Consolation and Desolation
The Core Vocabulary of Ignatian Discernment
Consolation and desolation are Ignatius's terms for the two fundamental types of interior movement. Consolation is any movement that increases faith, hope, and love, draws the soul toward God, and brings genuine peace. Desolation is any movement that decreases these virtues, turns the soul away from God, and brings turmoil or darkness. These are not simply "good feelings" and "bad feelings"—they are directional movements that reveal whether the soul is moving toward or away from its Creator.
How Ignatius Discovered This
Ignatius's insight into consolation and desolation came during his convalescence at Loyola Castle. While recovering from his battle wound, he passed time reading and daydreaming. He noticed a striking pattern in his interior life.
"When he thought of worldly matters he found much delight; but when afterward he dismissed them from weariness, he found that he was dry and dissatisfied. But when he thought of going barefoot to Jerusalem and of eating nothing but vegetables... he was consoled, not only when he entertained these thoughts, but even after he had dismissed them he remained cheerful and satisfied."
This simple observation—that different thoughts left different "aftertastes"—became the foundation of Ignatian discernment. The worldly fantasies produced initial pleasure but left him empty; the thoughts of serving God produced both immediate and lasting satisfaction.
From this, Ignatius developed a sophisticated understanding of how God communicates through interior movements, and how the enemy of souls also works through counterfeiting these movements.
What Is Spiritual Consolation?
Ignatius defines spiritual consolation very specifically in the Spiritual Exercises (§316):
Ignatius's Definition
"I call it consolation when some interior movement is caused in the soul through which the soul comes to be inflamed with love of its Creator and Lord; and when it can in consequence love no created thing on the face of the earth in itself, but only in the Creator of them all. Likewise, when it sheds tears that move to love of its Lord, whether out of sorrow for sins, or for the Passion of Christ our Lord, or because of other things directly connected with His service and praise. Finally, I call consolation any increase of hope, faith, and charity, and all interior joy which calls and attracts to heavenly things and to the salvation of one's soul, quieting it and giving it peace in its Creator and Lord."
Breaking this down, consolation includes:
Love of God Inflamed
The soul feels drawn to God—not by duty but by desire. Created things become transparent, valued for their connection to God rather than for themselves alone. There is a reordering of loves.
Tears of Devotion
Ignatius frequently experienced what he called "the gift of tears"—weeping from love of God, sorrow for sins, or compassion for Christ's suffering. These tears bring relief and clarity, not depression.
Increase of Theological Virtues
Faith, hope, and love grow stronger. Trust in God increases. The capacity for charity expands. These are not just feelings but actual growth in virtue.
Interior Joy Toward Heaven
Joy that draws the soul toward eternal things—toward God, toward salvation, toward service. This joy may coexist with external sorrow or difficulty; it is an interior orientation, not external circumstance.
Peace in God
The soul is quieted and at rest in its Creator. Not the absence of all struggle, but a fundamental settledness, a sense that all is well at the deepest level even amid surface turbulence.
What Is Spiritual Desolation?
Ignatius defines spiritual desolation as the opposite of consolation (§317):
Ignatius's Definition
"I call desolation... darkness of soul, disturbance in it, movement to low and earthly things, disquiet from various agitations and temptations—moving to lack of confidence, without hope, without love—when the soul finds itself totally slothful, tepid, sad, and as if separated from its Creator and Lord."
Breaking this down, desolation includes:
Darkness of Soul
A sense of interior dimness—difficulty seeing clearly, feeling cut off from light and understanding. What was clear becomes confused; what was certain becomes doubtful.
Disturbance and Agitation
The soul is troubled, restless, unable to find peace. Temptations multiply. Everything seems difficult, every option seems wrong, and there is no place of rest.
Movement Toward Low Things
The soul is drawn toward earthly satisfactions, base pleasures, self-serving choices. Higher aspirations seem impossible or pointless; why bother with the difficult path?
Loss of Theological Virtues
Faith weakens—God seems distant or unreal. Hope fades—nothing will ever get better. Love cools—why serve others when they don't appreciate it?
Sloth, Tepidity, Sadness
Prayer becomes a burden. Spiritual things that once delighted now bore or repel. A pervasive sadness settles in—not normal grief, but a spiritual heaviness.
Feeling Separated from God
The sense that God has abandoned you, that He no longer hears prayer, that the relationship is broken. This is the heart of desolation—felt distance from the Creator.
Critical Distinctions
Consolation ≠ Feeling Good
Consolation can involve pain—sorrow for sins, compassion for Christ's suffering, grief over separation from loved ones who have died. What makes it consolation is not the pleasantness of the feeling but its orientation toward God and growth in virtue. A painful truth that leads to repentance brings consolation.
Desolation ≠ Feeling Bad
Desolation is not simply unhappiness. Legitimate grief, appropriate sorrow, even clinical depression are not necessarily spiritual desolation (though they may accompany it). Desolation is characterized by movement away from God, decrease in faith, hope, and love, and a sense of being cut off from one's Creator.
False Consolation Exists
The enemy can produce experiences that feel like consolation but are not. The Rules for Discernment teach how to detect the "angel of light"—movements that begin well but lead astray. True consolation bears good fruit over time; false consolation reveals its origin through its trajectory.
Desolation Is Not Punishment
Ignatius identifies three causes of desolation, and only one involves fault: (1) our own negligence in prayer, (2) God testing and strengthening us, or (3) God teaching us that consolation is pure gift. Often desolation is not about sin at all—it is about growth.
How to Respond
In Consolation
- Thank God for the gift
- Don't become attached—it will pass
- Store up strength for future desolation
- Be cautious about major decisions (consolation can cloud judgment too)
- Examine the source—is this genuine or false consolation?
- Use the energy for service and growth
In Desolation
- Never make a change—hold firm to previous decisions
- Intensify prayer and penance
- Remember past consolations
- Practice patience—it will pass
- Act against the desolation (counter-attack)
- Consult with a director
- Trust that God has not abandoned you
The Cardinal Rule
Never make or change a major decision in desolation. The enemy wants you to abandon your commitments, change direction, give up on prayer. Hold firm. Whatever you decided in consolation, maintain in desolation. When consolation returns, you will see clearly again.
Where Do They Come From?
Ignatius identifies multiple possible sources for interior movements:
Consolation from God
Genuine consolation that increases faith, hope, and love comes ultimately from God. Only God can give "consolation without preceding cause"—a pure gift unconnected to any thought or circumstance. When consolation has a preceding cause, it may still be from God but must be discerned more carefully.
False Consolation from the Enemy
The enemy can produce experiences that feel like consolation but lead astray. He appears as an "angel of light," entering by a good door (holy thoughts) but exiting by his own (vanity, presumption, false security). The Second Week Rules teach how to detect this.
Desolation from the Enemy
The enemy directly attacks, producing darkness, disturbance, and discouragement. He wants us to give up, change course, abandon prayer, lose hope. This is spiritual warfare; resistance is required.
Desolation Permitted by God
God allows desolation for our growth—to test us, to wean us from attachment to consolation, to teach us that all grace is gift. This is not punishment but training. The dark night is a profound form of this.
Our Own Psychology
Not all interior movements are spiritual in origin. Fatigue, illness, chemical imbalances, personality, and psychological wounds can all produce interior states that must be distinguished from spiritual consolation or desolation. This is why direction is important.
The Daily Practice
The Daily Examen is the practice that makes discernment of consolation and desolation concrete. Twice daily, the practitioner reviews the past hours asking:
- Where did I experience consolation today?
- Where did I experience desolation?
- What patterns do I notice over time?
- How am I being invited to respond?
Over time, this practice develops discernment as a habit rather than an occasional exercise. The person who notices movements daily becomes increasingly sensitive to what God is doing—and increasingly able to cooperate.
The Broader Framework
Consolation and desolation are the vocabulary; discernment is the practice. Understanding them requires the broader context of Christian spiritual discernment:
Discernment in Contemplative Practice →Frequently Asked Questions
How long does desolation typically last?
It varies widely. Some desolations last hours; others last weeks or months. The key is that it will end—consolation always returns, though we cannot control when. Patience and perseverance are the proper response.
Is depression the same as desolation?
Not necessarily. Clinical depression is a medical condition with biological components; spiritual desolation is a movement of the soul. They can overlap, and depression can include or trigger spiritual desolation, but they are not identical. Someone with depression should seek both medical/psychological help and spiritual direction.
Can I experience both consolation and desolation at the same time?
Yes. Complex interior states are common. You might experience consolation at a deep level (fundamental peace in God) while experiencing desolation at a surface level (agitation about circumstances). Discernment involves attending to the deeper movements, not just the surface.
Should I always seek consolation?
No. Seeking consolation can become a subtle attachment that hinders growth. The goal is not to feel good but to grow in union with God and capacity for service. Sometimes desolation teaches what consolation cannot. Trust God's pedagogy.
What if I can't tell whether I'm in consolation or desolation?
This is common, especially for beginners. The key questions: Is my faith, hope, and love increasing or decreasing? Am I being drawn toward God or away? Sometimes clarity comes only with time. Consult a director when uncertain.
Related Articles
- Rules for Discernment — The detailed guidelines for reading these movements.
- The Daily Examen — The practice that develops discernment.
- Discernment of Spirits — Overview of Ignatian discernment.
- The Dark Night of the Soul — When desolation becomes transformative.
- Ignatian Spirituality Overview — The complete tradition at a glance.