During this Lenten season, and by focusing on a few important points in the scripture passage on the Samaritan Woman, Deacon Mark Danis uses the lense of contemplation to highlight the importance of coming to know the truth about ourselves so that by...
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.
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.
What is like to enter into the 7th Dwelling Place? What was it like for St. Teresa? Then we turn to a discussion about spiritual marriage. We focus on what this experience/union with God was like for St. Teresa. These chapters truly help us to ha...
Deacon Mark Danis, OCDS, shares ways to prepare during Advent for the birth of our Lord. He provides suggestions specific for Secular Carmelites. This talk was given during a Holy Hour.
In the final rooms of the 6th Dwelling Place of the Interior Castle, St. Teresa teaches us about some special favors our Lord gives to prepare the soul with wedding garments for entrance into His Kingly Chambers, the Throne Room.
On the Solemnity of St. Teresa of Avila, Deacon Mark Danis gave an inspiring reflection. His focus was on the famous quote of St. Teresa: “You must have a very determined determination.”
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 ...
The Lord (the Bridegroom) continues to draw the soul (the Bride) closer to Him through the purification of the soul as well as mystical favors that may occur. In this episode, we talk about the importance of keeping the humanity of Christ present in our prayer.
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.
God continues to draw the soul closer to Him through the purification of the soul as well as mystical favors that may occur. In this episode, we talk about ecstasies, raptures, flights of the spirit, spiritual betrothal, the gift of tears, and more.
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".
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.
The 16th Century Spanish Franciscan Friar, Francisco de Osuna, was the author of a book considered to be a great masterpiece and spiritual classic called: “The Third Spiritual Alphabet.” It profoundly influenced St. Teresa of Avila.
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.
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.
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.
Here in the 6th Dwelling Place, the soul goes through an intensification of the Dark Night, specifically the Dark Night of the Spirit. It’s no surprise that St. Teresa of Avila begins in the first chapter with trials and sufferings.
The 5th Dwelling Place/Mansion can be understood to be the deeper revelation of God to the soul and the joining of hands in spiritual courtship with our Divine Spouse.
What are the Evangelical Counsels and why are they important to Carmelites? This homily by Deacon Baldwin was given to the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites in Dayton during a Community meeting Holy Hour.
As we continue the journey through the interior castle, we grow deeper and deeper in our intimacy and relationship with the Lord. The 5th Dwelling Place can be understood to be the joining of hands in spiritual courtship with our Divine Spouse.
St. Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, known as “the little flower,” was prophetically called by Pope Pius X, the “greatest saint of modern times.” Time continues to echo her greatness.
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.
This is an exciting mansion as God begins to take the lead becoming much more active in the soul, while the soul becomes more passive and receptive to God, more fully surrendering to Him, especially in prayer.