Setting Captives Free: Personal Reflections on Ignatian Discernment of Spirits

by Timothy M. Gallagher

The latter widens the range of rule 1 to include even small areas of regression in otherwise progressing Christians.13 In such areas of regression—lighter or venial sins, negligence in prayer, diminishment of apostolic zeal, and so forth—the enemy, this interpretation says, induces contentment of heart and the good spirit induces trouble of heart. Such areas of regression obviously exist, and in this interpretation, Ignatius intended rule 1 to clarify how the spirits work in them. Though the broader interpretation is textually possible, I incline to the first interpretation, that when Ignatius speaks of a person “going from mortal sin to mortal sin,” he intends the phrase “mortal sin” as grave sin. I hold this position for several reasons.