Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson as they answer your questions about ascetical theology, spiritual direction, and dealing with distractions in prayer. Topics/Questions covered in the show: What is ascetical theology? What is the difference between ascetical theology and mystical theology? What are the three phases of the spiritual life according to St. Teresa of … Read more
Dan Burke and Melissa Elson discuss mortification, self-denial, and taking up one’s cross on this edition of Divine Intimacy Radio.
“In abandonment, our great desires find their perfect fulfillment.” Read more from Fr. Jean C. J. d’Elbee’s reflections on St. Therese.
Dan Burke and Melissa Elson answer your questions about sharing spiritual experiences and focusing the mind in prayer.
When faced with tragedy, loss, failure, illness, or any difficulty in life, how can we learn to suffer well? Author Dr. Ronda Chervin uses the lives of the saints to help us cope with suffering in her book “Avoiding Bitterness in Suffering: How Our Heroes in Faith Found Peace Amid Sorrow.”
How do we end a long-distance relationship with the Lord … and begin a closer one? Father Michael Najim discusses an all too common problem and provides some remedies for it.
How Do We Know God’s Will? Many people after discovering the faith soon realize that it is sometimes difficult to discern God’s will in a given situation. Most people think that knowing God’s will is impossible. After all, He gave us our natural capacity to reason and He has revealed Himself to us – so … Read more
Keeping Faith Alive During Life’s Dark Nights (Part III of IV) Editor’s Note: In Part I, we looked at how faith is a response to revelation, how it penetrates the veil of the ordinary, and how it is essential to our relationship with God. In Part II, we considered the general patterns of growth which … Read more
On The Conformity to the Will of God “And, life in his good-will.” cf Psalm 30:6 All our salvation and perfection consists in loving God. “He that loveth not, abideth in death” (1 John 3:14). “Charity, which is the bond of perfection” (Colossians 3:14). But the perfection of love consists in conformity to the divine … Read more
Dear Sisters, my prayer experiences don’t seem good enough or holy enough, long enough or intense enough. Do you have any suggestions as to how I can pray better? Dear Friend, yes, I do have a few suggestions. That’s easy… First of all, I suggest not using the expression “prayer experiences” at all. Hit the … Read more
Though a complete understanding of this document requires education in Church history and mystical and ascetic theology – on its face it clearly addresses many current popular teachings on prayer that should be of concern to every Catholic who seriously desires to deepen their understanding of what it means to truly engage with God. This … Read more
How Can I Learn to Pray More? Dear Father John, I am a young teenage Catholic currently discerning a vocation to the consecrated life as a nun or sister. Lately, I’ve been feeling a very strong urge to pray a lot and go to Mass every day and Adoration whenever possible. I want to … Read more
Centering Prayer: What the Vatican has to say about it Has the Vatican ever addressed the topic of Centering Prayer or the teachings commonly held by those who advocate or practice Centering Prayer? Yes, the approach to prayer commonly referred to “Centering Prayer” has been formally and specifically addressed by the Congregation for the Doctrine … Read more
Dear Catholic Spiritual Direction: We are but days into Lent, and, after being to our church’s Way of the Cross tonight, I’m overwhelmed with the “low” that Lent is already. Are we to embrace the low to make the joy of Easter even greater, or is there still joy to be found in the 40 … Read more
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