Reflections on the World

This past week I have found myself in a reflective mood for a variety of reasons. Mostly it has been around world events. The escalation of the war in the middle east shifting to what seems like a regional war. The tension in the South China Sea has not let up. Hurricane Helene’s devastation across the Southeast, and just this past night, Hurricane Milton. Not to mention we are in the final one-hundred-yard dash of the race for the White House. It seems that each morning as I wake up, another “bad” headline spills out into my consciousness. I feel desolation, panic, the fear of what’s next. Yet, I also know that there is hope in the Gospel and hope in the Lord that He is with me (us). We see that played out repeatedly in the Old Testament with the Israelites, and with the prophets, especially Job who never abandons his faith in the Lord. He of all people would be expected to lose heart. 

The Spanish monk, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, was instrumental in starting the Jesuit religious movement in 1534. He coined the terms consolation, desolation and false consolation. Below is the definition of each term taken from the website www.ignatianspirituality.com. 

”Consolation” refers to the feelings stirred up by good spirits, leading to a sense of being on fire with God's love and a desire to praise, love, and serve God and others (1).

"Desolation" is the opposite, characterized by unease and dryness (2).

Ignatius also distinguishes "false consolation", which feels like consolation but is desolation (3).” 

I must believe that God/Jesus is amid all this mess. I must believe that! Jesus comes to us where we are and touches the messes in our lives just as he touches the lepers. (Luke 17:11–19) He is present even if we think He is not. 

Next Wednesday at 11am ET/10am CT, I plan to attend the free Ignatian Spirituality Webinar titled: Finding God in the Mess: A Webinar with Fr. Brendan McManus, SJ and Jim Deeds. A summary of this webinar reads, “Despite our best efforts, our lives can become chaotic and messy, leading us to feel as though God is distant and unavailable. Ignatian spirituality, however, teaches us that God holds us close, loves us, and desires the best for us at all times—even in the midst of chaos.” 

The link is: https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/finding-god-in-the-mess-a-webinar-with-jim deeds-and-brendan-mcmanus-sj/ 

Join me and attend this webinar. Come and learn how Ignatian Spirituality and exercises can help us see God in the midst of our chaotic messy lives. 

Blessings, 

Rev. Anne 

Citations: 

1 “Introduction to Discernment of Spirits”, www.ignatianspirituality.com https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/making-good-decisions/discernment-of-spirits/introduction to-discernment-of-spirits/ 

2 Brendan McManus, SJ., “Two Hints for Recognizing the Two Ignatian Movements of Consolation and Desolation”, www.ignatianspirituality.com 

https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/two-hints-for-recognizing-the-two-ignatian-movements-of consolation-and-desolation/ 

3 Dot Magis, Ed., “There’s Such a State as Difficult Consolation”, www.ignationspirituality.com https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/theres-such-a-state-as-difficult-consolation/