why them? This may be the thickest fighting I have to go through. Rejection from people I may know and love who oppose God's work in and around me hurts terribly. But really, even strangers who oppose such things and pick on my weaknesses still hurt. I need to remember resisting is what is best for myself and for them.
Father, let your Spirit be a guide and a shield to me as I face temptation and trial. Let me take the times of peace as times in which I can prepare for battle even as I enjoy the consolations. Forgive me when I stay too long and run from difficulties instead of resisting them. Amen.
Spiritual warfare is so spiritual. It may keep under the radar because it deals with things that are unseen and because opportunities for such resistance are everywhere. Really all I need to do is start swimming against the current to feel the resistance. As long as I float down the stream, I won't notice the strength of the current. Spiritual warfare takes place when I resist, not when I'm being conformed to the lies and ideals of this present age. The more I resist, the more I know of warfare.
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