In Podcasts, The Inner Life

Rules Of Discernment – The Inner Life – March 20, 2025

Patrick Conleyby Patrick Conley

– Rule 13: What Ignatius does in this rule is to give us a kind of parable to help us understand how the world the flesh and the devil affect us. His image of the enemy in this case is “the false lover”. (6:20)

  • – Rita: How does solitude work when it comes to hermits? they are always alone

Being a hermit is a canonical vocation in the Church. (31:54)

How do you begin a time of prayer? Ignatius asks us to invite the eyes of God to look upon us during prayer. What did people see in the eyes of Jesus when they came to Him with good will. Invariably they saw His infinite love in His eyes. Prayer is two persons in communication, the human person and the divine. Take a moment to see that the eyes of God with His infinite love are looking upon us. Learning more about formation in prayer is going to lead us to a deeper prayer life. (40:18)

  • Email – Anonymous: I go to regular Confession and have a spiritual director. Sometimes it feels like venting difficulties is gossiping. What do you think? (44:41)

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Patrick Conley

Patrick Conley

Patrick Conley was born, raised, and baptized in Wisconsin in a Protestant tradition. After meeting his wife, Kendra, through an Evangelical ministry at the University of Minnesota, they entered the Catholic Church in 2010. They listened to Relevant Radio, specifically The Inner Life, while preparing to enter the Church. Conley now holds a degree in theology from Oxford University and has served the Church in both academic theology and grassroots pastoral ministry. Conley teaches religion classes in a Catholic elementary school, serves as his parish Director of Religious Education, and is in formation for the permanent diaconate. He also hosts Practicing Catholic on Relevant Radio, exclusive to the Minneapolis area’s airwaves, and is a traveling presenter for the Catherine of Siena Institute apostolate. He lives in rural Wisconsin with his wife and their bulldogs, Georgie and Bingley.