Examining Spiritual Life Keeps Pilgrims of Hope on the Right Path

Editorial Note: As the Jubilee Year of Hope progresses, events in our world, communities, families, and personal lives may have detracted us from our journey as “pilgrims of hope.” This first in a series of two articles focuses on discerning where we are in our spiritual journey so we can find our way back to the path of hope.
 
As director of adult formation and spiritual director at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church in St. Amant, Wendy Enloe ministers to many people who are struggling with the worries and concerns in their lives. People come to her who are dealing with terminal illness, death of a loved one, loss of a job, concerns about world events, etc.

During these times, Enloe helps them discern when they are experiencing the spirit of consolation and spirit of desolation, or the soul's movement towards or away from God. 

“People can really feel helpless,” said Enloe.  “This discernment helps them to have that hope in God and God’s mercy and know that God’s love is still there.”

There’s more to understanding spiritual consolation as “happy” and spiritual desolation as “sad,” according to Enloe.

“Consolation comes from God’s spirit. It helps us to see God in all things – to see God in the good, the beautiful, and life. We have a freedom to see all as a gift from God. We know God’s mercy for us and have a greater joy in seeing the deeper meaning of it.”

Most people are looking for what is true and what is essential for them to know, Enloe pointed out.

“In our digital age, people are saturated with media and social media. It’s hard to know in our lives what is true,” Enloe said. “Spiritual truth is what’s resonating in our soul as true for us, that God is speaking to us. The truth of knowing who we are and who we are in the eyes of God. We may not have the answers to all the world’s problems, but we can know the truth that we are a beloved child of God and that God’s spirit lives within us and we can trust in that truth.”

Desolation is the lack of faith, hope, and love..

“We know it’s the false spirit. It’s turmoil. It’s heaviness,” said Enloe. 

“Spiritual truth is what’s resonating in our soul as true for us, that God is speaking to us. The truth of knowing who we are and who we are in the eyes of God. 

Wendy Enlo

Sometimes it is doing what feels good, which is followed by regret and sadness, noted Enloe.

Ignatian spirituality helps people discern which of the spirits they are under the influence of.

“Then we can accept the things that are of God and reject the things that are not of God and the spirit that is causing us that desolation,” said Enloe.

This discernment involves looking at the internal movements of the spirit so the person’s actions can flow from a spirit of God, rather than a spirit of desolation, which is not true.

The Daily Examen prayer helps people “sift out” the movements of the spirit in a day, said Enloe.

“We call upon the Holy Spirit to help us. Gratitude is a big part of that,” said Enloe. “We are grateful for the things God has blessed us with, what graces, and as (Dennis Hamm SJ) calls it ‘rummaging for God’; how did I notice God’s presence or how did I miss God’s presence – where did I feel that lack of faith, hope, and love?

“Sometimes we have seasons in our life where we feel like we’re more in spiritual desolation. We have dryness in prayer, not feeling close to God. At other times we are in more of a consolation spirit in general. But sometimes throughout the day something can trigger emotions in us and the Examine helps us to know how our spirit is moving with God or moving away from God.”

Following the light of faith and seeking the spirit of God, itself, will help people find hope, stated Enloe.

“The desire to be more hopeful taps into our true desires that give us hope,” Enloe said.