Description: Dan and Melissa speak with Vicki Burbach about her book, How to Read Your Way to Heaven: A Spiritual Reading Program for the Worst of Sinners, the Greatest of Saints, and Everyone in Between.

• What was the inspiration for the book?
• Can anyone follow this reading program?
• How much time will it take out of my day?
• Why are there three different programs (1,3, or 5 years)?
• Why include readings from Scripture, the Catechism, and additional sources each day?
• Can I substitute books if I have already read one of the suggested books?
• Where can I find a good recommendation for a substitution if I need one?

 Resources:

• Spiritualdirection.com - website
• Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation
• Sophia Institute Press
• How to Read Your Way to Heaven by Vicki Burbach
• Questions? Send an e-mail to [email protected] or call 818-646-7729. — please leave your name, location and question.

Description: This week Dan, Melissa and Dr. Anthony Lilles prepare us to face hardships in this short life n order to sincerely follow the steps of our crucified Lord and enjoy the fruits he merited for us in heaven.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

• St. Therese wants to suffer for Jesus, but it seems like she is waiting until she enters Carmel. Why?
• St. Therese expresses her desire to go through trials here on earth and have a "beautiful crown" in heaven.
• St. Therese mentions that "life passes quickly".  How can we make the most of our time here on earth?
• What does our Lord expect from us while we are living in the world?
• Humanity constantly searches for joy that does not pass away. This life and all of its joys are passing. The joy of heaven is eternal.
• How can we save souls through our suffering?

Resources:

• Spiritualdirection.com - website
• EWTN Global Catholic Radio
• Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation
• EWTN Religious Catalogue - online
• Living the Mystery of Merciful Love: 30 Days with Therese of Lisieux by Dr. Anthony Lilles and Dan Burke
• Questions? Send an e-mail to [email protected] or call 818-646-7729. — please leave your name, location and question.

Description: This week Dan, Melissa and Dr. Anthony Lilles find meaning through the mystery of suffering and unpack the importance of our charitable response to this reality.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

• How can trials and difficulties help detach us from earthly things?
• How can we talk to people who are suffering about the mystery of suffering being a grace or blessing for the soul?
• While we are in the midst of great suffering, how can we act with love? What does that mean exactly?
• How can we truly help those who do not understand the "joys" of suffering?
• What does St. Therese mean when she says, "I shall not fear His [God's] strikes"? 

Resources:

• Spiritualdirection.com - website
• EWTN Global Catholic Radio
• Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation
• EWTN Religious Catalogue - online
• Living the Mystery of Merciful Love: 30 Days with Therese of Lisieux by Dr. Anthony Lilles and Dan Burke
• Questions? Send an e-mail to [email protected] or call 818-646-7729. — please leave your name, location and question.

Description: This week Dan, Melissa and Dr. Anthony Lilles immerse themselves in the deep waters of God's love seen through the eyes of St. Therese of Lisieux in her oblation to merciful love.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

• What does St. Therese need to do in order to release "the waves of infinite tenderness" that God has waiting to give to us?
• How can St. Therese become a martyr for God without physically laying down her life for Him?
• How can we benefit from filling each moment with love?
• What does St. Therese mean by "the shadows of this life"?
• Does God ever reveal Himself to us?
• Why is daily prayer necessary?

Resources:

• Spiritualdirection.com - website
• EWTN Global Catholic Radio
• Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation
• EWTN Religious Catalogue - online
• Living the Mystery of Merciful Love: 30 Days with Therese of Lisieux by Dr. Anthony Lilles and Dan Burke
• Questions? Send an e-mail to [email protected] or call 818-646-7729. — please leave your name, location and question.

Description: This week Dan, Melissa and Dr. Anthony Lilles examine the ray of hope St. Therese sends to us through her oblation to merciful love in speaking of the Lord's mercy when preparing a soul to meet Him.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

• What is the significance of instantaneous purification?
• How does Pelagianism compare to St. Therese's thought of instantaneous purification?
• If God can purify us in an instant, why should we strive to make a perfect act of love?
• Why should we respond to the gifts God has given us?
• Why does St. Therese offer herself as a "victim of holocaust" to God's merciful love?

Resources:

• Spiritualdirection.com - website
• EWTN Global Catholic Radio
• Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation
• EWTN Religious Catalogue - online
• Living the Mystery of Merciful Love: 30 Days with Therese of Lisieux by Dr. Anthony Lilles and Dan Burke
• Lumen Gentium, Paragraph 14 - Responding to the grace of Christ
• Questions? Send an e-mail to [email protected] or call 818-646-7729. — please leave your name, location and question.

Description: This week Dan, Melissa and Dr. Anthony Lilles discuss St. Therese’s meaning of true joy, justice in the eyes of God, and the source of our merits.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

• What does St. Therese mean when she says that she does not want to "lay up merits for heaven"?
• Is there a difference between happiness and joy?
• Can we console the heart of Christ?
• Why does St. Therese say that all of our justice is stained in God's eyes?
• Christ is the source of all merit.
• Little, imperfect acts of love are amplified by Jesus' merits, love and grace. So, by doing these littles acts of love we are creating space for God to do something beautiful in our lives.

Resources:

• Spiritualdirection.com - website
• EWTN Global Catholic Radio
• Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation
• EWTN Religious Catalogue - online
• Living the Mystery of Merciful Love: 30 Days with Therese of Lisieux by Dr. Anthony Lilles and Dan Burke
• Questions? Send an e-mail to [email protected] or call 818-646-7729. — please leave your name, location and question.

Description: This week Dan and Dr. Anthony Lilles delve into the mystery of suffering with joy for love of Christ as seen through the eyes of St. Therese.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

• Was the oblation written at the pinnacle of her spiritual journey?
• What does she mean by the "crucible of suffering"?
• How do we experience joy while suffering?
• Does God want us to suffer?
• Is St. Therese a mystic in the traditional sense of mysticism?

Resources:

• Spiritualdirection.com - website
• EWTN Global Catholic Radio
• Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation
• EWTN Religious Catalogue - online
• Living the Mystery of Merciful Love: 30 Days with Therese of Lisieux by Dr. Anthony Lilles and Dan Burke
• Questions? Send an e-mail to [email protected] or call 818-646-7729. — please leave your name, location and question.

Description: This week Dan, Melissa and Dr. Anthony Lilles discuss the meaning of being God's "little victim" and the idea of consoling God. 

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

• Why can't St. Therese receive Holy Communion often?
• What does St. Therese mean by being a "little victim"? Does this imply self-pity?
• Why does she compare herself to a tabernacle?
• Does God need to be consoled? How can St. Therese say that she wants to console Him?
• Jesus reveals to us what's in the heart of the Father through His words and actions here on earth.

Resources:

• Spiritualdirection.com - website
• EWTN Global Catholic Radio
• Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation
• EWTN Religious Catalogue - online
• Living the Mystery of Merciful Love: 30 Days with Therese of Lisieux by Dr. Anthony Lilles and Dan Burke
• Romans 12:1 - "...offer your bodies as a living sacrifice..."
• Questions? Send an e-mail to [email protected] or call 818-646-7729. — please leave your name, location and question.

Description: This week Dan, Melissa and Dr. Anthony Lilles explore the merits of Jesus Christ and how we can offer these merits back to God. 

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

• How do the merits of Jesus "belong" to St. Therese, and how can she offer them to God?
• The Father looks upon us through the His beloved Son, Jesus Christ.
• How can we offer the merits of the saints or the Blessed Mother? 
• How should a soul approach this oblation if he or she does not feel the intense desires to know and love God that are expressed by St. Therese in the oblation?

Resources:

• Spiritualdirection.com - website
• EWTN Global Catholic Radio
• Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation
• EWTN Religious Catalogue - online
• Living the Mystery of Merciful Love: 30 Days with Therese of Lisieux by Dr. Anthony Lilles and Dan Burke
• Questions? Send an e-mail to [email protected] or call 818-646-7729. — please leave your name, location and question.

Description: This week, Dan, Melissa and Dr. Anthony Lilles dive into the oblation of St. Therese of Lisieux and take a closer look at her desires to serve the Lord. 

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

• How can St. Therese "save souls on earth by liberating those suffering in purgatory"?
• How can God be her holiness?
• St. Therese recognizes her powerlessness to be holy and relies on God to attain the heights of holiness.
• The measure of our spiritual progress and our holiness is love of God and love of neighbor. 
• St. Therese refers to Jesus as her spouse. How can men relate to this idea of being the spouse of Christ?

Resources:

• Spiritualdirection.com - website
• EWTN Global Catholic Radio
• Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation
• EWTN Religious Catalogue - online
• Living the Mystery of Merciful Love: 30 Days with Therese of Lisieux by Dr. Anthony Lilles and Dan Burke
• Questions? Send an e-mail to [email protected] or call 818-646-7729. — please leave your name, location and question.