Make It Happen
In Advance:
- Reserve a space appropriate for the size of your group.
- Prepare the opening talk.
- Gather food and drinks for snacks.
- Meet with your small group leaders to talk about general small group facilitation techniques as well as the specific process for this program.
Day of:
- Opening:
- Share some background on St. Ignatius Loyola, the Spiritual Exercises (video can be used to share this information) and the idea of “Consolation and Desolation.”
- During the opening section, the presenter can show this video. The video is clear and concise, so it is probably the easiest way to present the ideas. More seasoned ministers can take this information and share it how they see fit for the participants.
- Additional information on Consolation and Desolation can be found in this article. The article can be handed out or used as part of the opening presentation.
- Main points for small group discussion regarding getting through times of desolation:
- Stay the course: St. Ignatius says, “In time of desolation one should never make a change, but stand firm and constant in the resolutions and decisions which guided him the day before the desolation, or to the decision which he observed in the preceding consolation.”
Questions for conversation or quiet reflection:
- How does staying the course keep us connected to the path God is asking us to take?
- What are some tools and resources that you have at your disposal to assist you through standing firm through desolation? (Spiritual Direction can be introduced here as a possible tool to assist through desolation.)
- God is in the desolation: St. Ignatius says, “He can resist with Divine help, which is always available to him. Even though he may not clearly perceive it.”
Questions for conversation or quiet reflection:
- God is present in the desolation whether we realize it at the time or not.
- Remember an experience where, in the moment, God felt far but in reflection God was very present.
- When in desolation, think about the long term: St. Ignatius says, “…It is advantageous to intensify our activity against the desolation. This can be done by insisting on prayer, meditation, frequent examinations, and by increasing our penance in some suitable manner.”
Questions for conversation or quiet reflection:
- What actions are you willing to take to move through times of desolation?
- What are some things that you already do during difficult times to work through the difficulties?
- What are some spiritual activities taking place at your parish that you will attend or partake in during times of desolation? (This could be a time for the leader to share some information on what is happening at the parish.)
- Patience is key: St. Ignatius says, “One who is in desolation must strive to persevere in patience, which is contrary to the vexations that have come upon him.”
Questions for conversation or quiet reflection:
- What are some clues that your patience is wearing thin?
- What are some things that you do when you realize that your patience is running out?
- How can you increase your patience at these times?
- Thinking long-term supports patience: St. Ignatius says, “He should consider, also, that consolation will soon return, and strive diligently against the desolation.”
Questions for conversation or quiet reflection:
- What was your original thought, goal, or dream?
- What got you excited about this? What part of it brings you peace?
- Increased spiritual practices and activities depletes desolation: St. Ignatius says, “It is advantageous to intensify our activity against the desolation. This can be done by insisting on prayer, meditation, frequent examinations, and by increasing our penance in some suitable manner.”
Questions for conversation or quiet reflection:
- How do you see increased spirituality starving the desolation you are experiencing?
- When has increased spirituality assisted you in the past?
- Plan ahead: St. Ignatius says, “A person who is in consolation should take care to humble and abase himself as much as possible.” Prepare for times of desolation by building up strength, habits, and insights that will help through dimes of desolation. This can only be done in times of consolation.
Questions for conversation or quiet reflection:
- What is the purpose of consolation?
- How will you use consolation to prepare yourself for potential difficult times?
- What are some areas you can strengthen during times of consolation?
- The art of war — know thy enemy: “The enemy acts like a woman in that he is weak in the presence of strength, but strong if he has his will. For as it is the nature of a woman in a quarrel with a man to lose courage and take to flight when the man makes a show of strength and determination, in like manner, if the man loses courage and begins to flee, the anger, vindictiveness, and rage of the woman become great beyond all bounds. In the same manner it is the nature of our enemy to become powerless, lose courage, and take to flight as soon as a person who is following the spiritual life stands courageously against his temptation.” — St. Ignatius
Questions for conversation or quiet reflection:
- What do you think St. Ignatius means with this quote?
- What are some things that “the enemy” does to you during times of desolation?
- What are your greatest temptations in times of desolation?
- Where desolation comes from: Quotes from St. Ignatius: “We are tepid and slothful.” “God may try to test our worth, and the progress that we have made in His service and praise when we are without such generous rewards.” “So that we may truly perceive that it is not without power to acquire or retail great devotion, ardent love, tears, or any other spiritual consolation on our own.”
Questions for conversation or quiet reflection:
- Where does your desolation come from? What is the root?
- Knowing these reasons for desolation from St. Ignatius, what does this open up for you? What do you take away from this knowledge?
- Sufficient Grace: St. Ignatius says, “A person who is in desolation should recall that he can do much to withstand all of his enemies by using the sufficient grace that he has, and taking strength in his Creator and Lord.”
- Closing prayer (Ignatian Examen):
- Gratitude: Give the participants time to sit in silence and ponder their day. Ask them to review the day and guide them through each aspect of their day.
- Ask young adults to pay attention to emotions that come up. (Silence)
- Choose one memory or emotion from the day and pray with it. (Silence)
- Look to the future. (Silence)
- End with Suscipe Prayer: Take Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all that I have and possess. Thou hast given all to me. To Thee, O lord, I return it. All is Thine, dispose of it wholly according to Thy will. Give me Thy love and Thy grace, for this is sufficient for me.
Ideas
- The Ignatian Way (Slideshare) can be used as a closing prayer as an alternate to individual guided Examen.
- Follow-up opportunities:
- Ashes to Glory
- Lunch Time Examen
- Create a closed Facebook group for participants to continue the conversation as they try to apply the concepts in their lives. The group could be a place for the organizer to link to the videos and pages that are offered as well.
Help
- Rummaging for God: Praying Backwards through Your Day by Dennis Hamm, SJ
- The Examen Prayer Card
- There is information on IgnatianSpirituality.com on the Ignatian Examen and Consolation and Desolation, including many good videos.
- Another good website for Consolation and Desolation
- Circle of Trust Touchstones — an approach for creating safe spaces for the soul by Parker Palmer
