Episode 1 serves as an introduction and overview of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Why is the practice of discernment so important in the spiritual life? How is discernment different than "decision making"?

Fr. Timothy Gallagher presents the life of St. Ignatius of Loyola and the foundational elements of the Spiritual Exercises.

Fr. Timothy Gallagher discusses the First Rule:
"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 the...

Fr. Timothy Gallagher discusses the Second Rule:
"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 ...

Fr. Timothy Gallagher discusses the Third Rule:
"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...

Fr. Timothy Gallagher discusses the Fourth Rule:
"Of Spiritual Desolation: 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, wit...

Fr. Timothy Gallagher discusses the Fifth Rule:
"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...

Fr. Timothy Gallagher discusses the Sixth Rule:
"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 ...

Fr. Timothy Gallagher discusses the Seventh Rule:
"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 d...

Fr. Timothy Gallagher discusses the Eighth Rule:
"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."

Fr. Timothy Gallagher discusses the Ninth Rule:
"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 an...

Fr. Timothy Gallagher discusses the 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."

Fr. Timothy Gallagher discusses the Eleventh Rule:
"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 ...

Fr. Timothy Gallagher discusses the Twelve Rule:
"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...

Fr. Timothy Gallagher discusses the Thirteenth Rule:
"Likewise, he (the enemy) 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 ...

Fr. Timothy Gallagher discusses the Fourteenth Rule:
"Likewise, he (the enemy) 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 defenses of a stronghold, attacks it on the weakest side, in ...