An apostolate of the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites community of Our Mother of Good Counsel in Dayton, Ohio.
Carmelite Conversations Podcast
March 9, 2024

Exploring Contemplation with St. John of the Cross (part 8)

So often in the spiritual journey, we can run into roadblocks. We can mistakenly perceive that we have gotten off course, and we might immediately seek to turn back to find the right path again.

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March 3, 2024

Exploring Contemplation with St. John of the Cross (part 7)

If you feel as though you have reached a plateau in your prayer life, or after many years of active prayer, you feel as though you are suddenly stuck, it may be the Lord is calling you to a deeper encounter with Him.

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Oct. 11, 2023

Exploring Contemplation with St. John of the Cross (part 6)

The most challenging phase of our spiritual journey is the transition from meditative prayer to contemplative prayer.  This transition literally requires us to begin to abandon the comfortable methods of prayer, and the use of our faculties, that we ...

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Sept. 23, 2023

Exploring Contemplation with St. John of the Cross (part 5)

One of the most difficult phases in the spiritual life of prayer, is the transition from meditation to contemplation. We explore the five critical means for identifying if a soul is being invited to move from discursive meditation to contemplation.

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Sept. 12, 2023

The Active Night of the Purification of the Spirit

In this homily, Deacon Mark Danis asked himself what can souls do to prepare themselves in the Active Night to enter into the Passive Night of the Spirit, which St. John of the Cross discusses in his book, “Ascent to Mount Carmel".

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Aug. 23, 2023

Exploring Contemplation with St. John of the Cross (part 4)

In the life of prayer, there are always transitions.  We cannot remain static in our pursuit of God.  In this particular program, Mark and Frances identify the seven vices that often hold us back from progressing into deeper, more interior stages.

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Aug. 10, 2023

Exploring Contemplation with St. John of the Cross (part 3)

This program focuses first on the practice of asceticism, the healthy denial of our desires so that we can create space for God to fill us with the only desire that matters – Himself.

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Aug. 2, 2023

Exploring Contemplation with St. John of the Cross (part 2)

In pure faith we proceed with the greatest confidence that we will not lose our way. At the same time, we need to be wary of even perceived divine communications.

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July 27, 2023

Exploring Contemplation with St. John of the Cross (part 1)

St. John of the Cross did not write for beginners in prayer.  His works are for those who have been practicing prayer for some time and have begun to make progress on the spiritual journey.

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May 6, 2023

St. John of the Cross’ Light in the Dark

How does the teaching of St. John of the Cross help us to be “light” in the “dark” that surrounds us in our day?  This presentation by Deacon Baldwin was given to the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites in Dayton for their Day of Recollection.

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March 3, 2023

“Nada, Nada, Nada” of St. John of the Cross

When a Carmelite hears the word, “Nada,” they automatically think of the great Discalced Carmelite Doctor of Love, St. John of the Cross.  What does that word mean?  Why is this word so deeply associated with St. John of the Cross?

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Dec. 14, 2020

Mary in the Life and Writings of St. John of the Cross by Lynn Bete, OCDS

St. John of the Cross is known as one of the greatest Spanish Poets.  Thankfully, he was asked to expound upon his poems which resulted in the classics we may be familiar with…such as “The Spiritual Canticle,” “The Dark Night,” and “The Living Flame of L...

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Sept. 12, 2011

St. John of the Cross

This program deals with the last and most difficult of St John of the Cross’ four stages of the spiritual journey, the Passive Night of Sense. Here the Lord takes us through the later stages of interior prayer. This is where God takes us through the very...

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Aug. 29, 2011

St. John of the Cross – Active night of the Spirit

This program provides an introduction St John of the Cross’ teaching on the four nights that he uses to describe the spiritual journey. This program introduces the Active Night of Spirit. Here the soul must take responsibility to begin to detach itself ...

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Aug. 22, 2011

St. John of the Cross – Active night of the Spirit

This program provides an introduction to St John of the Cross’ teaching on the second of the four nights, the Passive Night of Sense. In this night the Lord begins to finish the work of detaching us from our over dependence on material comforts, supports...

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