Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson as they speak with John Johnson, Associate Director of the Avila Institute about The Avila Summit Event coming up this summer and why the theme, "Worship Animating Culture" was chosen. 

Topics/Questions Covered in the Show:

• What is The Summit? When and where will it take place?
• Why is there a need for this event?
• Who will be speaking at the event?
• Why was the theme, "Worship Animating Culture" chosen as the focus?
• Why is the liturgy so important to evangelization?
• What is the "High Calling Program" at the Avila Institute?

Resources:

• Spiritualdirection.com - website
• EWTN Global Catholic Radio
• Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation
• EWTN Religious Catalogue - online
• "The Summit" Information and Registration
• Text "summit2018" to 38470 to save $50 on registration to The Summit.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:23 - USCCB Bible link
• Questions? Send an e-mail to [email protected] or call 818-646-7729. Please leave your name, location, and question(s).

What does it mean to be called to a contemplative prayer life? Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson as they speak with Dr. Anthony Lilles about the book Elizabeth of the Trinity: A Life of Praise to God to discover the riches hidden in the wisdom of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity.

Topics/Questions Covered in the Show:

• Why did Dr. Lilles choose to focus his doctoral work on St. Elizabeth of the Trinity?
• Who is Sister Giovanna Della Croce and why are her writings about St. Elizabeth important?
• What is unique about St. Elizabeth of the Trinity?
• Why did the Church wait until recently to recognize the importance of her life and writings? 
• What is the importance of focusing on all three persons of the Trinity during prayer?
• What is contemplation? What is her approach to contemplation? Is contemplation intended for lay men and women as well as religious brothers and sisters?
• St. Elizabeth did not experience ecstasies or raptures in prayer. Are these psychological experiences necessary during contemplative prayer?
• How can St. Elizabeth's writings help listeners transform their prayer lives to become more intimate with each person of the Trinity? 

Resources:

• Spiritualdirection.com - website
• Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation
• Sophia Institute Press
• Elizabeth of the Trinity: A Life of Praise to God by Sr. Giovanna Della Croce, O.C.D.
• Text "summit2018" to 38470 for $50 off registration to The Summit Event, July 13 - 15, 2018 in Hanceville, Alabama.
• Questions? Send an e-mail to [email protected] or call 818-646-7729. Please leave your name, location, and question(s).

Today, Dan and Melissa answer your questions about sharing spiritual experiences and focusing the mind in prayer.

Topics/Questions Covered in the Show:

• Why do we share our spiritual experiences on the air? 
• Why did St. Teresa of Avila mask her personal experiences and make it seem as though they were happening to someone else?
• Why do some well-meaning Christians imply that we think too much during prayer?
• Should we "empty our minds" in prayer?
• How do we avoid distractions in prayer?
• What should be our focus during prayer?

Resources:

• Spiritualdirection.com - website
• EWTN Global Catholic Radio
• Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation
• EWTN Religious Catalogue - online
• Questions? Send an e-mail to [email protected] or call 818-646-7729. Please leave your name, location, and question.

How does your temperament affect your marriage? Join Melissa Elson as she speaks with Laraine Bennett about her book, The Temperament God Gave Your Spouse to find the key to a peaceful and communicative marriage.

Topics/Questions Covered in the Show:

• What are the four temperaments?
• How is it helpful to know your temperament and the temperament of your spouse?
• How do opposite temperaments get along in a marriage setting?
• What are advantages and pitfalls to being married to a spouse of the same temperament? 
• How can spouses use the knowledge of their own temperaments as tools for better communication within the marriage?
• Is it possible for an individual to have opposite primary and secondary temperaments?

Resources:

• Spiritualdirection.com - website
• Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation
• Sophia Institute Press
• The Temperament God Gave You by Art and Laraine Bennett
• The Temperament God Gave Your Spouse by Art and Laraine Bennett
• Questions? Send an e-mail to [email protected] or call 818-646-7729. Please leave your name, location, and question(s).

Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson as they reflect on the meditations of Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen on Good Friday and the Passion and death of our Lord. 

Topics/Questions Covered in the Show:

• Dan's advices everyone to watch the movie, The Passion of the Christ, today to better reflect on the reality of the suffering and agony of Jesus in his last hours on earth.
• Fr. Gabriel suggests that we voluntarily accept suffering and unite our sufferings to those of Christ. 
• The Agony in the Garden presents us with the extreme abandonment and desolation Jesus experienced in His soul and the weight of all the sins of mankind.
• St. John of the Cross speaks of self-mortification as the way to pick up the cross and follow Jesus.
• In order to imitate Christ, we need to come to know Him by studying His life, which has been proclaimed through the gospels. 
• St. John says we must renounce any sensory satisfaction that is not purely for the honor and glory of God.
• St. John advises that if we practice detachment of earthly pleasures and resist our will, we will experience "great delight and consolation."
• St. John leads us to Christ through the way of "nothing."

Resources:

• Spiritualdirection.com - website
• EWTN Global Catholic Radio
• Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation
• EWTN Religious Catalogue - online
• Divine Intimacy by Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen
• The Ascent of Mount Carmel by St. John of the Cross
• 1 Thessalonians 5:23 - USCCB Bible link
• Questions? Send an e-mail to [email protected] or call 818-646-7729. Please leave your name, location, and question(s).

Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson as they unpack the messages behind the parables of Jesus by speaking with Father George Rutler about his book, Hints of Heaven. 

Topics/Questions Covered in the Show:

• What is a parable and why did Jesus choose to speak through parables?
• How many parables are there?
• Why is the book divided into short reflections on each parable?
• Fr. Rutler tells of his favorite parables and why they have come to be his favorites.

  Resources:

• Spiritualdirection.com - website
• Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation
• Sophia Institute Press
• Hints of Heaven by Fr. George Rutler
• Questions? Send an e-mail to [email protected] or call 818-646-7729. Please leave your name, location, and question(s).

Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson as they reflect on the meditations of Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen on the seven sorrows of Mary. 

Topics/Questions Covered in the Show:

• How can the Blessed Mother bring us closer to Jesus?
• What are the seven sorrows of Mary?
• Why should we meditate on these sorrows?
• What are the seven promises or graces given to those who meditate on these sorrows?

Resources:

• Spiritualdirection.com - website
• EWTN Global Catholic Radio
• Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation
• EWTN Religious Catalogue - online
• Divine Intimacy by Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen
• The Contemplative Rosary by Dan Burke and Connie Rossini
• Text "get" to 38470 to receive a link to the Seven Sorrows of Mary meditation.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:23 - USCCB Bible link
• Questions? Send an e-mail to [email protected] or call 818-646-7729. Please leave your name, location, and question(s).

What is your temperament and how does it affect your spiritual life? Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson as they speak with Laraine Bennett about her book, The Temperament God Gave You to decode the strengths and weaknesses of the four temperaments.

Topics/Questions Covered in the Show:

• What is a temperament?
• Is temperament the same as personality?
• Are we slaves to our temperaments?
• What are the four temperaments?
• What are some examples of saints who exhibited the four temperaments?
• What are some spiritual strengths and weaknesses to each temperament?

Resources:

• Spiritualdirection.com - website
• Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation
• Sophia Institute Press
• The Temperament God Gave You by Art and Laraine Bennett
• The Seven Deadly Sins by Dr. Kevin Vost
• Questions? Send an e-mail to [email protected] or call 818-646-7729. Please leave your name, location, and question(s).

Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson as they reflect on the meditations of Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen on the blind obedience. 

Topics/Questions Covered in the Show:

• What does Fr. Gabriel mean by obedience and why should be obedient to our superiors?
• How is obedience the free sacrifice of liberty?
• Do we have to be obedient in the case of a sinful act?
• How should someone in religious life handle situations of obedience when the request is not in conformity with the spirit of the order, but not sinful?
• What is the value of obedience?

Resources:

• Spiritualdirection.com - website
• EWTN Global Catholic Radio
• Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation
• EWTN Religious Catalogue - online
• Divine Intimacy by Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalene
• 1 Thessalonians 5:23 - USCCB Bible link
• Questions? Send an e-mail to [email protected] or call 818-646-7729. Please leave your name, location, and question(s).

How does an atheist come to believe in God? Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson as they speak with Dr. Holly Ordway about her contribution to the book, From Atheism to Catholicism to find out what drew her to the Catholic Church.

Topics/Questions Covered in the Show:

• What did Dr. Ordway's childhood look like in terms of the practice of Christianity?
• What influence did The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings have on Dr. Ordway's conversion?
• How can atheists explain the innate sense of morality and goodness in people who aren't Christian?
• Was there a personal witness in Dr. Ordway's life who helped her better understand Christianity?
• Where there any Christian witnesses who pushed her further away from the Christian faith?
• How can someone approach an atheist about Christianity in a respectful and effective way?

Resources:

• Spiritualdirection.com - website
• Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation
• Sophia Institute Press
• From Atheism to Catholicism Edited by Brandon McGinley
• Questions? Send an e-mail to [email protected] or call 818-646-7729. Please leave your name, location, and question(s).