Help with Spiritual Direction 30 Days with Teresa of Avila Day 12 Reflections Why does St. Teresa feel relief when all her faults are exposed? Dan and Melissa help us to get the most help with spiritual direction from the example of St. Teresa. Reflections on her letters from the book 30 Days with Teresa of Avila. … Read more
Entering into Holy Week Holy Week, the most important week of the liturgical year, is upon us. To help us prepare, Dan and Melissa discuss some of the ways we can orient our hearts to this most holy season. Show Notes: Regardless of how well (or poorly) you have maintained your Lenten commitments, it’s not too late. … Read more
Humility and Confidence Humility Part 2 Dan and Melissa continue their discussion on humility in “Humility and Confidence”; in particular how humility does not lower but instead elevates the soul. Show Notes: Signs we lack humility: St. Josemaría Escrivá provides some insightful diagnostics. Recognizing all the good we have is a gift from God. False … Read more
THE DELUSIONS WHICH THE DEVIL SUGGESTS TO SINNERS Let us imagine a young man who has fallen into grievous sins, which he has already confessed, and who is restored to the friendship of God. The devil again tempts him to relapse; the young man resists for a while, but in consequence of the delusions suggested … Read more
Act of Contrition Act of Contrition: O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins, because of Your just punishments, but most of all because they offended You, my God, who are all goo and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of … Read more
You Are Perfect, Really Though Christ tells us to “be perfect” (Matthew 5:48), we tend to think of perfection as an impossible, unrealistic standard. “Nobody’s perfect.” “She thinks she’s so perfect.” Perfect is ‘done’, ‘finished’, ‘no more work needed’, ‘as good as can be’. This causes confusion in our souls. Satan twists Christ’s own words … Read more
Show Notes: During this episode, Dan and Melissa discuss the struggle with discouragement as Lent is well underway. Discouragement is not of God. If you are working hard to bring yourself to God, you can be assured, he is pleased with you. Falling away from your Lenten commitments is human. God knows this and is … Read more
Dear Father John, I’ve heard that God forgives all sins. But, I’ve also heard something about an “unforgivable sin”. It seems there’s a contradiction there. What is that all about? Is there really a sin that God won’t forgive? And, what happens if I commit that? What do I do then? This probably is a … Read more
MEANS OF PREPARING FOR DEATH “Remember thy last end, and thou shalt never sin.” Sirach 7:36 All confess that they shall die, and die only once, and that nothing is of greater importance than to die well; because on death depends whether we shall be forever in bliss or forever in despair. All know that … Read more
DEATH OF THE SINNER “When distress cometh upon them, they will seek for peace, and there shall be none. Trouble shall come upon trouble.” Ezekiel 7:25-26 At present sinners banish the remembrance and thought of death; and thus they seek after peace, though they never find it, in the sinful life which they lead. But … Read more
UNCERTAINTY OF THE HOUR OF DEATH “Be you then also ready; for at what hour you think not, the Son of man will come.” Luke 12:40 It is certain that we shall die; but the time of death is uncertain. “Nothing,” says Idiota, “is more certain than death; but nothing is more uncertain than the … Read more
Using the Catholic Faith As Part of Recovery Being Catholic is a walk with resolutions. Every confession and examination of conscious ends with the resolve to do better. Although real changes don’t come easy, we rely on God’s mercy and begin again after each fall. But add in an addiction and failing becomes habitual and … Read more
Chastity: A Hymn to God’s Providence In a way, Dawn Eden’s newly released Catholic edition of her popular The Thrill of the Chaste is the third installment of the chronicle of her life journey. In 2005, when she wrote the first edition of The Thrill, she was a Jewish convert to Protestantism on her … Read more
Preparing for Lent Part 3 Preparing for Lent Part 3 Segment 1 Our last episode the discussion focused on preparing for Lent and participating in the sacraments during the Lenten season. Began talking about the “Spiritual Self Evaluation” chapter in Navigating the Interior Life. Sacraments are the foundation of our relationship with God, and prayer … Read more
Penance Presence of God – O Jesus, You who are ever seeking the prodigal son, despise not my contrite and humble heart, but purify it in Your precious Blood. MEDITATION Grace, which has been given to us so abundantly in Baptism and Confirmation, has of itself the infallible power to sanctify. It does not force … Read more
Preparing for Lent Part 2 – Divine Intimacy Radio Preparing for Lent Part 2: Here’s what a recent listener said about the show: “I just listened to the first Divine Intimacy Radio show. Great job! You and Melissa are a joy to listen to, such nice voices, and the real rapport comes through. I enjoyed … Read more
The Key to Living a Holy Life The name of my blog sometimes frightens me because I fear I’ve set myself up as someone who knows how to be holy or who knows how to give advice on how to live a holy life. Neither of those are true! The truth is that I don’t believe … Read more
Dear Friends, We are delighted to present the first episode of Divine Intimacy Radio! The show notes are below: Introducing the show and the hosts Dan Burke and Melissa Elson. Most of you know me (my bio is below) so I thought you would like to know a bit more about Melissa: While attending Auburn University, … Read more
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