St. Ignatious of Loyola's first rule of Discernment

Warriors, listen up.

Saint Ignatius of Loyola—once a battle-hardened soldier like many of you—was shattered by a cannonball on the battlefield. In the silence of recovery, he discovered a deeper war: the invisible one raging in every human soul. He gave us the Rules for the Discernment of Spirits, battlefield intel for detecting enemy movements in our hearts and minds. The First Rule hits hard for anyone who's ever felt trapped in a cycle of bad choices:

"In persons who go from mortal sin to mortal sin, the enemy commonly proposes apparent pleasures, making them imagine sensual delights and pleasures to hold them more and make them grow in their vices and sins. The good spirit, on the other hand, uses the opposite method, pricking them and biting their consciences through the process of reason and moral judgment."

Translation for the front lines:

When we're drifting farther from God—piling sin on sin—the enemy doesn't attack with fear. He seduces. He makes the wrong path feel good, easy, and rewarding. "Just this once." "You deserve it." "No one's getting hurt." He paints fantasies of pleasure to keep us chained.

But the Good Spirit? He fights dirty in the best way: He stings your conscience. That nagging unease after a bad decision? That voice of reason saying, "This isn't you"? That's God trying to wake you up, to pull you back before the trap snaps shut.

Soldiers, we've all felt it—that momentary rush followed by emptiness. Or that quiet bite of regret that won't let go. Discernment starts here: recognizing whose voice is speaking in combat, you don't ignore intel. In the spiritual fight, ignoring this is fatal, so today:

What "pleasure" is the enemy dangling to keep you stuck?

And where is your conscience pricking you—calling you to something greater?

Pay attention. Suit up with the full armor of God. The battle for your soul is real—and victory is possible. Who's ready to fight the right war?

MAC(SW/AW/EXW) Heath Garcia

USN, Ret.

Spiritual Director, Archangel Ministries

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