Are you winning the battle against habitual sin? How to correct sinners without being judgmental? How to balance admonishing the sinner and mercy?
In this episode of The Devil Is in the Details, Dan and Jordan Burke continue their journey through The Devil in the Castle, exploring sustained piety, the final stage of the purgative way before transition into the illuminative way.
This is the stage where mortal sin has become rare, occurring only when taken suddenly by surprise, and even then it's often questionable whether the sin was truly mortal. Venial sin is no longer habitual, and the soul fights it vigilantly with intense sorrow and a firm purpose of amendment. Imperfections begin to surface more clearly as the smaller rocks in the field are revealed. Prayer has become consistent and non-negotiable, meditation is often affective, and the soul may even begin to experience the prayer of simplicity or contemplative aridity as the Lord draws them deeper.
Dan and Jordan begin by addressing concerns about harsh language, explaining why sharp doctrinal clarity is an act of mercy, not cruelty. Using the analogy of a toddler on the edge of traffic, they show why startling language is sometimes necessary to wake people up spiritually and save them from serious spiritual harm. They discuss the difference between therapeutic language and proclamation, and why their goal is always fidelity to Church teaching and the salvation of souls.
They then explore what sustained piety looks like in everyday life: how the soul responds to venial sin with deep contrition, why imperfections are often avoided or excused at this stage, and how daily mental prayer becomes absolutely non-negotiable. They also discuss the transition into the dark night of sense, where meditation dries up and the Lord begins to purify the soul more deeply through contemplative aridity, preparing them for the illuminative way.
This conversation is both practical and deeply rooted in the wisdom of St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, and the Catholic spiritual tradition, offering clear markers for discerning where you are in the spiritual life and what God may be calling you toward next.
In this episode:
In this episode of The Devil Is in the Details, Dan and Jordan Burke continue their journey through The Devil in the Castle, exploring sustained piety, the final stage of the purgative way before transition into the illuminative way.
This is the stage where mortal sin has become rare, occurring only when taken suddenly by surprise, and even then it's often questionable whether the sin was truly mortal. Venial sin is no longer habitual, and the soul fights it vigilantly with intense sorrow and a firm purpose of amendment. Imperfections begin to surface more clearly as the smaller rocks in the field are revealed. Prayer has become consistent and non-negotiable, meditation is often affective, and the soul may even begin to experience the prayer of simplicity or contemplative aridity as the Lord draws them deeper.
Dan and Jordan begin by addressing concerns about harsh language, explaining why sharp doctrinal clarity is an act of mercy, not cruelty. Using the analogy of a toddler on the edge of traffic, they show why startling language is sometimes necessary to wake people up spiritually and save them from serious spiritual harm. They discuss the difference between therapeutic language and proclamation, and why their goal is always fidelity to Church teaching and the salvation of souls.
They then explore what sustained piety looks like in everyday life: how the soul responds to venial sin with deep contrition, why imperfections are often avoided or excused at this stage, and how daily mental prayer becomes absolutely non-negotiable. They also discuss the transition into the dark night of sense, where meditation dries up and the Lord begins to purify the soul more deeply through contemplative aridity, preparing them for the illuminative way.
This conversation is both practical and deeply rooted in the wisdom of St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, and the Catholic spiritual tradition, offering clear markers for discerning where you are in the spiritual life and what God may be calling you toward next.
In this episode:
- Why sharp language is an act of mercy, not harshness
- The toddler analogy: when startling language saves lives
- The difference between therapeutic language and proclamation
- What sustained piety looks like in the late purgative way
- Why mortal sin becomes rare and only by surprise
- How venial sin is fought vigilantly and taken to confession
- Why imperfections begin to surface and how to respond
- Confessing past sins with deeper contrition
- The importance of daily mental prayer at this stage
- What affective prayer and the prayer of simplicity mean
- How contemplative aridity signals a deeper purification
- The four signs of the dark night of sense according to St. John of the Cross
- Why consistent examination of conscience is essential
- The role of daily Mass, confession, and the sacraments in spiritual progress
- How to discern whether God is calling you into a new phase of prayer
The spiritual life is not about perfection. It is about faithfulness, cooperation with grace, and allowing the Lord to purify and transform you according to His will.
What questions do you have after watching today's video? Were you impacted in some way? If so, comment below!
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The Devil in the Castle: St. Teresa of Ávila, Spiritual Warfare, and the Progress of the Soul is available through SpiritualDirection.com/shop, Kindle, and Audible.
______________________________________________________
☦ABOUT US:
Under the patronage of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the mission of the Avila Foundation is to draw Christians worldwide into deeper union with Christ.
Support the mission: https://www.avila-army.org/
______________________________________________________
👨🏽💻Websites:
Home: https://spiritualdirection.com/
School: https://avila-institute.org/
Discernment: https://myhighcalling.com/resources/
Community: https://www.apostoliviae.org/
Events: https://SpiritualDirection.com/Events
Books: https://SpiritualDirection.com/Shop
What questions do you have after watching today's video? Were you impacted in some way? If so, comment below!
______________________________________________________
The Devil in the Castle: St. Teresa of Ávila, Spiritual Warfare, and the Progress of the Soul is available through SpiritualDirection.com/shop, Kindle, and Audible.
______________________________________________________
☦ABOUT US:
Under the patronage of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the mission of the Avila Foundation is to draw Christians worldwide into deeper union with Christ.
Support the mission: https://www.avila-army.org/
______________________________________________________
👨🏽💻Websites:
Home: https://spiritualdirection.com/
School: https://avila-institute.org/
Discernment: https://myhighcalling.com/resources/
Community: https://www.apostoliviae.org/
Events: https://SpiritualDirection.com/Events
Books: https://SpiritualDirection.com/Shop
