Ready for a Spiritual Fresh Start? Looking to deepen your prayer life beyond the holiday season? Download our free guide to Carmelite spirituality to help you navigate the new year with purpose and peace: https://midnightcarmelite.com/reset

Why is the spiritual life such a struggle?

When we are asked to detach from the things we love and "walk by starlight," it can feel like an endless battle in the dark. But St. John of the Cross offers a powerful reason why this hard work isn't just necessary—it is the only path to true freedom.

In this episode, we dive deep into the "Active Night of the Senses" and the reality of walking by the light of pure faith. We explore the difficult work of mortification and self-denial, viewing them not as arbitrary punishments, but as essential training to reorient our inner compass toward God. We also discuss the profound difference between undergoing purification here on earth versus in Purgatory, and why love for Christ—rather than fear—is the ultimate incentive for embracing the journey.

In this episode, you will learn:

• The Active Night Explained: Understand the subtle but critical difference between healthy recreation and the spiritual danger of seeking consolation for its own sake.
• Purgatory Now vs. Later: Discover why St. John of the Cross argues that purification in this life (with the body) is preferable to the "unnatural" state of purification in the next.
• The Path to Union: Learn how the heavy lifting of virtue we do now eventually gives way to a "spiritual marriage" where God’s grace takes over the effort.

Ready for a Spiritual Fresh Start? Looking to deepen your prayer life beyond the holiday season? Download our free guide to Carmelite spirituality to help you navigate the new year with purpose and peace: https://midnightcarmelite.com/reset

The decorations are coming down, the carols are ending, and the emotional "high" of Christmas is beginning to wane. But what happens when the angels stop singing and you’re left in the quiet of a cold January? In this episode, we explore how to transition from the temporary feelings of the holidays into a "naked faith"—the kind of faith that sustains you when God feels distant and the path ahead is lit only by the faint glow of starlight.

Summary

As the festive glow of Christmas begins to fade, how do we transition from fleeting holiday emotions to a steady, persistent faith? Today, we dive into the profound contrast between the shepherds and the Magi. While an explosion of angelic glory greeted the shepherds, the Magi had to endure a long, quiet journey guided by a single star. We discuss why most of our spiritual lives look more like the Magi’s trek than the shepherds’ visitation. You’ll discover how to recognize God’s presence in the ordinary, the beauty of the Eucharist, and why the mystery of the Incarnation is the ultimate proof of God’s infinite love for you—even when you don't "feel" it.

Key Takeaways

• The Shepherd vs. The Magi Experience: Understand why God sometimes gives us "angelic" consolations and why, at other times, He asks us to walk by the "starlight" of pure faith.
• Finding God in the Ordinary: How to recognize Emmanuel (God with us) in your daily life and the Eucharist, even when you aren't experiencing big spiritual visions.
• The Power of the Incarnation: Why God becoming man is the ultimate answer to your deepest questions and the necessary starting point for all spiritual growth.
• Walking the "Starlight" Path of Faith: Practical encouragement for staying faithful to your prayer life when the pomp and circumstance of the season disappear.

Free Advent Guide: Are you looking to deepen your prayer life this season? Download our free guide to Carmelite spirituality to help you navigate Advent with purpose: https://midnightcarmelite.com/reset

Do you feel pressure to create the perfect "Hallmark Christmas," only to be met with stress, difficult relatives, and a feeling of emptiness? We often think that a perfect holiday means abundance, comfort, and peace. However, Bishop Sheen famously remarked that the saddest moment in history was when there was "no room at the inn."

In this episode of Midnight Carmelite, we explore the profound theology behind the Manger and the Inn. While the Inn represents a world full of itself with no room for God, the Manger represents the poverty, lack, and discomfort where Christ actually chooses to be born. We discuss how you can transform family tension, awkward conversations, and holiday chores into an offering of "straw" for the baby Jesus, turning your struggles into a path for deep spiritual growth.

In this episode, you will learn:

• The Spiritual Value of Discomfort: Why Christ chose the cold, smelly manger over the comfort of the inn, and what that means for your holiday struggles.
• How to Navigate Family Conflict: Practical advice on practicing spiritual poverty when dealing with difficult situations or hurtful comments.
• From Possession to Freedom: Understanding St. John of the Cross’s teaching that to possess God, we must desire to possess nothing—including our own will.

Free Advent Guide: Are you looking to deepen your prayer life this season? Download our free guide to Carmelite spirituality to help you navigate Advent with purpose: https://midnightcarmelite.com/reset

Is silence just empty space, or is it something more?

In our modern world, we often view silence as a vacuum—an absence of noise. But true spiritual silence is actually a form of active receptivity. Just as you must be silent to truly hear a friend or imagine a story while reading, you must cultivate interior silence to perceive the reality of God. In the hustle of the holiday season, it is easy to miss the Incarnation if we are not prepared to listen.

In this week’s episode of Midnight Carmelite, we explore how to prepare for the feast of the Incarnation. We look to the Nativity story—where Christ was born into a silence—as our guide. We also discuss the practical tool of mortification. Far from being a negative practice, we frame mortification as the "shovel" used to clear the stable of our hearts, while our good deeds become the straw that cushions the manger for the Christ Child.

In this episode, you will learn:

• The definition of Active Receptivity: Why silence is not a void, but a necessary state of listening for God’s disclosure.
• Lessons from the Nativity: How the humility of the shepherds and Magi allowed them to notice what the rest of the world missed.
• The "Shovel" and the "Straw": A practical metaphor for using mortification to remove worldly attachments and good deeds to welcome the Lord.
• Practical Advent Steps: How to replace distractions (like excessive shopping) with ten minutes of Scripture and silence.

Get my free guide, "The 5-Minute Prayer Reset," and discover a simple framework to turn this inspiration into a consistent daily practice at https://midnightcarmelite.com/reset

Why does death seem so random? Why do innocent children suffer while tyrants live to old age? In this episode, Andrew Gniadek sits down with returning guest Dr. Larry Chapp to tackle the "scandal of evil." They move beyond standard textbook answers to explore the deep, emotional reality of lament and the "kenosis of the cross."

Beyond the problem of evil, this conversation explores the practical side of sanctity in the modern world. Dr. Chapp shares candid insights on the dangers of "quid pro quo" prayer, the history of the Catechism as a response to post-Vatican II chaos, and how to find holiness in the everyday annoyances of marriage.

Here is what you will learn in this episode:

• The Mystery of Suffering: Why logical arguments often fail to comfort us in the face of tragedy, and why we must instead look to the "unjust" death of Christ.
• Overcoming Ego in Prayer: How to interpret "unanswered" prayers not as rejection, but as protection from our own misguided desires.
• Sanctity in Annoyance: A practical strategy for turning marital frustrations—like quirks and habits—into moments of obedience and deep love.
• The Role of the Catechism: Understanding the historical pivot from the confusion of the 1970s to the theological standardization of John Paul II and Ratzinger.

Do you ever feel like your prayer is pointless? You show up, but you feel nothing, "know" nothing, and it seems like you're just talking to the void. This experience of spiritual dryness is one of the most common and difficult challenges in the spiritual life, and it's the number one reason many people stop praying altogether.

In this episode, we explore the practical and profound antidote to this dryness: faith and hope. We dive into John Henry Newman's powerful distinction between "notional assent" (simply knowing and explaining facts about God) and "real assent" (letting those truths radically change how you live). This shift is the key to understanding what to do when your prayer feels empty.

We discuss how this concept, combined with St. Teresa of Avila's "determined determination," responds to dryness. It's not a sign of failure or God's absence; it's a critical training ground to build a faith that isn't dependent on feelings.

In this episode, you will learn:

• The crucial difference between "notional assent" and "real assent" and how it impacts your prayer.
• Why looking for God in your feelings or natural understanding is like trying to "force God into something that would make him not God."
• How to understand dryness as the training ground St.John of the Cross calls "naked faith."
• Practical ways to apply "determined determination" and use hope as the fuel to persevere, even when prayer feels pointless.

Enjoying the episode? The journey does not have to end here. Get my free guide, "The 5-Minute Prayer Reset," and discover a simple framework to turn this inspiration into a consistent daily practice at https://midnightcarmelite.com/reset.

Do you ever sit down to pray, only to find your mind is restless, anxious, or pulled in a dozen different directions? In a world that offers instant gratification, it’s harder than ever to build the spiritual focus needed for deep prayer. We're told to "seek God," but our attachments often seek "consolations" instead.

Enjoying the episode? The journey does not have to end here. Get my free guide, "The 5-Minute Prayer Reset," and discover a simple framework to turn this inspiration into a consistent daily practice at https://midnightcarmelite.com/reset.

This week, we dive into the practical and powerful Carmelite concept of mortification. Far from being an outdated practice, mortification is the spiritual equivalent of going to the gym. It’s the conscious, willed denial of our small, everyday attachments—from choosing the fruit snack you don't prefer to cutting off a "doom-scrolling" session. We explore how these tiny acts of self-denial build incredible spiritual muscle, killing self-will so you can become more docile and receptive to God in prayer.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What mortification truly is (and what it isn't).
• Practical, small ways to practice mortification in your daily life.
• How building "spiritual muscle" directly combats distraction and agitation in your prayer time.
• Why a lack of mortification is often rooted in a deeper lack of hope in God, keeping us lukewarm.

Is your prayer life more about seeking good feelings from God than seeking God Himself? Many of us fall into the subtle trap of spiritual gluttony, where our focus shifts from a loving conversation with our Creator to a self-centered quest for spiritual consolations. This attachment to feelings, rather than to God, can leave us feeling restless, frustrated, and ultimately stunt our spiritual growth.

Enjoying the episode? The journey does not have to end here. Get my free guide, "The 5-Minute Prayer Reset," and discover a simple framework to turn this inspiration into a consistent daily practice at https://midnightcarmelite.com/reset.

In this episode, we explore the vices of spiritual avarice (the constant need for new devotions) and spiritual gluttony (the desire to consume good spiritual feelings). Using the powerful analogy of a human friendship, we break down how seeking the "consolations of God instead of the God of consolations" corrupts the purpose of prayer and prevents the deep, authentic relationship He desires to have with us.

In this episode, you will learn:

• The crucial difference between spiritual greed and spiritual gluttony, and how to spot them in your own life.
• Why chasing spiritual "highs" and good feelings ultimately leads to restlessness and frustration, not peace.
• How to transform your prayer from a self-centered pursuit into a genuine, loving conversation with God.
• A practical first step you can take this week to identify and uproot selfishness in your prayer, fostering a relationship built on faith, not feelings.