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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: 2017
December 29, 2017: Q&A - Prayer Methods, Aridity, Examen Prayer 0
Dec 29, 2017

Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson as they answer your questions about the best methods of prayer, aridity, and the examen prayer. 

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • If there is limited time for silent prayer each day, what is the best way to pray during that time (lectio divina, spiritual reading, rosary, etc.)?
  • What is aridity?
  • How should one pray while experiencing aridity in the spiritual life?
  • Why does Dan use the examen prayer three times a day?
  • Are the morning, afternoon and evening examen prayers similar? 
  • Is the focus of the examen on sin?

Resources:

Resources Edition: December 26, 2017 - Charlie McKinney, Sophia Institute Press Teaching Programs 0
Dec 26, 2017

Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson as they speak with Charlie McKinney, president of Sophia Institute Press, about their new programs to teach the Catholic Faith in schools, parishes and homes across America. 

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • What types of books does Sophia Institute Press publish?
  • What are the criteria that Sophia Institute Press follows when deciding whether or not to publish a book?
  • What are some new resources available to Catholic schools and parishes?
  • What is "Sophia Institute for Teachers"?
  • How is the K- 8 textbook series different than current textbook series used in Catholic Schools?
  • How does the Sophia textbook series help make lesson planning easier for busy teachers?
  • What is the "Family of Faith" parish program?
  • How is the "Family of Faith" program different from CCD programs?
  • What are the benefits of learning about the Faith together as a family?
  • How can the parish community help with family faith formation?

 Resources:

December 22, 2017: Advent Part II - Preparing our Hearts for Christmas 0
Dec 22, 2017

What should we be doing spiritually to prepare for Christmas? Dan Burke and Melissa Elson discuss ways we can prepare our hearts for Christmas during Advent with devotional ideas and resources.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • Why is Advent so important in the liturgical calendar?
  • How does imagery, like icons and manger scenes, help to orient our hearts toward God?
  • How does the Old Testament help us understand Advent?
  • How can we get the longing for Jesus that we want during Advent?
  • Why is Advent considered a penitential season?
  • Daily Mass readings and the Liturgy of the Hours as extra devotionals during Advent.
  • Preparing your heart before Mass.
  • Why is confession so important during Advent?
  • What devotional elements are essential in spiritual preparation for Christmas?

Resources:

Resources Edition: December 19, 2017 - Dr. Kevin Vost - The Catholic Guide to Loneliness 0
Dec 19, 2017

Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson as they address the growing epidemic of loneliness with author Dr. Kevin Vost and interview him on his book The Catholic Guide to Loneliness.

Topics/Questions Covered in the Show:

  • What is loneliness?
  • Is social media causing people to become less connected?
  • What are the three psychological and behavioral components to loneliness?
  • What are some unhealthy manifestations of loneliness?
  • Why do the holidays seem to trigger loneliness?
  • the catholic guide to lonelinessHow does the book help those suffering from loneliness to overcome the effects of loneliness?
  • We are never truly alone. God is always with us.
  • Why did some of the saints seek out solitude?
  • How can we grow closer to Christ through our loneliness?
  • Does the devil use loneliness as an opportunity to bring us into despair?
  • What are the ABC's of lonely thinking?

  Resources:

What is Divine Intimacy Radio?

The Divine Intimacy Radio Show 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.

Twice a week, Dan Burke and Melissa Elson explore topics related to the interior life and Catholic teaching. 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.

December 15. 2017: Q&A - Feelings, Contemplative Prayer, Frustration 0
Dec 15, 2017

Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson as they answer your questions about feelings in prayer, the meaning of contemplative prayer, frustrations in life and having two spiritual directors. 

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • Is it bad to meditate without seeing or feeling anything?
  • What is contemplative prayer?
  • How does God communicate with us?
  • Is God really there when we're frustrated with life?
  • Can someone have more than one spiritual director?

Resources:

Resources Edition: December 12, 2017 - Fr. George Rutler, Hints of Heaven 0
Dec 12, 2017

Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson as they unpack the messages behind the parables of Jesus by speaking with Father George Rutler about his book, Hints of Heaven. 

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • What is a parable and why did Jesus choose to speak through parables?
  • How many parables are there?
  • Why is the book divided into short reflections on each parable?
  • Fr. Rutler tells of his favorite parables and why they have come to be his favorites.

  Resources:

December 8, 2017: The Meaning and Purpose of Advent 0
Dec 8, 2017

Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson as they speak with Dr. Anthony Lilles about the importance of the Advent season to prepare our hearts for the coming of the Savior.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • What is the meaning and purpose of Advent?
  • Why should we fast during Advent?
  • How does the removal of sin from our lives help us prepare for the coming of Christ at Christmas?
  • What are the "three comings" of Christ?
  • How can we counteract the loneliness or sadness that often accompanies the holiday season?
  • How can we avoid the secular influences on Advent and Christmas?

Resources:

Best of Divine Intimacy Radio Resources Edition: December 5, 2017: Connie Rossini - The Contemplative Rosary 0
Dec 5, 2017

Today, Dan Burke and Melissa Elson speak with Connie Rossini about the book she and Dan wrote together titled, The Contemplative Rosary and discuss meditative methods of praying the rosary to keep our focus completely on Jesus. 

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • This book focuses on helping people who have never prayed the rosary, those who have struggled with the rosary, and those who feel the rosary has become dry or repetitive. 
  • Is everyone called to contemplative prayer?
  • Is contemplation something that we can work towards or a gift from God?
  • Why is contemplative prayer necessary for sanctity?
  • What is the definition of contemplation?
  • Are distractions while praying the rosary common?
  • What should we focus on while praying the rosary?
  • Can vocal prayer prepare you for contemplative prayer?
  • How is the contemplative rosary set up?
  • How does the book help us focus on Jesus?
  • What is the "clausular method" of praying the rosary?
  • Must we finish the rosary or should we stop if the Lord calls us to contemplate Him before we have completed our prayers?

  Resources:

December 1, 2017: Q&A - Consolations, Feelings, Peace in Troubled Times 0
Dec 1, 2017

Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson as they answer your questions about spiritual consolations, feelings, expectations in the interior life, and confusion in the Church.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • Does Dan give speaking events outside of the United States?
  • Why should we not desire consolations in prayer?
  • What happens if we go to prayer expecting consolations?
  • What role do feelings play in the spiritual life?
  • God has left us guidance in the interior life through the lives of the saints so that we may know what to expect in order to spiritually mature.
  • What should we do if we are becoming troubled by news about the Pope and confusion in the Church?
  • How can we determine if a spiritual director is a good fit?

Resources:

Best of Divine Intimacy Radio Resources Edition: November 28, 2017 - Dr. Aaron Kheriaty, The Catholic Guide to Depression 0
Nov 28, 2017

Depression is a serious illness that is becoming more and more prevalent in our society. Today, Dan Burke and Melissa Elson speak with Dr. Aaron Kheriaty about his book, The Catholic Guide to Depression, to help us better understand depression and the proper treatments for the illness.

 Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • What is depression?
  • Can depression be treated through spiritual means alone?
  • What is the impact of religious practices on the healing process?
  • Who can benefit from this book?
  • What are some of the causes of depression and misconceptions about depression?
  • How can we distinguish between a "dark night of the soul" as opposed to depression?

Resources:

November 24, 2017: Q&A - Distractions in Prayer, Seeking Perfection, and Prayer Postures 0
Nov 24, 2017

Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson as they answer your questions about distractions in prayer, seeking perfection in the spiritual life and prayer postures.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • How can we keep our minds from wandering during prayer?
  • Can we attribute any of these distractions to God?
  • Should we separate mental prayer from our petitions?
  • Are distractions sinful?
  • What should we do if we always fall asleep during the rosary?
  • Does God expect perfection from us? If He does not, why do we strive to be perfect?
  • Why are different postures in prayer important?

Resources:

Resources Edition: November 21, 2017 - Patrick Madrid, Search and Rescue 0
Nov 21, 2017

Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson as they speak with Patrick Madrid about his book, Search and Rescue, where they explore the best approach to bring your loved ones into, or back into the Catholic Church.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • How can we present the truths of the Faith to our loved ones without seeming offensive or judgmental?
  • Who is this book intended for, those trying to bring their family or friends into or back into the Faith, or those who have strayed from or never known the the Faith?
  • What is the best approach to begin a conversation about the Faith with non-Catholic or non-practicing Catholic family members or friends?
  • How important is living out the Faith when trying to lead others to the Church or back to the Church?
  • How should we properly prepare ourselves for discussing the teachings of the Church?
  • What does the spiritual life have to do with evangelizing others?

  Resources:

November 10, 2017: Q&A - Root Sin and Desolation vs. Depression 0
Nov 17, 2017

Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson as they answer your questions about root sin as well as the difference between spiritual desolation and depression.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • What is the best way to determine our root sin or predominant fault? 
  • Can we have more than one root sin?
  • What is the difference between spiritual desolation or the dark night of the soul, and depression or sadness?
  • Is spiritual desolation the same as aridity?
  • Does the dark night only take place during the transition period between the purgative and illuminative way?
  • Can someone experience desolation during the difficult time when he or she first begins a prayer routine?

Resources:

Resources Edition: November 14, 2017 - Maria Scaperlanda, Edith Stein 0
Nov 14, 2017

Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson as they speak with Maria Scaperlanda about her book, Edith Stein, where they discuss the importance of this 20th century saint and her impact on the Catholic Church.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • What was Edith Stein like as a young girl?
  • Did Edith grow up practicing Judaism?
  • Did Edith have any relationship with God as a child, teenager or young adult?
  • How did Edith become interested in the Catholic Church?
  • What did Edith learn as a student of philosophy and more specifically phenomenology?
  • What role did St. Teresa of Avila play in Edith's conversion to Catholicism?
  • What important events took place after Edith Stein entered Carmel and became a Carmelite sister?
  • How were St. Teresa Benedicta's writings preserved during the Nazi invasion?
  • What happened after she moved to the Netherlands?
  • How was she martyred for the Faith?
  • What is St. Teresa Benedicta's legacy here on earth?

  Resources:

November 10, 2017: Q&A - Mindfulness 0
Nov 10, 2017

Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson as they address the problem with the current trend of practicing mindfulness, from both a spiritual and scientific perspective.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • Is there a Catholic version of mindfulness?
  • Can you find true peace through mindfulness? 
  • How can there be false peace?
  • Who is Jon Kabat-Zinn?
  • How is the modern understanding of mindfulness deceptive?
  • Is there any truth to Buddhism? 
  • If one claims that the practice of mindfulness is helpful, why should he or she avoid it? 

Resources:

Resources Edition: November 7, 2017 - Patrick Madrid, Surprised by Life 0
Nov 7, 2017

Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson as they speak with Patrick Madrid about his book, Surprised by Life, where they explore how life issues brought ten individuals to the Catholic Church.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • Patrick Madrid tells his story about how he came he became a Catholic apologist. 
  • What was the motivation for this book and the other books in the "Surprised by" series?
  • How does contraception affect marriage and the family?
  • What are some examples of the conversions that took place as described in the book?
  • How does God make Himself known to those who have experienced abortion?

  Resources:

November 3, 2017: Q&A - Despair, Discernment & Distractions 0
Nov 3, 2017

Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson as they answer your questions about despair, discernment and distractions in prayer.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • How do we discern or recognize if we're under spiritual attack? 
  • How should one discern his or her vocation?
  • How does mental prayer affect our ability to discern properly?
  • How can we properly discern the truth from lies in our thoughts?
  • How can I keep my thoughts from wandering during prayer?

Resources:

Resources Edition: October 31, 2017 - Mike Aquilina, The Apostles and Their Times 0
Oct 31, 2017

Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson as they speak with Mike Aquilina about his book, The Apostles and Their Times to help Catholics better understand the roots of the Catholic Church and what early Christianity was really like.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • How can this book help us discover the truth about the apostles and apostolic fathers?
  • What is the difference between an apostle and an apostolic father?
  • What impact do the writings of the apostolic fathers have on the Catholic Church?
  • How accepting were the Jewish and Roman people to the Gospel message? What was the spiritual climate like during the time of the apostles?
  • Is the persecution Christians are encountering today in the Holy Land similar to that of the times of the apostles?
  • What are the most common misconceptions about the early Church?
  • What role does archeology play in helping us understand more about the apostles and the early Church?
  • What should the reader come away with after reading this book?

  Resources:

October 27, 2017: Q&A - Consistency in Prayer, Intercessions, and Desolation 0
Oct 27, 2017

Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson as they answer your questions about prayer commitments, incorporating intercessions into our prayer time, repetitious prayer, spiritual desolation and internet addiction.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • If we struggle with establishing a morning prayer routine, what can we do to be more successful?
  • We must condition our bodies to wake and sleep at the same time each day.
  • We need clarity, community, and accountability to be more successful with prayer commitments. 
  • How should we handle failure?
  • Is it normal for prayer to feel very repetitious?
  • Should we separate mental prayer time from prayer for petitions?
  • How can we pray most effectively for others?
  • What can we do if we feel alone or separated from God?
  • How can we overcome a Facebook or internet addiction which leads us to delay our prayers or skip them all together?
  • What is the Freedom app and how can it help get an internet addiction under control?

Resources:

 

Best of Divine Intimacy Radio Resources Edition: October 24, 2017 - Fr. Hugh Vincent Dyer, O.P., Vision of Fatima 0
Oct 24, 2017

Today, Dan Burke and Melissa Elson speak with Fr. Hugh Vincent Dyer about Vision of Fatima, the journey of a Dominican priest who sculpted the image of Our Lady of Fatima with the guidance of Lucia, the oldest of the three shepherd children who saw the apparition of the Blessed Mother.

 Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • Who is  Fr. Thomas McGlynn and why is his book being reprinted now?
  • What makes this book about Fatima different from others devoted to the same subject matter?
  • Is the statue accurate according to Lucia?
  • What inspired Fr. McGlynn to sculpt Our Lady of Fatima as opposed to a different vision of the Blessed Mother?
  • What themes can the reader take away from the message of Our Lady?
  • What did Fr. McGlynn take away from this experience?
  • How should we pray the rosary and why?
  • Who is Irma Dores and why did she want people to know about the spiritual meaning of things?

Resources:

October 20, 2017: Q&A - Prayer Methods, Obedience, and Spiritual Consolations 0
Oct 20, 2017

Today, Dan and Melissa answer your questions about prayer methods, obedience to Church teaching, and spiritual consolations.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • When time is limited, what is the best way to pray when we are given so many options in the Church such as the Liturgy of the Hours, the rosary, lectio divina, mental prayer and the Jesus prayer from the Eastern Rite?  
  • Is obedience practiced as an act of love necessary for eternal intimacy with God?
  • John 14:21 - "Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him."
  • Should the interior heart reflect and be in line with exterior fruits?
  • Romans 7:19 - "For I do not do the good I want, but I do the evil I do not want."
  • Romans 8:6 - "The concern of the flesh is death, but the concern of the spirit is life and peace."
  • Why should we not seek consolations in prayer?

Resources:

Resources Edition: Dr. Christopher Blum, A Mind at Peace 0
Oct 17, 2017

Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson as they offer solutions to our culture's technologically obsessed world by speaking with author, Dr. Christopher Blum about his book, A Mind at Peace: Reclaiming an Ordered Soul in the Age of Distraction.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • What was the inspiration/motivation for the book?
  • How does technology increase anxiety? How does it detract from the spiritual life?
  • Why is the book set up in three sections?
  • What is the best way for readers to use this book? 
  • How can we take custody of our hearts and minds according to the Church?
  • Is A Mind at Peace a work of philosophy, theology, psychology, spirituality or all of these fields combined?
  • How would you characterize the peace that one can attain from the book?
  • What does it mean to be in the world but not of the world?
  • Which spiritual writers influenced the book most heavily?
  • Does the book offer a technique in achieving interior peace?
  • Could one use an app or other device to help determine how much social media time is enough in the course of the day? 

  Resources:

October 13, 2017: Q&A - The Scapular, Salvation, and Aridity in Prayer 0
Oct 13, 2017

Today, Dan and Melissa answer your questions about the scapular, the difference between Protestant and Catholic views of salvation, and spiritual darkness.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • How can one go about supporting Divine Intimacy Radio and the Avila Institute?
  • Why do some people wear the scapular visibly? Shouldn't the scapular be warn under clothing?
  • How is the concept of "assurance of salvation" in Protestant doctrine viewed in Catholicism?
  • Is there a difference between darkness and aridity in prayer or are they merely different descriptions of the same experience?

Resources:

 

Resources Edition: October 10, 2017 - Fr. Michael Kerper, A Priest Answers 27 Questions, Part 2 0
Oct 10, 2017

Have you ever wondered if ghosts exist or if damnation is real? Today, Dan Burke and Melissa Elson get the answers to these questions and more when they speak with Fr. Michael Kerper about his book, A Priest Answers 27 Questions You Never Thought to Ask.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • Why do godparents of a Catholic child need to be Catholic?
  • What is the real role of a godparent?
  • Is damnation real?
  • Do ghosts exist?
  • Does St. Thomas Aquinas ever discuss ghosts in the Summa Theologica?
  • What is the difference between and angel and a ghost?
  • Do we each have a guardian angel?

  Resources:

October 6, 2017: Question and Answer - Mortification 0
Oct 6, 2017

Today Dan and Melissa talk about mortification and how we can love God more fully by denying ourselves of earthly things.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • What does St. Teresa of Avila mean when she says, "Prayer and a comfortable life do not go together"?
  • What does it mean to take up our cross in the midst of all of the comfort we experience?
  • We are called to embrace the cross, which is the ultimate act of self-giving.
  • What is mortification?
  • Once we are detached from earthly things, we are free to love God in a more pure way.
  • When we are not mortifying ourselves, our appetites begin to rule us.   
  • Why are little, daily, physical mortifications helpful in the spiritual life?
  • What is a "rule of life" and how does this help incorporate mortification into our lives?

Resources:

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