He Leadeth Me

In this episode of our Advent series, Sr. Shawn Pauline describes how God takes a beginner into deeper stages of prayer. Sr. Shawn Pauline and Jess discuss:How a soul transitioning into deeper prayer often experiences dryness, distraction, and an increased awareness of their own sin and weaknessHow to tell the difference between dryness, desolation, and depressionThe importance of perseverance, humility, and detachmentSr. Shawn Pauline is a religious sister in the community of the Carmelites of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus of Los Angeles.Here are Sr. Shawn Pauline's notes on transitions in prayer:1)      Transitions in prayer/ Dark night of the Sense/GOD’s Work in the soul a.      St. John of the Cross-What God Does…  Dark Night (overview of the DN of the Sense Chapter 12 &13)The soul is purged of its attachments It gains a deeper understanding of the vices that it has and gains greater humility and a greater desire for knowledge of God rather than selfb.      Movements into a deeper life of prayer with less consolation, times of dryness and when prayer may seem to change and be difficult c. Signs of the dark night of the sense common in the lives of most people who develop a solid and strong prayer life. Soul no longer able to pray with discursive meditation/ consolation as known prior to the time of prayer is gone.The soul is deeply committed to prayer and continues to stay so.  One knows that one must be with God in this time of prayer regardless of feelings. One continues to serve God well. c.      Perseverance in prayer is needed. Teresa would tells us not to quit. / don’t be afraid of changes and ways that you can no longer meditate as you used to.Learn to be still and ready for something new…Let go of the desire for consolations and focus on the presence of God  and learning to just be with Him.You are not wasting time/ resist the temptation and let go of not “doing” something.Listen/be still/ wait.d.      On those with the inability to reflect discursively, “dull imagination”: “…if one perseveres, one reaches contemplation more quickly along this way of inability to work discursively with the intellect…it is fitting for persons with this tendency to have greater purity of conscience than those who can work with the intellect.” Life 4:7-8e.      “And so I would never counsel anyone-if there were someone to whom I should have to give counsel-to fail out of fear to put a good inspiration into practice when it repeatedly arises. For if one proceeds with detachment for God alone, there is no reason to fear that the effort will turn out bad; for He has the power to accomplish all”. Life 4:2

Are you looking for ways you can enter more deeply into Advent? Look no further! This Advent, Sr. Shawn Pauline from the Carmelites of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles will offer He Leadeth Me listeners a series of podcast episodes on the writings of St. Theresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross. In this episode, Sr. Shawn Pauline begins the retreat by talking about the beginning stages of the journey into deeper prayer. Sr. Shawn Pauline and Jess discuss:Theresa's description of the Prayer of Recollection and the image of the well and the bucketHow can you tell the difference between consolations felt at this stage of prayer and the consolations experienced at deeper stages?What does God do in the soul at this stage and what should the person do to respond?Sr. Shawn Pauline is a religious sister in the community of the Carmelites of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus of Los Angeles.Check out Sr. Shawn Pauline's notes for this episode!Love’s QuestOn my bed at night, I sought Him Whom my soul loves- I sought Him but did not find him. So I will rise and go through the city…to seek Him Whom my heart loves (Song 3:1-3)1st Water: Prayer of Recollection or SimplicityTeresa’s Image: The Well and BucketCharacteristics of this prayer:The beginner works while The Lord gives the increase (11.5)The beginner must cultivate their garden on very barren soil, full of abominable weeds (11.6) With the help of God we must strive like good gardeners to get these plants to grow (11.6)His Majesty wants determination, and He is a friend of courageous souls if they walk in humility without trusting in self (13.2)Effects on the soul in this prayer:Greater detachment from outward things but mixed with  many faultsIncreased desires for GodGreater self-masteryDivine love begins to be enkindledWork of the soul in this prayer:Perseverance, determination, courage Self-knowledge: the thought of one’s sins (“our daily bread”)Growing in the virtues of humility and detachmentGod’s assistance Meditate on the sacred life and Passion of Christ, hell, death, the power of God, the Love he bore us (13.13)Do not be distressed or afflicted over the dryness or noisy and distracting thoughts (11.17)Jesus is not concerned with our little inabilities (11.15)Occupy yourself in looking at Christ Who is looking at you 

In this episode, Jessica's friend Theresa shares about the struggles of infertility and her own story of asking the intercession of Servant of God Michelle Duppong. Jess and Theresa discuss:The common question when struggling with infertility: Should I ask for what I want in prayer or should I pray, "Not my will but yours be done"?Theresa's experience of having a baby after praying to Servant of God Michelle DuppongTheresa's advice for women struggling with infertilityYou can find out more about Servant of God Michelle Duppong here: https://michelleduppongcause.org/ You can buy tickets to see the documentary, "Radiating Joy: The Michelle Duppong Story," here.Theresa Callahan is a wife and mother who lives on the East Coast.

The SEEK conference is just around the corner, and this year's theme is, "Follow Me". In this episode, Mark Bartek joins Jessica to talk about how Servant of God Michelle Duppong answered Jesus' call to follow Him. Mark and Jess discuss:The theme of the conference, which comes from the Scripture verse John 8: 12, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."Mark shares about his time as Michelle's supervisor and how he saw her follow Jesus during her time in FOCUSJess and Mark discuss Michelle's suffering during her illness and Jesus' promise that His followers will not walk in darknessJess and Mark talk about the upcoming documentary, "Radiating Joy: The Michelle Duppong Story", which Mark appeared in"Radiating Joy: The Michelle Duppong Story" will be in theaters for one night only on November 12th, 2024. You can get tickets here: Fathom Events: Radiating Joy.Mark Bartek is the Senior Director of FOCUS Mission Partner Development. He has been with FOCUS for 18 years, and he and his wife Angie have 8 children.

Sometimes we feel overwhelmed by our grief and can have difficulty expressing it in prayer. In this episode, counselor Kate Johnson joins Jessica to talk about praying in the midst of grief. Jess and Kate discuss:The modern tendency in the Christian community to focus on the resurrection and skip the necessary grieving processWhy our culture has forgotten how to grieveAncient Jewish practices to mourn the death of loved onesHow grief can be a springboard for evangelizationKate Johnson is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Colorado as well as Michigan. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Denver, in Biology Psychology and Chemistry. and went on to join FOCUS, for the next eight years as an on-campus missionary. During her time in FOCUS she also pursued a master’s degree from the Institute for the Psychological Sciences (now Divine Mercy University). After graduate school, she spent several years at Mount St. Mary’s University,  as a counselor and adjunct seminary professor. She then came back to Colorado, and worked with St Raphael Counseling for several years.  Kate currently lives in Centennial with her husband, Greg, and has a private practice, where she continues to see therapy clients. She also continues to work with FOCUS part-time, consulting on mental health issues. 

In this episode, liturgical expert Chris Carstens returns to talk with Jessica about Catholic funerals. Chris and Jess discuss:The 3 ceremonies associated with a Catholic funeral: vigil, Mass of Christian Burial, and prayers at the gravesideThe connection between a funeral Mass and the Easter VigilKey symbols and prayers in the Mass of Christian BurialChris Carstens is the Director of Worship in the Diocese of La Crosse, a visiting faculty member of the Liturgical Institute at the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, IL, and the Editor of Adoremus Bulletin. Chris lives in Soldiers Grove, WI, with his wife and children.

Servant of God Fr. Walter Ciszek spent 23 years in Siberian prison camps for his faith in Jesus. After being released from prison, he returned to the United States and became a renowned spiritual director. In this episode, Fr. Michael Wegenka joins Jessica to dive into a prayer of surrender that Fr. Ciszek wrote for one of his directees. Fr. Michael and Jess discuss:Fr. Ciszek's spirituality of surrender and trust in GodThe line of the prayer, "I ask the grace to accept the sadness in my heart as your will for me in this present moment." Is God's will for me to be sad?Fr. Ciszek's teaching on finding God in the present momentHow you can find healing in seeking God in the present momentHere is the text of Fr. Ciszek's prayer:Prayer of SurrenderLord Jesus Christ, I ask the grace to accept the sadness in my heart, as your will for me, in this moment. I offer it up, in union with your sufferings, for those who are in deepest need of your redeeming grace. I surrender myself to your Father's will and I ask you to help me to move on to the next task that you have set for me.Spirit of Christ, help me to enter into a deeper union with you. Lead me away from dwelling on the hurt I feel:to thoughts of charity for those who need my love,to thoughts of compassion for those who need my care, andto thoughts of giving to those who need my help.As I give myself to you, help me to provide for the salvation of those who come to me in need.May I find my healing in this giving.May I always accept God's will.May I find my true self by living for others in a spirit of sacrifice and suffering.May I die more fully to myself and live more fully in you.As I seek to surrender to the Father's will, may I come to trust that he will do everything for me.To learn more about Fr. Ciszek, visit his League website here. Fr. Michael Wegenka, S.J., is a Jesuit priest from Houston, Texas. He has worked at Regis Jesuit High School as well as his alma mater, Strake Jesuit in Houson. He was ordained in 2018 and is currently working as a vocation promoter for the UCS Province of Jesuits.

In Matthew 7:1, Jesus tell us, "Do not judge, lest you shall be judged". But what does this actually mean? Fr. Joseph-Anthony Kress is back in this episode to talk about judgment. Fr. Joseph-Anthony and Jess discuss:Is it a judgment to notice a fault in another person?How can you know if you are making rash judgments?What advice do you have for someone who is trying to overcome the sin of judging other people?Fr. Joseph-Anthony Kress is the chaplain at the University of Virginia. He is an Eastern Province Dominican friar and co-host of the Godsplaining podcast with four other Dominican friars. You can listen to Godsplaining here

How do you know if you are gossiping or simply sharing your struggles with friends? Fr. Joseph-Anthony Kress joins Jessica today to shed light on St. Thomas Aquinas' teaching on gossip. Jessica and Fr. Joseph-Anthony discuss:Gossip's role in spiritual warfareHow Aquinas breaks verbal sins or injuries into 5 categories: reviling, backbiting, tale-bearing, derision, and cursingWays that you can overcome the sin of gossip in your life, including asking God to "set a guard over your lips" (Ps 141:3).Fr. Joseph-Anthony Kress is the chaplain at the University of Virginia. He is an Eastern Province Dominican friar and co-host of the Godsplaining podcast with four other Dominican friars. You can listen to Godsplaining here

In this episode, liturgical expert Chris Carstens returns to talk about the rite of baptism. Jess and Chris discuss:How baptism restores God's image in the soulWhy the rite of baptism begins at the front of the churchWhat is the role of Godparents?And much more!Chris Carstens is the Director of Worship in the Diocese of La Crosse, a visiting faculty member of the Liturgical Institute at the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, IL, and the Editor of Adoremus Bulletin. Chris lives in Soldiers Grove, WI, with his wife and children.