Podcasts about Acedia

This week, Jake and Bob conclude their series on confession with Fr. John Horn and explore the root system behind two deadly sins: sloth (acedia) and lust. Through personal examples, they uncover the deeper attitudes, fears, and wounds that drive these struggles and keep us from intimacy with God. They also discuss how self- reliance, discouragement, and isolation can distort our desires and lead us away from the freedom God offers us through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.    Key Points: Virtue grows when our desires are reordered toward God through love rather than fear. Sloth, or acedia, is often misunderstood as just laziness. It can also manifest as overactivity, restlessness, and self-reliance. Discouragement is frequently rooted in the belief that we must transform ourselves without God's help. The remedy for acedia begins with surrendering control and accepting poverty of spirit. Lust reflects a deeper attempt to satisfy desires apart from God. Shame, hopelessness, and a lack of purpose often lie beneath struggles with lust. Confession becomes more fruitful when we bring our underlying attitudes and beliefs rather than only our behaviors. The Sacrament of Reconciliation restores communion with God, ourselves, the Church, and others. Freedom grows as we learn to receive the Father's delight and stop holding our sins and weaknesses against ourselves.   Resources: Institute for Priestly Formation Confession Fourfold  Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 02:26 The Goal is Not the Removal of Sin 10:57 What is Sloth (Acedia)? 18:40 Personal Examples of Acedia 27:19 Emotion is Not A Sin 38:15 What is Lust? 44:14 A Lack of Hope 65:45 Resources   Connect with Restore the Glory:  Instagram: @restoretheglorypodcast  Twitter: @RestoreGloryPod Facebook: Restore the Glory Podcast   Never miss out on an episode by hitting the subscribe button right now! Help other people find the show and grow in holiness by sharing this podcast with them individually or on your social media. Thanks!

In our ongoing series Above All Else, Grant Clark turns to the seventh and most misunderstood of the deadly sins: sloth. Far from simple laziness, sloth -- or acedia -- is a spiritual apathy and quiet resistance to Jesus that can live just as easily in the heart of the overachiever as in the one on the couch."Acedia is ultimately a failure of love. It's a place of apathy toward life and a kind of spiritual boredom... Whether midday, midlife, halftime or halfway through a big project, we're tempted to give in, give up or distract ourselves. Acedia tempts us to abandon the life we have for some imagined better option somewhere else -- as in 'anywhere but here'! Acedia can also be the temptation to live our lives in imagined fantasies of what might be rather than living in the gift of what is." - Alan Fadling (An Unhurried Life)What is acedia?- The Cambridge Dictionary defines sloth as "an unwillingness to work or to make any effort" -- but the biblical concept runs far deeper- Derived from the Greek a ("not") + keedos ("to care") -- acedia is a failure of love, a resistance to the transformation God is calling us into- Pope John Paul II defined acedia as "a sadness arising from the fact that the good is difficult"- It is not just laziness -- it is a selective laziness that can look like overwork, busyness, and productivity while neglecting the most important thingWhat does acedia look like?- The story of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42): Martha was productive and active, but distracted from the one thing necessary -- attentiveness to Jesus- "Acedia is 'a restlessness that entices us to pursue everything but our most important duties. Acedia distracts. It makes us lazy and sluggish toward our spiritual and practical responsibilities. It is a selective laziness that makes everything else appealing.'" - John Cassian- "Slothful people are not only found lying around on couches or beds. They are often found in the gym every morning at 5:00 A.M., leading large organizations and companies, writing books, achieving goals, and even working hundred-hour weeks. Yes, the same sin can be at work in the heart of the person glued to the TV and the person who does not have time for TV. Christian thinkers have always seen links between laziness and overwork, though the definition of sloth has morphed through the years." - Trent Casto (The Death of the Deadly Sins)- Sloth wears many masks: variety-seeking, escapism, distraction, commitment-phobia, procrastination, and never finishing what we start- The "noonday demon" of the Desert Fathers -- the midday restlessness that whispers anywhere but here- Delayed obedience: like Augustine's prayer, "Lord, give me chastity and self-control -- but not yet"- Acedia is avoiding the responsibilities that loving God and loving neighbor require - Trent CastoFrom sloth to zeal (Romans 12:11)- "Do not be slothful in zeal. Be fervent in spirit. Serve the Lord." (ESV) / "Do not lack diligence in zeal. Be fervent in spirit. Serve the Lord." (CSB)- Zeal = earnest commitment with haste and diligence; fervent = to boil, to burn -- a passion for Jesus- The word diligent in Latin (diligere) means "to love" -- to be diligent in zeal is to love- "Look at the intensity in this verse. The Christian life is neither cold nor indifferent... We face many temptations to be passive or lazy today. So let's heed this word: live on fire for Christ! And let's see that God is gracious in giving us such a command. He knows our frames. He knows our passions can cool. So he exhorts us in love. I believe every Christian in a privileged part of the world must always ask, 'Do I love comfort too much? Has it become an idol? Has it caused me to shrink back from passionate service to the Lord Jesus?'" - Tony Merida- "Since acedia is a failure to appreciate the gifts of the present moment or the present season, the classic remedy for acedia has always been to abide in the good relationships and to engage in the good work before us." - Alan Fadling- Practical response: (1) Obey straight away -- identify and repent of any area of delayed obedience; (2) Abide -- stay where God has placed you, persevere in the ordinary, and trust that God is at workVerses- Proverbs 4:23- Luke 10:38-42 (CSB)- Luke 10:40- Romans 12:11 (ESV + CSB)- Ephesians 2:8-10- Hebrews (for the joy set before him, he endured the cross)- Psalm 72

What sustains faith when prayer feels flat and God seems distant—and there's no clear tragedy to explain it? Anglican priest and former New York Times columnist Tish Harrison Warren joins Macie Bridge to talk about weariness, burnout, and the quiet middle stretches of a long spiritual life. Drawing on her new book What Grows in Weary Lands, she turns to the Desert Fathers and Mothers for a resilience that resists both flaming out and numbing out. "It felt like the call had dropped, like the line had gone dead." In this episode with Macie Bridge, Warren reflects on her own season of spiritual aridity and the ancient counsel to stay in your cell rather than escape. Together they discuss the difference between burnout and weariness, acedia and the noonday demon, perseverance, silence as countercultural practice, and the world as a womb. They explore why escape rarely heals and what it means to trust the slow work of God. Episode Highlights "It felt like the call had dropped, like the line had gone dead." "I do not think vitamin D will solve what I'm talking about." "We're not having to hold our life together in the midst of weariness with will power and duct tape." "We kind of bring Times Square with us wherever we go now." "God doesn't need me to be impressive or achieving." About Tish Harrison Warren Tish Harrison Warren is a writer and an Anglican priest. She is the author of Liturgy of the Ordinary, named Christianity Today's 2018 Book of the Year, and Prayer in the Night, which won both Christianity Today's 2022 Book of the Year and the 2022 ECPA Christian Book of the Year. She formerly wrote a weekly newsletter for The New York Times on faith in public and private life and was a columnist for Christianity Today; her essays have appeared in Comment, The Point, and Religion News Service. She currently serves as the C. S. Lewis Theological Writer-in-Residence at Baylor's Truett Seminary, is a senior fellow with The Trinity Forum, and an assisting priest at Immanuel Anglican Church. (Source: tishharrisonwarren.com) Learn more and follow at tishharrisonwarren.com, Instagram @tishharrisonwarren, and X @Tish_H_Warren. Helpful Links and Resources What Grows in Weary Lands (newest book): https://tishharrisonwarren.com/whatgrowsinwearylands Liturgy of the Ordinary (most popular book): https://tishharrisonwarren.com/liturgy-of-the-ordinary Curt Thompson, referenced on the brain and community: https://curtthompsonmd.com/books/ Show Notes Writing from the middle of the process Weariness vs. burnout—bigger than the occupational "It felt like the call had dropped, like the line had gone dead." Two years at The New York Times—top of a career, bone-tired Spiritually tinged exhaustion, distinct from depression Comprehensive difficulty—work, marriage, church, politics, drama Post-COVID burnout talk; why the church rarely names this Craving emotional highs in contemporary Christian faith We lack stories of long, steady faith "I do not think vitamin D will solve what I'm talking about." Discovering the Desert Fathers and Mothers Acedia, the noonday demon—sloth, boredom, irritation, doubt Flame out, numb out, or go deep The cell as guiding metaphor—a rhythm of prayer and work "Stay in your cell"—counsel of St. Moses and Arsenius Resisting the lie that escape elsewhere brings contentment "The cell is actually this transformative place." Curt Thompson: the brain isn't made to do hard things alone A desert mother's maternal metaphor—the world as a womb "What is happening right now matters"—hope without escapism Grace: "we're not having to hold our life together... with will power and duct tape." "Part of our weariness is it is too noisy. The world is too noisy." "God doesn't need me to be impressive or achieving." Trusting the slow work of God #TishHarrisonWarren #WhatGrowsInWearyLands #ChristianResilience #Burnout #DesertFathers #SpiritualFormation #Weariness #Acedia #Hope #ForTheLifeOfTheWorld Production Notes This podcast featured Tish Harrison Warren Interview by Macie Bridge Edited and Produced by Evan Rosa Hosted by Evan Rosa Production Assistance by Noah Senthil A Production of the Yale Center for Faith & Culture at Yale Divinity School https://faith.yale.edu/about Support For the Life of the World podcast by giving to the Yale Center for Faith & Culture: https://faith.yale.edu/give

Title: Waking the Lazy Heart | The Hygiene of My Heart (Week 4)Are you feeling spiritually exhausted, or have you simply become spiritually stagnant? In Week 4 of our series, The Hygiene of My Heart, we diagnose a pathogen that often mimics "burnout" or "self-care" but is actually a dangerous spiritual brain fog: Sloth (Acedia). Using the Greek root hygies—meaning sound, healthy, and whole—we explore how laziness numbs the soul to the urgency of God's calling. We often fill our lives with "busy deceptions" like digital scrolling to act as a sedative for our hearts, masking the pain of stagnation so we don't feel our need for the Great Physician. In this video, you will discover:The "Acedia" Distinction: Why spiritual laziness is about a "don't care" attitude toward God, not just a lack of physical productivity. The Stagnant Swamp vs. The Living River: How to identify if your heart has lost its mission and become a breeding ground for inaction. The "Pilot Light" Principle: Why we need God to "shock" our hearts back into urgency and keep our spiritual fervor boiling. A Living Case Study: A tribute to the diligence of mothers, who see the "lion in the road" and find the zeal to move forward anyway. Big Idea: Laziness numbs the soul to the urgency of God's calling. Key Scripture: Romans 12:11; Proverbs 26:13 Daily Protocol:To fight this pathogen, we introduce Vitamin D (Diligence)—the divine energy that wakes up the soul. Try a "Small Win" exercise today: pick one spiritual discipline and do it immediately to create momentum. Connect with Charlie Grimes today! charlesrgrimes.com#Faith #Sermon #CharlieGrimes #SpiritualHealth #TheHygieneOfMyHeart #Sloth #Romans1211

What do you do when the fire won't start - when life is full but God feels distant, when faith is intact but the soul is running on empty? In this conversation, I sit down with Tish Harrison Warren, who draws on her new book, What Grows in Weary Lands, to explore acedia, the ancient concept usually translated as sloth but better understood as a sadness that the good is difficult. We trace how the desert fathers and mothers were grappling with the same exhaustion and spiritual languishing that defines our moment and what their practices have to teach us about endurance, formation, and encounter with the living God.Tish Harrison Warren is a writer and an Anglican priest. She is the author of several books, including Liturgy of the Ordinary, which won Christianity Today's 2018 Book of the Year, and Prayer in the Night, which won Christianity Today's 2022 Book of the Year and the 2022 ECPA Christian Book of the Year. She formerly wrote a weekly newsletter for The New York Times, which focused on faith in public discourse and private life. She was also a columnist at Christianity Today. Her articles and essays have appeared in Comment Magazine, the The Point Magazine, Religion News Service, and elsewhere. She currently serves as the C.S. Lewis Theological Writer-in-Residence for The Anglican Episcopal House of Studies at Baylor's George W. Truett Theological Seminary. She is a senior fellow with the Trinity Forum and an assisting priest at Immanuel Anglican Church. She lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and three children.Tish's Book:What Grows in Weary LandsTish's Recommendation:Liturgies of the WildConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@shiftingculturepodcast.comGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, Bluesky or YouTubeSupport the podcast and the ministry that my wife and I do around the world. Just click on the support the show link below NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Trying to cram some theology into 5 minutes or so. These brief treatments are intended only as a spur to further study on the part of the listener.Please consider donating to help keep this podcast going by going to buymeacoffee.com/catholicdailybrief Also, if you enjoy these episodes, please give a five star rating and share the podcast with your friends and family

There's a sin that has been attacking men since he was created. It doesn't look like sin. It doesn't feel like sin. But if you let it take root, it will quietly hollow out your faith...and you won't even see it coming.The average American prayer lasts one to two minutes. Men who say they're in a war for their soul, their marriage, their kids. Giving God two minutes.That's not just a busy schedule. That's something darker. And today we're naming it.The Desert Fathers called it acedia and the early Church considered it one of the most spiritually dangerous attacks a man could face. St. Thomas Aquinas listed it among the seven deadly sins. And it is the signature attack on Catholic men right now.It looks like contentment. It looks like, I show up to Mass on Sunday, I check the box, I'm a good provider. Isn't that enough? That is sloth. That is acedia. And chances are, you've never once confessed it.In this episode, James breaks down what acedia actually is, why the saints and Desert Fathers feared it above almost everything else, how to recognize it in your own life right now, and what to do about it starting this week.3 Powerful Quotes from This Episode:"Sloth is not about being lazy. It's about being unwilling to pay the cost of the fight.""Acedia is not a relaxation of effort, but a refusal of joy — because the joy that God offers is not cheap. It comes through the cross.""The man who goes into battle with a clear conscience and a clean soul is a different animal entirely from the man carrying the weight of unconfessed sin and unexamined drift."Key Takeaway — Apply This Immediately:Identify one area of your life where you've been sitting on the stairs — your prayer life, your marriage, your kids, your own soul. This week, show up there on purpose. Five minutes. Eyes closed. No apps. Tell God exactly where you've been frozen. Then go to confession before the month is out.Thank you for your prayers and support!Consider supporting the podcast on our Buy Me a Coffee page to help grow the show to reach as many men as possible!Subscribe to our YouTube page.Check out our websiteGet delicious coffee from Mystic Monk CoffeeDownload TAN Digital to access the incredible TAN Library! Use code 'MANLYCATHOLIC' to get 50% OFF your subscription!Contact us at themanlycatholic@gmail.com

Seth discusses the state of America, reflecting on the country's past and present, in light of the weekends successful rescue of a downed U.S. airman in Iran. He touches on the concept of acedia, or spiritual sloth, and how it's affected the nation. The conversation also delves into the importance of momentum, citing a speech by President Trump and the story of the U.S. national ice hockey team's Olympic victory. Producer David Doll updates the audience on his latest cooking video on his Instagram @answerthecallwithdoll. We're joined by John Dombroski, founder and president of Grand Canyon Planning Associates. Representative Ro Khanna’s (D-CA) comments responding to criticism of his appearance with Hasan Piker because of the Leftist political commentator’s large audience size in spite of Piker’s controversial opinions such as his praise of the terrorist group Hamas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 27th, 2026 - Pastor Tim Westermeyer - #376 – More on Acedia, and Looking Ahead to Holy Week

Restlessness has a way of disguising itself as normal. Sometimes it looks like scrolling before we even get out of bed. Sometimes it looks like a packed calendar and a “successful” life that still feels hollow. Today we name that ache for what it is: acedia, the ancient spiritual struggle the early church called the noonday demon.We walk through the meaning of acedia as more than laziness. It is resistance to the demands of love, a heart that stops caring about the right things. Drawing from John Cassian and Thomas Aquinas, we explore why acedia can show up as total withdrawal or as hyper-productivity, and why our culture often praises the very pattern that keeps us spiritually numb. We talk about how acedia whispers, “If God loved you, you'd be somewhere else,” then pushes you toward distraction, avoidance, chronic dissatisfaction, and treating prayer, Scripture, generosity, and forgiveness like optional add-ons.Then we get practical. The historic cure is not more noise or a new escape plan. It is presence. It is forcing ourselves back into the “cell” of our real life, noticing the sun rise and set, and choosing gratitude that watches, waits, and remembers. Whether you feel stuck in your calling, checked out in your relationships, or unsure you're making a difference, this is an invitation to show up with your whole self and do what love requires right where God has you.My hope is that this podcast helps grow your faith and equips you to accomplish your dreams and goals!Follow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookFollow me on TikTok

The original understanding of sloth is much deeper than laziness. Sloth is a spiritual resistance to spiritual progress. It's a loss of care about the things we should care about most and an avoidance of the very things we're made for (loving God and loving others). That's why it's so dangerous.   

Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Harrison Garlick and Dr. Sarah Berry of the University of Dallas discuss Acedia, Avarice, and part of Gluttony in Cantos 18-22 of the Purgatorio.Visit thegreatbookspodcast.com for more information!Check out our GUIDE to the Purgatorio!Dr. Sarah Berry joins Deacon Harrison Garlick to explore Cantos 18–22, covering the terrace of sloth (acedia) and the transition into avarice and prodigality. In Canto 18, Virgil delivers a pivotal discourse on love as the root of all human action, explaining that love can be misdirected (pride, envy, wrath), deficient (sloth), or excessive (avarice, gluttony, lust). Berry emphasizes the terrace's brevity and lack of a formal prayer: “their prayers are their action... the penitents too... are doing the thing as a way of offering up some kind of prayer to God” (Dr. Sarah Berry), with running souls and examples of zeal (Mary's haste to Elizabeth, Caesar's swift march) countering sloth's cooling of love. The dream of the siren in Canto 19 warns against deceptive earthly goods, while the face-down penance on the avarice terrace forces fixation on the earth once loved excessively: “these are those who had a disordered love of money... goods that can't be shared” (Dr. Sarah Berry).Cantos 20–22 deepen the exploration of avarice's societal and personal consequences. Hugh Capet's lament in Canto 20 indicts the French dynasty's greed and sacrilege, including the capture of Boniface VIII. Berry highlights the terrace's broadened scope: “Dante is really broadening... our awareness of this constellation of problems” beyond mere hoarding or spending. In Canto 21, Statius is released with an earthquake and song, explaining his long purgation on sloth and avarice before moving freely upward. Canto 22 poignantly contrasts Statius (saved through Virgil's influence and grace) with Virgil himself, who lacks faith despite his virtues. Berry notes the tragedy: “Dante is inviting us... hoping that there is some special providence for Virgil at the end of his journey through purgatory” (Dr. Sarah Berry). The cantos reveal Purgatorio's hopeful, dynamic nature: purgation reorders love through grace, habituation, and contemplation, moving from deficient to excessive attachments, preparing the soul for divine union.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Ascend and Dante's Purgatorio02:29 Exploring Dante's Purgatorio: Themes and Structure04:30 The Importance of Purgatorio in Spiritual Growth08:32 Understanding Love and Culpability in Purgatorio12:00 Diving into Canto 18: The Lesson on Love13:26 Virgil's Discourse on Love and Free Will17:40 The Nature of Love: Ascent and Culpability20:31 The Role of Reason in Human Actions26:01 The Formation of Intellect and Will33:12 Contrapasso: The Penance of Slothfulness40:19 Examples of Zeal: Mary and Caesar42:17 Understanding Zeal and Sloth47:04 The Subtlety of Sin and Human Effort52:31 Dreams and Allegory in Purgatory01:00:27 The Nature of Prayer and Action01:01:58 Exploring Avarice and Its Consequences01:20:15 Exploring Dante's Inferno: Sin and Intellect01:23:03 Wrath and Sloth: Roots of Sin in Purgatorio01:25:23 Positive Examples: Virtue Against Avarice01:29:30 Dante's Critique of French Dynasties01:35:56 The Role of Statius: A New Perspective01:50:30 Virgil's Tragic Journey: Hope for Salvation?KeywordsDante's Purgatorio, Sloth, Love, Virtue, Spiritual Growth, Theology, Literature, Dante, Purgatory, Christian Virtues Dante, Purgatorio, allegory, sin, virtue, divine justice, theology, Mount Purgatory, purgation, salvation

La Iglesia en el Occidente ha entrado en una suerte de atonía del alma, una tristeza ante lo que debía ser su mayor felicidad: la relación de la amistad con Dios. No somos ajenos a este peligro: el de la laxitud espiritual. El hermano mayor del hijo pródigo es el prototipo del que trabaja en las cosas de su padre, pero pensando en sí mismo, no en la alegría de su padre. Conjuramos el peligro de tibieza haciendo bien la oración mental.

Summary On the Second Sunday of Lent, the Church gives us the Transfiguration—every year—because we need what the disciples needed: hope. Fr. Will unpacks why Jesus brings Peter, James, and John up the mountain, and how this glimpse of glory strengthens them for the Passion and the “scandal of the Cross.” From there, the homily connects the Gospel to the Lenten series on the deadly sins, focusing on sloth (acedia): not simply laziness, but a spiritual lethargy that comes from forgetting what we were made for. When we lose sight of heaven, we grow indifferent, distracted, and even frantic—pouring energy into what doesn't last while neglecting our true mission. The antidote is zeal: remembering that every Christian is called to holiness, and that our vocation is lived out in concrete love—prayer, conversion, and daily sacrifice, especially toward the people closest to us. Key takeaways The Transfiguration strengthens hope: Jesus shows both who He is and what we are made for. Jesus prepares the disciples “against the scandal of the Cross.” Sloth (acedia) is not merely laziness—it's sorrow at spiritual joy and forgetfulness of our mission. Zeal is the opposite of sloth: remembering our vocation and investing in love of God and neighbor. Holiness begins “here”: in our homes, our parish, and the relationships God has entrusted to us. Survey link:

Kat has the laziest of lazy Sundays, Mac picks up another trivia show, The Roofman tells a bonkers story, and we discuss tackling sloth this Lent..   Our locals page is now accepting subscriptions! Move over from Patreon so more of your tips go to us and not Apple.   Books: Read along with Mac - The Restoration of Christian Culture by John Senior Other great stuff we like: It's OK to Be Catholic Baritus Catholic Illustrations Pacem in Terris Retreat Center Picnic Blanket Restoration of Christian Culture from Our Lady of Clear Creek Abbey Restoration of Christian Culture PDF Spiritual Direction.com Sam and Mena's podcast: Engaged at 18 https://www.fatimafarm.com/ liturgical calendar from Sofia Institute Press Wyoming Catholic Gregory the Great's St. Nicholas Guild Total Consecration to Jesus Through Mary Mac's book! Clueless in Galilee Find us on our website Our libsyn page where you can find all our old episodes Theme song by Mary Bragg. Our other show: Spoiled! with Mac and Katherine

What do you do when faith feels dry, confusing, or emotionally barren—when God seems absent, or even uncomfortably near? In this episode of the Thinking Christian Podcast, Dr. James Spencer talks with Dr. Noelle Forlini-Byrte, author of God in the Desert: A Spiritual Theology of Wilderness in the Old Testament and part-time lecturer at Samford University, about the wilderness as a spiritual landscape for real Christians living real lives. Noelle shares how this book was “twenty years in the making,” beginning with her first spiritual formation class and early encounters with the mystics—especially St. John of the Cross and the theme of God’s “dark night” and felt absence. Those questions followed her into doctoral work in the Old Testament, where narratives like Jacob wrestling at the Jabbok, the exile, and Israel’s wilderness wanderings became a rich theological map for suffering, disorientation, and divine encounter. James and Noelle explore why the church often defaults to two unhealthy extremes: shallow, pithy “application” divorced from biblical context—or scholarship so clinical that it leaves the soul malnourished. Noelle argues that liturgy and scholarship must belong together: rigorous exegesis should not be an escape from spiritual formation, and devotional practices should not ignore the actual meaning of the text. The goal is not information alone, but a scripture-shaped life where God excavates the soul. Along the way, they discuss difficult Old Testament passages without smoothing out their discomfort—especially the wilderness as a place of testing (Deuteronomy 8) and purgation (Hosea 2). Noelle draws on the Christian mystical tradition to describe purgation as the stripping away of “self-made props,” the idolatries and illusions that quietly sustain us until wilderness exposes what we truly trust. One of the most resonant themes is acedia—the “noonday demon” from the desert tradition: spiritual weariness, malaise, and the temptation to give up when faith becomes costly and daily life grinds us down. James connects acedia to midlife, family pressures, and the subtle exhaustion that comes not from one tragedy, but from “death by a thousand cuts.” Noelle suggests that the very presence of these questions can be a sign of a deeper, weathered faith—because wilderness presupposes we are actually walking with God. The conversation closes with a challenge for the church today: humility, honest questions, and a willingness to let Scripture form us rather than simply confirm us. Faithful discipleship requires more than confidence—it requires wakefulness and the courage to bring our real lives before God. You can get God in the Desert: A Spiritual Theology of Wilderness in the Old Testament at ivpress.com (use code IVPPOD20 for a 20% discount) Subscribe to our YouTube channel

In this message, "Intensifying My Hunger for Holiness," we continue our Lenten journey, "Wisdom in the Desert,"by exploring the wilderness as a spiritual mirror that strips away our modern distractions and brings us eye-to-eye with our own brokenness. Drawing on the ancient wisdom of the Desert Fathers and Mothers, we move beyond viewing sin as a mere "lapse in judgment" to recognize it as a force that "desires to have us"—a force we are empowered to rule over through the Holy Spirit. By identifying the "Eight Thoughts"—patterns like Acedia (spiritual apathy) and Vainglory (image management)—we learn to stop "toying" with the thoughts that entangle us and instead embrace a proactive, grace-fueled pursuit of a Christ-shaped life.

We do have our favorite but surely wouldn't mind if Thomas Pynchon won the Nobel Prize too . . . and in Episode 32 we finish off 2025 by considering Shadow Ticket, the noir detective take on the 1930s by a writer who was surely a key influence on the early DeLillo (we read from an unpublished DeLillo letter summarizing that relationship) but who also seems to have been reading works like Running Dog over the years (or so we imagine in unpacking Shadow Ticket scenes invoking Chaplin and a “German Political Celebrity” named Hitler). We try to understand how Pynchon's latest examination of historical and potential fascism works in its 1932 setting, ranging from Milwaukee to Hungary, where reluctant protagonist and “sentimental ape” and “sap” Hicks McTaggart keeps adding on to his P.I. “tickets” in a strange search for a Wisconsin heiress and her Jewish musician lover but also what might ultimately be justice (a far from simple thing). Shadow Ticket is loads of serious fun, where Pynchon manages to examine the direst of turning points amidst scenes of bowling alley and motorcycle lore, dairy strikes, Prohibition's black markets, dance hall and speakeasy glamour, and something called “Radio-Cheez.” Bela Lugosi, vampires, a beautiful pig in a sidecar, and some of the most tasteless lamps in the world also play a role. The real content here for Hicks, though, is the prospect of spiritual and other forms of peace in a world where weapons from clubs to guns and submarines operate according to mysterious laws of “apport” and “asport,” occult material that interweaves with Hicks's strike-breaking past and raises connections to Gravity's Rainbow. Is Hicks's fellow orphan and young protégé Skeet Wheeler the father of Vineland's Zoyd, headed out to California as the novel ends? What's the meaning of Hicks failing to return to his home country, and what does cheese gangster Bruno Airmont's submarine fate have to do with Bleeding Edge? Are Hungary's shifting borders a new kind of “Zone”? What's going on in the novel's many Statue of Liberty references and its anachronistic allusions to a “Face Tube” for flirtation in bars? And how does this always funny writer, now in his late eighties, keep coming up with all these absurd songs (we sing some) and hilarious mock-movies like the one featuring “Squeezita Thickly” swimming in soup pots (Shirley Temple, is that you?)? Teasing out many connections to Gravity's Rainbow, Against the Day, and Vineland, this episode makes reference to just about all of Pynchon's other works, including even V. and his earliest short stories. At the same time, you need come to it with nothing but an interest in Pynchon's life and work. We doubt that we get every reference to history or previous Pynchon right or mount interpretations we won't later want to revise, but on this brand-new and captivating late work from a masterful author, we hope in nearly three hours of deep conversation and laughter that we've made a good start on the many critical readings to come. A partial list of references and quotations that we mention or paraphrase in this episode . . . On “prefascist twilight”: “And other grandfolks could be heard arguing the perennial question of whether the United States still lingered in a prefascist twilight, or whether that darkness had fallen long stupefied years ago, and the light they thought they saw was coming only from millions of Tubes all showing the same bright-colored shadows. One by one, as other voices joined in, the names began, some shouted, some accompanied by spit, the old reliable names good for hours of contention, stomach distress, and insomnia – Hitler, Roosevelt, Kennedy, Nixon, Hoover, Mafia, CIA, Reagan, Kissinger, that collection of names and their tragic interweaving that stood not constellated above in any nightwide remoteness of light, but below, diminished to the last unfaceable American secret, to be pressed, each time deeper, again and again beneath the meanest of random soles, one blackly fermenting leaf on the forest floor that nobody wanted to turn over, because of all that lived, virulent, waiting, just beneath.” (Pynchon, Vineland (1990)) On “second sheep”: “Our common nightmare The Bomb is in there too. It was bad enough in '59 and is much worse now, as the level of danger has continued to grow. There was never anything subliminal about it, then or now. Except for that succession of the criminally insane who have enjoyed power since 1945, including the power to do something about it, most of the rest of us poor sheep have always been stuck with simple, standard fear. I think we all have tried to deal with this slow escalation of our helplessness and terror in the few ways open to us, from not thinking about it to going crazy from it. Somewhere on this spectrum of impotence is writing fiction about it.” (Pynchon, “Introduction,” Slow Learner (1984)) The “Sloth essay paragraph” mentioned midway through: “In this century we have come to think of Sloth as primarily political, a failure of public will allowing the introduction of evil policies and the rise of evil regimes, the worldwide fascist ascendancy of the 1920's and 30's being perhaps Sloth's finest hour, though the Vietnam era and the Reagan-Bush years are not far behind. Fiction and nonfiction alike are full of characters who fail to do what they should because of the effort involved. How can we not recognize our world? Occasions for choosing good present themselves in public and private for us every day, and we pass them by. Acedia is the vernacular of everyday moral life.” (Pynchon, “Nearer, My Couch, To Thee” (1993)) Don DeLillo Papers, Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas-Austin The Motherland Calls statue, Volgograd: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Motherland_Calls  Pareidolia defined: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pareidolia

It’s an annual tradition. On the eve of the worst most popular metal and hard rock songs of the year, we celebrate by listening to the songs we liked best this year. Jordan didn’t find much in the world of heavy metal that turned his crank so he turned his ears to the sounds orbiting metal. Like every year, I just wanna rock so I found a few rockin’ tunes for you to get hyped to. If you like anything here, I highly recommend that you check out these bands and buy their albums, go see their shows, and otherwise hype them up. We will see you next week for the biggest mess of the year. Music featured on this episode: Deadlock – Acedia – The Downfall’s Symphony Steröid – Arena Show (Rockin’ Alone) The Birthday Massacre – Wish ESOCTRILHIUM – Hypnotic Danse Macabre of the Blind Noctivagants Wisp – Sword Wytch Hazel – Elements This program is available on Spotify. It is also available on iTunes or whatever they call it now, where you can rate, review, and subscribe. Give us money on Patreon to get exclusive bonus episodes and other cool shit.

Brent Billings, Reed Dent, and Josh Bossé talk about the capital vice known as sloth—or rather, acedia.David Hume's Moral Philosophy: The Natural Virtues — Stanford Encyclopedia of PhilosophyMaking All Things New by Henri NouwenInside Out 2 (2024 film)Glittering Vices by Rebecca Konyndyk DeYoungAcedia & Me by Kathleen NorrisThe Message in the Bottle by Walker PercyBEMA 2: Knowing When to Say “Enough”1 Corinthians 3 — Reed Dent, Campus Christian FellowshipBEMA 400: Talmudic Matthew — SaltBEMA 401: Talmudic Matthew — LightBEMA 402: Talmudic Matthew — Lightly SaltedMark 11 (aroma reference) — Reed Dent, Campus Christian FellowshipWhere the Wild Things Are by Maurice SendakBEMA 136: Each OneThe Book of Delights by Ross Gay“Patient Trust” by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin“Followers, Not Admirers” by Søren Kierkegaard in Bread and Wine: Readings for Lent and EasterPrayer of St. Teresa of Avila — Catholic Health Association of the United StatesLost in the Cosmos by Walker PercyThe Sabbath by Abraham Joshua HeschelThe Screwtape Letters by C. S. LewisCalorie — WikipediaCanada Geese and Diet Dr. Pepper — The Anthropocene Reviewed

David and Brian sit down to discuss the danger of slothfulness, what exactly Acedia is, and how to respond when it arises in our lives.

What is Acedia? What does slothfulness mean? How to we escape spiritual apathy?

Reflexiones de Mons. José Ignacio Munilla sobre el pecado de la acedia en la Iglesia de Sardes, Apocalipsis

In this episode, I sit down with acclaimed writer and poet Kathleen Norris to talk about her deeply personal new book, Rebecca Sue. The book tells the story of her sister Becky - born with brain damage at birth - whose life was marked by both difficulty and transformation, humor and resilience. Kathleen shares what it was like to grow up alongside Becky, how storytelling became a way of honoring her full humanity, and why persistence was necessary to bring this book into the world. Along the way, she reflects on grief, community, the role of faith, and the ways we learn to see people not through labels or limitations, but in the fullness of who they are. This is a conversation about love, loss, and the surprising grace that emerges when we pay attention to every story - even the ones we're tempted to overlook.Kathleen Norris is the award-winning poet, writer, and author of the New York Times bestselling books The Cloister Walk, Acedia & Me: A Marriage, Monks, and a Writer's Life, Dakota: A Spiritual Geography, Amazing Grace: A Vocabulary of Faith, The Virgin of Bennington, and several volumes of poetry. Exploring the spiritual life, her work is at once intimate and historical, rich in poetry and meditations, brimming with exasperation and reverence, deeply grounded in both nature and spirit, sometimes funny, and often provocative.Widowed in 2003, Kathleen Norris now divides her time between South Dakota and Honolulu, Hawaii, where she is a member of an Episcopal church. She travels to the mainland regularly to speak to students, medical professionals, social workers, and chaplains at colleges and universities, as well as churches and teaching hospitals. For many years she was the poetry editor of Spirituality & Health magazine. She serves as an editorial advisor for the monthly Give Us This Day from Liturgical Press, and writes for a weekly e-newsletter, Soul Telegram: Movies & Meaning with her friend Irish storyteller Gareth Higgins.Kathleen's Book:Rebecca SueSubscribe to Our Substack: Shifting CultureConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@allnations.usGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, Bluesky or YouTubeConsider Giving to the podcast and to the ministry that my wife and I do around the world. Just click on the support the The Balance of GrayFaith That Challenges. Conversations that Matter. Laughs included. Subscribe Now!Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify The Balance of GrayFaith That Challenges. Conversations that Matter. Laughs included. Subscribe Now!Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the show

Charla impartida por Mons. José Ignacio Munilla a las comunidades contemplativas de la diócesis de Orihuela-Alicante, el 11 de abril de 2025.

What is it that forms and shapes us the most as human beings? What affects the way that we perceive reality and gives form to the thoughts that we have  throughout the course of a day? Do we have any awareness of an interior life or are we simply drawn along by the flow of external realities; demands, responsibilities or forms of entertainment?  According to the Fathers and Saint Isaac the Syrian, we are in a constant state of receptivity through our senses. Part of being a human being is that we see and perceive everything that is around us; all of which give rise to a multitude of thoughts, images and feelings. Our lack of awareness of reality and of the internal life and the effect that our thoughts have upon us means that we often allow or identity to be shaped by the changing tides of the times or the constant shifting of our emotions.  In so many ways, the Fathers were the first depth psychologists. Their movement to great solitude and the stillness of the desert allowed a greater awareness to emerge of what was going on internally. This of course didn't lead immediately to understanding or transformation. However, the awareness did allow them to begin to discern the source of their thoughts, what thoughts predominate, and where their thoughts were leading them.  Thoughts can be so strong and so deeply rooted that they become habitual - as well as the actions that follow from them. These habitual thoughts and actions the Fathers call “passions” and the passions as a whole are referred to as the “world”.  Our growing capacity to acknowledge the dominant passions and to struggle with them allows two things to begin to emerge: a good transformation of our way of life and a greater capacity to understand the nature of our thoughts. Simply put, one begins to be able to measure one's way of life by what arises from within.   In this Homily, Saint Isaac is setting the stage for guiding us along a path to spiritual healing and transformation in Christ. The fruit of the struggle promises wholeness, freedom, and the joy that our sin often prevents. When we are guided simply by our private judgment or by what satisfies our most basic needs, then our understanding of things becomes very insular and myopic and we lose sight of the dignity and destiny that is ours' in Christ.  The more that we desire the life and freedom that Isaac describes above the more discover that we need to have no fear of anything. One who has tasted the love and mercy of Christ also finds emerging within himself the courage of a lion. The fear of soul that once overshadowed him succumbs before this ever-present love like wax from the heat of a flame. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:08:36 Bob Čihák, AZ: Is this the book? Amazon has: The Secret Seminary: Prayer and the Study of Theology by Fr. Brendan Pelphrey  | Apr 28, 2012 00:16:08 Mary Clare Wax: It has all the bells and whistles! Love it 00:18:29 Bob Čihák, AZ: P. 124, paragraph 14 00:19:08 Myles Davidson: Replying to "P. 124, paragraph 14" “Think to yourself…” 00:20:04 Suzanne Romano: Hey Studge! 00:20:29 Stephen Romano: Hey sis  :) 00:20:47 Suzanne Romano: Reacted to Hey sis  :) with "

Reflexiones de Mons. José Ignacio Munilla sobre el pecado de la acedia y como podemos combatirla.

You fall in love. You're captivated. You date, court, propose, and marry. You're IN love. Everything is passionate and real and authentic and natural. But over time, things change. Life happens. And some married people find that their love hasn't been sustained, hasn't deepened. Instead of being in love with their spouse, they're indifference - or worse, find that they've grown to resent or hate them. What's TRUE of married couples is TRUE of all of us when it comes to our relationship with God. Over time, we can become INDIFFERENT, bored, fatigued, and distracted. That's not only a problem, but it's a sin. In this message, Max Vanderpool outlines the greatest threat to the American church and to the average American's "walk" with Jesus. And it isn't lust, greed, or pride. It's ACEDIA.

You fall in love. You're captivated. You date, court, propose, and marry. You're IN love. Everything is passionate and real and authentic and natural. But over time, things change. Life happens. And some married people find that their love hasn't been sustained, hasn't deepened. Instead of being in love with their spouse, they're indifference - or worse, find that they've grown to resent or hate them. What's TRUE of married couples is TRUE of all of us when it comes to our relationship with God. Over time, we can become INDIFFERENT, bored, fatigued, and distracted. That's not only a problem, but it's a sin. In this message, Max Vanderpool outlines the greatest threat to the American church and to the average American's "walk" with Jesus. And it isn't lust, greed, or pride. It's ACEDIA.

Have you ever had someone call you “slothful?” Did you feel bad because you were feeling lazy? Sloth is one of the deadly sins, but it doesn’t mean what you think it does. Known by the Desert Fathers and Mothers as “acedia,” this sin is pervasive, and we’ve all experienced its power. In this powerful message, Pastor Scott Savage names a feeling we all know well, showing us the dangers of this sin and how we overcome it with God’s power.

Have you ever had someone call you “slothful?” Did you feel bad because you were feeling lazy? Sloth is one of the deadly sins, but it doesn’t mean what you think it does. Known by the Desert Fathers and Mothers as “acedia,” this sin is pervasive, and we’ve all experienced its power. In this powerful message, Pastor Scott Savage names a feeling we all know well, showing us the dangers of this sin and how we overcome it with God’s power.

Lent 2025

Lent 2025

Title: Fighting through the Fog: Battling Sloth and AcediaSpeaker: Matt KehlerText: Psalm 143Link to Discussion Questions

DateMarch 16, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon from our Lenten series "Glitch: Reframing Sin and Finding Reconnection," we tackle the often-overlooked sin of acedia—a soul-numbing apathy that convinces us "this is just how things are." Jesus' encounter with the paralyzed man at Bethzatha reveals how we can become stuck in narratives of despair, our imaginations dried out by years of disappointment. But Jesus creates threshold moments, disrupting our cynicism with invitations to "stand up"—to crack open our shells and step into new possibilities. Like acorns beneath an oak tree, we're called to see beyond what is to what could be.ReferencesScripture: John 5:1–9About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

In this sermon from our Lenten series "Glitch: Reframing Sin and Finding Reconnection," we tackle the often-overlooked sin of acedia—a soul-numbing apathy that convinces us "this is just how things are." Jesus' encounter with the paralyzed man at Bethzatha reveals how we can become stuck in narratives of despair, our imaginations dried out by years of disappointment. But Jesus creates threshold moments, disrupting our cynicism with invitations to "stand up"—to crack open our shells and step into new possibilities. Like acorns beneath an oak tree, we're called to see beyond what is to what could be.

Send us a textIf you have questions about the Bible, about the liturgy, the sermon, or Christianity in general you can email your question to questions@trinitygracesa.org.

What is the greatest risk of AI? Dr. Christopher Reilly joins Trending with Timmerie discussing artificial intelligence. (2:08) Is AI like a human and able to reason? (25:04) Pope update. (40:54) Aunts and uncles play a primary role in a child’s life. (42:47) Resources mentioned : Christopher M. Reilly https://christophermreilly.com/ AI and Sin: How Today’s Technology Motivates Evil https://enroutebooksandmedia.com/aiandsin/

This is from a day long seminar on overcoming perfectionism, Acedia and Sloth. The two talks examine the struggle with perfectionism from both a psychological and spiritual perspective. I hope it helps many and that you share it with those who may benefit. 

This is the second talk of 2 from a day long seminar on overcoming perfectionism, Acedia and Sloth. The two talks examine the struggle with perfectionism from both a psychological and spiritual perspective. I hope it helps many and that you share it with those who may benefit. 

In Let's Talk About This, Fr. McTeigue again discusses Acedia and the subtle idolatries of delusional optimism. How can we break from the desires for others to "do the work" for us? Father finishes with Weekend Readiness to help you prepare for the upcoming Sunday Mass.   Show Notes Beware of “Hopium” and “Copium”  Symposium on Catholics & American Political Life | New Oxford Review  A Brief Reader on the Virtues of the Human Heart - Josef Pieper Faith, Hope, Love - Josef Pieper Kingship Of Christ and Organized Naturalism - Angelus Press JFK : Houston Ministerial Association Full Speech "Religious Belief and Public Morality: A Catholic Governor's Perspective," an address by Gov. Mario Cuomo of New York - September 13, 1984, as a Lecture in the University of Notre Dame's Department of Theology | Archives of the University of Notre Dame Cardinal Pie and the Social Kingship of Christ - Crisis Magazine President Donald Trump Signs Pardons for 23 Pro-Life Americans - LifeNews.com Jean Shepherd Live at the Limelight - "Scratchy Suit & Steel Mill Mailroom (restored)" iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!  

One of the Seven Deadly Sins is the sin of acedia. This sin, often listedas simply 'sloth,' encompasses much more than merely laziness orboredom. In this class, Pastor Dodds will do a deep dive into thephilosophical, historical, theological, and practical (and there aremany!) issues related to the sin of acedia.

This week's guest is Kathleen Norris. Her best known books include Acedia and Me, The Cloister Walk, Dakota: A Spiritual Geography, and Amazing Grace: A Vocabulary of Faith. A Benedictine oblate, she practices the Benedictines' commitment to good order and deep hospitality her writing. Kathleen Norris's new book she co-authored with Gareth Higgins. It's called A Whole Life in Twelve Movies: a Cinematic Journey to a Deeper Spirituality.Support the show: https://therabbitroom.givingfuel.com/memberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the second part of our series on spiritual warfare, Father McTeigue discusses conflict avoidance, kingship, and the vice of Acedia by taking a closer look at Ahab. What happens when we refuse to make use of legitimate and God given authority?   Show Notes The strategies of Satan, Part 2: The “Ahab” tactic  God's holy weapons against Satan, Part 2: The gift of kingship  Sacred Story Institute  The Beginning of the End of Recreational Catholicism The End of Recreational Catholicism (Fr. John Perricone) 10/10/24 iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

“You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.” Taking a look at the first commandment, we see how we are called to love and worship God above all else. The Catechism also lists the ways in which we may potentially fall into sins against faith, hope, and charity. Fr. Mike elaborates on these violations and reminds us that while it may seem overwhelming, God loved us first, and we must trust in him. Today's readings are Catechism paragraphs 2083-2094. This episode has been found to be in conformity with the Catechism by the Institute on the Catechism, under the Subcommittee on the Catechism, USCCB. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/ciy Please note: The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Part of the Teaching Sovereign Knowers Collection In recent years, a number of HeightsCast guests have touched on the same resounding theme: the modern creep of curiositas and acedia, both considered classical vices. But where there are two vices, Aristotle encourages us to look for a virtue at the Golden Mean. Mr. Michael Moynihan, head of The Heights upper school, finds it in studiousness. Adding to his collection of work on Teaching Sovereign Knowers, this episode unpacks Michael's essay “Intellectual Virtue and Personal Sovereignty,” available on the Heights Forum. In it, he speaks to the why and how of pursuing studiousness as an intellectual virtue. For this, as with all virtues, allows us to stand before reality in an intentional way. Chapters: 3:43 Curiosity as an intellectual vice? 7:55 Acedia at the other end of the spectrum 10:15 Golden mean: studiousness 14:36 When is it curiositas, when is it engagement? 16:37 Studiousness as a virtue—of sorts 23:09 Standing before reality in an intentional way 26:23 Seeking the golden mean: sticking to a plan 29:21 Using “Great Books” well 34:46 Orienting students to the golden mean Links: Intellectual Virtue and Personal Sovereignty by Michael Moynihan The Idea of a University by John Henry Cardinal Newman Featured Opportunities: Headmaster's Lecture at The Heights School (October 5, 2024) The Art of Teaching Conference at The Heights School (November 13-15, 2024) Also on the Forum: Teaching Sovereign Knowers Collection by Michael Moynihan On Hope and Despair featuring R. J. Snell Forming Deep Workers featuring Cal Newport