In this episode of The Devil is in the Details, Dan and Jordan tackle a hot-button topic in Catholic circles: can lay people lay hands on others in prayer? Responding to a listener’s question, they walk through:

• How Vatican II’s call for greater lay participation was sometimes distorted
• Why blurring the line between priest and laity weakens belief in the Eucharist
• The connection between priestly gestures, apostolic authority, and spiritual warfare
• Why exorcists like Fr. Gabriele Amorth and experts like Adam Blai warn against lay people laying hands on heads
• How the enemy can use “healing” experiences and false power to ensnare people
• The real difference between supplication and assuming spiritual authority you don’t have
• Clear, practical guidelines for lay Catholics who want to pray for others without crossing dangerous lines

Dan also shares personal experiences assisting at exorcisms and explains why priestly gestures are never for the laity, while Jordan lays out a simple framework for understanding spiritual authority in the family and beyond.

“Do not judge” is one of the most quoted and most misunderstood lines in the Gospel. Jesus does not say “ignore your brother’s speck.” He says remove the plank from your own eye first, then you will see clearly to help your brother. In other words, humility and self knowledge come before any true correction.

In this episode of The Devil is in the Details, Dan and Jordan begin Chapter 3 of The Devil in the Castle and enter the battles of the Third Mansion in St. Teresa of Avila’s Interior Castle. Here the soul is more stable in prayer and leaving habitual mortal sin behind, yet it faces a deeper and more subtle war: pride, a critical spirit, and a distorted fear of the enemy instead of a healthy fear of God and of our own capacity to fall.

You will hear about

• Why we should not fear the devil, but should fear our own ability to rationalize sin and reject God

• How humility “knocks off the handles” that sin gives to the enemy

• The difference between judging and condemning, and how to read “judge not” together with “you will know them by their fruits”

• The real meaning of the plank and speck analogy and what it reveals about gentle correction

• How social media and outrage culture feed a critical spirit that can destroy community life and our own souls

• Practical ways to guard your tongue, avoid unnecessary criticism and speak only where you have responsibility or relationship

• Why God sometimes allows repeated failure so that pride is broken and humility can grow

This is Part 1 of a three part look at the Third Mansion. In later parts, Dan and Jordan will explore the transition from meditative to contemplative prayer and how the enemy tries to derail that deeper intimacy with God.

To follow along more deeply, get Dan’s book The Devil in the Castle and explore free resources on mental prayer, humility and spiritual warfare at SpiritualDirection.com and in the Apostoli Viae community at ApostoliViae.org.

In the second mansion of St. Teresa of Avila’s Interior Castle, the battle gets loud. You have started praying, you are doing the daily examen, and suddenly you see your sin, your patterns, and your past more clearly than ever. The enemy rushes in with shame, discouragement, confusion, and the lie that “all of this was easier before you started getting serious.”

In this episode of The Devil is in the Details, Dan and Jordan continue their series on The Devil in the Castle and unpack the spiritual warfare of the second mansion, where the soul is spiritually awake but still fragile.

You will hear about

• How daily mental prayer and the examen wake you up to the real state of your soul

• The way the enemy weaponizes shame, universal negatives, and “you will never change”

• Why quitting prayer to “make the attacks stop” is like paying protection money to the mob

• Practical tactics to resist temptation in the first wave and train your will to fight

• The need to flee near occasions of sin, change life systems, and sometimes even leave relationships or environments

• How detachment from media, noise, and certain friendships actually weakens the enemy’s grip

• Why small daily mortifications and physical discipline strengthen you for spiritual battle

They also touch on redemptive examen, the sovereignty of God in the middle of the fight, and concrete tools like Into the Deep, Finding Peace in the Storm, and the Holy Habits app to help you keep going when the battle feels most intense.

This episode is part of a series on The Devil in the Castle. For full context, start with the introduction and first mansion, then continue through the playlist. Resources and free courses on mental prayer, spiritual warfare, and discernment of spirits are available at SpiritualDirection.com and ApostoliViae.org.

If you are not practicing mental prayer every day, are you really on the road to heaven? The saints would say that you're not.

In this episode of The Devil is in the Details, Dan and Jordan continue their series on The Devil in the Castle and Saint Teresa of Avila’s Interior Castle, stepping from the courtyard into the first mansion. They unpack why the saints, including Teresa of Avila, Alphonsus Liguori, and Aquinas, insist that daily mental prayer and a daily examen are not optional extras, but essential for salvation and authentic discipleship.

You will hear about

• Why Aquinas can say it is a sin not to pray

• How mental prayer actually gives you self knowledge and heals self delusion

• What a simple daily examen looks like in real life

• The “handles” sin creates for the enemy, and how they fall off as you grow in charity

• The lies that keep people from engaging in spiritual warfare, especially fear of “stirring things up”

They also walk through the "demonic goal" for those in the first mansion, the enemy’s tactics to keep you from daily prayer, and the concrete remedies the Church gives us, such as Mass, confession, mental prayer, and a spiritual rule of life.

When Catholics actually pray the Rosary well, hearts heal, families are protected, and hidden lies lose power. Gabriel Castillo (Gabby After Hours) joins Jordan to unpack real spiritual warfare (the 95% that happens in our minds and hearts), how Mary personally heals father/mother wounds, and why a daily Rosary fuels Confession, the Eucharist, and peace of soul.Gabriel’s new book: The Power of the Rosary• Book: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/the-power-of-the-rosary/• Audiobook: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Power-of-the-Rosary-Audiobook/B0FNS35SBB?srsltid=AfmBOorwoJ7b_vCPR-FXfXmf-lQ-kkJZkn6yTCHvJEZzK_TEZZ2xq6rf• Gabriel’s channel (Gabby After Hours): https://www.youtube.com/@gabiafterhours

We’re launching a new series on Dan’s book The Devil in the Castle, a practical guide to spiritual warfare through St. Teresa of Avila’s Interior Castle—with help from St. John of the Cross and St. Ignatius. We unpack authority (who can command what and when), why we defer to priests, how prayer + reflection mark true discipleship, and why “deliverance ministry” needs guardrails.

What you’ll learn

• Why Teresa’s “castle” map matters for everyday Catholics

• How the enemy’s tactics change as you advance toward union with God

• Realms of authority: family, spouses, clergy—where boldness is wise and where it’s reckless

• Why prayer & reflection are the two turning keys into authentic discipleship

• A sober, non-sensational approach to spiritual warfare that avoids common abuses

It's been HOW LONG since we posted?! Wow. Apologies, because we have certainly been recording... As a token of apology, here is an episode earlier than scheduled. Or is it still later...? Either way you're getting it earlier than the youtube subscribers so that's gotta count for something. They still have to wait another 2 days! But onto business...

Today we tackle a neglected battlefield of spiritual warfare: communication. Scripture warns that we’ll answer for “every careless word” and that mercy received must become mercy given (James 2–3). We unpack how the enemy distorts messages, inflames wounds, and pushes us from charity into accusation—especially online. We also walk through practical rules to slow down, pray, reread, and respond with a charitable assumption rather than the devil’s favorite weapon: rash judgment.What you’ll learn: •Why the enemy targets communication to divide spouses, priests, bishops—and the Church •How negative assumptions and interior wounds make us easy to manipulate •The difference between fraternal correction and the sins of detraction & calumny •A simple discipline for hot emails/comments: pause → pray → reread → delay •Why James 3 is a must-read before you post •A call to conversion: show the mercy you hope to receive at judgmentScripture referenced •James 2–3 (mercy & the power of the tongue) •1 Peter 5:8 (the enemy prowls) •Matthew 18:6; 12:36 (causing scandal; every careless word) •Luke 6:36–37 (be merciful; judge not)Chapters:00:00 Spiritual Warfare and the Pope's Interview01:44 The Enemy's Tactics in Communication02:51 Misinterpretations and Emotional Reactions03:59 The Devil's Strategy to Divide08:23 The Pope's Interview: Different Perspectives11:38 The Impact of Miscommunication on Tradition14:58 Criticism and the Sin of Assumption16:49 Confronting Sin and Mercy17:31 Pharisee Behavior and Hypocrisy17:52 The Traditionalist Dilemma18:20 Vitriol and Hatred in Comments18:40 Madonna and Charitable Assumptions19:58 Respecting the Pope20:27 Challenges Faced by Traditionalists21:50 Negative Assumptions and Their Consequences30:09 The Power of the Tongue

The devil doesn’t guess. He watches. Learns. Waits. And when he finds your weakest point, he attacks.

In this final episode of our Ignatian Discernment series, Dan and Jordan unpack Rule 14 — a chilling but liberating truth: the enemy studies your life like a general preparing to breach a fortress. Your wounds, your past, your patterns — all are potential entry points. But once you know them, you can fight back.

This episode gets deeply personal as Dan and Jordan share stories of past trauma, addiction, and relational wounds — and how the enemy used them as open doors. But they also offer hope: practical steps, spiritual disciplines, and encouragement for building a life the enemy can’t conquer.

You’ll learn:

• How demons exploit your wounds and vices

• Why unresolved trauma becomes spiritual vulnerability

• The difference between clubs and true Catholic community

• How to fortify your soul through self-knowledge, mental prayer, and sacramental grace

• What comes after Rule 14

This is the end of the series — but not the war. Whether you’ve followed from Rule 1 or just discovered this episode, this conversation will help you close the door to the enemy and walk freely in the grace of God.

“The devil may be in the details—but God is on the throne.”

And for those who have read this far down - Our next series will be on The Devil in The Castle!

Demons thrive in the dark. That’s why St. Ignatius’ 13th Rule of Discernment urges us to expose their lies — fast.

In this episode, Dan and Jordan dive into one of the most underrated spiritual warfare tactics: calling out the devil’s schemes and sharing them with others. You’ll hear stories from police work, deliverance ministry, and personal battles with desolation that reveal how the enemy loses power the moment we bring his plans into the light.

They discuss:

•The spiritual and psychological power of naming desolation

•Why texting “I’m in desolation” can shift everything

•The importance of holy friendships and spiritual accountability

•How demons act like cowards — and why exposure makes them flee

Timestamp Summary:

00:00 Rule 13: Exposing the Enemy's Efforts

05:19 Practical Steps to Combat Desolation

06:13 The Power of Writing and Confession

08:09 Spiritual Direction and Confession

10:30 Analogies and Real-Life Examples

17:49 The Gift of Fear and Ignoring Intuition

18:50 Recognizing and Responding to Threats

19:57 Spiritual Awareness and the Enemy

24:58 Levels of Response to Desolation

29:48 The Importance of Reaching Out for Help

30:50 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

In this episode of The Devil is in the Details, Jordan and Dan Burke react to a video raising a serious question: Should Catholics ever receive spiritual direction from someone who isn’t Catholic?With honesty and charity, they unpack the theological and practical problems with this scenario—covering sacramental life, moral theology, Church teaching, and the dangers of syncretism. Along the way, they explore how true spiritual direction is meant to work, why it requires a shared foundation in the Catholic faith, and the risks of ignoring that reality.This conversation is both a cautionary tale and a call to charity—urging Catholics to lead others to the fullness of the truth in Christ and His Church.Resources Mentioned: •Spiritual Direction School: AvilaInstitute.org •Find a Faithful Catholic Spiritual Director: SeekDirection.app •Book: Navigating the Interior Life by Dan Burke