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Divine Intimacy Radio

Divine Intimacy Radio is a haven of rest and wellspring of spiritual life for those seeking intimacy with God and the enlightened path of Catholic mystical and ascetical wisdom. Weekly we will explore topics like prayer, spiritual direction, meditation, contemplation, holiness, and much more.
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Now displaying: Category: general
Aug 10, 2018

Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson as they answer questions from listeners about distractions in prayer, contemplative aridity, and the importance of self-knowledge in overcoming sin.

Topics/Questions Covered in the Show:

  • What should we do if we feel guilty when we get distracted while spending time in mental prayer?
  • Is contemplation the same as meditation?
  • How important are short prayers throughout the day?
  • What if memories occupy your mind during prayer? Are those thoughts from God?
  • How necessary is it to know your temperament to overcome sin?
  • How can one overcome contemplative aridity?
  • Are prayers of penance or reparation particularly important to contemplative prayer?
  • What is the best way to start a prayer routine?

Resources:

What is Divine Intimacy Radio?

The Divine Intimacy Radio Show is a haven of rest and wellspring of spiritual life for those people seeking intimacy with God and the enlightened path of Catholic mystical and ascetical wisdom. Every week our co-hosts Dan Burke and Melissa Elson explore topics related to the interior life and Catholic teaching, including prayer, spiritual direction, meditation, contemplation, and holiness.

Divine Intimacy Radio Show and EWTN!

This radio show can also be heard every Sunday on EWTN Radio, Sundays at 6:30 am1:30 pm, and 11:00 pm Eastern time. We are grateful to EWTN for their support!

Aug 7, 2018

What misunderstandings do non-Catholics have about Galileo or Catholics and the Bible? Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson in part one of their interview with Dr. Gerard Verschuuren about his book Forty Anti-Catholic Lies to find out.

Topics/Questions Covered in the Show:

anti-Catholic

  • What inspired Dr. Verschuuren to write this book?
  • Are many of the misunderstandings about the Catholic Church stem from not allowing the Church to define her own teachings?
  • Is language a barrier to understanding Church teaching?
  • What are the lies that many believe about Galileo?
  • Why do some non-Catholics believe that Catholics are forbidden to read the Bible?
  • Did the Catholic Church add books to the Bible?

Resources:

What is the Divine Intimacy Radio Show?

The Divine Intimacy Radio Show is a haven of rest and wellspring of spiritual life for those people seeking an increased intimacy with God and the enlightened path of Catholic mystical and ascetical wisdom.

Twice a week, host Dan Burke and his co-host, Melissa Elson, explore topics related to the interior life and to authentic Catholic teaching. And, it's amazing what they do! On Tuesdays, they interview various authors about their spiritual books and about the authors’ own insights on those books. On Fridays, they get specific on subjects which primarily include prayer, spiritual direction, meditation, contemplation, and holiness.

Aug 3, 2018

Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson as they answer questions from listeners about beginning prayer and praying for others.

Topics/Questions Covered in the Show:

  • Does God listen to our prayers when we are in a state of mortal sin?
  • Is it worthwhile to pray for concrete things?
  • How can we be assured our prayers are acceptable to God when we are distracted in prayer?
  • Should a beginner start praying lectio divina with the daily Mass readings?
  • Will God respond to our prayers for non-baptized people?
  • Is there anything wrong with desiring to pray outside of the written prayers in our prayer books?

Resources:

What is Divine Intimacy Radio?

The Divine Intimacy Radio Show is a haven of rest and wellspring of spiritual life for those people seeking intimacy with God and the enlightened path of Catholic mystical and ascetical wisdom. Every week our co-hosts Dan Burke and Melissa Elson explore topics related to the interior life and Catholic teaching, including prayer, spiritual direction, meditation, contemplation, and holiness.

Divine Intimacy Radio Show and EWTN!

This radio show can also be heard every Sunday on EWTN Radio, Sundays at 6:30 am, 1:30 pm, and 11:00 pm Eastern time. We are grateful to EWTN for their support!

Jul 31, 2018

Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson in part two of their interview with Dr. James Papandrea about prominent Christ figures in science fiction television shows and movies such as Star Wars, The Matrix, and Lost.

Topics/Questions Covered in the Show:

Christ figures

  • Who was the most prominent Christ figure in Star Wars?
  • What ideas from the Star Wars films mirrored Gnosticism?
  • How did The Matrix also have Gnostic themes and ideas?
  • Which superheroes most closely resemble an orthodox view of Christ?
  • What is the best way to compare Christ figures in films and television to an authentic view of Christ?
  • What were the Black Panther's Christ-like traits?
  • How did the television series, Lost, portray God and heaven?
  • What is the Orthodoxy Score Chart at the end of the book and why was it included?

Resources:

What is the Divine Intimacy Radio Show?

The Divine Intimacy Radio Show is a haven of rest and wellspring of spiritual life for those people seeking an increased intimacy with God and the enlightened path of Catholic mystical and ascetical wisdom.

Twice a week, host Dan Burke and his co-host, Melissa Elson, explore topics related to the interior life and to authentic Catholic teaching. And, it's amazing what they do! On Tuesdays, they interview various authors about their spiritual books and about the authors’ own insights on those books. On Fridays, they get specific on subjects which primarily include prayer, spiritual direction, meditation, contemplation, and holiness.

Jul 27, 2018

Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson as they answer questions from listeners about praying the Liturgy of the Hours, discerning God's voice in prayer and the definition of contemplation.

Topics/Questions Covered in the Show:

  • When praying the Liturgy of the Hours, if you are struck by the reading, should you continue to pray the rest of the prayers or keep meditating on that particular thought or inspiration?
  • How do religious brothers, sisters and priests fulfill their obligation to pray the Liturgy of the Hours without the prayers becoming repetitive or meaningless?
  • How can one discern whether or not a thought or inspiration is coming from God?
  • What is the difference between the Ignatian definition and Carmelite definition of contemplation and who is correct?

Resources:

What is Divine Intimacy Radio?

The Divine Intimacy Radio Show is a haven of rest and wellspring of spiritual life for those people seeking intimacy with God and the enlightened path of Catholic mystical and ascetical wisdom. Every week our co-hosts Dan Burke and Melissa Elson explore topics related to the interior life and Catholic teaching, including prayer, spiritual direction, meditation, contemplation, and holiness.

Divine Intimacy Radio Show and EWTN!

This radio show can also be heard every Sunday on EWTN Radio, Sundays at 6:30 am, 1:30 pm, and 11:00 pm Eastern time. We are grateful to EWTN for their support!

Jul 24, 2018

Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson in part one of their interview with Dr. James Papandrea about prominent Christ figures in science fiction television shows and movies.

Topics/Questions Covered in the Show:

figures

  • What inspired Jim Papandrea to write this book?
  • Why do Christ figures keep arising in secular fiction and popular culture?
  • Even though writer Ronald Moore fell away from the Catholic Faith, how did religion keep surfacing throughout his scripts for Star Trek?
  • What philosophical themes and moral questions appear in science fiction television shows and films?
  • What important insights come from the movie I, Robot?
  • Can the book be used as am analytical tool to teach about different heresies which opposed the teachings of the Catholic Church?
  • What Christian and anti-Christian ideas come from the movie, Pleasantville?

Resources:

What is Divine Intimacy Radio?

The Divine Intimacy Radio Show is a haven of rest and wellspring of spiritual life for those people seeking intimacy with God and the enlightened path of Catholic mystical and ascetical wisdom. Every week our co-hosts Dan Burke and Melissa Elson explore topics related to the interior life and Catholic teaching, including prayer, spiritual direction, meditation, contemplation, and holiness.

Divine Intimacy Radio Show and EWTN!

This radio show can also be heard every Sunday on EWTN Radio, Sundays at 6:30 am, 1:30 pm, and 11:00 pm Eastern time. We are grateful to EWTN for their support!

Jul 20, 2018

Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson as they answer questions from listeners about transitioning from the purgative way to the illuminative way, recognizing sin, and the importance of mental prayer.

Topics/Questions Covered in the Show:

  • How do you know if you're making the transition between the purgative and illuminative way? 
  • How do we know if we are committing mortal or venial sin?
  • If we had to choose between going to Mass, praying mental prayer and the rosary, which is most important?
  • Should you pray while doing other tasks?

Resources:

Jul 17, 2018

Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson as they speak with Fr. John Horgan to discuss the role of the angels in the Church and how they can help us to heaven.

Topics/Questions Covered in the Show:

  • What inspired Fr. Horgan to write His Angels at Our Side?
  • How do the angels lead us into prayer?
  • What are some of the most common misunderstandings about angels?
  • What are "choirs" of angels and how many are there?
  • Why are there distinctions between the choirs and what are those distinctions?
  • Should we give names to our guardian angels?
  • How can we determine the difference between an inspiration that comes from the Holy Spirit or one that comes from our angel?
  • When praying for others, should we pray to the individual's guardian angel for help or to God directly?

Resources:

Jul 13, 2018

Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson in part 2 of a listener question and answer forum on frequent confession and the importance of confessing venial sins.

Topics/Questions Covered in the Show:

  • Why does Venerable Pope Pius XII speak so strongly in favor of making frequent confessions of venial sin in his encyclical, Mystici Corporis Christi?
  • What is devotional confession?
  • What is a reasonable request for confession?
  • How often is "frequent" when speaking of confession?
  • What is scrupulosity and why is it detrimental to the spiritual life?

Resources:

Jul 10, 2018

How can the wives of our brave soldiers cope with the stresses of life as their husbands leave to defend our great nation? Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson as they speak with Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle to discuss the difficulties that accompany being a military wife and the hope that is offered through Our Lord and His Church.

Topics/Questions Covered in the Show:

  • What inspired Donna-Marie to write this book for military wives?
  • What kind of struggles do military wives face?
  • What is survivor's guilt?
  • How do the stories of military wives who have gone through these struggles help others in their time of need?
  • How does the book offer hope to those suffering from war wounds, whether physical, emotional or mental?
  • How is prayer integrated into this book?
  • What is the Military Council for Catholic Women?

Resources:

Jul 6, 2018

Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson as they answer questions from listeners about the sacrament of reconciliation.

Topics/Questions Covered in the Show:

  • What differentiates the purgative, illuminative, and unitive stages of the interior life?
  • Why must one go to confession if he or she is detached from habitual mortal and venial sin?
  • What is the purpose or benefit of confessing venial sins frequently?
  • What argument does Venerable Pope Pius XII make in favor of frequently confessing venial sins in his encyclical, Mystici Corporis Christi?
  • When one reaches the "active night of the senses," is he or she free from habitual venial sin?
  • Is is possible to be truly free from attachment to habitual mortal and venial sin?
  • What should one do if he or she leaves the confessional feeling attacked, judged, or neglected?
  • Should we go to a regular confessor to benefit most from confession?

Resources:

Jul 3, 2018

What's wrong with leaving Mass after communion? Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson as they speak with Christopher Carstens to discuss the best response to the dismissal.

Topics/Questions Covered in the Show:

  • What is the significance of the dismissal at Mass?
  • To what degree will we be changed spiritually if we open our hearts and minds to Jesus as we receive Him in the Eucharist?
  • What is the benefit of preparing for the different parts of the Mass and truly understanding the meaning behind each word and action of the priest and the faithful?
  • How can we experience the riches of the Mass more fully on a week-to-week basis?

Resources:

Jun 29, 2018

Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson as they answer questions from listeners about infused contemplation, recollection and desolation.

Topics/Questions Covered in the Show:

  • What is contemplation?
  • What is the difference between natural and infused contemplation?
  • What is the difference between acquired recollection and infused recollection?
  • What do you do when spiritual reading is no longer joyful?
  • Should the realization of one's sinfulness cause desolation?
  • Once we receive the gift of infused contemplation, where do we go from there? How do we share this complete and consuming love?

Resources:

Jun 26, 2018

How can we receive the Eucharist in the most holy way? Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson as they speak with Christopher Carstens to discuss the humility necessary to receive the precious Body and Blood of our Lord during Mass.

Topics/Questions Covered in the Show:

  • When receiving the Holy Eucharist, what is the best virtue to exhibit in order to become saintly?
  • How does humility bring us into a more full participation in the Eucharist?
  • Why is the prayer of the centurion the response of the faithful during the Liturgy of the Eucharist?
  • Why do we fast before receiving the Eucharist? Should we begin fasting an hour before Mass begins or an hour before receiving our Lord?
  • What does it mean for Jesus to "wonder" at the centurion's faith?
  • How should we respond to Jesus longing to share his precious Body and Blood with us?

Resources:

Jun 22, 2018

How is it that the Holy Trinity dwells within each individual soul? Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson as they discuss Divine Intimacy, Meditation #222 about why God chooses to dwell within the souls of His beloved creation.

Topics/Questions Covered in the Show:

  • "Jesus not only came to reveal the mystery of the Blessed Trinity, but also to establish the ties of closest friendship between our souls and the three divine persons." ~ Divine Intimacy, Meditation #222.
  • How can the Trinity dwell within us?
  • What spiritual conditions open our hearts to the Triune God?
  • Why does St. Teresa of Avila describe the soul as a garden?
  • What makes the soul of each individual so beautiful to God?
  • Why does Fr. Gabriel emphasize the virtue of charity as a crucial step to allowing God access to the soul?

Resources:

Jun 19, 2018

Why is the Eucharistic Prayer one of the most active times during the liturgy? Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson as they speak with Christopher Carstens to discuss how the faithful become bridge builders along with the priest to offer up our sacrifices during the Mass.

Topics/Questions Covered in the Show:

  • What do the faithful misunderstand most about participating in the Eucharistic Prayer?
  • How is the congregation called to participate during the Eucharistic Prayer?
  • Does praying in the vernacular assist the faithful in their participation in the Eucharistic prayer?
  • What is the meaning of the term, "pontifex"?
  • Why are the faithful considered "ponifex minimus"?
  • Why does the priest ask God to "accept" his sacrifice and ours rather than to "take" it? 
  • What can we do on a practical level to implement this participation in the Mass in a more meaningful way?

Resources:

Jun 15, 2018

Join Melissa Elson as she speaks with Connie Rossini about Fr. Jacques Philippe's book, Time for God focusing on ways that we can enter into and sustain a deep and meaningful prayer life.

Topics/Questions Covered in the Show:

  • How important is perseverance in prayer and why?
  • What role does the Holy Spirit play in one's prayer life?
  • What should meditation look like according to Fr. Philippe?
  • Should we only read Sacred Scripture during our mental prayer time or can we use other spiritual reading?
  • If our hearts are moved by a particular reading during our prayer time, but we must end our prayer time before we have finished reflecting on the reading, should we return to that same reading during our next mental prayer time?
  • What does St. John of the Cross have to say about the cause of "dryness" in prayer?
  • What is the Jesus prayer and why does Fr. Philippe mention it?
  • How can the rosary act as a great tool for meditation?
  • At what age should one introduce children to mental prayer?

Resources:

Jun 12, 2018

Why are youth ministry programs failing to make lifelong disciples of our young people? Join Melissa Elson as she speaks with Everett Fritz about his book, The Art of Forming Young Disciples, to discover how we can change our youth programs to effectively impact the next generation of Catholics.

Topics/Questions Covered in the Show:

  • What was the motivation to write this book?
  • What are some current approaches to youth ministry?
  • Specifically, what is the "Sermon on the Mount" approach? 
  • What are the five basic needs of teenagers today?
  • Why are Catholic schools failing in their formation of young people?
  • What should youth programs look like in our parishes?
  • Why is the need for guidance so important for teenagers?
  • How difficult is it to start small group ministry at our parishes?

Resources:

Jun 8, 2018

Where should we pray and how much time should we spend in prayer? Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson as they speak with Connie Rossini about Fr. Jacques Philippe's book, Time for God and how to determine the best circumstances for your daily prayer experience.

Topics/Questions Covered in the Show:

  • How can one benefit from having a designated prayer space in his or her home?
  • How can icons or spiritual objects help us during our mental prayer time?
  • Should children use the same prayer space as their parents, or should they have their own space?
  • How can we establish a prayer time if our vocational obligations are unpredictable?
  • Why do we need to be consistent in prayer?
  • How much time should we allot for prayer each day?
  • How can mothers specifically incorporate prayer time into their busy schedules?
  • Can our time in prayer vary from week to week or should we remain consistent?

Resources:

Jun 5, 2018

What is the purpose of the Offertory during Mass? Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson as they speak with Christopher Carstens to discuss how we can unite our hearts to God's during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

Topics/Questions Covered in the Show:

  • What is the Offertory?
  • How do we prepare our hearts to offer them as a sacrifice to God?
  • What is the common misconception of "sacrifice"?
  • Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI describes sacrifice as the loving union of of our hearts with God.
  • How does the reception of the Eucharist compare with the engagement of our hearts to God's at the Offertory as the pinnacle of active participation in the Mass?
  • What is the connection between the Old Testament figures Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah and our participation in the sacrifice of the Mass?
  • In a practical way, how can we engage more deeply in the Mass through the Offertory?

Resources:

Jun 1, 2018

What is really happening when it feels like God is distancing Himself from us in our prayer lives? Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson as they speak with Connie Rossini about Fr. Jacques Philippe's book, Time for God and the transition from meditation to contemplation.

Topics/Questions Covered in the Show:

  • How is prayer progressive in its nature?
  • Our goal with prayer is union with God.
  • Why do most people have trouble understanding the transition from meditation to contemplation?
  • When God offers us consolations, we can begin to attach feelings to prayer, which can be problematic.
  • In the Ignatian tradition St. Ignatius says that when you are in consolation, the key to being appropriately oriented is humility, and when in desolation, it's trust because we can falsely attribute the graces we receive to our good actions.
  • God is always working on our souls during our prayer time.
  • How does God work in our souls if we can't feel it?
  • What does Fr. Philippe mean when he talks about having been “wounded by God” rather than necessarily being healed?
  • God always keeps us seeking. The closer we get to God, the more distant we feel.
  • What is the "passive night of the senses"?
  • Why shouldn't we seek a "spiritual high" in prayer?

Resources:

May 29, 2018

How can we truly hear and understand the Word of God at Mass? Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson as they speak with Christopher Carstens to discuss the most effective way to listen to the readings during the Liturgy of the Word.

Topics/Questions Covered in the Show:

  • What does it mean to hear the readings at Mass?
  • What is the sacramental principle?
  • St. Benedict proposes that we listen to the Word of God with the "ears of our heart". What does this mean?
  • What does it mean to be "logos-ized"?
  • How can we properly prepare for the readings during the Mass when there is only a short period of time to do so?
  • What is "lectio divina" and how can we properly apply it to better prepare ourselves for the Mass readings?
  • What are the steps of "lectio divina"?
  • Why is the Liturgy of the Word important and how does it prepare us for the Liturgy of the Eucharist?

Resources:

May 25, 2018

Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson as they speak with Connie Rossini about Fr. Jacques Philippe's book, Time for God and the efforts and dispositions involved in establishing a prayer life.

Topics/Questions Covered in the Show:

  • Why are prayer and the liturgy attacked so frequently in our time?
  • Love is a matter of will not of feelings.
  • How should one go about advancing in prayer if he or she is authentically trying to love God?
  • The Holy Spirit will lead us in prayer.
  • Why does Fr. Philippe believe that it is deeply important to realize God's love for us?
  • How much effort should be involved in prayer?
  • Does God work in our souls even if we do not feel like our prayer time was successful?

Resources:

May 22, 2018

Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson as they speak with Christopher Carstens to discuss participation in the liturgy and the beauty of the opening prayer of the Mass.

Topics/Questions Covered in the Show:

  • What is the sacramental principle?
  • What is mystagogy?
  • Why is the opening prayer of the Mass so important?
  • What should be happening during the opening prayer?
  • How is it possible that a God that doesn't need us thirsts for us and longs for us?
  • What does it mean to bring our prayers forward as an offering to God during the opening prayer?
  • Why is the opening prayer called the "collect"?
  • Why is silence important during the Mass?

Resources:

May 18, 2018

Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson as they speak with author, Connie Rossini, about the necessities to establishing a lasting prayer life.

Topics/Questions Covered in the Show:

  • Why does Fr. Philippe focus on having a strong faith as a necessary step to establishing a lasting prayer life?
  • What role do feelings play in prayer?
  • How can false humility drive us away from prayer?
  • Why is perseverance important for spiritual growth?
  • What is lacking in the spiritual lives of those who say they do not have time for prayer?
  • How can prayer help us through the everyday struggles and exhaustion of life?
  • If we are not practicing mental prayer, are our works for God not as meaningful?
  • Can we break up our prayer time into two segments, or should we do all of our mental prayer at once?
  • What should one meditate on if he or she is in the beginning stages of prayer?

Resources:

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