Ignatian Discernment: What is it? It is a life giving way of decision making. A gift of the Ignatian tradition, given to us by Ignatius, based on his extensive experiences of prayer in challenging times. He expanded the practice of discernment and provided further guidance in the Spiritual Exercises which can help us today.

Before engaging the discussion on discernment, there are some prerequisites. This is a prayerful and intentional process that requires:

1. Affective maturity
2. Inner quiet
3. Ability to attend to one’s interior life
4. Dedication to practice i.e. the examen

It is recommended we develop a prayer practice and Ignatius compares this spiritual exercise to physical exercise. Just like we would spend time stretching or going for a walk, if we commit to silent prayer and reflection each day, we can prepare ourselves to be open and able to make proper decisions.

Main themes of Ignatian discernment:

1. Bringing God into the decision making process
2. Between two goods
3. Being real and specific
4. Paying attention to consolations and desolations

In the Spiritual Exercises, Ignatius invites us to bring God into our decision making process. Many times when we are faced with a choice that we believe to be an opportunity to engage in discernment when it is not. Discernment is about how we can best serve God and it is always between two goods. When we spend time in silence and in thoughtful prayer, paying attention to our emotions, we can get a better idea of whether the movement is of God or of the false spirit.

In the case of those who are going from good to better, the good angel touches the soul gently, lightly, and sweetly, like a drop of water going into a sponge. The evil spirit touches it sharply, with noise and disturbance, like a drop of water falling onto a stone (SE 335)

Key component to Ignatian discernment - paying attention to consolations and desolations.

Consolation

Finally, under the word [spiritual] consolation, I include every increase in hope, faith and charity, and every interior joy which calls and attracts one toward heavenly things and to the salvation of one’s soul, by bringing it tranquility and peace in its Creator and Lord (SE316)

1. Directs our focus outside and beyond ourselves
2. Lifts our hearts so that we can see the joys and sorrows of other people
3. Bonds us more closely to our human community
4. Generates new inspiration and ideas
5. Restores balance and refreshes our inner vision
6. Shows us where God is active in our lives and where God is leading us
7. Releases new energy in us

Desolation

Such feelings, “move one toward lack of faith and leave one without hope and without love. One is completely listless, tepid, and unhappy, and feels separated from our Creator and Lord” (SE 317) In contrast, one who is in desolation should reflect that with the sufficient grace already available he or she can do much to resist all hostile forces, by drawing strength from our Creator and Lord (SE 324)

1. Turns us in on ourselves
2. Drives us down the spiral ever deeper into our own negative feelings
3. Cuts us off from community
4. Makes us want to give up on the things that used to be important to us
5. Takes over our whole consciousness and crowds out our distant vision
6. Covers up all our landmarks [the signs of our journey with God so far]
7. Drains us of energy

Experience and Reflection

The Process

1. Pray for clarity - After we calm ourselves and discern that the invitation to engage in this is from God and not the false spirit, we pray for clarity. We ask God to see the situation with His eyes.
2. Name the grace - We name the grace for which we seek by being real and specific. i.e. I want to discern God's will for my life whether it be to pursue a new role at my school or stay in my current position.
3. Gather information - Depending on what is being discerned, this might look like gathering a pro's and con's list, necessary projections/reports, anything that would help inform the decision - seeking to be unbiased.
4. Pray on the list - Spend some time sifting through various consolations and desolations from your time in prayer with the list.
5. Ask the question - If you were to be aiding someone in their decision on this topic - "What advice would you give?"
6. Imagine the decision from a future perspective - One month, one year, ten years, at the end of your life - what would this decision look like from that perspective?
7. Pray on the decision - Again, return to your time of prayer - taking into account consolations and desolations from this experience.
8. Make the decision - Trust the process, take action. Make sure it is not being made in a state of desolation.
9. Pray and sit with the decision - Embrace the decision, knowing that the process was sound and thorough.
10. Engage in ongoing discernment - Still trusting your decision, continue to discern whether this decision best serves God and is still in alignment or needs adjustment.

Evaluation

After the process, reflect on what was most helpful, what hindered and what could be changed for the future? Perhaps this could mean making the grace for which we seek to be more specific or it could mean involving different people or information in the discernment process.

Action

Make sure to take prudent steps to animate the decision that was made. Trusting the steps taken to get to that point, it is imperative to then take action.

Planning without discernment is a big risk, discernment without planning is wasting opportunities. - Fr. Arturo Sosa, SJ, Superior General of The Society of Jesus