+JMJ
A Contemplation from the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola
No one can argue that the world, and especially the United States of America, is a mess. As I watch the mess that is the country, the election, the church, and our daily lives I was reminded of a contemplation I had while going through the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola.
It was this meditation that shed some light on what I see going on in the world. It is the fight of the Two Standards.
If you haven’t prayed through the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, I highly recommend you take some time to do so. They are incredibly revealing about your current state with God and provides the opportunity to see where (and what) you need to work on.
Little Background on the Two Standards
“It is therefore proper here, while we are contemplating the life of Christ, to examine and earnestly beg the grace to know the kind and state of life in which it would most please His Divine Majesty that we should serve Him and promote His glory We shall be guided in this search by the following exercise, which places in parallel and contrast the thoughts and views of Jesus Christ and those of His mortal enemy. We shall thus learn what ought to be our dispositions, in order that we may arrive at perfection in that state, whatever it may be, which the Divine Goodness may counsel us to choose.”
-The Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius or Manresa, TAN CLASSICS, p.126
The meditation on the Two Standards is presented by Saint Ignatius as a sort of parable. He likens our Lord, Jesus, and Lucifer, the mortal enemy, as two captains. They are armed against each other and are locked in a fierce battle for souls. Each one calling us to march under their standard. Standard here can mean banner when applied to the parable, but also to the rule and judgment of each side.
This week I will share my contemplation on the Standard of Lucifer. Next week I will share my contemplation on the Standard of Jesus Christ.
The Standard of Lucifer
“Represent to yourself the prince of the reprobate in the vast plains of Babylon, the city of confusion, on a throne of fire surrounded by thick smoke, spreading terror around him by the hideous deformity of his features and by his terrible looks. Consider the innumerable crowd of followers and ministers around Lucifer. Listen, in spirit, to Lucifer addressing his ministers, and ordering them to lay snares on all sides for men, in order to their perdition.”
-Summary of The Standard of Lucifer, The Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius or Manresa, TAN CLASSICS, p.127-128
My Contemplation From The Standard of Lucifer
I stand before Christ and His Holy Mother. They both look downcast and sorrowful. My patron saints, St. Raphael the Archangel and St. Gemma Galgani, arrive and take their places behind Jesus.
“Walk with me,” the Lord says solemnly.
St. Raphael opens a door and my Lord passes through it. I follow behind Him and Raphael follows closing the door behind us. I immediately notice a horrible stench. It is a nauseating, vile rottenness that is almost tangible. We are in a vast barren wasteland, shrouded in darkness, only illuminated through bursts of flames from the ground.
Jesus goes before me radiating His own light, creating a circle around Himself, me following Him, and St. Raphael taking up the rear. We walk slowly, and it gets harder and harder to breathe.
Next, I notice the noise. Deafening noise. There is wailing, screaming, crying, weeping, and pure terror coming from poor souls writhing on the ground in agony on either side of our path. My heart is gripped in fear of the sight of these decaying souls twisting and struggling in tormenting fire.
As we walk I now see shadowy figures dart back and forth around us. They scare me with their speed. They get so close, growling, moaning, howling, and snarling, but never coming within the circle of light. They are causing all sorts of terror and destruction. They are torturing and massacring all the agonizing souls.
Then, I hear the whispers piercing through all the noise.
“Step out of the light. You know you want to. Come here. You will have all you want.” And many other similar whispers of temptation. It is incessant and relentless. They laugh at me. They curse me. They demand I step out of the light.
And, I shamefully, consider it. It would make them leave me alone. I was growing tired of their assaults. I close my eyes as the agitation grows, anger takes hold of my heart, and the frustration builds.
Just when I think I cannot take anymore, a low growl spreads over the wasteland. That is when everything stops and goes silent.
“Step out,” he hisses, making all the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, as the devil appears as a giant monstrosity, ferocious and dark. I am completely gripped with terror.
Jesus turns to me then and startles me out of myself, making my jump backward, bumping into St. Raphael, who steadies me. His face shows His agony and sorrow.
“Please don’t leave me here, Lord,” I beg Him.
“I do not want you to be here,” He whispers, tears rolling gently down His face.
I drop to my knees, filled with anguish and dismay, grasping the hems of His robes, “Please don’t leave me here.”
The Standard of Evil
Hell is real. There have been Saints who have received visions of it. (Five of them can be found here.) The tiny little taste the Lord showed me here, under His protection, grips me with fear.
It’s terrifying to think that it is a very real possibility for EVERYONE. Our Lord said that there is a broad road to destruction (Matthew 7:13), but the devil tries to hide it. In his quest for souls to march under his evil standard, he hides who he really is. He hides his destruction and torment under the guise of complacency and tolerance, making them akin to love. He makes my sins seem so much smaller than they really are. He makes me think that my sins are not that bad. He is cunning and leads me down the broad road to destruction quite easily if I am not ever vigilant.
Next week I will share my contemplation on The Standard of Jesus Christ!
Thrive in Jesus, my friends!
This week, my friends, ask the Lord to give you a small taste, under His protection, of hell. Meditate on it and ask Him to reveal to you where the devil is leading you down the broad road. For it is incredibly important to know that hell is real and the possibility of going there is very real.
Leave me a comment if the Holy Spirit moves you too!