St. Teresa describes her spiritual ecstasies and how they caused her distress. Dan and Melissa talk about how everyone is called to the heights of holiness as they read from St. Teresa’s letter to her brother from the book 30 Days with Teresa of Avila.
Topics/Questions covered in the show:
- Is there a Universal Call to Holiness?
- Can everyone reach the advanced stages of prayer that the Saints do?
- How do lay people reach the heights of holiness? What should they do when they get there?
- What is the evidence of authentic prayer?
- Is spiritual aridity normal? Where does it come from?
- How should we deal with periods of aridity and consolation?
- How the marital experience is like the spiritual life.
- What is the measure of spiritual progress?
Resources:
- 30 Days with Teresa of Avila – Dan Burke and Anthony Lilles
- EWTN Religious Catalogue – Online
- Dr. Anthony Lilles
- Psalm 107:23-32 – USCCB Bible link
- Acts 2:15-17 – USCCB Bible link
- Joel 3:1-2 – USCCB Bible link (This is Joel 2:28 in the Douay-Rheims Bible)
- Lumen Gentium (Vatican Council II document) Chapter V – Universal Call to Holiness
- Real Men Pray the Rosary – David Calvillo Website
- Pelagianism – New Advent link
- Voluntarism – New Advent link
- http://avila-institute.com – Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation
- Dan Burke’s Speaking and Events – Link at Spiritual Direction.com
- 1 Thessalonians 5:23 – USCCB Bible Link
- For Call in questions for future shows 818-646-7729 — please leave your name, location and question.
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About Dan Burke
Dan is the founder of Catholic Spiritual Direction, the Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation, and Divine Intimacy Radio, author of the award winning book, Navigating the Interior Life – Spiritual Direction and the Journey to God, and his newest books Finding God Through Meditation-St. Peter of Alcantara and 30 Days with Teresa of Avila. Beyond his “contagious” love for Jesus and His Church, he is a grateful husband and father of four, the Executive Director of and writer for EWTN’s National Catholic Register, a regular co-host on Register Radio, a writer and speaker who provides online spiritual formation and travels to share his conversion story and the great riches that the Church provides us through authentic Catholic spirituality. Dan has been featured on EWTN’s Journey Home program and numerous radio programs.