The Spiritual Joy of the Servants of God

The Spiritual Joy of the Servants of God Spiritual joy is, as its name denotes, the joy that the heart of man experiences in the possession and enjoyment of spiritual gifts. He is joyful because he knows that God has deigned to call him His friend and His child, that he lives under the protection of the Most High, and that he hopes soon to be united to God his Father in eternal bliss. All those who... Read More

Joy in Holy Communion

Joy in Holy Communion   Holy Communion is the feast of the soul — that is to say, a source of deepest joys. As bread imparts to the body strength and a feeling of contentment, so does the Bread of Life bring peace and joy to your heart because of the wonderful fruits of grace it produces in your soul. St. Thomas Aquinas says, “This Bread of Angels, containing in itself all delights, satisfies... Read More

Joy in God’s Will

Description: How can we find joy in God's will for us? Dan, Melissa and Dr. Anthony Lilles discuss the wisdom of St. Thérèse of Lisieux on the role of Our Lady in the spiritual life and the importance of humility. Topics/Questions covered in the show: Why would anyone look outside of the Church for spiritual sustenance? Why is St. Thérèse of Lisieux so important in our time? Why should anyone... Read More

Love of the Cross

LOVE OF THE CROSS From a Meditation by St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross   “We hear repeatedly that St. John of the Cross desired nothing for himself but to suffer and be despised. We want to know the reason for this love of suffering. Is it merely the loving remembrance of the path of suffering of our Lord on earth, a tender impulse to be humanly... Read More

When Joy is Wrong – According to St John of the Cross

When Joy is Wrong According to St John of the Cross   We’re all aware we shouldn’t take inordinate pleasure in earthly/temporal goods (which remains a problem for most of us). Affected by the original sin of Adam and Eve, we tend to focus too much on the things of this world. The clichés of women craving shoes and men drooling over cars is rooted in reality. We like stuff. Again, it’s not... Read More

Discernment of Spirits Rule 5

This week Dan and Melissa discuss Saint Ignatius' Discernment of Spirits: Rule 5 – never change spiritual commitments while experiencing spiritual desolation. Topics/Questions covered in the show: Fifth Rule. “The fifth: In time of desolation never to make a change; but to be firm and constant in the resolutions and determination in which one was the day preceding such desolation,... Read More

Rejoice in the Lord Always – An Exhortation by St Augustine

Rejoice in the Lord Always! *   The Apostle tells us to rejoice, but in the Lord, not in the world. Whoever wishes to be a friend of this world, says Scripture, will be reckoned an enemy of God [cf James 4:4]. As a man cannot serve two masters, so one cannot rejoice both in the world and in the Lord. Let joy in the Lord prevail, then, until joy in the world is no more. Let joy in the Lord go... Read More

Discernment of Spirits Rule 3: Spiritual Consolation

On this week's show, listen as Dan and Melissa discuss Saint Ignatius of Loyola's third rule of Discernment of Spirits, “Spiritual Consolation”. Topics/Questions covered in the show: Saint Ignatius' Third Rule of Discernment of Spirits: “The third is of spiritual consolation. I call it consolation when some interior movement is caused in the soul, through which the soul comes to... Read More

Father of Mercies: A Retreat Guide on the Parable of the Prodigal Son

FATHER OF MERCIES: A RETREAT GUIDE ON THE PARABLE OF THE PRODIGAL SON The newest Retreat Guide from RC Spirituality, Father of Mercies, is now available at www.RCSpirituality.org. We are all familiar with the Gospel parable of the Prodigal Son—at least, we are familiar with one part of it. We all remember how the younger brother in the parable demanded to receive his inheritance before his father... Read More

Torn Between Contradictory Emotions: What to do? (II of II)

I Am Torn Between Contradictory Emotions: What Can I Do? (Part II of II) Editor's Note:  In Part I, we looked at the battle raging in the world since the beginning of time up until now, and the first thing we can about these circumstances, though our emotions may be contradictory.  Today we will examine the second thing we can do.  Here is the question we are examining, from one of our readers: Dear... Read More

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