Sacred Story Affirmations: Meditations on Discernment of Spirits, Paperback

The Affirmations in this book are thumbnail sketches in spiritual discernment inspired by St. Ignatius of Loyola. They can be a tremendous spiritual resource for your life. Most of them are lifted from St. Ignatius' Rules for the Discernment of Spirits; called Rules for Weeks One and Two in the Spiritual Exercises. I have taken the substance of St. Ignatius' "Rules" for both Week One and Week Two and translated Ignatius' discernment guidelines into affirmative statements. Learning their wisdom can provide hope and encouragement on your spiritual journey through this life to Christ's eternal kingdom. You can also avoid much suffering and grief as you learn the predictable ways evil manifests in your life history-your story-and learn to resist the spiritual assaults and deceptions that move you away from the pathway of light. Pay attention to those that speak to your heart. As you do, ask God why they are meaningful for your own Sacred Story. St. Ignatius always wants us to ask God for the grace of understanding. So don't be shy Tell the Lord: "this touches my heart - help me to understand why it is important for me in my life." Note too, the ones that made no sense at all on your first pray-through. Ask that God's Holy Spirit keep you open to the graced wisdom they can offer further down the road of your Sacred Story journey.

Fr. William Watson, S.J., D. Min., has spent over thirty years developing Ignatian programs and retreats. Fr. Watson has served as: Director of Retreat Programs at Georgetown University; Vice President for Mission at Gonzaga University; and Provincial Assistant for International Ministries for the Oregon Province of the Society of Jesus. He holds Masters Degrees in Divinity and Pastoral Studies, respectively (1986; Weston Jesuit School of Theology, Cambridge Massachusetts). He received his Doctor of Ministry degree in 2009 from The Catholic University of America (Washington D.C.). In the spring of 2011 Fr. Watson launched the non-profit Sacred Story Institute, to bring Ignatian Spirituality to Catholics of all ages and walks of life. The Sacred Story Institute is promoting third millennium evangelization for the Society of Jesus and the Church by using the time-tested Examination of Conscience of St. Ignatius.