Despair, Discernment and Distractions in Prayer

Description: Dan Burke and Melissa Elson answer your questions about despair, discernment, and distractions in prayer.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

How do we discern or recognize if we’re under spiritual attack?
How should one discern his or her vocation?
How does mental prayer affect our ability to discern properly?
How can we properly discern the truth from lies in our thoughts?
How can I keep my thoughts from wandering during prayer?

Resources:

Spiritualdirection.com – website
EWTN Global Catholic Radio
Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation
EWTN Religious Catalogue – online
Into the Deep – Finding Peace Through Prayer by Dan Burke
A Catholic Guide to Mindfulness by Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Searching for and Maintaining Peace by Fr. Jacques Philippe
Who Are You? a SpiritualDirection.com post by Dan Burke
The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis
In Conversation with God by Francis Fernandez
The Contemplative Rosary by Dan Burke and Connie Rossini
Questions? Send an e-mail to Questions@myavila.com or call 818-646-7729. Please leave your name, location, and question(s).

What is Divine Intimacy Radio?

The Divine Intimacy Radio Show is a haven of rest and wellspring of spiritual life for those seeking intimacy with God and the enlightened path of Catholic mystical and ascetical wisdom. Every week, Dan Burke and Melissa Elson explore topics related to the interior life and Catholic teaching, including prayer, spiritual direction, meditation, contemplation, and holiness.

Divine Intimacy Radio Show and EWTN!

This radio show can also be heard every Sunday on EWTN Radio, Sundays at 6:30 am, 1:30 pm, and 11:00 pm Eastern time. We are grateful to EWTN for their support!

Please click on the links below to listen to this week’s show! Don’t forget to tell your friends about the show and help us get the word out. Click HERE for mobile devices or on the links below to listen to the show:

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Dan Burke

Dan Burke is the past President and C.O.O. of EWTN's worldwide news network. He is presently the founder and President of the Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation, which offers graduate and personal enrichment studies in spiritual theology to priests, deacons, religious, and laity in 90 countries and prepares men for seminary in over 40 dioceses. Dan is the author and editor of numerous books on authentic Catholic spirituality and hosts the Divine Intimacy Radio show with his wife, Stephanie, which is broadcast weekly on EWTN Radio. Past episodes can be found, along with thousands of articles on the interior life, at SpiritualDirection.com. In his deep commitment to the advancement of faithful Catholic spirituality, he is also the founder of Apostoli Viae, a world-wide, private association of the faithful dedicated to living and advancing the authentic spiritual patrimony of the Church. Most importantly, Dan is a blessed husband, father of four, grandfather of one—and grateful to be Catholic.