Catholic Audiobook in a Month Podcast

Chapter 59: That a man shall not take ensample at the bodily ascension of Christ, for to strain his imagination upwards bodily in the time of prayer: and that time, place, and body, these three should be forgotten in all ghostly working. Chapter 60: That the high and the next way to heaven is run by desires, and not by paces of feet. Chapter 61: That all bodily thing is subject unto ghostly thing, and is ruled thereafter by the course of nature, and not contrariwise. Chapter 62: How a man may wit when his ghostly work is beneath him or without him and when it is even with him or within him, and when it is above him and under his God. Chapter 63: Of the powers of a soul in general, and how Memory in special is a principal power comprehending in it all the other powers and all those things in the which they work. Chapter 64: Of the other two principal powers, Reason and Will, and of the work of them before sin and after Chapter 65: Of the first secondary power, Imagination by name; and of the works and of the obedience of it unto Reason, before sin and after. Chapter 66: Of the other secondary power, Sensuality by name; and of the works and of the obedience of it unto Will, before sin and after. Chapter 67: That whoso knoweth not the powers of a soul and the manner of her working, may lightly be deceived in understanding of ghostly words and of ghostly working; and how a soul is made a God in grace. Chapter 68: That nowhere bodily, is everywhere ghostly; and how our outer man calleth the work of this book nought. Chapter 69: How that a man's affection is marvelously changed in ghostly feeling of this nought, when it is nowhere wrought. Chapter 70: That right as by the defailing of our bodily wits we begin more readily to come to knowing of ghostly things, so by the defailing of our ghostly wits we begin most readily to come to the knowledge of God, such as is possible by grace to be had here.  Chapter 71: That some may not come to feel the perfection of this work but in time of ravishing, and some may have it when they will, in the common state of man's soul.  Chapter 72: That a worker in this work should not deem nor think of another worker as he feeleth in himself. Chapter 73: How that after the likeness of Moses, of Bezaleel and of Aaron meddling them about the Ark of the Testament, we profit on three manners in this grace of contemplation, for this grace is figured in that Ark. Chapter 74: How that the matter of this book is never more read or spoken, nor heard read or spoken, of a soul disposed thereto without feeling of a very accordance to the effect of the same work: and of rehearsing of the same charge that is written in the prologue.  Chapter 75: Of some certain tokens by the which a man may prove whether he be called of God to work in this work Please visit CAMP.fm for more information and  past episodes.

This Week... Chapter 44: How a soul shall dispose it on its own part, for to destroy all witting and feeling of its own being. Chapter 45: A good declaring of some certain deceits that may befall in this work. Chapter 46: A good teaching how a man shall flee these deceits, and work more with a listiness of spirit than with any boisterousness of body. Chapter 47: A slight teaching of this work in purity of spirit; declaring how that on one manner a soul should shew his desire unto God, and on ye contrary, unto man. Chapter 48: How God will be served both with body and with soul, and reward men in both; and how men shall know when all those sounds and sweetness that fall into the body in time of prayer be both good and evil. Chapter 49: The substance of all perfection is nought else but a good will; and how that all sounds and comforts and sweetness that may befall in this life be to it but as it were accidents. Chapter 50: Which is chaste love; and how in some creatures such sensible comforts be but seldom, and in some right oft. Chapter 51: That men should have great wariness so that they understand not bodily a thing that is meant ghostly; and specially it is good to be wary in understanding of this word in, and of this word up. Chapter 52: How these young presumptuous disciples misunderstand this word in, and of the deceits that follow thereon. Chapter 53: Of divers unseemly practices that follow them that lack the work of this book. Chapter 54: How that by virtue of this work a man is governed full wisely, and made full seemly as well in body as in soul. Chapter 55: How they be deceived that follow the fervour of spirit in condemning of some without discretion. Chapter 56: How they be deceived that follow the fervour of spirit in condemning of some without discretion. Chapter 57: How these young presumptuous disciples misunderstand this other word up; and of the deceits that follow thereon. Chapter 58: That a man shall not take ensample of Saint Martin and of Saint Stephen, for to strain his imagination bodily upwards in the time of his prayer. Check out https://CAMP.fm for more!

Chapter 21: The true exposition of this gospel word, 'Mary hath chosen the best part'. Chapter 22: Of the wonderful love that Christ had to man in person of all sinners truly turned and called to the grace of contemplation Chapter 23: How God will answer and purvey for them in spirit, that for business about His love list not answer nor purvey for themselves Chapter 24: What charity is in itself, and how it is truly and perfectly contained in the work of this book Chapter 25: That in the time of this work a perfect soul hath no special beholding to any one man in this life Chapter 26: That without full special grace, or long use in common grace, the work of this book is right travailous; and in this work, which is the work of the soul helped by grace, and which is the work of only God Chapter 27: Who should work in the gracious work of this book Chapter 28: That a man should not presume to work in this work before the time that he be lawfully cleansed in conscience of all his special deeds of sin Chapter 29: That a man should bidingly travail in this work, and suffer the pain thereof, and judge no man Chapter 30: Who should blame and condemn other men's defaults Chapter 31: How a man should have him in beginning of this work against all thoughts and stirrings of sin Chapter 32: Of two ghostly devices that be helpful to a ghostly beginner in the work of this book Chapter 33: That in this work a soul is cleansed both of his special sins and of the pain of them, and yet how there is no perfect rest in this life Chapter 34: That God giveth this grace freely without any means, and that it may not be come to with means Chapter 35: Of three means in the which a contemplative prentice should be occupied; in reading, thinking, and praying Chapter 36: Of the meditations of them that continually travail in the work of this book Chapter 37: Of the special prayers of them that be continual workers in the work of this book Chapter 38: How and why that short prayer pierceth heaven Chapter 39: How a perfect worker shall pray, and what prayer is in itself; and, if a man shall pray in words, which words accord them most to the property of prayer Chapter 40: That in the time of this work a soul hath no special beholding to any vice in itself nor to any virtue in itself Chapter 41: That in all other works beneath this, men should keep discretion; but in this none Chapter 42: That by indiscretion in this, men shall keep discretion in all other things; and surely else never Chapter 43: That all writing and feeling of a man's own being must needs be lost if the perfection of this work shall verily be felt in any soul in this life   Please like, share, rate…and help us grow! For past episodes pleae visit CAMP.fm

This week's chapters... Chapter 5: That in the time of this work all the creatures that ever have been, be now, or ever shall be, and all the works of those same creatures, should be hid under the cloud of forgetting. Chapter 6: A short conceit of the work of this book, treated by question. Chapter 7: How a man shall have him in this work against all thoughts, and specially against all those that arise of his own curiosity, of cunning, and of natural wit. Chapter 8: That in the time of his work all the creatures that ever have been, be now, or ever shall be, and all the works of those creatures, should be hid under the cloud of forgetting Chapter 9: That in the time of this work the rememberance of the holiest creature that ever God made letteth more than it profiteth Chapter 10: How a man shall know when his thought is no sin; and if it be sin, when it is deadly and when it is venial Chapter 11: That a man should weigh each thought and each stirring after that it is, and always eschew recklessness in venial sin Chapter 12: That by Virtue of this word sin is not only destroyed, but also virtues begotten. Chapter 13: What meekness is in itself, and when it is perfect and when it is imperfect. Chapter 14: That without imperfect meekness coming before, it is impossible for a sinner to come to the perfect Virtue of meekness in this life. Chapter 15: A short proof against their error that say, that there is no perfecter cause to be meeked under, than is the knowledge of a man's own wretchedness. Chapter 16: That by virtue of this work a sinner truly turned and called to contemplation cometh sooner to perfection than by any other work; and by it soonest may get of God forgiveness of sins. Chapter 17: That a very contemplative list not meddle him with active life, nor of anything that is done or spoken about him, nor yet to answer to his blamers in excusing of himself. Chapter 18: How that yet unto this day all actives complain of contemplatives as Martha did of Mary. Of the which complaining ignorance is the cause. Chapter 19: A short excusation of him that made this book, teaching how all contemplatives should have all actives fully excused of their complaining words and deeds. Chapter 20: How Almighty God will goodly answer for all those that for the excusing of themselves list not leave their business about the love of Him. Narrated by John Polhamus. Recorded by William Wilson. More info at....CAMP.fm

Welcome to Week One of The Cloud of Unknowing. Our program features an extended interview with John Polhamus, the narrator of this new recording. He offers insight into his interpretive approach, the historical and spiritual texture of the text, and the enduring relevance of its teachings. Following the conversation, Mr. Polhamus delivers a reading of Chapters 1 through 4, in which the anonymous author lays the foundation for a life of contemplative discipline, rooted in humility.

In today’s episode we hear… A wrap up and review of our book!

In today’s episode we hear… How we should prepare our meditations the night before What to do if you awake during the night How to place yourself in the presence of God How to position one’s body in prayer Not to pass too quickly to new points in meditation How to examine one’s prayer

In today’s episode we hear… How your own reflections are more valuable than hearing others In Affections we should show respect to God We must be generous and courageous in prayer seeking union of love with God If neither consolation nor desolation occur, serious examination is a must It is important not to cut short prayer time, especially when experiencing desolation If you are attracted to something inordinately put all your strength into the contrary

In today’s episode we hear… How to use the five sense in prayer About the “Second Method” of prayer: weighing the meaning of each word in prayer About the “Third Method” of prayer: breathing between each word in vocal prayer

In today’s episode we hear… How Contemplation is a visit to our Lord in one of the Mysteries of His life About the Use of 3 Preludes About the Use of 3 Points How to include the prepatory prayer and colloquy

In today’s episode we hear… About Active Contemplation That it’s a type of meditation That it is based on peace, adoration, and love That it’s focus is on stirring up love for God

In today’s episode we hear about not being able to follow a course of reasoning because… A person has limited mental capacity Ill health A person is naturally given to warm affections That person is actually in Affective Prayer

In today’s episode we hear… When we feel weary in prayer we should remember that we do not pray for “Spiritual Delights” When we feel discouraged we should remember that the Holy Spirit sometimes delays before visiting the soul in prayer, and how we need to be patient If we struggle with meditation, a book or a Spiritual Director can be helpful.

In today’s episode we hear… How we shouldn’t be surprised by distractions That usually we just need to return to the subject of the meditation That when distractions are especially severe we can make acts of faith, hope, charity, adoration, petition, etc. How dryness can be caused by lack of vigor or as a trial That there are two kinds of dryness: intermittent and continuous Suggestions from St. Ignatius’ Discernment of Spirits

In today’s episode we hear… How ordinary prayer must have acts of the intellect and will, or at least the will, to be fruitful About raising one’s heart to God throughout the day Tips on dryness for prayer throughout the day

In today’s episode we hear… About the 4 advantages of Affective Prayer: Abundant Spiritual Consolation It gives us a high idea of the perfection of God It leads to union of our will to God’s It gives fervor for all things connected with God’s service About 4 precautions about using Affective Prayer before we receive the grace to do so: Our faults are still corrected with difficulty Solid virtue has not been acquired We still struggle to banish human ideas for the Divine perspective We remain cold in our affections

In today’s episode we hear… That Affective Prayer comes after the practice of Meditation How it has an emphasis on the will How it greatly shortens the time spent in consideration That acts of adoration, praise, oblation, etc. come easily in Affective Prayer How in it, resolutions form spontaneously as opposed to as a result of reflection How it is a grace That the soul in Affective Prayer still experiences distractions and the means to dealing with them How souls will not always be able to make this type of prayer

In today’s episode we hear… How the entire surrender of ourselves to God is the perfection towards which we ought to strive during life Of two motives for oblation: justice and love About Affections: giving thanks for our meditation, offering our resolutions, and asking for the grace to fulfill them About making a reflection on our prayer, which includes an examination and recapitulation What are the best time, length, place, and body position for prayer

In today’s episode we hear about 4 ways of praying: Asking God for particular graces Prayer to God in a general manner Offering God motives to hear our prayer Making No Request Also the circumstances when petition is fitting: When urged by the Holy Spirit to ask for a particular grace With Spiritual Consolation With Spiritual Desolation When about to do something “important for God”

In today’s episode we hear… How prayer must be humble, confident, and persistent How prayer for temporal favors is good but not infallible

In today’s episode we hear… How to give thanks in both joy and suffering About Prayer properly so-called or “petition” About A.C.T.S - Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving, and Supplication

In today’s episode we hear… How we should make acts of pure love, benevolence, and friendship Jesus The difference between love and benevolence About the sorrowing love of Contrition

In today’s episode we hear how God is our best friend and also the best of fathers… His pleasure is our own We take more pleasure in him than anything we own We console Him We have confidence in Him

In today’s episode we hear… Of how all our surroundings speak of God’s love and invite us to return that love How we can show this love especially in suffering On considering the title of “Creator and Sovereign Lord”

In today’s episode we hear… How charity is a friendship with God, that takes the form of mutual love How we must love God above all things Of the three levels of love of God: Not wanting to commit Mortal Sin, Venial Sin, and Semi-Deliberate Venial Sin About Affective vs Effective Love of God

In today’s episode we hear… How love, unlike hope, involves disinterested love (not for any reward) How it goes beyond just wanting what is best for God How it adds a desire for union with God, a union of heart and will

In today’s episode we hear… How acts of the will are more important than the intellect About Hope as an “interested love” About Hope as a confidence that we shall be with God for all eternity

In today’s episode we hear… How the memory is used in prayer How the intellect (understanding) is used in prayer About making Acts of Faith

In today’s episode we hear… About adoration and humility How to ask Grace of the Holy Spirit What is the sensitive appetite

In today’s episode we hear… How to prepare the night before About purifying the intention of our prayer About choosing the subject for our meditation How to prepare a subject How to place yourself in the presence of God

In today’s episode we hear… About the joys and fruits of prayer—peace, hope, and love How the apostolic worker becomes an instrument of God by prayer How “The pains and sufferings of life on earth are the gold which the infinite happiness of heaven is bought”

In today’s episode we hear… Definitions of colloquy, memory, intellect, will, purgitive, illuminative, and unitive About the excellence of prayer How prayer obtains salvation How prayer enriches us with merits How prayer leads to Christian perfection

In today’s episode we hear… A little bit about the author Fr. René De Maumigny, S.J. What it is to be a Tertian Master About the five parts that make up the book

In today’s episode we pray the Act of Oblation of Myself as a Victim of Holocaust to Merciful Love. See oratepress.com/resources/oblation for a PDF of the oblation.

In today’s episode we hear about the two ways of practicing penance… Recourse to extraordinary means The opportunities which present themselves daily

In today’s episode we hear… How the nearer we are to God the simpler we become How St. Thérèse focused on the Gospels as her book of choice About the simplicity of the Holy Family’s life How we should base our virtue on the “perfect fulfillment of the duties of our state”

In today’s episode… Simplicity in the “Little Way” How St. Thérèse had no remarkable events outwardly—or inwardly! How simplicity goes straight to God as both our end and our means

In today’s episode we hear… How St. Thérèse exercised her zeal in two ways: Prayer and Sacrifice How her prayer was usually dry How sacrifice is the very basis of the Redemption

In today’s episode we hear… How Zeal is like a fire The Source of Zeal How Zeal is part of the motto of the Carmelites

In today’s episode we hear… About exercising prudence in abandonment Cautions about high aspirations On closing your eyes to the future On not being rash or presumptuous

In today’s episode we hear… How St. Thérèse abandoned herself because she loved and wanted to love still more How confidence, poverty, and littleness are the product of all the virtues and weaknesses of children How abandonment leads to love

In today’s episode we hear… How suffering may (or may not) be part of the Oblation to Merciful Love How the principal result is the constant exercise of charity How another result is a good death About Holy Abandonment, to have no other will than that of God’s

In today’s episode we hear… That suffering is the “inseparable companion of love” How the soul suffers because it sees God so little loved and gravely offended That there are “Exchanges of Love” which can be made only on the cross That each cross presents itself as a “most efficacious means of purchasing souls for Him”

In today’s episode we hear… About offering ourselves to infinite love and how it draws love to us What an oblation to Divine Justice entails What an oblation to Divine Love entails

In today’s episode we hear… About the Oblation to Merciful Love How St. Thérèse wanted to love God as she loved him How she wanted to make love her “special vocation” and diffuse it How she wanted to recieve into her heart the Love that sinners disdain

In today’s episode we hear about: Her "discovery" of the Divine Lift Surrender to Love Surrender to Providence

In today’s episode we hear… About “refinements” of love Of smiling in the face of suffering On asking for external goods in prayer

In today’s episode we hear more of what love consists… To strew flowers of little sacrifice To profit from the least opportunities Not to suffer only, but to rejoice!

In today’s episode we hear…. How all the most ardent desires of St. Thérèse tended to love How Divine Charity in us too wants to expand and to grow How love should be the focus at all stages of the spiritual life In what love consists…First, in seeking to give pleasure to God

In today’s episode…. We hear how in this life all is love, all proceeds from love, and all endsin love We see this love in the life of St. Thérèse—in her generosity, her practice of renunciation, and her confidence in God. We also see this love in holy childhood, where nothing is of any worth but to operate in love.