PODCAST · religion
Carmelite Conversations
by Carmelite Conversations
Carmelite Conversations focuses on the teachings of Carmelite Spirituality and its application to our busy lives. It provides advice on how to live the Carmelite call to combine contemplative prayer with service to the Church. Topics are especially pertinent to those who are Secular Carmelites or considering the call to Carmel.
Episodes
-
If You Wish to Be Perfect, with Deacon Rusty Baldwin, OCDS
Deacon Rusty Baldwin, OCDS. reflects on the rich young man in the Gospels (Mark 10:17-31; Mt 19: 16-30; & Lk 18:18-30) to examine our journey in Carmel through our formation and the Temporary and Definitive Promises we make.
-
Chapter 4: Called to Carmel, Called to Community: Reflections on the Carmelite Rule, Secular Constitutions, and Statutes by Tim Bete, OCDS
Chapter 4 of Called to Carmel, Called to Community: Reflections on the Carmelite Rule, Secular Constitutions, and Statutes by Tim Bete, OCDS. This chapter covers Witnesses to the Experience of God (Constitutions, 17 to 23). In Called to Carmel, Called to Community, Tim Bete shares his reflections...
-
Chapter 3: Called to Carmel, Called to Community: Reflections on the Carmelite Rule, Secular Constitutions, and Statutes by Tim Bete, OCDS
Chapter 3 of Called to Carmel, Called to Community: Reflections on the Carmelite Rule, Secular Constitutions, and Statutes by Tim Bete, OCDS. This chapter covers Following Jesus in the Teresian Secular Carmel (Constitutions, 10 to 16). In Called to Carmel, Called to Community, Tim Bete shares his...
-
2026 OCDS World Encounter in Ávila, Spain, with Vivien Foster, OCDS
In this episode, Tim Bete, OCDS, interviews Vivien Foster, OCDS, about her experience attending the 2026 OCDS World Encounter in Ávila, Spain, what she learned, and the opportunities presented at the Encounter. The meeting asked a fundamental question: What does it mean to be Carmelites in…
more -
Chapter 2: Called to Carmel, Called to Community: Reflections on the Carmelite Rule, Secular Constitutions, and Statutes by Tim Bete, OCDS
Chapter 2 of Called to Carmel, Called to Community: Reflections on the Carmelite Rule, Secular Constitutions, and Statutes by Tim Bete, OCDS. This chapter covers Our Identity, Values, and Commitment (Constitutions, 1 to 9). In Called to Carmel, Called to Community, Tim Bete shares his reflections...
-
Chapter 1: Called to Carmel, Called to Community: Reflections on the Carmelite Rule, Secular Constitutions, and Statutes by Tim Bete, OCDS
Chapter 1 of Called to Carmel, Called to Community: Reflections on the Carmelite Rule, Secular Constitutions, and Statutes by Tim Bete, OCDS. This chapter covers the Rule of St. Albert. In Called to Carmel, Called to Community, Tim Bete shares his reflections on the Carmelite Rule, OCDS...
-
Clarifying the Dark Night with Deacon Rusty Baldwin, OCDS
Have you ever considered yourself a mystic? What exactly is a mystic? What is mysticism? How does it apply to me? The mystic, St. John of the Cross, dives into what the “Dark Night of the Soul” entails. In general, many people just think it refers to hard times. In this presentation, Deacon…
more -
Dark Night of the Senses with Deacon Rusty Baldwin, OCDS
Deacon Rusty Baldwin, OCDS, shares a Lenten message about the Dark Night of the Senses, St. John of the Cross, disposing ourselves to God's grace, and seeking God, not His gifts.
-
Into the Silent Land with Deacon Mark Danis, OCDS
Deacon Mark Danis, OCDS shares a reflection on how to accept our own weaknesses and obstacles to our union with God. Deacon Mark quotes the book Into the Silent Land by Martin Laird.
-
Advancement ceremony homily with Fr. John MacQuarrie
During this homily given by Fr. John MacQuarrie, the spiritual assistant for our Secular Carmelite Community, discusses the outward sign of Carmel as he welcomes three members of our community who were clothed with the ceremonial brown scapular. He also reflects on the Constitutions of the…
more -
True Joy with Deacon Rusty Baldwin, OCDS
In this homily, Deacon Rusty Baldwin, OCDS, discusses the true meaning of joy and how the Carmelite saints viewed joy.
-
Our Aptitude for Receiving God’s Grace by Deacon Mark Danis
What can we do to be better predisposed to receive God’s Grace leading to Union with Him? We know that “only the pure of heart see God.” So, how do we purify our hearts most effectively? Discalced Secular Carmelite Deacon Mark Danis gives us great insights on this topic and quotes St. Elizabeth…
more -
On the Mountain by Deacon Rusty Baldwin, OCDS
Mountains play a prominent role in Carmelite Spirituality and in Prayer. What does the mountain represent? In the scriptures, we read about the Prophet Elijah and mountains. What did the mountains represent for Elijah? Even our Lord went to the mountains many times in His life. How does that...
-
Reflection on Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
How did the title of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel come about? What is the connection with the Prophet Elijah? How did the spirituality of Elijah spread across the world? What happened on July 16th that is so significant to Carmelites? What is the connection of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel to the Church...
-
Marriage is Free, Full, Faithful, and Fruitful
In marriage preparation, Catholic couples are instructed about the Covenant of Love. The elements in particular that are addressed are being free, full, faithful, and fruitful. Deacon Rusty Baldwin, OCDS, analyzes these same elements as it relates to Carmelite spirituality. It is very…
more -
Exploring Contemplation with St. John of the Cross (part 9)
The “Will” in the Prayer of Contemplation (Ch. 13 of the book). Soren Kierkegaard said, Purity of Heart is to Will One Thing. This one thing of course is God's Will. St. John of the Cross speaks about the activity of the will as much if not more than any of the other faculties of the human…
more -
Thinking about the Samaritan Woman During Lent
During this Lenten season, and by focusing on a few important points in the scripture passage on the Samaritan Woman, Deacon Mark Danis uses the lense of contemplation to highlight the importance of coming to know the truth about ourselves so that by coming into the light, we may be transformed…
more -
Exploring Contemplation with St. John of the Cross (part 8)
So often in the spiritual journey, we can run into roadblocks. We can mistakenly perceive that we have gotten off course, and we might immediately seek to turn back to find the right path again. However, if we are walking the path of contemplation, there will most certainly be times of darkness,...
-
Exploring Contemplation with St. John of the Cross (part 7)
If you feel as though you have reached a plateau in your prayer life, or after many years of active prayer, you feel as though you are suddenly stuck, it may be the Lord is calling you to a deeper encounter with Him. The spiritual life is not static, it moves through different phases. And, like…
more -
Interior Castle (part 12): Seventh Dwelling Place; Ch. 1-2: The Grand Entrance and Spiritual Marriage
What is like to enter into the 7th Dwelling Place? What was it like for St. Teresa? Then we turn to a discussion about spiritual marriage. We focus on what this experience/union with God was like for St. Teresa. These chapters truly help us to have Holy Amazement! RESOURCES: “Interior Castle…
more -
Christmas Preparation for Carmelites
Deacon Mark Danis, OCDS, shares ways to prepare during Advent for the birth of our Lord. He provides suggestions specific for Secular Carmelites. This talk was given during a Holy Hour.
-
Interior Castle (part 11): Sixth Dwelling Place; Ch. 10-11: Preparing to Enter the Kingly Chambers
In the final rooms of the 6th Dwelling Place of the Interior Castle, St. Teresa teaches us about some special favors our Lord gives to prepare the soul with wedding garments for entrance into His Kingly Chambers, the Throne Room. The Lord gives us the light to know we are in God and God is in us...
-
The Determined Determination of St. Teresa of Avila
On the Solemnity of St. Teresa of Avila, Deacon Mark Danis gave an inspiring reflection. His focus was on the famous quote of St. Teresa: “You must have a very determined determination.” He then asks what are we to be so determined about. Secondly, he asks how do we reconcile our determined...
-
Exploring Contemplation with St. John of the Cross (part 6)
The most challenging phase of our spiritual journey is the transition from meditative prayer to contemplative prayer. This transition literally requires us to begin to abandon the comfortable methods of prayer, and the use of our faculties, that we have come to rely on. In this conversation, Mark...
-
Interior Castle (part 10): Sixth Dwelling Place; Ch. 7-9: Keeping Christ Present
The Lord (the Bridegroom) continues to draw the soul (the Bride) closer to Him through the purification of the soul as well as mystical favors that may occur. In this episode, we talk about the importance of keeping the humanity of Christ present in our prayer. Additionally, we focus on two very...
-
Exploring Contemplation with St. John of the Cross (part 5)
One of the most difficult phases in the spiritual life of prayer, is the transition from meditation to contemplation. In this conversation, Mark and Frances continue their discussion on Fr. Donald Haggerty's Book on the writings of John of the Cross. Here, they explore the five critical means for...
-
Interior Castle (part 9): Sixth Dwelling Place; Ch. 4-6: Mansion of Spiritual Betrothal & Mystical Communications
God continues to draw the soul closer to Him through the purification of the soul as well as mystical favors that may occur. In this episode, we talk about ecstasies, raptures, flights of the spirit, spiritual betrothal, gift of tears, and the prayer of jubilation. These are all communications…
more -
The Active Night of the Purification of the Spirit
In this homily, Deacon Mark Danis asked himself what can souls do to prepare themselves in the Active Night to enter into the Passive Night of the Spirit, which St. John of the Cross discusses in his book, “Ascent to Mount Carmel” as well as in book, “The Dark Night of the Soul.” Deacon Danis…
more -
Exploring Contemplation with St. John of the Cross (part 4)
In the life of prayer, there are always transitions. We cannot remain static in our pursuit of God. In this particular program, Mark and Frances identify the seven vices that often hold us back from progressing into deeper, more interior stages of prayer. They also identify how St. John of the...
-
The Third Spiritual Alphabet and St. Teresa of Avila
The 16th Century Spanish Franciscan Friar, Francisco de Osuna, was the author of a book considered to be a great masterpiece and spiritual classic called: “The Third Spiritual Alphabet,” which profoundly influenced the great Discalced Carmelite, St. Teresa of Avila. She particularly focused on…
more -
Exploring Contemplation with St. John of the Cross (part 3)
As we continue the journey with Fr. Haggerty, through the works of St. John of the Cross, we now wrestle with one of the least understood, and little practiced requirements for entry into contemplative prayer. This program focuses first on the practice of asceticism, the healthy denial of our...
-
Exploring Contemplation with St. John of the Cross (part 2)
In our first program on the topic of contemplation in St. John of the Cross, we discussed that we can expect to experience God’s concealment, which means we need to proceed in the darkness of pure faith. But this faith comes with its own measure of certitude; we do not need to feel as though we…
more -
Exploring Contemplation with St. John of the Cross (part 1)
St. John of the Cross did not write for beginners in prayer. His works are for those who have been practicing prayer for some time and have begun to make progress on the spiritual journey. In this conversation, Mark and Frances discuss two of the most critical aspects of our maturing relationship...
-
Interior Castle (part 8): Sixth Dwelling Place; Ch. 1-3: Greater Trials & Greater Favors
Here in the 6th Dwelling Place, the soul goes through an intensification of the Dark Night, specifically the Dark Night of the Spirit. It’s no surprise that St. Teresa of Avila begins in the first chapter with the trials and sufferings of this mansion. However, she quickly draws the souls…
more -
Interior Castle (part 7): Fifth Dwelling Place; Ch. 3 & 4: True Union with God
As we continue the journey through the interior castle, we grow deeper and deeper in our intimacy and relationship with the Lord. The 5th Dwelling Place/Mansion can be understood to be the deeper revelation of God to the soul and the joining of hands in spiritual courtship with our Divine Spouse....
-
Evangelical Counsels and Perfection
What are the Evangelical Counsels and why are they important to Carmelites? This homily by Deacon Baldwin was given to the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites in Dayton during a Community meeting Holy Hour.
-
Interior Castle (part 6): Fifth Dwelling Place; New Life in Christ, Fragments of Heaven
As we continue the journey through the interior castle, we grow deeper and deeper in our intimacy and relationship with the Lord. The 5th Dwelling Place/Mansion can be understood to be the joining of hands in spiritual courtship with our Divine Spouse and is in anticipation of a deeper union to...
-
St. Therese: Being and doing for the Lord
St. Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, known as “the little flower,” was prophetically called by Pope Pius X, the “greatest saint of modern times.” Time continues to echo her greatness. As a Doctor of the Church, St. Therese continues to be the subject of numerous new books and…
more -
St. John of the Cross’ Light in the Dark
How does the teaching of St. John of the Cross help us to be “light” in the “dark” that surrounds us in our day? This presentation by Deacon Baldwin was given to the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites in Dayton, OH for their Day of Recollection. The theme of the day was “We Are the Light of…
more -
Interior Castle (part 5): Fourth Dwelling Place; Transition & Transformation
This is an exciting mansion as God begins to take the lead becoming much more active in the soul, while the soul becomes more passive and receptive to God, more fully surrendering to Him, especially in prayer. It is the beginning of the mystical life with the gifts of infused contemplation. These...
-
Interior Castle (part 4): Third Dwelling Place; Pioneer or Settler?
In reference to the third dwelling place/mansion, St. Teresa of Avila tells us that she believes “that through the goodness of God there are many of these souls in the world.” Of course, that was in the late 1500s. The souls here are good practicing Catholics. Mistakenly, many of these souls…
more -
The extraordinary--but ordinary--life of St. Joseph
In the month of March, the Church celebrates the feast of the great St. Joseph, Patron Saint of the Universal Church. He is also the Protector of the Discalced Carmelite Order. So often, one might think our Saints are so far above us in holiness that it’s incomprehensible how we could imitate…
more -
Interior Castle (part 3): Second dwelling place, the seed is germinating, the battle intensifies
The Second Dwelling Place or Mansion pertains to souls who have already begun to practice prayer and have heard the calls of the Lord. Hence, the seed planted in the first mansion is now starting to germinate and sprout roots. The temptations are greater because their awareness has grown through...
-
“Nada, Nada, Nada” of St. John of the Cross
When a Carmelite hears the word, “Nada,” they automatically think of the great Discalced Carmelite Doctor of Love, St. John of the Cross. What does that word mean? Why is this word so deeply associated with St. John of the Cross? Is this a harsh concept to live? How can we apply this concept to…
more -
Faith Is not a zero-sum game, with Deacon Mark Danis, OCDS
What is this journey of faith? What are some of the misconceptions people have about this journey of faith? What will inspire us on this journey? Deacon Mark Danis details for us what is of immense value to us beyond the purification and healing of our souls and what we must do regarding our...
-
Lenten thoughts & resources for 2023
This reflection is focused on the “why” of Lent. Why fast? Why pray? Why give alms? Why does the Church tell us to do these 3 things? Where does this come from? How do these 3 tactics form a strategic battle plan to conquer sin in our lives? How does this relate to the Theological Virtues, the...
-
Interior Castle (part 2): Image of the Soul in the First Dwelling Place
Guest, Theresa Rittenhouse, OCDS, joins host Frances Harry in a Carmelite Converstion on the first dwelling place/mansion of St. Teresa of Avila’s classic masterpiece, “The Interior Castle.” We cover some of her wonderful images of the soul and also images of God. But, what is the soul? We take...
-
St. Therese’s Influence on a Priest’s Vocation
What a joy it is to hear how a Saint has particularly influenced someone! Today’s Carmelite Conversation details how St. Therese of Lisieux helped a priest in his vocation. Host, Frances Harry, OCDS, interviews Fr. Robert Hale, who was recently ordained. Listen to his story of how St. Therese...
-
A Soul of Silence: Sister Elizabeth of the Trinity
Deacon Mark Danis, OCDS, shares reflections about the short book, A Soul of Silence: Sister Elizabeth of the Trinity. The book, which was published in 1949, was written by a Carmelite nun, Mother Mary Amabel of the Heart of Jesus, and translated from French into English by a Discalced Carmelite....
-
Interior Castle (part 1): The Our Father Prayer
St. Teresa of Avila, in her classic masterpiece, The Interior Castle, teaches us how to become more intimate with God by journeying through the seven mansions/dwelling places of this interior castle of our soul. A great way to identity each of these degrees of intimacy with God is through the…
more
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
Carmelite Conversations focuses on the teachings of Carmelite Spirituality and its application to our busy lives. It provides advice on how to live the Carmelite call to combine contemplative prayer with service to the Church. Topics are especially pertinent to those who are Secular Carmelites or considering the call to Carmel.
HOSTED BY
Carmelite Conversations
CATEGORIES
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Carmelite Conversations have?
Carmelite Conversations currently has 285 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Carmelite Conversations about?
Carmelite Conversations focuses on the teachings of Carmelite Spirituality and its application to our busy lives. It provides advice on how to live the Carmelite call to combine contemplative prayer with service to the Church. Topics are especially pertinent to those who are Secular Carmelites or...
How often does Carmelite Conversations release new episodes?
Carmelite Conversations publishes regularly with 285 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Carmelite Conversations?
You can listen to Carmelite Conversations on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Carmelite Conversations?
Carmelite Conversations is created and hosted by Carmelite Conversations.
URL copied to clipboard!