Podcast appearances and mentions of Saint Teresa

Listen to Fr. Steve's homily from 10/15/25.Thanks for listening! Please leave us a rating and/or review, and share on social media or with a friend! You can email ashley@rootedinthereallyreal.com with any questions or suggestions. God bless.

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Gospel Luke 11:42-46 The Lord said: “Woe to you Pharisees! You pay tithes of mint and of rue and of every garden herb, but you pay no attention to judgment and to love for God. These you should have done, without overlooking the others. Woe to you Pharisees! You love the seat of honor in synagogues and greetings in marketplaces.   Woe to you! You are like unseen graves over which people unknowingly walk.” Then one of the scholars of the law said to him in reply, “Teacher, by saying this you are insulting us too.” And he said, “Woe also to you scholars of the law! You impose on people burdens hard to carry, but you yourselves do not lift one finger to touch them.” Reflection Jesus had an intention, not necessarily to insult those that were leading the temple as much as it was to change their understanding of who they were. They were blinded by their darkness. And what we see in this is that they are making other people enter that darkness with him without even knowing it. To step on a grave would make a person unclean, to be in the web of the Pharisees and scribes would also make them unclean. So Jesus is worried about the impact he's having on the people, and as he reveals it, all they can hear is an insult that is unfairly offered. Closing Prayer Father, bless us with the understanding of the fullness of who you want us to be. If it was just about you and us, it would be different. But it's about us and everyone around us. Help us to understand how contagious we can be, both for the light and for the darkness. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Father Kevin Drew as he preaches on this Memorial of Saint Teresa of Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church. Today's readings First Reading: Romans 8:22-27 Psalm: Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 11 Gospel: John 15:9b, 5b Catholic Radio Network

Fr. Dave Heney joins Patrick to discuss St. Teresa of Avila (2:52) who was St Teresa of Avila? (11:52) what is a Doctor of the Church? What are some of the insights of writings in the life of St Teresa o Avila? (20:29) Break 1 Richard - Daughter is a Carmelite. Wanted to share what she's going through as a Carmelite and my experience as a father. (29:01) How did St. Teresa deal with opposition in her life? (35:42) Mike – I was able to visit her convent a few times. The greatest treasure of hers is her prayer 'Let nothing trouble you God is in control' (38:23) Break 2 What is a mystic? Why was it so difficult for St Teresa to be a Mystic? Resources The Autobiography of Saint Teresa of Avila: The Life of St. Teresa of Jesus https://tanbooks.com/products/books/the-autobiography-of-saint-teresa-of-avila-the-life-of-st-teresa-of-jesus/?srsltid=AfmBOooK8aIC1CeGtVwc5AHCAgS3xjR3LCcN7ntShF88zsccjMxrxTeP The Way of Perfection: Study Edition https://www.icspublications.org/products/teresa-of-avila-the-way-of-perfection-a-study-edition

ROSARY - GLORIOUS MYSTERIES today.  DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET for Wednesday.

Let us all journey inward

Send us a textWe trace Teresa of Avila's move from lukewarm routine to fierce friendship with God, and how that interior shift powered a barefoot reform that reshaped the Carmelite Order. Mysticism meets practicality as we unpack the transverberation, the Interior Castle, and a simple path to deeper prayer.• Spain's social pressures and Teresa's early zeal• Grief, vanity, and the first stirrings of reform• A hard-won conversion sparked by the wounded Christ• Prayer as friendship rather than obligation• Visions discerned with humility and obedience• Founding the Discalced Carmelites amid opposition• Partnership with John of the Cross• The seven mansions of the Interior Castle• The Way of Perfection as a practical guide• Enduring legacy through pilgrimages, retreats, and resourcesSubscribe to our updates for inspiring stories, upcoming events, and exclusive content to fuel your faithSaint Teresa of Avila CollectionOpen by Steve Bailey Support the show

For 15 October 2025, Memorial of Saint Teresa of Ávila, Virgin, Doctor , based on Luke 11:42-46

Read OnlineJesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.” Luke 11:1What a great prayer for us to pray also, “Lord, teach us to pray…” Jesus' response to this disciple was to present him with the “Our Father” prayer. Of this prayer, Saint Andre Bessette said, “When you say the Our Father, God's ear is next to your lips.” The great mystical Doctor of the Church Saint Teresa of Ávila gave this advice while praying the Lord's Prayer: “Much more is accomplished by a single word of the Our Father said, now and then, from our heart, than by the whole prayer repeated many times in haste and without attention.” And Saint Thérèse of Lisieux said that the “Our Father” prayer was one of the prayers she prayed when she felt so spiritually barren that she could not summon up a single worthwhile thought.At the Holy Mass, when the priest invites the people of God to pray the “Our Father,” he says, in part, that this prayer is one that “...we dare to say.” This is an interesting statement which especially reveals the childlike boldness we are called to have as we pray this prayer sincerely from the heart. It is exceptionally bold to call God our “Father.”Chapter 11 of My Catholic Worship, which offers a teaching on this perfect prayer, states the following about this boldness:Each Christian is to see the Father as my Father.  We must see ourselves as God's children and approach Him with the confidence of a child.  A child with a loving parent is not afraid of that parent.  Rather, children have the greatest trust that their parents love them no matter what.  Even when they sin, children know they are still loved.  This must be our fundamental starting point for all prayer.  We must start with an understanding that God loves us no matter what.  With this understanding of God, we will have all the confidence we need to call on Him.Since many of us are very familiar with this ideal prayer taught to us by our Lord Himself, there is a temptation to pray this prayer in a somewhat rote way. We can easily fail to say it from the depths of our hearts, making each word our own, offered with the utmost confidence to our loving Father in Heaven.How do you pray the Lord's Prayer? Do you pray it out of habit, failing to fully comprehend and mean the words you pray? Most likely this is the case for many. Reflect, today, upon this most holy prayer given to us by the Son of God Himself. He is the author of this perfect prayer, so we should use it as the foundation of all of our prayer. Try to follow the advice of Saint Teresa of Ávila quoted above. Take each word of that prayer and pray it slowly, intentionally and with love. Begin by acknowledging God as your Father. Ponder the infinite care He has for you as a perfect father would. See Him in a real, intimate, and personal way. This perfect prayer begins by acknowledging Who God is and then continues with seven perfect petitions. After praying the introduction to this prayer, pick one of the seven petitions to meditate upon so that the richness of this prayer will have a transformative effect upon your soul. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  Jesus, I trust in You.Image: St Peter and St Paul by Lawrence OP, license CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Read OnlineTurning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.” Luke 10:23–24Imagine seeing Jesus in person. What would that have been like? What would it have been like to see Him, listen to Him preach, witness His miracles and spend time sitting with Him quietly? The experience of being with Him as He walked the earth would have been determined by the depth of interior sight you had. There were many who saw Jesus but rejected Him, and even killed Him. Clearly, they did not have the interior eyes of faith to see Him for Who He was. Others left everything behind to follow Him. Clearly, they perceived Who He was in His divine soul through the gift of faith.As Jesus states above, the disciples were blessed to see Him. Many prophets and kings of old desired to see the Messiah. Century after century, the prophecies about the coming of the Messiah would have left many with much anticipation and hope that they would be among those blessed to see Him. Recall, for example, Simeon the prophet who waited his whole life to see the Christ Child. Then, when Mary and Joseph brought the Child Jesus into the Temple to present Him to the Lord, Simeon took the Child into his hands and proclaimed, “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel” (Luke 2:29–32). Indeed, Simeon, the disciples, and all who encountered Jesus as He walked the earth were truly blessed. They were blessed to see the Son of God with their own eyes.Jesus proclaimed the eyes of the disciples to be blessed for seeing Him. However, if He were to speak to us today, He would proclaim us doubly blessed. We do not see Him in physical form, walking the earth. But we are able to perceive Him in a way that even Simeon did not experience in His life. Simeon saw the Savior of the World with his eyes, present in human form. But today, we are able to see Him in an even more profound way. By the gift of grace and the indwelling of God, we are able to look within our own souls and discover the true presence of God living within us.One might argue that seeing Jesus with your eyes is preferable to seeing His divine presence within your soul. But is it? Certainly not. Again, recall that there were many who saw Jesus with their eyes but did not recognize Him as God. Today, we are privileged to perceive the presence of Christ in our world in the deepest way possible. He came to live within us. He came to possess us. He came to unite Himself with us in a union so deep that it transforms us completely, making us into His very body.If it took faith to see the divinity of Jesus when He walked the earth, it will also take faith to see His true presence within us. Our sins cloud His presence. Our lack of faith makes it hard to see Him there. But God is alive within every soul that is in a state of grace, and it must be our ongoing duty to discover His indwelling presence and to be with Him within. In her spiritual masterpiece, “Interior Castles,” Saint Teresa of Ávila explains that the infinite God does dwell within us. It is our duty to enter into the most secret core of our being, the most interior castle, navigating through our many sins, so that we will enter the deepest center where the fullness of the great King dwells. Reflect, today, upon Jesus' words spoken to the disciples: “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.” Know that this statement applies even more to you. Seek to have the eyes of faith so that you can perceive the true presence of the Savior of the World living within your own soul. Seek Him out, gaze at Him with love, bask in His divine presence and allow that presence to overshadow you, transforming you into the person God wants you to be. My indwelling Lord, I am blessed beyond belief by Your divine presence dwelling within me. Please open my eyes to see You and my ears to hear You so that I will be able to dwell with You Who have come to dwell in me. Jesus, I trust in You.Image via Adobe StockSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Are any of us professional poets? No. Are any of us poetry professors? No. Are any of us poetry publishers? One more time, no. But who cares. Poetry is part of our human patrimony. It's the language of love, the language of war, the language of fear, despair, and human longing. Writing poems is what humans do—all humans, in every age—and this week, in perhaps our most favorite conversation ever, we're talking about why that matters … and why poetry isn't something to be scared of or left to the “experts” but rather something that can make us more deeply human in an increasingly less human age. Show Notes:“Can Poetry Matter,” Dana GioiaMike AquilinaJane GreerBeatrice InstituteThe Always Broken Plates of Mountains by Rose McClarney (Poem: “Gather”)“Dichoso el corazón enamorado” by Saint Teresa of AvilaCity Nave by Betsy Brown ( Poem: “To a Ripe June Strawberry”)“All the World” by Liz Garton ScanlonEmily's Children's Books Mary, Mother of All The Supper of the Lamb Lord, Have Mercy Joseph, Keeper of the King (forthcoming Spring 2026)Support Catholic conversations that matter and become a supporter today. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit visitationsessions.substack.com/subscribe

We're exploring the Interior Castle, the Sixth Mansions, Chapter 2, where Saint Teresa edifies us with her experience of Jesus deeply touching our hearts during prayer. She describes these interactions as delicate and powerful. These mystical experiences are vital for enduring trials in the Sixth Mansions.Timeline:00:00:00 Opening Scripture Luke 7:44-5000:03:13 Tales of Glory Episode 151 Intro00:03:44 Sixth Mansions Chapter 2 Topical Outline00:04:50 Outline I. Introduction to Wounds of Love00:06:09 nos. 1. Our Lord excites the love of His spouse.00:09:00 nos. 2. The wound of love. 00:12:54 nos. 3. The pain it causes. 00:19:31 nos. 4. The Call of the Bridegroom. 00:21:57 nos. 5. Effect on the Soul.00:35:51 Outline II. Divine Spark 00:36:18 nos. 6. A spark of the fire of love. 00:43:02 nos. 7. Spark Dies Out.00:45:37 Outline III. Security, Peace, and Joy.00:45:55 nos. 8. This grace evidently divine.00:46:55 nos. 9. One such wound repays many trials. 00:48:41 Outline IV. Security felt about these experiences.00:49:05 nos. 10. First reason of immunity from deception.00:50:22 nos. 11. Second and third reasons. 00:52:52 nos. 12. The imagination not concerned in it. 00:57:24 Outline V. No Fear of Deception00:57:49 nos. 13. St. Teresa never alarmed at this prayer. 01:02:07 nos. 14. ‘The odor (Fragrance) of Thine ointment.' 01:05:49 nos. 15. No reason to fear deception here.01:08:11 Conclusion

The archetype of the Wanderer appears as a figure of profound loneliness, who drifts through life without a fixed home or direction, restless in the search for purpose and belonging. He has far-sickness, a deep longing for distant places and the hope of eventually finding a place on earth where he truly feels at home. The Wanderer longs for home, yet feels at home nowhere, dwelling in a liminal space between past and present, the familiar and the unknown, echoing what Lovecraft wrote: “I know always that I am an outsider; a stranger in this century and among those who are still men.”If there is one key characteristic of the Wanderer, it is restlessness, which appears as a constant need to chase the next thing, whether it be in the outer world. Once something is achieved, the Wanderer is no longer satisfied, and seeks something else, ad infinitum. This insatiable desire is the cause of much of our suffering. One could say that the Wanderer cannot commit to anything, but he is certainly committed to wandering. After a long period of aimless wandering, one may finally commit to the inner journey, and the archetype of the Seeker becomes constellated, beginning the search for one's soul. The focus of life shifts from external achievements and aimless wandering to the pursuit of self-realisation and theosis (union with God).

Homily by Fr. Michael Renninger

We're exploring the Interior Castle, Sixth Mansions Chapter 1, in part 2 of this two-part podcast on stages of mystical prayer life. Saint Teresa explains the importance of the prayer stage of the Sixth Mansions. She uses the analogy of a spiritual engagement to describe the depths of the relationship of our heart and soul to Jesus. And of course, this deep interior prayer relationship is accompanied by trials. She outlines the state of the soul in the Sixth Mansions when dealing with spiritual directors, and the intolerable torment the soul can experience in trials as Jesus refines the soul.Timeline:00:00:00 Opening Scripture James 1:2-4 00:01:25 Tales of Glory Episode 150 Intro00:03:05 Sixth Mansions Chapter I Topical Outline00:04:10 Section IV. Trials from Confessors00:04:24 15. A timorous confessor. 00:09:46 16. Anxiety on account of past sins.00:14:38 17. Fears and aridity. 00:16:23 18. Scruples and fears raised by the devil. 00:21:36 19. Bewilderment of the soul. 00:26:20 20. God alone relieves these troubles. 00:32:29 Section V. The Soul Feels Forsaken00:32:56 21. Human weakness. 00:37:49 22. Earthly consolations are of no avail. 00:42:37 23. Prayer gives no comfort at such a time.00:48:26 24. Remedies for these interior trials.00:50:37 Section VI. Trials from Devils and Other Afflictions00:50:49 25. Trials caused by the devil.00:53:28 26. Other afflictions.00:54:34 Section VII. Preparing to Enter the Seventh Mansions00:54:36 27. Preparatory to entering the seventh mansions.00:55:49 Conclusion

We're exploring the Interior Castle, Sixth Mansions Chapter 1, in part 2 of this two-part podcast on stages of mystical prayer life. Saint Teresa explains the importance of the prayer stage of the Sixth Mansions. She uses the analogy of a spiritual engagement to describe the depths of the relationship of our heart and soul to Jesus. And of course, this deep interior prayer relationship is accompanied by trials.Timeline:00:00:00 Opening Scripture Numbers 24:18-16 00:01:35 Episode 149 Intro00:03:00 Sixth Mansions Chapter I Topical Outline00:04:10 Section I - Sixth Mansions Prepares the Soul for Spiritual Betrothal00:04:25 1. Love kindled by divine favors. 00:11:19 2. Our Lord excites the soul's longings. 00:14:14 3. Courage needed to reach the last mansions.00:18:36 4. Trials accompanying divine favors. 00:20:18 Section II - The State of the Soul to Those Whom God Grants These Favors00:20:50 5. Outcry raised against souls striving for perfection. 00:25:39 6. St. Teresa's personal experience of this. 00:26:21 7. Praise distasteful to an enlightened soul. 00:29:29 8. This changes to indifference. 00:32:04 9. Humility of such souls. 00:33:55 10. Their zeal for God's glory. 00:36:22 11. Perfect and final indifference to praise or blame. 00:38:41 12. Love of enemies. 00:41:15 Section 3 - Trials and Affirmaties00:41:32 13. Bodily sufferings.00:47:34 14. St. Teresa's physical ills. 00:51:05 Conclusion

Today's Topics: 1) Gospel - Luke 5:33-39 - The scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, "The disciples of John the Baptist fast often and offer prayers, and the disciples of the Pharisees do the same; but Yours eat and drink." Jesus answered them, "Can you make the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days." And He also told them a parable. "No one tears a piece from a new cloak to patch an old one. Otherwise, he will tear the new and the piece from it will not match the old cloak. Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined. Rather, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins. And no one who has been drinking old wine desires new, for he says, 'The old is good.'" Memorial of Saint Teresa of Calcutta, Virgin Saint Teresa, pray for us! Bishop Sheen quote of the day 2, 3, 4) Taylor Marshall on why we are in dire need of Christian patriots

Full Text of ReadingsFriday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 435The Saint of the day is Saint Teresa of CalcuttaSaint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Mother Miriam Live - September 9th, 2025 Mother reads an article about the Nativity of Mary Mother answers a call regarding a supposed vision from Saint Teresa surrounding cremation

Join Father Kevin Drew as he preaches on this Friday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time and Memorial of Saint Teresa of Calcutta, virgin. Today's readings First Reading: Colossians 1:15-20 Psalm: Psalm 100:1b-2, 3, 4, 5 Gospel: Luke 5:33-39 Catholic Radio Network

Today is the feast of Saint Teresa of Calcutta. Father shares some powerful words from Saint Teresa to a priest. What does it mean to be little? Why is it important for us to be empty in our lives? Check out this powerful reflection.

Memorial of Saint Teresa of CalcuttaMatthew 25:31-46"Then they will answer and say,‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirstyor a stranger or naked or ill or in prison,and not minister to your needs?' He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you,what you did not do for one of these least ones,you did not do for me.'And these will go off to eternal punishment,but the righteous to eternal life.”

2025 Aug 24 SUN: TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Is 66: 18-21/ Ps 117: 1. 2/ Heb 12: 5-7. 11-13/ Lk 13: 22-30 I remember, from about 20 years ago, being at a meeting with a number of non-Catholic Christian pastors and I was explaining to them what the Second Vatican Council had to say about the possible salvation of people who've never heard of Jesus Christ. And Vatican II, in the Constitution on the Church, says that such people, if they are seeking what is true and good, they can be granted entrance into the heavenly kingdom. And I remember one of the pastors objecting to this. He says, "That's universalism." Universalism traditionally has been the idea that everybody is saved. And I suppose that it kind of tore at his idea of religion. I guess he had this idea that there are winners and losers. I don't know. But we have this question posed today. It says that someone asked Jesus, "Lord, will only a few people be saved?"  Well, Jesus does not give an answer -- a numerical answer. He does tell us that we need to pay close attention because this is a relationship we are talking about. A relationship into which every one of us has been invited. He says it isn't enough to say yeah we knew you, you taught in our streets, you should know us. That is not sufficient. We are called to cultivate a truly personal relationship with the Son of God who came among us truly human as well as truly God -- in order to bear on our behalf all that we find ourselves having to bear in this often painful mystery of our earthly existence. Saint Teresa of Avila wrote that Jesus is our best friend precisely because he chose to take upon himself what we find ourselves having to suffer in a sinful world. The pastor I remember from 20 years ago could be confronted today with what we hear from just about the very end of the prophet Isaiah. There is universalism being expressed here. You heard all those unfamiliar place names. In fact there's one in there that is so unfamiliar that nobody can identify it with anything. They don't know which nation Isaiah is talking about but they are converging from the east and the west and from the north and the south.   And those are Jesus' words today in the Gospel. Yes, there is something universally offered. We have the responsibility of really accepting this gift of the God who became one of us and we hope that, by the way we live our lives, many others will be attracted to this Kingdom of God announced by Jesus.  Of course we might talk about these things in ways that do not open themselves to relationships. We've heard it in the news over the past week about people reflecting and worrying, I guess you could say, about whether they would get to heaven. And that's a very American way of putting things. We can find it if we pick up a great American novel, Huckleberry Finn, and discover that Huck is being taught about the "good place" and the "bad place." Well, it's not so much a place; it is a relationship. It is coming to love the God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit who first of all created us and then recreated us through the sacrifice of Jesus. So Jesus, when he speaks about the narrow way, is talking about what the Letter to the Hebrews is illustrating. Yes, we find ourselves disciplined, but this is so that we may be strong. He refers to our hands and our knees. Hebrews is saying you can keep traveling this path because you are on a path in which you discover that you are being healed.

We're exploring the Interior Castle, Sixth Mansions Chapter 3, in part 2 of this two-part podcast on locutions. Locutions means "to speak". God speaks to us in many ways. Intellectual locutions/visions come from the Superior part of the soul. Saint Teresa shares with us her wisdom on the validity of these supernatural experiences and how to confide in a spiritual director.Timeline:00:00:00 Opener 00:01:50 Welcome00:03:37 Episode 148 Introduction00:08:01 Section 1. Locutions from the Imagination00:08:06 16. Locutions coining from the fancy. 00:11:09 17. Imaginary answers given to prayer. 00:12:36 18. A confessor should be consulted about locutions. 00:17:16 Section 2. Locutions from the Intellect00:17:40 19. Interior locutions. 00:22:22 20. First sign of genuine interior locutions. 00:23:35 21. Second sign.00:26:23 22. Third sign. 00:27:24 23. Fourth sign. 00:28:24 24. Fifth sign. 00:30:49 Section 3. Locutions Bring Humility00:30:54 25. Results of true locutions. 00:33:44 26. They should remove alarm. 00:34:54 27. Answer to an objection.00:38:58 Conclusion

Full Text of ReadingsSaturday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 412The Saint of the day is Saint Teresa Benedicta of the CrossSaint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross' Story A brilliant philosopher who stopped believing in God when she was 14, Edith Stein was so captivated by reading the autobiography of Teresa of Avila that she began a spiritual journey that led to her baptism in 1922. Twelve years later she imitated Saint Teresa by becoming a Carmelite, taking the name Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. Born into a prominent Jewish family in Breslau, Germany—now Wroclaw, Poland—Edith abandoned Judaism in her teens. As a student at the University of Göttingen, she became fascinated by phenomenology–an approach to philosophy. Excelling as a protégé of Edmund Husserl, one of the leading phenomenologists, Edith earned a doctorate in philosophy in 1916. She continued as a university teacher until 1922, when she moved to a Dominican school in Speyer; her appointment as lecturer at the Educational Institute of Munich ended under pressure from the Nazis. After living for four years in the Cologne Carmel, Sister Teresa Benedicta moved to the Carmelite monastery in Echt, Netherlands, in 1938. The Nazis occupied that country in 1940. In retaliation for being denounced by the Dutch bishops, the Nazis arrested all Dutch Jews who had become Christians. Teresa Benedicta and her sister Rosa, also a Catholic, died in a gas chamber in Auschwitz on August 9, 1942. Pope John Paul II beatified Teresa Benedicta of the Cross in 1987 and canonized her 12 years later. Reflection The writings of Edith Stein fill 17 volumes, many of which have been translated into English. A woman of integrity, she followed the truth wherever it led her. After becoming a Catholic, Edith continued to honor her mother's Jewish faith. Sister Josephine Koeppel, O.C.D., translator of several of Edith's books, sums up this saint with the phrase, “Learn to live at God's hands.” Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross is a Patron Saint of: Converts to ChristianityEurope Learn more about Saint Benedicta of the Cross! Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

We're exploring the Interior Castle, Sixth Mansions Chapter 3, in part 1 of this two-part podcast on locutions. Locutions means "to speak". God speaks to us in many ways. How do we know what is being spoken to us by God, or soul making up fantasies, or the devil? Saint Teresa instructs us on these supernatural experiences from her classic manuscript on prayer.Timeline:00:00:00 Opener 00:01:47 Welcome00:04:26 Intro Sixth Mansions Chapter 300:05:50 Locution vs. Prophecy00:07:04 1. Locutions. 00:15:40 2. Sometimes caused by melancholia. 00:19:05 3. Caution needed at first. 00:23:11 4. Locutions frequently occur during prayer. 00:27:44 5. Resist those containing false doctrine. 00:36:35 6. First sign of genuine locutions.00:37:05 7. Effect of the words: ‘Be not troubled.' 00:42:49 8. ‘It is I, be not afraid.' 00:44:54 9. ‘Be at Peace.' 00:45:20 10. Second sign.00:48:43 11. Third sign. 00:53:41 12. The devil suggests doubts about true locutions. 00:56:41 13. Confidence of the soul rewarded. 00:58:41 14. Its joy at seeing God's words verified. 00:59:54 15. Its zeal for God's honor.01:01:23 Conclusion

El Castillo Interior or Las Moradas (trans.: The Interior Castle or The Mansions) was written by Saint Teresa of Ávila in 1577. After being ordered to write her autobiographical La Vida de la Santa Madre Teresa de Jesús (The Life of S. Teresa of Jesus), Teresa was hesitant to begin writing again on her views of the perfection found in internal prayer. In the hands of the Inquisition at that time, her Life was commonly believed to be the weight in the scale of whether to call her experiences heretical or not. Her humility and claims that, “I am not meant for writing; I have neither the health nor the wits for it,” almost prevented Teresa from composing The Interior Castle. However, according to a letter written by Fray Diego, one of Teresa's former confessors, Teresa was finally convinced to write her book after a she received a vision from God. Diego wrote that God revealed to Teresa,  "...a most beautiful crystal globe, made in the shape of a castle, and containing seven mansions, in the seventh and innermost of which was the King of Glory, in the greatest splendour, illumining and beautifying them all. The nearer one got to the centre, the stronger was the light; outside the palace limits everything was foul, dark and infested with toads, vipers and other venomous creatures."  With that, Interior Castle was born. It contained the basis for what she felt should be the ideal journey of faith, comparing the contemplative soul to a castle with seven successive interior courts, or chambers, analogous to the seven heavens. Teresa's consumption of chivalric romances as a child subsequently influenced such imagery, which is prevalent in many of her mystical works. It is also not unduly speculative that living in a walled city like Ávila must have influenced her thinking. The concept of an "interior" life is still important in Spanish thinking in the twenty-first century.  An English translation was published in London in 1852. (Adapted from Wikipedia.)  Translated by John Dalton.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

El Castillo Interior or Las Moradas (trans.: The Interior Castle or The Mansions) was written by Saint Teresa of Ávila in 1577. After being ordered to write her autobiographical La Vida de la Santa Madre Teresa de Jesús (The Life of S. Teresa of Jesus), Teresa was hesitant to begin writing again on her views of the perfection found in internal prayer. In the hands of the Inquisition at that time, her Life was commonly believed to be the weight in the scale of whether to call her experiences heretical or not. Her humility and claims that, “I am not meant for writing; I have neither the health nor the wits for it,” almost prevented Teresa from composing The Interior Castle. However, according to a letter written by Fray Diego, one of Teresa's former confessors, Teresa was finally convinced to write her book after a she received a vision from God. Diego wrote that God revealed to Teresa,  "...a most beautiful crystal globe, made in the shape of a castle, and containing seven mansions, in the seventh and innermost of which was the King of Glory, in the greatest splendour, illumining and beautifying them all. The nearer one got to the centre, the stronger was the light; outside the palace limits everything was foul, dark and infested with toads, vipers and other venomous creatures."  With that, Interior Castle was born. It contained the basis for what she felt should be the ideal journey of faith, comparing the contemplative soul to a castle with seven successive interior courts, or chambers, analogous to the seven heavens. Teresa's consumption of chivalric romances as a child subsequently influenced such imagery, which is prevalent in many of her mystical works. It is also not unduly speculative that living in a walled city like Ávila must have influenced her thinking. The concept of an "interior" life is still important in Spanish thinking in the twenty-first century.  An English translation was published in London in 1852. (Adapted from Wikipedia.)  Translated by John Dalton.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

El Castillo Interior or Las Moradas (trans.: The Interior Castle or The Mansions) was written by Saint Teresa of Ávila in 1577. After being ordered to write her autobiographical La Vida de la Santa Madre Teresa de Jesús (The Life of S. Teresa of Jesus), Teresa was hesitant to begin writing again on her views of the perfection found in internal prayer. In the hands of the Inquisition at that time, her Life was commonly believed to be the weight in the scale of whether to call her experiences heretical or not. Her humility and claims that, “I am not meant for writing; I have neither the health nor the wits for it,” almost prevented Teresa from composing The Interior Castle. However, according to a letter written by Fray Diego, one of Teresa's former confessors, Teresa was finally convinced to write her book after a she received a vision from God. Diego wrote that God revealed to Teresa,  "...a most beautiful crystal globe, made in the shape of a castle, and containing seven mansions, in the seventh and innermost of which was the King of Glory, in the greatest splendour, illumining and beautifying them all. The nearer one got to the centre, the stronger was the light; outside the palace limits everything was foul, dark and infested with toads, vipers and other venomous creatures."  With that, Interior Castle was born. It contained the basis for what she felt should be the ideal journey of faith, comparing the contemplative soul to a castle with seven successive interior courts, or chambers, analogous to the seven heavens. Teresa's consumption of chivalric romances as a child subsequently influenced such imagery, which is prevalent in many of her mystical works. It is also not unduly speculative that living in a walled city like Ávila must have influenced her thinking. The concept of an "interior" life is still important in Spanish thinking in the twenty-first century.  An English translation was published in London in 1852. (Adapted from Wikipedia.)  Translated by John Dalton.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

El Castillo Interior or Las Moradas (trans.: The Interior Castle or The Mansions) was written by Saint Teresa of Ávila in 1577. After being ordered to write her autobiographical La Vida de la Santa Madre Teresa de Jesús (The Life of S. Teresa of Jesus), Teresa was hesitant to begin writing again on her views of the perfection found in internal prayer. In the hands of the Inquisition at that time, her Life was commonly believed to be the weight in the scale of whether to call her experiences heretical or not. Her humility and claims that, “I am not meant for writing; I have neither the health nor the wits for it,” almost prevented Teresa from composing The Interior Castle. However, according to a letter written by Fray Diego, one of Teresa's former confessors, Teresa was finally convinced to write her book after a she received a vision from God. Diego wrote that God revealed to Teresa,  "...a most beautiful crystal globe, made in the shape of a castle, and containing seven mansions, in the seventh and innermost of which was the King of Glory, in the greatest splendour, illumining and beautifying them all. The nearer one got to the centre, the stronger was the light; outside the palace limits everything was foul, dark and infested with toads, vipers and other venomous creatures."  With that, Interior Castle was born. It contained the basis for what she felt should be the ideal journey of faith, comparing the contemplative soul to a castle with seven successive interior courts, or chambers, analogous to the seven heavens. Teresa's consumption of chivalric romances as a child subsequently influenced such imagery, which is prevalent in many of her mystical works. It is also not unduly speculative that living in a walled city like Ávila must have influenced her thinking. The concept of an "interior" life is still important in Spanish thinking in the twenty-first century.  An English translation was published in London in 1852. (Adapted from Wikipedia.)  Translated by John Dalton.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

El Castillo Interior or Las Moradas (trans.: The Interior Castle or The Mansions) was written by Saint Teresa of Ávila in 1577. After being ordered to write her autobiographical La Vida de la Santa Madre Teresa de Jesús (The Life of S. Teresa of Jesus), Teresa was hesitant to begin writing again on her views of the perfection found in internal prayer. In the hands of the Inquisition at that time, her Life was commonly believed to be the weight in the scale of whether to call her experiences heretical or not. Her humility and claims that, “I am not meant for writing; I have neither the health nor the wits for it,” almost prevented Teresa from composing The Interior Castle. However, according to a letter written by Fray Diego, one of Teresa's former confessors, Teresa was finally convinced to write her book after a she received a vision from God. Diego wrote that God revealed to Teresa,  "...a most beautiful crystal globe, made in the shape of a castle, and containing seven mansions, in the seventh and innermost of which was the King of Glory, in the greatest splendour, illumining and beautifying them all. The nearer one got to the centre, the stronger was the light; outside the palace limits everything was foul, dark and infested with toads, vipers and other venomous creatures."  With that, Interior Castle was born. It contained the basis for what she felt should be the ideal journey of faith, comparing the contemplative soul to a castle with seven successive interior courts, or chambers, analogous to the seven heavens. Teresa's consumption of chivalric romances as a child subsequently influenced such imagery, which is prevalent in many of her mystical works. It is also not unduly speculative that living in a walled city like Ávila must have influenced her thinking. The concept of an "interior" life is still important in Spanish thinking in the twenty-first century.  An English translation was published in London in 1852. (Adapted from Wikipedia.)  Translated by John Dalton.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Full Text of ReadingsSeventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 111The Saint of the day is Saint Titus BrandsmaSaint Titus Brandsma's Story Given the birth name Anno, Brandsma and his siblings grew up on their parents' dairy farm in rural Frisia. As devout Catholics, the family was in the minority among their Calvinist neighbors. From age 11 Anno was educated at a preparatory school for boys who were studying for the priesthood. He joined the Carmelite novitiate in 1898, taking the name Titus in honor of his father. In the years following his 1905 ordination, Brandsma received a doctorate in philosophy and initiated a project to translate the works of Saint Teresa of Avila into Dutch. One of the founders of the Catholic University of Nijmegen, he served as a professor of philosophy and the history of mysticism at the school. While there Brandsma was known more for his availability to faculty and students than for his academic achievements. Working as a journalist Brandsma served as ecclesiastical advisor to Catholic journalists. His long-standing opposition to Nazi ideology came to the attention of the Nazis when they invaded the Netherlands in 1940. In direct opposition to the Third Reich, the Conference of Dutch Bishops sent a letter ordering Catholic newspaper editors not to print Nazi propaganda. Fr. Brandsma was arrested while hand delivering the letter in January 1942. After being imprisoned in several other facilities, in June he was taken to the Dachau camp in Germany. During his brief time at Dachau Fr. Brandsma was well-known for his kindness and spiritual support of other prisoners. His death on July 26, 1942 was a result of the Reich's program of medical experimentation on prisoners. He gave a wooden rosary to the nurse who administered the fatal injection; she later became Catholic and testified to his holiness. In recent years Brandsma has been honored by both the cities of Nijmegen and Dachau. Titus Brandsma was beatified in 1985, and canonized in 2022. Reflection Conscience often creates martyrs. That was the case for Titus Brandsma. Many people “go along to get along,” not realizing that by doing so they are destroying themselves internally. In his homily at the canonization Mass Pope Francis said, “Holiness does not consist of a few heroic gestures, but of many small acts of daily love.” Saint Titus Brandsma is a patron saint of: Catholic journalistsFrieslandInternational Union of Catholic EsperantistsTobacconists Read: Touched by Death, Healed by the Catholic Saints Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Episode 184 - Special guest April Lam returns to the podcast to discuss the life and attributes of her bestie Saint, Saint Teresa of Calcutta, with Father Danda. Saint Teresa of Calcutta, also known as Mother Teresa, has a legacy that has touched and influences millions of lives.

Today's Topics Dan Schneider and guests, Mark Tirona (US Marine Corps three tours combat vet) and Matthew Weller (US Army Paratrooper and combat vet) discuss current events in the US military and the impact of modern culture on male spirituality 1) Is there such a thing as "Crusader" spirituality? What does Saint Teresa of Avila have to say? 2) The Pentagon has withdrawn Admiral's nomination to lead Pacific Fleet amid renewed attention on "drag shows" https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/07/11/pentagon-withdraws-admirals-nomination-lead-pacific-fleet-amid-renewed-attention-drag-shows.html 3, 4) Where all the men have gone - and how to bring all the men back https://intellectualtakeout.org/2025/07/where-all-the-men-have-gone-and-how-to-bring-all-the-men-back/

Full Text of ReadingsWednesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 391The Saint of the day is Our Lady of Mount CarmelThe Story of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Hermits lived on Mount Carmel near the Fountain of Elijah in northern Israel in the 12th century. They had a chapel dedicated to Our Lady. By the 13th century they became known as “Brothers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.” They soon celebrated a special Mass and Office in honor of Mary. In 1726, it became a celebration of the universal Church under the title of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. For centuries the Carmelites have seen themselves as specially related to Mary. Their great saints and theologians have promoted devotion to her and often championed the mystery of her Immaculate Conception. Saint Teresa of Avila called Carmel “the Order of the Virgin.” Saint John of the Cross credited Mary with saving him from drowning as a child, leading him to Carmel, and helping him escape from prison. Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus believed that Mary cured her from illness. On her First Communion day, Thérèse dedicated her life to Mary. During the last days of her life she frequently spoke of Mary. There is a tradition—which may not be historical—that Mary appeared to Saint Simon Stock, a leader of the Carmelites, and gave him a scapular, telling him to promote devotion to it. The scapular is a modified version of Mary's own garment. It symbolizes her special protection and calls the wearers to consecrate themselves to her in a special way. The scapular reminds us of the gospel call to prayer and penance—a call that Mary models in a splendid way. Reflection The Carmelites were known from early on as “Brothers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.” The title suggests that they saw Mary not only as “mother,” but also as “sister.” The word sister is a reminder that Mary is very close to us. She is the daughter of God and therefore can help us be authentic daughters and sons of God. She also can help us grow in appreciation of being sisters and brothers to one another. She leads us to a new realization that all human beings belong to the family of God. When such a conviction grows, there is hope that the human race can find its way to peace. Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the Patron Saint of: Chile Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

To reach something good it is very useful to have gone astray, and thus acquire experience. - Saint Teresa of Avila Check out John Lee Dumas' award winning Podcast Entrepreneurs on Fire on your favorite podcast directory. For world class free courses and resources to help you on your Entrepreneurial journey visit EOFire.com

In a season of Stillness, but I'm still here. ❤️‍

Full Text of ReadingsTuesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 366The Saint of the day is Saint Joseph CafassoSaint Joseph Cafasso's story Even as a young man, Joseph loved to attend Mass and was known for his humility and fervor in prayer. After his ordination, he was assigned to a seminary in Turin. There he worked especially against the spirit of Jansenism—an excessive preoccupation with sin and damnation. He used the works of Saint Francis de Sales and Saint Alphonsus Liguori to moderate the rigorism popular at the seminary. Joseph recommended membership in the Secular Franciscan Order to priests. He urged devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and encouraged daily Communion. In addition to his teaching duties, Joseph was an excellent preacher, confessor, and retreat master. Noted for his work with condemned prisoners, he helped many of them die at peace with God. Joseph urged one of his former pupils—Saint John Bosco—to establish the Salesians congregation to work with the youth of Turin. Joseph Cafasso died in 1860, and was canonized in 1947. His liturgical feast is celebrated on June 23. Reflection Devotion to the Eucharist gave energy to all Joseph's other activities. Long prayer before the Blessed Sacrament has been characteristic of many Catholics who have lived out the gospel well: Saint Francis, Bishop Fulton Sheen, Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, and Saint Teresa of Calcutta among them. Saint Joseph Cafasso is the Patron Saint of: PrisonersPrussia Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Read Online“All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19–20 (Year B Gospel)Of all the great feasts we celebrate within the Church throughout the year, today's Solemnity presents us with a Mystery that is so deep and transcendent that our eternity will be spent in perpetual contemplation. The Trinity, the life of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, will never get old, never be fully understood, and will be the cause of our everlasting adoration and joy. Though the Church has used philosophical concepts to explain the Trinity, no human concept or description will ever fully explain Who God is. Though we can point to some general truths about God, we will never be able to fully depict the inner essence, depth, beauty and omnipotence of the Trinity.As we consider that fact, it's important to understand that the Trinity is not first a theological mystery we try to define. Rather, the Trinity is first a communion of Persons we are invited to know. We do not primarily come to know God through intellectual deduction. We come to know God through prayerful union with Him. Though theology is exceptionally useful and important, the essence of God is beyond any and every philosophical concept we can define.The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are Persons. And as Persons, they want to be known. And they want to be known primarily through a life of deep and intimate prayer. Praying to One Person, of course, is praying to all, since they are One God. But we are, nonetheless, called to a relationship of love with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. And though our feeble minds may not be able to fully comprehend the essence of God, He will draw us deeper and deeper into a knowledge of Him if we let Him.Prayer often begins by saying prayers, by meditating upon Scripture, and by listening. But true prayer is something much deeper. True prayer is contemplative prayer that ultimately leads to divine union. Only God can initiate this form of prayer in our lives, and only God, through this deep form of prayer, can communicate Himself to us as He is. Some of the greatest mystics of our Church, such as Saint John of the Cross and Saint Teresa of Ávila, explain in their mystical theology that the deepest knowledge of God does not come through concepts or images. In fact, if we wish to obtain a knowledge of God in His essence, we must allow Him to purge every concept of Who He is so that the pure light of His essence can be poured forth upon our minds. This knowledge, they say, is beyond knowing “about” God. It's the beginning of a knowledge “of” God.Reflect, today, upon the Most Holy Trinity. As you do, say a prayer to God asking for a deeper and more intimate knowledge of Him. Ask Him to communicate to you His divine love and to open your mind and heart to a deeper understanding of Who He is. Try to humble yourself before the great Mystery of the inner life of God. Humility before the Mystery of God means that we know how little we know about Him and how little we know of Him. But that humble truth will help you move closer to the deeper relationship of love to which you are called.Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, please draw me into a relationship of love with You Who are one God and three divine Persons. May the mystery and beauty of Your life become more known and loved by me each day through the gift of transforming mystical prayer. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image: Holy Trinity via Web Gallery of ArtSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

In this episode of Tales of Glory, we dive into Part 2 of our exploration of Saint Teresa of Avila's Fifth Mansion, chapter 4 on the mystical Prayer of Union. She reveals how the soul knows for certain if it is experiencing the Prayer of Union and how it differs from similar mystical unions we may encounter. The saint leads through a more profound conversion of the soul as we wrap up our discussion on the Fifth Mansion.Timeline:00:00:00 Show Opener - Interior Castle Fifth Mansions Chapter 400:01:22 Introduction - Welcome00:06:28 Fifth Mansions Chapter 4 Recap00:07:14 What is the Prayer of Union?00:09:24 The Mystical Grace of the Prayer of Union 00:12:30 How do we know if we experienced the Prayer of Union?00:15:54 Personal Examples of the Prayer of Union00:22:07 Fifth Mansions Chapter 4 Paragraphs 7 - 1200:22:19 Paragraph 7. Why they are permitted.00:24:03 Paragraph 8. Prayer and watchfulness our safeguards.00:27:16 Paragraph 9. God's watchfulness over such souls.00:30:32 Paragraph 10. Progress in virtue.00:36:42 Paragraph 11. Insignificance of our actions compared with their reward.00:38:06 Paragraph 12. St. Teresa's motives for writing on prayer.00:46:36 Spiritual Exercises - Beginning Contemplation - John 1:1-1300:58:44 ConclusionOpening Music - Artist: Meagan Wright - Song: My Inheritance

Bongani Bingwa talks to Adam Gilchrist about a recent anti-Semitic attack in Colorado, the intriguing news from Spain, where thousands flocked to see Saint Teresa of Ávila's remains, and a trend of rising prenuptial agreements in the UK. 702 Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa is broadcast on 702, a Johannesburg based talk radio station. Bongani makes sense of the news, interviews the key newsmakers of the day, and holds those in power to account on your behalf. The team bring you all you need to know to start your day Thank you for listening to a podcast from 702 Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 06:00 and 09:00 (SA Time) to Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa broadcast on 702: https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/36edSLV or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/zEcM35T Subscribe to the 702 Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/v5mfetc Follow us on social media: 702 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702 702 on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702 702 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/ 702 on X: https://x.com/Radio702 702 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radio702 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Juanita: The Life and Spirituality of Saint Teresa of Jesus of Los Andes by Jennifer Moorcroft Jennifermoorcroft.com Amazon.com Juanita Solar, Saint Teresa of Jesus of Los Andes, is the first-fruits of holiness of the Discalced Carmelites in Latin America. Thousands of people, especially young people, flock to her shrine each year, seeing in her a young girl who became a saint while at school, loving sports, sharing holidays with her family. She spent only eleven months in Carmel. Pope St John Paul 11 said of her: 'For her, God is infinite joy. This is the new hymn of Christian love that rises spontaneously from the soul of this young Chilean girl, in whose glorified face we can sense the grace of her transformation in Christ.' Jennifer Moorcroft tells this remarkable story for English-speaking readers so that they, too, may catch the fire of the love of God from her, and find the joy and happiness that living in the love of God gives.

Was Saint Teresa of Avila's ecstatic encounter with a “seraph” a divine mystical experience—or something stranger? In this episode of The Infinite Spark of Being, Keith explores Teresa's own words describing a fiery being who pierced her heart with a golden spear, and compares it to modern cases of alien contact and non-human intelligences, including those of Betty Andreasson, Calvin Parker, the Ariel School children, and Chris Bledsoe. We also discuss Jacques Vallée's groundbreaking theory that the UFO phenomenon and religious visions may stem from the same mysterious source.This isn't just about angels or aliens—it's about how transformative experiences across time often follow the same pattern: radiant beings, emotional overwhelm, piercing contact, and permanent change.

DescriptionIn the wake of the news this week of Pope Francis' death, I immediately wondered what we could do here at Better Preach to honor his legacy, teaching and example - particularly around Preaching. For a while I wanted to do a dive into his first major letter to the Church, the Joy of the Gospel, from 2013, and look closely at his lengthy section in that document on homiletics. And thanks to Fr. Craig Vasek, who joined me way back in the beginning on episode 2 of Better Preach, he agreed to join me again at the last minute here to look back at Pope Francis' longest magisterial teaching on Preaching. Father Craig Vasek currently serves as pastor of St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. Ordained in 2010 as a priest of the Diocese of Crookston, Minnesota, Fr. Vasek is a graduate of the Pontifical North American College in Vatican City, having obtained a Licentiate of Sacred Theology in 2011. Father Vasek has worked extensively with the Missionaries of Charity of Saint Teresa of Calcutta in Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America. He has produced works on the topics of Scripture and the Spiritual Life, and served as Specialist for the National Eucharist Revival with the US Conference of Catholic Bishops.Check out Fr. Vasek's homilies here on: Podbean: https://stbernards.podbean.comSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6mwAvHPBm7c0pjGYUZxWEdLinksFor more information about the Better Preach Podcast visit: www.ryanohara.org/betterpreachBetter Preach Podcast is now on YouTube. Here's a link to the channel.Check out Ryan's FREE course on “sharing your faith as a Catholic.”Follow Ryan on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, or FacebookJoin the Better Preach email list.

When you feel Joy,you're back at the beginning.You're Here,at the beginning.And now you know all you have to do is keep feeling Joy,in every step,in every breath,and in (and AS) every seeming moment,keeping your eyes on this Gift that He gave to you,that He's constantly giving to you.'Here'... is just another name for Joy.Joy is another way to say, 'Here'.Joy is how 'Here' feels. Bow to It.Give your life to It, the one you lived up until this point.And watch what It gives you back. I Love you,nik Support the show: ▶▶https://www.patreon.com/goodmornings __________________________________________"Stop doing it afraid, and do it anointed." - @socialdox "Do not let the past disturb you. Leave everything in the sacred heart of Jesus and being again with Joy." - Saint Teresa of Calcutta "If you knew how much I love you, you'd cry for joy!" - Our Lady of Medjugore "A new beginning is emerging from the valley. I feel it in my spirit. I know you didn't plan on it going this way. I know you hoped it would have worked out with that person. I know you thought that life would be so different by now, but there is a grace over your life right now. There is a grace to let go of what you can't control because that is where the most remarkable miracles are birthed. And I know you wanted it your way. I know your hopes and dreams feel they are crashing and burning, but this is only the beginning." - @Godlywaiting

Full Text of ReadingsFirst Sunday of Lent Lectionary: 24The Saint of the day is Saint Frances of RomeSaint Frances of Rome's Story Frances' life combines aspects of secular and religious life. A devoted and loving wife, she longed for a lifestyle of prayer and service, so she organized a group of women to minister to the needs of Rome's poor. Born of wealthy parents, Frances found herself attracted to the religious life during her youth. But her parents objected and a young nobleman was selected to be her husband. As she became acquainted with her new relatives, Frances soon discovered that the wife of her husband's brother also wished to live a life of service and prayer. So the two, Frances and Vannozza, set out together—with their husbands' blessings—to help the poor. Frances fell ill for a time, but this apparently only deepened her commitment to the suffering people she met. The years passed, and Frances gave birth to two sons and a daughter. With the new responsibilities of family life, the young mother turned her attention more to the needs of her own household. The family flourished under Frances' care, but within a few years a great plague began to sweep across Italy. It struck Rome with devastating cruelty and left Frances' second son dead. In an effort to help alleviate some of the suffering, Frances used all her money and sold her possessions to buy whatever the sick might possibly need. When all the resources had been exhausted, Frances and Vannozza went door to door begging. Later, Frances' daughter died, and the saint opened a section of her house as a hospital. Frances became more and more convinced that this way of life was so necessary for the world, and it was not long before she requested and was given permission to found a society of women bound by no vows. They simply offered themselves to God and to the service of the poor. Once the society was established, Frances chose not to live at the community residence, but rather at home with her husband. She did this for seven years, until her husband passed away, and then came to live the remainder of her life with the society—serving the poorest of the poor. Reflection Looking at the exemplary life of fidelity to God and devotion to her fellow human beings which Frances of Rome was blessed to lead, one cannot help but be reminded of Saint Teresa of Calcutta, who loved Jesus Christ in prayer and also in the poor. The life of Frances of Rome calls each of us not only to look deeply for God in prayer, but also to carry our devotion to Jesus living in the suffering of our world. Frances shows us that this life need not be restricted to those bound by vows. Saint Frances of Rome is the Patron Saint of: MotoristsWidows Click here for more on Saint Frances of Rome! Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media