BTP-LR8 The "Last Retreat" Day 7 pt. 2 St. Elizabeth of the Trinity Beginning to Pray with Dr. Anthony Lilles

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Beginning to Pray: “The Last Retreat – Day 7 pt 2 ” – “Then my suffering is “a message which passes on the glory” of the Eternal”

From “Last Retreat Day 7 pt 2” found in The Complete Works vol 1:

18. “Night to night announces it.” 106 How very consoling that is! My weaknesses, my dislikes, my mediocrity , my faults themselves tell the glory of the Eternal! My sufferings of soul or body also tell the glory of my Master! David sang: “How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good He has done for me?” This: “I will take up the cup of salvation.” 107 If I take up this cup crimsoned with the Blood of my Master and, in wholly joyous thanksgiving, I mingle my blood with that of the holy Victim, it is in some way made infinite and can give magnificent praise to the Father. Then my suffering is “a message which passes on the glory” of the Eternal.

19. “There (in the soul that tells His glory) He has pitched a tent for the Sun.” 108 The sun is the Word, the “Bridegroom.” If He finds my soul empty of all that is not contained in these two words— His love, His glory, then He chooses it to be “His bridal chamber”; He “rushes” in “like a giant racing triumphantly on his course” and I cannot “escape His heat.” 109 He is this “consuming fire” 110 which will effect the blessed transformation of which St. John of the Cross speaks when he says: “Each seems to be the other and the two are but one”: 111 a “praise of glory” 112 of the Father!

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

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 offer heartfelt thanks to
Miriam Gutierrez for providing for us “the voice” of Blessed Elizabeth for this series

Anthony Lilles, S.T.D. is an associate professor and the academic dean of Saint John’s Seminary in Camarillo as well as the academic advisor for Juan Diego House of Priestly Formation for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. For over twenty years he served the Church in Northern Colorado where he joined and eventually served as dean of the founding faculty of Saint John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver. Through the years, clergy, seminarians, religious and lay faithful have benefitted from his lectures and retreat conferences on the Carmelite Doctors of the Church and the writings of Blessed Elisabeth of the Trinity. After graduating from Franciscan University of Steubenville, he completed licentiate and doctoral studies in spiritual theology at the Angelicum in Rome. In 2012, he published Hidden Mountain, Secret Garden: a theological contemplation of prayer by Discerning Hearts. Married with two young adult children pursuing their careers and a teenager still at home, he has settled in family in Oxnard, California. For other episodes in the series visit the Discerning Hearts page for Dr. Anthony Lilles

2 thoughts on “BTP-LR8 The “Last Retreat” Day 7 pt. 2 St. Elizabeth of the Trinity Beginning to Pray with Dr. Anthony Lilles”

Hidden Mountain, Secret Garden is a potentially life changing book. It is easy to read , yet profound in the wisdom of the Carmelite Mystics and of immense guidance for the more advanced in prayer as well as the beginner. This book if read by anyone who desires to pray deeply will be lead speedily into the inner realms of the soul where the Holy Trinity dwells.
Anthony Lille’s is a gift from God to those of us who have been blessed by his sharing of the wonderful Retreats of Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity. Thank you Anthony and may God transform you ever more closely to the image of the Eternal Priest , blessing also your wife and children.