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Chapter 5
About This Episode
On this episode, Simone Rizkallah, Director of Program Growth, is joined by Stephanie Burke and Claire Dwyer from the Avila Institute to discuss Chapter 5 from the Endow Study Guide on St. Thérèse of Lisieux.
Show Notes
In this episode, we chat about prayer and the experience of spiritual aridity and how one's quality of prayer is not measured by "good feelings;" as well as the paradox of experiencing joy amidst the dryness. We also discuss that perfection isn't about "white knuckling" your way to holiness.
Link to Pope Francis' Apostolic Exhortation on St. Thérèse: https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/20231015-santateresa-delbambinogesu.html
Discussion Questions
- How do you deal with times of spiritual aridity in your own life? Do you tend to think you're doing something wrong? What does Thérèse’s prayer life have to say on the subject?
- What are your thoughts on Thérèse’s attraction to suffering? Does it strike you as morbid, unhealthy, or even creepy? What is she trying to tell us about suffering and love?
Quotes To Ponder
He whose Kingdom is not of this world showed me that true wisdom consists in "desiring to be unknown and counted as nothing," in "placing one's joy in the contempt of self." -St. Therese, quoting Thomas a Kempis in The Imitation of Christ