I need a Catholic perspective on the New Age movement

Q: Dear Father John, In my teen years I spent a few years in the Pentecostal world of faith. But when I went to university I discovered Catholicism and made it my faith home. This past year I have been on a search to deepen and renew my Catholic journey. Today I was starting to read my The Better Part and on page 22 the author refers to a document in the Vatican called Jesus Christ: the Bearer of the Water of Life. I looked... Read More

Is the Enneagram something that I should be involved with?

Q: Dear Dan, I have run into the Enneagram in my spiritual direction training. There is something about the approach that doesn’t ring true to me but I can’t quite put my finger on it. A: Well, the reason something doesn’t ring true about it is that the Holy Spirit is working in you to guide you to truth. My friend Susan Brinkman (over at Women of Grace) has written a post on this that will help you understand... Read More

I am concerned about avoiding New Age influence in my spriritual reading program, can you help?

Q: Dear Dan, I was inspired by Fr. John’s post on spiritual reading a while back. A friend has recommended “The Cloud of Unknowing” to me but I am worried about slipping into Catholic books that claim to be Catholic but that promote New Age thought through centering prayer and mixing Catholic prayer with non-Christian prayer teachings. Anyway, I wanted to get your advice on where I could/should start a... Read More

Dan’s Journey Home – Here’s the Video

Dear Friends, thank you for the outpouring of encouragement from those of you who were able to watch the Journey Home show on EWTN on Monday! It is incredibly moving to hear how a simple telling of the testimony of God’s work in our lives can have such an amazing impact. For the sake of those who missed it, I have included it below. Let me know what you think. Also, for the many who have asked, this is a good example... Read More