Consolation – Navigating the Interior Life Spiritual Dictionary

CONSOLATION: An interior movement aroused in the soul, by which it is inflamed with love of its Creator and Lord. It is likewise consolation when one sheds tears that move to the love of God, whether it be because of sorrow for sins, or because of the sufferings of Christ our Lord, or for any other reason that is immediately directed to the praise and service of God. Consolation can also be every increase of faith, hope,... Read More

How do I know if thoughts are from the devil or just from my own mind?

Q: Dear Dan, my thought life is sometimes out of control. When I get angry or disturbed it seems like these feelings press a “replay” button on the scenes of my struggle to the point where I want to scream to make it stop. Sometimes I lose lots of sleep. The tapes in my head replay what I should have said or could have said -  what will I do in response etc. I guess my main question is how do I know the source of these... Read More

Could watching certain TV shows be against our Catholic faith? – Part I of III

Q: Dear Father John, Is watching a show like the “Medium” against our Catholic faith? The show is from what I have heard is calling on spirits who have passed on from this life and supposedly can be reached through a medium. A: We have to answer this question on two levels, general and specific. The general question is: How should we make decisions about the kind of entertainment we consume – what criteria should we... Read More

How should I discern if God is calling me to leave my spiritual community?

Q: Dear Dan, Our women’s Regnum Christi team no longer meets and some have left the movement entirely. After having been in Regnum Christi for 10 years, the faith, fellowship and friendship really meant a lot. However my husband and I came across a local lay-Carmelite movement this year through a priest who invited his entire congregation one Sunday to a lay-Carmelite meeting! This is unusual, in comparison to the... Read More

Carmelite or Opus Dei… where should I go?

Q: Dear Fr. Edward, I have been considering becoming a third order Carmelite for some time and have taken some initial steps with them in that direction. However, I am in a weekly study that is very powerful to me. It is led by an Opus Dei woman. After hearing what she has to say, and watching her life, I am finding myself drawn to Opus. How do I discern which direction to take? Am I just being fickle and should I stay with... Read More

Does God care about my job or where I work?

Q: Dear Father Edward, I am confused. The questioner in your post on discernment wrote, “I know God is not in the employment business, nor is he that concerned with how we make a living. His concern is for our soul.” Could you respond to this statement? If this is true, then it certainly seems as though it doesn’t matter the type of job that this person gets, and that there is no need to look for a job that... Read More

I have been out of work and am struggling with discernment…

Q: Dear Father Edward, I have been out of work for a while. I know God is not in the employment business, nor is he that concerned with how we make a living. His concern is for our soul. That said, I’m told I will know God’s will … and that he is leading me to something just right for me. But how do we know the direction he’s leading us in? And how do we pray about this … and how do I keep from... Read More

Temptations of an apostolic heart…

The enemy has no need to tempt those who float around in an apathetic slumber; he already owns them. The devil is occupied with those who work with fervor for the Kingdom of God. His first tactic is to find our greatest point of personal weakness and attack. It can be our health, our family, our prayer life (or lack of one). It can be relationships in our lives, it can be our root sin, or it can be our children. If he doesn’t... Read More

How can I receive the gift of discernment?

Q: Dear Father Edward, how can I receive the gift of discernment? I have prayed and continue to do so, but I am not sure what comes from the Lord versus what is coming from me. Is there anything else that I should be doing? A: Like Solomon who requested the gift of wisdom, you are asking for a good thing. Discernment is the ability to recognize what the Lord wants us to do. It can be a difficult process. One reason is because... Read More