Heather King on Register Radio

Dear CSD Family, I am excited to report that Heather King will appear with me on Register Radio this week. Register Radio is a co-production of EWTN and the National Catholic Register and airs on Fridays at 2pm Eastern with encores at 7pm Eastern on Saturdays and 11am Eastern on Sundays. You can hear the show wherever you find EWTN Radio. We will be talking about Heather’s conversion and life in light of what she has... Read More

An Answer to a Question: What is Contemplation?

Recently, Dan received an interesting question and after we talked about it, I asked whether I might respond.  Here is the question: “Is the terminology for prayer different from Ignatian to that of Carmelite spirituality? I’m a Secular Carmelite and I just went on an Ignatian retreat. My understanding of contemplation was that it was a complete gift with no activity on our part. However, the director defined... Read More

Charity’s Infinite Overflowing Flood in the Midst of Trial

Blessed Elisabeth of the Trinity (1880 – 1906), a contemporary of St. Therese of Lisieux, is a Carmelite mystic from Dijon, France.   Her profound theological reflections are given in a tumultuous time, one not unlike our own.  The French government had begun to attack religious freedom with the intention of evicting religious orders and confiscating their properties.   The local bishop acquiesced to this political... Read More

Spiritual Liberty in the Night

In order to secure our true liberty, even while we were enslaved to sin, Christ suffered the night of death and ransomed us by His blood.   This is why the Lord respects human freedom, even when it is the source of great sorrow.   Aware of our frailty, God does not overpower our freedom but delights to work through it in a very gentle and beautiful way.   As a result, it is easy to frustrate His work in us.  At the same... Read More

Nescivi – A Cry of A Heart in Love with God

“Nescivi!”  This is the Latin for what it seems the Shulamite Bride of the Canticle of Canticles sings in 6:12.  The passage is difficult to translate.  One 16th Century Doctor of the Church, Saint John of the Cross, understood it to be the declaration of a lover captivated with thoughts of her Beloved.  The Latin means “I no longer know (anything)” although some modern English translations of... Read More

The Prayer that Blazes from the Deepest Center

Christian prayer is meant to blaze forth from the Deepest Center of the soul.   In his powerful Living Flame of Love, St. John of the Cross explains this Deepest Center.  Many spiritual writers recognize the need for interiority that a term like the Deepest Center suggests.  Sometimes, however, what certain authors describe as the center of the soul is difficult to distinguish from one’s own big fat ego. Contrary... Read More

What are attachments and how do they hinder my spiritual life? Part II of II

Q: Dear Sister Carmen, in your recent series on getting stuck in spiritual growth (which was very helpful  by the way) you mentioned the idea of “attachments.” I think I understand this as I have read a bit of St. John of the Cross. However, I would be grateful if you could help me understand it a bit better and for any practical advice about identifying attachments and then shedding them. I remember St. John of the... Read More

What are “attachments” and how do they hinder my spiritual life? Part I of II

Q: Dear Sister Carmen, in your recent series on getting stuck in spiritual growth (which was very helpful  by the way) you mentioned the idea of “attachments.” I think I understand this as I have read a bit of St. John of the Cross. However, I would be grateful if you could help me understand it a bit better and for any practical advice about identifying attachments and then shedding them. I remember St. John of the... Read More

Do we really need to worry all that much about our spiritual progress?

Q: Dear St. Teresa, is it not better to somewhat ‘go with the flow’ of God’s leading in our life, doing our best, and not worry too much of where we are in the spiritual perfection? A: Dear friend, we must beg the Lord for guidance. We must frequently consider that without him we are lost. We must never trust ourselves. We must be vigilant regarding our progress in virtue – especially how we love others.... Read More

Interior Castle Questions?

Dear Friends – Sister Carmen is looking for questions on St. Teresa’s Interior Castles! Any come to mind? About Dan BurkeDan is the founder of Roman Catholic Spiritual Direction and author of the award winning book, Navigating the Interior Life - Spiritual Direction and the Journey to God. Beyond his “contagious” love for Jesus and His Church, he is a grateful husband and father of four, the Executive... Read More

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