#st ignatius

[serenityquest]

[jacks-weird-world]

──⋆✦ Tati's memorial card.

[smalltownghosts]

In the pines

[somuchforbread]

"They abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer because they do not confess that the Eucharist is the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ, flesh which suffered for our sins and which that Father, in his goodness, raised up again. They who deny the gift of God are perishing in their disputes”- St Ignatius of Antioch

[saltwaterscully]

ovilus: BEWARE....... BRIDGE

ryan, an empath: no dw we’ve already got one

[kiarou]

177 A.D., Lyon

“For while we all trembled, and feared that on account of the weakness of her body, she would be unable to make bold confession, Blandina was filled with such power … and raised above those who were torturing her … from morning till evening in every manner, so that they acknowledged that they were conquered, and could do nothing more to her. And they were astonished at her endurance, as her entire body was mangled and broken; and they testified that one of these forms of torture was sufficient to destroy life, not to speak of so many and so great sufferings on a single frail child.” -Eusibius, eye witness account of the 177 Lyon executions.

Under Roman rule, fierce persecutions blazed through the empire. Hordes of these atheists—so-called “Christians”—were gathered en-masse into coliseums and stadiums. There, bloodthirsty crowds gathered to watch these Christians refuse to give offerings to the gods—a crime deemed worthy of the ensuing torture. Crowds jeered in excitement as these atheists were exposed to wild beasts, lit on fire, branded, and tormented. As they writhed in agony, the Roman spectators felt the punishments justified. For if there was ever one truth in the world, it was this: the world belonged to the strong.

During one of these persecutions, a young and frail slave girl named Blandina was corralled into the stadium. When presented with the sacraments of Roman religion, she refused. When accused of all manner of evil and blasphemy against the gods, she simply responded, “I am a Christian, and I have done nothing vile.”

At the will of the jeering crowds, Blandina was exposed to wild animals, restrained by lions, and gored by bulls. Through her suffering, she prayed that her tormentors would be forgiven. Frustrated by her resilience, the colosseum executioners chained her to a stake, scourged her with heated grates, and lit her ablaze.

Cast in a net, mauled by beasts, and chained to a roasting seat, her only proclamation was not one of agony but a declaration: “I am a Christian.” And the once-bloodthirsty crowd found no indignation. In their hearts, they confessed that never among them had a person endured so many and such terrible tortures. Even in the hearts of the cruelest, a recognition stirred. Blandina, in her acts—like those of an athlete—displayed the spirit not of a slave, but of a hero.

A most unsettling thought arose, for the status of heroism was reserved for the likes of Hercules, Achilles, and Alexander the Great—gods and conquerors. Yet here stood the undeniable qualities of a hero in Blandina, a woman… a slave.

Impaled by a blade, her suffering was finally brought to an end. But in her last breath, the expected roars and jeers of the crowd never manifested. Instead, an ominous silence fell as a question stirred in the hearts of plebs, aristocrats, and executioners alike:

“What have we done?”

Sources: Ignatius, Epistle to the Romans (IV.1) Dominion (Tom Holland)

[orthodoxsoul]

Nothing visible is eternal -St. Ignatius

[thomastanker02]

The 14 Rules of Spiritual Warfare

This post is inspired by Spiritual Warfare and The Discernment of Spirits by Dan Burke, an amazing book for those wishing to learn spiritual discernment, as well as growing stronger in their battles against the enemy. Link to purchase it at the bottom of this post.

For those wishing to learn spiritual discernment between the spirits of God and of the enemy, you are thankfully not alone. 

St. Ignatius (a fourteenth century priest) famously penned 14 rules for the discernment of spirits, which Dan discusses in depth in his aforementioned book. 

These rules are meant to guide Christians on their journey of spiritual discernment, and help them when they feel confused, disoriented, or lost in this area of their faith. The Holy Spirit works through Ignatius, and guides his readers towards the spiritual clarity that Christ freely gives to those who seek it. 

However, since these rules can be hard to understand in modern day, I’ve listed them all out and then explained them in layman's terms.

(I’ve also attached a link to a Google doc that contains several reflection questions from Dan Burke’s book, which may help you better understand how to apply these rules in your everyday life. However, I still do recommend that you buy the book for yourself). 

“In the persons who go from mortal sin to mortal sin, the enemy is commonly used to propose to them apparent pleasures, making them 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 the opposite method, pricking them and biting their consciences through the process of reason”.

When going from sin to sin, with no real desire to repent of your sin, the Spirit of the Lord will convict you, and make the pleasure you desire less enjoyable. By doing so, He weakens the grip that these sinful pleasures have on you, and makes you more likely to repent.

“In the persons who are going on intensely cleansing their sins and rising from good to better in the service of God our Lord, it is the method contrary to that in the first Rule, for then it is the way of the evil spirit to bite, sadden and put obstacles, disquieting with false reasons, that one may not go on; and it is proper to the good to give courage and strength, consolations, tears, inspirations and quiet, easing, and putting away all obstacles, that one may go on in well doing”.

When attempting to put away all sin and live for God, the roles of the spirits have now been switched. Now, it's the enemy doing the pricking, and the Holy Spirit giving consolation and encouragement. The enemy of your soul will try to drag you back to your old life, while the Holy Spirit will convict you to stay the course, and help you work through any obstacle that the enemy has set up.

“Of Spiritual Consolation. I call it consolation when some interior movement in the soul is caused, through which the soul comes to be inflamed with love of its Creator and Lord; and when it can in consequence love no created thing on the face of the earth in itself, but 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 connected with His service and praise.

Finally, I call consolation every increase of hope, faith and charity, and all interior joy which 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”.

Consolation is the divine peace that Christ gives to those who love Him. It's when the soul of a Christian is set on fire by the Holy Spirit, and their hope, faith, and charity are increased in their lives. Consolation is feeling the very presence of the Holy Spirit. 

 “I call desolation all the contrary of the third rule, such as darkness of soul, disturbance in it, movement to things low and earthly, the unquiet of different agitations and temptations, moving to want of confidence, without hope, without love, when one finds oneself all lazy, tepid, sad, and as if separated from his Creator and Lord. Because, as consolation is contrary to desolation, in the same way the thoughts which come from consolation are contrary to the thoughts which come from desolation”.

Desolation is when one feels separated from the Lord. It's when our thoughts are filled with worldly desires, and we feel a sense of laziness and sadness. Desolation is the opposite of feeling the Holy Spirit. 

 “In time of desolation never to make a change; but to be firm and constant in the resolutions and determination in which one was the day preceding such desolation, or in the determination in which he was in the preceding consolation. Because, as in consolation it is rather the good spirit who guides and counsels us, so in desolation it is the bad, with whose counsels we cannot take a course to decide rightly”.

When in desolation, stand firm in the commitments that you made when in consolation. It's through these spiritual attacks that you build up fortitude for the things of Christ, and begin to shine brighter to this dark world.

“Although in desolation we ought not to change our first resolutions, it is very helpful intensely to change ourselves against the same desolation, as by insisting more on prayer, meditation, on much examination, and by giving ourselves more scope in some suitable way of doing penance”.

Instead of giving into the attacks of the enemy, make an effort to strive even more to please the Lord. An example would be a commitment to pray for 30 minutes every morning. When in desolation, instead of not praying at all, try to pray 31 minutes every morning (example taken from Dan Burke, seriously, just buy the book).

 “Let him who is in desolation consider how the Lord has left him in trial in his natural powers, in order to resist the different agitations and temptations of the enemy; since he can with the Divine help, which always remains to him, though he does not clearly perceive it: because the Lord has taken from him his great fervor, great love and intense grace, leaving him, however, grace enough for eternal salvation”.

God allows times of spiritual desolation in order to keep us humble before Him, and to keep us reliant on His strength, rather than our own.

“Let him who is in desolation labor to be in patience, which is contrary to the vexations which come to him: and let him think that he will soon be consoled, employing against the desolation the devices, as is said in the sixth Rule”.

When in the midst of desolation, have patience in knowing that Christ will get you through this trial all in His perfect timing. 

“There are three principal reasons why we find ourselves desolate.

The first is, because of our being tepid, lazy 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 let ourselves out in His service and praise without such great pay of consolation and great graces.

The third, to give us true acquaintance and knowledge, that we may interiorly feel that it is not ours to get or keep great devotion, intense love, tears, or any other spiritual consolation, but that all is the gift and grace of God our Lord, and that we may not build a nest in a thing not ours, raising our intellect into some pride or vainglory, attributing to us devotion or the other things of the spiritual consolation”.

There are 3 reasons why God allows spiritual desolation. One, because of us being lazy in our relationship with Him. Two, to try and see if we have really given our entire selves to Him and to His service. Three, to help us recognize that spiritual consolation is not rightly ours, but a gift freely given from God to us. 

 “Let him who is in consolation think how he will be in the desolation which will come after, taking new strength for then”.

Don't get too comfortable in consolation. Rather, view it as a respite between times of desolation, using this opportunity to gain new strength for the battles ahead. 

“Let him who is consoled see to humbling himself and lowering himself as much as he can, thinking how little he is able for in the time of desolation without such grace or consolation.

On the contrary, let him who is in desolation think that he can do much with the grace sufficient to resist all his enemies, taking strength in his Creator and Lord.”.

Remember that consolation is a gift from the Lord, and that you would never make it through times of desolation without it. 

“The enemy acts like a woman, in being weak against vigor and strong of will. Because, as it is the way of the woman when she is quarreling with some man to lose heart, taking flight when the man shows her much courage: and on the contrary, if the man, losing heart, begins to fly, the wrath, revenge, and ferocity of the woman is very great, and so without bounds; in the same manner, it is the way of the enemy to weaken and lose heart, his temptations taking flight, when the person who is exercising himself in spiritual things opposes a bold front against the temptations of the enemy, doing diametrically the opposite. And on the contrary, if the person who is exercising himself commences to have fear and lose heart in suffering the temptations, there is no beast so wild on the face of the earth as the enemy of human nature in following out his damnable intention with so great malice”.

St. Ignatius compares the enemy to a woman fighting with a man. When the man shows his dominance over her, she begins to cower and flee. When the man shows his cowardice, the woman feels in control and beats on the man. This rule encourages believers to hold firm in their battles with the enemy, and make sure you let him know who's boss. 

“Likewise, he acts as a licentious lover in wanting to be secret and not revealed. For, as the licentious man who, speaking for an evil purpose, solicits a daughter of a good father or a wife of a good husband, wants his words and persuasions to be secret, and the contrary displeases him much, when the daughter reveals to her father or the wife to her husband his licentious words and depraved intention, because he easily gathers 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 wants and desires that they be received and kept in secret; but when one reveals them to his good Confessor or to another spiritual person that knows his deceits and evil ends, it is very grievous to him, because he gathers, from his manifest deceits being discovered, that he will not be able to succeed with his wickedness begun”.

The enemy wishes for his craftiness to remain undetected, since this is how he does his best work, in the dark. When his lies are exposed, either by confession to God, or to another believer, his tactics have now been foiled. 

 “Likewise, he behaves as a chief bent on conquering and robbing what he desires: for, as a captain and chief of the army, pitching his camp, and looking at the forces or defences of a stronghold, attacks it on the weakest side, in like manner the enemy of human nature, roaming about, looks in turn at all our virtues, theological, cardinal and moral; and where he finds us weakest and most in need for our eternal salvation, there he attacks us and aims at taking us”.

The enemy takes a look at every area of our lives, and tries to see where we are weakest; sexual immorality, drug addiction, gambling, etc. and it's there that he assaults us. This rule encourages us to seek help with what we struggle with, and fortify our defenses against the enemy. 

Hopefully, these will help you in your battles against the enemy of your soul. Attached below is the aforementioned Google doc and a link to buy Dan Burke’s book.

God bless, Jesus loves you

Reflection Questions: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fsXw8WcUq-e1GU_LZGuE6Wd0xCLZ-wL2zHCvGJAiM80/edit?tab=t.0

Buy Spiritual Warfare and the Discernment of Spirits:https://www.amazon.com/s?k=spiritual+warfare+dan+burke&hvadid=777055902704&hvdev=c&hvexpln=0&hvlocphy=1018487&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=7914007137626844522--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=7914007137626844522&hvtargid=kwd-865788680784&hydadcr=17809_13794547&mcid=d3c088374f713d4595a2fca13433c521&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_lbo9bg8rh_e