As we close out the month of July in our Saintly Summer series, we turn to St. Ignatius of Loyola—founder of the Jesuits and one of the great spiritual guides of the Church. While he gifted the world with the Spiritual Exercises, perhaps his most lasting legacy is the practice of spiritual discernment.

In this short reflection, we focus on Ignatius’s discovery: the difference between fleeting pleasures and lasting peace. While recovering from battle wounds, he realized something profound—true joy endures. And that’s where God is speaking.

St. Ignatius invites us to ask:
What brings deep and lasting joy to my life?
Where is God calling me—today?
Spiritual discernment isn’t just for saints. It’s a tool we all need, especially in seasons of decision and doubt.

Watch now for a quick jolt of faith and a moment to realign with what truly matters.

Jolt of Faith – Full Text

Jolt of Faith 7/31: Saintly Summer – St. Ignatius of Loyola & the Gift of Spiritual Discernment

Our last Saint for the month of July is St. Ignatius of Loyola. Founder of the Jesuits, one of the great spiritual giants of the church, he gave us the great gift of the spiritual exercises, as well as spiritual discernment. But what I’d really like to focus on is the idea of spiritual discernment. St. Ignatius was really the first person to apply how I feel – is God leading me or speaking to me? There’s that famous story that St. Ignatius was recovering from battle wounds and realized that when he thought about earthly pleasures, courtly love, all the things he used to get so excited about, he was filled with pleasure and happiness, but it wasn’t lasting. When he read the lives of the saints, it did last and that helped him discern that God was calling him to something better. Because spiritual discernment is a gift we all need because it’s hard sometimes to know where is God calling me, what does he want me to do, what is really best for me? And that simple method St.Ignatius employed is something we can all do. What gives me lasting joy? What gives me that deep sense of peace and fulfillment in my heart? Because that’s God trying to tell me that’s where I need to go. That’s what I need to do, that’s what’s going to make me happy. As I said, St. Ignatius is a great giant in the spiritual realm of the church, but that idea of spiritual discernment is something all of us can use – probably just about everyday of our life. Not a sermon, not a homily, just that little Jolt of Faith we may need to get through the week.