In the spiritual life, one of the most important questions we can ask ourselves is simple: Where am I at right now? Some days, the answer feels obvious—peaceful, prayerful, close to God. Other days, it’s heavy, confusing, or dry.
St. Ignatius of Loyola gave us two words to help make sense of this: consolation and desolation. These experiences aren’t random moods but movements of the spirit. Learning to recognize and respond to them can shape how we grow in holiness and remain faithful through every season of life.
What Is Consolation?
Consolation is the gift of the Holy Spirit. It’s when the soul is drawn toward God with clarity and joy, strengthened in faith, hope, and love. Ignatius describes it as peace that “attracts to what is heavenly” and helps us go forward in doing good.
You may be in consolation if prayer feels fruitful, if your heart is moved toward gratitude, or if you sense a deep trust in God’s goodness. Even amid challenges, consolation can bring interior peace, courage, and a sense of God’s nearness.
The key to consolation: receive it with gratitude. This is God’s gift, not something you manufacture. Let it encourage you to keep moving forward in prayer, service, and love.
What Is Desolation?
Desolation, by contrast, is when the soul feels weighed down and pulled away from God. Ignatius describes it as darkness of soul, restlessness, sadness, or being inclined to “what is low and earthly.” It can feel like being spiritually stuck—without desire for prayer, faith, or hope.
Even the saints experienced desolation, and so did Jesus Himself. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He felt anguish so deep that His sweat fell like drops of blood. Yet even there, Jesus resisted despair and turned to His Father in prayer.
The key to desolation: resist. Ignatius urges us not to give up or make big decisions during desolation but instead to double down on prayer, seek support, and wait with trust for God’s light to return.
Responding Well in Each Season
Recognizing consolation and desolation is only the first step. The real question is: What do I do about it?
- In Consolation: Keep going. Deepen your gratitude, stay faithful in prayer, and take note of God’s graces so you can remember them later. Think of consolation as “storing up strength” for when trials come.
- In Desolation: Don’t give in to discouragement. Pray more, not less. Lean on Scripture, the sacraments, and trusted friends. Resist the temptation to isolate or make rash decisions. Consolation will return.
Both states are part of the normal Christian journey. God uses them to teach us dependence on Him and to strengthen us in perseverance.
Why This Matters
Naming where we’re at spiritually is powerful. Consolation and desolation aren’t about chasing good feelings or avoiding hard ones—they’re about noticing how God and the enemy move in our hearts. By paying attention, we can grow in discernment, resist temptation, and follow Christ more faithfully.
So—where are you right now? In consolation or in desolation? And just as important: how will you respond?
Additional Resources
Want to go deeper in prayer and discernment? These videos and articles will help you understand and pray through consolation and desolation with Ignatian wisdom:
- Comfort and Joy with Msgr. James Shea — A reflection on the joy that comes from Christ, even amid hardship.
- Do Not Despair with Fr. Benedict Croell, OP — A short but powerful encouragement to remain hopeful during desolation.
- Fr. Mike Schmitz: “Made For Greatness Not Comfort” | SEEK2015 — A classic SEEK talk on why true greatness comes from following Christ, not seeking ease.
- Fight Lies and Desolation with Sr. Mary Grace, S.V. — Practical wisdom on resisting lies of the enemy and standing firm in faith.
- The Weight of Our Brokenness with Msgr. James Shea — A SEEK Replay talk that explores how Christ enters into our woundedness with healing and hope.
- How to Pray: A Step-by-Step Guide to Ignatian Contemplation — Learn how to encounter Christ personally through prayer with Scripture in the Ignatian tradition.
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