Finding God in nature

Nature as a tool & care for creation

God spoke to me through nature

Beauty of Maui

Living on 14 acres

Marker 12

The beach

Mountains

Find God in open water

Marker 13

Destructive tendencies of nature

Desert life

Redwood forest

Fr. Tom Wilson joins Deacon Patrick Conley to discuss the joys of finding God in nature (2:56). Topics/calls: nature as a tool & care for creation (8:55), God spoke to me through nature (14:13), the beauty of Maui (18:30), living on 14 acres (21:26), the beach (25:54), mountains (29:50), find God in the open water (35:31), the destructive tendencies of nature (40:22), desert life (44:18), and the Redwood forest (47:31). 

Fr. Tom Wilson joins Deacon Patrick Conley to discuss the joys of finding God in nature (2:56). Topics/calls: nature as a tool &amp; care for creation (8:55), God spoke to me through nature (14:13), the beauty of Maui (18:30), living on 14 acres (21:26), the beach (25:54), mountains (29:50), find God in the open water (35:31), the destructive tendencies of nature (40:22), desert life (44:18), and the Redwood forest (47:31).&nbsp;

The Inner Life® with Patrick Conley is one-on-one Spiritual Direction on the radio. Every day, a Catholic priest or religious sister joins listeners to offer spiritual advice and guidance designed to assist you along your faith journey, speaking about a variety of topics to help you overcome sin, grow in virtue, and strengthen your faith.

The Inner Life® with Patrick Conley is one-on-one Spiritual Direction on the radio. Every day, a Catholic priest or religious sister joins listeners to offer spiritual advice and guidance designed to assist you along your faith journey, speaking about a variety of topics to help you overcome sin, grow in virtue, and strengthen your faith.

Bringing Christ to the world through the media

The Inner Life

The Joys of Finding God in Nature

Importance of routines in our spiritual life

Elias

Break 1

Wade

How are the Sacraments important or times of D

Email from Dylan 

Teresa

Break 2

Maria

Bonnie

Gianna

Father Bobby Blood joins Deacon Patrick Conley to discuss Keeping the Faith in Dry Seasons
What is Spiritual Dryness
(7:59) Importance of routines in our spiritual life
Why would God let us go through dry times in our life?
(12:16) Elias - If I feel like I am doing well in prayer life, how do I best prepare for when the dry season comes?
Juan - I am enduring a heavy cross, and how to carry it.

(17:49) Break 1
(19:15) Wade - A few months after Lent I lose my spiritual drive. Why is this a consistency every year? What can I do to alleviate this?
(24:45) How are the Sacraments important or times of Dryness?
What do you do when you aren’t getting anything out Mass?
(30:59) Email from Dylan – I have been dealing with dryness for years now and I don’t know what to do.
Email from Rose – How do you deal with the accusing voice of the Devil?
(34:44) Teresa - I get very melancholic for no reason, accusing myself of sloth, and I am wondering if it is because God is trying to prepare me for a blessing?

(37:40) Break 2
Email from Adrian – How does dryness relate to how we perceive God?
(41:36) Maria - Spiritual Dryness:  There are moments, I say, 'is there all there is to it?'  What will happen?
(44:03) Bonnie - Shame, regarding your life situation and shame as opposed to guilt and not feeling close to God b/c of shame.
(47:54) Gianna - One thing that could help refresh the faith is something new, something different

Father Bobby Blood joins Deacon Patrick Conley to discuss Keeping the Faith in Dry Seasons 
<ul>
<li>What is Spiritual Dryness</li>
<li>(7:59) Importance of routines in our spiritual life</li>
<li>Why would God let us go through dry times in our life?</li>
<li>(12:16) Elias - If I feel like I am doing well in prayer life, how do I best prepare for when the dry season comes?</li>
<li>Juan - I am enduring a heavy cross, and how to carry it.</li>
</ul>
(17:49) Break 1
<ul>
<li>(19:15) Wade - A few months after Lent I lose my spiritual drive. Why is this a consistency every year? What can I do to alleviate this?</li>
<li>(24:45) How are the Sacraments important or times of Dryness?</li>
<li>What do you do when you aren&rsquo;t getting anything out Mass?</li>
<li>(30:59) Email from Dylan &ndash; I have been dealing with dryness for years now and I don&rsquo;t know what to do.</li>
<li>Email from Rose &ndash; How do you deal with the accusing voice of the Devil?</li>
<li>(34:44) Teresa - I get very melancholic for no reason, accusing myself of sloth, and I am wondering if it is because God is trying to prepare me for a blessing?</li>
</ul>
(37:40) Break 2
<ul>
<li>Email from Adrian &ndash; How does dryness relate to how we perceive God?</li>
<li>(41:36) Maria - Spiritual Dryness:&nbsp; There are moments, I say, 'is there all there is to it?'&nbsp; What will happen?</li>
<li>(44:03) Bonnie - Shame, regarding your life situation and shame as opposed to guilt and not feeling close to God b/c of shame.</li>
<li>(47:54) Gianna - One thing that could help refresh the faith is something new, something different</li>
</ul>

Keeping the Faith in Dry Seasons - The Inner Life - July 17, 2026

origins of the Brown Scapular.

Rose

Sarah

Paulin

Carmel

Father Michael-Joseph Paris joins Deacon Patrick Conley to discuss Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Carmelite Spirituality
(7:25) origins of the Brown Scapular.
Giacomo - I was in Israel a few years ago at Mt Carmel at an Equestrian event. Home parish was Our Lady of Mt Carmel in Melrose park. Bishop asked me to read one day. I was moved to be in the real Our Lady of Mt Carmel that day.
(16:51) Rose - Wanted to know if Father believes that just by wearing the scapular when you pass, the virgin of Mt Carmel would take you out of purgatory the following Saturday. Is that true?

(20:19) Break 1
(25:16) Sarah - I had fallen away from church. Hadn't worn a scapular for years. My mom came to see me and brought me a scapular. Threw it on the counter. Months later, put it on a cabinet and went to bed. Sunday, I heard, 'Get up and go to church.' Heard it twice. Put pillow over my head, but heard again. Finally got up and heard 'put the scapular on.' Burned around my neck. Went to church. During benediction, heard St. Michael prayer. Landlord met with me, dog bit me at his house, doctor said scapular saved me from the bite (jugular).
(33:09) Paulin - Sabbatine privilege. I believe you have to be invested in the scapular, is that correct?
 Shirley - I was enrolled with the scapular by a priest and I consecrate myself to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel daily. Just want to share that.

(37:22) Break 2
Elements of Carmelite Spirituality.
Great saints of the Carmelite order.
Third order Carmelites.
(47:24) Carmel - My mom called me Carmel because I was born July 16th. She couldn't have children and was devoted to our lady of mt Carmel. Always wore scapular. Finally expecting a baby and it was me. I was Christened on St. Ann day. After hearing this program, I was thinking...wow, maybe I should start wearing it again.

Resources:
Flos Carmeli: A Guide to Marian Consecration Through the Brown Scapular

https://www.icspublications.org/products/flos-carmeli-a-guide-to-marian-consecration-through-the-brown-scapular

Father Michael-Joseph Paris joins Deacon Patrick Conley to discuss Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Carmelite Spirituality
<ul>
<li>(7:25) origins of the Brown Scapular.</li>
<li>Giacomo - I was in Israel a few years ago at Mt Carmel at an Equestrian event. Home parish was Our Lady of Mt Carmel in Melrose park. Bishop asked me to read one day. I was moved to be in the real Our Lady of Mt Carmel that day.</li>
<li>(16:51) Rose - Wanted to know if Father believes that just by wearing the scapular when you pass, the virgin of Mt Carmel would take you out of purgatory the following Saturday. Is that true?</li>
</ul>
(20:19) Break 1
<ul>
<li>(25:16) Sarah - I had fallen away from church. Hadn't worn a scapular for years. My mom came to see me and brought me a scapular. Threw it on the counter. Months later, put it on a cabinet and went to bed. Sunday, I heard, 'Get up and go to church.' Heard it twice. Put pillow over my head, but heard again. Finally got up and heard 'put the scapular on.' Burned around my neck. Went to church. During benediction, heard St. Michael prayer. Landlord met with me, dog bit me at his house, doctor said scapular saved me from the bite (jugular).</li>
<li>(33:09) Paulin - Sabbatine privilege. I believe you have to be invested in the scapular, is that correct?</li>
<li>&nbsp;Shirley - I was enrolled with the scapular by a priest and I consecrate myself to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel daily. Just want to share that.</li>
</ul>
(37:22) Break 2
<ul>
<li>Elements of Carmelite Spirituality.</li>
<li>Great saints of the Carmelite order.</li>
<li>Third order Carmelites.</li>
<li>(47:24) Carmel - My mom called me Carmel because I was born July 16th. She couldn't have children and was devoted to our lady of mt Carmel. Always wore scapular. Finally expecting a baby and it was me. I was Christened on St. Ann day. After hearing this program, I was thinking...wow, maybe I should start wearing it again.</li>
</ul>
Resources:
<ul>
<li>Flos Carmeli: A Guide to Marian Consecration Through the Brown Scapular
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.icspublications.org/products/flos-carmeli-a-guide-to-marian-consecration-through-the-brown-scapular">https://www.icspublications.org/products/flos-carmeli-a-guide-to-marian-consecration-through-the-brown-scapular</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

Our Lady of Mount Carmel - The Inner Life - July 16, 2026

How is laughter a uniquely human trait?

Nick

Carol

IL – Father John Paul Erickson joins Deacon Patrick Conley to discuss Why We Laugh
(5:43) How is laughter a uniquely human trait?
(20:09) Nick - Appropriate laughter and why we laugh. Altar server trying to light a candle. All of a sudden, people were laughing after he tried so many times. It has to be tempered with the appropriateness of the situation.

(24:38) Break 1
Did Jesus have a sense of Humor?
(30:58) Rose - Humor. I'm 87. Humor has helped me in my last stages to continue without having to complain so much.

(38:04) Break 2
Pauline - Joke: Pastor and bus driver. Both die at the same time. Bus driver gets ticketed first. Pastor waits and finally to gates. I thought I'd be the first in line. St. Peter said why was I first? When you preached everyone slept, when he preached, everyone prayed.
(43:47) Joe - Joke: Jesus and Moses on a golf course. At this dog leg of a hole. Jesus says, 'I'm going to get above par on this. Jesus hits the ball, goes into water. He walks on water to get the ball. Asked Moses if it's Jesus, and said no, it's Jack Nicholas.
(47:04) Carol - When I think about laughter, I think why it's important to have a merry heart. It does good like medicine. Laughter is the best medicine you can have.
Juanita - Years ago, God showed me his sense of humor when I was upset over my grandson's mom keeping us from seeing him. I unexpectedly received a gift of a small meat cleaver. It just made me laugh. It keeps us grounded in our sense of humor.

IL &ndash; Father John Paul Erickson joins Deacon Patrick Conley to discuss Why We Laugh
<ul>
<li>(5:43) How is laughter a uniquely human trait?</li>
<li>(20:09) Nick - Appropriate laughter and why we laugh. Altar server trying to light a candle. All of a sudden, people were laughing after he tried so many times. It has to be tempered with the appropriateness of the situation.</li>
</ul>
(24:38) Break 1
<ul>
<li>Did Jesus have a sense of Humor?</li>
<li>(30:58) Rose - Humor. I'm 87. Humor has helped me in my last stages to continue without having to complain so much.</li>
</ul>
(38:04) Break 2
<ul>
<li>Pauline - Joke: Pastor and bus driver. Both die at the same time. Bus driver gets ticketed first. Pastor waits and finally to gates. I thought I'd be the first in line. St. Peter said why was I first? When you preached everyone slept, when he preached, everyone prayed.</li>
<li>(43:47) Joe - Joke: Jesus and Moses on a golf course. At this dog leg of a hole. Jesus says, 'I'm going to get above par on this. Jesus hits the ball, goes into water. He walks on water to get the ball. Asked Moses if it's Jesus, and said no, it's Jack Nicholas.</li>
<li>(47:04) Carol - When I think about laughter, I think why it's important to have a merry heart. It does good like medicine. Laughter is the best medicine you can have.</li>
<li>Juanita - Years ago, God showed me his sense of humor when I was upset over my grandson's mom keeping us from seeing him. I unexpectedly received a gift of a small meat cleaver. It just made me laugh. It keeps us grounded in our sense of humor.</li>
</ul>

The Joys of Finding God in Nature

In 1 playlist(s)

The Inner Life

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips