Journeying With The Saints

Thank you for pressing play, I'm very glad you've come to listen to St. Francis today. Our topic today will be on confessing our sins, primarily our mortal sins in a General Confession. So, flip in your book to Chapter Six in the First Part and let's begin.

Welcome back, Catholic Pilgrims. As most of us know, on this pilgrimage through life we will spend the entire time perfecting our will so that it matches God's Will and we will spend our time purifying our souls. Hopefully, we realize that we need to do that. Purifying our souls is the topic for today in Chapter Five of the First Part. 

Here we are at Episode five, Catholic Pilgrims. Today, in our reading, we will get a shout out to Season Four's Saint, St. Teresa of Avila. St. Francis is going to mention her and it's pretty cool to see these saints referring to one another, so be sure to pay attention to that.  Our readings today are from Chapter Four from the First Part and the topic is going to be on finding a spiritual guide....

Hello, Catholic Pilgrims! Welcome back for another reading from "Introduction to the Devout Life." Today, we are reading Chapter Three of the First Part, titled "Devotion Suitable to All Kinds of Vocations and Professions." I think you're really going to like this chapter. Its message needs to be heard.

Today, we are reading Chapter Two of the First Part, titled "Fitness and Excellence in Devotion."   "Even so, Philothea, does the world calumniate holy devotion, representing devout persons with a gloomy, sad, and irritable countenance, and pretending that religion creates melancholy and unsocial men." Isn't this the truth? The world tells people–especially young people that to be a Christian mean...

Today, we are reading about True Devotion from Chapter One of the First Part. Are you doing the things you are doing–praying the rosary, signing yourself, blessing your food in public, taking the Eucharist on the tongue, etc–are you doing those things because you want people to believe that you have true devotion? OR do you do them out of true love of God?

Season Four!  We have arrived! Today, I'm explaining the book we are reading, giving a little background on St. Francis de Sales, and laying out how this year is going to work.  READING PLAN: https://www.canva.com/design/DAF7SfM46uY/EURpz88JwmPKLDCDVy-CNg/view?utm_content=DAF7SfM46uY&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=editor   TAN BOOKS:  https://tanbooks.com/products/books/an-int...

This bonus episode is the reading of a short story, "The Hint of an Explanation" by British author, Graham Greene published in 1948. This story is on the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.   To follow along, click this link and scroll to page 64 .  http://ecvlad.ru/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/greene_graham_21_stories.pdf

Bonus episode! This is a reading of a short story called "The Bishop's Beggar" by Stephen Vincent Benet. This story was first published in the Saturday Evening Post in 1942.  Here is the link to read along: https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2014/11/the-bishops-beggar/

Congratulations on finishing the book! Please join me as we read the Conclusion written by St. Teresa and end Season Three with a prayer of thanks. 

Today, we will be reading from the Seventh Mansion, Chapter Four, numbers 17-14.  Topics include: 17. Both Martha and Mary must serve Our Lord. 18. Christ's food. 19. Mary's mortification. 20. Her grief at the Passion. 21. Can we lead souls to God? 22. How to do so. 23. Love gives value to our deeds. 24. Conclusion. 

Today, we will be reading from the Seventh Mansion, Chapter Four, numbers 9-16. Topics are: 9. Fruits of these favors. 10. Why the spiritual marriage takes place. 11. Love for Christ proved by our deeds. 12. True spirituality. 13. Humillity and the virtues must combine with prayer. 14. Zeal of advanced souls. 15. Strengthened by the divine Presence within them. 16. Examples of the Saints.  

Here we are at the last chapter of the book. We will be reading from the  Seventh Mansion, Chapter Four, numbers 1-8. Topics are: 1. Vicissitudes of the Seventh Mansion. 2. Humility produced by them. 3. Such souls free from mortal and from willful venial sins. 4. The fate of Solomon. 5. Holy fear. 6. These favors strengthen souls to suffer. 7. Crosses born by the Saints. 8. Effect of vision of Our...

Today, we are reading from the Seventh Mansion, Chapter Three, numbers 11-14. Topics are: 11. Probable reasons for this. 12. Allusions in Holy Scripture to this state. 13. Watchfulness of such souls. 14. Crosses suffered in this state.

Today, we are reading from the Seventh Mansion, Chapter Three, numbers 7-10. Topics are: 7. And recalls it to fervor if negligent. 8. God's constant care of such souls. 9. Their peace and silence. 10. Few ecstasies in the Seventh Mansions.

Today, we are reading from the Seventh Mansion, Chapter Three, numbers  1-6. Topics are: 1. Effects of the graces last received. 2. The soul only cares for God's honor. 3. But still performs its duties. 4. Other fruits of these favors.  5. The soul's fervent desire to serve God. 6. Christ dwells within this soul. 

Today, we are reading from the Seventh Mansion, Chapter Two, numbers 12-15.  Topics are: 12. Unalterable peace of the soul in the seventh Mansion. 13. Unless if offends God. 14. Struggles outside the seventh Mansion. 15. Comparions explaining this.     

Today, we are reading from the Seventh Mansion, Chapter Two, numbers 8-11. Topics are: 8. Its conviction of God's indwelling. 9. Its peace. 10. Christ's prayer for the divine union of the soul. 11. Its fulfillment.

Today, we are reading from the Seventh Mansion, Chapter Two, numbers 1-7. Topics are: 1. The spiritual nuptials introduced by an imaginary vision. 2. Spiritual betrothal and marriage differ. 3. Spiritual marriage lasting. 4. Not so spiritual betrothal. 5. Spiritual marriage permanent. 6. St. Paul and spiritual marriage. 7. The soul's joy in union. 

Today, we are reading from the Seventh Mansion, Chapter One, numbers 11-16.  Topics are: 11. The effects. 12. This presence is not always equally realized. 13. It is beyond the soul's control. 14. The center of the soul remains calm.  15. The soul and the spirit distinct though united. 16. The soul and its faculties not identical. 

Today, we have a special treat. Not only will I do I reading, but I will also read a poem from St. Teresa called "In the Hands of God."  Our readings for today are from the Seventh Mansion, Chapter One, numbers 7-10. Topics are: 7. The spiritual nuptials. 8. Former favors differ from spiritual nuptials. 9. The Blessed Trinity revealed to the soul.  10. Permanence of Its presence in the soul.   

Welcome to the Seventh Mansion!  Today, we are reading from the Seventh Mansion, Chapter One, numbers 1-6. Topics are: 1. Sublime mysteries of these mansions. 2. St. Teresa abashed at treating such subjects. 3. Our Lord introduces His bride into His presence chamber. 4. Darkness of a soul in mortal sin. 5. Intercession for sinners. 6. The soul an interior world.  

Milestone Day! We finish the Sixth Mansion! Today, we are reading from the Sixth Mansion, Chapter Eleven, numbers 6-12.  Topics are:   6. These sufferings are a Purgatory. 7. The torments of Hell. 8. St. Teresa's painful desire after God. 9. This suffering irrestistible. 10. Effects of the dart of love. 11. Two spiritual dangers to life. 12. Courage needed here and given by Our Lord. 

Today, we are reading from the Sixth Mansion, Chapter Eleven, numbers 1-5. Topics are: 1. Favors increase the soul's desire for God.  2. The dart of love. 3. Spiritual sufferings produced. 4. Its physical effects. 5. Torture of the desire for God.   

Today, we are reading from the Sixth Mansion, Chapter Ten, numbers 4-7. Topics are: 4. Forgive as we are forgiven. 5. The vision shows God to be Truth itself. 6.  We should imitate God by truthfulness. 7. Why God reveals these truths.