Wednesday, February 23, 2011

On The Discernment Of Spirits

Fr. Timothy M. Gallagher, OMV
At the heart of Ignatian spirituality is Ignatian discernment of spirits. Born of Ignatius’ conversion experience, the rules have stood the test of time as one of his major contributions to the living of the Christian life. 
Unfortunately, despite their prominence in the history of the Church’s spirituality, the rules have never really received the attention they deserve. A book of fairly recent vintage should prove a major help in remedying this situation. 
The Discernment of Spirits: An Ignatian Guide for Everyday Living (Crossroad: New York, 2005) is that book. Written by Fr. Timothy M. Gallagher, O.M.V., an experienced teacher and retreat-giver, it appeared five years ago and came bearing the endorsement of such authorities as Fr. William A. Barry, S.J. and Fr. Harvey D. Egan, S.J.
Link (here) to read the full book review by Fr. James Swetnam, S.J. at the New Jesuit Review

6 comments:

Maria said...

I am wondering if this is the priest whose oder has as its "Father", St, Ignatius. Thanks, Joe. This look wonderful! I can never get enough of St. Ignatius.

Maria said...

I looked up the OMV. ITheir site says:

"Two centuries ago, Venerable Pio Bruno Lanteri (1759-1830) served the Church in the Piedmont region of Northern Italy. It was a turbulent era both in secular society and in the Church. In the secular sphere, the anti-Christian spirit of the French Revolution was running rampant. Among those who continued to practice religion, the Jansenist heresy obscured the truth of God’s love, while other ideologies undermined the authority of the Pope...

It was in this context that the young Lanteri met the Jesuit priest, Father Nikolaus von Diessbach. Under Diessbach, Lanteri made the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius and had a profound experience of the infinite mercy of God...Central to the apostolate of Father Lanteri was his collaboration with certain groups called the Amicizie Cristiane (Christian Friendships) and the Amicizie Sacerdotale (Priestly Friendships) founded by Father von Diessbach. The Amicizie were something new to the times. They were groups of lay people and priests committed to a serious spiritual life, and to making an impact on the culture by circulating Catholic books. Father Lanteri guided and accompanied these groups for no less than thirty years.

In 1814, three zealous priests came to Father Lanteri for guidance in forming a fraternity dedicated to preaching retreats and reviving the Church in the wake of the spiritual ravages of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic era. Father Lanteri entrusted the group to the Virgin Mary, whom he always called their Foundress and teacher. Despite some initial setbacks, the Oblates of the Virgin Mary were approved by Pope Leo XII on September 1, 1826. Fr. Lanteri died four years later August 5, 1830".

For all the Ignaciophiles...I am sure that Fr. Hardon SJ, in Heaven, thanks Fr. Gallagher. For myself, I too experienced an awareness of sin and the great Mercy of God, through the Exercises...I never tire of telling people...

Maria said...

The OMV and Fr. Gallagher have a wonderful site up where in one can find twelve pod casts on the twelve rules for the discernment of spirits ( by Fr. Gallagher) along w/ a many great guides to the spiritual life. Thanks, Jospeh...

Maria said...

Whoops. The site is called Discerning Spirits and can be found at:

www.discerningspirits.com

Maria said...

CORRECTION:
The site is called "Discerning Hearts" and can be found @:

www.discerninghearts.com.

Apologies.

restaurante arkupe said...

Well, I do not really imagine this is likely to work.