Sixth Mansions Chapter 1 Part 2 – The Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila – Going Deeper in Prayer - TOG EP 150

 We're exploring the Interior Castle, Sixth Mansions Chapter 1, in part 2 of this two-part podcast on stages of mystical prayer life. Saint Teresa explains the importance of the prayer stage of the Sixth Mansions. She uses the analogy of a spiritual engagement to describe the depths of the relationship of our heart and soul to Jesus. And of course, this deep interior prayer relationship is accompanied by trials. She outlines the state of the soul in the Sixth Mansions when dealing with spiritual directors, and the intolerable torment the soul can experience in trials as Jesus refines the soul.

 

 

 

UNDER CONSTRUCTION 

Timeline:
00:00:00 Opening Scripture  James 1:2-4 
00:01:25 Tales of Glory Episode 150 Intro
00:03:05 Sixth Mansions Chapter I Topical Outline
00:04:10 Section IV. Trials from Confessors
00:04:24 15. A timorous confessor.  
00:09:46 16. Anxiety on account of past sins.
00:14:38 17. Fears and aridity. 
00:16:23 18. Scruples and fears raised by the devil. 
00:21:36 19. Bewilderment of the soul. 
00:26:20 20. God alone relieves these troubles. 
00:32:29 Section V. The Soul Feels Forsaken
00:32:56 21. Human weakness. 
00:37:49 22. Earthly consolations are of no  avail. 
00:42:37 23. Prayer gives no comfort at such a time.
00:48:26 24. Remedies for these interior trials.
00:50:37 Section VI. Trials from Devils and Other Afflictions
00:50:49 25. Trials caused by the devil.
00:53:28 26. Other afflictions.
00:54:34 Section VII.  Preparing to Enter the Seventh Mansions
00:54:36 27. Preparatory to entering the seventh mansions.
00:55:49 Conclusion 

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Show Notes

Discerning Hearts Interior Castle Sixth Mansions Chapter 1 audio pm3
 

The Interior Castle PDF (Zimmerman translation) from Discerning Hearts

The Interior Castle PDF (Peers Translation) <- the translation used for the TOG podcasts.

 
The Interior Castle Sixth Mansions HTML  

Life of Saint Teresa of Avila Chapter XXX - read on the show in Commentary 25.

 

Supplemental References on the Interior Castle

Interior Castle: The Classic Text with Spiritual Commentary - My favorite reference.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fire Within: Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross and the Gospel on Prayer -excellent reference!

 

 

 

 

Into the Deep: Finding Peace Through Prayer - Dan Burke great book!

Till Next Time

So what did you think? Did you gain a deep understanding of what the dark night of the soul truly means? Thank you for being a part of the Tales of Glory family and tuning in. May God bless you immensely.

Rev. Mike

Sixth Mansions Chapter 1 Part 1 – The Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila – Going Deeper in Prayer - TOG EP 149

 We're exploring the Interior Castle, Sixth Mansions Chapter 1, in part 2 of this two-part podcast on stages of mystical prayer life. Saint Teresa explains the importance of the prayer stage of the Sixth Mansions. She uses the analogy of a spiritual engagement to describe the depths of the relationship of our heart and soul to Jesus. And of course, this deep interior prayer relationship is accompanied by trials. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Listen to the Podcast on Anchor.fm

Watch the Podcast on Spotify

Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts

Watch the Podcast on YouTube

Watch the Podcast on Rumble

Show Notes

Discerning Hearts Interior Castle Sixth Mansions Chapter 1 audio pm3
 

The Interior Castle PDF (Zimmerman translation) from Discerning Hearts

The Interior Castle PDF (Peers Translation) the translation used for the podcasts.

 
The Interior Castle Sixth Mansions HTML
 

Supplemental References on the Interior Castle

Interior Castle: The Classic Text with Spiritual Commentary - I am using this book

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fire Within: Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross and the Gospel on Prayer -excellent reference!

 

 

 

 

Into the Deep: Finding Peace Through Prayer - Dan Burke great book!

Till Next Time

That's a wrap on The Interior Castle Sixth Mansions Chapter 1 Part 1. Hope you enjoyed this workshop series on Deeper Prayer. In the next episode, we examine the trials of confessors (spiritual directors). If you have questions or comments, leave them here or on our Facebook page.

God Bless
Rev. Mike 

 

Locutions - Sixth Mansions Chapter 3 part 2 – The Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila – Going Deeper in Prayer - TOG EP 148

We're exploring the Interior Castle, Sixth Mansions Chapter 3, in part 2 of this two-part podcast on locutions. Locutions means "to speak". God speaks to us in many ways. Intellectual locutions/visions come from the Superior part of the soul. Saint Teresa shares with us her wisdom on the validity of these supernatural experiences and how to confide in a spiritual director.

  

   

  

  

  

  

Timeline:
00:00:00 Opener 
00:01:50 Welcome
00:03:37 Episode 148 Introduction
00:08:01 Section 1. Locutions from the Imagination
00:08:06 16. Locutions coining from the fancy. 
00:11:09 17. Imaginary answers given to prayer. 
00:12:36 18. A confessor should be consulted about locutions. 
00:17:16 Section 2. Locutions from the Intellect
00:17:40 19. Interior locutions. 
00:22:22 20. First sign of genuine interior locutions. 
00:23:35 21. Second sign.
00:26:23 22. Third sign. 
00:27:24 23. Fourth sign. 
00:28:24 24. Fifth sign. 
00:30:49 Section 3. Locutions Bring Humility
00:30:54  25. Results of true locutions. 
00:33:44 26. They should remove alarm. 
00:34:54 27. Answer to an objection.
00:38:58 Conclusion

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Show Notes

Discerning Hearts Sixth Mansions Chapter 3 audio

The Interior Castle PDF (Zimmerman translation) from Discerning Hearts

The Interior Castle PDF (Peers Translation) the translation used for the podcasts.

Locutions

Excellent Supplementary Material

Discerning Hearts Podcast Sixth Mansions Chapter 3 Dr. Anthony Lilles 

Discerning Hearts Sixth Mansions Chapter 3 part 1 - BTP-IC18

Discerning Hearts Sixth Mansions Chapter 3 part 2 - BTP-IC19

Discerning Hearts Sixth Mansions Chapter 3 part 3 - BTP-IC20

Dr. Anthony Lilles on Locutions from The Life of Saint Teresa

Discerning Hearts Extraordinary Mystical Phenomenon – The Life of St. Teresa of Avila – BTP-LOT17 
Discerning Hearts Chap 25 – The Life of St. Teresa of Jesus – Mp3 audio

I recommend downloading and reading these bucks while going through the mystical mansions. 

Life of Saint Teresa of Jesus (Avila) PDF 

The Way of Perfection (PDF) 

 

 

Discussed on this episode

 Is Centering Prayer Catholic? - Connie Rossini - What's wrong with Centering Prayer?

Centering Prayer's Misunderstanding of Contemplation - Connie Rossini

 

Mike's Intellectual Vision as a child

Interior Castle Sixth Mansions Intellectual Visions
Basilica of Immaculate Conception - where I had my intellectual vision of Jesus

Ep06 Tales of Glory The Spiritual Gift of Spiritual Discernment  - YouTube

 

 

Supplemental References on the Interior Castle

Interior Castle: The Classic Text with Spiritual Commentary - I am using this book

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fire Within: Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross and the Gospel on Prayer -excellent reference!

 

 

 

 

Into the Deep: Finding Peace Through Prayer - Dan Burke great book!

Till Next Time

A big thank you to the Tales of Glory family for dropping by! Next time, we will jump back to Chapter 1 of the Sixth Mansions - And start from the beginning!

God Bless
Rev. Mike


 

Locutions - Sixth Mansions Chapter 3 part 1 – The Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila – Going Deeper in Prayer - TOG EP 147

 We're exploring the Interior Castle, Sixth Mansions Chapter 3, in part 1 of this two-part podcast on locutions. Locutions means "to speak". God speaks to us in many ways. How do we know what is being spoken to us by God, or soul making up fantasies, or the devil? Saint Teresa instructs us on these supernatural experiences from her classic manuscript on prayer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Timeline:
00:00:00 Opener 
00:01:47 Welcome
00:04:26 Intro Sixth Mansions Chapter 3
00:05:50 Locution vs. Prophecy
00:07:04 1. Locutions. 
00:15:40 2. Sometimes caused by melancholia. 
00:19:05 3. Caution needed at first. 
00:23:11 4. Locutions frequently occur during prayer. 
00:27:44 5. Resist those containing false doctrine. 
00:36:35 6. First sign of genuine locutions.
00:37:05 7. Effect of the words: ‘Be not troubled.’ 
00:42:49 8. ‘It is I, be not afraid.’ 
00:44:54 9. ‘Be at Peace.’ 
00:45:20 10. Second sign.
00:48:43 11. Third sign. 
00:53:41 12. The devil suggests doubts about true locutions. 
00:56:41 13. Confidence of the soul rewarded. 
00:58:41 14. Its joy at seeing God’s words verified. 
00:59:54 15. Its zeal for God’s honor.
01:01:23 Conclusion

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Show Notes

Discerning Hearts Sixth Mansions Chapter 3 audio

The Interior Castle PDF (Zimmerman translation) from Discerning Hearts

The Interior Castle PDF (Peers Translation) the translation used for the podcasts.

Locutions

Excellent Supplementary Material

Discerning Hearts Podcast Sixth Mansions Chapter 3 Dr. Anthony Lilles 

Discerning Hearts Sixth Mansions Chapter 3 part 1 - BTP-IC18


Discerning Hearts Sixth Mansions Chapter 3 part 2 - BTP-IC19


Discerning Hearts Sixth Mansions Chapter 3 part 3 - BTP-IC20

Dr. Anthony Lilles on Locutions from The Life of Saint Teresa

Discerning Hearts Extraordinary Mystical Phenomenon – The Life of St. Teresa of Avila – BTP-LOT17 

Discerning Hearts Chap 25 – The Life of St. Teresa of Jesus – Mp3 audio

I recommend downloading and reading these bucks while going through the mystical mansions. 

Life of Saint Teresa of Jesus (Avila) PDF 

The Way of Perfection (PDF) 

The Third Spiritual Alphabet (PDF) - source for "the soul enters into itself". 

Till Next Time

A big thank you to the Tales of Glory family for dropping by! Next time, we will complete the headers 16-27 and complete chapter 3 on locutions. |

God Bless
Rev. Mike

Jesus Conquers Death - Resurrection Sunday- 3 Days in the Grave - Sheol - Part IV - TOG EP 146

 We are now in part IV of our four-part series on "Was Jesus in the Grave for Three Days?" In episode 146 of Tales of Glory, we examine the scriptural evidence of Jesus' miraculous resurrection from the underworld of death - Sheol! We also closely examine the Gospel accounts of the resurrection in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and what Jesus accomplished by defeating the grave.

 

 

 

 

 

Timeline:
00:00:00 Opener 
00:00:47 Introduction - Jesus Three Days and Three Nights in Sheol
00:03:52 Episode 146 Roadmap & Syllabus
00:08:25 The Resurrection Narrative - FF Bruce
00:11:40 I. The Resurrection and the Edenic Vision
00:13:39   a. The Fall of Man - Genesis 3
00:26:28   b. The Fall of Spiritual Beings - Genesis 6
00:37:21   c. The fall at the Tower of Babel - Genesis 11
00:58:21 II. The Resurrection Accounts in the Gospel
00:58:45    John 20 v1,31
01:06:51   1. The Resurrection accounts in the Gospels
01:07:49     a. John v1,10
01:09:51     b. Matthew 28 v1,10
01:10:56     c. Mark 16 v1,8
01:12:19     d. Luke 24 v1,12
01:13:46 III. Jesus of History and Resurrection Evidence
01:13:54   1. Antiquities a. Flavius Josephus Antiquities 18 63
01:15:48   1. Antiquities b. Tacitus The Annals 15 44
01:17:07   2. Resurrection's Holy Relics (John 20 v6,7)
01:18:17    a. Shroud of Turin
01:20:38    b. Sudarium of Oviedo
01:23:30 Conclusion

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Show Notes

Scripture - The Resurrection of Jesus Christ (Sunday)
The Resurrection

I. The Resurrection and the Edenic Vision

1. The Three Falls (man/spiritual beings) 

 a. The Fall of Man 
Sin affected man and spiritual beings (adam/woman/ nachash)

Man took the knowledge of divine spiritual beings
Consequences of sin physical and spiritual death.

Genesis 2:15

Romans 6:23

Isaiah 59:2


Man would die and go to the underworld. No longer immortal - but now mortal.
Man separated from God in the underworld.

Genesis 3:15

Genesis 3:19
 
    
  Resurrection - Jesus (took the keys of death) brought the righteous in Sheol up to heaven - relocated paradise. Restoring the Edenic vision in heaven.
  Jesus raises Himself, first from the dead by His own power and authority. Only one whoever did that - human or spirit being!

b. The Fall of Spiritual Beings
A few of the divine spiritual beings (the Watchers) took for themselves the daughters of men as wives.
Origin of hybrid human spirits that were wiped out in the flood and became demonic spirits. 

Genesis 6:1-4

Henry M. Morris Phd
Days of Praise website
Angels in Chains 



c. The Fall at the Tower of Babel - Deuteronomy 32 world view

God divided the nations as a punitive measure amongst the sons of God.
Genesis 11:5-9


Creation of princes and territorial spirits ruling over parts of the earth.
Deuteronomy 32:8-9

Those nations divided amongst the sons of God became the gentiles.

COSMOLOGY AND DEMONOLOGY IN GENESIS 1-11

God will punish the wicked sons of God (the Watchers)
pg 105-106
Some of these elohim were wicked and put their people into spiritual and physical bondage. This division was a punitive measure by God at the Tower of Babel because He knew how some of these elohim would treat their nations.

 

 

 

 

 

1 God has taken his place in the divine council;
in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:
2 "How long will you judge unjustly
and show partiality to the wicked? Selah
3 Give justice to the weak and the fatherless;
maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.
4 Rescue the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked."
5 They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk about in darkness;
all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
6 I said, "You are gods,
sons of the Most High, all of you;
7 nevertheless, like men you shall die,
and fall like any prince."
8 Arise, O God, judge the earth;
for you shall inherit all the nations!
Psalm 82




Where do we see the wicked sons of God in the Torah ruling over men?

Exodus 12:12
Daniel 10:13

Resurrection - Jesus removes the territorial authority from these spirits.

Colossians 2:14-15

This is where the Apostle Paul gets his language and context for Ephesians 6:12

Ephesians 6:12

Psalm 115:16
 

II. The Resurrection Accounts

1. Accounts in the Gospels
 

a. John 20:1-10 
 Mary Magdalene
 2 angels
 
 b. Matthew 28:1-10  

 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary
 1 angel
 
 c. Mark 16:1-8
 Mary Magdalene, Mary mother of James, Salome (mother of Zebedee's sons)
 1 angel
 
 d. Luke 24:1-12  

 Mary Magdalene, Mary mother of James, Joanna, and the other woman
 2 angels
 
 
III. Historical Jesus

The Face Cloth of Jesus? With Dr. Fred baltz YouTube

Jesus was NOT a myth YouTube

Sudarium of Oviedo

New Evidence for Jesus Outside the Bible YouTube

Shroud of Turin Used to Create a 3D Copy of Jesus YouTube

Josephus and Jesus: New Evidence for the One Called Christ PDF 

Till Next Time

Thank you for stopping by. Drop a comment if you have any questions.
God Bless
Rev. Mike

The Nephilm Kings in Sheol - The Curious Case of Ezekiel 32:21- TOG EP 145

Ezekiel 23 contains a polemic against the Pharaoh of Egypt being drawn down to the pit, Sheol, by the sword. Ezekiel mentions an encounter with fallen chiefs in Sheol. Are these chiefs, the giant kings—the Nephilim? We will explore what the Septuagint reveals and examine peer-reviewed discussions on this curious case of Ezekiel 32:21. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Timeline:

00:00:00 Opener 

00:01:06 Welcome TOG

00:02:58 Introduction and Vignettes on Sheol

00:07:35 I. Images of Giant Kings in the Underworld Ez. 32:17-31

00:09:32 Ezekiel 32:17-31 ESV scripture

00:15:34   1. Septuagint Translation Hebrew to Hellenistic Greek

00:18:31         New English Translation Septuagint Ezekiel 32:20-21

00:21:59         Comparing Masoretic Hebrew with Greek Septuagint

00:22:23    2. Masoretic Hebrew Torah

00:23:42         Genesis 6:1-4 Mighty men

00:26:10         The Watchers in Jewish and Christian Traditions - Chris Seeman

00:29:09 II. Scholar Perspectives

00:29:20      a. Dr. Michael Heiser on Sheol and Ezekiel 32

00:33:28      b. Derek Gilbert on the mighty men in Ezekiel 32

00:38:38      Scholar tally on peer perspectives

00:41:33 III. Sheol

00:41:44    1. The environment of the chiefs in sheol

00:42:16        a. The grave - cadavers Isaiah 14:11

00:43:41        b. Assour - Assure - Assyria Ezekiel 32:22

00:46:21 Conclusion

00:49:33  Soap box - Follow the analysis process - musings, rants, and sarcasm

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Show Notes

Ezekiel 32:20-23

English Standard Version

20 They shall fall amid those who are slain by the sword. Egypt is delivered to the sword; drag her away, and all her multitudes. 

21 The mighty chiefs shall speak of them, with their helpers, out of the midst of Sheol: ‘They have come down, they lie still, the uncircumcised, slain by the sword.’

22 “Assyria is there, and all her company, its graves all around it, all of them slain, fallen by the sword, 

23 whose graves are set in the uttermost parts of the pit; and her company is all around her grave, all of them slain, fallen by the sword, who spread terror in the land of the living.

Septuagint - NETS Ezekiel 32 pdf

Sheol - The OT "Bad Place" - Dr. Michael Heiser

Blurry Creatures Episode 110 The Underworld with Derek Gilbert

 

Mighty - Gibbori(ee)m - Genesis 6:4, Ezekiel 32:21

Fallen - Nepholi(ee)m - Ezekiel 32:22

 

 

 

 

 

Nephilim giants, hybrid beings -Nephili(ee)m -   Genesis 6:4

 

 

 

 

 

Build Your Reference and Training Library! 

Cosmology and Demonology in Genesis 1-11: The Serpent, Divine Council, and Regional Spirits

I frequently discuss why we shouldn’t go outside our domain of authority and talk to angels, or try to put ourselves in the throne room of heaven. Do you know why? The modern church's view of angelology and demonology is wrong. It is not what Elijah, Ezekiel, and the saints believed. Where did the Apostle Paul get his language and context from Ephesians 6:12? It is not a choir of angels. They’re not even angels. An angel is specifically a messenger sent by God for a task. These bad guys in Ephesians 6:12 are divine spiritual beings - not messengers.  Did you know that demons are not fallen angels? Get the book! Highly recommended for the Tales of Glory audience!

 

 

Now on Audible!!!!

Get a copy of THE book you need in your training library for spiritual warfare!

A Field Guide to Spiritual Warfare - the power to PULL the IMPOSSIBLE from the HEAVENLY REALM was written by Michael Norton while he was a street minister on San Francisco's Night Strike Homeless ministry under Bob Johnson. Michael documents what he experienced and how the Holy Spirit trained him to move in the Holy Spirit's empowerment during spiritual encounters. This book is a must-read for anyone serious about entering into spiritual warfare ministry. This book has been used as training material for spiritual warfare for Teen Challenge and Cleansing Streams. 

 

 

 

 

Back cover information on A Field Guide to Spiritual Warfare.
 

A Field Guide to Advanced Spiritual Warfare - Deliverance, Exorcism, and the Healing Effects of Ritual Abuse was written by Michael in 2017, seven years after his first manuscript, A Field Guide to Spiritual Warfare. This book delves deeper into the question of the difference between deliverance and exorcism. Michael reveals information on identifying and working with Satanic Ritual Abuse and his work with numerous survivors. Another powerful book to pick up for spiritual warfare training and counselors wanting to know about handling these darker cases of fracturing and demonic possession.

YouTube Playlists to the M16 Ministries Training Series on Spiritual Warfare

 

Tales of Glory A Field Guide to Spiritual Warfare 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Tales of Glory - A Field Guide to Advanced Spiritual Warfare

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Tales of Glory - Cosmology and Demonology

 

Till Next Time

 I hope to have more vignettes on Sheol out soon. What did you think of Ezekiel 32 and the Nephilim Kings in Sheol?

God Bless

Rev. Mike

Saint Teresa of Avila Interior Castle Fifth Mansions Chapter 4 Prayer of Union Part 2 TOG Ep 144

 In this episode of Tales of Glory, we dive into Part 2 of our exploration of Saint Teresa of Avila's Fifth Mansion, chapter 4 on the mystical Prayer of Union. She reveals how the soul knows for certain if it is experiencing the Prayer of Union and how it differs from similar mystical unions we may encounter. The saint leads through a more profound conversion of the soul as we wrap up our discussion on the Fifth Mansion. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Timeline:
00:00:00  Show Opener - Interior Castle Fifth Mansions Chapter 4
00:01:22  Introduction - Welcome
00:06:28 Fifth Mansions Chapter 4 Recap
00:07:14 What is the Prayer of Union?
00:09:24 The Mystical Grace of the Prayer of Union   
00:12:30 How do we know if we experienced the Prayer of Union?
00:15:54 Personal Examples of the Prayer of Union
00:22:07 Fifth Mansions Chapter 4 Paragraphs 7 - 12
00:22:19 Paragraph 7.  Why they are permitted.
00:24:03 Paragraph 8.  Prayer and watchfulness our safeguards.
00:27:16 Paragraph 9.  God's watchfulness over such souls.
00:30:32 Paragraph 10. Progress in virtue.
00:36:42 Paragraph 11.  Insignificance of our actions compared with their reward.
00:38:06 Paragraph 12. St. Teresa's motives for writing on prayer.
00:46:36 Spiritual Exercises - Beginning Contemplation - John 1:1-13
00:58:52 Conclusion

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Watch the Podcast on Rumble

Show Notes

Fifth Mansions Chapter 4 MP3 audio from Discerning Hearts

The Interior Castle PDF (Zimmerman translation) from Discerning Hearts

The Interior Castle PDF (Peers Translation) the translation used for the podcasts.

I recommend downloading and reading these bucks while going through the mystical mansions. 

Life of Saint Teresa of Jesus (Avila) PDF 

The Way of Perfection (PDF) 

The Third Spiritual Alphabet (PDF) - source for "the soul enters into itself". 

Supplemental Notes

St. Teresa's Teaching on the Grades of Prayer

Till Next Time

Congratulations! We have completed the Fifth Mansion of the Interior Castle! What a blessing it is to learn from the master of prayer herself, Saint Teresa of Avila.

With a little breather, we will push on to explore the supernatural of the Sixth Mansion! 

God Bless

Rev. Mike