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Audiobooks Narrated by Anthony J. Ciorra
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A blend of timeless Christian wisdom and modern psychology, this one-of-a-kind course will transform your daily life.
For two millennia, the Christian tradition has developed tried-and-true methods for finding peace and dwelling in the presence of God. These time-honored practices have helped countless men and women lead more meaningful lives. But wielding the spiritual tools forged by our spiritual ancestors can be difficult amid the bustle of modern life.
In Spiritual Flourishing: How to Understand and Apply Christianity's Great Spiritual Practices, Fr. Anthony Ciorra distills the wisdom of these practices into 12 life-changing audio lectures. An award-winning teacher of spirituality, Fr. Ciorra gives you a spiritual GPS for navigating the path to the divine.
With his engaging teaching and sage advice, you will cultivate a range of practices:
Cultivating silence
Practicing gratitude
Sharpening your senses through fasting
Focusing your attention through contemplation
Praying with sacred images
Keeping a journal of your daily life so that you can begin to trace God's hand
Presented from an ecumenical perspective, Fr. Ciorra's audio course emphasizes the deep theology behind these practices. Each method you learn will take time to develop. But the longer you are faithful to the practices you choose, the more the notion of "practice" will fall away and the more you will flourish.
Find the inner peace your heart yearns for today.
This course is part of the Learn25 collection.
"I believe because I pray. " - Karl Rahner, S. J. (1904-1984)
Karl Rahner was one of the most influential theologians of our time. He was an important contributor to the Second Vatican Council, a Jesuit priest, a prolific author, a formidable professor of theology, and a leading voice of ecumenical dialogue. But until now, few have experienced his profound and edifying spirituality.
Now, Radical Grace: A Retreat with Karl Rahner introduces you to the remarkable spirituality behind his theology. Your guide is Rev. Anthony Ciorra (Ph. D. , Fordham University), a celebrated spirituality expert and Vice President for Mission and Catholic Identity and Professor of Theology at Sacred Heart University. His accessible conferences shed new light on his prayerful and grace-filled writings. As you will come to realize, Rahner's profound experience of prayer animated and inspired his theology. And through these retreat conferences, you too will understand his passion for articulating the human experience of God.
In these audio conferences, you will consider Rahner's writings and theological contributions with an eye towards their deep spirituality. You will explore his radical theology of grace, which holds that every human is a mystic at heart. Then, you will reflect on his model of everyday mysticism, learning to practice daily holiness and the virtue of patience. You will also explore his Christology, spiritual influences, and methods for dealing with dark nights of the soul.
Rahner was indeed an important twentieth-century theologian, but only because he was more fundamentally a modern spiritual master. Take Rahner as your spiritual guide today.
This course is part of the Learn25 collection.
"In the days ahead, you will either be a mystic or nothing at all."-Karl Rahner
Join Fr. Anthony Ciorra, of the world's leading living experts on Christian spirituality, to find the mystic inside you.
Find God in the midst of daily life through this powerful course. These inspiring lectures will give you a deeper understanding of the mystical experience. In particular, you will explore one form of mysticism: "everyday mysticism," as it was called by 20th-century theologian Karl Rahner.
As Fr. Ciorra demonstrates, we are called not to be extraordinary mystics but extraordinary human beings who experience God in ordinary ways. We often think of mystics as superhuman persons who have paranormal experiences such as visions, ecstasy, and stigmata. When you look closely at such saints as Thérèse of Lisieux, however, you will see that to be a mystic is to occupy the core of human experience. As you explore the mystical writings of such inspiring figures, you will discover that there are both common threads and clear differences. In doing so you will see how God is a mystery who can never be fully defined.
Fr. Ciorra's presentations will lead you to a deeper appreciation of how you are already a mystic. Discover your own inner mysticism today in this inspiring yet practical course.
This course is part of the Learn25 collection and includes a free PDF study guide.
Explore the rich spiritual movements of the Catholic tradition.
In this course, you will encounter seven powerful schools of spirituality, discovering what makes each school special and transformative.
Your professor is celebrated spirituality expert Fr. Anthony Ciorra, Ph.D. Under his guidance, you will explore how different religious founders developed new insights and charisms, adapting them to the cultures, times, and needs of different generations.
After a general introduction, you will embark into the Egyptian desert to seek the timeless wisdom of the Desert Fathers and Mothers. Making your way to Europe, you'll witness the flourishing of monastic spirituality, the radical vision of St. Francis of Assisi, and the powerful preaching of St. Dominic. Your journey continues to Mount Carmel, where you will take in a panoramic view of Carmelite saints like John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila, Thérèse of Lisieux, and Edith Stein. You will then learn to be a "contemplative in action" with the direction of Ignatius of Loyola and his Spiritual Exercises. And in Salesian spirituality and the Vincentian-Setonian tradition, you'll find inspirational models of Christian living.
By studying these particular seven schools, you will gain insight into the ways religious movements arise and transform over time. They make up only a fraction of the many schools of spirituality, but they will give you a taste for the diversity of human spiritual experience.
This course will inspire your spirituality with the richness of the Christian tradition.
This course is part of the Learn25 collection and includes a free PDF study guide prepared by your professor and course producer.
One of Catholicism's leading spirituality experts, Fr. Ciorra, invites you on a spiritually edifying retreat centered on Pope Francis' core messages.
Pope Francis has captured the hearts of the faithful throughout the world. Now, you can take a retreat with his words and example, opening the door to a deeper relationship with God.
Pope Francis is a pope of firsts: the first Jesuit, the first to take the name Francis, and the first pope from the Americas. His papacy has been marked by a style of simplicity, warmth, and an emphasis on the heart of the Gospel.
In his opening conference in a retreat to the bishops of Latin America, Francis said, "What moves us most is the desire to thank God and to praise him." Like Pope Francis, we are all called to conversion, impelled towards the renewal of our faith. By walking with Pope Francis, you will discover the importance of dialogue with yourself, the world, and God. In this retreat, you will enjoy six conferences that delve into the heart of Pope Francis's message.
Each conference begins with Scripture, and you will then interpret the passages through the lens of the pope's writings, life stories, and personal example.
Don't miss this opportunity to walk with Pope Francis today.
his retreat is part of the Learn25 collection and includes a free PDF study guide.
(Photo by Age?ncia Brasil. CC BY 3.0 BR
"If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough."-Meister Eckhart
Flourish with the spirituality and psychology of gratitude.
This course explores the spiritual and theological underpinnings that are foundational for enhancing and developing the art and spirituality of gratitude.
Under the guidance of renowned Christian spirituality expert Fr. Anthony Ciorra, you will explore how gratitude is at the heart of all Christian spirituality. Gratitude offers a path that leads to deeper love and awareness of God, self, and the world. You will foster positive attitudes that will open your heart to love, forgiveness, and peace. These practices are best expressed in the context of community, and thus the art of gratitude proves to be the bridge between profound spirituality and authentic religious practice.
As this thoughtful and lively course so clearly demonstrates, gratitude is about remembering and noticing. More than anything, gratitude helps us understand and live out the realities of God's grace.
Weaving together our rich spiritual and theological traditions with ideas from modern psychology, Fr. Ciorra invites you to bring the fullness of gratitude into your prayer and daily living.
This course is part of the Learn25 collection and includes a free PDF study guide.
Deeply rooted in Christian tradition, the 12-step program blends the best of spirituality with the best of modern psychology. Addiction recovery is only one manifestation of its utility. Under the guidance of Fr. Anthony Ciorra, you will come to see how the 12 steps apply to surprising areas of your life.
A renowned author, professor, and spirituality expert and recipient of the pontifical honor Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice given by Pope John Paul II, Fr. Ciorra guides you on a transformative journey towards freedom. You will deepen your spirituality as you develop a richer understanding of his profound approach to the 12 steps as a course of action.
You're probably acquainted with the first twelve-step fellowship founded in the 1930s: Alcoholics Anonymous, or AA. But in this 12-lecture program, Fr. Ciorra shows you that the same principles apply to you regardless of your spiritual tradition or individual makeup.
You will look to role models such as John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and St. Augustine-all of whom similarly struggled with but ultimately overcame their dark nights of the soul. In addition to their extraordinary examples, you will also explore samples of moving poetry that will help you stretch yourself spirituality.
Sometimes described as a journey from your head to your heart, the 12-step program is truly a life-giving spiritual approach for everyone. By fully realizing the power of the spirituality behind the 12 steps, you will discover a peace in your heart that the world cannot give. Attain your own happiness now.
This course is part of the Learn25 collection and includes a free PDF study guide prepared by your professor and course producer.
Fr. Anthony Ciorra's award-winning audio lectures are enjoyed by listeners in over 32 countries.
Now, you have the chance to reignite your faith through Fr. Ciorra's insights on the spirituality of Vatican II.
Fifty years ago, over 2,000 bishops, theologians, and lay participants from 116 countries gathered in Rome. This assembly of minds was the 21st worldwide council of the church, the Second Vatican Council. Led by Popes John XXIII and Paul VI, what emerged was an intense examination of the voice and promptings of the Holy Spirit.
Vatican II radically shaped the spirituality and doctrine of the Catholic Church in the 20th and 21st centuries, and its documents are as relevant today as ever. Indeed, Pope Benedict XVI declared 2012-2013 as the Year of Faith to mark the anniversary of Vatican II.
Now, in this comprehensive 12-lecture audio series, you will discover how the 16 council documents can shape your faith and relationship with Christ today. Fr. Ciorra captures the energy of the council by examining the spirituality behind the council documents Both timely and timeless, this course penetrates the heart of the council, providing a model of personal growth that will help you encounter the issues and concerns faced by church in the 21st century.
This course is part of the Learn25 collection.
Join one of the country's leading spirituality professors in exploring more than 2,000 years of our spiritual history.
In this powerful audio course, celebrated lecturer Fr. Anthony Ciorra, Ph.D. reveals the marvelous gifts bestowed by our spiritual ancestors. These 36 lively, enlightening lectures will take you on a journey from the age of the apostles to our current day. Along the way, you'll meet the greatest spiritual figures of the Christian tradition, explore the wisdom of the church fathers, experience the mystical visions of St. Catherine of Siena and St. John of the Cross, encounter the towering works of St. Augustine, and much more.
As you explore the major themes that have shaped the hearts and minds of countless believers, you will discover the full richness and beauty of the Christian spiritual tradition. Too often the treasures of the Christian tradition have not been passed along from one generation to the next. Now you can meet the inspiring men and women who have gone before you on the spiritual journey.
Let the spiritual writers and our compelling history speak to your heart and empower you to carry their torch into the 21st century. Our spiritual tradition and its practices are relevant now more than ever.
Embark on this journey and enrich your spiritual life today.
This course is part of the Learn25 collection and includes a free PDF study guide.
This is a course about Thomas Merton and you.
You will explore Thomas Merton's remarkable life and works while actively developing a relationship with him. For many, Merton has become a lifelong mentor and spiritual guide, and he will bring you to new places with the questions he raises and the experiences he shares. Whoever you are and wherever you come from, Thomas Merton will speak to you.
Your guide, Fr. Anthony Ciorra, is one of those very rare professors who will delight and inspire you. Given the pontifical honor Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice by Pope John Paul II and author of Everyday Mysticism, Fr. Ciorra is a remarkable teacher. Through these 12 lectures, Fr. Ciorra will help you understand the extraordinary life and works of Thomas Merton.
Merton's path to conversion was complex, and he struggled with questions regarding God's existence, moral values, and the place of organized religion. He pioneered religious dialogue with the East, and his experiences of prayer led him to a contemplative openness and issues of social justice.
As you study Merton in this course, you will be invited to use many of the same tools Merton used to aid in his spiritual growth: journaling, poetry, letter-writing, photography, and art. These tools will help you enter more deeply into your own experience with the mystery of God.
You will be challenged, inspired, and offered the opportunity to grow and change as you come to know Merton in this course. You will not be disappointed. (Photograph of Thomas Merton by John Howard Griffin. Used with Permission of Merton Legacy Trust and the Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University.)
This course is part of the Learn25 collection.
