The Insights of St. John of the Cross

This was the theme of a weekend retreat recently conducted by Fr Greg Homeming at Mt Carmel Retreat Centre, Varroville. In these talks Fr Greg reflects on St John of the Cross' profound insights into the human person and the soul. The talks have been divided into approximately 30 minute segments.

Talk 1a Talk 1b Talk 2a Talk 2b Talk 3a Talk 3b Talk 4a Talk 4b

From Discalced Carmelites via reader James

Audio Retreats

Here are three online retreats from Catholics On Call:

Catholics On Call invites you to participate in the online retreats written by Robin Ryan, CP. Along with the talks found below, scripture readings and reflection questions for each weekday will be recommended. We invite you to set aside twenty to thirty minutes per day to pray with these readings and questions. Most importantly, take time to converse with the living Jesus. Talk to him about everything that is happening in your life and be sure to leave some quiet time to listen to Christ.

These retreats are self-directed. Although not required, we recommend you start with the first week’s talk on a Monday and reflect on the suggested scripture passages and questions for each day of the week. Follow this format for the remaining weeks.

It is our hope that these online retreats will help you to deepen your connection with Christ.

Called and Sent

Called and Sent is the five-part online retreat for the Summer of 2008. Each of the five sections will include a reflection on a Scripture passage and some recommendations for personal prayer and reflection. We will look at five biblical stories of call in order to examine various dimensions of vocation. This retreat is offered to everyone who wishes to enter into the mystery of their own vocation in life a little more deeply. Those who are considering a call to lay ministry, religious life, or priesthood may find it particularly pertinent to their questions and concerns. The retreat can be made over a period of five days or, if one’s schedule does not permit that, over a longer time span.

Podcasts of the invidual days are available. Simply click on the individual days and continue to the podcast link.

Called and Sent, Day One
Called and Sent, Day Two
Called and Sent, Day Three
Called and Sent, Day Four
Called and Sent, Day Five

The Lord's Prayer: A Spirituality of Discipleship

The prayer that Jesus taught his disciples is more than simply a prayer. It embodies a spirituality for those who wish to follow the Lord. Through the centuries famous Christian theologians and spiritual writers have commented on the Lord’s Prayer and used it as a framework for articulating Christian spirituality. In these four weeks of retreat, we will reflect upon various dimensions of this prayer as we seek to deepen our relationship with Christ.

First week: "Our Father Who are in Heaven, Hallowed Be Your Name"
Second week: "Your Kingdom Come, Your Will be Done"
Third week: "Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread"
Fourth week: "Forgive Us Our Trespasses, As We Forgive Those Who Tresspass Against Us"

Gazing on the Face of Christ

First posted in July 2006, this retreat is designed to help you focus on your understanding of the person of Jesus and your relationship with him. This is a “back to basics” theme that takes us right to the heart of our Catholic Christian faith. It is also a very rich theme with great potential to move us into prayerful dialogue with the Lord.

The word “gazing” is used to connote an attitude, a stance, of contemplation. Some years ago, Fr. William McNamara, a Discalced Carmelite author, described “contemplation” in this way: contemplation is “a long, loving look at the Real.” During these next four weeks, you are invited to take a long, loving look at the reality of Christ. In faith, we know this Jesus to be “real” with a capital “R”.

Click on the link for each week’s talk and reflection questions:

First Week—Christ Crucified: Compassion Poured Out
Second Week—Building Friendship with Christ
Third Week—Christ the Bread of Life
Fourth Week—Christ the Good Samaritan

After an Advent of Its Own...

These talks have been a long time coming. A reader wrote me some time ago and asked if I would host some MP3s. I told her that I didn't host things (I only link) but I would be happy to link if/when she could find a host site. Well...she did. Here are the fruits of her labor, hosted by ProEcclesia.

Recordings of four Retreats by the English Jesuit Fr. Bernard Basset S.J. These next four collections were donated by Janet Selby of Newark, Ohio. They download as separate .mp3 tracks relating to the cassettes on which they were recorded.
Fr.Basset S.J.	A Parliament of Saints: 1A Without which you will not see The Lord - Hebrews 12 1B If the Prophet had commanded you - 2 Kings 5 2A Light from light - the Nicene Creed 2B Go down to the potter's house - Jeremiah 18 3A Look, there is the lamb of God - John 1 3B I will obey your statutes - Psalm 119 4A A stranger in your own house - Utopia, Thomas More 4B We have become a spectacle - 1 Corinthians 4	ps1A.mp3 ps1B.mp3 ps2A.mp3 ps2B.mp3 ps3A.mp3 ps3B.mp3 ps4A.mp3 ps4B.mp3
Fr.Basset S.J.	A Week-end with Cardinal Newman: 1A Welcome to our Retreat 1B One step enough for me 2A Can you speak the language? 2B Garbage in - garbage out 3A See but One in All Things 3B Keeping up with the Joneses 4A Conscience makes cowards of us all 4B The long search 5A Most sure in all His ways 5B The humiliation of the Eternal Son 6A Next witness please 6B Put away the things of a child 7A Growth the only evidence of life 7B Show me the way to go home	cn1A.mp3 cn1B.mp3 cn2A.mp3 cn2B.mp3 cn3A.mp3 cn3B.mp3 cn4A.mp3 cn4B.mp3 cn5A.mp3 cn5B.mp3 cn6A.mp3 cn6B.mp3 cn7A.mp3 cn7B.mp3
Fr.Basset S.J.	A Week-end with St. Sir Thomas More: 1A How to make the Thomas More Retreat - new school of thought 1B All the world's a stage 2A He was his own master 2B A stranger in his own house 3A Wonder is the basis of worship 3B Here I sit 4A The King's good servant - but God's first (part 1) 4B The King's good servant - but God's first (part 2).	tm1A.mp3 tm1B.mp3 tm2A.mp3 tm2B.mp3 tm3A.mp3 tm3B.mp3 tm4A.mp3 tm4B.mp3
Fr.Basset S.J.	From the bicentennial to the tricentennial - Beginnings of the Faith in the New World : 1A An Englishman reflects on the American bicentennial 1B Collapse of Catholicism in England - Faith of St Thomas 2A From London to Chesapeake Bay 2B Why an indian Emporer changed his name to Charlie 3A Priests on horseback - to Mass by rowing boat 3B Two bishops in the same boat (ecumenism) 4A Mother Seton - the first American saint 4B A boy called John Carroll	nw1A.mp3 nw1B.mp3 nw2A.mp3 nw2B.mp3 nw3A.mp3 nw3B.mp3 nw4A.mp3 nw4B.mp3

Calling All Dads

There's a blog out there you're all probably at least passingly familiar with - Catholic Dads - which exists to help Catholic dads serve each other, fighting shoulder to shoulder in the battle to protect our families. If you're a Catholic dad (or mom or son or daughter), do give their site a browse.

In any case, they made a post right up my alley. Here it is in its entirety:

Spiritual Fatherhood: The Solution to the Modern Crisis

Just a quick post to point everyone to this this most invigorating Sermon about Spiritual Fatherhood.

This is a MUST listen for ALL Dads and young men called to the vocation of Married life.

Click here to download the MP3

Did you Download and listen to it yet?

NO!?!?

GET TO IT!