To the Holy Mountain

This portion of the website was developed in 2015 as part of our celebration of the 500^th anniversary of the birth of St. Teresa of Avila. To the Holy Mountain podcasts and videos are inspirational and instructive lessons on prayer as seen through the perspective of the contemplative Carmelite tradition. The teachings and writings of St. Teresa of Avila guide each lesson.

We explore topics such as desire, friendship with Jesus, self-knowledge, distraction, and the prayer of recollection. It is suggested that this content be listened to sequentially as the information in each lesson draws upon previously presented material.

Podcasts

Welcome

Who Is Teresa of Avila?

Desire

Friendship with Jesus

Distractions in Prayer

Fr. Joseph Chalmers’ Homily Celebrating St. Teresa of Avila

Videos

Teresa A Woman for Our Time

The Bookmark

Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection and the Practice of the Presence of God - Fr. Leopold Gluekart, O.Carm.

Teresa as Feminist - Dr. Barbara Mujica

Discernment, Devil, Delight: Three Key Words in Saint Teresa’s Lexicon – Dr. Alison Weber

After the Ecstasy, The Pots and Pans: The Realism of Teresa’s Prayer – Fr. Daniel Chowning, OCD

Christ Consciousness: Carmelite and Ignatian Spiritualities in Dialogue, Part 1 of 4 – Sr. Constance FitzGerald, OCD and Fr. Brian McDermott, SJ

Christ Consciousness: Carmelite and Ignatian Spiritualities in Dialogue, Part 2 of 4 – Sr. Constance FitzGerald, OCD and Fr. Brian McDermott, SJ

Christ Consciousness: Carmelite and Ignatian Spiritualities in Dialogue, Part 3 of 4 – Sr. Constance FitzGerald, OCD and Fr. Brian McDermott, SJ

Christ Consciousness: Carmelite and Ignatian Spiritualities in Dialogue, Part 4 of 4 – Sr. Constance FitzGerald, OCD and Fr. Brian McDermott, SJ

Break the Cycle of More with An Experience of the Desert

Prior to entering the monastery, I lived my life between the extremes of constant motion and exhaustion. Life always seemed to be demanding more. Perhaps you can relate to this? As I entered the monastery I was thrust into the depths of community and the vast expanse of the desert. These two poles – community…Read more

Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity: A Guiding Light for My Life

When I first read the life and retreat notes of Sr. Elizabeth of the Trinity, I was “blown away” by their power and grace. I was fifteen years old and I wanted that deep-down friendship with God. I longed to know God and what that might mean. Now, years later, as Elizabeth is canonized, I…Read more

The Elevator of Love

These words could have been written by any rock star today; Bono, Bruce Springsteen or even Lady Gaga. Instead our little Thérèse coined the phrase “elevator of love” over 100 years ago. Her suggestion was given to Fr. Maurice Bellière, the missionary with whom she corresponded and affectionately called him “her dear little brother”. This…Read more