Today Dan and Melissa talk about mortification and how we can love God more fully by denying ourselves of earthly things.

Topics/Questions covered in the show:

• What does St. Teresa of Avila mean when she says, "Prayer and a comfortable life do not go together"?
• What does it mean to take up our cross in the midst of all of the comfort we experience?
• We are called to embrace the cross, which is the ultimate act of self-giving.
• What is mortification?
• Once we are detached from earthly things, we are free to love God in a more pure way.
• When we are not mortifying ourselves, our appetites begin to rule us.   
• Why are little, daily, physical mortifications helpful in the spiritual life?
• What is a "rule of life" and how does this help incorporate mortification into our lives?

Resources:

• Spiritualdirection.com - website
• EWTN Global Catholic Radio
• Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation
• EWTN Religious Catalogue - online
• Into the Deep - Finding Peace Through Prayer by Dan Burke
• The Contemplative Rosary by Dan Burke and Connie Rossini
• Questions? Send an e-mail to Questions@myavila.com or call 818-646-7729. Please leave your name, location and question.