POPULARITY
Categories
To highlight Mental Health Awareness Month this May, C21 hosted a conversation with best-selling author Roger Hutchison on one of his latest books, The Art of Calm: Spiritual Exercises for the Anxious Soul. Watch the conversation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/RpWW0FvWnIQ Date of event: May 28, 2026. Learn more about the C21 Center and our resources: Website: https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/centers/church21.html Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/c21center/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/C21Center/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/C21Center LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/104167883 Questions? Email church21@bc.edu
This week, we share a "Space for God" devotional offered by Rev. Chris Lugo (Pastor). Chris unpacks several dimensions of the memorable phrase from Psalm 46:10, "Be Still and Know that I Am God." What does it actually mean to be still? How might we—in our frenzied, modern lives—take steps towards stillness?View Our Complete Archive of “Space for God” Prayer PracticesLearn More About Spiritual Direction through Coracleinthecoracle.org | @inthecoracleSupport the showFor the Journey is a resource of the Coracle Center of Formation for Action and is made possible through the generous support of men and women across the globe.
The Christian DNA of suspected White House Correspondents’ dinner gunman and Why Hillsdale? The Christian liberal arts school hosting Erika Kirk for commencement… GUEST Kathryn Post … Pittsburgh-based reporter for RNS covering topics such as Gen Z spirituality, pop culture and abuse in religious contexts … her writing has appeared in the WashPost, Sojourners, the Christian Century, Broadview Magazine and more. The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius - The spiritual exercises 101. Who was Ignatius? What happened? What are the exercises? Foundation and Principles? Disordered? What happens? What’s a desired outcome? Kathy Yarzebinski … spiritual director, Pneuma Center.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Christian DNA of suspected White House Correspondents’ dinner gunman and Why Hillsdale? The Christian liberal arts school hosting Erika Kirk for commencement… GUEST Kathryn Post … Pittsburgh-based reporter for RNS covering topics such as Gen Z spirituality, pop culture and abuse in religious contexts … her writing has appeared in the WashPost, Sojourners, the Christian Century, Broadview Magazine and more. The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius - The spiritual exercises 101. Who was Ignatius? What happened? What are the exercises? Foundation and Principles? Disordered? What happens? What’s a desired outcome? Kathy Yarzebinski … spiritual director, Pneuma Center.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
To get out of the Self of Trauma that makes one want to enter the spiritual quest in the first place, it is necessary to become fully present. The spiritual quest comes down to the will to be present—the only state in which the ego's obscuration and curvature of space will dissolve. If one can endure the energy of presence, one's vibrational frequency will ascend to the peak of consciousness, from which the entire circle of time can be seen as the present moment. But for nearly every ego, it is impossible to remain present because that would mean its own death.
Father Christ Walsh joins Patrick to discuss Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola (3:03) Who was St. Ignatius of Loyola? What is an Ignatius retreat?(20:14) Justin - I have completed the meditations. Also a member of a lay community of Lay Ignatius Associates. Make 3 promises part of formation and commitment. (23:17) Break 1 Laura - My parish is offering spiritual exercises. Is it important to have a priest or a person who works with you on these exercise (mentor?) versus someone else? (29:01) Alex - How do you get over the fear of choosing wrong. I heard the priest talk about choosing the best decision, but in my life, sometime I worry about wasting time. What is consolation and desolation? (36:21) Don’t make change in spiritual desolation. (39:34) Break 2 (41:40) How do we know whether we are listening to God’s voice or our own? Email – How do you distinguish between desolation and grief? The Daily Examine.
Preaching for the Fourth Sunday of Easter, Devon James reflects on the discerning the voice of the Good Shepherd: “We see people who follow modern-day thieves and robbers thinking they will be rewarded with green pastures. But we know the true message of Jesus: love, not hate; peace, not war; unity, not division.”Devon James is a Campus Minister at Xavier University in Cincinnati. A native of Chicago, she earned her undergraduate degree in Theology and Public Relations from Xavier, her graduate degree in Pastoral Ministry at the University of Dayton; and a Certificate in Pastoral Formation from Boston College. She is currently completing a program that will certify her to accompany people through the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius.Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/04262026 to learn more about Devon, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women preach.
In this "Space for God" reflection, Ann Bodling (Coracle Spiritual Director) guides us through a few prompts to help us discern God's presence with us throughout our days. She helpfully distinguishes discernment from decision-making, inviting us into a much deeper and more fulfilling posture toward God.View Our Complete Archive of “Space for God” Prayer PracticesLearn More About Spiritual Direction through Coracleinthecoracle.org | @inthecoracleSupport the showFor the Journey is a resource of the Coracle Center of Formation for Action and is made possible through the generous support of men and women across the globe.
Join Pastor Candy Christmas from Regeneration Nashville as she explores the spiritual discipline of exercising oneself unto godliness. Drawing from 1 Timothy 4:7-8, Pastor Candy emphasizes the importance of spiritual exercise over physical, and shares insights on how consistent prayer, meditation, and devotion can transform our lives. With personal anecdotes and inspirational stories, this sermon encourages viewers to turn their hearts and minds toward God throughout the day.
AbbeyoftheArts.com Abbey of the Arts Wisdom Council member Jo-ed Tome reads Marlene Marburg and invites you into 5 minutes of contemplative silence to hold a loving intention for peace, justice, and compassion to flourish in the world. Credits: All texts under fair use or with permission. Marlene Marburg, Grace Upon Grace: Savouring the Spiritual Exercises through the Arts. (Morning Star Publishing, 2019), pgs. 29–30 AbbeyoftheArts.com
This episode's mature themes may not be suitable for children. Catholic philosopher and epistemologist, Dr. Trent Dougherty, joins Pints to tackle the age-old question: what does it even mean to know something? The conversation weaves between rigorous philosophical debate - Descartes, Gettier, justified true belief and vulnerable personal territory where Dougherty shares his battles with the inner demons that plagued his pursuit of success. Ep. 571 - - -
In this episode, I speak with former CIA officer and whistleblower John Kiriakou about the moral and spiritual dimensions of espionage. We explore how life in the intelligence world can become a test of conscience, courage, and ultimately faith. Kiriakou reflects on his journey from CIA insider to citizen truth-teller—and why a new generation sees him as a symbol of integrity in an age of distrust.
Theologian Bo Karen Lee joins Ryan McAnnally-Linz to explore how the multiple layers of trauma—pandemic grief, racialized violence, intergenerational wounding, vicarious suffering—can be met by the resources of Ignatian spirituality and contemplative prayer. Writing and teaching at the intersection of Christian formation and social justice, Lee brings both scholarly precision and uncommon personal candor to one of the most urgent conversations in theology today. "Trauma tends to isolate and alienate us from our siblings, our human siblings. But ironically, this witnessing of one another's pain is the source of healing. So it has the very opposite effect of what is needed for it to be healed." In this conversation, Lee reflects on the spiritual journey from what one author calls "alarmed aloneness" toward becoming beloved—seen, held, and gazed upon with love. Together they discuss the overlapping layers of collective, personal, racialized, and intergenerational trauma shaping contemporary life; attachment theory and its parallels with spiritual formation; the Ignatian tradition of imaginative, contemplative prayer; the still face experiment and the theology of the loving gaze; and why the church has something singular to offer the trauma crisis of our time. Episode Highlights "We are quite sure we're alone in the world and no one really sees us, no one truly cares and no one can be trusted. You're alone, overwhelmed, and helpless." "Trauma tends to isolate and alienate us from our siblings, our human siblings. But ironically, this witnessing of one another's pain is the source of healing. So it has the very opposite effect of what is needed for it to be healed." "I need to be held, but it's this illusory figure that holds me, because I have shut myself off to the very things that could help me, because no one is to be trusted." "I've seen too much hope, and too much beauty, and too much healing walking through the spiritual exercises that I can no longer despair that trauma has the final word." "Gazing upon the God who gazes upon me with love. That is contemplative prayer." About Bo Karen Lee Bo Karen Lee is Associate Professor of Spiritual Theology and Christian Formation at Princeton Theological Seminary, where she teaches contemplative theology, Ignatian spirituality, and the relationship between prayer and social justice. A leading voice in the integration of trauma studies and Christian formation, she brings the Ignatian tradition into conversation with psychology, attachment theory, and the lived experience of racialized communities. Her work draws on the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola to offer resources for healing that are both theologically grounded and pastorally immediate. She directs retreatants in the nineteenth annotation of the Spiritual Exercises and works regularly with spiritual directors trained in the Ignatian tradition. Helpful Links and Resources Bessel van der Kolk, Traumatic Stress: The Effects of Overwhelming Experience on Mind, Body, and Society https://www.amazon.com/Traumatic-Stress-Overwhelming-Experience-Society/dp/1572300485 Bessel van der Kolk, The Body Keeps the Score https://www.besselvanderkolk.com/resources/the-body-keeps-the-score Resmaa Menakem, My Grandmother's Hands https://www.resmaa.com/resources Kathy Weingarten, Common Shock: Witnessing Violence Every Day https://www.kathyweingarten.com David Fleming SJ, Draw Me Into Your Friendship https://www.amazon.com/Draw-Me-Into-Your-Friendship/dp/0912422904 Ignatius of Loyola, The Spiritual Exercises https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-spiritual-exercises/ Edward Tronick, Still Face Experiment https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apzXGEbZht0 Find a Spiritual Director https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/making-good-decisions/find-a-spiritual-director/ Show Notes Trauma defined: "terror triggered by an inescapably stressful event that overwhelms existing coping mechanisms" — Bessel van der Kolk Layers of trauma: collective pandemic grief, personal wounding, racialized violence, intergenerational encoding, vicarious/secondary trauma Global pandemic as collective trauma — threat of death, forced isolation, planetary-scale overwhelm Racialized trauma and AAPI hate incidents — one in five AAPI individuals reported a hate incident in the U.S. in a 15-month window (as of late 2021) My Grandmother's Hands by Resmaa Menakem — racialized trauma encoded in bodies and communities https://www.resmaa.com/resources Cumulative microaggressions — daily small injuries can produce PTSD-level effects over time; growing body of clinical literature Secondary/vicarious trauma — hearing others' suffering reactivates unresolved wounds in caregivers and companions "Double jeopardy" — Kathy Weingarten's term for caregivers whose own past traumas are reactivated while supporting others Five professions at highest risk: clergy, health workers, teachers, police, journalists — context for the Great Resignation "Alarmed aloneness" — the net effect of trauma: certainty that no one sees you, no one cares, no one can be trusted "Trauma tends to isolate and alienate us from our siblings, our human siblings. But ironically, this witnessing of one another's pain is the source of healing." The orphan image: a girl in a Middle Eastern orphanage draws a chalk mother around her fetal body — illusory comfort as portrait of traumatic isolation Intergenerational trauma — encoded in DNA; personal testimony about learning her own mother was nearly killed as an infant, its echo across generations Kintsugi as healing metaphor — the Japanese art of mending broken pottery with gold; grief before repair, not a race to be fixed Robert Stolorow's concept: finding a "relational home" for traumatic suffering — the necessity of being witnessed Ignatius of Loyola — 16th-century Spanish soldier wounded by cannonball; encountered the living Christ through Ludolph of Saxony's Vita Christi during convalescence The Spiritual Exercises: a four-week manual for imaginative prayer — beloved and broken, walking with Christ through ministry, suffering, resurrection https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-spiritual-exercises/ Ignatian contemplative prayer defined: "gazing upon the God who gazes upon me with love" — kataphatic, embodied, not requiring stillness or silence Still Face Experiment (Edward Tronick) — infant distress when a loving mother goes blank; evidence that the gaze of love is neurologically and psychologically foundational https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apzXGEbZht0 Attachment theory and spiritual formation — earned secure attachment: what unhealthy early bonding cannot provide, sustained relationship with God can "I've seen too much hope, and too much beauty, and too much healing walking through the spiritual exercises that I can no longer despair that trauma has the final word." Personal testimony: AAPI hate crimes, night terrors, contemplative prayer with a spiritual director; a vision of Mary, the wailing women, and the crucified Christ "Bo, they killed me too" — Christ's words in a contemplative vision; solidarity as the beginning of bearable grief Sartre's "hell is other people" reframed — parasitic dependence on others' approval vs. the freedom of knowing how God gazes upon you Resources for beginning: David Fleming's Draw Me Into Your Friendship; finding a spiritual director trained in Ignatian spirituality; Jesuit retreat centers #TraumaHealing #IgnatianSpirituality #ContemplativePrayer #ChristianFormation #SpiritualTheology #MentalHealthAndFaith #RacializedTrauma #AttachmentTheory #ForTheLifeOfTheWorld #YaleDivinity Production Notes This podcast featured Bo Karen Lee Edited and Produced by Evan Rosa Hosted by Evan Rosa Production Assistance by Annie Trowbridge and Luke Stringer 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
There's a stereotype out there that Catholics don't know much if anything about the Bible. If you have a question about a specific book or verse from Scripture, better to ask a Protestant. Why is this a stereotype? And is it a fair one? Or do those of us who are Catholics perhaps know more about the Bible than we think we do? These are some of the questions at the heart of Michael Peppard's book “How Catholics Encounter the Bible,” which was published in 2024 by Oxford University Press. Michael is a professor of theology at Fordham University, and this book is a true joy to read – host Mike Jordan Laskey learned something on almost every pgae. It's scholarly but also incredibly readable for non-experts. In this wide-ranging conversation, Michael and Mike talked about the lectionary, early Christian sculpture, Bruce Springsteen and so much more. To go along with the episode, we're running an excerpt of the book about the Biblical imagination found in the rosary and in St. Ignatius' Spiritual Exercises up at Jesuits.org. So after you listen, head to https://www.jesuits.org/stories/what-the-rosary-and-st-ignatius-spiritual-exercises-have-in-common/ to read the excerpt. Dr. Michael Peppard: https://www.profpeppard.com/ “How Catholics Encounter the Bible”: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/how-catholics-encounter-the-bible-9780190948696?cc=us&lang=en AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Media Lab, which is a project of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus www.jesuitmedialab.org/
Spiritual director, retreat leader, and author Becky Eldredge visits with the Paulist Deacon Affiliates in this special episode of Deacons Pod. The founder of Ignatian Ministries, Becky accompanies clergy, religious, and lay leaders in monthly spiritual direction and through the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. She also trains spiritual directors, and works with individuals and groups to teach Ignatian prayer, discernment, and the art of accompaniment.Becky is the author of the books "The Inner Chapel" and "Busy Lives and Restless Souls," both from Loyola Press. Her new book is "Encounter Grace: Moments of Hope, Joy, and Peace."
Read Online“Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin.” For they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.” Mark 3:28–30Consider the sobering reality of suffering the guilt of everlasting sin. Though alarming and unpleasant, understanding this possibility is foundational to a healthy spiritual life. This is best illustrated in the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, one of the co-founders of the Jesuits. The Spiritual Exercises are considered one of the most transforming retreat formats ever written. They guide spiritual directors who lead retreatants through a thirty-day retreat, helping them experience profound conversion and make major life decisions. The first week of those exercises contains various meditations on the horror of hell and the seriousness of one mortal sin.Today's Gospel is not only ideal for those beginning a thirty-day retreat, but also for everyone serious about spiritual growth. On our spiritual journey, we often must do that which is initially difficult and unpleasant so as to reap the fruit of that exercise. One such exercise is to meditate on our Lord's words: “But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin.”In commenting on this, the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “There are no limits to the mercy of God, but anyone who deliberately refuses to accept his mercy by repenting, rejects the forgiveness of his sins and the salvation offered by the Holy Spirit. Such hardness of heart can lead to final impenitence and eternal loss” (#1864).Traditionally, the sin this Gospel refers to has been called the “Sin Against the Holy Spirit.” Saint Thomas Aquinas, in the Summa Theologica (II-II, Question 14, Articles 1–3), articulates six ways that one can be guilty of this sin:Despair: rejecting God's mercy and refusing to believe one's sins can be forgiven.Presumption: believing one can attain salvation without grace or repentance.Impenitence: a refusal to repent for past sins.Obstinacy: a hardened resolve to remain in sin.Resisting the Known Truth: deliberately rejecting the truths of the faith to justify sin.Envy of Another's Grace: resenting the Holy Spirit's work in others.God alone knows the depths of our human heart and comprehends our guilt or mitigating circumstances.God alone is the perfect Judge. He judges with divine equity, His perfect justice and mercy united as one.Though God's mercy is limitless, this does not mean that everyone goes to Heaven. Recall Jesus' teaching: “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few” (Matthew 7:13–14).The common thread in the ways Saint Thomas articulates this “everlasting sin” is an obstinate refusal to see our sins in the light of eternal Truth and then to repent and change. When properly understood, attaining Heaven is easy! All we need to do is be honest, turn from sin, and abandon ourselves to our loving God—especially in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. A thorough and honest confession is a sure path through the narrow gate that leads to eternal life. Reflect today on the serious and consequential demands God places on us. His generosity knows no bounds, but we must receive that generosity on His terms. Ideally, today's Gospel will inspire us with the spiritual gift of Fear of the Lord. The perfection of this gift is not a fear of punishment, but a deep reverence and love for God that moves us to avoid anything that might offend Him. It deepens our relationship with Him and strengthens our resolve to walk the narrow path. If you find yourself obstinate at times, beware of the danger of that interior disposition. Most merciful Lord, please free me from all obstinacy and help me to see my sin as You see it. I repent of my sin and profess my need for Your Divine Mercy. Please open the gate to that Mercy so that I can be with You forever in Heaven. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Spurzem - Lothar Spurzem, CC BY-SA 2.0 DE, via Wikimedia CommonsSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.
In The Care of the Self and the Care of the Other: From Spiritual Exercises to Political Transformation (Columbia UP, 2025), Daniel Wyche examines the political implications of what he calls practices of ethical self-change. These include Pierre Hadot's notion of “spiritual exercises”; what the French sociologist of labor Georges Friedmann terms “interior effort”; Michel Foucault's ethics of the “care of the self”; Martin Luther King Jr.'s understanding of “self-purification” as integral to direct action; and Audre Lorde's claim that caring for herself constitutes a form of “political warfare.” Each reading furnishes Wyche with a lexicon of concepts and practices that he develops with great care toward a critical account of the self in relation to others.Daniel Louis Wyche is a Senior Scholar with the Columbia Center for Contemporary Critical Thought.Nathan H. Phillips is an independent scholar working out of South Bend, Indiana. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
In The Care of the Self and the Care of the Other: From Spiritual Exercises to Political Transformation (Columbia UP, 2025), Daniel Wyche examines the political implications of what he calls practices of ethical self-change. These include Pierre Hadot's notion of “spiritual exercises”; what the French sociologist of labor Georges Friedmann terms “interior effort”; Michel Foucault's ethics of the “care of the self”; Martin Luther King Jr.'s understanding of “self-purification” as integral to direct action; and Audre Lorde's claim that caring for herself constitutes a form of “political warfare.” Each reading furnishes Wyche with a lexicon of concepts and practices that he develops with great care toward a critical account of the self in relation to others.Daniel Louis Wyche is a Senior Scholar with the Columbia Center for Contemporary Critical Thought.Nathan H. Phillips is an independent scholar working out of South Bend, Indiana. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/critical-theory
In The Care of the Self and the Care of the Other: From Spiritual Exercises to Political Transformation (Columbia UP, 2025), Daniel Wyche examines the political implications of what he calls practices of ethical self-change. These include Pierre Hadot's notion of “spiritual exercises”; what the French sociologist of labor Georges Friedmann terms “interior effort”; Michel Foucault's ethics of the “care of the self”; Martin Luther King Jr.'s understanding of “self-purification” as integral to direct action; and Audre Lorde's claim that caring for herself constitutes a form of “political warfare.” Each reading furnishes Wyche with a lexicon of concepts and practices that he develops with great care toward a critical account of the self in relation to others.Daniel Louis Wyche is a Senior Scholar with the Columbia Center for Contemporary Critical Thought.Nathan H. Phillips is an independent scholar working out of South Bend, Indiana. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/religion
In The Care of the Self and the Care of the Other: From Spiritual Exercises to Political Transformation (Columbia UP, 2025), Daniel Wyche examines the political implications of what he calls practices of ethical self-change. These include Pierre Hadot's notion of “spiritual exercises”; what the French sociologist of labor Georges Friedmann terms “interior effort”; Michel Foucault's ethics of the “care of the self”; Martin Luther King Jr.'s understanding of “self-purification” as integral to direct action; and Audre Lorde's claim that caring for herself constitutes a form of “political warfare.” Each reading furnishes Wyche with a lexicon of concepts and practices that he develops with great care toward a critical account of the self in relation to others.Daniel Louis Wyche is a Senior Scholar with the Columbia Center for Contemporary Critical Thought.Nathan H. Phillips is an independent scholar working out of South Bend, Indiana.
From Sunday 11 January 2026, Dr. Tim Beougher has a message titled “Spiritual Exercise in the New Year”- Hebrews 12:1-3 fbcmw.org
For you eleventh-hour Christmas shoppers out there, have I got a treat for you. There's a new book out from Loyola Press, the second volume in an increasingly essential collection of Ignatian spirituality readers. This one is, aptly named, “An Ignatian Spirituality Reader: Contemporary Writings on St. Ignatius of Loyola, the Spiritual Exercises, Discernment and More—Volume II.” The first of these volumes was crucial for my own formation in the Ignatian tradition, covering key topics like the life of St. Ignatius, tools for discernment and ways to pray in the Ignatian tradition. I quote this book all the time. That's why I was so excited to get my hands on this new volume. Some of those classic topics are there—discernment, Ignatius' life, and more—but we get chapters on racial justice, caring for the environment and the role of the imagination in the Exercises. We hear, too, from a wide ranging array of voices and experiences, adding to the richness of this edition. (I even have a chapter in there on the Two Standards and social media.) And so, today we're going to hear about this book from two of the editors who worked on it. But more importantly, we're going to hear why Ignatian spirituality continues to matter in our world—and what it has to offer this moment. Fr. Mark Mossa is a professor of religious studies at Loyola University of New Orleans and a Jesuit priest. He serves as program director of the Canizaro Center for Catholic Studies and is the author of “Already There: Letting God Find You” and “Saint Ignatius of Loyola The Spiritual Writings.” Lori Stanley is the executive director of the Loyola Institute for Spirituality in Orange, CA. She is the first layperson to hold the role. In 2020 she was appointed to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops anti-racism taskforce for the state of California, and is a collaborator with the Jesuit Antiracism Sodality and the Jesuit West Collaborative for Racial Equity. Both Lori and Fr. Mark are real founts of Ignatian wisdom—and I know you'll enjoy our conversation. If you'd like to get a copy of the book, visit this link: https://store.loyolapress.com/an-ignatian-spirituality-reader-volume-2
#catholic #sspx #sermonDoctors tell us that if we want our bodies to be healthy, we must exercise our bodies regularly. If our bodies are always at a state of rest, not moving, not straining, they will deteriorate over time.It is interesting to note that many exercises consist of pushing back against gravity. We have this force of gravity that is always being exercised upon us, which pulls us down. We find that, if we sometimes work against that force of gravity, if we strain our bodies against it, it is helpful for our bodies, rather than just letting gravity always pull us down.We can think about the exercises of pull ups, push ups, sit ups, and so on. There is a kettlebell exercise where you simply hold a weight above your head and walk with it.God has made our body in such a way that it needs periodic movement and strain in order for them to be in good health.Today, I want to speak to you about a spiritual exercise that is like the anti-gravity bodily exercises. It consists in pushing back against the weight of our fallen human nature that is always weighing down upon us.Our fallen nature works on our souls like the force of gravity works on our bodies. It is always pulling us down to earthly things. We can think of our souls as naturally being stooped over and always tending to look at ourselves, to want creature comforts, to be consumed with the things of this world.If we made a log of what we are always thinking about for one day, we might be surprised. We might find a lot of vanity, selfishness, and pride in our thoughts.Just as if we leave our bodies alone and do nothing with them, they fall apart, so too with our souls. If we let them live this way all the time, we will lose them. Our souls will be always consumed with the things of this earth and will end up falling into hell rather than rising up to Heaven.At the beginning of this season of Advent, we heard these words of Our Lord: “when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads, because your redemption is at hand.”We have to be continually be lifting our souls up to heavenly things. This is the spiritual exercise I would like to talk about. It consists in lifting our souls up to God throughout the day.Sometimes, you will hear this referred to as the “practice of the presence of God”. In other places, you will hear it referred to as the practice of recollection.
Read Online“I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand. He will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” Matthew 3:11–12This passage comes just before Jesus is baptized and begins His public ministry. John the Baptist had been ministering in the desert of Judea, preaching, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” Many came to him to be baptized with a baptism of repentance. But when John saw many scribes and Pharisees coming to him, he said, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance.” The passage above is John's warning to them—and to us—about what will happen if we fail to repent.At that time, when wheat was harvested, it was left to dry. Then, a winnowing fan was used to blow the wheat and chaff into the air. The lighter chaff would blow away, while the grains of wheat would fall to the ground to be gathered, milled into flour, and used for baking. John uses this familiar image to depict what Jesus will do with the righteous and the wicked. The righteous are like the grains of wheat that will be gathered and brought to Heaven. The wicked are like the chaff that, once separated from the righteous, will burn in the unquenchable fire of hell.Though it is comforting to speak of the glories of Heaven and to anticipate being brought there by our Lord, it is necessary to also consider the reality of the unquenchable fires of hell. Pondering the reality of those unquenchable fires is something we should not neglect.In his spiritual classic, The Spiritual Exercises, Saint Ignatius of Loyola presents a format for a thirty-day directed silent retreat, considered by many to be the ideal retreat experience. During the first week of that retreat, the retreatant focuses primarily upon mortal sin and its consequences—the unquenchable fires of hell. Why would Saint Ignatius begin his retreat this way? Because he understood that the foundation of our growth in union with God is repentance, and repentance requires an honest and thorough examination of sin and its consequences.Reflect today on the unquenchable fires of hell, and allow yourself to foster a burning desire to flee from every sin that leads to that end. As we enter the second week of the penitential season of Advent, ponder this warning from Saint John the Baptist. Hear him speak those words directly to you. We must fear sin and avoid it, as much as we want to avoid the unquenchable fires of hell. Start with this foundational truth, so that having fostered deep repentance, you are ready to turn your heart and mind toward the glorious promise of Heaven. Jesus, our Just Judge, You hold the winnowing fan in Your sacred hand and separate the righteous from the sinner. Please grant me the grace to see my sin clearly, so that I may humbly acknowledge it and turn from it with all my might. May I build this foundation of repentance during Advent, so that Christmas becomes an even greater time of union with You. 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.
The saints reveal the fulfillment of Christ's promises. As I promised a couple episodes back, we want to treat you to a series of reflections on the particular witness of particular saints through a series of episodes on our podcast. These episodes follow from the wildly popular “Saturdays with the Saints” lecture series we host each year on Notre Dame's campus. For one hour on the morning of Notre Dame home football games, a scholar typically from Notre Dame delivers a public lecture on a saint. We've been hosting this series for 15 years now, and this year we focused on “Saints of the Sacred Heart.”I myself delivered the first lecture this year on St. Margaret Mary and the rebirth of the devotion to the Sacred Heart. The lecture that followed was delivered by friend and colleague, Tim O'Malley. His lecture was on St. Claude de Colombiere, which is especially fitting because St. Claude is the one who made St. Margaret Mary's visions of the Sacred Heart known to the world. But as Tim taught in his lecture, it matters very much that St. Claude was himself a Jesuit, as was our late Pope Francis who dedicated his last encyclical to the Sacred Heart. And so our conversation about this saint is also about the Spiritual Exercises, daily obedience to God's will, and the shock of Christ's personal and particular love for each of us.Follow-up Resources:“Providence and Obedience: Colombière, the Jesuits, and the Sacred Heart,” by Tim O'Malley via Church Life Journal“St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and the Devotion to the Sacred Heart,” podcast episode via Church Life TodayLearn more about the “Saturdays with the Saints” series: https://mcgrath.nd.edu/events/saturdays-with-the-saints/“Dilexit Nos – Part 1, a conversation with Joshua McManaway and Melissa Moschella” (about Pope Francis's encyclical on the Sacred Heart of Jesus), podcast episode via Church Life Today“Dilexit Nos – Part 2, a conversation with Brett Robinson and Abigail Favale” (about Pope Francis's encyclical on the Sacred Heart of Jesus), podcast episode via Church Life TodayChurch Life Today is a partnership between the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame and OSV Podcasts from Our Sunday Visitor. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.
Peregrino Ignatian Pathways (PIP) #10: Rules #19-22 in the discernment of spirits from the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. (This is the final of a ten part series.) -The Suscipe prayer of St. Ignatius: “Take, Lord, receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will. All I have and call [...]
The Spiritual Exercises offer an experiential process of pondering (originally in a silent retreat of some 30 days) the Bible story, focusing on observing in prayer how the creation and fall led to Jesus' incarnation and earthly ministry, His redeeming sacrifice, resurrection and ascension. The aim is to integrate the personal, social and spiritual dimensions of life, and so arrive at a renewed Christian vision and vitality. This talk will explain the process of undertaking the exercises and discuss an evangelical Biblical approach to this discipleship tool created within the Catholic Church and how it fits with Schaeffer's legacy of ‘all of life' Christianity.Please note that the ideas expressed in this lecture do not necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship.For more resources, visit the L'Abri Ideas Library at labriideaslibrary.org. The library contains over two thousand lectures and discussions that explore questions about the reality and relevance of Christianity. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit englishlabri.substack.com
Dr Greg Popcak discusses how parenting can be a spiritual exercise and Fr. Robert Miller shares the stories of Civil War chaplains.
-Peregrino Ignatian Pathways (PIP) #9: Rules #17-18 in the the discernment of spirits from the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. -The Suscipe prayer of St. Ignatius: “Take, Lord, receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will. All I have and call my own, You have given all to me. [...]
Can We Move From Fear to a Holy Indifference That Teaches Peace and Presence? Seattle-based writer Sara Billups joins host Curtis Chang to explore how faith, mental health, and spiritual practices can help calm anxiety in our bodies, families, churches, and politics. Drawing from her book Nervous Systems (available November 4, 2025), Sara shares practical ways to find peace, emotional balance, and spiritual resilience amid today's chaos. Together, Curtis and Sara discuss how understanding our stories and grounding in faith can help us live with calm and clarity in an anxious culture. (02:23) - Navigating Anxiety in Uncertain Times (04:35) - Understanding Anxiety Across Generations (18:58) - Navigating Anxiety With Holy Indifference (26:00) - Anxiety in Churches, Politics, and Systems (28:15) - Churches Cultivating Non-Anxious Presence (33:43) - Finding a Spiritual Home in Crisis (41:20) - Sara's Message a Generation of Anxious Young Adults Join The After Party Send Campfire Stories to: info@redeemingbabel.org Donate to Redeeming Babel Mentioned in this episode: Sara Billups' Nervous Systems: Spiritual Practices to Calm Anxiety in Your Body, the Church, and Politics What is Epigenetics? (Cleveland Clinic) Curt Thompson discusses generational trauma and epigenetics (episode of Curt's podcast) Ignatius' Spiritual Exercises St. Teresa of Lisieux's Divine Office The story behind the hymn It Is Well With My Soul Frederick Buechner describes his daughter's anorexia and praying Psalm 131 (video) Frederick Buechner's Telling Secrets Matthew 26:36-46 (ESV) Jesus prays in Gethsemane Edwin Friedman's A Failure of Nerve: Leadership in the Age of the Quick Fix Edwin Friedman's Six Measures of Effective Leadership (Jack Shitima's Non-Anxious Leader blog) Mark Sayers's A Non-Anxious Presence: How a Changing and Complex World will Create a Remnant of Renewed Christian Leaders The ignatian concept of Indifference Thomas McKenzie's The Anglican Way: A Guidebook Tim Keller's The Church in the City (Series of audio messages) Christianity Today's The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill (podcast) 22 Explore Grace Church Seattle Good Faith episode featuring Paco Amador of Little Village in Chicago More from Sara Billups: Sara Billups' Orphaned Believers: How a Generation of Christian Exiles Can Find the Way Home Sara Billups' Bitter Scroll (substack) Sara Billups' That's the Spirit podcast (with Morgan Page) Follow Us: Good Faith on Instagram Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter) Good Faith on Facebook Sign up: Redeeming Babel Newsletter
Fr. Anthony Wieck & Kris McGregor continue the the Spiritual Exercises. In part two of our conversation, Fr. Wieck discusses contemplation to attain the love of God. The post HSE13 – Contemplation to Attain the Love of God, pt. 2 – The Heart of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola with Fr. Anthony Wieck S.J. – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.
Fr. Dave Nix continues “Peregrino Ignatian Pathways” (PIP) # 8: Rules #15 and 16 in the discernment of spirits from the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. -The Suscipe prayer of St. Ignatius: “Take, Lord, receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will. All I have and call my own, [...]
A 19-minute audio guided meditation on the Ignatian ‘Principle and Foundation,' using Lectio Divina. In his “Spiritual Exercises”, Ignatius invites us to consider who God is, who we are, and how we therefore invited to relate to God and all of the created order. In the Principle and Foundation, with which you are invited to […] The post The Principle and Foundation : Lectio Divina : Teachings of St Ignatius appeared first on Contemplative at Home.
Fr. Anthony Wieck & Kris McGregor continue the the Spiritual Exercises. In part one of our conversation, Fr. Wieck discusses contemplation to attain the love of God. The post HSE12 – Contemplation to Attain the Love of God, pt. 1 – The Heart of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola with Fr. Anthony Wieck S.J. – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.
Fr. Anthony Wieck and Kris McGregor continue this series centered around the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Fr. Wieck discusses consolation, desolation, and how they impact the Second Week Rules for discernment. The post HSE11 – Rules of the Second Week – The Heart of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola with Fr. Anthony Wieck S.J. – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.
-Fr. David Nix continues “Peregrino Ignatian Pathways” (PIP) # 7: Rules no. 13 and 14 in the discernment of spirits from the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. -The Suscipe prayer of St. Ignatius: “Take, Lord, receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will. All I have and call my [...]
Fr. Anthony Wieck and Kris McGregor continue this series centered around the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Fr. Wieck discusses consolation, desolation, and the ways the Enemy can strike our weak points. The post HSE10 – Consolation and Desolation – The Heart of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola with Fr. Anthony Wieck S.J. – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.
Ryan Duns is back on the podcast to talk about his provocative new book exploring horror and theology, and boy does he deliver some counterintuitive insights. He argues that horror is actually the most conservative film genre—and that's precisely why it works so well for theological reflection. Think about it: to be scared, you first have to believe there's something worth protecting. Ryan walks us through how horror films function as underground spaces where transcendence has been displaced and distorted, creating what he calls "frag events" that shatter our comfortable assumptions about reality. From The Purge and mimetic desire to The Black Phone and eucatastrophe, he shows how these films operate as photographic negatives of divine transcendence, revealing both our metaphysical vulnerability and our deep hunger for meaning. We dive into concepts like the "dark transcendent," the porosity of being, and why feeling horror is actually a sign of soul. Plus, Ryan shares stories from his Theology of Horror class—including angry parent emails and a student who ended up joining the Jesuits. If you've ever wondered what a philosophical theologian is doing teaching about chainsaw massacres and demonic possession, this conversation will blow your mind while making you rethink everything about faith, fear, and what it means to be human. Check out the book, Theology of Horror: The Hidden Depths of Popular Films. You can WATCH the conversation on YouTube Ryan G. Duns, SJ, (twitter) is a Jesuit priest and an assistant professor of theology at Marquette University. His locates his work the intersection of philosophy and systematic theology and is interested in regarding theology as practice or “way of life.” He has published on Karl Rahner, Jean-Luc Marion, René Girard, and his most recent work has involved a sustained engagement with William Desmond's metaphysics. His monograph “Spiritual Exercises for a Secular Age: Desmond and the Quest for God” argues that, when read as a form of spiritual exercise (Pierre Hadot), Desmond's philosophy can re-awaken a sense of the Transcendent. Previous Podcasts with Ryan Thinking within the Catholic Tradition Spiritual Exercises for a Secular Age. of theology nerds and craft beer for a blend of intellectual engagement, community building, and fun. Guests this year include John Dominic Crossan, Kelly Brown Douglas, Philip Clayton, Stacey Floyd-Thomas, Jeffery Pugh, Juan Floyd-Thomas, Andy Root, Grace Ji-Sun Kim, Noreen Herzfeld, Reggie Williams, Casper ter Kuile, and more! Get info and tickets here. _____________________ This podcast is a Homebrewed Christianity production. Follow the Homebrewed Christianity, Theology Nerd Throwdown, & The Rise of Bonhoeffer podcasts for more theological goodness for your earbuds. Join over 75,000 other people by joining our Substack - Process This! Get instant access to over 50 classes at www.TheologyClass.com Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fr. Anthony Wieck and Kris McGregor continue this series centered around the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Fr. Wieck discusses the reasons we fall into desolation. The post HSE9 – The Reasons for Spiritual Desolation – The Heart of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola with Fr. Anthony Wieck S.J. – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.
Read OnlineJesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. Luke 9:1–2This is the first time that Jesus sends His Apostles out on a mission. On this mission, He is preparing them for their ultimate mission, which will come at the time of Pentecost, after Jesus dies, rises and ascends to Heaven. But for now, Jesus commissions these Apostles to do three things: to cast out demons, heal the sick and proclaim the Kingdom of God.Just like the Apostles, we are called to combat the devil and his demons. They are fallen angels who retain their natural powers, and they use those natural powers to try to deceive us, oppress us and, in some cases, even possess us. But demons are powerless in the face of God, and God gives us spiritual authority over them. And though there are some who are given the unique ministry of exorcism within the Church, all of us do have spiritual authority over demons, especially over their natural spiritual attacks of temptations.We combat demons primarily by revealing their lies and bringing them to light. Saint Ignatius of Loyola, in his spiritual classic The Spiritual Exercises, explains to us some of the ordinary tactics these demons use and how we overcome them. He says that for those steeped in a life of serious sin, the demons continually place before their mind the lie that their sins are enjoyable and rewarding, so that they will continue to choose them. And for those who are striving for holiness, these demons try to discourage them in their deepening conversion. They “bite, sadden and put obstacles, disquieting with false reasons, that one may not go on” (Rule 2). The way to overcome these temptations is by turning to the truth. First, by realizing that the false “pleasures” of sin are just that: false, fleeting and ultimately demeaning. Furthermore, we overcome these temptations by receiving from God “courage and strength, consolations, tears, inspirations and quiet, easing, and putting away all obstacles.” In other words, we overcome the demons by allowing God to strengthen us, clear our thinking, dispel all false obstacles on the road to holiness and by receiving the abundant consolations that God bestows as help on the journey.Reflect, today, upon the fact that our Lord wants to minister to you in this threefold way. If you can work to overcome the obstacles put in your path by these demons, then you are in a good position to share in the other two missions given to the Apostles. You will be able to experience mental, emotional and spiritual healing in your life, and you will be able to allow the Kingdom of God to grow strong and powerful within your own soul. From there, you will be sent on a mission by our Lord to bring these graces to others in need.My all-powerful Lord, You have authority over evil, the power to heal and offer all the gifts of eternal salvation. Help me to be open to the ways that You desire to come to me. Please free me from the attacks of the evil one, bring healing and hope, and bring forth the abundance of Your glorious Kingdom in my life. Jesus, I trust in You. Image: Phillip Medhurst, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.
-Fr. Dave Nix continues “Peregrino Ignatian Pathways” (PIP) #6: Rules no. 11 and 12 of discernment from the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. -Suscipe: “Take, Lord, receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will. All I have and call my own, You have given all to me. To You, [...]
Fr. Anthony Wieck and Kris McGregor continue this series centered around the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. The post HSE8 – The Two Standards: Christ or the Enemy – The Heart of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola with Fr. Anthony Wieck S.J. – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.
Fr. Anthony Wieck and Kris McGregor continue this series centered around the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. This episode focuses on Week Two of the Spiritual Exercises. The post HSE7 – What Has God Elected to Us? – The Heart of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola with Fr. Anthony Wieck S.J. – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.
-Fr. Dave Nix continues “Peregrino Ignatian Pathways” (PIP) #5: Rules no. 9 and 10 of discernment from the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. -Donate with updated status (see first bullet point:) https://www.padreperegrino.org/donate/ -Suscipe: “Take, Lord, receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will. All I have and call my [...]
Fr. Anthony Wieck and Kris McGregor continue this series centered around the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. This episode takes a look at methods of Ignatian prayer. The post HSE6 – Ignatian Prayer – The Heart of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola with Fr. Anthony Wieck S.J. – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.
Fr. Anthony Wieck and Kris McGregor continue this series centered around the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. This episode takes a look at the Spiritual Exercises through the lens of our identity in and relationship with Christ. The post HSE5 – Our Identity & Relationship in Christ – The Heart of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola with Fr. Anthony Wieck S.J. – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.
-Fr. David Nix continues "Peregrino Ignatian Pathways" (PIP) #4: Rules no. 7 and 8 of discernment from the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. -Donate with updated status (see first bullet point:) https://www.padreperegrino.org/donate/ -Suscipe: “Take, Lord, receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will. All I have and call my [...]
-Fr. David Nix continues "Peregrino Ignatian Pathway" (PIP) #3. Today we discuss rules no. 5 and 6 of discernment from the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. -Suscipe prayer of St. Ignatius: “Take, Lord, receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will. All I have and call my own, You [...]