Full Episodes back on September 17th! (Give us some good questions and we will try to record some short mini episodes in between!)

Our Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxjucNg-gYn6A_2hbRbeP_g

Send in your questions: https://forms.gle/FjhvXaye2w5fup9A9

In the meantime - what was your favorite episode and why?

Are you finally winning the battle against habitual mortal sin?

In this episode of The Devil Is in the Details, Dan and Jordan Burke continue their journey through The Devil in the Castle, exploring sustained piety, the final stage of the purgative way before transition into the illuminative way.

This is the stage where mortal sin has become rare, occurring only when taken by surprise, and even then it's often questionable whether the sin was truly mortal. Venial sin is no longer habitual, and the soul fights it vigilantly, though imperfections begin to surface more clearly. Prayer has become consistent, meditation is often affective, and the soul may even begin to experience the prayer of simplicity or contemplative aridity as the Lord draws them deeper.

Dan and Jordan discuss what this late purgative stage looks like in everyday life, how the soul responds to venial sin with intense sorrow and a firm purpose of amendment, why imperfections are often avoided or excused, and how daily mental prayer becomes absolutely non-negotiable. They also explore the transition into the dark night of sense, where meditation dries up and the Lord begins to purify the soul more deeply, preparing them for the illuminative way.

This conversation is both practical and deeply rooted in the wisdom of St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, and the Catholic spiritual tradition, offering clear markers for discerning where you are in the spiritual life and what God may be calling you toward next.

In this episode:

* What sustained piety looks like in the late purgative way
* Why mortal sin becomes rare and only by surprise
* How venial sin is fought vigilantly and taken to confession
* Why imperfections begin to surface and how to respond
* The importance of daily mental prayer at this stage
* What affective prayer and the prayer of simplicity mean
* How contemplative aridity signals a deeper purification
* The four signs of the dark night of sense according to St. John of the Cross
* Why consistent examination of conscience is essential
* The role of daily Mass, confession, and the sacraments in spiritual progress
* How to discern whether God is calling you into a new phase of prayer

The spiritual life is not about perfection. It is about faithfulness, cooperation with grace, and allowing the Lord to purify and transform you according to His will.

What questions do you have after watching today's video? Were you impacted in some way? If so, comment below!

Why do so many Catholics remain stuck in the same spiritual patterns year after year?

In this episode of The Devil Is in the Details, Dan and Jordan Burke continue their journey through The Devil in the Castle, diving deeper into the purgative way and exploring what it means to move from mediocre piety to intermittent piety.

This is the stage where most practicing Catholics find themselves: mortal sin is being resisted more consistently, confession is becoming more regular, and awareness of sin is growing. But venial sin remains a persistent struggle, fought weakly and without a clear plan. The soul regrets sin when recognized, but sorrow is often shallow, and examination of conscience lacks method or structure.

Dan and Jordan discuss why venial sins matter more than most Catholics realize, how they weaken the will and prepare the way for more serious falls, and why awareness without strategy leads nowhere. They also tackle the uncomfortable truth that many Catholics are only nominally engaged with their faith, attending Mass but avoiding confession, receiving the Eucharist without proper preparation, and picking and choosing which Church teachings to follow.

This conversation is both challenging and compassionate, calling Catholics to wake up spiritually while offering practical tools rooted in the wisdom of the saints and the Church's spiritual tradition.

In this episode:

* What intermittent piety looks like in the purgative way
* Why venial sin weakens the will and leads to mortal sin
* The connection between gluttony and lust according to the Church Fathers
* Why adequate confession requires contrition and a firm purpose of amendment
* How to know if your confession is valid
* The importance of a structured examination of conscience
* Why so many Catholics are spiritually asleep
* The danger of picking and choosing which teachings to follow
* How Holy Days of Obligation, Friday abstinence, and regular confession shape the spiritual life
* Why awareness alone is not enough for spiritual progress
* Practical resources for understanding mortal sin, venial sin, and confession

The spiritual life is not about perfection. It is about faithfulness, honesty, and cooperation with grace. Progress begins when excuses end and the soul becomes willing to fight with strategy, humility, and perseverance.

What questions do you have after watching today's video? Were you impacted in some way? If so, comment below!

And it might be taking you to hell.

When should you correct another Catholic… and when should you stay silent?

Many Catholics sincerely want to defend the truth, but good intentions are not enough. In this episode, Dan and Jordan explore one of the most neglected virtues in the Church today: charitable correction.

Drawing from Scripture, the wisdom of the saints, and hard lessons learned through years of ministry, they unpack why many attempts at “fraternal correction” actually become sins of pride, rash judgment, and speech.

Together they discuss Christ’s teaching in Matthew 18, St. Paul’s description of charity in 1 Corinthians 13, and practical principles for discerning whether you should speak at all.

They also examine real-world examples involving public figures, online debates, and the unique dangers of social media, showing why being right is not enough. Truth must always be spoken with humility, patience, and genuine love for the other person’s salvation.

In this episode:

• Why not every battle belongs to you
• The difference between defending truth and defending your ego
• What Matthew 18 actually teaches about correction
• Why private conversations should come before public criticism
• The importance of earning “a seat at someone’s table”
• How charity changes the way we speak
• Why assumptions are often forms of rash judgment
• The danger of online Catholic outrage
• How to know whether God is calling you to speak or remain silent

The goal of correction is never humiliation. It is always the salvation of souls.

Why do so many Catholics remain trapped in the same sins year after year?

In this episode of The Devil Is in the Details, Dan and Jordan Burke continue their journey through The Devil in the Castle, beginning a closer examination of the purgative way, the first major phase of the spiritual life.

Most Catholics are somewhere within this stage. The soul may sincerely desire God and regret serious sin, yet still struggle with habitual mortal sin, inadequate confession, avoidance of suffering, inconsistent prayer, and a lack of awareness about the patterns that repeatedly lead to failure.

Dan and Jordan explore the first stage of the purgative way, which Dom Chautard calls mediocre piety, and explain what must change before genuine spiritual progress can occur.

They discuss why regret alone is not enough, what a firm purpose of amendment actually requires, how venial sins prepare the way for more serious falls, and why freedom demands more than simply “trying harder.” It requires humility, strategy, accountability, prayer, and a willingness to suffer rather than continually escape through distraction or sin.

In this episode:

• What the purgative, illuminative, and unitive ways mean
• Why most Catholics remain in the purgative way
• The signs of mediocre piety
• Why habitual mortal sin must become your highest spiritual priority
• What makes a confession inadequate
• The meaning of a firm purpose of amendment
• How to identify the patterns that lead to repeated sin
• Why venial sin cannot be treated as insignificant
• How the avoidance of suffering keeps us spiritually immature
• Why prayer often begins as self-focused petition
• How a daily examination of conscience wakes us up
• The importance of gratitude, accountability, and a rule of life

The spiritual battle is rarely fought in dramatic moments. It is fought in the ordinary details of daily life: getting out of bed, resisting temptation, examining your choices, accepting suffering, and returning faithfully to prayer and the sacraments.

Freedom begins when excuses end and the soul becomes willing to cooperate seriously with grace.

How can you tell whether you are actually growing in the spiritual life?

In this episode of The Devil Is in the Details, Dan and Jordan Burke continue their series through The Devil in the Castle, exploring the Third Mansion of St. Teresa of Avila’s Interior Castle and the signs that a soul is beginning to make real spiritual progress.

The Third Mansion marks a serious transition. Habitual mortal sin is being overcome, mental prayer has become more consistent, and love of God begins to reshape how a person speaks, dresses, works, manages responsibilities, and treats others.

But spiritual growth is also easy to misunderstand.

Dan and Jordan discuss why mystical experiences are not reliable evidence of holiness, how pride can distort our perception of where we are spiritually, and why love, humility, virtue, and fidelity are far better indicators of progress than visions, locutions, or extraordinary experiences.

They also examine the three traditional stages of the spiritual life: the purgative, illuminative, and unitive ways, and explain why understanding your general trajectory matters more than obsessing over exactly which mansion you occupy.

In this episode:

• Signs of progress in the Third Mansion
• What it means to overcome habitual mortal sin
• Why mental prayer is essential for spiritual growth
• How love changes speech, dress, work, and relationships
• Why sins of the tongue reveal spiritual immaturity
• The purgative, illuminative, and unitive ways
• Whether someone can be in two mansions at once
• Why mystical experiences do not prove holiness
• How the enemy can imitate spiritual experiences
• Why humility and love are the truest signs of progress
• The importance of confession, the Eucharist, and a rule of life

The spiritual life is usually not dramatic. It is built through ordinary fidelity: getting up, praying, fighting sin, receiving the sacraments, fulfilling your duties, and beginning again.

What happens when zeal moves faster than spiritual maturity?

In this episode of The Devil in the Details, Dan and Jordan discuss the growing feeling of “influencer fatigue” in Catholic media: the trend of new converts, reverts, commentators, and public personalities being elevated too quickly before they have the prayer life, accountability, formation, and humility needed to sustain that platform.

From celebrity conversions to Catholic social media scandals, this conversation examines how the enemy can use genuine zeal, real gifts, and even orthodox teaching as a kind of spiritual judo, turning momentum against the soul.

Together, they discuss:

• Why new converts and reverts are especially vulnerable to premature public platforms
• The danger of making Catholic media about personality instead of Christ
• Why daily mental prayer and spiritual direction are non-negotiable
• How ambition can disguise itself as zeal
• The need for accountability, humility, and silence before teaching
• Why followers should be cautious about quickly elevating new Catholic voices
• How the devil can use even good desires to pull souls off course

This is not a call to cynicism or gatekeeping. It is a call to discernment, humility, and prayer.

Because the goal is not to become known.

The goal is to become holy.

Read Mark's full article here: https://www.catholicunscripted.com/p/the-seduction-of-suspicion

Why does so much Catholic commentary today feel suspicious, divisive, or even spiritually draining?

In this episode, we unpack the rise of a critical spirit and how it often disguises itself as discernment. Drawing from Mark Lambert’s article The Seduction of Suspicion, we explore how partial truths, oversimplification, and emotional reactions can lead souls away from clarity, humility, and ultimately, Christ.

We also discuss practical warning signs to watch for, why conspiracy thinking is so attractive, and how to remain grounded in truth without losing charity.

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.