Avila Companions Course Catalog
Below is a listing of all our previously-recorded courses available EXCLUSIVELY to our Avila Companions Members. If you are not already a member, enroll today!
Avila Summit 2018 Worship Animating Culture
Graduate Courses
1 TwoGreatApostles
2nd Part of Teresa of Avila
A Biblical Walk through the Mass
The coming changes to the liturgy this November are going to…
A Carthusian View of Advent: Back to the Future
In our liturgical books, the liturgical year begins with Advent:…
A Child’s Rosary
A Contemplation that Hears Heaven
Beyond every psychological experience in prayer, however enlightened…
A Culture of Life and Family Prayer
When Blessed John Paul II came to Denver over twenty years ago,…
A Father’s Prayer – clip #5
A Heart on Fire – What America Needs
America needs hearts on fire with the Gospel of Christ-- and…
A Journey Down Apparition Hill
A burning draws barefoot pilgrims toA bush aflame but unconsumed.In…
A Letter to Governor HIckenlooper
Dear Governor John Hickenlooper,
Since prayer in…
Since prayer in…
A Look into the 2019 Avila Summit
A Madonna House Staff Member Remembers Lucille
LUCILLE CLAIRE
(claire is the French word for clear, light.…
(claire is the French word for clear, light.…
A Meditation on Renewing Formation
The Lamb’s love lavishing
Unrecognized Gifts of Priestly Calling
And…
Unrecognized Gifts of Priestly Calling
And…
A Missionary Disciple and the Gift of God
The disciples of the Risen Lord are missionary. They are…
A Movement of Heart
When I am too tired to collect my thoughts, when there are…
A New Beginning to Pray
Beginning to pray is the project of a lifetime. The entry…
A New Liberty for Humanity
God loves to work through human freedom -- the freer humanity…
A Note of Thanks From Archbishop Aquila – the beginning of a journey
From Archbishop Aquila:
Thank you for your prayers and witness! See…
Thank you for your prayers and witness! See…
A Pilgrim’s Memory of St. Anthony of Egypt
Many years have come and passed
Since before your smile…
Since before your smile…
A Prayer for Peace
Under the shadow of the Father's glory, humanity is established…
A Retreat For Holy Week and Easter With Kris McGregor and Discerning Hearts
Grateful to Kris McGregor for hosting these conferences which…
A Sacrifice to God – Guigo the Carthusian and St. Paul
Almost a thousand years ago, a group of men built a monastery…
A Summary of St. Dominic’s Prayer
The Nine Ways of Prayer of St. Dominic presume a connection…
A Thanksgiving Reflection from a Monk of Mount Tabor
My father told me last night about his deep, deep sadness. He…
A Thomistic and Carmelite Consideration of the Nature of Prayer, Contemplation and Divine Union
David Arias and Fr. Thomas Jesus of Mary
A Voice Calling Out for Conversion Driven Theology
The Precursor demanded conversion of life because he wanted…
A Western Poustinik’s Love for the East
Dr. Joel Barstad, associate professor of theology at Saint…
Abandonment to Love and our Resurrection
A theme that runs through the great christian teachers of the…
Abiding in the Lord
Jesus' command to his disciples: Remain in Me. What…
Action and Contemplation
Many believe that action and contemplation are mutually exclusive…
Adoration and the Birth of Praise
Praise is born of adoration. We are never alone when we…
Adoration, Silence and the Lamp of Fire
Hunger for silence is the sign of spiritual maturity. This saying…
Advent 2010, First Sunday: The Power of God’s Coming
Advent is a powerful liturgical season ordered to the…
Advent and Christian Culture
Really keeping the observance of Advent is a terrific feat…
Advent and John the Baptist
In the Season of Advent, we should allow ourselves to experience…
Advent and Pope Benedict
"This powerful liturgical season invites us to pause in silence…
Advent and St. John of the Cross
You will not take from me, my God, what You once gave me in Your…
Advent and the Peace Established by God
The liturgy of the First Sunday of Advent makes us unsettled.…
Advent and the Road to Zion
Isaiah 2:2-5 prepares us for the coming of the Messiah by…
Advent of that Mysterious Joy
Broods the cosmos in painful rending
Beyond infinity’s…
Beyond infinity’s…
Advent Retreat – Mary in the Wisdom of the Saints
To prepare spiritually for Christmas, the Catholic Church contemplates…
Advent Visit to Colorado December 10 through 12
Something wonderful is happening in Colorado this Advent ---…
Advent’s Hour
The hour is upon us to make straight the pathway of the Lord.…
Advent’s Light
The Beloved of the Father is coming to share His joy with you,…
Advent’s Sacred Silences
In the quiet of a room they sigh
In candle's glow they live…
In candle's glow they live…
After the Storms, the Whisper outside the Cave
Vitriolic accusation might impress, intimidate and intrigue,…
All Saints Day
What does it take to be a saint? It means to be set…
All Things Visible and Invisible
Jeffrey Allan over at Secret Harbor has posted a wonderful text…
An Encounter in Burgos
Every seven years, the Church in Spain celebrates a Teresian…
Angels Ascending and Descending on the Son of Man
By the ministry of the angels and through the sacred humanity…
Angels on Our Side
In the battles and challenges of this life, we have an army…
Archbishop Aquila’s Call for Prayer and Action
An Open Letter from Archbishop Aquila:
Open Letter to
Catholics…
Open Letter to
Catholics…
As if Already in Eternity: The Wisdom of Blessed Elisabeth of the Trinity
Saint Elisabeth of the Trinity is a witness to the primacy of…
Ascension and Abiding Presence
The Risen Lord ascended from our midst and remains more present…
Asceticism, Spiritual Exercises and Joy
Fourteen Rules for those Engaged in the Lenten Observance during…
Avila and Signs
Around Avila, as the holy soul by love,
Walls witness signs…
Walls witness signs…
Awakening of the Word
Deep in our hearts, the Father has sent his Word. He can enter…
Battle of Contemplative Prayer
There much pre-occuaption with ecclesiastical authority. It…
Be Not Afraid!
We are voting on the Feast Day of Saint Elisabeth of the Trinity…
Beauty Ever Ancient Ever New
In my last post, I promised to speak more about the Divine Economy.…
Beginning to Pray
Being Merciful and the Holy Spirit
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are understood in many beautiful…
Bernard and Facing the Truth about Ourselves
If anyone thinks that what he is asked to do by God is easy,…
Blessed are the Poor of Heart
What is the poverty of heart that Jesus deemed true happiness,…
Blessed Elisabeth of the Trinity and Advent
Blessed Elisabeth of the Trinity invites us to take on an attitude…
Blessed John Paul II, Prayer and Evangelization
On Saturday we commemorated Blessed John Paul, an apostle of…
Boldly Entering the Heart of Another
Catherine de Hueck Doherty believed the Lord told her to boldly…
Building a New World in Light of the Resurrection
Recently, Pope Francis called on the members of the Church to…
Burgos and Lourdes
Gothic Cathedral at Burgos - the City of El Cid
Father…
Father…
Cardinal Arinze Keynote 1 & 2
Cardinal Burke’s Observation – a word of wisdom in a time of crisis
A story is told about the saintly Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński,…
Casting out into the Deep
When John Paul II invited the Church to cast out into the deep,…
Catherine of Siena – passion for truth
Tommorrow will be the feast of Catherine of Siena. Check out…
Catholic Faith: Credo
January 11 - May 16, 2024
Changes Coming Soon
Dear Readers,Thank you for reading this blog and for the…
Charity and the Spiritual Life
David Arias
Chastisement and Mercy
How can Unchanging Love not chastise those who, if not corrected,…
Christ and the Confidence that Comes from the Holy Spirit
Christ baptizes in the power of the Holy Spirit and his fire…
Christ Child Awakening
Just as when He awoke in swaddling clothes in a manger, Christ…
Christ the King and the Courage of the Martyrs
Through the reign of Christ the King, martyrs raise Christian…
Christ: The Pattern of Contemporary Culture
David Clayton
Christ thirsts for our Love – an insight of St. Therese
There were two great contentemplative mystics from the 19th Century…
Christian Contemplation and God’s own Little Ones
Christian contemplative prayer is a prayer that "sees" but what…
Christian Enlightenment
Nescivi – I no longer knew anything. This is the first word…
Christian Formation
Today, in discerning how to address formation for ministry, the…
Christian Hope: A Great Calling and Difficult Project
Walking through the neighborhood, a new friendliness is peeking…
Christian Knowledge and Mysticism
Christian mysticism is rooted in the mystery of Christ, and the…
Christian Perfection, Grace and Contemplation
If we are called to be perfect as the heavenly Father is
perfect,…
perfect,…
Christian Piety and Political Power in America
Is faith in the Risen Lord a true shield against a growing…
Christian Prayer and the Incarnation
With the Word of the Father, the words of Christian prayer are…
Christmas Light
Christmas is a special holy day. Normally, on holy days, there…
Christmas Trees and Prayer in Advent
In these last days of Advent, we decorate our Christmas Trees…
Christopher Carstens Keynote and Breakout Session
Christ’s Invitation: Heaven in Faith Series
"Remain in Me" this is Christ's invitation to us come what come…
Christ’s Real Presence and true Christian Life: never static, always dynamic
The Real Presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament is a living…
City of God vs City of Man
Dates: TBD
Classical Education, Contemplation and Wonder
Classical education is oriented towards the wisdom of contemplation,…
Clinging to Unfathomable Mystery
Sometimes silent prayer is very purifying. Whether in…
Come Thou, Wisdom from on High
The Word comes - emptied and humbled for those who are empty…
Come, Welcome the Fire of the Holy Spirit
Jesus has sent His Holy Spirit into the Church and He yearns…
Coming into Lent’s Home Stretch
As we come into the end of Lent, its time to renew our resolutions…
Compassion and the Dark Night
I was recently asked about the relationship of the experience…
Consciences Inflamed with Love
We must follow our consciences, but the heart frozen to a cause…
Contemplating the Triumph of Mercy
The resurrection is a mystery of the triumph of divine mercy…
Contemplation and Joyful Expectation
Advent is a beautiful season for mental or contemplative prayer.…
Contemplation and the Final Judgment
Contemplative prayer is born in the silence that reverently…
Contemplation and the Renewal of the Church
Contemplative prayer remains a largely untapped resource for…
Contemplation – its length and breadth, height and depth
Saint Paul reveals to us a vital dimension of Christian prayer…
Contemplation of Christ’s Poverty
While the world wonders over power and politics, the Church…
Contemplation of the Truth and the Study of Theology
One cannot do theology without rediscovering that which the
ancient…
ancient…
Contemplative Prayer and John Paul II #6
Contemplative Prayer and Sacred Space
In order to enter into contemplative prayer, it is important…
Contemplative Prayer in Crisis
Worried eyes peer above a mask in a supermarket while customers…
Contemplative Theology and Highest Wisdom
Often when I propose the possibility of a contemplative or kneeling…
Corpus Christi
In recent posts, we have been reflecting on the Holy Trinity.…
Creation – the first book of prayer
Creation is the first book of Christian prayer, a book in which…
Daily Mass and Technocracy
One of my friends shared how going to daily mass has provided…
Dan Burke Keynote
Dan Burke Keynote
Dare We Go to Mass?
Dare we go to Mass? We are told that somehow not going to Mass…
Dark Night
One dark night,
Fired with love's urgent longings,
-Ah,…
Fired with love's urgent longings,
-Ah,…
Dealing with Sin – A pathway for prayer in Advent
God wants to help us deal with sin but He waits for us to…
Deep Down Mercy
Off the edge of inadequacy, into that void, I searched for Him…
Denver Bishops Call for Prayer
Denver Bishops Invite Catholics to Pray for Nation
Archbishop…
Archbishop…
Devotion to Our Lord’s Sacred Heart
David Arias
Devotion to the Trinity
Perhaps because of the way the mystery is preached, many of those…
Discerning God’s Will
How do we know God's plan for our lives,
The particular pathway…
The particular pathway…
Divine Gentleness and Contemplative Prayer
Christ offered Himself in death for our sake out of love, to…
Divine Mercy and habitare secum
The Christian life of prayer is rooted in the mercy of God. There…
Divine Mercy Sunday
What makes our prayer for mercy powerful, capable of changing…
Divine Mercy Sunday in the Pandemic
The mercy of God is at work in the world because Jesus is at…
Does God Really Speak to Us?
There are many who believe that God does not speak to us and…
Does Real Marriage have a Prayer?
In a world gone mad, does real marriage have a prayer? The hostile…
Doing God’s Will Puts Music in the Soul
For Blessed Elisabeth of the Trinity, the spiritual life is…
Dominic’s Nine Ways of Prayer
Many who want a deeper prayer life find themselves unable to…
Dr. Anthony Lilles Breakout Session
Dr. Anthony Lilles Keynote
Draw Near the Real Presence – Faith made Perfect
In the Eucharist, Christ's countenance shines with a personal…
Ecstatic Love and Real Presence
Ecstasy is a total going out of oneself. It is an abandonment…
Elements of Radical Fraternity– an interview with Fr. Conrad Osterhout, C.F.R.
I asked Father Conrad what the essential elements of radical…
Elisabeth of the Trinity and the Apocalypse
Blessed Elisabeth of the Trinity understood the importance of…
Elisabeth of the Trinity and The Church of Saint-Michel in Dijon, France
St. Michael the Archangel
is the patron of the home parish…
is the patron of the home parish…
Elisabeth of the Trinity and the Gift of Prayer
Elisabeth of the Trinity helps the Church understand that prayer…
Elisabeth of the Trinity and the Song of Praise
For Elisabeth, the soul's greatest activity is a song of praise. …
Elisabeth of the Trinity – Devotion in Prayer
The last couple posts have been short reflections on the spiritual…
Elisabeth of the Trinity Episode 14
Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity believes that deeper encounters…
Elisabeth of the Trinity – Heaven in Faith Series
In the effort to begin to pray, I have found the writings of…
Elisabeth of the Trinity – Mysterious Hymn of Praise
For Elisabeth of the Trinity, to surrender ourselves to God…
Elisabeth of the Trinity – on Spirit and Truth
Elisabeth of the Trinity was a Carmelite nun who died in 1906…
Elisabeth of the Trinity to be Canonized
This is an update to a post a did a few years ago on the canonization…
Elisabeth of the Trinity to be Canonized on October 16!
Pope Francis announced at the June 20, 2016 papal consistory…
Encountering John Paul II on our Way to Madrid
While we were in Krakow, we went to the chapel where Karol Wojtyla…
Entering into Contemplative Prayer
Contemplative prayer is best begun under the Sign of the Cross.…
Entering into Prayer
For those struggling to pray, one challenge in prayer is entering…
Entrusted with a Pearl Beyond Price
Once there was an evangelist who preached the Gospel of Christ…
Epiphanies at Bethlehem, the Jordan, Cana and in our Lives
Epiphany evokes adoration and obedience. This is true whether…
Epiphany: The Journey of Theology to Pay Homage
Should one appear to have understood the Sacred Scriptures
or…
or…
Eucharistic Coherence and Co-inherence
The Eucharist, the great thanksgiving that Christ instituted…
Eucharistic Contemplation
The Eucharist, the sacred banquet, is a mystery that evokes a…
Eucharistic Revival – the Invasion of the Word
The Invasion of the Eucharistic Word
The Eucharistic…
The Eucharistic…
Evening Call
The discipline of prayer includes sanctifying time, offering…
Faith and the Christian Personality
Does my life, my personal decisions, really matter? One…
Faith and the Spiritual Life
Dr. David Arias
Faith Contemplates the Advent Mystery Because He Leads into Captivity All Powers
Blessed Elisabeth of the Trinity helps us open our hearts to…
Faith in the Risen Lord
What does it mean to believe that Jesus rose from the dead? …
Faith, Love and the Truth
Some people believe that faith implies doubt. For them…
Faith of a Mustard Seed
Mr. and Mrs. Tinucci go to daily mass at the Shrine of St. Anne…
Faith on the Way
What does a pilgrim find in Spain?A land of paradox. Extremely…
Faith Simplifies Prayer
Faith simplifies us, in the way we live, and even in our prayer.…
Fasting from the Media
Human freedom requires prayer and fasting. We should fast from…
Father Conrad and Brother Isaiah – the Hidden Presence of God
Father Peter Carota – Rest in Peace
The question in the parable of the Sheep and the Goats, “When…
Father Ralph Drendel, SJ – R.I.P.
On December 2, God called home a good and faithful servant,
and…
and…
Father Raymond Gawronski and Priestly Celibacy
Fr. Raymond Gawronski's room at St. John Vianney Seminary looked…
Fighting Against Lethargy
There are periods of prayer that must endure "storms of destruction"…
Fighting the Good Fight
Many of my closest friends, though they live disciplined and…
Finding our Footing in Prayer
Today, many are concerned about confusion in the Church and…
Fire and Judgment
The smell of smoke and hazy horizon aglow at night evoke wonder…
Fire from Above and the Son of Man
"What we utter is God's wisdom: a mysterious, a hidden wisdom...…
First Day – by Scott Eagan
-
FIRST DAY -
From midnight
on
the prospect of
sun rising
first…
FIRST DAY -
From midnight
on
the prospect of
sun rising
first…
Following the Star
Epiphany is a celebration of the manifestation of the Lord to…
For Greater Glory
Over the weekend, I saw For Greater Glory (Cristiada),…
Fr. Boniface Hicks, OSB Keynote
Fr. Cassian Folsom Keynote
Fr. Dennis McManus, Ph.D. Keynote 1 & 2
Fr. Giles Dimock, O.P. on Fr. Louis Bouyer, Cong. Orat.
Fr. Robert Torczynski of Mendocino on Holy Thursday
Click here for reflections on Holy Thursday by Fr. Robert, pastor…
Fr. William Watson, SJ Keynote
Francis Xavier Nguyen Thuan – Road to Hope
Cardinal Thuan was just declared venerable on October 22. A priest…
Free the Mass
We must free the Mass because the sacred liturgy of the Catholic…
Freedom Needs the Truth
Yesterday we went to Padua -- Daniel captured part of our adventures…
Friendship with God and Teresa of Avila
Teresa of Avila, in her masterpiece, Interior Castle, after describing…
From Caesarea to Carmel
Our pilgrimage continued from Caesarea to Carmel - where there…
From the Deepest Abyss to the Furthest Frontier
Your body is a temple. It is not inconsequential. You have been…
Gabriel – The Angel of Advent
When St. Gabriel appeared to a humble handmaid, he became the…
Gentleness of Advent
As the Christmas mystery draws near, we are tested by Divine…
Getting Started
These postings will be devoted to those who want to begin to…
Gift of Wisdom in a Wild World
Dr. Anthony Lilles
Gifts of the Resurrected Body
David Arias
Glory in the Shadows
This Sunday of Lent, my thoughts go to the Reverend Billy Graham.…
God’s Action and Human Freedom
The Lord sometimes invites us to see his glory in a powerful…
God’s Light and Proportion according to Saint Teresa
"The light God grants you from time to time concerning spiritual…
God’s Presence when Empires Fail
We need to find the gaze of Christ. His look of love changes…
Going on Poustinia
Dear Readers,
I am about to go on Poustinia, a silent retreat…
I am about to go on Poustinia, a silent retreat…
GP1000 – Introduction to Spiritual Theology
June 14-August 9, 2024
GP1100–Bible and the Revelation of Prayer
Dates: TBD
GP1210–Wisdom of the Saints From Athanasius to Bernard of Clairvaux
Dates: TBD
GP1220 – Wisdom of the Saints from St. Hildegard of Bingen to St. John of the Cross
Dates: TBD
GP1300 – Gift of the Holy Spirit and the Divine Indwelling
Dates: TBD
GP1400 – Theology of Divine Mercy, Conversion and Suffering
Dates: TBD
GP1500 – Spiritual Direction Foundations
Dates: TBD
GP1900–Apostolate
GP2100 – Evangelical Counsels and the Beatitudes
June 11-August 6, 2024
GP2200–Discernment, Degrees of Prayer and Stages of Spiritual Growth
Dates: TBD
GP2300 – Mystery of Mary and Her Role in the Spiritual Life
Dates: TBD
GP2400 – Christian and Non-Christian Spiritualities
Dates: TBD
GP2500 – Spiritual Wisdom of Eastern Christianity
June 13 - August 22, 2024
GP2600 – The Nature of Mystical Wisdom in the Life of the Church
Dates: TBD
GP2900–Long Retreat
Grace Imbued Reason in the Womb of Wisdom
Reason in the womb of wisdom, this is how William of St. Thierry's…
Guarding Interior Silence in our Vigilance
The spiritually mature long for silence - but such silence does…
Haiti and the Love of God
One of the greatest graces for my spiritual life came in…
Happy Divine Mercy Sunday!
The Feast of Divine Mercy, Divine Mercy Sunday, is a special…
Happy Divine Mercy Sunday 2013!
Divine Mercy Sunday reminds us of the truth on which the whole…
He Came to His Senses – The Beginning of Prayer
The parable of the prodigal son from Luke 15:12ff stands out…
Hearing the Call of the Bridegroom
"Let me see you, let me hear your voice." These final…
Heaven Breaking In
Through branch and leaf sky falls
Into cracks breaking sidewalk…
Into cracks breaking sidewalk…
Heaven in Faith – episode 8: Losing ourselves in the Will of God
Calmly losing ourselves in the will of God is what Blessed Elisabeth…
Heaven in Faith Series Continues – Prayer and the Mystery of Our Faith
Christian prayer has a divine quality to it. It is not just…
Heaven in Faith Series Episode 7 – The Fire of Love
Is heaven worth it? Some are afraid that the end goal of our…
Heaven in Faith Series – Going Deeper into our Hearts
Towards the beginning of the Confessions of St. Augustine, he…
Heaven’s Music – the call of divine silence
Heaven’s music penetrates our earthly existence and invites…
Hello world!
Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete…
Hidden Glory: beautiful birthplace of prayer
The glory of God shines though hidden in both the fleeting joys…
Hidden Immensity and Secret Harmonies
A hidden Immensity of meaning, a fullness that has only begun…
Hidden Mountain Secret Garden
Hidden Mountain, Secret Garden: a theological contemplation…
Hidden Movements of the Heart
In prayer, in deep prayer, there are hidden movements of the…
Hiding in the Wounds of Christ
To hide in the wounds of Christ and to draw strength from his…
His Coming is Like Dew Fall
Like the magic of dew fall in the morning, the life of Christ…
Holy Conversation and Christian Faith
Prayer is a conversation with God. But what a conversation!…
Holy Fear and the Shadow of the Cross
Today, the Church takes us under the shadow of Calvary to behold…
Holy Friendship, Mary and the Web of Grace
While on vacation with my wife and children, we have been blessed…
Holy Ground
The Trinity is the ground of our soul. This eternal communion…
Holy Innocents, the Sanctity of Life and Contemplation
The joy of Christmas unveils the abuse of power, disrespect…
Holy Spirit and the Gift of Prayer
Prayer is meant to be a heart to heart - my heart with the heart…
Holy Spirit – Life of the Soul
The Fire of God never ceases to reveal the truth in love. It…
Holy Week, Prayer and Suffering
Holy Week helps us focus on the salvific suffering of Christ.…
Hope and the Spiritual Life
David Arias
How are we able to hold fast to our faith? He is Risen!
In the midst of our busy lives, it is easy to be overwhelmed…
How Do We Know God’s Will?
Many people after discovering the faith soon realize that it…
How Do We Know To Whom We Pray?
Authentic christian devotion always grounds prayer in the truth…
How Shall I Repay the Goodness of the Lord?
Do not be afraid. Hell is angry because Christ is risen…
How the Saints Dealt with Unanswered Prayer
Blessed Elisabeth of the Trinity, whose feast day is on November…
How to Prepare for the Lord’s Sheer Grace
In our last post, John of the Cross described an experience of…
Human Love – the mirror meant to magnify the glory of God
Human love, with all its frailty and limitedness, has a great…
I Stand at the Door and Knock – Heaven and Faith Episode 9
Christian prayer begins because the Word of God comes to us.…
If You Want Peace, Prepare for War
St. Catherine of Siena says our faith makes us lambs who…
Il Duomo in Milan
This Church was a sheer and unexpected grace today -- it has…
Imitation of Christ – the threshold to deeper prayer
In our last post, we introduced a teaching of St. John of the…
In Memory of John Mathias
Recently, I attended a funeral service for my nephew John Mathias.…
In Praise of the Holy Trinity
In a retreat reflection that she wrote for her sister Marguerite,…
In the Beginning, the Word
The Gospel of John begins with a battle cry. Its declaration…
In the footsteps of the saints of France
The day after Pentecost, Fifty-two of us chiefly from the Shrine…
Interviewing Father Conrad
I had the honor of hosting Father Conrad Osterhout at my house…
Into Your Hands I Commend My Spirit: the Prayer of Blessed Charles de Foucauld
My Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.
This is the
last…
This is the
last…
Is Prayer an Escape from the Real World?
Some think that prayer is an escape from the real world. To…
Islands of Humanity and a Kneeling Theology – Refuge Against Therapeutic Technocracy
A kneeling theology, that is a theology rooted in prayer, is…
Jesus – Our Access to God
Jesus is access to the Father, the bridge to heaven, the road…
John of the Cross: Seek Christ in Whom Are the Treasures of God
This remarkable priest prayed for hours every day while carrying…
John of the Cross – the Advent Saint
We celebrate the feast of John of the Cross in Advent. …
John Paul II and the Paschal Christ
John Paul II had an enormous impact on my own spiritual journey…
Join Me in Prayer for America
Dear friends from across the country and from around the world:
I…
I…
Jubilation
Living faith produces joy--not only the interior variety, but…
Karol Wojtyla – the Man of Will
"Love and move inwards, discover your will." Through…
Kathleen Beckman Keynote
KINGDOM OF THE SUN Colossians 1
Where night is merely a memory
and stars a faded story
the…
and stars a faded story
the…
Krakow and Divine Mercy
My favorite aspect of going on pilgrimage is that every day…
Learning how to pray without really knowing how and St. Philip Neri
Blessed Elisabeth of the Trinity begins one of her retreat reflections…
Learning the Language of Sacred Scriptures
C.S. Lewis, in Mere Christianity, refers to a conversation he…
Lectio Divina and Contemplation
One of my readers asked about the difference between the practice…
Lent – praying from the heart
During Lent, we dedicate ourselves to prayer, fasting and alms-giving.…
Lent: St. Bernard’s Vision of Humility and Pride
We waste a lot of time thinking something is owed us. …
Let Nothing Disturb You
David Arias
Life, Liberty and America
American Independence is a celebration of true freedom. A gift…
Light, Glory and Judgment
These days, as we approach the mystery of Advent, the Church…
Listening for the Voice of God
Oftentimes someone will question what God's will is and how to…
Liturgical and Contemplative Prayer
Liturgical prayer and contemplative prayer, when authentic, immerse…
Liturgy and the Discipline of the Christian Life
The Society of Catholic Liturgy meets this week in St. Louis…
Living by Faith Alone
St. John of the Cross provides excellent counsel for how to begin…
Living by the Pace of Prayer
Living at the pace of prayer disposes our lives to the beatitudes…
Living Faith and Freedom to Live the Faith
Why do those who pray need to express their faith by acts of…
Living for the Glory of God
In our last several posts we have been examining the spiritual…
Living the Truth according to St. Bernard
St. Bernard of Clairvaux has a dynamic understanding of the Truth…
Living With Holy Desires
Today, as secular as we have become, we need prayer more than…
Louis Bouyer and the Gift of Good Teachers
"In learning, it seems to me, that the greatest thing that can…
Love’s Obedience
Toll
Ringing rolls in battles
Half-fought for love's obedience,…
Ringing rolls in battles
Half-fought for love's obedience,…
Lucille Dupuis – 1934-2014 – the Poustinik of Estes Park
My next few posts will include some poetry and theological…
Madrid – a city of great blessings!
These are some shots of Madrid - there are signs all over…
Making a Good Beginning Each Day
In his book, Path to Rome, Hilaire Belloc starts out by criticizing…
Making Space for God
In these holy days of Lent, we are invited to make space for…
Making Space for God in the Face of Grave Evil
How do we pray in the face of grave evil and personal disaster?…
Making Time to be Alone with the Great Alone
Each day, it is important to set aside time for solitude with…
Marriage and the Word of the Father
When it comes to marriage, as to the rest of life, the Word…
Mary and New Outpourings of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit moves over the chaotic forces of this world to…
Mary and the Mystery of the Coming of Christmas
In these special days just before Christmas, the Church calls…
Mary Draws us up to Christ
In my last post about Il Duomo in Milan, I mentioned how Mary…
Mary – Mother of a New Humanity
Mary is mother of a new humanity, a humanity whose state is…
Mary, Mother of Contemplative Hearts
Mary pondered a profound mystery. She discovered the inexhaustibility…
Mary, Mother of the Messiah, Protection of Families
Mary is ready to protect the heart of our homes. As would the…
Mary, Our Queen
Blessed John Paul II's Marian Devotion was a profound part of…
Mary, True Freedom and Prayer
Today we celebrate the Immaculate Conception - Mary through the…
Mass and Poustinia this Easter
Poustinia is one way to deal with these High Holy Days without…
Medjugorje – My Experience
The Apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Medjugorje have been important…
Mercy and Advent
These days of Advent are about preparing a welcome for the Light…
Merry Christmas 2014
The Mystery of the Lord's coming is drawn near to us today…
Message of Hope
Messages from Heaven in these Difficult Times
Even as ecclesial leaders are dismayed before the storm of an…
Mission San Gabriel
On the Feast of Saint Benedict, Archbishop Jose Gomez stood…
Missionary Discipleship
To form a missionary disciple, the first task is to accompany…
Seminar 1: The Way of Holiness and Orientation
Module 9: The Way of Affective Maturity and Practical Chastity
Module 11: The Way of Manhood in Christ
Module 6: The Way of Mary
Seminar 2: The Way of Memory/Sending Forth
Module 1: The Way of Prayer
Module 2: The Way of Conversion
Module 3: The Way of Discernment
Module 4: The Way of Priesthood in Scripture
Module 5: The Way of Sacramental Friendship
Module 7: The Way of the Hours
Module 12: The Way of Seminary Discipleship
Module 8: The Way of God the Father
Module 10: The Way of Communion
Montserrat and St. Ignatius
We had mass at the Benedictine Monastery at Montserrat up above…
Mother of Hidden Light
She remembered, Shrouded in Faith's Night, shocked silence:That…
Mount Anathemata: The Savage Trophy
The following is a poem by a Carthusian monk who helps us glimpse the…
My First Retreat
The first retreat I ever made was in a Camaldolese Hermitage…
My Portion is the Lord
Since I have been invited to post for Roman Catholic Spiritual…
Mysterious Currents of the Trinity
The journey out of self and into God is long and arduous. This…
Mysterious Movements of the Holy Spirit
Mysterious movements of the Holy Spirit seize the soul in prayer…
Mystical Grace, Contemplative Prayer and the Perfection of the Christian Life
While few of us will reach the highest degrees of mystical prayer,…
Mystical Theology and the Truth about Humanity
Last year, the International Theological Commission released
a…
a…
Mysticism and Holiness – a seminar and retreat
For more information, click here
National Catholic Register Radio
Dan Burke, Tim Drake, Thom Price and Jeanette DeMelo host…
New Course Post
Newman: Disciplined pursuit of the Truth, Doorway to Friendship
The newly canonized St. John Henry Newman invites us to a discipline…
Notre Dame Burning – by Scott Eagan
She…
Of Immeasurable Things
There is a temptation to live by the measures of others. Yet,…
Of Prayer and Politics
There are many who pray for a political end. There is…
Of Prayer and Preachers
In response to the last post about what it is like to encounter…
Of Word and Silence
Only those who do not understand silence believe that all kinds…
On Ashes, Penance and Politics
Penance is an expression of love and gratitude to God for
the…
the…
On Being a Friend of God
Someone asked how we know whether the Lord has truly disclosed…
On Keeping the Word of the Father
How do we remain in the Word? The night before He died, Christ…
On Pilgrimage
Starting a few weeks ago, I went on pilgrimage with my family…
On Prayer and Politics
Christian Prayer has a political dimension which is often overlooked.…
On the Canonization of John Paul II
Last summer, in 2013, the Shrine of Saint Anne in Arvada, Colorado…
On the Ocean of Christ’s Love
The power of Christ is immense and at the same time
hidden. …
hidden. …
Only the Love of God the Father Can Restore Us
The moral and spiritual crisis of our time is a crisis in fatherhood…
Opening our Hearts to the Word
How does the mystery of the Risen Lord, the Word of the Father,…
Our Great Act of Faith
Is one of the greatest spiritual diseases inflicting our age…
Our Heavenly Homeland – True End of our Pilgrimage – and America
I am almost home - I hope. For the last month, my reflections…
Our Journey and the Message of Lourdes
Our pilgrimage took us from Paris, Lisieux, Omaha Beach, Mont…
Our Lady and the Battle for Blessings
A battle is being fought for blessings. Instead of the blessing…
Our Lady in this Time for Prayer
Prayer is needed in these difficult days. The darkness and cold…
Our Lady of Guadalupe
This mysterious Woman came to the poorest of the poor with a…
Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Mystical Rose
The famous image and story of Our Lady of Guadalupe is…
Our Lady of Knock
Mary leads into a deep Eucharistic Silence. With the support…
Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Blessed John Paul II
Mount Carmel is a place of prayer and spiritual contest. …
Our Lady of the New Advent and Contemplation
As an advocate for contemplative prayer, Elisabeth of the Trinity…
Our Lady of the Night
In the earliest hours, when worldYet sleeps in restless wonderingsCease…
Our Pilgrimage Began in the Holy Land
We began our journey in Caesarea Maritime, on the coast of Israel.…
Palm Sunday
"You have stood by me in my trials and I am giving you a Kingdom."…
Papal Power and the Obedience of the Faithful
Follow the link to a very important article by Archbishop Charles…
Paradoxes and Prayer
To enter deep into the mystery of prayer opens the heart to…
Part II – Christ heals our indifference through our neighbor
Indifference sneaks up on us when we are not careful and we like…
PASCHA: Hymn of the Resurrection – Fr. Alexander Schmemann
On Easter we celebrate Christ’s Resurrection as something
that…
that…
Paul McCusker Keynote
Peace and Prayer
While contention in the media and among bishops marks the life…
Perfection of the Pater Noster
David Arias
Persecution and Prayer
There is resentment toward people of faith, toward our Christian…
Pia de Solenni Breakout Session #1
Pierced – by Scott Eagan
Everyone will see Him,
including those who pierced Him.
-…
including those who pierced Him.
-…
Pilgrim George
In the seventies, as a boy, I heard that a pilgrim from Pennsylvania…
Pilgrimage
This month of August, I am setting out on pilgrimage with a group…
Pilgrimage and Prayer
The Lord blessed me with a pilgrimage just at the end of the…
Pilgrimage in Post-Christian Europe
Why are you on the way? This is a question I tried to ask and…
Pilgrimage to France
Click here for more information
Pilgrimage to the Canonization of Elisabeth of the Trinity – Mystic of Dijon
On Thursday October 13, after an interview with Father Mitch…
Pilgrimage – visible travel and spiritual journey
Pilgrimage has an arduous physical dimension but the prayer…
Plunge into Prayer Because Christ Has Plunged into Our Humanity
Christian's plunge into prayer because Christ has plunged into…
Pope Benedict and Sacred Silence
Regarding the importance of sacred silence, Deacon James Keating…
Pope Benedict and the Question of 16th Century Christianity
Over at http://www.chiesa.espressonline.it/ is Pope Benedict's…
Pope Benedict – rest in peace
Some thoughts on Pope Benedicthttps://www.ncregister.com/com…
Pope Francis and the Pathway to Easter
"Rend your hearts and not your garments. Return…
Pope Francis: To follow, To Edify and To Confess
On March 14, following the conclave, Pope Francis gathered with…
Prayer: A Pilgrimage through Difficult Wilderness
Is contemplation an uninteresting wilderness? Many religious…
Prayer – A Simple Look of Love
The exceeding love of God is why my imagination, feelings and…
Prayer and Action in the Night of Freedom
The Catholic Bishops have asked us in these days leading up…
Prayer and Beauty, Love and Work
John Paul II greatly admired a poet named Cyprian Norwid. His…
Prayer and Creation
Christian prayer is rooted in creation because the true Christian…
Prayer and Discouragement
Sometimes, when you offer all that you have and there is no…
Prayer and Fighting for Marriage
One of the ways Mother Teresa of Calcutta fought poverty was…
Prayer and Indifference – part I
To grow in prayer requires some small measure of humanity on…
Prayer and Living in the Presence of Christ
Benedict Groeschel, in I am with You Always (San Francisco:…
Prayer and Purgatory: Thresholds to Glory
Purgatory and prayer are both the thresholds to Glory. …
Prayer and the Absence of God
In his work, Beginning to Pray, Anthony Bloom reflects on the…
Prayer and the Great Divorce
"Hell is a state of mind -- ye never said a truer word. And…
Prayer and The Year of the Priest
Today the Catholic Church started a year long celebration of…
Prayer and Theology
There are some who believe prayer and theology are opposed undertakings…
Prayer and Theology
"Prayer and theology are inseparable. True theology is…
Prayer and Truth, Theology and Contemplation
There are some who attain with strenuous effort a sophisticated…
Prayer as a Theological Act
Some look at prayer as merely the indulgence of devout feelings or…
Prayer Deeply Rooted in Wisdom from on High
Christian contemplation is rooted in the Gospel of Christ. …
Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving – in harmony with human nature
Prayer, fasting and almsgiving are works of piety that make…
Prayer for Wisdom: In the Face of Danger by Scott Eagan
Come Holy Spirit – Come with Tongues of Fire
Come Great…
Come Great…
Prayer in Frustration
In our frustration with our most important relationships, is…
Prayer in the Catholic Tradition
Prayer in the Catholic Christian tradition immerses us in the…
Prayer In the Face of Evil
Evil threatens humanity on both social and personal levels,…
Prayer on the Eve of an Infamous Decision
January 22nd is a day of penance. Bread and water,…
Prayer out of the Depths
"Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord. Lord, hear my…
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
O Holy Spirit, Soul of my soul, I love You and adore You!
Teacher…
Teacher…
Prayerful Vigilance and Advent
The coming of the Lord is often imagined as an impending catastrophe…
Prayer’s Courage
It is possible to approach prayer recklessly. Many treat the…
Prayers for those who have Died
My heart goes to those whose loved ones have died in the recent…
Prayer’s Power
It is time to return to prayer and to believe in the power of…
Prayer’s Power in Human Weakness
In deep silences, the Lord speaks into our hearts even when everything…
Praying for our Shepherds with the Mother of God
Mary stands in the midst of the Church and the brokenness of…
Praying the Psalms
God has revealed to us how we are to praise Him -- and the right…
Praying the Rosary to Free the Mass – Triumph Tour 2020
Click here to see the Rosary Offered at the John Paul II Center…
Predestination and Prayer
Predestination often evokes arguments surrounding grace and…
Predestination and Spiritual Revival
At the heart of every revival is the eternal plan of the Father…
Preparing for Lent and a Year of Spiritual Progress
Dan will give you practical and in-depth treatment of the proper disposition for Lent, an understanding of mortification, the three elements of Lenten participation, and more in this mini-course on January 19, at 8 PM Eastern! Don't miss this opportunity to have your questions answered!
Priesthood, Contemplative Prayer and Real Presence
Contemplatives need holy priests and holy priests need contemplatives.…
Priesthood Needed: even in a world that deems it irrelevant
At the beginning of an address to seminarians, Pope Benedict…
Priestly Celibacy: The Root of the Crisis
Fr. Sean Kilcawley
Primacy of Contemplation
Before action, there is being. Before apostolate, there…
Propaedeutic Year Module 1: Senses of Sacred Scripture and Covenant Theology
Propaedeutic Year Module 2: The Bible and the Revelation of Prayer
Propaedeutic Year Module 3: Holy Purity and Human Sexuality
Propaedeutic Year Module 4: Introduction to Spiritual Theology
Propaedeutic Year Module 5: Introduction to Spiritual Patrimony
Psalm 22 and the Prayer of Christ from the Cross
"My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" Last Saturday,…
Psalm 23
The Lord is my Shepherd! Now St. Athanasius explains that unlike…
Purity of Heart
In the midst of crisis, Christ looked to the Father with infinite…
Quaerere Deum – to seek God
The wisdom of St. Benedict directs us away from putting one's…
Radical Fratenity: Making the Sacrifice
Over on http://www.Fire.blogtownhall.com I posted a reflection…
Radical Fraternity
On Saturday, I interviewed Fr. Conrad Osterhout of the Franciscan…
Real Presence – Divine Power Unleashed in Human Life
Before He ascended to the Father's Righthand, the Risen Lord…
Receiving the Word in Affliction and Joy
St. Paul calls believers of Thessalonica "imitators of the Lord"…
Recollection
To recollect oneself, to collect together the powers of one's…
Recollection in Prayer: Hurry and come down!
Christian recollection is a movement of heart to an urgent appeal…
Reduced to Nothing – A Sign of Hope
Against the tendency to think that we possess knowledge of Christ…
Reflections on the year of St. Paul
I am so grateful for the Year of St. Paul we just celebrated.…
Rejoice, Daughter Zion
The joy of the Mother of God, in these days drawing close to…
Rejoice in the Lord
Rejoicing in the Lord is a source of strength. As we strive…
Rejoice in the Lord Always
Christians have the duty to rejoice, to express their joy to…
Religious Freedom and Prayer
Beginning to pray is closely tied with religious freedom. In…
Renouncing Idols – Clinging to God
While there are many idols that might be worshipped, the contemporary…
Repentance and Contemplative Prayer
The story of the woman accused of adultery reveals the plight…
Responding to Apostolic Betrayal
Dan Burke & John Johnson
Reverent Love and Family Life
The Christmas Mystery raises prayer to the warmth…
Road to Hope
Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan while Archbishop of Saigon turned prisons…
Rosary Crusade on October 7, 2022 – you are invited!
Even in this time of worry, confusion, and darkness there are…
Sacred Space and Prayer
If prayer is aided by a sacred space that we see with our eyes,…
Sacrifice and Mercy – the Spiritual Mission of St. Faustina
Sr. Maria Faustina Kowalska died at the age of 33 in 1938 misunderstood…
Saint Angela di Foligno and Blessed Elisabeth of the Trinity
One of the influences on the thought and spirituality of Blessed…
Saint Elizabeth’s Promise
Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity, before her death, promised…
Saint John Beloved Disciple and Witness to the Light
The Apostle John fills Christmas with a wisdom that knows what…
Saint John of the Cross – By Love Alone
Saint John of the Cross explored how all of creation was the…
Saint John Paul II
St. John Paul II believed that believers have nothing to fear…
Saint Joseph and Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity
Elizabeth of the Trinity confided her purity to Saint Joseph…
Saint Peter Chrysologus and Advent
Advent is a time to seek Christ who comes into our poverty with…
Saint Teresa of Avila’s Way – on the Quincentennial of her Birth
"When our actions and our words are one, the Lord will unfailingly…
Saints see Christ – Glory Truly Hidden
Someone once told me that the greatest tragedy in this life…
Science and Theology in the Public Square
Is there undue regulation of free speech on Youtube? I learned…
SDPP Module 1 & 2: Foundations of Prayer and Practical Method
SDPP Module 3 – Discernment of Spirits
SDPP Module 4 – Principles for Spiritual Direction Part 1
SDPP Module 5 – Principles for Spiritual Direction Part II
SDPP Module 6 – Issues in Spiritual Direction
Self-Denial – Surest Pathway
Contrary to those who insist that spiritual maturity is about…
Self-discovery and Gift of Self – the Truth Christ Reveals
John Paul II sincerely believed that we are so created that…
Self-Knowledge and Seeking God
We have been created as wonderful mysteries. God loves to contemplate…
Set your Mind on What is Above
Set your mind on what is above, Saint Paul advises in Colossians…
Seven Myths about the Catholic Church
In my last post we explored how we know God through the teaching…
Silence and the Order of Holiness
Those who would prayerfully ponder the silence of Mary discover…
Silence and the Strength of God
For Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity, silence is two activities…
Silence, Judgment and Freedom
Contemplative prayer flows from and leads to worship of the…
Silences Filled with Meaning
Prayer that waits for Christ's coming in glory opens to silences…
Sober Vigilance and Unconquered Hope
Times of tribulation require sober vigilance. Hardships…
Solidarity with our Persecuted Brothers and Sisters
Skip Rodgers is a remarkable man. God has blessed him…
Some Notes about Elisabeth of the Trinity
Pope Francis has approved a miracle performed by Blessed Elisabeth…
Some thoughts on Saint John XXIII
The National Catholic Register asked me to review John XXIII's…
Spiritual Communion and the Prayer of Faith
The act of faith is a powerful movement of soul, more powerful…
Spiritual Direction and Evangelization
In the Holy Father's latest apostolic exhortation Joy of the…
Spiritual Fatherhood and Elijah
A spiritual father is someone who serves the Lord and ministers…
Spiritual Fatherhood and Spiritual Motherhood
Christian formation requires above all formation in truth. We…
Spiritual Fatherhood in Northern California
Faith comes by hearing, but who are we listening to? On…
Spiritual Theology — What is it?
For Catholics, in its broadest sense, spiritual theology studies…
Spiritual Trials
Today is the feast of St. Jerome - a saint noted for his hot…
Splendor Dawning in Social Fault Lines
As tensions mount in our social fault lines, a new splendor dawns.…
Spy Wednesday
John Johnson
SSF101 – Transformation in Christ
Dates: TBD
SSF102 – Foundations of Prayer and Union with God
Dates: TBD
SSF105–Discernment of Spirits
May 29 - July 3, 2024
SSF107 – Breaking the Chains that Bind Us: An Introduction to Moral Theology
Dates: TBD
SSF108 – Spiritual Warfare and the Progress of the Soul
August 7 - September 18, 2024
SSF110–Introduction to Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity
May 1 - June 5, 2024
SSF112 – Introduction to Spiritual Direction
April 25 - May 30, 2024
SSF114 – God’s Plan for Marriage
Dates: TBD
SSF115–Evangelization and the Spiritual Life
Dates: TBD
SSF116 – The Mass in the Old Testament: Approaching the Lord with Fear and Trembling
Dates: TBD
SSF117 – Exploring the Source and Summit
Dates: TBD
SSF118 – Exploring Theosis
Dates: TBD
SSF120 – Unleashing the Power of Intercessory Prayer
Dates: TBD
SSF121 – The Christian Meaning of Suffering According to Saint John Paul II
Dates: TBD
SSF123 – The Road to Self-Awareness and Healing
Dates: TBD
SSF210 – Holy Spirit in the Life of the Church
Dates: TBD
SSF213 – Grace Freely Given: A Thomistic Understanding of the Life of Grace
July 9 - August 13, 2024
SSF214 Liturgies and Devotions of the Byzantine Rite
Dates: TBD
SSF222–Introduction to Saint Francis of Assisi
Dates: TBD
SSF223–Introduction to Saint Thérèse of Lisieux
Dates: TBD
SSF225 – Introduction to St. Teresa of Avila
Dates: TBD
SSF226 – Introduction to St. John of Avila
Dates: TBD
SSF227 – The Nuptials of the Word: St. Bernard of Clairvaux on the Song of Songs
July 11 - August 22, 2024
SSF228 – Living at the Hand of the Lord: The Life and Thought of St. Edith Stein
May 24-July 12, 2024
SSF229 – Masterpiece of the Divine Artist
Dates: TBD
SSF230 – St. John of the Cross and Our Journey into the Mystery of God
Dates: TBD
SSF231 – From Healed Psyche to Divine Union: The Psychology of St. John of the Cross
Dates: TBD
SSF232 – St. Benedict and St. Therese: The Little Rule and the Little Way
Dates: TBD
SSF233 – How St. Benedict Changed the World
Dates: TBD
SSF234 – The Psychology of St. John of the Cross: Lovingly Moved into Our Right Minds
Dates: TBD
SSF235 – The Spiritual Wisdom of St. Thomas Aquinas
Dates: TBD
SSF236 – Saint Catherine of Siena: Radiating the Fire of Love
Dates: TBD
SSF237 – The Mystical Wisdom of the Desert Fathers
July 15 - August 19, 2024
SSF238 – Contemplating the Seven Sorrows of Mary with St. Alphonsus Liguori
April 30 - June 4, 2024
SSF247 – Holiness: A Course in the Spiritual Classics
Dates: TBD
SSF248 – Growth in Holiness: Doctors of the Interior Life
May 2 - June 6, 2024
SSF249–Contemplative Prayer and the Beloved Disciple
Dates: TBD
SSF251 – Marian Apparition in the Modern World
Dates: TBD
SSF273 – Spiritual Warfare in Modern Times: C.S. Lewis and the Screwtape Letters
Dates: TBD
SSF275 – Angels and Demons
May 7 - June 11, 2024
SSF276 – Discernment of Visions and Revelations in the Interior Life
Dates: TBD
SSF279 – Healing the Imagination: A Reading Course in the Lord of the Rings
Dates: TBD
SSF280 – The Mystical Wisdom of the Lord of the Rings
Dates: TBD
St. Augustine: The Son of Such Tears
David Arias
St. Benedict
"Listen, O my son to the precepts of the master, and…
St. Benedict and Lectio Divina
For St. Benedict, Lectio divina is an important part of Quaerere…
St. Bernard and Coming to the Fullness of Love
St. Bernard built a way of life that flowed from Chapter 73 of…
St. Bernard and Conversion
Speaking to a group of scholars and students of the University…
St. Catherine of Siena and Spiritual Thirst
"If you would make progress, then, you must be thirsty, because…
St. Catherine of Siena and the Audacity of Anguished Love
Is it possible for suffering to be delightful and for pleasure
to…
to…
St. Dominic and Praying Cruciform
The ancient Dominicans describe seeing their founder standing…
St. Dominic and Standing in Prayer
One reader who has been following these posts on St. Dominic's…
St. Dominic and the Basilica of the Holy Trinity
Today on the Feast of St. Dominic, I went to the Basilica of…
St. Dominic’s Fourth Way of Prayer – genuflecting
When we walk into our local parish, we see the tabernacle and…
St. Dominic’s Nine Ways of Prayer – mortification
Of Dominic's ways of prayer, the section on physical asceticism…
St. Elisabeth of the Trinity: that praise of glory
What glory this fiery creature bears In the bottom of that…
St. Hildegard of Bingen’s Cry
"Arise therefore, and cry out"
September 17 is the feast…
September 17 is the feast…
St. John of Avila – Master of Contemplation and Renewal of the Church
During World Youth Day, Pope Benedict announced his intention…
St. John of Avila: The Obedience of Faith
It is the Year of Faith and the great mystics help us see dimensions…
St. John of Avila’s Life of Prayer
St. John of Avila (1500-1569AD)…
St. John Vianney and True Peace
St. John Vianney is a great example of a man of prayer. There…
St. John Vianney Continued
I would like to continue some thoughts on this feast of the Priest…
St Marie-Madeleine à la Sainte Baume – France
The Church of the Holy Sepulcher
When one goes on…
When one goes on…
St. Nicholas
I wanted to write something edifying about this wonderful beard…
St. Nicholas and Advent
St. Nicholas had a deep devotion to Jesus. This devotion…
St. Nicholas and the Byzantine Monks of Northern California
One of my favorite churches is the Temple of St. Nicholas at…
St. Patrick’s Seminary and University Lenten Lectures
Anthony Lilles, Academic Dean of St. Patrick's Seminary and…
St. Paul and St. Therese – the true nature of holiness
In Colossians 1:24, St. Paul speaks of rejoicing because through…
St. Teresa of Avila
St. Teresa of Jesus draws us to the light of Christ. She…
St. Teresa of the Andes and Love for Life
At the beginning of this New Year, I was blessed to get to know…
St. Therese and the side splitting laughter of the saints
St. Therese of Lisieux is one of the great witnesses to the…
St. Thomas says prayer is a mouthful of reason: oris ratio
In his treatment on Christian prayer in the Summa Theologica…
Standing Firm on our Principles
We seem to be going from crisis to crisis, at least according…
Strangers in a Strange Land
Thank you Archbishop Charles J. Chaput for writing Strangers…
Study of the Sacred Page
An important part of Christian prayer is identified in our tradition…
Summer Lecture Series in Arvada, Colorado
Shrine of Saint Anne
2013 Summer Spiritual Theology…
2013 Summer Spiritual Theology…
Symposium on Contemplative Culture
The first ever Symposium on Contemplative Culture is being held…
Temple of the Holy Spirit Continued: Praise as the Music of the Soul
From October 2-4, 2014, the Society of Catholic Liturgy is meeting…
Teresa Benedicta of the Cross
Father Mark has a great post on St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross.…
Teresa of Avila
Teresa of Avila wrote an autobiography (Life or La Vida) which…
Teresa of Avila and the Mystery of Deep Prayer
Teresa's discovery of deep prayer at about forty years of age…
Teresa of Avila part 3 of 5 – the water of prayer
test PDF
Avila Summit Flyer11x17
Avila Summit Flyer 11x1…
Avila Summit Flyer 11x1…
Thanksgiving and Forgiveness
Thanksgiving takes a kind of courage that comes from above.…
Thanksgiving for the New Work of God in our Midst
This is a note of gratitude to God for the many signs of hope…
That disturbing consolation that confirms identity and reveals mission
When the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, His greeting disturbed…
That Great Silence in Storm’s Midst
The beauty of these forty days of Lent is that every hardship…
That Loving Knowledge
Although the Almighty is beyond the power of human understanding…
That Mysterious Presence of the Lord in Prayer
St. Bernard's sermons on the Song of Songs provide beautiful…
The Annunciation and Consecration to Jesus through Mary
The solemnity of Annunciation, the great mystery of Gabriel announcing…
The Annunciation and the Undivided Heart in Prayer
Today we celebrate the Annunciation -- when Gabriel announced…
The Annunciation – The Beauty of God and the Faith that Receives
The Annunciation of the Angel Gabriel to Mary reveals the mystery…
The Archangel Gabriel to the Men of St. John’s Seminary – a Commencement Poem
Salve, brothers of this New Day,
In-shadowed in early silences…
In-shadowed in early silences…
The Arms of Christ Outstretched this Christmas
Mary sees in the face of her child the tears of God and the…
The Ascension – a sign of hope
Descending and Ascending are beautiful movements of the paschal…
The Ascension and the Confidence of Christian Prayer
In the Gospel of Luke, as He prepares to ascend into Heaven,…
The Aspen Catholic Institute August 14-16
I have been invited to provide a presentation at the inauguration…
The Assumption of Our Lady — A Sign of Hope
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Assumption - a mystery of…
The Assumption of our Lady and Elisabeth of the Trinity
Soon to be canonized Elisabeth believed that with the help of…
The Avila Institute
Thanks to the tireless efforts of Daniel Burke at Roman Catholic…
The Baptism of the Lord
The Savior saves us. Jesus is the One sent by the Father for…
The Baptism of the Lord – a Mystery of Theophany
When John baptizes the Lord in the River Jordan, Christ establishes…
The Battle for Integrity – a Men’s Conference
Saturday, March 2
9:00 AM ~ 5:00 PM
Sacred Heart Retreat…
9:00 AM ~ 5:00 PM
Sacred Heart Retreat…
The Battle for Integrity and the Gift of the Holy Spirit
Often, the lack of peace in our relationships with others is…
The Beginning of Christian Prayer
Jesus’ last cry from the Cross is the beginning of Christian…
The Bells on Mt. Tabor
Some of our pilgrims on Mt. Tabor
I started describing our…
I started describing our…
The Best Wine for Last
Feeling abandoned by the Church, many wonder over the plight…
The Birth of Christ – a mystery for our hearts
"The Word of the Father constantly desires to be embodied" declared…
The Blood of the Lamb and the Sign of the Cross
For Christians, the ancient rites of Passover and the Passion…
The Body and the Mystery of Prayer
If Christian prayer plummets dim but real reflections of eternal…
The Book of Life and Corpus Christi
16th Century Camaldolese Hermit, Paul Giustiniani, in his reflections…
The Bread of Life and the Need of the Human Heart
Even earthly bread, if received with thanksgiving, is food for…
The Breastplate of St. Patrick 2021
The Deer's Song or the Breastplate of St. Patrick is a battle…
The Breastplate of St. Patrick 2022
St. Patrick offered a prayer called the Deer's Song or the Lorica…
The Canonization Process for Elisabeth of the Trinity
Over the summer, the Archdiocese of Dijon has opened the process…
The Challenge of the Real Presence
It may well be the case that many of those who say they do not…
The Christian Family and the Mystery of Sin
Because the Christian Family bears a unique relationship with…
The Christian Family’s Unique Relationship with Christ
The Christian family, that is a family where at least one member…
The Christmas Mystery and Masses
The Christmas mystery is about the incarnation of the Word made…
The Coming of Christmas and the Mystery of the Visitation
The Visitation, like the Annunciation, is one of the great mysteries…
The Cross of Christ, Christian Prayer and Mary
Those who open their heart to the Our Lady of Sorrow learn the…
The Curé d’Ars and Graham Greene: The Priesthood and Divine Mercy
Mercy is love that suffers the weakness of the beloved. …
The Deer’s Song: Lorica of St. Patrick
A few years ago, I attempted a translation on the Breastplate…
The Discipline of the Christian Life
The discipline of the Christian life, the discipline of obedience…
The Divine Dynamism of the Poverty of Christ
Christ crucified reveals to the world the poverty of God. …
The Doors of Silence
The portal into deep silence requires silencing of memories and…
The Dynamism of Truth’s Splendor in Prayer
The splendor of the truth is a mystery discovered by the obedient,…
The Eucharist and Life to the Full – Heaven in Faith Episode #10
The saints and mystics approach the Eucharist with an expansive…
The Eucharist and the Church
The Mystery of the Eucharist, the great thanksgiving sacrifice…
The Eucharist – The Source and Summit of Our Faith
The Eucharistic Heart of Christ – Torrent of Love
While he was imprisoned in Toledo in the silence of his dark…
The Eucharistic Heart of God According to Saint Elizabeth
Saint Elizabeth writes to her brother-in-law, a seminarian:
Nothing…
Nothing…
The Face of Christ
In the Face of Christ is the truth about God and the truth about…
The Father and the Mystery of Holy Thursday
The liturgies of Holy Thursday commemorate the institution of…
The Feast of Blessed Elisabeth of the Trinity
"I have found my Heaven on earth: since Heaven is God and God…
The Fire of St. Hildegard
The Abbess of Bingen describes "a blazing fire, incomprehensible,…
The First Stage of Love According to St. Bernard
Tomorrow will be the feast of St. Bernard. A brilliant monastic…
The Flower of Love
One of my favorite poets is Sister Miriam of the Holy Spirit…
The Flowing Presence of the Holy Trinity
In a poem, John of the Cross describes the life of the Trinity…
The Foolishness of God in St. John of the Cross
"The soul that walks in love neither tires others nor grows…
The Freedom of God in Our Freedom
Sometimes we look at religious observance as a kind of holy…
The Freedom of the Annunciation
The heart has a sacred depth set aside for God which will not…
The Freedom to Pray and Faith in the Public Square
Contrary to the opinion of those who view prayer as something…
The Freedom to Worship God
To deal with a very serious medical emergencies, bishops and…
The Fruit of the Vine and Work of Human Hands
He is the vine and we are the branches. We are meant…
The Gates of Holiness
"Open to me the Gates of Holiness: I will enter and give thanks."…
The Gift of Hope and Battle for Life
We live at a time where a great battle for life is being played…
The Gift of Intercession
In striving to love someone the way that person really deserves…
The Gift of Life and the Search for God
When life seems to be more of a drudgery than a blessing, it…
The Gift of the Holy Spirit
Pentecost is a Feast of Love. It is the feast of the Canticle…
The Glory of God and the Deep Waters of Life
Deep waters tell the glory of God. That is, just as when…
The Glory of God in this Time
In the midst of distress and anxiety, the glory of God crashes…
The Glory of the Lord
Only those who enter into his prayer with their whole lives really…
The Good Thief
Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom….
…Amen,…
…Amen,…
The Gospel in Holiday Music and Christmas Carols
In these days before Christmas, at once beautifully enchanting…
The Grace of Baptism and the Jordan River
On our pilgrimage last summer, we went to the Jordan River, a…
The Grace that Silence Knows
In the deepest center of the abyss of one's being there is a…
The Gravity of the Father’s Love in Heaven and on Earth
The Lord taught us to call on our heavenly Father not because…
The Great Act of Faith
"We have come to know and to believe in the love Christ has for…
The Great King’s Shadow
Rages that terrible battle, in deepdarkness, deceit, disdain,…
The Great New Beginning
The Christmas Mystery is humanity's great new beginning, the…
The Great Secret of Christian Prayer? Make a Good Beginning!
When I was a teenager, I remember finding a book called Beginning…
The Happiness which God Designs
The happiness which God designs for his higher creatures is the…
The Heart of Christ – Our Hope for Holiness
Holy Cross Church, Santa Cruz, California
Why do Christians…
Why do Christians…
The Heart of the Church
Much attention is rightfully rendered to the Head of the Church…
The Heart of the Father and the Gift of Freedom
God the Father delights in the freedom He created each soul…
The Heavenly Liturgy and the Earthly Mission
After the death of a leper king who brought great financial…
The Hidden Life of Christ and our Life
Yesterday, I was invited to lecture on the hidden life to the…
The Hidden Way
St. Therese teaches us the hidden way. It is not the way of…
The Holiness that interrupts Time and Space – what is essential
Those who believe that religion is non-essential can live only…
The Holy Family and Contemplative Prayer
The Holy Family is the first school of contemplative prayer.…
The Holy Spirit and the Holy Bible
Since "all scripture is inspired by God" (2 Timothy 3:16) and…
The Holy Spirit – The Church’s Towering Lighthouse
In the remarkable visions of Saint Hildegard of Bingen ecclesial…
The Holy Trinity and a Foretaste of Heaven
Saint Elisabeth of the Trinity's spiritual mission is to promote…
The Holy Trinity and Christian Prayer
Christian prayer is founded in the mysterious wisdom of the Holy…
The Hope for Every Soul is Love Himself
Any soul, even laden with sins, captive of its vices, held…
The Hope of God
Periodically, I like to refer to a beautiful mystery that plays…
The Hope of the Church
My heart is with all the young people marching today in D.C.…
The Image of the Invisible God
The true Son of God, the Word made flesh, the manifestation…
The Immaculate Conception
We Catholic Christians believe that the Mother of God was conceived…
The Impact of God
I am in the Santa Cruz Mountains at a retreat center giving…
The Indwelling of the Trinity
What animates Christian Contemplation is the most beautiful…
The Influence of Love
We live in a world that has seemed to have forgotten God and…
The Inner Mountain – Witness of Antony of the Desert
In the life of Antony, after he has suffered all kinds of trials…
The Invasion of the Word
Night's Darkness
The Word invades
In the solemn mirth
Of this…
The Word invades
In the solemn mirth
Of this…
The Joy of the Father
The world needs the joy of the Father and this is what the Lord…
The Key of Wisdom
In speaking about the Silence of God and its importance for the…
The Kingdom of Heaven Descends on Us
It is a great act of faith to believe that the Father truly…
The Ladder of Life
In his treatise on Humility and Pride, St. Bernard provides…
The Last Exhortation of a Poustinik to her Friends, Everywhere
Beloved of God,
Suddenly, we are in the throes of winter:
It…
Suddenly, we are in the throes of winter:
It…
The Lenten Observance
My theory about Lent is that this observance is not so much…
The Life of Prayer: the sure path to freedom
Christian prayer is a simple movement of the soul towards God.…
The Light and Shadow of the Heart
The heart is a place of encounter, the innermost sanctuary of…
The Light of Tabor
What does it mean that the apostles witnessed Jesus on a…
The Liturgy and the New Evangelization
Registration…
The Liturgy and the New Evangelization – Los Angeles, 2016
The beauty of Christ continues to draw men and women to the…
The Liturgy and the New Evangelization – Update
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ISSUED BY: SCL (Society…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ISSUED BY: SCL (Society…
The Living Presence of the Holy Trinity
Bl. Elisabeth of the Trinity witnesses to the living presence…
The Lord Hears the Cry of the Poor, Blessed be the Lord!
Contemplation of the mystery of Christmas, almost upon us, sees…
The Lord is Coming – Take Him to your Heart
"Take Him to your heart... keep Him in you as in a sanctuary...…
The Lord’s Day
The Lord's Day is the temporal expression of prayer. At least,…
The Lord’s Prayer and a New Solidarity for Humanity
Although rancor, contention and strife threaten our communities…
The Lord’s Prayer and its Structure of Hope
Those who pray the Lord's prayer with faith take up the effort…
The Love and Praise of the Church in Easter During Pandemic
Easter is the season of true love - a love that conquers death.…
The Love of the Father – Unfathomable Immensity
Christ Jesus, the radiant splendor of the Father's love, entered…
The Measureless Measure
In 1904, in the days leading up to the Feast of the Presentation…
The Memorial of Elisabeth of the Trinity 2010
Elisabeth of the Trinity - whose memorial is this Monday - is…
The Mercies of God
I am in Bishop, CA giving a set of lectures on St. Paul, St.…
The Mission of Contemplatives in the Church
Though having embraced anonymity and engaged in an apostolate…
The Mission of the Baptist in the Advent of the Lord
The mystery of John the Baptist cries out in a world whose love…
The Mother of God and Holy Humanity
The Fathers of the Church believed that when the Word became…
The Mother of God and the Mystery of Prayer
Christians have called Mary the Mother of God since ancient times.…
The Mother of Mercy and the Abyss of Love
The Mother of Mercy spoke through Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity.…
The Music of Divine Mercy
Hidden in the mystery of my neighbor's greeting is a stream…
The Mysterious Prayer of Gethsemane
There are stories about great saints who struggled to pray in…
The Mystery of a Merry Christmas
The Christmas Season holds out for us the deepest personal…
The Mystery of Christian Death and the New Birth of Christian Faith
May 6, 2020 This particular post will be a little self-revealing…
The Mystery of Christ’s Baptism
To celebrate the Baptism of Christ is to participate in a salvific…
The Mystery of Death and the Need for Prayer
When friends draw close to death, a certain intensity of life…
The Mystery of Faithful Love – living signs needed today now more than ever
John Paul II once told priests not to let their "yes" to God…
SSF250 – The Mystery of Knowing and the Progress of the Soul in St. Thomas Aquinas
Dates: TBD
The Mystery of Mercy and Penance
Pope John Paul II, soon to be recognized as among the Blessed,…
The Mystery of Motherhood and Mary the Mother of the Lord
Motherhood is a great gift to the world, and God raised this…
The Mystery of the Church in Advent
Advent is a season for us to rediscover the mystery of the Church.…
The Mystery of the Cross
The Cross of Christ is the threshold where the broken heart of…
The Mystery of the Holy Eucharist – Real Presence in Real Time
Catholics process publicly with the Eucharist because the whole…
The Mystery of the Lord’s Supper and the Faith of those who Hope
Francis Xavier Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan, when he was Archbishop…
The Mystery of the Priesthood
Because I work at a seminary, I have gotten to know quite a few…
The Mystical Life: Where Liturgy and Contemplation Converge
Liturgy and Contemplation converge in the mystical life, a life…
The Nativities of Christ
David Arias
The Paradox of Holiness and Communion
To be holy is to be set apart. To be in communion is to…
The Paschal Mystery
Those who yearn for a deeper friendship with Christ look to…
The Passion of Word and Silence
This week we make pilgrimage with the Word made flesh to the…
The Passion: Where we learn to rest in the Heart of Christ
During Holy Week, we are invited to enter into the heart of the…
The Pathway of Extreme Humility
Jesus Christ has opened up the pathway to freedom and this pathway…
The Pathway of Forgiveness
"Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against…
The Peaceful Stillness of Prayer
A very contemplative monk of the Grande Chartreuse reads the…
The Personal Presence of Christ the King
The personal presence of Jesus Christ the King reigns over the…
The Personal Presence of God
God's presence in the world is personal and intimate. He is…
The Pilgrimage Continued… still on the first day!
The Copula of the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth…
The Power of Contemplative Prayer
Contemplative prayer has immense power against all kinds of…
The Power of the Holy Trinity
All too often, the Holy Trinity is approached as a problem to…
The Prayer of Christ and the Gift of the Holy Spirit
In Christ Jesus, humanity has been received into its heavenly…
The Present Moment – Eternity Begun and Still in Progress
We are often deceived into thinking that doing great things…
“The Priest is not his Own” Part I Based on a lecture given Wed., Jan. 27, 2010
Introduction:
This lecture, presented in the blog under several…
This lecture, presented in the blog under several…
The Priest is not his Own – Part II
In our last post, we considered a particular problem which the…
The Priest is not his Own – Part III
In this post, we will try to bring into relief important…
The Priesthood and Prayer
Christ is the Great High Priest -- and because of His priesthood…
The Promise of Christianity in the Face of Death
In the face of death, it can seem impossible to pray. How…
The Radiance of the Bride – Source of Contemplative Prayer
The world may fear Fire from above, but not the Bride of Christ.…
The Radical Hope of a Generous Heart
Catholics and all Christians are called to live a radical hope…
The Redeemer and the Gift of Lent
Each of us has a great task ... that of becoming who God made…
The Remarkable Work of God in our Times
The Lord God is a jealous God. He is concerned about those who…
The Resurrection and Life
Do you long for New Life? Easter is about the only new…
The Risen Lord and the Gift of Faith
To believe that the Lord is Risen is to believe that He is present…
The Risen Lord Present in the World Today
The Lord is Risen and raised up from our sight! He has…
The Risen Lord Waits for Us to Call on Him
Jesus, the Risen Lord, is truly present in this moment. In the…
The Risen Lord’s Victory over Death and Sin
In His Divine Person, the New Adam united Himself to the…
The River – inspired by a poem by St. John of the Cross
To approach the living God requires a journey to the deepest…
The Road of Prayer – the Path to Integrity
Those who wish to embark on the road of prayer in earnest must…
The Roman Catholic Priesthood in San Francisco
God is unveiling the noble greatness of the Roman Catholic…
The Rosary
Murmuring of voices joined before lighted candles, common whispers…
The Rosary and the Silence of the Word
The Rosary is a pathway of prayer that follows the mysteries…
The Rosary – Ladder to Heaven
A ladder of contemplation, the whole saving mystery of the Heart…
The Rosary: Pathway of Mercy
Mercy or misericors, St. Thomas explains, is miserum cor, to…
The Rosary — threshold to Holy Mysteries
The Rosary opens a threshold to sacred memories in the heart…
The Sacred Heart of Jesus
The heart of the matter is what is searched for when listening…
The Saints in the Public Square
People of prayer are witnessing to the religious dimension of…
The Saints’ True Knowledge according to Saint Elizabeth
It is good to look into the soul of the saints and to follow…
The Science of Love – St. Elisabeth of the Trinity
St. Elisabeth of the Trinity on the Science of LoveHe is in me,…
The Shield of Faith and the War against Idolatry in Advent
Christmas approaches. It is a magical time of music, light,…
The Sign of a Faithful Soul
One of my favorite books is by a Carthusian who died during the…
The Sign of the Cross
In an earlier post, I shared a little about the Sign of the Cross.…
The Sign of the Cross
No one knows how old this sign really is. It may well go back…
The Silent Kiss of the Soul
Jesus reveals the Father to us in adoration and He wants…
The Simplicity of Faith – Heaven and Faith Episode 12
Blessed Elisabeth of the Trinity understood something beautiful…
The Soul of Theology
If the study of the Sacred Page is the soul of theology, then…
The Spirit of Obedience and the Real Presence
A spirit of obedience is being renewed in the Church. It is…
The Spiritual Battle and the Call to Prayer
First, I am so very grateful to all the first responders and…
The Spiritual Castle and Monsters that Threaten it
In times of crisis and confusion, if we do not wish to be swept…
The Spiritual Classics
This week I provided the final lecture for a class entitled the…
The Spiritual Liberty of Holy Obedience
Saint Hildegard von Bingen contemplated the origin of evil in…
The Spiritual Life: First Principles and Foundational Practices
Anthony Lilles
The Spirituality of Faithful Love
Marriage contains a spirituality primordially established by…
The Still Small Voice
In our households, there are moments where it is good to turn…
The Suffering Love of the Savior
The love of Jesus saves because it has the power to bear away…
The Super-abundant and Transforming Law of Prayer
St. John of the Cross, in his commentary on Living Flame of Love,…
The Task of Spiritual Theology
As a student of spiritual theology, I am occasionally asked about…
The Tears of God and the Need to Pray
We must pray for everyone affected by storms that hit the South…
The Tears of Mary
The tears of Mary, treasured by God, are poured out for those…
The Temple of the Holy Spirit, Praise and Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity
Blessed Elisabeth of the Trinity became aware of the indwelling…
The Tender Compassion of God and the True Progress of Humanity
True human progress has nothing to do with the indulgence of…
The Three in One and One in Three
I arise today by the mighty name of the Trinity -- the Three…
The Threshold into the Heart of God
Christ's crucified and risen humanity is the threshold in the…
The Trials of Advent
As we wait for the coming of the Savior, many trials and challenges…
The Triduum – Into the Silent Fullness of God
The deepest and most beautiful pathway of prayer is opened up…
The Trinity and Real Love
It is a false friendship when one friend dominates another. …
The Trinity our Home
When Elisabeth of the Trinity wrote a retreat for her sister,…
The Trinity – the enchanting harmony of divine love
How can we describe the kind of contemplation devotion to the…
The Truth Is What the Heart Needs
St. Irenaeus believed that the vision of God is the life of…
The Truth to which Christ Bears Witness
"For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world,…
The Two Standards
On the Podcast show "Catholic Stuff You Should Know," hosts…
The Urgency of Contemplative Prayer
The urgency of contemplative prayer comes into focus when we…
The Vessel of Elizabeth of the Trinity
[For 24 September 1906—on the occasion
of M. Germaine’s…
of M. Germaine’s…
The Victory Disclosed in Christian Death
A war has been fought in heaven for the life and dignity of…
The Victory of the Christian Family
Baptism and marriage establishes a supernatural reality - the…
The Vocation of St. Therese
I am gong to make you smile: in my childhood I dreamed…
The Voice of Angels and the Witness of our Faith in England
This Christmas I had the joy of making a pilgrimage to the Tyburn…
The Voice of the Good Shepherd as we Shelter in Place
A difficult grace during pandemic is confronting the brokenness…
The Way of Love
There are many spiritual paths offered us in life. Some promise…
The Way, the Truth and the Life
Christ Jesus is the threshold to the Father - this means we can…
The Ways of Prayer – Prostration
Among the Nine Ways of Prayer of St. Dominic, he seems to have…
The Weight of Heaven’s Whisper
On Earth as it is in Heaven ... Heaven tolerates no social agendas…
The Wisdom of God
I once asked a Carthusian why he embraced a life of silence and…
The Witness and Mission of Father Raymond Gawronski, S.J.
In the final hours of April 14, 2016, God called Father Raymond…
The Witness of Betty Suppes — farmer from Delta, Colorado
Guest post by Richard Ziegman
Last Summer our parish…
Last Summer our parish…
The Wonder of God’s Will and the Holiness of Marriage
The Will of God is a beautiful mystery that evokes wonder and…
The Word and Silence
In the Nativity of the Lord, the cries of the world, the cries…
The Word and the Sleep of Death in Christian Prayer.
Christian contemplation takes in the mystery of death and sees…
The Word Made Flesh and the Wonder of Christmas
The wonder of the Nativity of the Lord, that holy silence that…
The Words of Everlasting Life: John 6:60-69
Jesus Christ is the Word of the Father, the Word made flesh…
The Words of the Word and the Language of the Soul
When the Word made flesh rose from the Dead, human speech was…
Theological Contemplation
Spiritual theology or mystical theology is the knowledge we gain…
Theological Contemplation and the Lord’s Gaze of Love
There are many ways to enter into silence. Teresa of Avila…
Theological Contemplation, Deep Prayer and the Christian Life
The early Dominicans counted as one of the nine ways of prayer…
Theological Contemplation – theological and mystical wisdom
Prayer and theology bring the wisdom that comes from the Cross…
Theological Virtues and the Life of Heaven
David Arias
Theology and Priestly Formation
Some have argued that too much attention is payed to theology…
Theology: to Study God’s Word with Understanding
Is there a right way to read the Holy Bible? Are there rules…
They Speak by Silences
Written by a Carthusian and preserved by Benedictines at a Roman…
Things Worth Dying For
Dying is a difficult fight. Archbishop Charles Chaput sheds…
Thinking on What is Above
This begins our series on pilgrimage. To take time in one's…
Those Deep Places to which We are Called
There are deep places in the heart. A vast and unexplored…
Through the Wounds of Christ the Father Transforms our Wounds
To be a Christian is to be plunged into the mystery of the Trinity.…
Time, Eternity and a Blessed New Year
Time is not simply duration of a cycle that repeats itself over…
Time Spent in Prayer
Those struggling to begin a life of prayer often ask how much…
Time to Pray, Fast and Offer Sacrifice
Painful truths are coming forward and evil swoops down like…
To Attend to the Reading and Be Absorbed by It
"Attend to the reading, the exhortation, the teaching" (1 Timothy…
To Console the Heart of Christ
In this time of scandal, the Holy Spirit moves hearts to console…
To Do Good to Those who Hate Us
Christ Crucified is not embarrassed by our plight or disgusted…
To Know the Father – To Behold the Cross
On this Good Friday, we celebrate the definitive revelation…
To Live by Faith
To live by faith in the Risen Lord is to root one's existence…
To Satiate the Thirst of Jesus
When we begin to pray, we implicate ourselves in the plight…
To Savor the Presence of God
In Psalm 34:8, we are asked to taste and see the goodness of…
To Worship the Living God in Time and Space
We are made to worship the Living God. Because we are creatures…
Total Dedication to Christ and Carmel Today
In my last post I shared a little bit about Mt. Carmel in Israel…
Transitions in Life and Prayer
Pope Francis suggests the writings of Anselm Gruen for spiritual…
Treasures of Divine Life
On September 6, 2014, Archbishop Aquila is hosting a special…
Treasures of the Triduum at the Liturgical Institute
The Liturgical Institute is hosting a conference on Friday,…
Trinity Sunday
At the heart of all true Christian spirituality is the great…
Truth
Truth does not rant or rage,
This silent Stranger patiently…
This silent Stranger patiently…
Truth, the Heart and the Sacred
"Lord, you love truth in the heart. In the secret of my heart,…
Two New Doctors of the Church to be celebrated October 7
St. John of Avila and St. Hildegard of Bingen will be formally…
Under the Branches of Wood Flesh Fastened
Flesh fastened branches breathe Mysterious WindCarrying enfleshed…
Under the Shadow of the Cross
Under the Shadow of the Cross, an uneventful silence can take…
Unearthing Your Ten Talents: A Thomistic Guide to Spiritual Growth Through the Virtues and Their Parts
Kevin Vost
Unexpected Horizons – Heaven in Faith Continues
Blessed Elisabeth of the Trinity helps those who want to pray…
United under the Radiance of the Face of God
This Easter, we celebrate life, even in the face of death. There…
Unity with the Trinity and the Cross of Christ
God has called us to participate by grace in his divine life…
Veni, Sancte Spiritus
On the faithful, who adoreAnd confess you evermoreIn your sevenfold…
Victory Belongs to the Lord
In my last conversation with Father Gawronski before his death,…
Video Clips of our Journey from Krakow to Vienna en route to Madrid
These are some video clips made by Daniel, one of our seminarians…
Vigilance, Fasting and Unexpected Graces
Keeping watch and waiting for the Lord is part of the mystery…
Viva Cristo Rey!
The seminarians of St. John Vianney in Denver, Colorado provided…
Walls
The contemporary man, or rather post-apocalyptic androgyne, loves…
Waters of Prayer
The gift of prayer is watered by the stream that flows from…
We are in Spain!
After a plunge into the ocean Today we made it to Barcelona.…
Welcome the Christ-Child into Your Heart
The Word of the Father has entered into the world with great…
Welcoming the New Year with Praise
As the New Year dawns, many see this as an opportunity for all…
What Draws God to the Human Heart?
Despite all the brokenness and misery that mark human existence,…
What has primacy over war, insurrection and natural disaster? Your witness to Christ
Christ, the Word of the Father, commands those who believe in…
What is Contemplation?
Christian Contemplation or "mental prayer" is a loving gaze…
What satisfies – by Father Raymond Gawronski, S.J., Professor of Theology, Saint Patrick’s Seminary
“Our hearts are made for Thee O
Lord, and they will not…
Lord, and they will not…
When I Can no Longer Pray
“When I can no longer pray, I play!” Bl. Elisabeth of the…
When Nothing Makes Sense and All Seems Useless – Pray
"In this world, you will have trouble" John 16:33. There are…
When Prayer Feels Wasted
There are times when prayer feels wasted. We cry out from…
When the Lord Discloses His Presence
What is it like for Christ to disclose his mysterious presence…
Where Religious Civil Liberty Touches Spiritual Freedom
Religious liberty and spiritual freedom embrace in the desert…
Where the Prayer of Advent is Forged
Advent Prayer is forged in the darkness of this world's injustice,…
Why do we pray?
Why do we pray? Baptized into Christ, I pray for the transformation…
Why We Need the Cross
Only by grace does God's love become the basis of all genuine…
Wisdom and Spiritual Childhood
St. Therese of Lisieux is the champion of spiritual childhood…
With God’s Love Wounds of Sin become Wounds of Love
Transforming "wounds of sin into wounds of love"
is something…
is something…
Without Compromise – the Real Presence is Given
Many are offering all kinds of theories about why disciples…
Witness requires Solitude, Prayer and Study
If you study the Life of Antony by St. Athanasius, one striking…
Witness to Hope when Beauty is Defaced
It was a sorrow to learn that my childhood parish was defaced…
Witnessed on a Freeway in California
A glimpse of faces passes
Mindless sunglass glances
Mosaics…
Mindless sunglass glances
Mosaics…
Witnessing to the Risen Lord
Christ is risen from the dead and in the shadow of His healing…
Woman of Courage – Mother of the Savior
Today, when so many are afraid of death, we need the courage…
Year for Priests Lecture: Rupture vs. Continuity: Cardinal Newman, Vatican II and the Church today
7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 3, 2010Bonfils Hall, John Paul II…
Year for the Priest
I am offering a series of lectures at the John Paul II Center…
Year for the Priest – contemplating the priesthood
This Year for the Priest offers a unique opportunity to reflect…
You are a Temple of the Holy Spirit
Some points for prayer-
Since the Blessed Trinity is living in…
Since the Blessed Trinity is living in…
You Are Invited on a Holy Land Pilgrimage – In the Company of Elijah
Join Anthony Lilles, STD and Sr. Magdalit Bolduc
along with…
along with…
You are invited to a Lenten Retreat
“You Are the Christ”
In today's readings, Peter declares that Jesus is the Messiah. This…
Your Life Hidden In Christ
"You have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God." (Col…
School of Spiritual Formation Courses
1 TwoGreatApostles
2nd Part of Teresa of Avila
A Biblical Walk through the Mass
The coming changes to the liturgy this November are going to…
A Carthusian View of Advent: Back to the Future
In our liturgical books, the liturgical year begins with Advent:…
A Child’s Rosary
A Contemplation that Hears Heaven
Beyond every psychological experience in prayer, however enlightened…
A Culture of Life and Family Prayer
When Blessed John Paul II came to Denver over twenty years ago,…
A Father’s Prayer – clip #5
A Heart on Fire – What America Needs
America needs hearts on fire with the Gospel of Christ-- and…
A Journey Down Apparition Hill
A burning draws barefoot pilgrims toA bush aflame but unconsumed.In…
A Letter to Governor HIckenlooper
Dear Governor John Hickenlooper,
Since prayer in…
Since prayer in…
A Look into the 2019 Avila Summit
A Madonna House Staff Member Remembers Lucille
LUCILLE CLAIRE
(claire is the French word for clear, light.…
(claire is the French word for clear, light.…
A Meditation on Renewing Formation
The Lamb’s love lavishing
Unrecognized Gifts of Priestly Calling
And…
Unrecognized Gifts of Priestly Calling
And…
A Missionary Disciple and the Gift of God
The disciples of the Risen Lord are missionary. They are…
A Movement of Heart
When I am too tired to collect my thoughts, when there are…
A New Beginning to Pray
Beginning to pray is the project of a lifetime. The entry…
A New Liberty for Humanity
God loves to work through human freedom -- the freer humanity…
A Note of Thanks From Archbishop Aquila – the beginning of a journey
From Archbishop Aquila:
Thank you for your prayers and witness! See…
Thank you for your prayers and witness! See…
A Pilgrim’s Memory of St. Anthony of Egypt
Many years have come and passed
Since before your smile…
Since before your smile…
A Prayer for Peace
Under the shadow of the Father's glory, humanity is established…
A Retreat For Holy Week and Easter With Kris McGregor and Discerning Hearts
Grateful to Kris McGregor for hosting these conferences which…
A Sacrifice to God – Guigo the Carthusian and St. Paul
Almost a thousand years ago, a group of men built a monastery…
A Summary of St. Dominic’s Prayer
The Nine Ways of Prayer of St. Dominic presume a connection…
A Thanksgiving Reflection from a Monk of Mount Tabor
My father told me last night about his deep, deep sadness. He…
A Thomistic and Carmelite Consideration of the Nature of Prayer, Contemplation and Divine Union
David Arias and Fr. Thomas Jesus of Mary
A Voice Calling Out for Conversion Driven Theology
The Precursor demanded conversion of life because he wanted…
A Western Poustinik’s Love for the East
Dr. Joel Barstad, associate professor of theology at Saint…
Abandonment to Love and our Resurrection
A theme that runs through the great christian teachers of the…
Abiding in the Lord
Jesus' command to his disciples: Remain in Me. What…
Action and Contemplation
Many believe that action and contemplation are mutually exclusive…
Adoration and the Birth of Praise
Praise is born of adoration. We are never alone when we…
Adoration, Silence and the Lamp of Fire
Hunger for silence is the sign of spiritual maturity. This saying…
Advent 2010, First Sunday: The Power of God’s Coming
Advent is a powerful liturgical season ordered to the…
Advent and Christian Culture
Really keeping the observance of Advent is a terrific feat…
Advent and John the Baptist
In the Season of Advent, we should allow ourselves to experience…
Advent and Pope Benedict
"This powerful liturgical season invites us to pause in silence…
Advent and St. John of the Cross
You will not take from me, my God, what You once gave me in Your…
Advent and the Peace Established by God
The liturgy of the First Sunday of Advent makes us unsettled.…
Advent and the Road to Zion
Isaiah 2:2-5 prepares us for the coming of the Messiah by…
Advent of that Mysterious Joy
Broods the cosmos in painful rending
Beyond infinity’s…
Beyond infinity’s…
Advent Retreat – Mary in the Wisdom of the Saints
To prepare spiritually for Christmas, the Catholic Church contemplates…
Advent Visit to Colorado December 10 through 12
Something wonderful is happening in Colorado this Advent ---…
Advent’s Hour
The hour is upon us to make straight the pathway of the Lord.…
Advent’s Light
The Beloved of the Father is coming to share His joy with you,…
Advent’s Sacred Silences
In the quiet of a room they sigh
In candle's glow they live…
In candle's glow they live…
After the Storms, the Whisper outside the Cave
Vitriolic accusation might impress, intimidate and intrigue,…
All Saints Day
What does it take to be a saint? It means to be set…
All Things Visible and Invisible
Jeffrey Allan over at Secret Harbor has posted a wonderful text…
An Encounter in Burgos
Every seven years, the Church in Spain celebrates a Teresian…
Angels Ascending and Descending on the Son of Man
By the ministry of the angels and through the sacred humanity…
Angels on Our Side
In the battles and challenges of this life, we have an army…
Archbishop Aquila’s Call for Prayer and Action
An Open Letter from Archbishop Aquila:
Open Letter to
Catholics…
Open Letter to
Catholics…
As if Already in Eternity: The Wisdom of Blessed Elisabeth of the Trinity
Saint Elisabeth of the Trinity is a witness to the primacy of…
Ascension and Abiding Presence
The Risen Lord ascended from our midst and remains more present…
Asceticism, Spiritual Exercises and Joy
Fourteen Rules for those Engaged in the Lenten Observance during…
Avila and Signs
Around Avila, as the holy soul by love,
Walls witness signs…
Walls witness signs…
Awakening of the Word
Deep in our hearts, the Father has sent his Word. He can enter…
Battle of Contemplative Prayer
There much pre-occuaption with ecclesiastical authority. It…
Be Not Afraid!
We are voting on the Feast Day of Saint Elisabeth of the Trinity…
Beauty Ever Ancient Ever New
In my last post, I promised to speak more about the Divine Economy.…
Beginning to Pray
Being Merciful and the Holy Spirit
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are understood in many beautiful…
Bernard and Facing the Truth about Ourselves
If anyone thinks that what he is asked to do by God is easy,…
Blessed are the Poor of Heart
What is the poverty of heart that Jesus deemed true happiness,…
Blessed Elisabeth of the Trinity and Advent
Blessed Elisabeth of the Trinity invites us to take on an attitude…
Blessed John Paul II, Prayer and Evangelization
On Saturday we commemorated Blessed John Paul, an apostle of…
Boldly Entering the Heart of Another
Catherine de Hueck Doherty believed the Lord told her to boldly…
Building a New World in Light of the Resurrection
Recently, Pope Francis called on the members of the Church to…
Burgos and Lourdes
Gothic Cathedral at Burgos - the City of El Cid
Father…
Father…
Cardinal Arinze Keynote 1 & 2
Cardinal Burke’s Observation – a word of wisdom in a time of crisis
A story is told about the saintly Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński,…
Casting out into the Deep
When John Paul II invited the Church to cast out into the deep,…
Catherine of Siena – passion for truth
Tommorrow will be the feast of Catherine of Siena. Check out…
Catholic Faith: Credo
January 11 - May 16, 2024
Changes Coming Soon
Dear Readers,Thank you for reading this blog and for the…
Charity and the Spiritual Life
David Arias
Chastisement and Mercy
How can Unchanging Love not chastise those who, if not corrected,…
Christ and the Confidence that Comes from the Holy Spirit
Christ baptizes in the power of the Holy Spirit and his fire…
Christ Child Awakening
Just as when He awoke in swaddling clothes in a manger, Christ…
Christ the King and the Courage of the Martyrs
Through the reign of Christ the King, martyrs raise Christian…
Christ: The Pattern of Contemporary Culture
David Clayton
Christ thirsts for our Love – an insight of St. Therese
There were two great contentemplative mystics from the 19th Century…
Christian Contemplation and God’s own Little Ones
Christian contemplative prayer is a prayer that "sees" but what…
Christian Enlightenment
Nescivi – I no longer knew anything. This is the first word…
Christian Formation
Today, in discerning how to address formation for ministry, the…
Christian Hope: A Great Calling and Difficult Project
Walking through the neighborhood, a new friendliness is peeking…
Christian Knowledge and Mysticism
Christian mysticism is rooted in the mystery of Christ, and the…
Christian Perfection, Grace and Contemplation
If we are called to be perfect as the heavenly Father is
perfect,…
perfect,…
Christian Piety and Political Power in America
Is faith in the Risen Lord a true shield against a growing…
Christian Prayer and the Incarnation
With the Word of the Father, the words of Christian prayer are…
Christmas Light
Christmas is a special holy day. Normally, on holy days, there…
Christmas Trees and Prayer in Advent
In these last days of Advent, we decorate our Christmas Trees…
Christopher Carstens Keynote and Breakout Session
Christ’s Invitation: Heaven in Faith Series
"Remain in Me" this is Christ's invitation to us come what come…
Christ’s Real Presence and true Christian Life: never static, always dynamic
The Real Presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament is a living…
City of God vs City of Man
Dates: TBD
Classical Education, Contemplation and Wonder
Classical education is oriented towards the wisdom of contemplation,…
Clinging to Unfathomable Mystery
Sometimes silent prayer is very purifying. Whether in…
Come Thou, Wisdom from on High
The Word comes - emptied and humbled for those who are empty…
Come, Welcome the Fire of the Holy Spirit
Jesus has sent His Holy Spirit into the Church and He yearns…
Coming into Lent’s Home Stretch
As we come into the end of Lent, its time to renew our resolutions…
Compassion and the Dark Night
I was recently asked about the relationship of the experience…
Consciences Inflamed with Love
We must follow our consciences, but the heart frozen to a cause…
Contemplating the Triumph of Mercy
The resurrection is a mystery of the triumph of divine mercy…
Contemplation and Joyful Expectation
Advent is a beautiful season for mental or contemplative prayer.…
Contemplation and the Final Judgment
Contemplative prayer is born in the silence that reverently…
Contemplation and the Renewal of the Church
Contemplative prayer remains a largely untapped resource for…
Contemplation – its length and breadth, height and depth
Saint Paul reveals to us a vital dimension of Christian prayer…
Contemplation of Christ’s Poverty
While the world wonders over power and politics, the Church…
Contemplation of the Truth and the Study of Theology
One cannot do theology without rediscovering that which the
ancient…
ancient…
Contemplative Prayer and John Paul II #6
Contemplative Prayer and Sacred Space
In order to enter into contemplative prayer, it is important…
Contemplative Prayer in Crisis
Worried eyes peer above a mask in a supermarket while customers…
Contemplative Theology and Highest Wisdom
Often when I propose the possibility of a contemplative or kneeling…
Corpus Christi
In recent posts, we have been reflecting on the Holy Trinity.…
Creation – the first book of prayer
Creation is the first book of Christian prayer, a book in which…
Daily Mass and Technocracy
One of my friends shared how going to daily mass has provided…
Dan Burke Keynote
Dan Burke Keynote
Dare We Go to Mass?
Dare we go to Mass? We are told that somehow not going to Mass…
Dark Night
One dark night,
Fired with love's urgent longings,
-Ah,…
Fired with love's urgent longings,
-Ah,…
Dealing with Sin – A pathway for prayer in Advent
God wants to help us deal with sin but He waits for us to…
Deep Down Mercy
Off the edge of inadequacy, into that void, I searched for Him…
Denver Bishops Call for Prayer
Denver Bishops Invite Catholics to Pray for Nation
Archbishop…
Archbishop…
Devotion to Our Lord’s Sacred Heart
David Arias
Devotion to the Trinity
Perhaps because of the way the mystery is preached, many of those…
Discerning God’s Will
How do we know God's plan for our lives,
The particular pathway…
The particular pathway…
Divine Gentleness and Contemplative Prayer
Christ offered Himself in death for our sake out of love, to…
Divine Mercy and habitare secum
The Christian life of prayer is rooted in the mercy of God. There…
Divine Mercy Sunday
What makes our prayer for mercy powerful, capable of changing…
Divine Mercy Sunday in the Pandemic
The mercy of God is at work in the world because Jesus is at…
Does God Really Speak to Us?
There are many who believe that God does not speak to us and…
Does Real Marriage have a Prayer?
In a world gone mad, does real marriage have a prayer? The hostile…
Doing God’s Will Puts Music in the Soul
For Blessed Elisabeth of the Trinity, the spiritual life is…
Dominic’s Nine Ways of Prayer
Many who want a deeper prayer life find themselves unable to…
Dr. Anthony Lilles Breakout Session
Dr. Anthony Lilles Keynote
Draw Near the Real Presence – Faith made Perfect
In the Eucharist, Christ's countenance shines with a personal…
Ecstatic Love and Real Presence
Ecstasy is a total going out of oneself. It is an abandonment…
Elements of Radical Fraternity– an interview with Fr. Conrad Osterhout, C.F.R.
I asked Father Conrad what the essential elements of radical…
Elisabeth of the Trinity and the Apocalypse
Blessed Elisabeth of the Trinity understood the importance of…
Elisabeth of the Trinity and The Church of Saint-Michel in Dijon, France
St. Michael the Archangel
is the patron of the home parish…
is the patron of the home parish…
Elisabeth of the Trinity and the Gift of Prayer
Elisabeth of the Trinity helps the Church understand that prayer…
Elisabeth of the Trinity and the Song of Praise
For Elisabeth, the soul's greatest activity is a song of praise. …
Elisabeth of the Trinity – Devotion in Prayer
The last couple posts have been short reflections on the spiritual…
Elisabeth of the Trinity Episode 14
Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity believes that deeper encounters…
Elisabeth of the Trinity – Heaven in Faith Series
In the effort to begin to pray, I have found the writings of…
Elisabeth of the Trinity – Mysterious Hymn of Praise
For Elisabeth of the Trinity, to surrender ourselves to God…
Elisabeth of the Trinity – on Spirit and Truth
Elisabeth of the Trinity was a Carmelite nun who died in 1906…
Elisabeth of the Trinity to be Canonized
This is an update to a post a did a few years ago on the canonization…
Elisabeth of the Trinity to be Canonized on October 16!
Pope Francis announced at the June 20, 2016 papal consistory…
Encountering John Paul II on our Way to Madrid
While we were in Krakow, we went to the chapel where Karol Wojtyla…
Entering into Contemplative Prayer
Contemplative prayer is best begun under the Sign of the Cross.…
Entering into Prayer
For those struggling to pray, one challenge in prayer is entering…
Entrusted with a Pearl Beyond Price
Once there was an evangelist who preached the Gospel of Christ…
Epiphanies at Bethlehem, the Jordan, Cana and in our Lives
Epiphany evokes adoration and obedience. This is true whether…
Epiphany: The Journey of Theology to Pay Homage
Should one appear to have understood the Sacred Scriptures
or…
or…
Eucharistic Coherence and Co-inherence
The Eucharist, the great thanksgiving that Christ instituted…
Eucharistic Contemplation
The Eucharist, the sacred banquet, is a mystery that evokes a…
Eucharistic Revival – the Invasion of the Word
The Invasion of the Eucharistic Word
The Eucharistic…
The Eucharistic…
Evening Call
The discipline of prayer includes sanctifying time, offering…
Faith and the Christian Personality
Does my life, my personal decisions, really matter? One…
Faith and the Spiritual Life
Dr. David Arias
Faith Contemplates the Advent Mystery Because He Leads into Captivity All Powers
Blessed Elisabeth of the Trinity helps us open our hearts to…
Faith in the Risen Lord
What does it mean to believe that Jesus rose from the dead? …
Faith, Love and the Truth
Some people believe that faith implies doubt. For them…
Faith of a Mustard Seed
Mr. and Mrs. Tinucci go to daily mass at the Shrine of St. Anne…
Faith on the Way
What does a pilgrim find in Spain?A land of paradox. Extremely…
Faith Simplifies Prayer
Faith simplifies us, in the way we live, and even in our prayer.…
Fasting from the Media
Human freedom requires prayer and fasting. We should fast from…
Father Conrad and Brother Isaiah – the Hidden Presence of God
Father Peter Carota – Rest in Peace
The question in the parable of the Sheep and the Goats, “When…
Father Ralph Drendel, SJ – R.I.P.
On December 2, God called home a good and faithful servant,
and…
and…
Father Raymond Gawronski and Priestly Celibacy
Fr. Raymond Gawronski's room at St. John Vianney Seminary looked…
Fighting Against Lethargy
There are periods of prayer that must endure "storms of destruction"…
Fighting the Good Fight
Many of my closest friends, though they live disciplined and…
Finding our Footing in Prayer
Today, many are concerned about confusion in the Church and…
Fire and Judgment
The smell of smoke and hazy horizon aglow at night evoke wonder…
Fire from Above and the Son of Man
"What we utter is God's wisdom: a mysterious, a hidden wisdom...…
First Day – by Scott Eagan
-
FIRST DAY -
From midnight
on
the prospect of
sun rising
first…
FIRST DAY -
From midnight
on
the prospect of
sun rising
first…
Following the Star
Epiphany is a celebration of the manifestation of the Lord to…
For Greater Glory
Over the weekend, I saw For Greater Glory (Cristiada),…
Fr. Boniface Hicks, OSB Keynote
Fr. Cassian Folsom Keynote
Fr. Dennis McManus, Ph.D. Keynote 1 & 2
Fr. Giles Dimock, O.P. on Fr. Louis Bouyer, Cong. Orat.
Fr. Robert Torczynski of Mendocino on Holy Thursday
Click here for reflections on Holy Thursday by Fr. Robert, pastor…
Fr. William Watson, SJ Keynote
Francis Xavier Nguyen Thuan – Road to Hope
Cardinal Thuan was just declared venerable on October 22. A priest…
Free the Mass
We must free the Mass because the sacred liturgy of the Catholic…
Freedom Needs the Truth
Yesterday we went to Padua -- Daniel captured part of our adventures…
Friendship with God and Teresa of Avila
Teresa of Avila, in her masterpiece, Interior Castle, after describing…
From Caesarea to Carmel
Our pilgrimage continued from Caesarea to Carmel - where there…
From the Deepest Abyss to the Furthest Frontier
Your body is a temple. It is not inconsequential. You have been…
Gabriel – The Angel of Advent
When St. Gabriel appeared to a humble handmaid, he became the…
Gentleness of Advent
As the Christmas mystery draws near, we are tested by Divine…
Getting Started
These postings will be devoted to those who want to begin to…
Gift of Wisdom in a Wild World
Dr. Anthony Lilles
Gifts of the Resurrected Body
David Arias
Glory in the Shadows
This Sunday of Lent, my thoughts go to the Reverend Billy Graham.…
God’s Action and Human Freedom
The Lord sometimes invites us to see his glory in a powerful…
God’s Light and Proportion according to Saint Teresa
"The light God grants you from time to time concerning spiritual…
God’s Presence when Empires Fail
We need to find the gaze of Christ. His look of love changes…
Going on Poustinia
Dear Readers,
I am about to go on Poustinia, a silent retreat…
I am about to go on Poustinia, a silent retreat…
GP1000 – Introduction to Spiritual Theology
June 14-August 9, 2024
GP1100–Bible and the Revelation of Prayer
Dates: TBD
GP1210–Wisdom of the Saints From Athanasius to Bernard of Clairvaux
Dates: TBD
GP1220 – Wisdom of the Saints from St. Hildegard of Bingen to St. John of the Cross
Dates: TBD
GP1300 – Gift of the Holy Spirit and the Divine Indwelling
Dates: TBD
GP1400 – Theology of Divine Mercy, Conversion and Suffering
Dates: TBD
GP1500 – Spiritual Direction Foundations
Dates: TBD
GP1900–Apostolate
GP2100 – Evangelical Counsels and the Beatitudes
June 11-August 6, 2024
GP2200–Discernment, Degrees of Prayer and Stages of Spiritual Growth
Dates: TBD
GP2300 – Mystery of Mary and Her Role in the Spiritual Life
Dates: TBD
GP2400 – Christian and Non-Christian Spiritualities
Dates: TBD
GP2500 – Spiritual Wisdom of Eastern Christianity
June 13 - August 22, 2024
GP2600 – The Nature of Mystical Wisdom in the Life of the Church
Dates: TBD
GP2900–Long Retreat
Grace Imbued Reason in the Womb of Wisdom
Reason in the womb of wisdom, this is how William of St. Thierry's…
Guarding Interior Silence in our Vigilance
The spiritually mature long for silence - but such silence does…
Haiti and the Love of God
One of the greatest graces for my spiritual life came in…
Happy Divine Mercy Sunday!
The Feast of Divine Mercy, Divine Mercy Sunday, is a special…
Happy Divine Mercy Sunday 2013!
Divine Mercy Sunday reminds us of the truth on which the whole…
He Came to His Senses – The Beginning of Prayer
The parable of the prodigal son from Luke 15:12ff stands out…
Hearing the Call of the Bridegroom
"Let me see you, let me hear your voice." These final…
Heaven Breaking In
Through branch and leaf sky falls
Into cracks breaking sidewalk…
Into cracks breaking sidewalk…
Heaven in Faith – episode 8: Losing ourselves in the Will of God
Calmly losing ourselves in the will of God is what Blessed Elisabeth…
Heaven in Faith Series Continues – Prayer and the Mystery of Our Faith
Christian prayer has a divine quality to it. It is not just…
Heaven in Faith Series Episode 7 – The Fire of Love
Is heaven worth it? Some are afraid that the end goal of our…
Heaven in Faith Series – Going Deeper into our Hearts
Towards the beginning of the Confessions of St. Augustine, he…
Heaven’s Music – the call of divine silence
Heaven’s music penetrates our earthly existence and invites…
Hello world!
Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete…
Hidden Glory: beautiful birthplace of prayer
The glory of God shines though hidden in both the fleeting joys…
Hidden Immensity and Secret Harmonies
A hidden Immensity of meaning, a fullness that has only begun…
Hidden Mountain Secret Garden
Hidden Mountain, Secret Garden: a theological contemplation…
Hidden Movements of the Heart
In prayer, in deep prayer, there are hidden movements of the…
Hiding in the Wounds of Christ
To hide in the wounds of Christ and to draw strength from his…
His Coming is Like Dew Fall
Like the magic of dew fall in the morning, the life of Christ…
Holy Conversation and Christian Faith
Prayer is a conversation with God. But what a conversation!…
Holy Fear and the Shadow of the Cross
Today, the Church takes us under the shadow of Calvary to behold…
Holy Friendship, Mary and the Web of Grace
While on vacation with my wife and children, we have been blessed…
Holy Ground
The Trinity is the ground of our soul. This eternal communion…
Holy Innocents, the Sanctity of Life and Contemplation
The joy of Christmas unveils the abuse of power, disrespect…
Holy Spirit and the Gift of Prayer
Prayer is meant to be a heart to heart - my heart with the heart…
Holy Spirit – Life of the Soul
The Fire of God never ceases to reveal the truth in love. It…
Holy Week, Prayer and Suffering
Holy Week helps us focus on the salvific suffering of Christ.…
Hope and the Spiritual Life
David Arias
How are we able to hold fast to our faith? He is Risen!
In the midst of our busy lives, it is easy to be overwhelmed…
How Do We Know God’s Will?
Many people after discovering the faith soon realize that it…
How Do We Know To Whom We Pray?
Authentic christian devotion always grounds prayer in the truth…
How Shall I Repay the Goodness of the Lord?
Do not be afraid. Hell is angry because Christ is risen…
How the Saints Dealt with Unanswered Prayer
Blessed Elisabeth of the Trinity, whose feast day is on November…
How to Prepare for the Lord’s Sheer Grace
In our last post, John of the Cross described an experience of…
Human Love – the mirror meant to magnify the glory of God
Human love, with all its frailty and limitedness, has a great…
I Stand at the Door and Knock – Heaven and Faith Episode 9
Christian prayer begins because the Word of God comes to us.…
If You Want Peace, Prepare for War
St. Catherine of Siena says our faith makes us lambs who…
Il Duomo in Milan
This Church was a sheer and unexpected grace today -- it has…
Imitation of Christ – the threshold to deeper prayer
In our last post, we introduced a teaching of St. John of the…
In Memory of John Mathias
Recently, I attended a funeral service for my nephew John Mathias.…
In Praise of the Holy Trinity
In a retreat reflection that she wrote for her sister Marguerite,…
In the Beginning, the Word
The Gospel of John begins with a battle cry. Its declaration…
In the footsteps of the saints of France
The day after Pentecost, Fifty-two of us chiefly from the Shrine…
Interviewing Father Conrad
I had the honor of hosting Father Conrad Osterhout at my house…
Into Your Hands I Commend My Spirit: the Prayer of Blessed Charles de Foucauld
My Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.
This is the
last…
This is the
last…
Is Prayer an Escape from the Real World?
Some think that prayer is an escape from the real world. To…
Islands of Humanity and a Kneeling Theology – Refuge Against Therapeutic Technocracy
A kneeling theology, that is a theology rooted in prayer, is…
Jesus – Our Access to God
Jesus is access to the Father, the bridge to heaven, the road…
John of the Cross: Seek Christ in Whom Are the Treasures of God
This remarkable priest prayed for hours every day while carrying…
John of the Cross – the Advent Saint
We celebrate the feast of John of the Cross in Advent. …
John Paul II and the Paschal Christ
John Paul II had an enormous impact on my own spiritual journey…
Join Me in Prayer for America
Dear friends from across the country and from around the world:
I…
I…
Jubilation
Living faith produces joy--not only the interior variety, but…
Karol Wojtyla – the Man of Will
"Love and move inwards, discover your will." Through…
Kathleen Beckman Keynote
KINGDOM OF THE SUN Colossians 1
Where night is merely a memory
and stars a faded story
the…
and stars a faded story
the…
Krakow and Divine Mercy
My favorite aspect of going on pilgrimage is that every day…
Learning how to pray without really knowing how and St. Philip Neri
Blessed Elisabeth of the Trinity begins one of her retreat reflections…
Learning the Language of Sacred Scriptures
C.S. Lewis, in Mere Christianity, refers to a conversation he…
Lectio Divina and Contemplation
One of my readers asked about the difference between the practice…
Lent – praying from the heart
During Lent, we dedicate ourselves to prayer, fasting and alms-giving.…
Lent: St. Bernard’s Vision of Humility and Pride
We waste a lot of time thinking something is owed us. …
Let Nothing Disturb You
David Arias
Life, Liberty and America
American Independence is a celebration of true freedom. A gift…
Light, Glory and Judgment
These days, as we approach the mystery of Advent, the Church…
Listening for the Voice of God
Oftentimes someone will question what God's will is and how to…
Liturgical and Contemplative Prayer
Liturgical prayer and contemplative prayer, when authentic, immerse…
Liturgy and the Discipline of the Christian Life
The Society of Catholic Liturgy meets this week in St. Louis…
Living by Faith Alone
St. John of the Cross provides excellent counsel for how to begin…
Living by the Pace of Prayer
Living at the pace of prayer disposes our lives to the beatitudes…
Living Faith and Freedom to Live the Faith
Why do those who pray need to express their faith by acts of…
Living for the Glory of God
In our last several posts we have been examining the spiritual…
Living the Truth according to St. Bernard
St. Bernard of Clairvaux has a dynamic understanding of the Truth…
Living With Holy Desires
Today, as secular as we have become, we need prayer more than…
Louis Bouyer and the Gift of Good Teachers
"In learning, it seems to me, that the greatest thing that can…
Love’s Obedience
Toll
Ringing rolls in battles
Half-fought for love's obedience,…
Ringing rolls in battles
Half-fought for love's obedience,…
Lucille Dupuis – 1934-2014 – the Poustinik of Estes Park
My next few posts will include some poetry and theological…
Madrid – a city of great blessings!
These are some shots of Madrid - there are signs all over…
Making a Good Beginning Each Day
In his book, Path to Rome, Hilaire Belloc starts out by criticizing…
Making Space for God
In these holy days of Lent, we are invited to make space for…
Making Space for God in the Face of Grave Evil
How do we pray in the face of grave evil and personal disaster?…
Making Time to be Alone with the Great Alone
Each day, it is important to set aside time for solitude with…
Marriage and the Word of the Father
When it comes to marriage, as to the rest of life, the Word…
Mary and New Outpourings of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit moves over the chaotic forces of this world to…
Mary and the Mystery of the Coming of Christmas
In these special days just before Christmas, the Church calls…
Mary Draws us up to Christ
In my last post about Il Duomo in Milan, I mentioned how Mary…
Mary – Mother of a New Humanity
Mary is mother of a new humanity, a humanity whose state is…
Mary, Mother of Contemplative Hearts
Mary pondered a profound mystery. She discovered the inexhaustibility…
Mary, Mother of the Messiah, Protection of Families
Mary is ready to protect the heart of our homes. As would the…
Mary, Our Queen
Blessed John Paul II's Marian Devotion was a profound part of…
Mary, True Freedom and Prayer
Today we celebrate the Immaculate Conception - Mary through the…
Mass and Poustinia this Easter
Poustinia is one way to deal with these High Holy Days without…
Medjugorje – My Experience
The Apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Medjugorje have been important…
Mercy and Advent
These days of Advent are about preparing a welcome for the Light…
Merry Christmas 2014
The Mystery of the Lord's coming is drawn near to us today…
Message of Hope
Messages from Heaven in these Difficult Times
Even as ecclesial leaders are dismayed before the storm of an…
Mission San Gabriel
On the Feast of Saint Benedict, Archbishop Jose Gomez stood…
Missionary Discipleship
To form a missionary disciple, the first task is to accompany…
Seminar 1: The Way of Holiness and Orientation
Module 9: The Way of Affective Maturity and Practical Chastity
Module 11: The Way of Manhood in Christ
Module 6: The Way of Mary
Seminar 2: The Way of Memory/Sending Forth
Module 1: The Way of Prayer
Module 2: The Way of Conversion
Module 3: The Way of Discernment
Module 4: The Way of Priesthood in Scripture
Module 5: The Way of Sacramental Friendship
Module 7: The Way of the Hours
Module 12: The Way of Seminary Discipleship
Module 8: The Way of God the Father
Module 10: The Way of Communion
Montserrat and St. Ignatius
We had mass at the Benedictine Monastery at Montserrat up above…
Mother of Hidden Light
She remembered, Shrouded in Faith's Night, shocked silence:That…
Mount Anathemata: The Savage Trophy
The following is a poem by a Carthusian monk who helps us glimpse the…
My First Retreat
The first retreat I ever made was in a Camaldolese Hermitage…
My Portion is the Lord
Since I have been invited to post for Roman Catholic Spiritual…
Mysterious Currents of the Trinity
The journey out of self and into God is long and arduous. This…
Mysterious Movements of the Holy Spirit
Mysterious movements of the Holy Spirit seize the soul in prayer…
Mystical Grace, Contemplative Prayer and the Perfection of the Christian Life
While few of us will reach the highest degrees of mystical prayer,…
Mystical Theology and the Truth about Humanity
Last year, the International Theological Commission released
a…
a…
Mysticism and Holiness – a seminar and retreat
For more information, click here
National Catholic Register Radio
Dan Burke, Tim Drake, Thom Price and Jeanette DeMelo host…
New Course Post
Newman: Disciplined pursuit of the Truth, Doorway to Friendship
The newly canonized St. John Henry Newman invites us to a discipline…
Notre Dame Burning – by Scott Eagan
She…
Of Immeasurable Things
There is a temptation to live by the measures of others. Yet,…
Of Prayer and Politics
There are many who pray for a political end. There is…
Of Prayer and Preachers
In response to the last post about what it is like to encounter…
Of Word and Silence
Only those who do not understand silence believe that all kinds…
On Ashes, Penance and Politics
Penance is an expression of love and gratitude to God for
the…
the…
On Being a Friend of God
Someone asked how we know whether the Lord has truly disclosed…
On Keeping the Word of the Father
How do we remain in the Word? The night before He died, Christ…
On Pilgrimage
Starting a few weeks ago, I went on pilgrimage with my family…
On Prayer and Politics
Christian Prayer has a political dimension which is often overlooked.…
On the Canonization of John Paul II
Last summer, in 2013, the Shrine of Saint Anne in Arvada, Colorado…
On the Ocean of Christ’s Love
The power of Christ is immense and at the same time
hidden. …
hidden. …
Only the Love of God the Father Can Restore Us
The moral and spiritual crisis of our time is a crisis in fatherhood…
Opening our Hearts to the Word
How does the mystery of the Risen Lord, the Word of the Father,…
Our Great Act of Faith
Is one of the greatest spiritual diseases inflicting our age…
Our Heavenly Homeland – True End of our Pilgrimage – and America
I am almost home - I hope. For the last month, my reflections…
Our Journey and the Message of Lourdes
Our pilgrimage took us from Paris, Lisieux, Omaha Beach, Mont…
Our Lady and the Battle for Blessings
A battle is being fought for blessings. Instead of the blessing…
Our Lady in this Time for Prayer
Prayer is needed in these difficult days. The darkness and cold…
Our Lady of Guadalupe
This mysterious Woman came to the poorest of the poor with a…
Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Mystical Rose
The famous image and story of Our Lady of Guadalupe is…
Our Lady of Knock
Mary leads into a deep Eucharistic Silence. With the support…
Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Blessed John Paul II
Mount Carmel is a place of prayer and spiritual contest. …
Our Lady of the New Advent and Contemplation
As an advocate for contemplative prayer, Elisabeth of the Trinity…
Our Lady of the Night
In the earliest hours, when worldYet sleeps in restless wonderingsCease…
Our Pilgrimage Began in the Holy Land
We began our journey in Caesarea Maritime, on the coast of Israel.…
Palm Sunday
"You have stood by me in my trials and I am giving you a Kingdom."…
Papal Power and the Obedience of the Faithful
Follow the link to a very important article by Archbishop Charles…
Paradoxes and Prayer
To enter deep into the mystery of prayer opens the heart to…
Part II – Christ heals our indifference through our neighbor
Indifference sneaks up on us when we are not careful and we like…
PASCHA: Hymn of the Resurrection – Fr. Alexander Schmemann
On Easter we celebrate Christ’s Resurrection as something
that…
that…
Paul McCusker Keynote
Peace and Prayer
While contention in the media and among bishops marks the life…
Perfection of the Pater Noster
David Arias
Persecution and Prayer
There is resentment toward people of faith, toward our Christian…
Pia de Solenni Breakout Session #1
Pierced – by Scott Eagan
Everyone will see Him,
including those who pierced Him.
-…
including those who pierced Him.
-…
Pilgrim George
In the seventies, as a boy, I heard that a pilgrim from Pennsylvania…
Pilgrimage
This month of August, I am setting out on pilgrimage with a group…
Pilgrimage and Prayer
The Lord blessed me with a pilgrimage just at the end of the…
Pilgrimage in Post-Christian Europe
Why are you on the way? This is a question I tried to ask and…
Pilgrimage to France
Click here for more information
Pilgrimage to the Canonization of Elisabeth of the Trinity – Mystic of Dijon
On Thursday October 13, after an interview with Father Mitch…
Pilgrimage – visible travel and spiritual journey
Pilgrimage has an arduous physical dimension but the prayer…
Plunge into Prayer Because Christ Has Plunged into Our Humanity
Christian's plunge into prayer because Christ has plunged into…
Pope Benedict and Sacred Silence
Regarding the importance of sacred silence, Deacon James Keating…
Pope Benedict and the Question of 16th Century Christianity
Over at http://www.chiesa.espressonline.it/ is Pope Benedict's…
Pope Benedict – rest in peace
Some thoughts on Pope Benedicthttps://www.ncregister.com/com…
Pope Francis and the Pathway to Easter
"Rend your hearts and not your garments. Return…
Pope Francis: To follow, To Edify and To Confess
On March 14, following the conclave, Pope Francis gathered with…
Prayer: A Pilgrimage through Difficult Wilderness
Is contemplation an uninteresting wilderness? Many religious…
Prayer – A Simple Look of Love
The exceeding love of God is why my imagination, feelings and…
Prayer and Action in the Night of Freedom
The Catholic Bishops have asked us in these days leading up…
Prayer and Beauty, Love and Work
John Paul II greatly admired a poet named Cyprian Norwid. His…
Prayer and Creation
Christian prayer is rooted in creation because the true Christian…
Prayer and Discouragement
Sometimes, when you offer all that you have and there is no…
Prayer and Fighting for Marriage
One of the ways Mother Teresa of Calcutta fought poverty was…
Prayer and Indifference – part I
To grow in prayer requires some small measure of humanity on…
Prayer and Living in the Presence of Christ
Benedict Groeschel, in I am with You Always (San Francisco:…
Prayer and Purgatory: Thresholds to Glory
Purgatory and prayer are both the thresholds to Glory. …
Prayer and the Absence of God
In his work, Beginning to Pray, Anthony Bloom reflects on the…
Prayer and the Great Divorce
"Hell is a state of mind -- ye never said a truer word. And…
Prayer and The Year of the Priest
Today the Catholic Church started a year long celebration of…
Prayer and Theology
There are some who believe prayer and theology are opposed undertakings…
Prayer and Theology
"Prayer and theology are inseparable. True theology is…
Prayer and Truth, Theology and Contemplation
There are some who attain with strenuous effort a sophisticated…
Prayer as a Theological Act
Some look at prayer as merely the indulgence of devout feelings or…
Prayer Deeply Rooted in Wisdom from on High
Christian contemplation is rooted in the Gospel of Christ. …
Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving – in harmony with human nature
Prayer, fasting and almsgiving are works of piety that make…
Prayer for Wisdom: In the Face of Danger by Scott Eagan
Come Holy Spirit – Come with Tongues of Fire
Come Great…
Come Great…
Prayer in Frustration
In our frustration with our most important relationships, is…
Prayer in the Catholic Tradition
Prayer in the Catholic Christian tradition immerses us in the…
Prayer In the Face of Evil
Evil threatens humanity on both social and personal levels,…
Prayer on the Eve of an Infamous Decision
January 22nd is a day of penance. Bread and water,…
Prayer out of the Depths
"Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord. Lord, hear my…
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
O Holy Spirit, Soul of my soul, I love You and adore You!
Teacher…
Teacher…
Prayerful Vigilance and Advent
The coming of the Lord is often imagined as an impending catastrophe…
Prayer’s Courage
It is possible to approach prayer recklessly. Many treat the…
Prayers for those who have Died
My heart goes to those whose loved ones have died in the recent…
Prayer’s Power
It is time to return to prayer and to believe in the power of…
Prayer’s Power in Human Weakness
In deep silences, the Lord speaks into our hearts even when everything…
Praying for our Shepherds with the Mother of God
Mary stands in the midst of the Church and the brokenness of…
Praying the Psalms
God has revealed to us how we are to praise Him -- and the right…
Praying the Rosary to Free the Mass – Triumph Tour 2020
Click here to see the Rosary Offered at the John Paul II Center…
Predestination and Prayer
Predestination often evokes arguments surrounding grace and…
Predestination and Spiritual Revival
At the heart of every revival is the eternal plan of the Father…
Preparing for Lent and a Year of Spiritual Progress
Dan will give you practical and in-depth treatment of the proper disposition for Lent, an understanding of mortification, the three elements of Lenten participation, and more in this mini-course on January 19, at 8 PM Eastern! Don't miss this opportunity to have your questions answered!
Priesthood, Contemplative Prayer and Real Presence
Contemplatives need holy priests and holy priests need contemplatives.…
Priesthood Needed: even in a world that deems it irrelevant
At the beginning of an address to seminarians, Pope Benedict…
Priestly Celibacy: The Root of the Crisis
Fr. Sean Kilcawley
Primacy of Contemplation
Before action, there is being. Before apostolate, there…
Propaedeutic Year Module 1: Senses of Sacred Scripture and Covenant Theology
Propaedeutic Year Module 2: The Bible and the Revelation of Prayer
Propaedeutic Year Module 3: Holy Purity and Human Sexuality
Propaedeutic Year Module 4: Introduction to Spiritual Theology
Propaedeutic Year Module 5: Introduction to Spiritual Patrimony
Psalm 22 and the Prayer of Christ from the Cross
"My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" Last Saturday,…
Psalm 23
The Lord is my Shepherd! Now St. Athanasius explains that unlike…
Purity of Heart
In the midst of crisis, Christ looked to the Father with infinite…
Quaerere Deum – to seek God
The wisdom of St. Benedict directs us away from putting one's…
Radical Fratenity: Making the Sacrifice
Over on http://www.Fire.blogtownhall.com I posted a reflection…
Radical Fraternity
On Saturday, I interviewed Fr. Conrad Osterhout of the Franciscan…
Real Presence – Divine Power Unleashed in Human Life
Before He ascended to the Father's Righthand, the Risen Lord…
Receiving the Word in Affliction and Joy
St. Paul calls believers of Thessalonica "imitators of the Lord"…
Recollection
To recollect oneself, to collect together the powers of one's…
Recollection in Prayer: Hurry and come down!
Christian recollection is a movement of heart to an urgent appeal…
Reduced to Nothing – A Sign of Hope
Against the tendency to think that we possess knowledge of Christ…
Reflections on the year of St. Paul
I am so grateful for the Year of St. Paul we just celebrated.…
Rejoice, Daughter Zion
The joy of the Mother of God, in these days drawing close to…
Rejoice in the Lord
Rejoicing in the Lord is a source of strength. As we strive…
Rejoice in the Lord Always
Christians have the duty to rejoice, to express their joy to…
Religious Freedom and Prayer
Beginning to pray is closely tied with religious freedom. In…
Renouncing Idols – Clinging to God
While there are many idols that might be worshipped, the contemporary…
Repentance and Contemplative Prayer
The story of the woman accused of adultery reveals the plight…
Responding to Apostolic Betrayal
Dan Burke & John Johnson
Reverent Love and Family Life
The Christmas Mystery raises prayer to the warmth…
Road to Hope
Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan while Archbishop of Saigon turned prisons…
Rosary Crusade on October 7, 2022 – you are invited!
Even in this time of worry, confusion, and darkness there are…
Sacred Space and Prayer
If prayer is aided by a sacred space that we see with our eyes,…
Sacrifice and Mercy – the Spiritual Mission of St. Faustina
Sr. Maria Faustina Kowalska died at the age of 33 in 1938 misunderstood…
Saint Angela di Foligno and Blessed Elisabeth of the Trinity
One of the influences on the thought and spirituality of Blessed…
Saint Elizabeth’s Promise
Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity, before her death, promised…
Saint John Beloved Disciple and Witness to the Light
The Apostle John fills Christmas with a wisdom that knows what…
Saint John of the Cross – By Love Alone
Saint John of the Cross explored how all of creation was the…
Saint John Paul II
St. John Paul II believed that believers have nothing to fear…
Saint Joseph and Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity
Elizabeth of the Trinity confided her purity to Saint Joseph…
Saint Peter Chrysologus and Advent
Advent is a time to seek Christ who comes into our poverty with…
Saint Teresa of Avila’s Way – on the Quincentennial of her Birth
"When our actions and our words are one, the Lord will unfailingly…
Saints see Christ – Glory Truly Hidden
Someone once told me that the greatest tragedy in this life…
Science and Theology in the Public Square
Is there undue regulation of free speech on Youtube? I learned…
SDPP Module 1 & 2: Foundations of Prayer and Practical Method
SDPP Module 3 – Discernment of Spirits
SDPP Module 4 – Principles for Spiritual Direction Part 1
SDPP Module 5 – Principles for Spiritual Direction Part II
SDPP Module 6 – Issues in Spiritual Direction
Self-Denial – Surest Pathway
Contrary to those who insist that spiritual maturity is about…
Self-discovery and Gift of Self – the Truth Christ Reveals
John Paul II sincerely believed that we are so created that…
Self-Knowledge and Seeking God
We have been created as wonderful mysteries. God loves to contemplate…
Set your Mind on What is Above
Set your mind on what is above, Saint Paul advises in Colossians…
Seven Myths about the Catholic Church
In my last post we explored how we know God through the teaching…
Silence and the Order of Holiness
Those who would prayerfully ponder the silence of Mary discover…
Silence and the Strength of God
For Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity, silence is two activities…
Silence, Judgment and Freedom
Contemplative prayer flows from and leads to worship of the…
Silences Filled with Meaning
Prayer that waits for Christ's coming in glory opens to silences…
Sober Vigilance and Unconquered Hope
Times of tribulation require sober vigilance. Hardships…
Solidarity with our Persecuted Brothers and Sisters
Skip Rodgers is a remarkable man. God has blessed him…
Some Notes about Elisabeth of the Trinity
Pope Francis has approved a miracle performed by Blessed Elisabeth…
Some thoughts on Saint John XXIII
The National Catholic Register asked me to review John XXIII's…
Spiritual Communion and the Prayer of Faith
The act of faith is a powerful movement of soul, more powerful…
Spiritual Direction and Evangelization
In the Holy Father's latest apostolic exhortation Joy of the…
Spiritual Fatherhood and Elijah
A spiritual father is someone who serves the Lord and ministers…
Spiritual Fatherhood and Spiritual Motherhood
Christian formation requires above all formation in truth. We…
Spiritual Fatherhood in Northern California
Faith comes by hearing, but who are we listening to? On…
Spiritual Theology — What is it?
For Catholics, in its broadest sense, spiritual theology studies…
Spiritual Trials
Today is the feast of St. Jerome - a saint noted for his hot…
Splendor Dawning in Social Fault Lines
As tensions mount in our social fault lines, a new splendor dawns.…
Spy Wednesday
John Johnson
SSF101 – Transformation in Christ
Dates: TBD
SSF102 – Foundations of Prayer and Union with God
Dates: TBD
SSF105–Discernment of Spirits
May 29 - July 3, 2024
SSF107 – Breaking the Chains that Bind Us: An Introduction to Moral Theology
Dates: TBD
SSF108 – Spiritual Warfare and the Progress of the Soul
August 7 - September 18, 2024
SSF110–Introduction to Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity
May 1 - June 5, 2024
SSF112 – Introduction to Spiritual Direction
April 25 - May 30, 2024
SSF114 – God’s Plan for Marriage
Dates: TBD
SSF115–Evangelization and the Spiritual Life
Dates: TBD
SSF116 – The Mass in the Old Testament: Approaching the Lord with Fear and Trembling
Dates: TBD
SSF117 – Exploring the Source and Summit
Dates: TBD
SSF118 – Exploring Theosis
Dates: TBD
SSF120 – Unleashing the Power of Intercessory Prayer
Dates: TBD
SSF121 – The Christian Meaning of Suffering According to Saint John Paul II
Dates: TBD
SSF123 – The Road to Self-Awareness and Healing
Dates: TBD
SSF210 – Holy Spirit in the Life of the Church
Dates: TBD
SSF213 – Grace Freely Given: A Thomistic Understanding of the Life of Grace
July 9 - August 13, 2024
SSF214 Liturgies and Devotions of the Byzantine Rite
Dates: TBD
SSF222–Introduction to Saint Francis of Assisi
Dates: TBD
SSF223–Introduction to Saint Thérèse of Lisieux
Dates: TBD
SSF225 – Introduction to St. Teresa of Avila
Dates: TBD
SSF226 – Introduction to St. John of Avila
Dates: TBD
SSF227 – The Nuptials of the Word: St. Bernard of Clairvaux on the Song of Songs
July 11 - August 22, 2024
SSF228 – Living at the Hand of the Lord: The Life and Thought of St. Edith Stein
May 24-July 12, 2024
SSF229 – Masterpiece of the Divine Artist
Dates: TBD
SSF230 – St. John of the Cross and Our Journey into the Mystery of God
Dates: TBD
SSF231 – From Healed Psyche to Divine Union: The Psychology of St. John of the Cross
Dates: TBD
SSF232 – St. Benedict and St. Therese: The Little Rule and the Little Way
Dates: TBD
SSF233 – How St. Benedict Changed the World
Dates: TBD
SSF234 – The Psychology of St. John of the Cross: Lovingly Moved into Our Right Minds
Dates: TBD
SSF235 – The Spiritual Wisdom of St. Thomas Aquinas
Dates: TBD
SSF236 – Saint Catherine of Siena: Radiating the Fire of Love
Dates: TBD
SSF237 – The Mystical Wisdom of the Desert Fathers
July 15 - August 19, 2024
SSF238 – Contemplating the Seven Sorrows of Mary with St. Alphonsus Liguori
April 30 - June 4, 2024
SSF247 – Holiness: A Course in the Spiritual Classics
Dates: TBD
SSF248 – Growth in Holiness: Doctors of the Interior Life
May 2 - June 6, 2024
SSF249–Contemplative Prayer and the Beloved Disciple
Dates: TBD
SSF251 – Marian Apparition in the Modern World
Dates: TBD
SSF273 – Spiritual Warfare in Modern Times: C.S. Lewis and the Screwtape Letters
Dates: TBD
SSF275 – Angels and Demons
May 7 - June 11, 2024
SSF276 – Discernment of Visions and Revelations in the Interior Life
Dates: TBD
SSF279 – Healing the Imagination: A Reading Course in the Lord of the Rings
Dates: TBD
SSF280 – The Mystical Wisdom of the Lord of the Rings
Dates: TBD
St. Augustine: The Son of Such Tears
David Arias
St. Benedict
"Listen, O my son to the precepts of the master, and…
St. Benedict and Lectio Divina
For St. Benedict, Lectio divina is an important part of Quaerere…
St. Bernard and Coming to the Fullness of Love
St. Bernard built a way of life that flowed from Chapter 73 of…
St. Bernard and Conversion
Speaking to a group of scholars and students of the University…
St. Catherine of Siena and Spiritual Thirst
"If you would make progress, then, you must be thirsty, because…
St. Catherine of Siena and the Audacity of Anguished Love
Is it possible for suffering to be delightful and for pleasure
to…
to…
St. Dominic and Praying Cruciform
The ancient Dominicans describe seeing their founder standing…
St. Dominic and Standing in Prayer
One reader who has been following these posts on St. Dominic's…
St. Dominic and the Basilica of the Holy Trinity
Today on the Feast of St. Dominic, I went to the Basilica of…
St. Dominic’s Fourth Way of Prayer – genuflecting
When we walk into our local parish, we see the tabernacle and…
St. Dominic’s Nine Ways of Prayer – mortification
Of Dominic's ways of prayer, the section on physical asceticism…
St. Elisabeth of the Trinity: that praise of glory
What glory this fiery creature bears In the bottom of that…
St. Hildegard of Bingen’s Cry
"Arise therefore, and cry out"
September 17 is the feast…
September 17 is the feast…
St. John of Avila – Master of Contemplation and Renewal of the Church
During World Youth Day, Pope Benedict announced his intention…
St. John of Avila: The Obedience of Faith
It is the Year of Faith and the great mystics help us see dimensions…
St. John of Avila’s Life of Prayer
St. John of Avila (1500-1569AD)…
St. John Vianney and True Peace
St. John Vianney is a great example of a man of prayer. There…
St. John Vianney Continued
I would like to continue some thoughts on this feast of the Priest…
St Marie-Madeleine à la Sainte Baume – France
The Church of the Holy Sepulcher
When one goes on…
When one goes on…
St. Nicholas
I wanted to write something edifying about this wonderful beard…
St. Nicholas and Advent
St. Nicholas had a deep devotion to Jesus. This devotion…
St. Nicholas and the Byzantine Monks of Northern California
One of my favorite churches is the Temple of St. Nicholas at…
St. Patrick’s Seminary and University Lenten Lectures
Anthony Lilles, Academic Dean of St. Patrick's Seminary and…
St. Paul and St. Therese – the true nature of holiness
In Colossians 1:24, St. Paul speaks of rejoicing because through…
St. Teresa of Avila
St. Teresa of Jesus draws us to the light of Christ. She…
St. Teresa of the Andes and Love for Life
At the beginning of this New Year, I was blessed to get to know…
St. Therese and the side splitting laughter of the saints
St. Therese of Lisieux is one of the great witnesses to the…
St. Thomas says prayer is a mouthful of reason: oris ratio
In his treatment on Christian prayer in the Summa Theologica…
Standing Firm on our Principles
We seem to be going from crisis to crisis, at least according…
Strangers in a Strange Land
Thank you Archbishop Charles J. Chaput for writing Strangers…
Study of the Sacred Page
An important part of Christian prayer is identified in our tradition…
Summer Lecture Series in Arvada, Colorado
Shrine of Saint Anne
2013 Summer Spiritual Theology…
2013 Summer Spiritual Theology…
Symposium on Contemplative Culture
The first ever Symposium on Contemplative Culture is being held…
Temple of the Holy Spirit Continued: Praise as the Music of the Soul
From October 2-4, 2014, the Society of Catholic Liturgy is meeting…
Teresa Benedicta of the Cross
Father Mark has a great post on St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross.…
Teresa of Avila
Teresa of Avila wrote an autobiography (Life or La Vida) which…
Teresa of Avila and the Mystery of Deep Prayer
Teresa's discovery of deep prayer at about forty years of age…
Teresa of Avila part 3 of 5 – the water of prayer
test PDF
Avila Summit Flyer11x17
Avila Summit Flyer 11x1…
Avila Summit Flyer 11x1…
Thanksgiving and Forgiveness
Thanksgiving takes a kind of courage that comes from above.…
Thanksgiving for the New Work of God in our Midst
This is a note of gratitude to God for the many signs of hope…
That disturbing consolation that confirms identity and reveals mission
When the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, His greeting disturbed…
That Great Silence in Storm’s Midst
The beauty of these forty days of Lent is that every hardship…
That Loving Knowledge
Although the Almighty is beyond the power of human understanding…
That Mysterious Presence of the Lord in Prayer
St. Bernard's sermons on the Song of Songs provide beautiful…
The Annunciation and Consecration to Jesus through Mary
The solemnity of Annunciation, the great mystery of Gabriel announcing…
The Annunciation and the Undivided Heart in Prayer
Today we celebrate the Annunciation -- when Gabriel announced…
The Annunciation – The Beauty of God and the Faith that Receives
The Annunciation of the Angel Gabriel to Mary reveals the mystery…
The Archangel Gabriel to the Men of St. John’s Seminary – a Commencement Poem
Salve, brothers of this New Day,
In-shadowed in early silences…
In-shadowed in early silences…
The Arms of Christ Outstretched this Christmas
Mary sees in the face of her child the tears of God and the…
The Ascension – a sign of hope
Descending and Ascending are beautiful movements of the paschal…
The Ascension and the Confidence of Christian Prayer
In the Gospel of Luke, as He prepares to ascend into Heaven,…
The Aspen Catholic Institute August 14-16
I have been invited to provide a presentation at the inauguration…
The Assumption of Our Lady — A Sign of Hope
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Assumption - a mystery of…
The Assumption of our Lady and Elisabeth of the Trinity
Soon to be canonized Elisabeth believed that with the help of…
The Avila Institute
Thanks to the tireless efforts of Daniel Burke at Roman Catholic…
The Baptism of the Lord
The Savior saves us. Jesus is the One sent by the Father for…
The Baptism of the Lord – a Mystery of Theophany
When John baptizes the Lord in the River Jordan, Christ establishes…
The Battle for Integrity – a Men’s Conference
Saturday, March 2
9:00 AM ~ 5:00 PM
Sacred Heart Retreat…
9:00 AM ~ 5:00 PM
Sacred Heart Retreat…
The Battle for Integrity and the Gift of the Holy Spirit
Often, the lack of peace in our relationships with others is…
The Beginning of Christian Prayer
Jesus’ last cry from the Cross is the beginning of Christian…
The Bells on Mt. Tabor
Some of our pilgrims on Mt. Tabor
I started describing our…
I started describing our…
The Best Wine for Last
Feeling abandoned by the Church, many wonder over the plight…
The Birth of Christ – a mystery for our hearts
"The Word of the Father constantly desires to be embodied" declared…
The Blood of the Lamb and the Sign of the Cross
For Christians, the ancient rites of Passover and the Passion…
The Body and the Mystery of Prayer
If Christian prayer plummets dim but real reflections of eternal…
The Book of Life and Corpus Christi
16th Century Camaldolese Hermit, Paul Giustiniani, in his reflections…
The Bread of Life and the Need of the Human Heart
Even earthly bread, if received with thanksgiving, is food for…
The Breastplate of St. Patrick 2021
The Deer's Song or the Breastplate of St. Patrick is a battle…
The Breastplate of St. Patrick 2022
St. Patrick offered a prayer called the Deer's Song or the Lorica…
The Canonization Process for Elisabeth of the Trinity
Over the summer, the Archdiocese of Dijon has opened the process…
The Challenge of the Real Presence
It may well be the case that many of those who say they do not…
The Christian Family and the Mystery of Sin
Because the Christian Family bears a unique relationship with…
The Christian Family’s Unique Relationship with Christ
The Christian family, that is a family where at least one member…
The Christmas Mystery and Masses
The Christmas mystery is about the incarnation of the Word made…
The Coming of Christmas and the Mystery of the Visitation
The Visitation, like the Annunciation, is one of the great mysteries…
The Cross of Christ, Christian Prayer and Mary
Those who open their heart to the Our Lady of Sorrow learn the…
The Curé d’Ars and Graham Greene: The Priesthood and Divine Mercy
Mercy is love that suffers the weakness of the beloved. …
The Deer’s Song: Lorica of St. Patrick
A few years ago, I attempted a translation on the Breastplate…
The Discipline of the Christian Life
The discipline of the Christian life, the discipline of obedience…
The Divine Dynamism of the Poverty of Christ
Christ crucified reveals to the world the poverty of God. …
The Doors of Silence
The portal into deep silence requires silencing of memories and…
The Dynamism of Truth’s Splendor in Prayer
The splendor of the truth is a mystery discovered by the obedient,…
The Eucharist and Life to the Full – Heaven in Faith Episode #10
The saints and mystics approach the Eucharist with an expansive…
The Eucharist and the Church
The Mystery of the Eucharist, the great thanksgiving sacrifice…
The Eucharist – The Source and Summit of Our Faith
The Eucharistic Heart of Christ – Torrent of Love
While he was imprisoned in Toledo in the silence of his dark…
The Eucharistic Heart of God According to Saint Elizabeth
Saint Elizabeth writes to her brother-in-law, a seminarian:
Nothing…
Nothing…
The Face of Christ
In the Face of Christ is the truth about God and the truth about…
The Father and the Mystery of Holy Thursday
The liturgies of Holy Thursday commemorate the institution of…
The Feast of Blessed Elisabeth of the Trinity
"I have found my Heaven on earth: since Heaven is God and God…
The Fire of St. Hildegard
The Abbess of Bingen describes "a blazing fire, incomprehensible,…
The First Stage of Love According to St. Bernard
Tomorrow will be the feast of St. Bernard. A brilliant monastic…
The Flower of Love
One of my favorite poets is Sister Miriam of the Holy Spirit…
The Flowing Presence of the Holy Trinity
In a poem, John of the Cross describes the life of the Trinity…
The Foolishness of God in St. John of the Cross
"The soul that walks in love neither tires others nor grows…
The Freedom of God in Our Freedom
Sometimes we look at religious observance as a kind of holy…
The Freedom of the Annunciation
The heart has a sacred depth set aside for God which will not…
The Freedom to Pray and Faith in the Public Square
Contrary to the opinion of those who view prayer as something…
The Freedom to Worship God
To deal with a very serious medical emergencies, bishops and…
The Fruit of the Vine and Work of Human Hands
He is the vine and we are the branches. We are meant…
The Gates of Holiness
"Open to me the Gates of Holiness: I will enter and give thanks."…
The Gift of Hope and Battle for Life
We live at a time where a great battle for life is being played…
The Gift of Intercession
In striving to love someone the way that person really deserves…
The Gift of Life and the Search for God
When life seems to be more of a drudgery than a blessing, it…
The Gift of the Holy Spirit
Pentecost is a Feast of Love. It is the feast of the Canticle…
The Glory of God and the Deep Waters of Life
Deep waters tell the glory of God. That is, just as when…
The Glory of God in this Time
In the midst of distress and anxiety, the glory of God crashes…
The Glory of the Lord
Only those who enter into his prayer with their whole lives really…
The Good Thief
Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom….
…Amen,…
…Amen,…
The Gospel in Holiday Music and Christmas Carols
In these days before Christmas, at once beautifully enchanting…
The Grace of Baptism and the Jordan River
On our pilgrimage last summer, we went to the Jordan River, a…
The Grace that Silence Knows
In the deepest center of the abyss of one's being there is a…
The Gravity of the Father’s Love in Heaven and on Earth
The Lord taught us to call on our heavenly Father not because…
The Great Act of Faith
"We have come to know and to believe in the love Christ has for…
The Great King’s Shadow
Rages that terrible battle, in deepdarkness, deceit, disdain,…
The Great New Beginning
The Christmas Mystery is humanity's great new beginning, the…
The Great Secret of Christian Prayer? Make a Good Beginning!
When I was a teenager, I remember finding a book called Beginning…
The Happiness which God Designs
The happiness which God designs for his higher creatures is the…
The Heart of Christ – Our Hope for Holiness
Holy Cross Church, Santa Cruz, California
Why do Christians…
Why do Christians…
The Heart of the Church
Much attention is rightfully rendered to the Head of the Church…
The Heart of the Father and the Gift of Freedom
God the Father delights in the freedom He created each soul…
The Heavenly Liturgy and the Earthly Mission
After the death of a leper king who brought great financial…
The Hidden Life of Christ and our Life
Yesterday, I was invited to lecture on the hidden life to the…
The Hidden Way
St. Therese teaches us the hidden way. It is not the way of…
The Holiness that interrupts Time and Space – what is essential
Those who believe that religion is non-essential can live only…
The Holy Family and Contemplative Prayer
The Holy Family is the first school of contemplative prayer.…
The Holy Spirit and the Holy Bible
Since "all scripture is inspired by God" (2 Timothy 3:16) and…
The Holy Spirit – The Church’s Towering Lighthouse
In the remarkable visions of Saint Hildegard of Bingen ecclesial…
The Holy Trinity and a Foretaste of Heaven
Saint Elisabeth of the Trinity's spiritual mission is to promote…
The Holy Trinity and Christian Prayer
Christian prayer is founded in the mysterious wisdom of the Holy…
The Hope for Every Soul is Love Himself
Any soul, even laden with sins, captive of its vices, held…
The Hope of God
Periodically, I like to refer to a beautiful mystery that plays…
The Hope of the Church
My heart is with all the young people marching today in D.C.…
The Image of the Invisible God
The true Son of God, the Word made flesh, the manifestation…
The Immaculate Conception
We Catholic Christians believe that the Mother of God was conceived…
The Impact of God
I am in the Santa Cruz Mountains at a retreat center giving…
The Indwelling of the Trinity
What animates Christian Contemplation is the most beautiful…
The Influence of Love
We live in a world that has seemed to have forgotten God and…
The Inner Mountain – Witness of Antony of the Desert
In the life of Antony, after he has suffered all kinds of trials…
The Invasion of the Word
Night's Darkness
The Word invades
In the solemn mirth
Of this…
The Word invades
In the solemn mirth
Of this…
The Joy of the Father
The world needs the joy of the Father and this is what the Lord…
The Key of Wisdom
In speaking about the Silence of God and its importance for the…
The Kingdom of Heaven Descends on Us
It is a great act of faith to believe that the Father truly…
The Ladder of Life
In his treatise on Humility and Pride, St. Bernard provides…
The Last Exhortation of a Poustinik to her Friends, Everywhere
Beloved of God,
Suddenly, we are in the throes of winter:
It…
Suddenly, we are in the throes of winter:
It…
The Lenten Observance
My theory about Lent is that this observance is not so much…
The Life of Prayer: the sure path to freedom
Christian prayer is a simple movement of the soul towards God.…
The Light and Shadow of the Heart
The heart is a place of encounter, the innermost sanctuary of…
The Light of Tabor
What does it mean that the apostles witnessed Jesus on a…
The Liturgy and the New Evangelization
Registration…
The Liturgy and the New Evangelization – Los Angeles, 2016
The beauty of Christ continues to draw men and women to the…
The Liturgy and the New Evangelization – Update
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ISSUED BY: SCL (Society…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ISSUED BY: SCL (Society…
The Living Presence of the Holy Trinity
Bl. Elisabeth of the Trinity witnesses to the living presence…
The Lord Hears the Cry of the Poor, Blessed be the Lord!
Contemplation of the mystery of Christmas, almost upon us, sees…
The Lord is Coming – Take Him to your Heart
"Take Him to your heart... keep Him in you as in a sanctuary...…
The Lord’s Day
The Lord's Day is the temporal expression of prayer. At least,…
The Lord’s Prayer and a New Solidarity for Humanity
Although rancor, contention and strife threaten our communities…
The Lord’s Prayer and its Structure of Hope
Those who pray the Lord's prayer with faith take up the effort…
The Love and Praise of the Church in Easter During Pandemic
Easter is the season of true love - a love that conquers death.…
The Love of the Father – Unfathomable Immensity
Christ Jesus, the radiant splendor of the Father's love, entered…
The Measureless Measure
In 1904, in the days leading up to the Feast of the Presentation…
The Memorial of Elisabeth of the Trinity 2010
Elisabeth of the Trinity - whose memorial is this Monday - is…
The Mercies of God
I am in Bishop, CA giving a set of lectures on St. Paul, St.…
The Mission of Contemplatives in the Church
Though having embraced anonymity and engaged in an apostolate…
The Mission of the Baptist in the Advent of the Lord
The mystery of John the Baptist cries out in a world whose love…
The Mother of God and Holy Humanity
The Fathers of the Church believed that when the Word became…
The Mother of God and the Mystery of Prayer
Christians have called Mary the Mother of God since ancient times.…
The Mother of Mercy and the Abyss of Love
The Mother of Mercy spoke through Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity.…
The Music of Divine Mercy
Hidden in the mystery of my neighbor's greeting is a stream…
The Mysterious Prayer of Gethsemane
There are stories about great saints who struggled to pray in…
The Mystery of a Merry Christmas
The Christmas Season holds out for us the deepest personal…
The Mystery of Christian Death and the New Birth of Christian Faith
May 6, 2020 This particular post will be a little self-revealing…
The Mystery of Christ’s Baptism
To celebrate the Baptism of Christ is to participate in a salvific…
The Mystery of Death and the Need for Prayer
When friends draw close to death, a certain intensity of life…
The Mystery of Faithful Love – living signs needed today now more than ever
John Paul II once told priests not to let their "yes" to God…
SSF250 – The Mystery of Knowing and the Progress of the Soul in St. Thomas Aquinas
Dates: TBD
The Mystery of Mercy and Penance
Pope John Paul II, soon to be recognized as among the Blessed,…
The Mystery of Motherhood and Mary the Mother of the Lord
Motherhood is a great gift to the world, and God raised this…
The Mystery of the Church in Advent
Advent is a season for us to rediscover the mystery of the Church.…
The Mystery of the Cross
The Cross of Christ is the threshold where the broken heart of…
The Mystery of the Holy Eucharist – Real Presence in Real Time
Catholics process publicly with the Eucharist because the whole…
The Mystery of the Lord’s Supper and the Faith of those who Hope
Francis Xavier Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan, when he was Archbishop…
The Mystery of the Priesthood
Because I work at a seminary, I have gotten to know quite a few…
The Mystical Life: Where Liturgy and Contemplation Converge
Liturgy and Contemplation converge in the mystical life, a life…
The Nativities of Christ
David Arias
The Paradox of Holiness and Communion
To be holy is to be set apart. To be in communion is to…
The Paschal Mystery
Those who yearn for a deeper friendship with Christ look to…
The Passion of Word and Silence
This week we make pilgrimage with the Word made flesh to the…
The Passion: Where we learn to rest in the Heart of Christ
During Holy Week, we are invited to enter into the heart of the…
The Pathway of Extreme Humility
Jesus Christ has opened up the pathway to freedom and this pathway…
The Pathway of Forgiveness
"Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against…
The Peaceful Stillness of Prayer
A very contemplative monk of the Grande Chartreuse reads the…
The Personal Presence of Christ the King
The personal presence of Jesus Christ the King reigns over the…
The Personal Presence of God
God's presence in the world is personal and intimate. He is…
The Pilgrimage Continued… still on the first day!
The Copula of the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth…
The Power of Contemplative Prayer
Contemplative prayer has immense power against all kinds of…
The Power of the Holy Trinity
All too often, the Holy Trinity is approached as a problem to…
The Prayer of Christ and the Gift of the Holy Spirit
In Christ Jesus, humanity has been received into its heavenly…
The Present Moment – Eternity Begun and Still in Progress
We are often deceived into thinking that doing great things…
“The Priest is not his Own” Part I Based on a lecture given Wed., Jan. 27, 2010
Introduction:
This lecture, presented in the blog under several…
This lecture, presented in the blog under several…
The Priest is not his Own – Part II
In our last post, we considered a particular problem which the…
The Priest is not his Own – Part III
In this post, we will try to bring into relief important…
The Priesthood and Prayer
Christ is the Great High Priest -- and because of His priesthood…
The Promise of Christianity in the Face of Death
In the face of death, it can seem impossible to pray. How…
The Radiance of the Bride – Source of Contemplative Prayer
The world may fear Fire from above, but not the Bride of Christ.…
The Radical Hope of a Generous Heart
Catholics and all Christians are called to live a radical hope…
The Redeemer and the Gift of Lent
Each of us has a great task ... that of becoming who God made…
The Remarkable Work of God in our Times
The Lord God is a jealous God. He is concerned about those who…
The Resurrection and Life
Do you long for New Life? Easter is about the only new…
The Risen Lord and the Gift of Faith
To believe that the Lord is Risen is to believe that He is present…
The Risen Lord Present in the World Today
The Lord is Risen and raised up from our sight! He has…
The Risen Lord Waits for Us to Call on Him
Jesus, the Risen Lord, is truly present in this moment. In the…
The Risen Lord’s Victory over Death and Sin
In His Divine Person, the New Adam united Himself to the…
The River – inspired by a poem by St. John of the Cross
To approach the living God requires a journey to the deepest…
The Road of Prayer – the Path to Integrity
Those who wish to embark on the road of prayer in earnest must…
The Roman Catholic Priesthood in San Francisco
God is unveiling the noble greatness of the Roman Catholic…
The Rosary
Murmuring of voices joined before lighted candles, common whispers…
The Rosary and the Silence of the Word
The Rosary is a pathway of prayer that follows the mysteries…
The Rosary – Ladder to Heaven
A ladder of contemplation, the whole saving mystery of the Heart…
The Rosary: Pathway of Mercy
Mercy or misericors, St. Thomas explains, is miserum cor, to…
The Rosary — threshold to Holy Mysteries
The Rosary opens a threshold to sacred memories in the heart…
The Sacred Heart of Jesus
The heart of the matter is what is searched for when listening…
The Saints in the Public Square
People of prayer are witnessing to the religious dimension of…
The Saints’ True Knowledge according to Saint Elizabeth
It is good to look into the soul of the saints and to follow…
The Science of Love – St. Elisabeth of the Trinity
St. Elisabeth of the Trinity on the Science of LoveHe is in me,…
The Shield of Faith and the War against Idolatry in Advent
Christmas approaches. It is a magical time of music, light,…
The Sign of a Faithful Soul
One of my favorite books is by a Carthusian who died during the…
The Sign of the Cross
In an earlier post, I shared a little about the Sign of the Cross.…
The Sign of the Cross
No one knows how old this sign really is. It may well go back…
The Silent Kiss of the Soul
Jesus reveals the Father to us in adoration and He wants…
The Simplicity of Faith – Heaven and Faith Episode 12
Blessed Elisabeth of the Trinity understood something beautiful…
The Soul of Theology
If the study of the Sacred Page is the soul of theology, then…
The Spirit of Obedience and the Real Presence
A spirit of obedience is being renewed in the Church. It is…
The Spiritual Battle and the Call to Prayer
First, I am so very grateful to all the first responders and…
The Spiritual Castle and Monsters that Threaten it
In times of crisis and confusion, if we do not wish to be swept…
The Spiritual Classics
This week I provided the final lecture for a class entitled the…
The Spiritual Liberty of Holy Obedience
Saint Hildegard von Bingen contemplated the origin of evil in…
The Spiritual Life: First Principles and Foundational Practices
Anthony Lilles
The Spirituality of Faithful Love
Marriage contains a spirituality primordially established by…
The Still Small Voice
In our households, there are moments where it is good to turn…
The Suffering Love of the Savior
The love of Jesus saves because it has the power to bear away…
The Super-abundant and Transforming Law of Prayer
St. John of the Cross, in his commentary on Living Flame of Love,…
The Task of Spiritual Theology
As a student of spiritual theology, I am occasionally asked about…
The Tears of God and the Need to Pray
We must pray for everyone affected by storms that hit the South…
The Tears of Mary
The tears of Mary, treasured by God, are poured out for those…
The Temple of the Holy Spirit, Praise and Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity
Blessed Elisabeth of the Trinity became aware of the indwelling…
The Tender Compassion of God and the True Progress of Humanity
True human progress has nothing to do with the indulgence of…
The Three in One and One in Three
I arise today by the mighty name of the Trinity -- the Three…
The Threshold into the Heart of God
Christ's crucified and risen humanity is the threshold in the…
The Trials of Advent
As we wait for the coming of the Savior, many trials and challenges…
The Triduum – Into the Silent Fullness of God
The deepest and most beautiful pathway of prayer is opened up…
The Trinity and Real Love
It is a false friendship when one friend dominates another. …
The Trinity our Home
When Elisabeth of the Trinity wrote a retreat for her sister,…
The Trinity – the enchanting harmony of divine love
How can we describe the kind of contemplation devotion to the…
The Truth Is What the Heart Needs
St. Irenaeus believed that the vision of God is the life of…
The Truth to which Christ Bears Witness
"For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world,…
The Two Standards
On the Podcast show "Catholic Stuff You Should Know," hosts…
The Urgency of Contemplative Prayer
The urgency of contemplative prayer comes into focus when we…
The Vessel of Elizabeth of the Trinity
[For 24 September 1906—on the occasion
of M. Germaine’s…
of M. Germaine’s…
The Victory Disclosed in Christian Death
A war has been fought in heaven for the life and dignity of…
The Victory of the Christian Family
Baptism and marriage establishes a supernatural reality - the…
The Vocation of St. Therese
I am gong to make you smile: in my childhood I dreamed…
The Voice of Angels and the Witness of our Faith in England
This Christmas I had the joy of making a pilgrimage to the Tyburn…
The Voice of the Good Shepherd as we Shelter in Place
A difficult grace during pandemic is confronting the brokenness…
The Way of Love
There are many spiritual paths offered us in life. Some promise…
The Way, the Truth and the Life
Christ Jesus is the threshold to the Father - this means we can…
The Ways of Prayer – Prostration
Among the Nine Ways of Prayer of St. Dominic, he seems to have…
The Weight of Heaven’s Whisper
On Earth as it is in Heaven ... Heaven tolerates no social agendas…
The Wisdom of God
I once asked a Carthusian why he embraced a life of silence and…
The Witness and Mission of Father Raymond Gawronski, S.J.
In the final hours of April 14, 2016, God called Father Raymond…
The Witness of Betty Suppes — farmer from Delta, Colorado
Guest post by Richard Ziegman
Last Summer our parish…
Last Summer our parish…
The Wonder of God’s Will and the Holiness of Marriage
The Will of God is a beautiful mystery that evokes wonder and…
The Word and Silence
In the Nativity of the Lord, the cries of the world, the cries…
The Word and the Sleep of Death in Christian Prayer.
Christian contemplation takes in the mystery of death and sees…
The Word Made Flesh and the Wonder of Christmas
The wonder of the Nativity of the Lord, that holy silence that…
The Words of Everlasting Life: John 6:60-69
Jesus Christ is the Word of the Father, the Word made flesh…
The Words of the Word and the Language of the Soul
When the Word made flesh rose from the Dead, human speech was…
Theological Contemplation
Spiritual theology or mystical theology is the knowledge we gain…
Theological Contemplation and the Lord’s Gaze of Love
There are many ways to enter into silence. Teresa of Avila…
Theological Contemplation, Deep Prayer and the Christian Life
The early Dominicans counted as one of the nine ways of prayer…
Theological Contemplation – theological and mystical wisdom
Prayer and theology bring the wisdom that comes from the Cross…
Theological Virtues and the Life of Heaven
David Arias
Theology and Priestly Formation
Some have argued that too much attention is payed to theology…
Theology: to Study God’s Word with Understanding
Is there a right way to read the Holy Bible? Are there rules…
They Speak by Silences
Written by a Carthusian and preserved by Benedictines at a Roman…
Things Worth Dying For
Dying is a difficult fight. Archbishop Charles Chaput sheds…
Thinking on What is Above
This begins our series on pilgrimage. To take time in one's…
Those Deep Places to which We are Called
There are deep places in the heart. A vast and unexplored…
Through the Wounds of Christ the Father Transforms our Wounds
To be a Christian is to be plunged into the mystery of the Trinity.…
Time, Eternity and a Blessed New Year
Time is not simply duration of a cycle that repeats itself over…
Time Spent in Prayer
Those struggling to begin a life of prayer often ask how much…
Time to Pray, Fast and Offer Sacrifice
Painful truths are coming forward and evil swoops down like…
To Attend to the Reading and Be Absorbed by It
"Attend to the reading, the exhortation, the teaching" (1 Timothy…
To Console the Heart of Christ
In this time of scandal, the Holy Spirit moves hearts to console…
To Do Good to Those who Hate Us
Christ Crucified is not embarrassed by our plight or disgusted…
To Know the Father – To Behold the Cross
On this Good Friday, we celebrate the definitive revelation…
To Live by Faith
To live by faith in the Risen Lord is to root one's existence…
To Satiate the Thirst of Jesus
When we begin to pray, we implicate ourselves in the plight…
To Savor the Presence of God
In Psalm 34:8, we are asked to taste and see the goodness of…
To Worship the Living God in Time and Space
We are made to worship the Living God. Because we are creatures…
Total Dedication to Christ and Carmel Today
In my last post I shared a little bit about Mt. Carmel in Israel…
Transitions in Life and Prayer
Pope Francis suggests the writings of Anselm Gruen for spiritual…
Treasures of Divine Life
On September 6, 2014, Archbishop Aquila is hosting a special…
Treasures of the Triduum at the Liturgical Institute
The Liturgical Institute is hosting a conference on Friday,…
Trinity Sunday
At the heart of all true Christian spirituality is the great…
Truth
Truth does not rant or rage,
This silent Stranger patiently…
This silent Stranger patiently…
Truth, the Heart and the Sacred
"Lord, you love truth in the heart. In the secret of my heart,…
Two New Doctors of the Church to be celebrated October 7
St. John of Avila and St. Hildegard of Bingen will be formally…
Under the Branches of Wood Flesh Fastened
Flesh fastened branches breathe Mysterious WindCarrying enfleshed…
Under the Shadow of the Cross
Under the Shadow of the Cross, an uneventful silence can take…
Unearthing Your Ten Talents: A Thomistic Guide to Spiritual Growth Through the Virtues and Their Parts
Kevin Vost
Unexpected Horizons – Heaven in Faith Continues
Blessed Elisabeth of the Trinity helps those who want to pray…
United under the Radiance of the Face of God
This Easter, we celebrate life, even in the face of death. There…
Unity with the Trinity and the Cross of Christ
God has called us to participate by grace in his divine life…
Veni, Sancte Spiritus
On the faithful, who adoreAnd confess you evermoreIn your sevenfold…
Victory Belongs to the Lord
In my last conversation with Father Gawronski before his death,…
Video Clips of our Journey from Krakow to Vienna en route to Madrid
These are some video clips made by Daniel, one of our seminarians…
Vigilance, Fasting and Unexpected Graces
Keeping watch and waiting for the Lord is part of the mystery…
Viva Cristo Rey!
The seminarians of St. John Vianney in Denver, Colorado provided…
Walls
The contemporary man, or rather post-apocalyptic androgyne, loves…
Waters of Prayer
The gift of prayer is watered by the stream that flows from…
We are in Spain!
After a plunge into the ocean Today we made it to Barcelona.…
Welcome the Christ-Child into Your Heart
The Word of the Father has entered into the world with great…
Welcoming the New Year with Praise
As the New Year dawns, many see this as an opportunity for all…
What Draws God to the Human Heart?
Despite all the brokenness and misery that mark human existence,…
What has primacy over war, insurrection and natural disaster? Your witness to Christ
Christ, the Word of the Father, commands those who believe in…
What is Contemplation?
Christian Contemplation or "mental prayer" is a loving gaze…
What satisfies – by Father Raymond Gawronski, S.J., Professor of Theology, Saint Patrick’s Seminary
“Our hearts are made for Thee O
Lord, and they will not…
Lord, and they will not…
When I Can no Longer Pray
“When I can no longer pray, I play!” Bl. Elisabeth of the…
When Nothing Makes Sense and All Seems Useless – Pray
"In this world, you will have trouble" John 16:33. There are…
When Prayer Feels Wasted
There are times when prayer feels wasted. We cry out from…
When the Lord Discloses His Presence
What is it like for Christ to disclose his mysterious presence…
Where Religious Civil Liberty Touches Spiritual Freedom
Religious liberty and spiritual freedom embrace in the desert…
Where the Prayer of Advent is Forged
Advent Prayer is forged in the darkness of this world's injustice,…
Why do we pray?
Why do we pray? Baptized into Christ, I pray for the transformation…
Why We Need the Cross
Only by grace does God's love become the basis of all genuine…
Wisdom and Spiritual Childhood
St. Therese of Lisieux is the champion of spiritual childhood…
With God’s Love Wounds of Sin become Wounds of Love
Transforming "wounds of sin into wounds of love"
is something…
is something…
Without Compromise – the Real Presence is Given
Many are offering all kinds of theories about why disciples…
Witness requires Solitude, Prayer and Study
If you study the Life of Antony by St. Athanasius, one striking…
Witness to Hope when Beauty is Defaced
It was a sorrow to learn that my childhood parish was defaced…
Witnessed on a Freeway in California
A glimpse of faces passes
Mindless sunglass glances
Mosaics…
Mindless sunglass glances
Mosaics…
Witnessing to the Risen Lord
Christ is risen from the dead and in the shadow of His healing…
Woman of Courage – Mother of the Savior
Today, when so many are afraid of death, we need the courage…
Year for Priests Lecture: Rupture vs. Continuity: Cardinal Newman, Vatican II and the Church today
7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 3, 2010Bonfils Hall, John Paul II…
Year for the Priest
I am offering a series of lectures at the John Paul II Center…
Year for the Priest – contemplating the priesthood
This Year for the Priest offers a unique opportunity to reflect…
You are a Temple of the Holy Spirit
Some points for prayer-
Since the Blessed Trinity is living in…
Since the Blessed Trinity is living in…
You Are Invited on a Holy Land Pilgrimage – In the Company of Elijah
Join Anthony Lilles, STD and Sr. Magdalit Bolduc
along with…
along with…
You are invited to a Lenten Retreat
“You Are the Christ”
In today's readings, Peter declares that Jesus is the Messiah. This…
Your Life Hidden In Christ
"You have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God." (Col…
Mini-Courses and Webinars
A Thomistic and Carmelite Consideration of the Nature of Prayer, Contemplation and Divine Union
David Arias and Fr. Thomas Jesus of Mary
Charity and the Spiritual Life
David Arias
Christ: The Pattern of Contemporary Culture
David Clayton
Devotion to Our Lord’s Sacred Heart
David Arias
Faith and the Spiritual Life
Dr. David Arias
Gift of Wisdom in a Wild World
Dr. Anthony Lilles
Gifts of the Resurrected Body
David Arias
Hope and the Spiritual Life
David Arias
Let Nothing Disturb You
David Arias
Perfection of the Pater Noster
David Arias
Priestly Celibacy: The Root of the Crisis
Fr. Sean Kilcawley
Responding to Apostolic Betrayal
Dan Burke & John Johnson
Spy Wednesday
John Johnson
St. Augustine: The Son of Such Tears
David Arias
The Eucharist – The Source and Summit of Our Faith
The Nativities of Christ
David Arias
The Spiritual Life: First Principles and Foundational Practices
Anthony Lilles
Theological Virtues and the Life of Heaven
David Arias
Unearthing Your Ten Talents: A Thomistic Guide to Spiritual Growth Through the Virtues and Their Parts
Kevin Vost