Dr. Anthony Lilles, focusing on Pope Benedict XVI’s writings,  discusses how illness, physically or emotionally, during Advent can be a unique spiritual opportunity. He emphasizes that suffering and difficulty can be a form of divine visitation, offering a chance for personal growth and deeper connection with God.

Dr. Lilles encourages listeners to view every life event, including hardships, as an expression of God’s love. He suggests maintaining an ‘inner diary’ of daily positives as a way to acknowledge God’s presence in all situations. The discussion also covers practical spiritual practices for the Advent season, especially for those facing physical or emotional challenges. Dr. Lilles highlights the importance of ‘offering up’ one’s suffering, transforming it into a meaningful spiritual journey.

This podcast offers a compassionate perspective on finding spiritual richness and hope in the midst of illness, aligning with the reflective nature of Advent.

The post Finding Joy and Hope in Challenging Times – Advent Reflections with Dr. Anthony Lilles – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Dr. Anthony Lilles offers a captivating exploration of the spiritual significance of St. Nicholas through the reflections of Pope Benedict XVI. St. Nicholas, known for his generosity and kindness, serves as a model of Christ’s light, especially during Advent. His actions, rooted in faith and love, reflect the incarnation of Christ, demonstrating the meaningfulness of human life and love.

St. Nicholas’ defense of Jesus’ divinity at the Council of Nicaea highlights the profound truth of God’s love entering humanity. His life of everyday holiness teaches us to bring Christ’s light into the world through acts of charity and selflessness.

Families should honor St. Nicholas during Advent, embracing his virtues through acts of giving and reflection. Traditions like lighting candles symbolize the consuming nature of love and service, tying directly to the saint’s legacy. Even in today’s often commercialized image of Santa Claus, St. Nicholas can remind us of the profound connection between the incarnation and the Eucharist. By incorporating his example into Advent practices, listeners are called to foster hope, joy, and faith in their communities, embodying the true spirit of the season.

Anthony Lilles, S.T.D., has served the Church and assisted in the formation of clergy and seminarians since 1994. Before coming to St. Patrick’s, he served at seminaries and houses of formation in the Archdiocese of Denver and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The son of a California farmer, married with young adult children, holds a B.A. in theology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville with both the ecclesiastical licentiate and doctorate in spiritual theology from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome (the Angelicum). An expert in the writings of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity and the Carmelite Doctors of the Church, he co-founded the Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation and the High Calling Program for priestly vocations. He also founded the John Paul II Center for Contemplative Culture, which hosts symposiums, retreats, and conferences. In addition to his publications, he blogs at www.beginningtopray.com .

The post Unveiling the Light of St. Nicholas – Advent Reflections with Dr. Anthony Lilles – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

In this episode of the Discerning Hearts podcast, Dr. Anthony Lilles focuses once again on the profound insights of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) from his work “Seeking God’s Face.” The episode explores the concept of waiting with hope during Advent and understanding the significance of Christian time and history.

Dr. Lilles reflects on a passage from Pope Benedict about the different aspects of waiting – from the anticipation of something better in life to the endurance of illness. The conversation highlights how waiting becomes meaningful when filled with the presence of Christ. This presence, not limited to the future, is active and transformative in the present, offering comfort and direction.

The podcast delves into the idea that Christian hope elevates every moment of life, making it precious. It contrasts this with the despair and nihilism prevalent in society, where people often wait without purpose. Dr. Lilles emphasizes that Christian hope sees God’s love in all circumstances, whether in joy, sorrow, success, or failure.

The episode concludes with the notion that the blessings received now are just a foretaste of the greater joy and fulfillment to come in heaven, urging listeners to live in gratitude and expectation of God’s inexhaustible goodness. This Advent reflection encourages embracing each moment as a gift from God, filled with His loving presence.

The post Embracing Hope and Presence – Advent Reflections w/ Dr. Anthony Lilles – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Dr. Anthony Lilles and Kris McGregor explore Day 14 of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity’s Last Retreat. The reflection centers on the idea that Holy Communion is not merely a moment of devotion but an invitation to unite fully with Christ’s obedience to the Father’s will. Elizabeth points to Christ’s declaration, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me”, to reveal that receiving the Eucharist properly requires interior readiness and surrender. When we approach the altar with selfish motives or spiritual distraction, we hinder the grace meant to transform us. Instead, St. Elizabeth calls for a soul open to the mystery of divine will: one that continues to offer praise and fidelity long after Mass ends. This disposition leads us deeper into the very heart of Christ’s sacrificial love, enabling us to join him in his prayer and suffering.

Silence is the place where union with God matures. St. Elizabeth portrays this silence not as mere absence of noise, but as the crucible of transformation, especially in suffering. Drawing from Jesus’ own cries from the cross—“Why have you abandoned me?” and “I thirst”—she identifies the soul’s participation in divine love through desolation and thirst for God. This silence prepares the heart to echo Jesus’ final surrender: “Into your hands I commend my spirit.” Dr. Lilles reflects that such surrender, born from silence and suffering, allows God’s glory and joy to enter the world. In a noisy culture, this interior stillness is rare but deeply necessary. It is within this silence, he says, that God astonishes the soul with his presence and leads it beyond its limits into the boundless mystery of divine love.

36. “It seems to me that all is loss since I have known the excelling knowledge of my Lord, Jesus Christ. For love of Him I have forfeited everything; I have accounted all else rubbish that I may gain Christ, so as to be found in Him, not with my own justice but with the justice that comes from God through faith. What I want is to know Him, to share in His sufferings, to become like Him in His death. I pursue my course, striving to attain to what Christ has destined me for by taking hold of me; my whole concern is to forget what is behind and to strain forward constantly to what is ahead; I run straight to the goal . . . , to the prize of the heavenly vocation to which God has called me in Christ Jesus.” 212 The Apostle has often revealed the greatness of this vocation: “God,” he says, “has chosen us in Him before the creation of the world that we might be holy and immaculate in His presence in love. . . . We have been predestined by the decree of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, so that we may be the praise of His glory.” 213

37. But how do we respond to the dignity of this vocation? This is the secret: “Mihi vivere Christus est! . . . Vivo enim, jam non ego, vivit vero in me Christus. . . .” 214 We must be transformed into Jesus Christ; again it is St. Paul who teaches me this: “Those whom God has foreknown, He has predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.” 215 It is important then that I study this divine Model so as to identify myself so closely with Him that I may unceasingly reveal Him to the eyes of the Father. First of all, what did He say when He came into the world? “Here I am, O God, I come to do your will.” 216 I think that this prayer should be like the bride’s heartbeat: 217 “Here we are, O Father, we come to do your will!”

This the text we are using to discuss “Heaven in Faith” you can find it here and order from the Carmelite Sisters

We would like to thank Miriam Gutierrez for providing “the voice” of St. Elizabeth for this series

For other episodes in the series visit the Discerning Hearts page for Dr. Anthony Lilles

Anthony Lilles, S.T.D., has served the Church and assisted in the formation of clergy and seminarians since 1994. Before coming to St. Patrick’s, he served at seminaries and houses of formation in the Archdiocese of Denver and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The son of a California farmer, married with young adult children, holds a B.A. in theology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville with both the ecclesiastical licentiate and doctorate in spiritual theology from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome (the Angelicum). An expert in the writings of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity and the Carmelite Doctors of the Church, he co-founded the Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation and the High Calling Program for priestly vocations. He also founded the John Paul II Center for Contemplative Culture, which hosts symposiums, retreats, and conferences. In addition to his publications, he blogs at www.beginningtopray.com .

The post BTP-LR20 – Day 14 – Part 2 – The Last Retreat by St. Elizabeth of the Trinity – Beginning to Pray with Dr. Anthony Lilles – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

In this episode of Beginning to Pray, Dr. Anthony Lilles and Kris McGregor reflect on Day 14 of The Last Retreat by St. Elizabeth of the Trinity. As Elizabeth nears the close of her earthly life, she draws deeply from the writings of St. Paul to express her complete surrender to Christ and her longing to be united with Him in everything.

Her words are filled with Scripture—not simply quoted, but absorbed into her heart and prayer. She speaks of letting go of all else in order to press forward toward Christ, who has taken hold of her completely. Dr. Lilles offers insight into how her prayer is not shaped by emotion or technique, but by a steady and trusting love—a love that remains even in suffering.

Listeners are invited to consider how Elizabeth’s trust in God’s eternal plan—set in place before the foundation of the world—can shape our own response to trials, loss, or uncertainty. Her surrender is not passive, but strong and deliberate, rooted in the desire to do the Father’s will in all things. This conversation opens a path toward interior transformation, where even the most painful moments can become occasions of grace and deeper communion with Christ.

In your current season of life, what attachments or distractions may be keeping you from a deeper intimacy with Christ?

How have you tried to earn God’s favor, and what would it look like to rest more fully in His free gift of grace?

When your prayer feels uneventful or dry, how can you remain committed to simply being present to God?

Think about a recent difficulty you faced: how might Christ be inviting you to let His life guide your response?

How does remembering that God’s plan for you began before creation change the way you view today’s challenges?

In practical terms, what daily habit could help you say a more ready “yes” to God’s will?

Where do you notice self‑doubt creeping in, and how can turning to Christ’s strength reshape that inner dialogue?

Who in your life could benefit from your intercessory prayer this week, and how will you make space to pray intentionally for that person?

How might reflecting on Scripture from memory—following Elizabeth’s example—reshape the atmosphere of your day?

Looking ahead, what concrete step can you take to be sure that love, rather than fear, motivates your decisions?

36. “It seems to me that all is loss since I have known the excelling knowledge of my Lord, Jesus Christ. For love of Him I have forfeited everything; I have accounted all else rubbish that I may gain Christ, so as to be found in Him, not with my own justice but with the justice that comes from God through faith. What I want is to know Him, to share in His sufferings, to become like Him in His death. I pursue my course, striving to attain to what Christ has destined me for by taking hold of me; my whole concern is to forget what is behind and to strain forward constantly to what is ahead; I run straight to the goal . . . , to the prize of the heavenly vocation to which God has called me in Christ Jesus.” 212 The Apostle has often revealed the greatness of this vocation: “God,” he says, “has chosen us in Him before the creation of the world that we might be holy and immaculate in His presence in love. . . . We have been predestined by the decree of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, so that we may be the praise of His glory.” 213

37. But how do we respond to the dignity of this vocation? This is the secret: “Mihi vivere Christus est! . . . Vivo enim, jam non ego, vivit vero in me Christus. . . .” 214 We must be transformed into Jesus Christ; again it is St. Paul who teaches me this: “Those whom God has foreknown, He has predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.” 215 It is important then that I study this divine Model so as to identify myself so closely with Him that I may unceasingly reveal Him to the eyes of the Father. First of all, what did He say when He came into the world? “Here I am, O God, I come to do your will.” 216 I think that this prayer should be like the bride’s heartbeat: 217 “Here we are, O Father, we come to do your will!

This the text we are using to discuss “Heaven in Faith” you can find it here and order from the Carmelite Sisters

We would like to thank Miriam Gutierrez for providing “the voice” of St. Elizabeth for this series

For other episodes in the series visit the Discerning Hearts page for Dr. Anthony Lilles

Anthony Lilles, S.T.D., has served the Church and assisted in the formation of clergy and seminarians since 1994. Before coming to St. Patrick’s, he served at seminaries and houses of formation in the Archdiocese of Denver and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The son of a California farmer, married with young adult children, holds a B.A. in theology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville with both the ecclesiastical licentiate and doctorate in spiritual theology from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome (the Angelicum). An expert in the writings of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity and the Carmelite Doctors of the Church, he co-founded the Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation and the High Calling Program for priestly vocations. He also founded the John Paul II Center for Contemplative Culture, which hosts symposiums, retreats, and conferences. In addition to his publications, he blogs at www.beginningtopray.com .

The post BTP-LR19 – Day 14 – Part 1 – The Last Retreat by St. Elizabeth of the Trinity – Beginning to Pray with Dr. Anthony Lilles – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Dr. Anthony Lilles and Kris McGregor reflect on Day 13 of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity’s “The Last Retreat.” Elizabeth draws from St. Paul’s vision of restoring all things in Christ, adopting it as a personal rule of life. St. Elizabeth, even in her physical suffering and in the face of external turmoil, turns inward to a deeper union with God. Rather than being consumed by hardship, she looks to Christ as the foundation of her identity and purpose. Her insight reveals that living “rooted in Christ” means detaching from self-centered desires and surrendering to the love and presence of God. This inner life, grounded in thanksgiving and faith, allows her to find meaning, direction, and even joy amidst pain.

Dr. Lilles elaborates on the practical implications of St. Elizabeth’s teaching, and how we must let go of ego and control, echoing the humility of Jesus who emptied himself in obedience to the Father. This can apply to family life and religious vocations. Authentic renewal only happens when one stops clinging to personal ambition and becomes open to God’s transforming work. Trust, especially in trials, becomes the gateway to a deeper life in God.

32. “Instaurare omnia in Christo.” 194 Again it is St. Paul who instructs me, St. Paul who has just immersed himself in the great counsel of God195 and who tells me “that He has resolved in Himself to restore all things in Christ.” So that I may personally realize this divine plan, it is again St. Paul who comes to my aid and who will himself draw up a rule of life for me. “Walk in Jesus Christ,” he tells me, “be rooted in Him, built up in Him, strengthened in faith, growing more and more in Him through thanksgiving.” 196

33. To walk in Jesus Christ seems to me to mean to leave self, lose sight of self, give up self, in order to enter more deeply into Him with every passing moment, 197 so deeply that one is rooted there; and to every event, to every circumstance we can fling this beautiful challenge: “Who will separate me from the love of Jesus Christ?” 198 When the soul is established in Him at such depths that its roots are also deeply thrust in, then the divine sap streams into it199 and all this imperfect, commonplace, natural life is destroyed. Then, in the language of the Apostle, “that which is mortal is swallowed up by life.” 200 The soul thus “stripped” of self and “clothed” 201 in Jesus Christ has nothing more to fear from exterior encounters or from interior difficulties, for these things, far from being an obstacle, serve only “to root it more deeply in the love” 202 of its Master. Through everything, despite everything, the soul can “adore Him always because of Himself.” 203 For it is free, rid of self and everything else; it can sing with the psalmist: “Though an army encamp against me, I will not fear; though war be waged upon me I will trust in spite of everything; for Yahweh will hide me in the secrecy of His tent” 204 and this tent is nothing else but Himself. I think that is what St. Paul means when he says: “be rooted in Jesus Christ.”

This the text we are using to discuss “Heaven in Faith” you can find it here and order from the Carmelite Sisters

We would like to thank Miriam Gutierrez for providing “the voice” of St. Elizabeth for this series

For other episodes in the series visit the Discerning Hearts page for Dr. Anthony Lilles

Anthony Lilles, S.T.D., has served the Church and assisted in the formation of clergy and seminarians since 1994. Before coming to St. Patrick’s, he served at seminaries and houses of formation in the Archdiocese of Denver and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The son of a California farmer, married with young adult children, holds a B.A. in theology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville with both the ecclesiastical licentiate and doctorate in spiritual theology from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome (the Angelicum). An expert in the writings of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity and the Carmelite Doctors of the Church, he co-founded the Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation and the High Calling Program for priestly vocations. He also founded the John Paul II Center for Contemplative Culture, which hosts symposiums, retreats, and conferences. In addition to his publications, he blogs at www.beginningtopray.com .

The post BTP-LR18 – Day 13 – The Last Retreat by St. Elizabeth of the Trinity – Beginning to Pray with Dr. Anthony Lilles – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Dr. Anthony Lilles and Kris McGregor reflect on the 12th day of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity’s Last Retreat, focusing on the theme of peace as a gift from Christ’s indwelling presence. Elizabeth teaches that true holiness and peace flow from Christ’s intimate union with the soul—a union initiated by God’s love and sealed through Christ’s sacrifice. Dr. Lilles explains that Christ doesn’t conform to our expectations, but rather invites us to surrender to his transformative love, which purifies, sanctifies, and leads us to the Father. This kind of relationship with Jesus requires letting go of our desire for control, comfort, and reputation, which often block our openness to grace.

The discussion also highlights the dynamic nature of divine peace: it is not merely a feeling, but the fruit of Christ’s ongoing work in us. Through daily recollected prayer—giving intentional space for God in silence—Christ reorders our inner life, heals deep wounds, and conforms us more fully to himself. This peace, grounded in the knowledge that we are deeply loved and redeemed, enables us to stand confidently before the Father and live in right relationship with others. Elizabeth’s message is ultimately one of hope: through trust and recollection, even in weakness, Christ continues to act, lifting and transforming us with his immense love.

29. “Verbum caro factum est et habitavit in nobis.” 171 God has said: “Be holy, for I am holy.” 172 But He remained hidden in His inaccessible [light173] and the creature needed to have Him descend to it, to live its life, so that following in His footsteps, 174 it can thus ascend to Him and become holy with His holiness. “I sanctify myself for them that they also may be sanctified in the truth.” 175 Here I am in the presence “of a mystery hidden from ages and generations,” the mystery “which is Christ”: “your hope of glory,” 176 says St. Paul! And he adds that “the understanding of this mystery” was given to him. 177 So it is from the great Apostle that I am going to learn how I may possess this knowledge which, in his expression, “surpasses all other knowledge: the knowledge of the love of Christ Jesus.” 178

30. First of all he tells me that He is “my peace,” 179 that it is “through Him that I have access to the Father,” 180 for it has pleased this “Father of lights” 181 that “in Him all fullness should dwell, and that through Him He should reconcile to Himself all things, whether on the earth or in the heavens, making peace through the Blood of His Cross. . . .” 182 “You have received of His fullness,” the Apostle continues, “you were buried with Him in Baptism, and in Him you rose again through faith in the working of God. . . . He brought you to life along with Him, forgiving you all your sins, cancelling the decree of condemnation which weighed on you: He abolished it by nailing it to the Cross. Despoiling Principalities and Powers, He victoriously led them away as captives, triumphing over them in Himself . . . ,” 183 “to present you holy, pure, and without reproach before Him. . . .” 184

31. This is Christ’s work in every soul of good  will and it is the work that His immense love, His “exceeding love,” 186 is eager to do in me. He wants to be my peace so that nothing can distract me or draw me out of “the invincible fortress of holy recolletion.” 187 It is there that He will give me “access to the Father” and will keep me as still and as peaceful in His presence as if my soul were already in eternity. 188 It is by the Blood of His Cross that He will make peace in my little heaven, so that it may truly be the repose of the Three. He will fill me with Himself; He will bury me with Him; He will make me live again with Him, by His life: “Mihi vivere Christus est!” 189 And if I fall at every moment, 190 in a wholly confident faith I will be helped up by Him. I know that He will forgive me, that He will cancel out everything with a jealous care, and even more, He will “despoil” me, He will “free” 191 me from all my miseries, from everything that is an obstacle to the divine action. “He will lead away all my powers,” 192 making them His captives, triumphing over them in Himself. Then I will have wholly passed into Him and can say: “I no longer live. My Master lives in me!” 193 And I will be “holy, pure, without reproach” in the Father’s eyes.

This the text we are using to discuss “Heaven in Faith” you can find it here and order from the Carmelite Sisters

We would like to thank Miriam Gutierrez for providing “the voice” of St. Elizabeth for this series

For other episodes in the series visit the Discerning Hearts page for Dr. Anthony Lilles

Anthony Lilles, S.T.D., has served the Church and assisted in the formation of clergy and seminarians since 1994. Before coming to St. Patrick’s, he served at seminaries and houses of formation in the Archdiocese of Denver and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The son of a California farmer, married with young adult children, holds a B.A. in theology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville with both the ecclesiastical licentiate and doctorate in spiritual theology from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome (the Angelicum). An expert in the writings of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity and the Carmelite Doctors of the Church, he co-founded the Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation and the High Calling Program for priestly vocations. He also founded the John Paul II Center for Contemplative Culture, which hosts symposiums, retreats, and conferences. In addition to his publications, he blogs at www.beginningtopray.com .

The post BTP-LR17 – Day 12 – The Last Retreat by St. Elizabeth of the Trinity – Beginning to Pray with Dr. Anthony Lilles – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Dr. Anthony Lilles and Kris McGregor continue their discussion on Day 11 of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity’s Last Retreat and the profound invitation to deeper communion with God through silence, solitude, and surrender. Those who have progressed in the spiritual life may struggle with inner habits like brooding, rash judgment, or self-pity—tendencies that can only be healed through encountering the living Word in contemplative prayer. This form of prayer is not about methodical virtue-building but a heartfelt consent to God’s transformative presence, modeled after the Blessed Virgin Mary’s “yes.” In silence, the soul opens to the Father’s strength, which enables it to receive and keep the Word, Jesus Christ, who alone can pierce the heart and bring healing.

True Christian communion is not a personal triumph over life’s ambiguities but an abiding presence of God within them. God’s will, likened to the protective walls of a garden, offers space where the Holy Spirit can move freely, liberating the soul from being ruled by moods or impulses. As the soul dwells in this loving silence, it becomes capable of acting in divine freedom. St. Elizabeth calls the soul into the “eternal present”—a place of God’s abiding love and truth—where the Trinity makes its home. This transformation is not just for personal sanctity but also for the good of others, as one’s surrendered heart becomes a channel of divine life and grace.

28. But it is not enough just to listen to this word, we must keep it! 164 And it is in keeping it that the soul will be “sanctified in the truth,” and that is the desire of the Master: “Sanctify them in the truth, your word is truth.” 165 To the one who keeps His word has He not made this promise: “My Father will love him and we will come to him and make our home in him”? 166 It is the whole Trinity who dwells in the soul that loves them in truth, that is, by keeping their word! And when this soul has realized its riches, all the natural or supernatural joys that can come to it from creatures or from God Himself are only an invitation to reenter into itself in order to enjoy the substantial Good that it possesses, which is nothing else than God Himself. And thus it has, St. John of the Cross says, a certain resemblance to the divine Being. 167

“Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.” St. Paul tells me “that He works all things according to the counsel of His will,” 168 and my Master asks me also to pay Him homage in this regard: “to do all things according to the counsel of His will.” Never to let myself be ruled by impressions, by the first impulses of nature, but to let the will gain self-mastery. . . . And for this will to be free, it must be, in the expression of a pious writer, “enclosed in God’s will.” 169 Then I will be “moved by His Spirit,” 170 as St. Paul says. I will do only what is divine, only what is eternal, and, like my Unchanging One, I will live even here below in an eternal present.

Elizabeth of the Trinity (2014-07-24). Elizabeth of the Trinity Complete Works, Volume I: I Have Found God, General Introduction and Major Spiritual Writings (Kindle Locations 3419-3435). ICS Publications. Kindle Edition.

This the text we are using to discuss “Heaven in Faith” you can find it here and order from the Carmelite Sisters

We would like to thank Miriam Gutierrez for providing “the voice” of St. Elizabeth for this series

For other episodes in the series visit the Discerning Hearts page for Dr. Anthony Lilles

Anthony Lilles, S.T.D., has served the Church and assisted in the formation of clergy and seminarians since 1994. Before coming to St. Patrick’s, he served at seminaries and houses of formation in the Archdiocese of Denver and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The son of a California farmer, married with young adult children, holds a B.A. in theology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville with both the ecclesiastical licentiate and doctorate in spiritual theology from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome (the Angelicum). An expert in the writings of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity and the Carmelite Doctors of the Church, he co-founded the Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation and the High Calling Program for priestly vocations. He also founded the John Paul II Center for Contemplative Culture, which hosts symposiums, retreats, and conferences. In addition to his publications, he blogs at www.beginningtopray.com .

The post BTP-LR16 – Day 11, pt. 2 – The Last Retreat by St. Elizabeth of the Trinity – Beginning to Pray with Dr. Anthony Lilles – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Dr. Anthony Lilles and Kris McGregor explore Day 11 of The Last Retreat by St. Elizabeth of the Trinity. The conversation focuses on developing a deep relationship with God the Father, especially for those who may have struggled with their earthly paternal relationships. St. Elizabeth’s own early loss of her father shaped her yearning for the Heavenly Father and how her writings invite us to rediscover this divine relationship. Life’s challenges and imperfections of earthly fathers point us toward the true Father, who grants us identity, freedom, and a mission oriented toward eternal life. The practice of forgiving and letting go of past wounds becomes part of this transformative journey.

Entering spiritual solitude and silence can be daunting for many. St. Elizabeth describes how God leads the soul into an “immense infinite solitude,” where one becomes receptive to His word. Letting go of attachments and internal obstacles by welcoming the Word of God into one’s heart involves not just hearing but living out the Word, allowing it to strip away deeper resistances like resentment or self-pity. In this surrender, the soul is gradually sanctified, making space for the indwelling presence of the Trinity.

27. “The Lord brought me into a spacious place, because He was gracious toward me. . . .” 159 The Creator, seeing the beautiful silence which reigns in His creature, and gazing on her wholly recollected in her interior solitude, is enamored of her beauty and leads her into this immense, infinite solitude, into this “spacious place” sung of by the prophet, which is nothing else but Himself: “I will enter into the depths of the power of God.” 160 Speaking through his prophet, the Lord said: “I will lead her into solitude and speak to her heart.” 161 The soul has entered into this vast solitude in which God will make Himself heard! “His word,” St. Paul says, “is living and active, and more penetrating than a two edged sword: extending even to the division of soul and spirit, even of joints and marrow.” 162 It is His word then that will directly achieve the work of stripping in the soul; for it has this particular characteristic, that it effects and creates what it intends, 163 provided however that the soul consents to let this be done.

Elizabeth of the Trinity (2014-07-24). Elizabeth of the Trinity Complete Works, Volume I: I Have Found God, General Introduction and Major Spiritual Writings (Kindle Locations 3408-3419). ICS Publications. Kindle Edition.

This the text we are using to discuss “Heaven in Faith” you can find it here and order from the Carmelite Sisters

We would like to thank Miriam Gutierrez for providing “the voice” of St. Elizabeth for this series

For other episodes in the series visit the Discerning Hearts page for Dr. Anthony Lilles

Anthony Lilles, S.T.D., has served the Church and assisted in the formation of clergy and seminarians since 1994. Before coming to St. Patrick’s, he served at seminaries and houses of formation in the Archdiocese of Denver and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The son of a California farmer, married with young adult children, holds a B.A. in theology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville with both the ecclesiastical licentiate and doctorate in spiritual theology from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome (the Angelicum). An expert in the writings of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity and the Carmelite Doctors of the Church, he co-founded the Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation and the High Calling Program for priestly vocations. He also founded the John Paul II Center for Contemplative Culture, which hosts symposiums, retreats, and conferences. In addition to his publications, he blogs at www.beginningtopray.com .

The post BTP-LR15 – Day 11, pt. 1 – The Last Retreat by St. Elizabeth of the Trinity – Beginning to Pray with Dr. Anthony Lilles – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Dr. Anthony Lilles continues reflecting on the 10th day of The Last Retreat by St. Elizabeth of the Trinity and her invitation to live fully in the eternal present of God’s love—a reality where hope flourishes because God is always bringing forth something new and beautiful. A soul attuned to this divine presence lives with adoration and vulnerability, free from the controlling anxieties of the world. This disposition allows a person to “awake the dawn,” seeing each moment as filled with purpose, rather than as a monotonous burden. Such souls find joy and strength even amid suffering, living with invincible hope rooted in the Father’s love.

There is a need for contemplative prayer, accessible to all the baptized, as a path toward inner transformation. Silence and solitude help expose the inner noise caused by disordered desires and fears, which must be surrendered to God. Drawing from St. Elizabeth’s musical imagery, he describes how a heart in tune with God finds harmony and peace. True beauty, Elizabeth says, lies in the unity of being—ultimately a reflection of the unity of love in the Trinity. This unity, born of deep interior silence and ordered affection, enables the soul to love greatly and offer that love to the world in a way that heals, strengthens, and sanctifies.

26. “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.” “God,” says St. Dionysius, “is the great solitary.” 153 My Master asks me to imitate this perfection, to pay Him homage by being a great solitary. The divine Being lives in an eternal, immense solitude. He never leaves it, though concerning Himself with the needs of His creatures, for He never leaves Himself; and this solitude is nothing else than His divinity.

So that nothing may draw me out of this beautiful silence within, I must always maintain the same dispositions, the same solitude, the same withdrawal, the same stripping of self! If my desires, my fears, my joys or my sorrows, if all the movements proceeding from these “four passions” 154 are not perfectly directed to God, I will not be solitary: there will be noise within me. There must be peace, “sleep of the powers,” 155 the unity of being. “Listen, my daughter, lend your ear, forget your people and your father’s house, and the King will become enamoured of your beauty.” 156

It seems to me that this call is an invitation to silence: listen . . . lend your ear. . . . But to listen we must forget “our father’s house,” that is, everything that pertains to the natural life, this life to which the Apostle refers when he says: “If you live according to the flesh, you will die.” 157 To forget “your people” is more difficult, I think, for this people is everything which is, so to speak, part of us: our feelings, our memories, our impressions, etc., the self, in a word! We must forget it, abandon it, and when the soul has made this break, when it is free from all that, the King is enamored of its beauty. For beauty is unity, at least it is the unity of God!”

Elizabeth of the Trinity (2014-07-24). Elizabeth of the Trinity Complete Works, Volume I: I Have Found God, General Introduction and Major Spiritual Writings (Kindle Locations 3396-3407). ICS Publications. Kindle Edition.

This the text we are using to discuss “Heaven in Faith” you can find it here and order from the Carmelite Sisters

We would like to thank Miriam Gutierrez for providing “the voice” of St. Elizabeth for this series

For other episodes in the series visit the Discerning Hearts page for Dr. Anthony Lilles

Anthony Lilles, S.T.D., has served the Church and assisted in the formation of clergy and seminarians since 1994. Before coming to St. Patrick’s, he served at seminaries and houses of formation in the Archdiocese of Denver and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The son of a California farmer, married with young adult children, holds a B.A. in theology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville with both the ecclesiastical licentiate and doctorate in spiritual theology from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome (the Angelicum). An expert in the writings of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity and the Carmelite Doctors of the Church, he co-founded the Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation and the High Calling Program for priestly vocations. He also founded the John Paul II Center for Contemplative Culture, which hosts symposiums, retreats, and conferences. In addition to his publications, he blogs at www.beginningtopray.com .

The post BTP-LR14 – Day 10, pt. 2 – The Last Retreat by St. Elizabeth of the Trinity – Beginning to Pray with Dr. Anthony Lilles – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.