BTP-LR1 - Day 1 - The Last Retreat by St. Elizabeth of the Trinity- Beginning to Pray with Dr. Anthony Lilles

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Day 1 – The Last Retreat by St. Elizabeth of the Trinity- Beginning to Pray with Dr. Anthony Lilles

Dr. Anthony Lilles and Kris McGregor discuss St. Elizabeth of the Trinity’s Last Retreat, written during her final illness. In this reflection, Elizabeth expresses her desire to know nothing but Christ, embracing suffering as a path to union with Him. She sees contemplation as a transformative encounter, where deeper knowledge of Jesus leads to becoming more like Him. Elizabeth’s vocation as “Laudem Gloriae” (Praise of Glory) reflects her call to glorify God through suffering, prayer, and silence. Her insights remain relevant, especially through practices like Eucharistic adoration and silent scriptural meditation, which open the heart to Christ’s wisdom.

St. Elizabeth presents the Blessed Virgin as the one who most profoundly understood Christ, making her a model and mother in the spiritual life. Connecting this to St. John Paul II’s teaching on Mary’s maternal mediation, she leads us to embrace the cross. Suffering is an inevitable part of Christian life, but through trust in Christ and the intercession of Mary, it becomes a means of revealing God’s glory. St. Elizabeth’s example demonstrates how even in profound weakness, one can offer everything to God, making suffering a pathway to divine love.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

Embracing Christ in Suffering: St. Elizabeth of the Trinity teaches that suffering can be a path to deeper union with Christ—how can you embrace your own trials with faith rather than resistance?
Contemplation as Transformation: Elizabeth describes mystical prayer as a way of forgetting everything but Christ—how can you cultivate silence and stillness in your daily life to grow in deeper awareness of His presence?
The Role of Mary in Spiritual Growth: Elizabeth points to the Blessed Virgin as the one who most deeply understood Christ—how can you entrust your spiritual journey to Mary and allow her to guide you closer to her Son?
Living as a Praise of Glory: Elizabeth saw her vocation as glorifying God in all circumstances—how can you offer your daily life, even in suffering, as a praise of God’s glory?
The Power of Surrender: Elizabeth’s words reflect a total surrender to God’s will—what attachments or fears keep you from fully trusting in God, and how can you begin surrendering them today?

From “Last Retreat Day 1” found in The Complete Works vol 1:

1. “Nescivi.” 1 “I no longer knew anything.” This is what the “bride of the Canticles ” sings after having been brought into the “inner cellar.” 2 It seems to me that this must also be the refrain of a praise of glory on this first day of retreat in which the Master makes her penetrate the depths of the bottomless abyss so that He may teach her to fulfill the work which will be hers for eternity and which she must already perform in time, which is eternity begun and still in progress. 3 “Nescivi”! I no longer know anything, I do not want to know anything except “to

know Him, to share in His sufferings, to become like Him in His death.” 4 “Those whom God has foreknown He has also predestined to become confirmed to the image of His divine Son,” 5 the One crucified by love. When I am wholly identified with this divine Exemplar, 6 when I have wholly passed into Him and He into me, then I will fulfill my eternal vocation: the one for which God has “chosen me in Him ” 7 “in principio,” the one I will continue “in aeternum” when, immersed in the bosom of my Trinity, I will be the unceasing praise of His glory, Laudem gloriae ejus.

This the text we are using to discuss “Heaven in Faith” you can find it here and order from the Carmelite Sisters

We would like to thank Miriam Gutierrez for providing “the voice” of St. Elizabeth for this series

For other episodes in the series visit the Discerning Hearts page for Dr. Anthony Lilles

Anthony Lilles, S.T.D., has served the Church and assisted in the formation of clergy and seminarians since 1994. Before coming to St. Patrick’s, he served at seminaries and houses of formation in the Archdiocese of Denver and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The son of a California farmer, married with young adult children, holds a B.A. in theology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville with both the ecclesiastical licentiate and doctorate in spiritual theology from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome (the Angelicum). An expert in the writings of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity and the Carmelite Doctors of the Church, he co-founded the Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation and the High Calling Program for priestly vocations. He also founded the John Paul II Center for Contemplative Culture, which hosts symposiums, retreats, and conferences. In addition to his publications, he blogs at www.beginningtopray.com .