Rules of Discernment: A Practical Guide – Rule 10

In the Ninth Rule, St. Ignatius explained to us the three main reasons we experience desolation. In the Tenth Rule, we learn what actions we should take in spiritual consolation—namely, how we can use consolation to prepare and strengthen ourselves for future desolation.

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

In this Tenth Rule we finally return to spiritual consolation—only to discover that St. Ignatius is still referencing spiritual desolation. Why?

St. Ignatius wants us to understand that spiritual consolation and desolation are both transient, and that persevering through desolation is the real battle. In the spiritual life, we will constantly go from enjoying fair weather to enduring various storms—and vice versa. This will be the reality all the way to heaven. Therefore, just as you might prudently stock up your pantry before a big storm, even while enjoying a beautiful spring day, St. Ignatius tells us to prudently store up experiences of consolation to better endure future storms of desolation.

This view of consolation means that we must intentionally accept God’s gift of consolation, but not become naïve or shortsighted in the process.

I’ve spent many years driving my three hockey players to a rink across town for practice and games. There’s a particular stretch of highway on the way home where the road dips drastically. Even though the roadway before and after this point is smooth sailing, I’ve learned that I must be on the lookout and slow down so I can brace myself for the inevitable bump.

It’s easy to spot the unwitting drivers who don’t have this knowledge and are caught off guard. They might find themselves momentarily airborne in their seats (like I did the first time) as their vehicle suddenly lurches up and down like a miniature roller coaster ride.

Even though every driver on this stretch of road experiences the same stretch of “consolation” before facing the same obstacle of “desolation,” it is far more jarring for those who don’t see it coming than those who are aware and have taken time to prepare.

So it is in our spiritual lives. We actively maintain our situational awareness even as we seek to receive God’s gifts of consolation as deeply as possible. What does this look like both spiritually and practically?

First, we must be aware of and truly receive the consolation we’ve been given.

Like any gift, the best way to truly enjoy consolation is to receive it from God, the giver, with gratitude. Then, we must “open” it and intentionally put it to use. In a world that prizes instant gratification and materialism, we rarely pause enough to truly receive and cherish gifts. The Lord invites us to “stop and smell the roses,” remaining with an experience of consolation as long as possible—not just enjoying it fleetingly before rushing along in search of some new consolation.

One way to intentionally receive consolation is through genuine aspirations of gratitude, acceptance, and praise. We receive the unsurpassed gift of the Eucharist by saying “Amen,” which indicates our desire to actively accept Jesus, believe in Him, and live according to His truth. The moment we experience consolation we can do the same, telling the Lord, “Amen,” or “I praise and thank You for this consolation,” or “I gratefully accept this gift! Lord, help me to receive it more deeply.” This increases our awareness and acknowledgment of God’s gift so we can truly delight in its goodness and depth.

From there, God invites us to “open” this gift of consolation and put it to use as a strengthening agent against desolation. Here, we can follow the example of our Holy Mother who “pondered all these things in her heart.” (Luke 2:19). Our Blessed Mother didn’t merely relish the incredible consolations of God in the moment and then move on. She carried them ever before her, creating an altar of remembrance with the Lord in her heart, continually recollecting and revisiting and revering these divine gifts in her soul—especially in her most desolate moments at the foot of her only Son’s Cross.

In the same way, we can “store up” consoling encounters with the Lord in our hearts. We can create our own altars of remembrance and ponder them continually, drinking ever more deeply of the mystery of God’s presence and love and grace.

To practically do this, you might record consolations in a journal and intentionally revisit them to create a strong spiritual memory, or spend time conversing with the Lord about their significance. You can share significant consolations with a Spiritual Director or trusted holy friend who can help you recall them in future times of difficulty.

You can also let the Lord inspire simple reminders in the world around you that help to recollect specific consolations. One such example is a beautiful reservoir near my home. Over the years, the changing water levels, seasons, and wildlife have become a bit of a spiritual analogy for me. Every time I drive past, I’m reminded of consolations and seasons with the Lord in prayer. I can no longer see or even think about the reservoir without thinking about my significant moments with the Lord.

Finally, St. Ignatius says we can “take new strength” from consolation. An experience of consolation is a wise time to ask God’s help for future desolation. Spiritual consolation makes it easy to perceive God’s presence. When we feel strong and consoled in our relationship with the Lord, it is the perfect time to earnestly beg His loving help for times of future weakness, doubt, and desolation.

Spiritual consolation is also a prudent time to look at patterns of past desolation to learn from them. My husband is a long-time youth hockey coach who has earned the respect of many parents and players. During games and high-pressure situations, he focuses on encouraging the players on the bench with positive feedback rather than telling them how they need to improve. Later, he sits down with the team to do a film review—off the ice and a few days after the game when the heat of the moment has passed. In these moments of relative calm, he can walk through different scenarios from the game more objectively with the players and evaluate what went well, what needs improvement, and how the team can make more effective decisions or plays in the future. This review during low-pressure moments of “consolation” gives players greater awareness and tools to make better plays in the next game when the pressure is back on.

We can do the same in consolation. We may take time to review the past trials and challenges of desolation, prayerfully considering how well we persevered, where we fell short, and what we might have done differently. This review in a time of relative calm can help us form a better game plan when things heat back up in the next round of desolation.

Each of these methods can help us to “store up” consolation for a rainy day, or lash us to the life preserver of divine truth whenever the storms of desolation blow back in. This helps us to develop the proper disposition of humility and reliance on God—both in consolation and desolation—which we will explore in depth in Rule 11.