The Mystical Teaching of St. John of the Cross

[@MarilynBoussaid-yd1vk]

On March 12, 1990, I was converted by a dream. I was overcome with astonishment on discovering that Jesus is real and He's alive and He loves me and He has all the power. I fell madly in love with Jesus. I asked Him to find me my church before Easter. A big adventure ensued, going to different churches, wherever people invited me. On Good Friday I was led to the Catholic church in my neighborhood. I was Jewish, and I like to consider that I am still Jewish, but Catholic too. Catholicism is the new Judaism, isn't it? I was received into the Church on August 22, 1991, the greatest blessing of my life. Thank you, Jesus!

[@marinwillow23]

Yes, the roots of Catholicism is from Judaism. God works in mysterious ways and I’m glad you found Jesus.

[@CICMCB]

God be praised! Welcome home! It’s Yashua the Messiah or nothing. ❤

[@gracepetersen1442]

❤️🙏❤️

[@PeggyHenderson-du9rm]

🎉

[@dylankrause1418]

I also had a dream a few months ago. I was an atheist. Now I'm currently trying to find a church. Glad to see it's not a unique experience

[@catholicprodigal]

St John of the Cross is my Patron Saint, I wear a 3rd class relic from him all the time. The most important thing I have learned is to surrender everything to God daily. It isn't easy but with great practice it is possible. We have to deny even our right to be angry with someone and hand every situation to God.

[@Beloved_you]

Thank you for sharing this - "We have to deny even our right to be angry with someone and hand every situation to God. " This spoke to me today 🙏🏻💗

[@MarilynBoussaid-yd1vk]

@CatholicProdigal I agree, and I would like to recommend a novena, sometimes called the Surrender Novena, from. Fr.Ruotolo Dolindo. He was recommended to my Italian friend by Padre Pio. She knew both of them and was healed of terminal cancer by prayers of Padre Pio, who became her spiritual director and confessor when she was a teenager. She was supposed to die of cancer back then, but she was miraculously healed and in her eighties now. Padre Pio told her that Fr. Dolindo was a very holy priest. The Surrender Novena can be found online. I pray it perpetually, three times a month, to help me in surrendering to God’s Will in all things. .

[@catholicprodigal]

@@MarilynBoussaid-yd1vk thank you so much

[@lukasandisaaktime9147]

Hi. If you want a 2nd class Relic of Padre Pio the Vatican have it on the beautiful Italian rosary. I have one and adore it. I believe it was cut from one of his brown habit. I keep it right at the head of my bed. I know it protects me, not only by Dearest Mother Mary, who I am Consecrated to, but by St. Padre Pio as well. God Bless you and your loved ones!!!

[@arthurtorres3680]

I love St John of the Cross. I was ordained priest on Dec 14th which is his feast day and also have a 1st class relic of his on my altar. John of the Cross has taught me how to fight the devil day-to-day and how to imbue myself in prayer

[@JenniferMiller-sx1xn]

Beautiful Testimony ❤

[@heinmolenaar6750]

How do you fight the devil?

[@richardkasper5822]

When Jesus said my God why have you forsaken me ?. ive alwways believed it was to show us even though we've given up on God after the worst trials ,He'll be right there for us with much mercy.... Jesus was in our flesh and He knew that at some time in our life we'd feel abandoned by God as He did at that moment and He showed us that its ok.

[@UncreatedWay]

That saying is the opening line of Psalm 22.

[@MegaGetMore]

I had a vision of Our Blessed Mother of God. No words were spoken, I've looked into her eyes; " In her eyes, has such profound Humility!! No words can explain this profound look!! Except this profound Love for Our Beloved Lord Jesus Christ. Amen 🙏

[@dianestrutz7169]

Father, I wish that every parish priest would listen to you and adopt some of your suggestions. Bishop Sheen seems to have drawn all his strength and inspiration from Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

[@eturnall383]

I prayed for God to reveal to me my wife's spiritual struggle, what is was like for her, what she feels like and what she was going through making her suffer, and I went into a dark night of the soul, so I believe that this dark night sense is revelation from God to those spiritual healers who can handle it who are stronger and chosen to be there for others strength to defeat their darkness that is oppressing them. This is the true gift of salvation, that we may be able to help others.

[@gerir4386]

May God bless you and grant all the necessities you require to help you get your spouse to heaven. In His Holy Name, through her Immaculate Heart. ♥️🙏🏼💙🌹

[@veronicarowe3960]

If one is truly serious we must be in prayer and in his presence 24 /7..pray without ceasing ..no tv no worldly reading ..only GOD. We need to be serious if we want GOD

[@andrewheakes244]

So you think that is what God wants for me, you, all of us?

[@MarilynBoussaid-yd1vk]

@veronicarowe3960 Thank you for this comment. I got rid of my tv in 1990 when I had my conversion. I did continue to read and enjoy fiction for many years, as well as many Catholic books. I enjoyed my reading, and in fact sometimes still do, because I’m not able to read theology constantly. The lives of the Saints and conversion testimonies are my favorites. I believe God wants me to live a balanced life, with some recreation, but He is first and at the center. I attend Daily Mass and pray a lot also. Maybe you should consider entering a religious community. Not everyone is called to, or capable of, such intense spirituality and concentration. God bless you.

[@MarilynBoussaid-yd1vk]

@veronicarowe3960 But what about KZbin? Shall we give up watching videos? Writing comments?

[@gerir4386]

While on a retreat, one of my favorite priests shared, "Prayer requires modesty through Eutrapelia, the virtue of right recreation. It allows us to restore our souls to go back to work and serve God." My take away: Even our recreation can and should be offered in His Holy Name, and for the good of our salvation. Thus, becoming a continuation of our prayer, and in our gratitude, giving glory to God.

[@MW-fz3zg]

​@@MarilynBoussaid-yd1vk I am a sinner; and from that perspective, I must refrain from things that distract me from the life God wants me to live.

[@lynetteeusebio1846]

I am a member of laycarmelite order and we are reading st.John of cross,and continue studying his writings.

[@MegaGetMore]

Mathew Leonard is so right On! I've been listening to him for years, every Catholic Christian should pay attention. God IS Gracious Amen 🙏

[@LoudandClearChastity]

Warm greetings from Australia 🦘 Excellent interview. Both Fr. Haggerty and Matthew have great chemistry. Very good questions, very insightful. Matthew, you might care to have more interviews with Fr. Haggerty. He is very humble and thoughtful. Keep up the great work. Thank you

[@rmp7400]

I was unaware of Father Haggerty, and am most reassured by the clarity and light of his eyes - and the alert serenity of his demeanor. This is a holy priest.

[@hrabmv]

@@rmp7400 hahahaha i had exactly the opposite impression, he comes across cold, and as if he hates the smile of the guy on the right of the screen, so much that he turned off the glow in the eyes of the guy on the right!!! i am 100% sure he is troubled by so much negativity. Are you the same? :)

[@MarilynBoussaid-yd1vk]

@hrabmv I got the impression he’s very humble. He listens intently and answers thoughtfully. He obviously takes the subject seriously. You can’t really tell from these videos how the people in them are seeing each other. Interestingly enough, just from the way you express such negative judgmentalism, I would guess you’re not Catholic. If you don’t like it, don’t watch it. I imagine you wouldn’t like St. John of the Cross either, if you could watch him on KZbin.

[@stuartbowenjr8393]

When I came into full communion, I took St John of the Cross as my confirmation name. A blessing.

[@googydias6195]

The Jesus Prayer works all the time , and keeps us very very close to God, avoids temptation. I use it all the time especially when travelling and out and about.🙏

[@Jack-il3qv]

We are made to pray and are given the time to do it.

[@racheleaggleston6410]

I can say that God definitely wants to give us special graces . Once, many years ago, living a single life, my dream was seeing many homes in a row, the focus here was a peace within the whole boundaries of these, and a knowledge of a symmetry out of this world. I felt that I had experienced supernatural peace. God Blessing.

[@mariazamora2713]

Thank you Matthew for the beautiful talk with fathet Haggetty. I love John of the cross. I was blessed to have attended Saint Teresa of the Child Jesus Academy in the 60s when we were still having the Latin Mass in all the churchs. I love his poems. I have that book that you recommended to your audience today. I will subscribe to your Channel I'm looking forward two listening to you again. May God richly bless you.

[@katies7533]

I am watching your podcast now with fr Haggerty. St John of the cross was instrumental in my conversion experience 28 years ago. I was a mystic too. I remember my intro to him was Talbot’s The lover and the beloved. I just purchased your book. I can’t wait to read it. My charism became discalced Carmelite and I spent some time as a hermit.

[@marystermer5983]

Thank you Matthew❤, thank you Fr. Haggerty! I am ordering now.

[@veronicarowe3960]

First n foremost as we step out in faith we then know he is with us..then we must step out n step up ....then we empty ourselves n make space fir him n our heart.as we thank him and praise him ...then we can talk to him just like a best friend pouring out our heart to him as a beloved...thus.is the practise I use..it certainly works ...then as we are in a.posture like this with him ..GODS presence is there always . .his grace allows it ...then he shows himself ...in greater understanding ...loving reassurance and understanding comes from him then ..everyone can have this u just have to want it n work towards it

[@AnnabelSanchez-oo8ko]

St.John of the Cross, pray for us to be compassionate with the suffering ❤

[@dianestrutz7169]

Jesus has shown me that He will break through to us even when we've been shameful. He wants you to know that He really loves us.

[@barbaraa2937]

For those who love St John you can also listen to the flamenco author Enrique Morente and some of St John´s Poems sung by him such as "Aunque es de noche" and "Encima de las corrientes".

[@gerardogilsanz1171]

Just speaking from the literature point of view, his poems are awesome. A real height of beauty, delicacy...

[@franciscowalker5104]

Hi everyone ...thanks Matthew and Fr. Ronald for this video...of course, I am very devoted the Saint Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross and read most of their works....an I got - The Contemplative Hunger and St John of the Cross -a Master of Contemplation of Fr. Haggerty...Happy Saint John of Cross feast Day

[@richardturai7029]

St.John of the cross is my patron Saint and I was born on Dec 14th and now I'm 66 years old and end of this year I'm 67years

[@josephvanharen3518]

Joseph Van Haren , Thank you Fr Haggerty and Matthew Leonard , I learned much from this very good video , God bless .

[@dianestrutz7169]

St. John of the Cross, his experiences with unkindness and misunderstanding are conditions to which we all can relate. Relationship with Jesus is strengthened and can even be elevated by Jesus' infinite creativity when one focuses on fulfilling our commitment to prayer with stubborn faithfulness when some unpleasant situation tries to destroy it.

[@JulyDOB]

Thanks Matthew. I wish you could let the Father speak more.

[@ginniej48]

I was introduced to St John of the cross in English Lit 101, fast forward 40 yrs, I kept my book because several of his writings were in it. I’m going to look into the book you recommended. Many thanks for introducing Fr to me.🙏🕊️✝️

[@glion7792]

I use to have constant criticism towards myself and depressive thoughts- so as recommended I got a wrist counter that golfers used to count their golf strokes. I clicked it every time I had those thoughts- 100’s within a short amount of time-‘somehow it helped me break the engrained habit- God Bless, Amen.

[@susankelly7844]

Thank you for this very helpful video. God Bless you both.

[@patrikt.bernard7748]

Womderfull! Thank You very much. I've appreciated it so much this teaching. God bless You!

[@greggpangle4385]

I suffer from depression and anxiety. For the past year and a half I attend group therapy. I'm not bragging, but both clients and therapists there consider me to be the most intelligent person in the building. Yes, I'm naturally blessed with high intelligence, and have been blessed with the ability to be highly educated, even though I come from a poor background (according to American standards). I have been an avid reader, and began reading at an early age (I was 6 when I read William Shirer's "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" I originally planned on becoming a Jesuit priest. I mentioned the Dark Night of the Soul, in one of my therapy groups. I was asked to explain. Our groups are varied, and we don't talk about religion or politics, unless it is a personal experience. I explained "The Dark Night of the Soul", as an experience where everything that you relief on through life, is stripped from you, and you are a bare being, clinging onto reality, but you cling to one thing you believe in. And that gets you through. For myself, that has been God. For others, I believe, hope and pray, that what they cling to, will bring them to God.

[@JuliaJayATOP]

Great insight

[@dianestrutz7169]

Scripture says, "Be still and know that I am God."

[@lukasandisaaktime9147]

Just found your channel and I am very thankful for it. I am a new subscriber- thank you again and God Bless to you and yours. 😊🙏

[@boojasmine]

Wonderful, thank you for this. Myles Maloney, Edmonton, Canada

[@filiamaria8]

lovely lovely wonderful discussion ❤️👌thank you🙏

[@truenorthjourney]

Thank you so very much Fr. Haggerty and Matthew. What a wonderful interview, many, many Blessings to you both.

[@Sunshine-Light]

Please pray for me Fr Donald I need prayers ❤ Noel 🙏🏻

[@John2verse5]

Ave MARÍA🌹🌷🌹 Saints Simon Stock, John of the Cross & Teresa of Avila, please pray with us and for us. Pax et Bonum

[@stephenpaulwilson]

Thank you 🙏 ❤️

[@TupacMakaveli1996]

Suddenly I'm in deep catholic environment when I was only trying to learn about 'dark night of the soul'.

[@MarilynBoussaid-yd1vk]

Welcome! 😁🙏

[@pathtoOneness]

I was a nun of the same order but for women, Order of Carmelite DisCalced for 11 years. I follow his path in mysticism.

[@kansasscout4322]

@@Braingrandchild this does not make sense.

[@user-zo2ge3oe8d]

@@kansasscout4322lol

[@erictyson11]

You "was" a nun?

[@pathtoOneness]

@@erictyson11 Yes, I was a nun of the same order, DisCalced Carmelite and followed St. John of the Cross closely.

[@erictyson11]

@trudihsu I didn't think you could ever stop being a nun. I don't mean anything negative by my question I'm just curious. I just thought once you were in that deep you could ever not be that.

[@mapaz555]

Contemplation, jumping into the sea of Love. Contemplation, screaming for God to the abiss of darkness. Contemplation, timeless state of being. Contemplation, loving God with all of our heart. Contemplation, being God’s child just for his eyes. Just for his heart. Contemplation, silent deepness, Floating in God’s Wave 🌊 Letting go to the Eternal smile for the 😉wink of Bursting Joy To the warmth You Love God and God loves you and that is all that matters, To touch Home, while here on earth but also being in heaven with Him. Just to say, hello I love you my Love, I’m here and you’re here and that’s all that matters. So that God is present always, Now and now and now and now ad infinitum Opening your inner eyes and heart and inner senses to God’s Grace and Love

[@Agnes-sp9hj]

Yes sometimes too much advice is tiring--“be still and know that I am God “ I like this advice as it comes from God - right?

[@KerinaKnubley]

Thank you @mapazz555 your poetic words encourage me to reach into, and trust God to guide and lead the way .... 🫶&🙏

[@JuliaJayATOP]

Well spoken ❤straightforward to my heart

[@JuliaJayATOP]

❤

[@Ray-q6d4w]

The Work of Grace is Divine influence on the heart. Saying, the theological virtue of Faith unites the soul to God, a complicated way of saying, "Faith that Works by Love," not by works of the flesh. Complicated because theology is thought by people and Love is thought by Holy Spirit.

[@jfvk9916]

Great interview. Blessed be God!

[@HarleyGirl75]

Great interview!

[@JosephMatthews-sz3xb]

It would be interesting to have a priest speak about the contemplative practice and spiritual formation of St. Matteo Ricci!

[@DarkAngel-cj6sx]

Thanks

[@LesliePhillips-x9t]

When they were talking about asceticism, it reminded me of santosha in yoga: contentment. Contentment with what is already provided for you. The Sun and the Earth are provided by God to care for us.

[@MarcDubeau1]

God come to our assistance, make haste to help us

[@BronxCat]

Thanks 😊

[@veronicarowe3960]

Most people don't know how too...the church needs to give more teaching ...

[@44esta44]

Any chance this could be answered: I do try to start my prayer time with the Gospel of the day, Sometimes, I get nothing.....do I move onto another Scripture or stick with something that doesn't "speak"? So grateful for this interview!!

[@MatthewLeonard]

If it doesn't strike you, keep reading...slowly. And if you ever get to the point where you don't really have a desire to read any more and just want to "be" with God for a bit, follow that nudge from the Holy Spirit. The point of all of this is to have your heart move toward God. And God bless you!

[@44esta44]

@@MatthewLeonard So good of you to answer my question. I probably should’ve been more specific. Some of these readings of the last days are tough to relate to. But I’ll try what you suggested. Thank you so very much Matthew.

[@cecilcharlesofficial]

Thanks for a fantastic discussion. Gonna go pick up a copy of Fr. Haggerty's book, and the Pope's dissertation. Not to be too presumptuous, but I leave some version of this little thought process on lots of Alan Watts and Meister Eckhart videos (because I think they were on to the same thing), and I try to rewrite it often, since the writing through the thought process can't help but get me back into the state of mind I love. Anyway, I think if you read, and look at your own mind to verify, you'll see simply that we're not in control. And seeing this is how faith begins to grow. It's like this: No consciousness chooses its thoughts, its preferences, its will, what it feels moment to moment. I know that may sound crazy (no one talks about it) but bear with me. We can't make ourselves love by saying "I love you." We can't 'choose' a thought without just having it. Rather, you just have thought after thought, often competing thoughts, trying to help you make sense of the world (and which 'work' to a large degree). IWe do learn, thank God. But it's not up to us when we learn: we don't rearrange our neurons to see finally "Ah-ha," and even if we did, it wouldn't be up to us to have the desire TO rearrange our neurons. Just like if we could change our will - that's really still just will presenting itself. But whether 'free will' or determinism, either way a consciousness just feels "I want that" - whether 'that' is something basic, something wrong perhaps, or your grandest idea of communing with God. And this means we can't choose to have faith either. Whether faith means "to trust" or "to believe a specific thing about God and Jesus," it doesn't matter in the sense that: you don't choose to believe. Christians need to admit this (Calvinists see it). But take heart, it's not just faith. We don't choose anything. And yet we're stuck suffering the consequences, and our own judgment, and the judgment of others. We never escape our conscience, even if it evolves somewhat over time. We always judge, even if it's in saying "Judgment is bad." That's still a judgment, oh cult of tolerance. So, we're stuck, doing and judging and feeling and hoping to learn. But we never know what we'll think of next, and our next thought might change our life. That's part one. Part two is: you're not in charge of anything but you can learn to place your mind on the sensation of the thing you hate most: fear/pain. Fear, anxiety, anger, guilt - any/every feeling that drives you "up the wall," are really all sensations of types of pain in your body. Just like thoughts, you don't choose sensations either. But seeing it's a sensation is great: no longer are you battling the idea of 'fear,' rather you see it's a physical thing. Then spend time (every moment you can remember) putting your awareness on all sensation, but especially fear - and you'll realize you have all these pockets in your body that are physically tense (like you're clenching in expectation of an incoming punch), in an effort to not feel something you're worried about, some conversation you're scared to have, some insecurity you're dealing with, or maybe just because you're hungry. This tension keeps you from being your relaxed, best self. It makes you overly sensitive and frustrated that you can't seem to get it to go away. In taking time and looking at what your body feels (in as many moments and situations as you can) you see how much the things you do are steered by this pain. This isn't an "Oh the pain!" sob story, and it's certainly not to make you feel like a victim. Because the point is: if you start to look straight at it, accept it: good things start to happen. But you have to admit it's there first, find it, accept it, and admit it's not up to you if it comes or goes. Versus what we do normally: clench our abdomen, grit, hoping the grit will cause the pain to go away. Rather, try a new habit. If you can dare yourself, look straight at it. We seem to be able to get those tense tissues and muscles to relent by simply holding our minds on them. Aka, find the anxiety (the vague pain of chronically tense muscles anywhere in your body, but especially behind your eyes, your mouth, voicebox, sternum, abdomen) and put your mind on it (the reverse of what you try to do whenever you 'take your mind off' pain). Much pain seems to be somewhat appeased (?) by just looking right at it. You watch those muscles/tissues physically relent, even just for a moment, and see yourself act (in those moments) without the hindrance that was there before, clouding your ability to be the gregarious, at-peace you. Part three: We've progressed far enough with science to see that as things get smaller and smaller we never actually find the 'stuff,' but rather smaller and smaller patterns of form. Take an atom, for example. It's actually protons and neutrons and electrons. There's no 'shell' of the atom. It's just those smaller things buzzing round making the form we'd call 'atom.' But then take the smaller things (the neutrons, protons, electrons)... they're not actually 'things' either, no shell. But they're smaller 'subatomic particles' which are themselves smaller patterns and/or energy. There's never any 'stuff,' just pattern. It hit me: Space is 'the thing' and matter is when that thing is bunched, or energized, or 'in form' or 'discernible' or 'interactive.' Imagine a napkin laid flat on a table. Now, pinch the napkin somewhere so it sticks up, like a nipple. We recognize the 'nipple,' but in truth it's still just napkin. In the same way, space is like the napkin and 'matter' is like the pinched section of the napkin. But it's all napkin. It's all God. But no individual thing is 'in control.' And thus too it explains His will is always being done ("Thy will be done" means "Your will IS being done, God, and I'm trying to remember" versus "Gee God, I hope you get your way."). But this will includes our mistakes, and the fact that they're mistakes (they're not suddenly good), but also the consequences and the suffering and our learning. And in seeing that absolutely nothing is in control we see also the real reason for faith: it's all God's will and there's nothing 'to be done.' Aka, you can't stop yourself from being you, but you've no idea what that actually means about who you'll be in each next moment. It's up to God. The ego is the illusion. It's Lucifer saying "I can do better," and God saying "Yes, Lucifer, but who put that idea in your mind?" It's all God. Even when you think it's not. Even when you've got no faith. And there's still morality. And consequence. I don't know about eternal Hell, other than life is hellish (to varying degrees) so long as we forget our place. We are obeying but we think we're not. It's just that our obeying includes the bad stuff too, and we can't fathom that this conundrum doesn't disprove God, or the Good, or our own 'accountability' in it all. But it doesn't. There's still God, and morality, and the consequences (though no one knows precisely what those are, either). Just breathe and have faith, since we're not in control. Wish y'all the best.

[@cecilcharlesofficial]

Active contemplation is also your willingness to put your mind on the pains in your body (most of which are emotional), and to 'feel' the sensations of your body, moment to moment. Tension in your neck. Discomfort in your stomach. Ache behind your eyes. Just look. When was the last time we just looked? Since, in the end, it's our unwillingness to feel things at a certain point that causes us to lash out and act in ways that destroy. Not that we should sit and do nothing: nobody can do that, actually. Rather, just teach ourselves to feel our bodies, feel our anger, feel our fear, as often as possible, as the struggle to mask them (instead of feeling them) via work, play, pleasure, drugs, and even intellectualizing keeps us doing everything but what needs to be done: surrendering to the sensation and acting while surrendered.

[@robertmorgan5467]

Thx 🙏

[@jacobjoseph6671]

Thank you so much 👏

[@hrimanmcgilloway1980]

Thank you both for this. Why, however, do so many interviewers use the interview for their own thoughts.

[@RichardNeumann99]

Less commentary from Matt, and more from Fr. Haggerty. But, overall a good interview.

[@anagbachika8093]

Amen 🙏🏽❤

[@marystermer5983]

I recently went to a meditation “group” based on John Main’s teaching on meditation. The “facilitator” asked if there were any thought, comment. I shared my experience (only because the question was asked)….he said you should blockout anything that happens, returning to mantra. My question is why or what is the point/benefit of “group” meditation?

[@biglance]

St. John- Locusts and Honey. I have heard that "locusts" was a mistranslation and the true meaning was "the locust fruit" which is prevalent in that area of the world and is similar to "the carob fruit", which tastes a lot like "cacao" or the seed of the chocolate/cacao fruit....so he was eating chocolate and honey, bet it helped him get closer to God :) peace.

[@veronicarowe3960]

If we are aware we take our thoughts captive . And so nothing that's not of GOD can enter

[@Braingrandchild]

What about falling into mortal sin while professing in prayer life? Does that set a person back immediately (assuming they’ve repented immediately and are truly contrite)? Thanks

[@MatthewLeonard]

The saints say "no." You don't start over. Obviously there are always consequences for sin and we should do penance, but you don't move "backwards" in the spiritual life, so to speak, for what you're referring to. God bless!

[@Catholic_Fiat33]

St. John of the cross was persecuted by different factions of his own church like many Saints. But he is an example that most Saints in the Catholic tradition were monks or nuns. People who had to take their faith as deep as possible. They weren't the usual parishioners, simply attending Sunday Mass. Not to mention Personal Revelation coming out of the contemplation of Public Revelation. When you publish your personal revelation it has to go through so many check points to make sure it doesn't contradict public revelation. Most superiors will simply say 'don't do it' aka 'don't disrupt the status quo'. Thus the "Mystic" status is hard earned. It usually costs them everything.

[@cecilcharlesofficial]

once one tastes God, it's hard to not make your life about that but I think realizing God comes in seeing that we're not in control, at all - we don't choose our thoughts nor how things make us feel. We don't choose our will - no consciousness could - to 'choose' one's will would be simply to express will that you don't choose. And so we begin to see it all as God's will (Thy will be done, after all). And then you see that some care about God, others don't, and it's all God's will. Faith begins to grow of its own (you're not in charge). And yet you're not suddenly 'zen' with everything: you're not in control. You still have desires and aims and reactions and insecurities and obstacles. It's all the same, but it's not. The mystics of all the religions see this.

[@chete4479]

_God IS Á GOD of LIVING , NOT OF DEAD ONE'S_ _THE WAY TO JESUS IS THE WAY OF THE CROSS_ , Take your Own Cross and follow me, jesus said. _There's Not other way to Sanctity_ All I can say to you : Every pain, sacrifice and fasting I made = has Instant Reward in itself, and effect on others , Evicts with terror Demons, that hate humility and self sacrifice for the Love of Jesus , saves Souls , not only takes me closer to Jesus , but makes this a better world.

[@marystermer5983]

I’ve always thought of contemplative prayer or contemplation as an intimate time with Christ?

[@MaryKingsley-py4js]

You have missed out a number of important things, such as it was the virgin that came to him and told him he had suffered enough and would be helped to escape. Also the most important emphisis on 'The cloud of unknowing.'

[@maryporter7364]

You left the convent

[@w5mav]

Thank you both. Cannot find the link to the book in the show notes?

[@MatthewLeonard]

Sorry for not being specific in the interview. Go to matthewsleonard.com/125-mystical-teaching-of-st-john-of-the-cross/ and you'll find it.

[@aymani.sayegh951]

Hello, what happened to Francis the second brother of St. John? Thanks a lot

[@veronicarowe3960]

I follow the divine will read louisa piccaretta

[@cristinanieto683]

Can you repeat the name of the book about St. John of the Cross? Thank you

[@debbiedorman1043]

My God, my God why have you forsaken me? I do believe that humanity of Jesus was abandoned, that is because of all of our sins, the consequences of all sin. That He took upon Himself so that we do not need to be abandoned for all eternity. Jesus took upon His human flesh ALL Sin, and the Divinity of Christ, being also a part of His complete person gave Him the strength to suffer deeply, unto death for us. I Do indeed God the Father abandoned Him in that hour for the glory to come. He knew in his Divine Nature that this was God that Fathers plan for Our salvation. He as human said, "thy will be done", and it was finished, the reason He came, to save us and Glorify the Father and His Name. Thank you Lord

[@katlinhenry6927]

How do you continue on when you find it hard to believe? I would love to be in that mind set of living for Christ but I just see to much stuff to make me not believe it’s true. How to people move on from such devastating situation?

[@michaelcowley7138]

The smart phone often reminds me of a mini tree of knowledge … be careful not to let the algorithm or an ‘eternal flow’ carry us away 🤔

[@hildadaumuller4291]

Way those the Catholic Faith not teach the born again aspect John 3"1-10 ? it has open to me a new perception of the relationship between GOD and Humanities Amen

[@MarilynBoussaid-yd1vk]

"Born of water and the Spirit" refers to water Baptism, and we receive the Holy Spirit in Baptism.

[@tookie36]

Sri RamaKrishna has some helpful words for prayer ❤❤❤

[@veronicarowe3960]

The only way is to receive his love n then give this love back to him..then it grows ..it's a choice

[@j.tamburello4053]

Love this discussion. I would have hoped though that at this level of contemplation, the “he” that refers to God, could have been dropped and the word creator, or spirit or some other word could have been used. God was anthropomorphized as a male, by men, to help the common person understand the idea of God better. But we need to be very clear, God is not a man. Man was created in God’s image, not the other way around.

[@TOMReefer]

The self can also attempt to try and detach its self from the self. This is not what the saints did. They were drawn by love of God through grace. No trying in that. If the self is trying to be “good” and give up things, it’s trying in vain. No love in that. The spiritual life is all about love.

[@TheGringoSalado]

Biggest obstacle to prayer is the NO mass. Let’s be honest. It’s so loud very few moments to pray, wrong orientation.

[@wesstone7571]

25:19.. I know that God wants us to enjoy food, and more than just food. He doesn't want us enjoying it so much that we become glutinous. God says to overcome the desires of the flesh. We lust for the opposite sex. Of course he expects us to enjoy sex with our spouses. We must not allow it to become an addiction. Jesus said he wants us to live life and abundantly

[@BronxCat]

I know of him somehow...saw him...In the City

[@hrabmv]

i am amazed how many people talk about love, as if they understand what love is, and at the same time have 0 feelings for truth, and 0 negative feelings towards lies, stupidity and evil, i,e. are numb to the TRUTH. Never debate about anything, and pretend to live in love and peace. This priest God bless him comes across so COLD, and in general....so many folks try so hard to come close to God being TOTALY NUMB, and without any joy.

[@josephcade3541]

The Vatican 2 documents explained : Without understanding the following you will never be able to understand the documents. I will list here, what the documents consist of, by name and by title. But you will never find the list of these names inside the documents this is deliberate. For the purpose of concealment. But what you will find in every paragraph of every page the “definition” of the terms listed. Therefore the Vatican two documents consist of “definition” only: Without understanding the following you will never be able to understand the documents. I will list here, what the documents consist of, by name and by title. But you will never find the list of these names inside the documents this is deliberate. For the purpose of concealment. But what you will find in every paragraph of every page the “definition” of the terms listed. Therefore the Vatican two documents consist of “definition” only: 1) Indifferentism 2) Syncretism and Synthesis 3) Immanent 4) Transcendentalism 5) Individualism 6) Existentialism, naturalism 7) Stoicism 8) Pantheism 9) Evolution 10) The Sciences such as historian sociology psychology critic… If you look up Saint Pope Pius 10 Encyclical “ Pascendi Dominici Gregis” you will find he new about Vatican 2 and wrote a detailed comprehensive explanation of Vatican 2, listing in detail more than half of the items above listed, and he even explains, in example, how it is meant to diminish Jesus Christ and the one true church and desecrate all seven sacraments and to leave the door open for more of modernism and Progressive changes in the future. He is not alone !!! Pius 10 on the Errors of Modernism, Pius 9 his Syllabus of Errors and Pope Gregory 16 in his Encyclical “Mirari Vos” see #19 on the waldensians,the Beghards,the Wycliffites, and all the popes condemned the documents of Vatican 2 and the Synod of Pistoia and warned the faithful with excommunication, anathema if you don't reject the Vatican two documents, and church, and embrace the one true traditional Catholic Church, the depository of faith, before the end of your life. As you examine these terms and then read the Vatican two documents you can clearly see the “definition” of all the above listed terms, but not the terms themselves, and the evil,and that it is no longer Catholic but a new religion that will lead you straight to hell !!! The Vatican II documents : briefly 1) Christ is united with each man in the Incarnation before Jesus was even born (Gaudium et Spes #22) 2) Protestant religions are a means of salvation and all other denominations. (Unitatis Redintegratio #3) 3) non-catholics made lawfully receive Holy Communion and the sacraments of the church.(Orientalium Ecclesiarum #27) 4) Muslims and Catholics together worship the same God (Lumen Gentium #16) 5) the Catholic church is united with those who don't accept the Catholic faith or the papacy. Lumen Gentium #15) 6) some people above the Age of Reason don't believe in God through no fault of their own. Lumen Gentium #16) 7) and the Buddhism man search the highest illumination. (Nostra Aetate #2) 8) all things on earth should be related to man as their Center and Crown. (Gaudium et Spes #12). Then what are we to do you ask ? If you are a true Traditional Catholic then you are supposed to do what the Blessed Virgin Mary told us to do, in these evil times, that she described at Fatima, in the “Third Secret”. Not the fake phony Third Secret that John Paul II falsified and Rewritten, along with the fake Lucia !!! But the real true Third Secret of Fatima. You are also to do what the Blessed Virgin Mary told us to do at La Salette, France and again at Our Lady of Good Success, who described in great detail what is to happen to the Catholic church at the end of the 20th century and she was 100% right !!! What do we do then ? what did she say to do ? She said, to say the Traditional Rosary, not the rosary of John Paul II, the Traditional Rosary !! 15 decades, everyday or 5 decades on Monday, 5 decades on Tuesday, and 5 decades, on Wednesday. Since the Mass is the greatest prayer of all !!! you get the Saint Andrews missile (and no other missile) but the St Andrews missile, and you say Mass every Sunday (you're not able to consecrate) but you can still say the prayers of the Mass !!! From only the Saint Andrew's missile!! You can say the rosary, the Seven Sorrows of Mary, the Stations of the Cross, all at home. Have nothing to do with today's fake Catholic Church!!! NOTHING !!! This means all Vatican 2 priests and parishioners also the sspx, sspv, cmri, fssps… It will be a mortal sin and send you straight to hell if you go to any of these groups who support and embrace “Invincible ignorance” and also “baptism of desire and blood” that the Traditional Catholic church teaches against !!! Subjective v.s Objective heresy !!! You can be in the soul of the church and not be a member heresy these groups, the sspx and others Embrace these heresies !!! along with using the St Joseph's missile (THIS IS A condemned missile) if anyone, even the Pope, tells you that it's not a condemned missile they are - A - Liar !! don't believe them, they're a liar and a Heretic !!! Heretics will send you to Hell !!! You say your prayers at home, you stay at home, and you say your prayers at home, the Traditional prayers of the church and you say them every day. You read the Bible the Catholic Bible and no other since all other Bibles have been Rewritten with attacks againt Mary !!! and study the lives of the Saints of the church, and stay away from newly written or revised books on the market today !!! Don't buy any books on the market after 1960 !!!! What about confession and all that ? You confess your sins to God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost using the prayers in the St Andrews missile, in the confessional which is in the back of the book, or you say one of the seven penitential Psalms along with the act of contrition. That's your confession, at home where you are safe both in body and soul !! For baptism you do the same at home with the proper, Matter, Form and Intent !!! But whatever you do have nothing to do with the Vatican 2 Church sspx, sspv, fssp…. even if it's empty do not go in it !!! Judgment day is almost here. P.S.- the Most Holy Family Monastery is a good resource me and my colleagues have kept a close eye on them for over 20 years I highly recommend them. God Love You

[@paulahotong3972]

Fr i have been ridiculed way beyond understanding will ever know. I am extremely confused and this is within an Orden of Christ. Please help beyond i beg

[@paulahotong3972]

Oops..Order…

[@cathyherbisonwiget7887]

Fantastic concept-mental austerity! Use repetition of an ejaculation prayer to ground the mind.

[@ISATŌP1]

God knows nothing of the material world, as God Is Infinite, Incorporeal Omnipresence, or better yet, Infinite Consciousness! Therefore, the nature of prayer is Stillness and Silence. You should never ask God for anything, that is nothing more than paganism! Belief in Good and Evil is believing in God Amiss..... Jesus taught us this PRINCIPLE, yet the world turned this amazing truth into a battle between good and evil, or religious ideology! There isn't God and man, there is only GOD AS MAN!! I AND THE FATHER ARE ONE....!! God Is Omnipresence

[@kathleenirish]

Except Jesus says to ask. To seek. To knock.

[@lukasandisaaktime9147]

Shouldn't we use more respect to St. John of the Cross, instead of just saying: "John", but at least saying "St. John"?

[@rachelrichard2805]

I was listening to Teressa of Avila, and at one point the priest was explaining that she was so beautiful. That even young men wanted to always to talk with her because of herd wisdom and beauty . But at one point. Gods sent here to hell for a small moment . He said I want you to stop talking to these men , i want all of you to. I found that to be confusing, I’m a wife mother and friend . Am I to do like here ?

[@PLA5207]

Matthew, the felt sense of time distortion is a classic phenomenon of hypnotic process which occurs in great part, because of the person's internal, focus.

[@PaulaOkeefe]

Hypnotic sounds of man! When God comes and or infuses, it is mystical! It is of God

[@nbarakan42]

Great video. Free google book recommendation that shares the same subject matter in a unique manner: The Divine Secret of Nothing by Vincent Morales

[@richardbenitez1282]

Oddly, the thing that has always bothered my prayer life of course remembering hostility I got from parents and relatives upon trying to be this catholic kid. My dad’s family were virulently anti catholic. Then, naturally this anti catholic stuff one gets everywhere ( like at lunch room at work). Now, I get it from these evangelical friends who purposely undermine my catholic faith. I just need to move away from folks. Be less active with others. Be secretive on my church activities.

[@TheMickey1892]

That might help! For awhile, then be sure to listen, because the Lord might call you back to the lunchroom if He has something for you to suffer or experience or share. God bless your day!

[@MarilynBoussaid-yd1vk]

@richardbenitez1282 Jesus promised us persecution. Don’t let the anti-Catholics get you down! It’s their purpose in life to protest. That’s why they’re called Protestants. Our purpose is to follow Jesus and to persevere in the True Faith handed down from the Apostles, which has been safeguarded by the Church for 2000 years. Be confident in practicing your Faith. Smile and show love to everybody, pray for those who.persecute you. Make your Daily Offering every morning before you go to work. Don’t be afraid. Jesus loves you more than you can imagine.

[@emilysandstrom2476]

The first few pages of Dark Night of the Soul, written in the 1500s, is a hilarious description of fake Christians and their ways, written as if he wrote it yesterday.

[@Master-AGN]

Hollow vessels.

[@cathyherbisonwiget7887]

I think, maybe your questions are great, but let the guest really answer fully before responding yourself.

[@JohnBurman-l2l]

It doesn't matter how you get pure..all religions 13:21 all spiritual paths guide us. At a certain point all you can think of is the lord...everything else has gone...there is no attraction in the world.

[@rafaellajara3623]

The only expert in prayer is the Holy Spirit.

[@maggiesace389]

Path of detachment; doctrine of nada