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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
Jul 7, 2017

Today, in part two of a special two-part interview Dan speaks with Fr. Jacques Philippe about establishing a successful prayer life and entering into contemplation. 

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • What are a few of the most common pitfalls or difficulties that lay people experience in prayer and how can they be avoided?
  • Poverty and humility in prayer is most affective in building a strong prayer life.
  • A successful prayer life takes time, commitment and determination.
  • If my life is very busy, how much time should I devote to prayer daily?
  • Should we allow ourselves be discouraged if we fail in our attempt to establish a prayer routine?
  • If we feel that God is trying to speak through our religious studies, how should we respond?

Resources:

Jul 6, 2017

Description: Dan and Melissa speak with Fr. Thomas Dailey about his book, Live Today Well: St. Francis de Sales's Simple Approach to Holiness

Questions/Topics discussed on the show:

  • Who is St. Francis de Sales and what is appealing about his spirituality?
  • How does St. Francis make holiness available to everyone regardless of vocation?
  • What is St. Francis' approach to prayer and does he advocate mental prayer?
  • What times during the day should we pray and what should these prayers look like?
  • How does St. Francis suggest that we begin every day?
  • How can we orient our minds to God during our meals?
  • What is "direction of intention" and why is it the key to holiness?

 Resources:

Jun 30, 2017

Today, in part one of a special two-part interview Dan speaks with Fr. Jacques Philippe about prayer, the theological virtues and spiritual aridity. 

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • What is the most powerful prayer?
  • How should the virtues of faith, hope and love be incorporated into my prayer life?
  • How does reading Scripture passages help us grow in faith?
  • How can we build faith, hope and love through the events of daily life?
  • if we are dry in prayer and can't meditate, should we abandon vocal and meditative prayer until the dryness passes, or is it best to maintain our original prayer routine?
  • What are the causes of spiritual dryness?

Resources:

Jun 27, 2017

Every soul needs to be nourished continually in the spiritual life. Today, Dan and Melissa discuss the benefits of taking courses from the Avila Institute and how this experience can lead to incredible spiritual growth!

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • What type of courses are offered through the Avila Institute?
  • How rigorous are the courses?
  • How much time is required to take these classes?
  • Are there different types of programs designed for beginners or those more advanced in spirituality?
  • Can spiritual friendships develop with other students?
  • How do these courses affect your spiritual life?
  • What experiences can students expect to take away from their time at the Avila Institute?
  • How/Where do you register?

Resources:

Jun 23, 2017

Today Dan and Melissa answer your questions about emotions in prayer and helping loved ones come to Christ.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • Do the rules of St. Ignatius of Loyola's discernment of spirits have anything to do with emotion in terms of consolation and desolation?
  • How can I get the feeling that I am actually praying when I have to read prayers due to lack of memorization? 
  • How can I encourage my spouse to find peace through Christ without seeming critical? 

Resources:

Jun 20, 2017

Why should we deepen our prayer life? Dan and Melissa speak with Dr. Anthony Lilles about his book, Fire from Above: Christian Contemplation and Mystical Wisdom to explain the importance behind contemplative prayer and the reasons to make it part of one's daily prayer life.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • What was the motivation behind writing the book?
  • What significance is behind making the sign of the cross? 
  • Is there meaning behind touching the head, upper abdomen and shoulders when making the sign of the cross?
  • Who is St. Elizabeth of the Trinity and why is she significant?
  • Is contemplative prayer only reserved for priests and religious?
  • What is the importance of entering into a deeper prayer life?

Resources:

Jun 16, 2017

Today Dan and Melissa answer your questions about sharing spiritual experiences and focusing the mind in prayer.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • Why do we share our spiritual experiences on the air? 
  • Why did St. Teresa of Avila mask her personal experiences and make it seem as though they were happening to someone else?
  • Why do some well-meaning Christians imply that we think too much during prayer?
  • Should we "empty our minds" in prayer?
  • How do we avoid distractions in prayer?
  • What should be our focus during prayer?

Resources:

Jun 13, 2017

Questions about the Faith can be difficult to answer sometimes. In his book, A Priest Answers 27 Questions You Never Thought to Ask, Fr. Michael Kerper explains how to approach answering questions about the Faith as well as tackles some interesting questions from Dan and Melissa. 

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • What is the best way to answer a question about the Faith?
  • How does our language or vocabulary play a role in answering questions about the Faith?
  • What are your top resources for answering questions about Catholicism?
  • What is the strangest question you've ever been asked?
  • Will our pets go to heaven?
  • Did Jesus actually give us the Lord's Prayer?
  • How does the living Faith of an ordinary, orthodox Catholic impact others?

Resources:

Jun 9, 2017

When faced with difficulty choosing her vocation, Celine leans on the wisdom of her sister, St. Therese, to help discern God's will in her life. Today, Dan, Melissa and Dr. Anthony Lilles discuss how God works with our humanity to bring about holiness.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • What does this letter tell us about St. Therese?
  • Is St. Therese suggesting that once Celine conforms her will to God's, He will then conduct Himself differently?
  • What does St. Therese mean by having something "too human in our affection"?
  • When speaking of her relationship with her sister, what does St. Therese mean when she says,"the foundation of the affection is too pure for Him to break"?
  • Would it be wrong to seek a relationship with God for the purpose of self-fulfillment? Would that be considered selfish?

Resources:

Jun 6, 2017

When faced with tragedy, loss, failure, illness, or any difficulty in life, how can we learn to suffer well? Author, Dr. Ronda Chervin, uses the lives of the saints to help us cope with suffering in her book, Avoiding Bitterness in Suffering: How Our Heros in Faith Found Peace Amid Sorrow.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • What was the motivation for this book?
  • How did the saints handle suffering?
  • Which saint helped the most through the suffering associated with the tragic loss of a loved one?
  • How did St. Therese of Lisieux cope with suffering associated with doubt and attacks from the evil one?
  • Who is St. Marie of the Incarnation and why is she influential in coping with suffering?
  • St. Teresa of Calcutta said that suffering is like a kiss from Jesus on the cross.

Resources:

Jun 2, 2017

Today, Dan and Melissa answer your questions about the saints, confession and hearing God's voice.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • Why do some images of the saints include skulls?
  • How does God speak to us
  • Should we expect Him to speak to us whether audibly or through life events?
  • Why do we need to confess our sings to a priest?

Resources:

May 30, 2017

What is the best way to approach dating through a Catholic perspective? Dan and Melissa speak with author, Father Thomas Morrow about his book, Christian Dating in a Godless World to gain insight.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • Why should we listen to a priest give dating advice?
  • What is the difference between dating and courtship?
  • Is it acceptable to date just for fun?
  • What is "friendship dating"?
  • Is there such a thing as a single vocation or is the single state a transitional one?
  • How much effort does one need to put forth to find a spouse?
  • Is it a good idea to use a Catholic internet dating service to meet people?
  • What are some resources for parishes to help minister to singles looking to get married?
  • Why is chastity before marriage important?

Resources:

May 26, 2017

Today, Dan and Melissa reflect on God's intense, personal love for each individual soul and answer the question, how do we avoid distractions in prayer?

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • Reflections on the pure, unconditional, personal love with which the Creator formed each, unique human being.
  • A life filled with earthly wealth may lead to comfort, but a humble life oriented to God will lead to peace and eternal joy.
  • What prayerful solution can you offer for a person who gets distracted in prayer easily?
  • Jesus suggests that we go into a small, remote space to pray. (Matthew 6:6)
  • Establishing a consistent prayer time each day programs our bodies and minds to be still during this time.
  • Practicing lectio divina helps lessen distractions. 
  • Do not simply sit in silence if you are at a beginning stage in prayer.

Resources:

May 23, 2017

How can we make the home a place of peace and prayer? Today, Dan and Melissa discuss the book, The Little Oratory: A Beginner's Guide to Praying in the Home with author, Leila Lawler, to help families orient their lives to Christ.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • What is an oratory?
  • How should one go about setting up his or her prayer space?
  • Is a prayer corner or space expensive?
  • What does it mean to develop a regular, daily prayer life and how can the oratory help?
  • Why is the Liturgy of the Hours important?
  • How should our lives reflect the liturgical year?
  • What does the liturgy have to do with family prayer life?

Resources:

May 19, 2017

Why should we have confidence in God? Dan, Melissa and Dr. Anthony Lilles explore the unmatched confidence that St. Therese has for her beloved and how this confidence in God can change everyday life.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • Therese has absolute confidence in Jesus and offers her life to Him in loving, trustful surrender.
  • How can we come to understand that God is arranging the events of our life of exile, especially when the events are painful?
  • When we choose to see the events of our lives through faith, Jesus is with us, standing beside us through the difficulties.
  • Why should our confidence in God mirror that of a child in the womb?
  • God's love for us is exponentially greater than that of a mother's love for her child.
  • Our Beloved has set a path for us that we must follow to find Him. We know that God has given us all that we need to reach Him.
  • In order to come to the confidence that Therese has in God, we must never make major decisions out of fear.
  • We must frequent the sacraments.
  • We must make time each day for conversation with God.

Resources:

May 16, 2017

When tragedy, loss or failed expectations strike, how can we cope with our circumstances in a healthy, faithful way? Today, Dan and Melissa speak with author, Jeannie Ewing about her book, From Grief to Grace: The Journey from Tragedy to Triumph to better understand God's Will in difficult situations.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • What was the inspiration behind this book?
  • How would you define grief from a Catholic perspective as opposed to how the world views grief?
  • What is the difference between depression and grief?
  • How can one embrace the spiritual reality of grief and suffering?
  • How do we find the path to life in the midst of suffering?
  • How can we most effectively help our loved ones when they are suffering?
  • How can this book help someone experiencing grief in the beginning stages of his or her spiritual journey find deeper meaning through the hardship?

Resources:

 

May 12, 2017

How can we find joy in God will for us? Dan, Melissa and Dr. Anthony Lilles discuss the wisdom of St. Therese of Lisieux on the role of Our Lady in the spiritual life and the importance of humility.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • Why would anyone look outside of the Church for spiritual sustenance?
  • Why is St. Therese of Lisieux so important in our time? Why should anyone read her writings?
  • Why is St. Therese so popular and so loved among the faithful?
  • What difficulties is Celine experiencing at this time?
  • Why does Therese feel that she is more blessed than the Blessed Mother?
  • God works through all situations and circumstances to bring us to Himself.
  • Why does St. Therese mention the story of Zaccheus?

Resources:

May 9, 2017

How can we properly discern God's will in our lives? To find the answer, Dan and Melissa search heaven and earth with author, Julie Onderko about her book, Discover Your Next Mission from God: Saints who found God's will - and how you can too

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • How can I know God's will in my life?
  • God uses ordinary means to speak to us in our lives.
  • Will the absence of the sacraments and an established prayer life obscure one's vision to finding God's will in his or her life?
  • How does a spiritual director help discern God's will?
  • What happens if you feel like you missed your calling in life?
  • Who is Blessed Bartolo Longo and why is his story important?
  • What role does humility play in discerning God's will?
  • Can our past hinder our response to God's call?
  • How important are the roles of Mary and St. Joseph in discerning God's will for us?

 Resources:

May 5, 2017

How should we treat those souls who have fallen away from the Faith? Dan, Melissa and Dr. Anthony Lilles discuss the wisdom of St. Therese of Lisieux on the power of intercessory prayer and the mercy of our Lord.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • St. Therese urges her sister to pray for a man who has left the Church in a scandalous way.
  • Who is this person and why is St. Therese so concerned about him?
  • St. Therese understands that each and every soul has been created to enter into a loving relationship with God and approaches the situation with this understanding of God's love.
  • How should we treat similar people who we may encounter in our daily lives?
  • What is the power of prayer, fasting and sacrifice?
  • If we pray, fast and sacrifice for a soul who is apart from God, should we expect to see results soon after?
  • How can we help souls who have chosen to be separated from God return to Him?
  • How does St. Therese show her maternal instincts toward this man?

Resources:

 

May 2, 2017

How does anger play a role in your life and more importantly in your salvation? Dan Burke and Melissa Elson speak with Fr. Thomas Morrow about his book, "Overcoming Sinful Anger: How to Master Your Emotions and Bring Peace to Your Life".

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • What constitutes sinful anger? Is there righteous anger?
  • If someone believes anger is simply a part of his or her personality, will they ever be able to overcome angry behavior?
  • What strategies can we use to overcome sinful anger?
  • Can anger come from past events in life? If so, how long does it take to overcome these feelings?
  • How does anger affect one's marriage or children?
  • Can anger issues affect one's eternal salvation?

 Resources:

 

Apr 28, 2017

St. Therese says, "Life is mysterious!...It is a desert and an exile..." Today, Dan, Melissa and Dr. Anthony Lilles discuss how this life can feel like a desert at times and how God gives us the strength to persevere through difficulty. 

 Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • St. Therese has a self-giving way of loving God. She desires no consolations or perceptible love in return, only "a love felt by Jesus".
  • Is it wrong to desire an experiential love?
  • God will manifest Himself to anyone sincerely seeking Him with faith, but He will do so in His own way.
  • How can we keep from becoming discouraged by St. Therese's seemingly unattainable holiness?
  • How can we cross the desert of this life to come to know the glory of the next?
  • St. Therese believes that she is profoundly and uniquely loved by God and that each and every person is profoundly and uniquely loved by God.
  • What is the "day of distances"?
  • Progress on the path of spiritual maturity is made by averting our attention from the trials we are experiencing and instead focusing on what pleases God.

Resources:

 

Apr 25, 2017

Being single and Catholic isn't always easy in today's world. Dan and Melissa address this problem as they speak with Judy Keane about her book Single and Catholic: Finding Meaning in Your State of Life.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • Is this book about dating and courtship?
  • In what ways can one make the most of his or her time as a single person?
  • What are some of the myths and misunderstandings of being single?
  • How can a single person who feels called to marriage best live his or her faith and find that potential spouse?
  • How important is establishing a prayer life and relationship with Christ when we seek relationships with others?
  • What can a faithful, prayerful, introverted person do to meet other faithful Catholics?
  • If one feels called to marriage but is advanced in years, what should he or she do to fulfill God's will?

 Resources:

Apr 21, 2017

What happens to a holy soul during the "dark night"? Today, Dan, Melissa and Dr. Anthony Lilles explore the meaning of the "dark night of the soul" and the way that St. Therese of Lisieux perseveres through this difficult time in her spiritual journey.

 Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • How is St. Therese's description of "the dark night of the soul" similar to that of St. John of the Cross?
  • What are the stages of the spiritual life? What stage is St. Therese experiencing?
  • We must pass through this "dark night" in order to progress from one stage to the next. 
  • St. Therese has complete trust in God even though she cannot sense His presence in her life at this point.
  • Many lose faith or become discouraged during this stage, but St. Therese is committed to her Lord. She never loses trust in Him.
  • How can we have peace while in this transition stage?
  • How can we make progress spiritually while in this transition stage?

Resources:

Apr 18, 2017

What happened to traditional hymns during Mass and why are they so important? Dan and Melissa speak with Fr. George Rutler about his book, The Stories of Hymns: The History Behind 100 of Christianity's Greatest Hymns to find out.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • What is the meaning and significance of the hymn, "O Come, O Come Emmanuel"?
  • What is the difference between a hymn and other types of songs?
  • Are translations of the lyrics important?
  • How does hymnody add more beauty to the liturgy?
  • What are some common "mistakes" made in modern times with regard to music in the liturgy?

 Resources:

Apr 14, 2017

Dan and Melissa strongly recommend watching The Passion of the Christ on Good Friday evening to more effectively meditate on the brutal reality that Our Lord entered into to redeem the world. 

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

  • Having a visually realistic portrayal of the event of our Lord’s Passion and death to meditate upon.
  • Mary’s role in the Passion and the emotional suffering she endured.
  • Scenes of the everyday life of the Holy Family.
  • The meditations of those acting in the movie during the scene.
  • Suggestions on how to watch the movie.

Resources:

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