Timothy M. Gallagher - Setting Captives Free: Personal Reflections on Ignatian Discernment of Spirits

Father Timothy M. Gallagher, O.M.V.s highly useful and pellucidly written bookbuttressed in an unobtrusive way with the best of Ignatian scholarship and years of pastoral experienceunderscores why he is Americas foremost interpreter and writer on Ignatian discernment and spiritual direction.

Harvey D. Egan, S.J.
Emeritus Professor of Systematic and Mystical Theology, Boston College

Fr. Gallaghers writings and teaching on St. Ignatius Rules for Discernment of Spirits over many years have strengthened the spiritual life of thousands, including my own. In his most recent book, Setting Captives Free,he enters even more deeply into these rules explaining them practically and with unparalleled spiritual insight. Here the refined wisdom of more than 30 years of experience as a teacher and spiritual director, the humble example of his personal attempts to live these rules, and his beautifully readable style, combine to produce another spiritual masterpiece. Even those who have not read his first seminal study on this topic will benefit from the spiritual wisdom contained here finding a sure path to deeper freedom in the love and service of God.

In Christ,
The Most Reverend Andrew H. Cozzens, S.T.D.
Auxiliary Bishop, Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis

Setting Captives Free is an apt name for this new reflection on Ignatius Rules for Discernment by Fr. Timothy Gallagher. The freedom and insight that comes from delving ever more deeply into the wisdom of these rules liberates us for a more authentic relationship with God. The stories and examples that Fr. Tim shares, some very personal, put flesh around his careful teaching. We see through the light of his examples real experiences of spiritual seekers reflected in all their beauty and rejoice at the goodness of a God who wants this kind of freedom for us all.

Cathie Macaulay, spiritual director, wife and mother, faculty of the Ignatian Centre, Montreal

In this age when God invites Christian peoplepriests, religious, and layto maturity in the spiritual life, the rules for discernment of Saint Ignatius of Loyola are a treasure. Father Timothy Gallagher is the most thorough writer in English today on Ignatian discernment, and like his earlier works, Setting Captives Free offers discerning people an opportunity for a deepening of their practice. I think of Father Gallagher as a mystagogue in the classical sense of one who leads us deeper into the mystery of God, through reflection on the ways that God has been already active in our lives. I am thankful for his latest book.

Tim Muldoon, author of The Ignatian Workout and The Discerning Parent

Many have been led to a liberating encounter with the Rules for the Discernment of Spirits of St. Ignatius through the masterful writing and teaching of Father Timothy Gallagher. Now, Father Gallagher offers to the reader powerful insights gained through the years of his continued writing and teaching, illustrated with vivid examples from a wide variety of sources. I am confident that this new work will bring even greater freedom to all those desiring a deeper relationship with the God who desires to set us free.

Rev. Richard J. Gabuzda, Executive Director,
The Institute for Priestly Formation

Retreat directors often give St Ignatiuss rules for the discernment of spirits to their retreatants. But consolations and desolations dont just come upon us during times of retreat! These rules are incredibly useful for making sense of daily life and for figuring out what we need to doand to avoid doing! This book offers us the characteristic wit and wisdom of Father Timothy Gallagher.

Father Joseph Koterski, S.J., Fordham University

Just when it seems everything has been said about discernment of spirits, Fr. Gallagher offers fresh new insights based on his extensive personal experience of teaching, spiritual direction, and applying Ignatiuss rules in his own life. His book is the perfect resource for the prayerful discerner who desires to more deeply explore the nuances of St. Ignatius rules.

Gregory Cleveland, OMV, author of Awakening Love, An Ignatian Retreat with the Song of Songs

Setting Captives Free is both an accurate summary of the goal of the Rules for Discernment of the first week of the Spiritual Exercises and of the transformative effect of applying the rules in individual lives. Fr. Timothy Gallagher returns to the subject matter of his first book and fifteen years later has produced a further text, which reveals a maturity of spiritual reflection accumulated across those years. Readers familiar with his work will recognize both his trademark of giving helpful examples drawn from daily life and his pedagogical style of reiteration for clarity and confirmation. In addition, within this work there is a generous sharing of his own personal experiences, sufferings and struggles and a hint of the sacrifices involved in such writing. At one point (118) in a reference that seems to resonate with personal experience he cites Elisabeth Leseur suffering is the great law of the spiritual world. We shall only know later the work accomplished by our suffering and our sacrifices. It all goes to the heart of God and there, joined to the redemptive treasure, it expands in souls in the form of grace. It is to such grace that he directs the attention of his readers confidently encouraging them by means of the rules for discernment along the path to the heart of God.

Sr Gill K Goulding CJ STL PhD, Professor of Systematic Theology, Director of Advanced Ecclesiastical Degrees Regis College

Setting
Captives
Free

Personal Reflections on
Ignatian Discernment of Spirits

TIMOTHY M. GALLAGHER, OMV

A Crossroad Book

The Crossroad Publishing Company

New York

The Crossroad Publishing Company www.CrossroadPublishing.com

2018 by Timothy M. Gallagher, O.M.V

Crossroad, Herder & Herder, and the crossed C logo/colophon are registered trademarks of The Crossroad Publishing Company.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be copied, scanned, reproduced in any way, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of The Crossroad Publishing Company. For permission please write to

In continuation of our 200-year tradition of independent publishing, The Crossroad Publishing Company proudly offers a variety of books with strong, original voices and diverse perspectives. The viewpoints expressed in our books are not necessarily those of The Crossroad Publishing Company, any of its imprints or of its employees, executives, owners. Although the author and publisher have made every effort to ensure that the information in this book was correct at press time, the author and publisher do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. No claims are made or responsibility assumed for any health or other benefits.