Description: This week Dan and Melissa speak with Dr. Anthony Lilles about Saint Therese of Lisieux's "Little Way" and how this practical guide to spirituality can help anyone find Christ.

 Topics/Questions covered in the show:

• Saint Therese explains that Jesus' heart breaks when Christians are ungrateful for what He has done in their lives, especially when they reject the grace that He has given them.
• What is Saint Therese's "little way"?
• How can this method of spirituality help those who are not cloistered religious?
• Does her "little way" work? How do we know?
• How can we find peace in the midst of worldly chaos and turmoil?
• Why do discussions about the saints bring us peace?

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 Dr. Anthony Lilles unravels the meaning of the oblation (or self offering) made by Saint Therese of Lisieux.

 Topics/Questions covered in the show:

• Was the book, Living the Mystery of Merciful Love, intended to be an informative book about Saint Therese?
• What does "oblation" mean to Saint Therese?
• How can an oblation be a form of holocaust?
• How is Saint Therese's "yes" similar to that of the Blessed Virgin Mary?
• How was Saint Therese's view of God different than that of the Jansenists?

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 Melissa introduce Saint Therese of Lisieux and explain the importance of her life and writings.

Topics/Questions covered in the show

• Who is Saint Therese of Lisieux and why is she important?
• What message is Saint Therese trying to convey through her life and writings?
• How can the reader benefit from the writings of St. Therese if he or she cannot relate to her more feminine, poetic way of writing?

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
• Ascent of Mount Carmel Book 1, Chapter 13 by St. John of the Cross
• 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 Melissa delve deeper into Melissa's personal prayer journey and address some of the difficulties that have occured along the way.

Topics/Questions covered in the show

• Is reading Scripture necessary for a strong prayer life?
• Renewal in the Church begins interiorly and peacefully.
• How can we "pray without ceasing" as the Church Fathers suggest?
• Is the idea of having a "personal encounter with Christ" supported by Catholic teaching?

Resources:

• Spiritualdirection.com - website
• EWTN Global Catholic Radio
• Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation
• EWTN Religious Catalogue - online
• Into the Deep: Finding Peace Through Prayer by 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 Melissa discuss the importance of the saints as well as examine the meaning behind Jesus' words about a rich man entering heaven.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

• What should we do if we can't relate to any particular saint?
• The saints were not perfect from birth. Their lives reveal that no matter what circumstances and difficulties they experienced, they found God and developed an intimate relationship with Him.
• In the Gospel of Matthew, why did Jesus say, "Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God"?
• Are we too comfortable in our lives? Do we ever give to the point that it makes us uncomfortable? 
• Is money the root of all evil?

Resources:

• Spiritualdirection.com - website
• EWTN Global Catholic Radio
• Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation
• EWTN Religious Catalogue - online
• Into the Deep: Finding Peace Through Prayer by Dan Burke
• Matthew 19:24 - Rich man entering heaven (USCCB Bible link)
• 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 Melissa share their stories of progress and difficulties in prayer and how we can overcome these obstacles to God.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

• How have Dan’s Into the Deep parish events impacted its participants?
• Saint Paul says in his letter to the Philippians chapter 1, verse 6, “I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.”
• Melissa’s personal testimonies to progress and difficulties in the spiritual life.
• When do we really fail at prayer?
• What problem most commonly keeps us away from God?

Resources:

• Spiritualdirection.com - website
• EWTN Global Catholic Radio
• Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation
• EWTN Religious Catalogue - online
• Into the Deep: Finding Peace Through Prayer by Dan Burke
• Questions? Send an e-mail to [email protected] or call 818-646-7729. — please leave your name, location and question.

Description: Dan and Melissa answer questions from listeners about hearing God's voice in prayer and spiritual reading versus Scripture reading during prayer time. 

 Topics/Questions covered on the show:

• If we can meditate more easily on spiritual reading rather than Scripture, should we only pray using spiritual reading? 
• How do we know if we are hearing the voice of God in prayer?

 Resources:

• Spiritualdirection.com - website
• EWTN Global Catholic Radio
• Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation
• EWTN Religious Catalogue - online
• Into the Deep: Finding Peace Through Prayer by Dan Burke
• Questions? Send an e-mail to [email protected] or call 818-646-7729. — please leave your name, location and question.

Description: Dan and Melissa discuss how one should handle situations that occur during discovery prayer.

Topics/Questions covered on the show:

• If your prayer time has ended, what should you do if you are not finished with all five steps of discovery prayer?
• While praying, if the Lord blesses you with a consolation and your prayer time is complete, what should you do?
• If you are having a consolation, should you move on to complete the steps of discovery prayer or rest with the consolation?

 Resources:

• Spiritualdirection.com - website
• EWTN Global Catholic Radio
• Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation
• EWTN Religious Catalogue - online
• Into the Deep: Finding Peace Through Prayer by 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 Melissa explain how tolerating distractions in the spiritual life can dissuade the enemy from discouraging us in prayer. 

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

• It would be unrealistic to believe that we can be free from all distractions in prayer, so we must have strategies to tolerate them.
• How can we "gently" turn our thoughts back to God during prayer?
• The Catechism of the Catholic Church reveals to us that our distractions can uncover our sinful attachments.
• Is perseverance in prayer despite our distractions more meritorious than being without distractions all together?
• What strategies can we use to tolerate the distractions and turn our hearts back to Jesus?

Resources:

• Spiritualdirection.com - website
• EWTN Global Catholic Radio
• Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation
• EWTN Religious Catalogue - online
• Into the Deep: Finding Peace Through Prayer by Dan Burke
• Catechism of the Catholic Church, Paragraph 2729 - Distractions reveal our attachments (USCCB link)
• 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 Melissa recognize prayer as a battle and give strategies to combat distractions and other forces that interfere with progress in prayer. 

 Topics/Questions covered in the show:

• Why is prayer referred to as “a battle” in the Catechism of the Catholic Church?
• Distractions can be a serious setback for those seeking to advance in prayer.
• What types of distractions are the most detrimental?
• What are some strategies to help prevent or eliminate distractions?

 Resources:

• Spiritualdirection.com - website
• EWTN Global Catholic Radio
• Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation
• EWTN Religious Catalogue - online
• Into the Deep: Finding Peace Through Prayer by Dan Burke
• Luke 15:11-32 - The Parable of the Prodigal Son (USCCB Bible link)
• Questions? Send an e-mail to [email protected] or call 818-646-7729. — please leave your name, location and question.