About this episode

Fr. Bonaventure and Fr. Timothy Gallagher discuss St. Ignatius of Loyola's rules for discernment and the spiritual life.

Fr. Bonaventure welcomes Fr. Timothy Gallagher, OMV, back to Godsplaining for a conversation about St. Ignatius of Loyola and the discernment of spirits. How do we recognize what is drawing us toward God, and what is pulling us away? How should we respond when we experience discouragement, confusion, anxiety, or spiritual desolation? What role should our emotions play in the spiritual life? Drawing from his latest book Thinking Like a Saint: Discernment of Spirits in the Catholic Tradition, Fr. Gallagher explains St. Ignatius’ practical rules for discernment and how they can help Catholics move from simply reacting to their interior experiences to understanding and responding to them. Fr. Gallagher also explains why Ignatian discernment isn’t uniquely Ignatian in its substance, but is deeply rooted in the broader Catholic spiritual tradition, including the wisdom of St. Teresa of Avila, St. Francis de Sales, St. John of the Cross, St. Thomas Aquinas, and others. Listen and learn how to become more attentive to the movements of your heart, recognize the action of the good spirit and the enemy, and live with greater spiritual freedom. Get your copy of Thinking Like a Saint…

People in this episode

Host: Fr. Bonaventure

Guest: Fr. Timothy Gallagher, OMV

Topics covered

• discernment of spirits
• spiritual life
• Catholic tradition
• St. Ignatius
• emotional awareness
• spiritual freedom

Keywords

• discernment
• spiritual desolation
• Catholic spirituality
• emotions
• St. Ignatius
• discouragement
• confusion
• spiritual freedom

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Ignatian Discernment Institute, Discerning Hearts

Books & works: Thinking Like a Saint: Discernment of Spirits in the Catholic Tradition

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