Ave Maria!

Fr. Ben Luedtke gives the twenty-second of twenty-five conferences for his Eight Day Ignatian Retreat. The subjects he covers are: Grades of Prayer, reality received by the five senses, will and intellect, help from God. How a retreat helps reduce static of world to be able to sense God, see God in a spiritual quiet, nothingness, vocal prayer, Intermediate, Meditation, contemplation, St. Francis, night of the senses, Dark night of the soul, Spiritual Espousal, Transforming union. This is the goal and is accessible to everyone even if only a few actually attain it in this life

About the retreat:   The retreat was conducted by Fr. Ben Luedtke who has condensed St. Ignatius’ classic thirty day spiritual exercises into an eight day retreat that makes this life changing spiritual experience more accessible to the average person. It consists of twenty-five conferences (recorded in this video series), which are used by those on retreat along with further reflections given to them as handouts to base their hour long meditations which they make after each conference. The typical day consists of three of these conferences, one in the morning, afternoon and evening. Fr. Ben also gave them private spiritual direction and Mass each day. The retreat took place at the Mother of the Redeemer Retreat Center in Bloomington, IN from Oct 9-17th, 2016. Father usually gives these retreats at this retreat center in the spring and fall of each year. See his website for other times and places or to arrange one near you.

Links:

Full Series of conferences on AirMaria: http://dev.airmaria.com/category/air-maria-shows/conferences/8-day-ignatian-retreat/

Fr. Ben Luedtke’s web site: http://www.godblessya.com/

Mother of the Redeemer Retreat Center: http://www.maryschildren.com/

Audio (MP3)

The post Video – Fr. Luedtke – 8 Day Retreat – 22/25 – Grades of Prayer – CONF 354 first appeared on AirMaria.com.

On the anniversary of the dies natalis of St. “Mother” Teresa of Calcutta (Virgin, Foundress of the Missionaries of Charity (MC), Sept. 5), Fr. Alan comments in the homily on her call from Christ to “be my light,” to which she faithfully responded and persevered through half a lifetime of interior darkness. In a world immersed in spiritual darkness, Mother Teresa’s life of service to the Gospel is a shining example for us of trust and fidelity in Christ, and the principle that all members of the Church militant are called to be “missionaries of charity” in order to be “the light of the world” (Mt 5:14).

Ave Maria!

Mass: Memorial of St. Teresa of Calcutta (Kolkata)

Readings: 
1st: 1 Cor 3:1-9
Resp: Ps 33:12-13, 14-15, 20-21
Gsp: Lk 4:38-44

More on the Readings: http://dev.airmaria.com/r?m=932

On the Marian dimension of Mother Teresa’s spirituality, see: Mother Teresa: In the Shadow of Our Lady, by Joseph Langford, MC (https://www.osv.com/Shop/Product?ProductCode=T1810)

Image credit, Mother Teresa: https://holymassimages.blogspot.com/2014/09/blessed-teresa-of-calcutta-mother-teresa.html

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The post Be Christ’s Light in Darkness, Mother Teresa’s Example – Sep 05 – Homily – Fr Alan first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN on Mar 09 on how Jesus has called all of us sinners to conversion, in fact, three conversion each involving some consolation and crisis which constitute a Metanoia, a full conversion of the heart.

1 Conversion of Beginner – Usually due to some crisis a soul changes from a life of sin to one of grace, from world to God, becomes a spiritual beginner, with start of a fear of God and God gives consolation and draws the soul closer to Him.

Then, to bring souls closer to Him, God eventually brings a new crisis called Night of the senses.  He takes the consolation from the soul, prolonged and great periods of aridity in the senses both spiritual and worldly. Cannot contemplate God mentally, but can only do simple regard of God. This leads to

2 Conversion of Proficient – See the goodness of God in what he does and that He is in charge, Gift of understanding. Wins over the soul’s intelligence, simplifying and increasing love of God, increasing of virtues and perfection, with higher contemplation and apostolic activity. But includes for our further a crisis of “night of the spirit” to love God and others for God’s sake.

3  Conversion of Perfection

General outline from Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange. The Three Conversions of the Spiritual Life, also called the Three Ways of the Spiritual Life, 5th Chapter. https://www.ewtn.com/library/SPIRIT/3WAYS.TXT

Ave Maria!

Mass: Saturday after Ash Wednesday – Wkdy
Readings: 
1st: isa 58:9-14
Resp: psa 86:1-2, 3-4, 5-6 0
Gsp: luk 5:27-32

More on the Readings: http://dev.airmaria.com/r?m=1652

Also on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/90378558559/videos/498874303975389
and YouTube: https://youtu.be/4Y9OWmOh_zM

The post 3 Crises and Conversions – Mar 09 – Homily – Fr Terrance first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN on Dec 14, 2019, on the life teachings of St. John of the cross, Doctor of the Church, the spiritual Knight who provided guidance through the Dark Night of the Soul, an important and difficult stage in the spiritual life. He describes the stages of prayer, the signs that we are in the dark night, how to persevere through this difficulty, and the many spiritual fruits of doing so.

Ave Maria!

Mass: St. John of the Cross – Mem
Readings: Saturday in the 2nd Week in Advent
1st: sir 48:1-4, 9-11
Resp: psa 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19 0
Gsp: mat 17:10-13

More on the Readings: http://dev.airmaria.com/r?m=1215&r=1284

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The post [Fixed] – Knight for the Dark Night – Dec 14 – Homily – Fr Terrance first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Ave Maria!

Fr. Terrance gives the first talk of four at the Evansville Woman’s Retreat on St. Therese’s Little Way where he gives an overview of the three stages of the spiritual life with its many twists and turns before explaining in subsequent talks how St. Therese’s Little Way simplifies this itinerary. He covers:

Stage one: Beginners, Purgative

– followed by the Dark Night of the Senses

Stage two: Proficient, Illuminative

– followed by the Dark Night of the Soul

Stage Three: Perfect, Unitive

The Three Ways of the Spiritual Life by Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange:  https://www.amazon.com/Three-Ways-Spiritual-Life/dp/B001NEO38W

The Spiritual Life by Adolphe Tanqueray: https://www.amazon.com/Spiritual-Life-Treatise-Ascetical-Mystical/dp/1626540888

For more talks from this Retreat (four talks and three homilies): http://dev.airmaria.com/tag/st-therese-retreat-2020/

YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taW3uhqf8s4&list=PLejh_e0-LN4z6-gNFgBC47JBq4hsWvcwz

Mother of the Redeemer Retreat Center – http://www.maryschildren.com/

+++

The post 3 Stages of the Spiritual Life – #1/4 St. Therese’s Little Way – Fr Terrance – CONF 535 first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Many souls do not reach union with God as they are unwilling to try the way of the cross, the only way which leads to it. It is necessary to take quite another way: the narrow and obscure way where the soul discovers all its misery, experiences all its powerlessness, where consolation from God and man is wanting.

You know, too, that you must accept having to walk on this road for as long as it will please God. How many months or years will suffice? Only God knows. He often keeps us a long time in the dark night of the spirit, and it might even be said that, in general, even after the principal stages have been passed, there is always a little of the night as long as one lives upon earth.

The wisest course to take is to surrender yourself completely to the divine will of God, without setting limits either to the duration or the nature of your trials. God knows what is best for you; He, who knows the world and the weaknesses and necessities of your soul, will know how to prescribe exactly the treatment to cure your ills. Do not be hasty, but, on the contrary, have much patience, and you will not expose yourself to deception.

Let your patience be long-suffering and trustful because, although you truly suffer, the sufferings do not come to you from an enemy but from your greatest friend, from God, who loves you much more than you could love yourself: who wills your happiness and your sanctification much more than you could ever desire them. Hope in Him and you will never be confounded; and trust yourself to Him blindly and you will have nothing to fear.

+Father Gabriel of Saint Mary Magdalene

The post Our Way of the Cross first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN on Jun 27, 2020, on how Faith is a theological virtue that requires the gift of God, first given in baptism, but requires that we exercise this virtue to make it grow to ever greater perfection of trust.

• Faith is both a gift from God but it is also a habit of trust
• Martin Luther denied that it is a theological virtue
• Temptations to give up the faith and how to fight them
• Why God sends trials
  • So that we can gain merit by walking in faith
  • Enduring them helps us grow
  • Enables to suffer for others
  • Experience the suffering and abandonment of Christ

Ave Maria!

Mass: St. Cyril of Alexandria – Opt Mem
Readings: Saturday 12th Week of Ordinary Time – http://usccb.org/bible/readings/062720.cfm
1st: lam 2:2, 10-14, 18-19
Resp: psa 74:1-2, 3-5, 5-7, 20-21 0
Gsp: mat 8:5-17

More on the Readings: http://dev.airmaria.com/r?m=1096&r=1636

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and YouTube: https://youtu.be/k5saNKAwqWI

The post Exercising the Theological Virtue of Faith – Jun 27 – Homily – Fr Terrance first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Fr Josemaria gives the homily at Bloomington, IN on Sep 01, 2020, on how reading classic spiritual books is so important to become great saints like Mother Theresa and John Paul II. Father explains how to combine spiritual reading with prayer and how to decide which books to read. He particularly highlights “True Devotion to Mary” by St. Louis de Montfort which was instrumental to St. John Paul II’s spiritual life.

Ave Maria!

Mass: Tuesday in the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time – Wkdy
Readings:  – http://usccb.org/bible/readings/090120.cfm
1st: 1co 2:10-16
Resp: psa 145:8-9, 10-11, 12-13, 13-14 0
Gsp: luk 4:31-37

More on the Readings: http://dev.airmaria.com/r?m=931

Also on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/90378558559/videos/352382795894483
and YouTube:  https://youtu.be/jD6ycbYsmw8

The post Importance of Spiritual Reading – Sep 01 – Homily – Fr Josemaria first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Dec 23, 2023, on the nature of the dark night of the soul that often occurs to those who are advanced in the spiritual life and how it is a blessing in the long term despite the dryness and darkness that it involves.

Ave Maria!

Mass: Weekdays of Advent – Dec 23
Readings:  – http://usccb.org/bible/readings/122323.cfm
1st: mal 3:1-4, 23-24
Resp: psa 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14 0
Gsp: luk 1:57-66

More on the Readings: http://dev.airmaria.com/r?m=1334

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The post The Dark Night of the Soul – Dec 23 – Homily – Fr Terrance first appeared on AirMaria.com.