I recently came across this website by Chris Carter where he outlines St. Ignatius of Loyola’s approach to Spiritual Growth. The strategy offered here is not only effective, but also applicable outside the realm of spiritual growth:
Q. What is similar about the Jesuit and Dominican Orders?
Well, they were both founded by Spaniards, St. Dominic for the Dominicans, and St. Ignatius of Loyola for the Jesuits. They were also both founded to combat heresy: the Dominicans to respond to the Albigensians, and the Jesuits to respond to the Protestants.
Q. What is different about the Jesuit and Dominican Orders?
Well, have you met any Albigensians lately?
“After you have made a decision that is pleasing to God, the Devil may try to make you have second thoughts. Intensify your prayer time, meditation, and good deeds. For if Satan’s temptations merely cause you to increase your efforts to grow in holiness, he’ll have an incentive to leave you alone.”
Father Matthew Spahr, a priest of the Diocese of San Diego, was born and raised in San Diego. He attended local Catholic schools including the University of San Diego and North American College in Rome. He was ordained in 1992 and is currently director of the Office for Priestly Formation for the Diocese, and the pastor of The Immaculata Parish on the campus of USD.
I was really pleased that we finally managed to get Fr. Matt to speak at Theology on Tap. I will unabashedly say that he is my favourite homilist here in San Diego. Every time Carrie, the Young Adult Coordinator for our Diocese, asked me who we should have to speak at the next Theology on Tap, I would always ask her to try again to secure Fr. Matt. Here is the audio: