How much of spiritual direction should focus on prayer versus sin and virtue?
Q: Dear Father John, How much of a discussion in spiritual direction should focus on moral issues, such as habitual sin and possibly that of grave matter which may not necessarily be mortal sin? So...
View ArticleWhat virtues can I practice to overcome the root sin of sensuality?
Q: Dear Father John, Thank you for the post on root sin. It has definitely helped me. My question is, charity and humility seem to be the virtues to practice if the root sin is pride or vanity. But...
View ArticleRoot sin classifications… Which one is right?
Q: Dear Father John, This is really interesting guidance. In the catechism, we learn that root sins are seven and they are, 1) pride, 2) covetousness, 3) lust, 4) anger, 5) gluttony, 6) envy and 7)...
View ArticleMeditation, a matter of life and death…
“Meditation is the basis for acquiring all the virtues, and to undertake it is a matter of life and death for all Christians.” St. Teresa of Avila The Way of Perfection Chapter 16 About Dan BurkeDan is...
View ArticleIsn’t it enough that I am just a good person?
Q: Isn’t it enough that I am a good person? What does it matter if I don’t believe the doctrines of the Church? About Dan BurkeDan is the founder of Roman Catholic Spiritual Direction and author of the...
View ArticleHow does a person learn to love God? – Part I of II
Q: Dear Father John, If contemplative prayer is seeking Him whom my soul loves, what does one do to learn how to love God? I see this as a huge gap in the development of Catholic life and Catholic...
View ArticleHow does a person learn to love God? – Part II of II
Q: Dear Father John, If contemplative prayer is seeking Him whom my soul loves, what does one do to learn how to love God? I see this as a huge gap in the development of Catholic life and Catholic...
View ArticleClik here to view.
As a married woman, how can I progress to greater holiness?
Q: Dear Father John, I have recently returned to St. Theresa of Avila’s autobiography, having only gotten through a third of it last year. It is easier to read now. I have an idea of where I am...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Purity: The Energy of Life!
I ran into my friend, Jan, who has pancreatic cancer. Jan is a joy to be around for she exudes love of God and joy in living. She is very candid about her experiences. She shared about chemotherapy:...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Is Self-Sacrifice or Self-Deprecation a Virtue?
We definitely live in an age of self, of self esteem even self worship. There is Me Magazine and Self Magazine. When we speak of self-sacrifice and even of self-deprecation, or putting self down, are...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Prudence: A Practical Virtue?
In our series on virtues, so far, we have explored the virtues of humility, purity and sacrifice and how they help us become instruments of redemption for others, or spiritually life-giving to them....
View ArticleClik here to view.
Can Over Eating Lead to Virtue?
Before I became a theologian and a spiritual director, I received a degree in nutrition and worked as a dietitian in the hospital. My job was to help people formulate structured plans to modify what...
View ArticleClik here to view.
How Do We Have the Energy for Holiness?
Have you ever watched a child learn to ride a bike? They start, fall, get back up, sail for awhile and then pile up in the bushes! Day after day the process continues until they learn balance and even...
View ArticleClik here to view.
What Mr. Rogers Shows Us About Holiness
We often fail to appreciate the power of small, loving gestures towards people, of taking the time to acknowledge them as good. Right under our noses, we get too busy to savor the goodness of God in...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Irresistibly Drawn by Faith
We can begin a discussion on the three theological virtues of faith, hope and love from a more intellectual point of view, to define each in order to understand each. Such an endeavor would rob these...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Ultimate Christmas Gift: The Gift of Hope!
Hope is the confident expectation of divine blessing and the beatific vision of God; it is also the fear of offending God’s love and incurring punishment (Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph...
View ArticleMeditation, a matter of life and death…
“Meditation is the basis for acquiring all the virtues, and to undertake it is a matter of life and death for all Christians.” St. Teresa of Avila The Way of Perfection Chapter 16 About Dan BurkeDan is...
View ArticleIsn’t it enough that I am just a good person?
Q: Isn’t it enough that I am a good person? What does it matter if I don’t believe the doctrines of the Church? About Dan BurkeDan is the founder of Roman Catholic Spiritual Direction and author of the...
View ArticleHow does a person learn to love God? – Part I of II
Q: Dear Father John, If contemplative prayer is seeking Him whom my soul loves, what does one do to learn how to love God? I see this as a huge gap in the development of Catholic life and Catholic...
View ArticleClik here to view.
And, the Greatest of These is Love!
Sit back and read this post like you would stand at the foot of the waves and take in the ocean. Imagine that you are entering a mystical garden. Why? We are speaking about the theological virtue of...
View Article
