My Friend the Friar

Imago Dei (Season 4 Episode 5)

Send a textWe trace a living map of Christian anthropology, from Imago Dei and dignity to mercy, worship, and stewardship in a tech-shaped world. Along the way we ask how baptismal grace can form our daily choices and make our communities more humane.• why naming Christian anthropology matters now• Imago Dei as the source of un-losable dignity• Augustine’s restless heart and the human longing for God• Jesus as model for seeing and treating others• baptismal grace as power for daily mercy• worship as the people’s response to revelation• oneness and belonging beyond bloodlines• stewardship vs ownership in tech and ethics• building guardrails for power and progress• practical examen for practicing dignityPlease consider supporting the Discalced Carmelites of the Semi-Province of St. Thérèse. Links are in the show notes. Pray for us that the Holy Spirit gives us the time and grace to cover these topics well.Support the showClick here to support the Carmelite Friars! Have something you'd love to hear Fr. Stephen and John talk about? Email us at myfriendthefriar@gmail.com or click here!

Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection (Season 4 Episode 4)

Send a textWe trace Brother Lawrence’s path from wounded soldier to humble Carmelite cook and explore how he learned to make prayer and work one seamless act of love. We share his hard decade of scruples, his breakthrough into peace, and practical ways to cultivate tenderness for Christ in daily tasks.• Brother Lawrence’s early life, war wounds, and spiritual awakening• Entering Carmel as a lay brother and serving in a large kitchen• Ten years of interior struggle and the turn to peace• Practicing presence as affective love, not a technique• Service, community, and guarding against “me and Jesus” isolation• Love transforming chores, parenting, and professional work• A simple weekly practice: examine tenderness for Christ and return gentlyPlease consider supporting the Discalced Carmelites of the Semi-Province of St. Thérèse. Links are in the show notes. Pray for us that the Holy Spirit gives us the time and grace to cover these topics well.Support the showClick here to support the Carmelite Friars! Have something you'd love to hear Fr. Stephen and John talk about? Email us at myfriendthefriar@gmail.com or click here!

2025 and Season 3 Recap (Season 4 Episode 3)

Send a textWe open Season Four by catching up after a hard, grace-filled year and laying out a clear plan for what we will study next. We share travel, retreats, family loss, surprising audience growth, and the Carmelite themes we will explore with fresh focus.• season three stretch due to illness, loss, and surgery• retreats, parish missions, and formation work across several states• top episode on Jewish marriage customs and the Last Supper• audience in 80 countries and 700 plus cities• plans for Brother Lawrence, Teresa of Ávila, and John of the Cross• desire to teach desert roots of Christian spirituality• early Church Fathers as a map for modern discipleship• interest in stitched thematic episodes for easier learning• Council of Trent creator conference service and networking• explanation of the semi-province structure and needsPlease consider supporting the Discalced Carmelites of the Semi-Province of St. Thérèse. Links are in the show notes. Pray for us that the Holy Spirit gives us the time and grace to cover these topics well.Support the showClick here to support the Carmelite Friars! Have something you'd love to hear Fr. Stephen and John talk about? Email us at myfriendthefriar@gmail.com or click here!

A Brief History of Carmelite Spirituality (Season 4 Episode 2)

Send a textWe trace the Carmelite path from Elijah’s quiet breeze to Teresa and John’s reform, exploring how silence, scripture, and daily Eucharist shape a life of allegiance to Christ. Along the way, we look at Mary’s role, major historical shifts, and why laypeople might discern the Secular Order.• origins on Mount Carmel and Elijah’s witness• the Rule of St Albert and daily Eucharist• shift to mendicant life and urban presence• crises, mitigations and the call to reform• Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross’ renewal• Mary as model contemplative and patron• Spain’s Golden Age and Carmelite saints• differences with the Ancient Observance• why charisms matter for lay discernment• how the Secular Order forms prayer and lifeShare the podcast. Yep, like, subscribe, share all the good things, leave comments, leave reviews!Support the showClick here to support the Carmelite Friars! Have something you'd love to hear Fr. Stephen and John talk about? Email us at myfriendthefriar@gmail.com or click here!

Praying with Scripture: Lectio Divina (Season 4 Episode 1)

Send a textWant a prayer life that feels like a real relationship, not a checklist? We dive into Lectio Divina—sacred reading—as a simple, time-tested way to hear God through scripture and grow in freedom. Rather than racing through chapters or playing Bible roulette, we slow down with a short passage, repeat it, listen for the phrase that stirs the heart, talk with God about it, and then rest in his presence. This isn’t study or analysis; it’s encounter with the living Word who gently convicts, comforts, and guides.We trace how the Church has heard God in scripture from the earliest communities through the Desert Fathers, Benedictine steadiness, and Carmelite contemplation. Along the way, we clarify what “inspired” means, why the canon matters, and how the Gospels shape every reading. Then we get practical: posture, breathing, choosing the day’s Gospel, repeating a few lines, journaling, and handling distractions without shame. You’ll hear a live walkthrough of Galatians 4–5 that shows how a single phrase—“stand firm” or “do not take the yoke of slavery”—can become a personal word that leads to concrete change.If your mind wanders, you’re normal. If prayer feels dry, that silence can still be holy ground. We unpack the “ear of the heart,” how to notice interior movements, and why peaceful rest in God often bears the deepest fruit. Over time, Lectio Divina shapes identity: truth replaces cultural noise, freedom grows where fear once ruled, and trust deepens as you return to the same verses that quietly anchor you. Whether you’re new to prayer or seasoned in contemplation, this gentle rhythm can steady your days and open space for real conversation with God.Subscribe or follow, share this with a friend who needs a simple way to pray, and leave a review telling us which verse keeps calling you back. Your words help others discover the path to a freer, quieter, more faithful life.Other Prayer EpisodesPrayer: Building a Relationship with God Beyond Words (Season 2 Episode 40)Relationship is at the Core of Religion (Season 2 Episode 35)Passing on the Faith: A Dialogue on Community, Relationship, and Personal Growth (Season 2 Episode 32)Navigating and Deepening Your Relationship with God (Season 2 Episode 18)Our Relationship with God (Season 2 Episode 8)Relationship (Season 1 Episode 7)Support the showClick here to support the Carmelite Friars! Have something you'd love to hear Fr. Stephen and John talk about? Email us at myfriendthefriar@gmail.com or click here!