Frequently Asked Questions
Below is a set of frequently asked questions about discernment, retreats, the mission of the Ignatian Discernment Institute, and other key areas.
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On Ignatian Spirituality
These questions are asked about the nature of Ignatian Spirituality and how to best integrate it in our lives.
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What is Ignatian spiritual discernment?
In Ignatian spirituality, discernment can mean one of two things: discernment of spirits, or discernment of God’s will.
Discernment of spirits means becoming aware of and understanding the different movements within us, so that we can receive what will lead us toward God and resistwhat will lead us away from Him.
Discernment of God’s will involves making a concrete decision about a course of action in a given life situation. St. Ignatius has much to say about both topics.
To read our What is “Discernment,” Anyway article, click here.
How can we practice Ignatian discernment daily?
St. Ignatius placed great importance on the daily (and often more than daily!) examination of conscience. With time, the practice was re-envisioned as a “consciousness examen,” which includes looking at the different movements that we have experienced during the day and our responses to them. Through habitual practice of the examen, living a discerning life can become second nature.
To read Fr. George Aschenbrenner’s classic article on the consciousness examen, click here.
To learn more about Fr. Timothy Gallagher’s book on the examen, click here.
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How does Ignatian spirituality help with decision making?
St. Ignatius gives us a remarkable framework and practical advice for making decisions according to the mind of Christ, i.e. discerning the will of God. One way of discerning God’s will is by discernment of spirits: assuming certain good dispositions on the part of the discerner, and that all of the options before him are morally acceptable, it is generally wise to follow the course of action to which one is drawn during spiritual consolation. Ignatius also speaks of two important ways of discerning God’s will other than discernment of spirits. Occasionally, God reveals his will with such clarity that the discerner cannot possibly doubt what is being revealed to him. At other times, we can use our graced reasoning ability to weigh the different options and choose between them.
To learn more about Fr. Timothy Gallagher’s book on discerning God’s will, click here.
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What are the benefits of spiritual exercises by St. Ignatius?
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The Spiritual Exercises are a uniquely powerful way of making a retreat. Within the Exercises the retreatant is enabled to view and evaluate his day-to-day existence in relation to his final goal (eternal union with the Living God) and to take concrete steps toward achieving and helping others to achieve that end. The inner peace acquired during the Exercises keeps him alert to even the slightest advances of the Holy Spirit, and helps him to answer generously the promptings of grace. Indeed, in the words of Venerable Bruno Lanteri, founder of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary, the Exercises provide “a sure method for everyone to become a saint, a great saint, and to do so speedily.”
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On The Institute's Mission
These questions deal with the mission of the Ignatian Discernment Institute, including details about how best to engage with our work.
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What makes Ignatian Discernment Institute unique for spiritual formation?
The Ignatian Discernment Institute (IDI) is a ministry of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary. While
the Oblates are dedicated to giving the Spiritual Exercises, the IDI focuses on Ignatius’s
teaching on discernment, particularly the Rules for the Discernment of Spirits from the first
week of the Spiritual Exercises. Originally written by St. Ignatius of Loyola over 500 years
ago, these rules have expanded beyond the context of retreats to meet everyone where they are in their own spiritual journey. The teaching method developed by Fr. Timothy Gallagher, O.M.V. begins with giving close attention to the text of Ignatius’s rules and then illustrating them with examples drawn from the lived experience of those we serve, whether priests, religious, laypersons, single, or married. By connecting Ignatius’s wisdom directly to real situations, the teaching becomes both understandable and deeply personal.
For an initial exploration of the Rules for the Discernment of Spirits from the first week of the Spiritual Exercises, click here.
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Regarding Retreats / Teaching Opportunities
These questions address details about attending retreats or other teaching opportunities with the Ignatian Discernment Institute.
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What types of Ignatian spirituality / discernment courses, workshops, and retreats are available?
The Ignatian Discernment Institute focuses on St. Ignatius’s teaching on discernment, particularly the Rules for the Discernment of Spirits from the first week of the Spiritual Exercises. We are happy to bring this powerful teaching of St. Ignatius to your parish, lay group, religious community, or assembly of clergy. We present it in the form of retreats or seminars which can span one day (typically a Saturday), two days (often Saturday and Sunday), or within longer retreats. We can also provide schedules of past events on request.
To view our upcoming events, click here.
Do you offer specific training for those wishing to teach Ignatian Spirituality?
Yes! We offer a curriculum to train those already familiar with the rules for discernment and who desire to teach them to others. The curriculum has two tracks, each toward a separate certification. The first is open to all who desire training to teach St. Ignatius’s fourteen First Week rules for the discernment of spirits. The second is for spiritual directors who desire in-depth training on how to apply Ignatian discernment in spiritual direction. Both tracks will begin in the second half of 2026. The curricula will have in-person and online components and can be audited if desired.
To view the course descriptions, see the last page of our downloadable brochure here.
Does the Ignatian Discernment Institute offer retreats based on the Spiritual Exercises?
Because of our focus on teaching the Rules for the Discernment of Spirits and the travel necessary to do so, IDI priests do not give the Spiritual Exercises to individual retreatants. However, many of our brother Oblates of the Virgin Mary throughout the United States and abroad do! The best places to attend such retreats are our retreat centers in Milton, MA, Venice, FL, and internationally in Cebu and Antipolo, Philippines.
To book a retreat at our retreat house in Milton, MA, click here.
To book a retreat at the retreat center in Venice, FL, click here.
How does one sign up or register for retreats at Ignatian Discernment Institute in Denver?
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As described above, we travel to offer retreats and seminars based on St. Ignatius’s teaching on discernment, particularly the Rules for the Discernment of Spirits from the first week of the Spiritual Exercises. If you are looking for an individual retreat based on the Spiritual Exercises and cannot travel to our retreat facilities in Massachusetts or Florida, there are other retreat houses in the Denver area, including Sacred Heart Retreat House in Sedalia, CO, staffed by the Jesuit order.
If you are interested in having Fr. Gallagher or Fr. Yavarone come to your parish, lay group, religious community, or assembly of clergy, please fill out our contact form here.
To learn more about Sacred Heart Retreat House in Sedalia, CO, click here.
Do you offer in-person spiritual guidance and spiritual direction?
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Because of the great demand for our retreats and seminars from groups throughout the United States, we do not offer individual spiritual direction. However, many of our brother Oblates of the Virgin Mary offer this important ministry. The Oblates operate the Lanteri Center for Ignatian Spirituality in Denver, which trains new spiritual directors. Individual spiritual direction is also offered there, subject to the availability of the directors.
To learn more about the Lanteri Center for Ignatian Spirituality, click here.
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Still Have Questions?
Discernment is a journey, and questions are part of it. If something is on your heart, we invite you to reach out. Our priests would be glad to hear from you.
