Free Advent Guide: Are you looking to deepen your prayer life this season? Download our free guide to Carmelite spirituality to help you navigate Advent with purpose: https://midnightcarmelite.com/reset

Is silence just empty space, or is it something more?

In our modern world, we often view silence as a vacuum—an absence of noise. But true spiritual silence is actually a form of active receptivity. Just as you must be silent to truly hear a friend or imagine a story while reading, you must cultivate interior silence to perceive the reality of God. In the hustle of the holiday season, it is easy to miss the Incarnation if we are not prepared to listen.

In this week’s episode of Midnight Carmelite, we explore how to prepare for the feast of the Incarnation. We look to the Nativity story—where Christ was born into a silence—as our guide. We also discuss the practical tool of mortification. Far from being a negative practice, we frame mortification as the "shovel" used to clear the stable of our hearts, while our good deeds become the straw that cushions the manger for the Christ Child.

In this episode, you will learn:

• The definition of Active Receptivity: Why silence is not a void, but a necessary state of listening for God’s disclosure.
• Lessons from the Nativity: How the humility of the shepherds and Magi allowed them to notice what the rest of the world missed.
• The "Shovel" and the "Straw": A practical metaphor for using mortification to remove worldly attachments and good deeds to welcome the Lord.
• Practical Advent Steps: How to replace distractions (like excessive shopping) with ten minutes of Scripture and silence.

Get my free guide, "The 5-Minute Prayer Reset," and discover a simple framework to turn this inspiration into a consistent daily practice at https://midnightcarmelite.com/reset.

Why does death seem so random? Why do innocent children suffer while tyrants live to old age? In this episode, Andrew Gniadek sits down with returning guest Dr. Larry Chapp to tackle the "scandal of evil." They move beyond standard textbook answers to explore the deep, emotional reality of lament and the "kenosis of the cross."

Beyond the problem of evil, this conversation explores the practical side of sanctity in the modern world. Dr. Chapp shares candid insights on the dangers of "quid pro quo" prayer, the history of the Catechism as a response to post-Vatican II chaos, and how to find holiness in the everyday annoyances of marriage.

Here is what you will learn in this episode:

• The Mystery of Suffering: Why logical arguments often fail to comfort us in the face of tragedy, and why we must instead look to the "unjust" death of Christ.
• Overcoming Ego in Prayer: How to interpret "unanswered" prayers not as rejection, but as protection from our own misguided desires.
• Sanctity in Annoyance: A practical strategy for turning marital frustrations—like quirks and habits—into moments of obedience and deep love.
• The Role of the Catechism: Understanding the historical pivot from the confusion of the 1970s to the theological standardization of John Paul II and Ratzinger.

Do you ever feel like your prayer is pointless? You show up, but you feel nothing, "know" nothing, and it seems like you're just talking to the void. This experience of spiritual dryness is one of the most common and difficult challenges in the spiritual life, and it's the number one reason many people stop praying altogether.

In this episode, we explore the practical and profound antidote to this dryness: faith and hope. We dive into John Henry Newman's powerful distinction between "notional assent" (simply knowing and explaining facts about God) and "real assent" (letting those truths radically change how you live). This shift is the key to understanding what to do when your prayer feels empty.

We discuss how this concept, combined with St. Teresa of Avila's "determined determination," responds to dryness. It's not a sign of failure or God's absence; it's a critical training ground to build a faith that isn't dependent on feelings.

In this episode, you will learn:

• The crucial difference between "notional assent" and "real assent" and how it impacts your prayer.
• Why looking for God in your feelings or natural understanding is like trying to "force God into something that would make him not God."
• How to understand dryness as the training ground St.John of the Cross calls "naked faith."
• Practical ways to apply "determined determination" and use hope as the fuel to persevere, even when prayer feels pointless.

Enjoying the episode? The journey does not have to end here. Get my free guide, "The 5-Minute Prayer Reset," and discover a simple framework to turn this inspiration into a consistent daily practice at https://midnightcarmelite.com/reset.

Do you ever sit down to pray, only to find your mind is restless, anxious, or pulled in a dozen different directions? In a world that offers instant gratification, it’s harder than ever to build the spiritual focus needed for deep prayer. We're told to "seek God," but our attachments often seek "consolations" instead.

Enjoying the episode? The journey does not have to end here. Get my free guide, "The 5-Minute Prayer Reset," and discover a simple framework to turn this inspiration into a consistent daily practice at https://midnightcarmelite.com/reset.

This week, we dive into the practical and powerful Carmelite concept of mortification. Far from being an outdated practice, mortification is the spiritual equivalent of going to the gym. It’s the conscious, willed denial of our small, everyday attachments—from choosing the fruit snack you don't prefer to cutting off a "doom-scrolling" session. We explore how these tiny acts of self-denial build incredible spiritual muscle, killing self-will so you can become more docile and receptive to God in prayer.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What mortification truly is (and what it isn't).
• Practical, small ways to practice mortification in your daily life.
• How building "spiritual muscle" directly combats distraction and agitation in your prayer time.
• Why a lack of mortification is often rooted in a deeper lack of hope in God, keeping us lukewarm.

Is your prayer life more about seeking good feelings from God than seeking God Himself? Many of us fall into the subtle trap of spiritual gluttony, where our focus shifts from a loving conversation with our Creator to a self-centered quest for spiritual consolations. This attachment to feelings, rather than to God, can leave us feeling restless, frustrated, and ultimately stunt our spiritual growth.

Enjoying the episode? The journey does not have to end here. Get my free guide, "The 5-Minute Prayer Reset," and discover a simple framework to turn this inspiration into a consistent daily practice at https://midnightcarmelite.com/reset.

In this episode, we explore the vices of spiritual avarice (the constant need for new devotions) and spiritual gluttony (the desire to consume good spiritual feelings). Using the powerful analogy of a human friendship, we break down how seeking the "consolations of God instead of the God of consolations" corrupts the purpose of prayer and prevents the deep, authentic relationship He desires to have with us.

In this episode, you will learn:

• The crucial difference between spiritual greed and spiritual gluttony, and how to spot them in your own life.
• Why chasing spiritual "highs" and good feelings ultimately leads to restlessness and frustration, not peace.
• How to transform your prayer from a self-centered pursuit into a genuine, loving conversation with God.
• A practical first step you can take this week to identify and uproot selfishness in your prayer, fostering a relationship built on faith, not feelings.

Do you ever wonder if you're actually growing spiritually, or just going through the motions? It's easy to rely on good feelings in prayer as a sign of progress, but what happens when those feelings disappear? How can you be certain you're making real progress in your relationship with God when your interior life feels dry?

In this episode, we tackle one of the most crucial questions in the spiritual life: What is the one true metric for holiness? Moving beyond the unreliable measure of emotions, we explore the timeless wisdom of St. Teresa of Avila to uncover a practical, observable standard for your spiritual growth. Discover why your daily interactions with others are the most accurate reflection of your love for God and learn how to begin assessing your spiritual health with honesty and hope, rather than self-condemnation.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why feelings are a deceptive measure of holiness and what you should focus on instead.
• How St. Teresa of Avila's teaching on charity provides a clear, actionable metric for your spiritual life.
• Practical, diagnostic questions you can ask yourself to establish a "spiritual baseline" and identify concrete areas for growth.
• How to reframe your faults not as signs of failure, but as essential data that reveals a clear path forward in loving God and neighbor.

Enjoying the episode? The journey does not have to end here. Get my free guide, "The 5-Minute Prayer Reset," and discover a simple framework to turn this inspiration into a consistent daily practice. Go to https://midnightcarmelite.com/reset and get your free copy today.

Have you hit a wall in your prayer life? If you feel spiritually dry or stuck, you might assume you're experiencing the famous "dark night of the senses." But what if that prayer brick wall is actually an alarm bell pointing to something much more fundamental?

In this episode, we challenge the popular misdiagnosis of spiritual dryness. We explore how a "prayer brick wall" is often not a sign of spiritual advancement, but a direct consequence of a life where our actions don't match our prayers. Drawing on the timeless wisdom of St. John of the Cross, we uncover the subtle spiritual imperfections—like spiritual gluttony and pride—that can masquerade as holiness and prevent us from truly growing closer to God.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why the feeling of a "prayer brick wall" should be seen as an alarm bell, not a badge of spiritual perfection.
• How to identify key spiritual imperfections, like spiritual pride and gluttony, that St. John of the Cross warns against.
• The critical link between your actions and virtues outside of prayer and the actual quality of your time with God.
• A powerful analogy from human relationships that reveals whether your love for God is based on your terms or His.

If this episode has you wondering what hidden obstacles might be holding you back, the first step is always to return to simple, honest prayer. To help you do just that, I've created a practical tool to help you start fresh tonight. It’s a simple PDF guide to help you find peace and reconnect with God—right where you are.

Join Midnight Carmelite to get instant access to my guide, "The 5-Minute Prayer Reset," right here: https://midnightcarmelite.com/reset

Connect with Midnight Carmelite:

Website: https://midnightcarmelite.com

How do you know if what you're chasing is your own ambition or God's actual call for your life? We all struggle with discerning our true purpose amidst the noise of the world and the desires of our own hearts. If you've ever felt restless or unsure about your path, this episode is for you.

After a period of personal reflection on the future of this podcast, this episode dives deep into the true nature of vocation. We explore how easily our good intentions can be compromised by pride and self-interest, using the powerful parable of the Pharisee to examine how "gratitude" can sometimes serve as a mask for spiritual ambition. This conversation is about refocusing our hearts, understanding that our primary call is to seek the Kingdom of God right where we are, in every present moment.

In this episode, you will learn:

• The crucial difference between a God-given vocation and a self-driven ambition.
• How to identify the subtle ways pride can poison your spiritual life and distort your understanding of God's will.
• Why a heart that isn't focused solely on God is the root of feeling restless and without purpose.
• That true holiness is found not in abstract ideas, but in the practical, daily circumstances of your life.

This episode explores what vocation is, but the real journey is in learning how to discern it in your own life. How do you distinguish between selfish desires and God's actual call? What is the first practical step you can take to move from wandering to walking with purpose? Do you sit down to pray and feel lost, distracted, and unsure where to begin? There is a simple way to rediscover calm and connection, and it only takes five minutes.

Join Midnight Carmelite to get instant access to my guide, "The 5-Minute Prayer Reset," right here: https://midnightcarmelite.com/reset

Connect with Midnight Carmelite at https://midnightcarmelite.com

#4: In this episode, we reflect on our own spiritual journey and identify any secondary activities or distractions that may be hindering our focus on purity of heart in relation to God's presence.

#3: In this episode, we discuss how absence relates to faith and our prayer life.