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How Can I Be Drawn to Such Things? – Struggles in the Spiritual Life with Fr. Timothy Gallagher O.M.V.

Fr. Timothy Gallagher and Kris McGregor discuss a character named Beth to illustrate the struggles of spiritual desolation and how to respond to them.

Beth, after a long and tiring day, finds herself discouraged and lacking the desire to engage in her usual evening prayers. Faced with the choice between praying the Liturgy of the Hours or calling a colleague, Maureen, for a potentially negative conversation, she opts for the latter. This decision leads her into a downward spiral of unproductive activities, including gossip, watching empty TV shows, and comfort eating. Despite feeling worse afterward, she pushes herself to pray briefly but with little engagement, ending the day feeling ashamed and disheartened.

Experiencing such struggles is common and not something to be ashamed of. He explains that in moments of spiritual desolation, there is often a pull toward “low and earthly things,” as described by St. Ignatius of Loyola. The key is to be aware of this desolation, name it, and then resist it. He highlights the importance of making choices that counteract desolation, like Beth choosing to pray despite her initial reluctance. This resistance can gradually lift the discouragement and lead to spiritual growth.

Fr. Gallagher differentiates between different types of friendships and stresses the importance of having friends who share a love for God and can encourage spiritual growth. He concludes by affirming that God never causes spiritual desolation but allows it for spiritual strengthening, and that the grace to take the first step in resisting it is always available.

You can pick up a copy of the book here.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

1. Recognizing Spiritual Desolation: Have you experienced moments when you felt discouraged and distant from God, similar to Beth’s situation?
2. Responding to Desolation: How do you typically respond when you feel the pull toward “low and earthly things” during times of spiritual desolation?
3. Importance of Spiritual Disciplines: How can maintaining your spiritual practices, like evening prayer, help you overcome discouragement?
4. Role of Friendships: Do your friendships lead you closer to God, or do they sometimes pull you away from your spiritual goals, as seen in Beth’s conversation with Maureen?
5. Using Spiritual Tools: Are you aware of and using the spiritual tools, like the Ignatian Rules of Discernment, to recognize and reject spiritual desolation?
6. Trusting in God’s Grace: In times of trial, do you trust that God is providing you with the grace and strength needed to take the first step towards Him?
7. Growth Through Trials: How do you view trials and challenges in your spiritual life—as opportunities for growth or as setbacks?

An excerpt from the book:

Into this vulnerable space the enemy brings the further burden of spiritual desolation, and specifically what Ignatius calls a “movement to low and earthly things.” Obviously, telephones, refrigerators, the Internet, and similar things serve in good ways: that is why we have them. But, like Beth, in time of spiritual desolation we may feel drawn to them in “low” and “earthly” ways — that is, in ways harmful to us spiritually.

That Beth — and we — feel this pull in time of spiritual desolation should not surprise us, nor is there any shame in feeling this pull. It is simply a tactic of the enemy, a form of spiritual desolation. Again, such is the spiritual life in a fallen but redeemed and loved world. What does matter and matters greatly, is that we be discerning: that we note this pull to low and earthly things, identify it as the tactic of the enemy that it is, and, with God’s grace and courage, reject it.

Gallagher O.M.V, Fr. Timothy ; Gallagher O.M.V, Fr. Timothy. Struggles in the Spiritual Life: Their Nature and Their Remedies (pp. 40-41). Sophia Institute Press. Kindle Edition.

To find more episodes from this series, visit the Struggles in the Spiritual Life Podcast

From the book’s description:

“Here is a powerful, life-changing book that will help you understand and conquer the struggles you face in your spiritual life. It’s a book for those who love the Lord and desire holiness yet often feel adrift or stagnant in their search for spiritual growth.

All of us encounter valleys on our journey with the Lord — those periods of spiritual desolation that are a painful yet unavoidable feature of our prayer life. Spiritual desolation is as complex as we are, so understanding what is happening and responding to it properly are critical to reaching the heights of holiness.

With warmth and understanding, Fr. Gallagher carefully identifies in this book the various forms of spiritual and nonspiritual desolation and supplies the remedy for each. You’ll learn how to discern whether your struggles derive from medical or psychological conditions or whether those struggles are spiritual and permitted by the Lord for reasons of growth. In each case, you’ll be given the remedy for the struggle. You’ll also learn the forms of spiritual dryness and of the Dark Night — and how to respond to them.

In chapter after chapter, Fr. Gallagher presents a particular struggle as experienced by fictional characters and then provides the advice he gives to those who come to him for spiritual direction about that struggle. You’ll gain confidence as you journey through desolation, and you’ll learn to reject the enemy’s ploys to infect you with a sense of hopelessness.“

Did you know that Fr. Timothy Gallagher has 14 different podcast series on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts?
Visit here to discover more!

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Episode 4 – How the Enemy Works – St. Teresa, Spiritual Warfare, and the Progress of the Soul with Dan Burke

Dan Burke and Kris McGregor discuss the challenges faced in the second mansion as described by St. Teresa of Avila in her book “Interior Castle.” They emphasize the importance of discerning and managing relationships that might hinder spiritual progress. Dan shares a personal story about losing a long-term friendship because of his conversion, illustrating the difficulty and necessity of setting boundaries for spiritual growth.

Consistent spiritual practices such as daily mental prayer, sacramental participation, and the examen are helpful towards progress through the early stages of the spiritual journey. Fidelity to these practices is key to avoiding stagnation, which is described as “circling the drain,” and moving deeper into spiritual life.

The importance of having a rule of life is a structured plan of spiritual disciplines tailored to one’s state in life. This structure helps maintain focus and fosters a rhythm that aligns with one’s spiritual goals.

The power of spiritual community and finding one’s spiritual “tribe,” whether it’s Carmelite, Benedictine, or another, to help foster growth and accountability. The global nature of community and technology can connect and support Catholics worldwide, even in areas with fewer resources.

Progress requires time and perseverance, and to revisit foundational spiritual practices as needed to support oneself and others on the path to holiness.

Discerning Hearts Discussion Questions

1. Identifying Spiritual Obstacles: What relationships or influences in your life might be drawing you away from a deeper relationship with God?
2. Commitment to Prayer: How can you improve your fidelity to daily mental prayer and sacramental life to strengthen your spiritual journey?
3. Setting Boundaries: Are there any relationships or activities that need boundaries to support your spiritual growth?
4. Creating a Rule of Life: What specific spiritual disciplines can you incorporate into your daily routine to foster a holy rhythm?
5. Spiritual Accountability: Do you have a spiritual community or mentor who supports your journey, and how can you deepen this connection?
6. Navigating Spiritual Desolation: How do you handle periods of spiritual dryness or resistance, and what practices help you remain steadfast?
7. Embracing Spiritual Patience: In what areas of your spiritual life are you struggling with impatience, and how can you trust God’s timing more fully?
8. Revisiting Foundational Practices: When was the last time you revisited the basics of your faith, such as prayer, sacraments, and examen, to ensure you’re on the right path?
9. Supporting Others in Faith: How can you use your own spiritual experiences to guide and encourage others on their journey?
10. Cultivating Sacred Space: Is there a dedicated space in your home for prayer and reflection, and how can you make it more conducive to encountering God?

You can find the book here.

An excerpt from the book:

“Have you ever considered that the devil is active in your prayer life? In the parish church where you attend Mass? In the lives and actions of people of goodwill all around you? The saints remind us of a key aspect of living the spiritual life that we are wont to forget simply because we can’t see it and because we have been conditioned by the media and popular culture to think the devil works visibly only in “bad” people or in extraordinary ways, as in the movies. And although demons are certainly capable of extravagant or extraordinary manifestations, their ordinary work flies under our radar because it just isn’t that spectacular, though it is deadly.

In fact, subtlety, illusion, and deceit are their preferred methods of attack. An invisible battle for souls is being waged in and around us without reprieve, and we remain ignorant of it to our peril. St. Teresa of Avila, great mystic and Doctor of the Church, is best known for her writings on the way God leads souls along the path to union with Him through prayer. What many do not know about St. Teresa is that she also observed the actions of demons working with militant force to lead even good souls astray in ways that might surprise you. She shares these experiences freely in her autobiography, which she was commanded to write under obedience to her spiritual director.“

Burke, Dan; Burke, Dan. The Devil in the Castle: St. Teresa of Avila, Spiritual Warfare, and the Progress of the Soul (p. 12). Sophia Institute Press. Kindle Edition.

For more episodes in this series visit Dan Burke’s Discerning Hearts page here:

Dan Burke is the founder and President of the Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation, which offers graduate and personal enrichment studies in spiritual theology to priests, deacons, religious, and laity in 72 countries and prepares men for seminary in 14 dioceses.

Dan is the author and editor of more than 15 books on authentic Catholic spirituality and hosts the Divine Intimacy Radio show with his wife, Stephanie, which is broadcast weekly on EWTN Radio. Past episodes can be found, along with thousands of articles on the interior life, at SpiritualDirection.com.

In his deep commitment to the advancement of faithful Catholic spirituality, he is also the founder of Apostoli Viae, a world-wide, private association of the faithful dedicated to living and advancing the authentic spiritual patrimony of the Church.

Most importantly, Dan is a blessed husband, father of four, grandfather of one—and grateful to be Catholic.