Advertise on podcast: Meditation & Mental Prayer: Catholics Talking To God.

For Meditation & Mental Prayer Journal go to Amason: Catholic Journal Meditation & Mental Prayer: Acquiring the Sanctity Necessary for Salvation  https://www.amazon.com/dp/0956009697 Also: https://www.amazon.com/Meditation-Mental-Prayer-Following-Calvary/dp/0956009670/ref=sr_1_1?nsdOptOutParam=true&s=books&sr=1-1 Our Website address: Meditation journals.com https://meditationjournals.com/ Description: Prayer can feel like sunlight when life is bright, but what happens when the lights go out and nothing in you wants to speak? From a rainy West Coast February to the first daffodil leaves pushing up through cold ground, we use the seasons to name something many Catholics feel but rarely say out loud: mental prayer can turn dry, heavy, and silent, even when your faith is real.   We wrestle with spiritual dryness and the dark night of the soul through St. John of the Cross, who insists this is not God’s punishment or abandonment. He calls it purification, a transition away from chasing feelings and images toward a quieter, sturdier relationship with God. When consolation disappears, the temptation is to assume something has gone wrong. We explore another possibility: God may be doing His most intimate work precisely when He seems absent, and the silence may be invitation rather than indifference.   The conversation turns personal as we share grief after the death of a spouse, the fear of praying without emotion, and the shock of realizing how easily we avoid prayer when it feels like penance. We end with one simple practice for Catholic prayer life and contemplative prayer: stay. Keep showing up, even if all you can offer is will. If this spoke to you, subscribe, share it with a friend who feels stuck, and leave a review so more people can find it. What does “staying” look like in your prayer right now? Send us Fan Mail

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Deliberately this episode is only a few minutes long as you listen you will understand why as you witness the profound vulnerability of an aging Peter when he recalls one of the most painful moments of his walk with Jesus—when he rebuked his Master for predicting His death, only to be sharply corrected in return. This deeply moving narrative brings us behind the scenes of Gospel writing, as Matthew captures Peter's tearful recollections of his well-intentioned but misguided attempt to protect Jesus from suffering. The poignancy of this moment lies in Peter's hard-earned wisdom. Now an old man, he understands what he couldn't grasp in his younger years: that his resistance to Jesus' crucifixion journey wasn't faithfulness but failure. "If only he had listened that day," we read as Peter weeps, recognizing that his denial of Christ began long before the courtyard and rooster's crow—it started with his unwillingness to accept the necessity of the cross. What makes this account particularly moving is Peter's determination to share his failure despite how poorly it reflects on him. His tearstained realization becomes our instruction: following Christ means embracing self-denial and taking up our own crosses. The words of Jesus that once seemed harsh—"Go behind me, Satan"—now read as a profound invitation to align ourselves with divine purposes rather than human comfort. Through Peter's hindsight, we gain foresight for our own discipleship journey, learning that sometimes the most loving thing we can do is accept the necessary suffering that comes with following God's path. Send us Fan Mail

What if the key to unlocking true peace lies in our ability to forgive? In this episode, we promise to guide you through a transformative meditation that reveals the profound power of forgiveness and unconditional love. Drawing inspiration from the parable of the Wicked Servant in Matthew 18, we journey to the very gates of heaven, where the overwhelming light of God's presence calls us to reflect on our own struggles with forgiveness. We'll explore how embracing the concept of "seventy times seven" can reshape our spiritual paths, allowing us to embody the boundless compassion and mercy that mirrors divine justice. Join us as we unpack the essence of our spiritual journey and the role forgiveness plays in aligning us with God's immense love. Through a meditative narrative, we'll confront the magnitude of our own sins and the necessary mercy needed to transcend them. By forgiving those who have wronged us, we're not only clearing our own path to heaven but also manifesting the kingdom of heaven here on earth. Experience how a heart transformed by forgiveness can create a space for divine love and justice in everyday life, reminding us that true peace and spiritual fulfillment are within reach when we open ourselves to God's endless mercy. Send us Fan Mail

This episode delves into the essence of virtues like Magnanimity and Fortitude, and how they can reshape not only our spiritual endeavors but also our mundane challenges. To answer the call of Christ, "Be ye perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect",  We seek the Virtues that will transform us.    Alongside inspiring figures like Father Willie Doyle and guided by the reflective practices of saints such as Anthony Mary Claret and Ignatius Loyola, we examine our own lives through the lens of virtue and learn how even small sacrifices, like giving up fizzy drinks for Lent, can yield profound growth. In this episode our meditation and prayer reaches out to Our Blessed Lady begging Her to help us in our quest for virtue  and the answer to Her Son's command.  teachings of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount, we confront the challenge of transcending mediocrity in our faith. This episode invites listeners to engage with the spiritual discipline of asking, seeking, and knocking, thereby unlocking the doors to a more devout and virtuous life. Through this heartfelt discussion, emerge equipped and inspired to don the full armor of Christian virtues, cultivating a patience that weathers trials and a dedication to the path of righteousness. Join us for this soul-stirring conversation, as we reflect on scripture and welcome the transformative power of living a life graced by virtue. Send us Fan Mail

Imagine standing before the throne of God, held accountable for every idle word spoken. This episode journeys through the teachings of Jesus, emphasizing the weight of our words and inviting you to reflect on your own speech. We walk you through the scenes of biblical narratives, pausing to let the poem by Father John O'Brien, 'Trimmings on the Rosary', wash over you, prompting contemplation on family, prayer, and the power of intercession. Let's open our hearts to the profound wisdom embedded in these narratives and poetry, and allow them to nurture our faith. Send us Fan Mail

'But thou, when thou shalt pray, enter into thy chamber and having shut the door, pray to thy Father in secret, and thy Father who seest in secret will repay thee.' in this episode we follow Jesus when He went alone to pray on the mountain. Send us Fan Mail

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Bible verses:  Continuation of the holy Gospel according to  St Luke, XVIII ((18) 31 - 43 In this episode in our meditation we converse with His majesty as He and His disciples discuss His coming Passion and death.. They are blind to the concept of such a terrible atrocity.  We continue our meditation as Jesus explains to us how the healing of the blind man of Jericho impacts our journey to holiness. I then tell a true story about a large rock outside an old Schoolhouse in Co Kerry. This story is a metaphor for the Catholic Church today.For a free Lenten Journal eBook go to meditationjournals.com  and download.    Send us Fan Mail

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In this episode we feel the joy and anticipation of the numerous people who awaited the coming of the Savior.  To better prepare ourselves we use an old Irish prayer to St Joseph helping us to become perfect as our Heavenly Father through the piety of the duties of our station in life.  We end with a meditation where we connect with the tiny town of Bethlehem and its great impact on the world through the centuries to our own 'today' .     Send us Fan Mail

For those of you who know about Fatima:- I had the opportunity to meet Fr. Gruner on the Hill of Slane when he visited Ireland  and I asked him:  "Father when will the chastisement begin, 2025 or 2029 when will the "100 years be up?"  He considered for a moment then answered "2025." The Hill of Slane is  the location where St Patrick lit the first Pascal Fire in 433 AD in defiance of pagan King Laoighre, the King of Tara.  The site later became an important monastery, similar to that at Monasterboice, which was founded by St Erc, and had its own high crosses and round tower.  Send us Fan Mail

This is the result of Meditation moving into mental prayer and listening to the heart of God. Send us Fan Mail

This is a 6 minute guided meditation,  It is deliberately short as this is Holy Week and there are many ceremonies and private prayers to be said. Hoping that it can be fitted into your busy schedule.   Send us Fan Mail