LENT 2026
St. John of the Cross and the Journey of Transformation
St. John of the Cross, Carmelite Doctor of the Church, teaches prayer and is a sure guide for the spiritual life. In this series, Sister Shawn Pauline and Sister Teresa Christine explore the journey of faith through the rich tradition of Carmelite Spirituality and St. John’s teaching on detachment and prayer. From the early stages of prayer, through the darker purifications of the dark night, to the glorious transforming union of love, St. John of the Cross guides us in how to respond to God’s grace to find deep and lasting freedom.
These talks were prepared in collaboration with Monk Mindset for their 2026 Lent Challenge. Monk Mindset is a app that helps people learn and live monastic principles daily. They are offering a discount to our friends, which is available here:
The Holy Triduum
The Holy Triduum – the climax of the liturgical year celebrating the passion, death and resurrection of our Lord, is an invitation to join our hearts and lives with Jesus. It is also an opportunity to find healing and grace through uniting ourselves to Him.
Transforming Union
What does it mean to be truly human? The glory of God is man fully alive. All of the spiritual life is moving us toward our true destiny – being transformed in love and to dwell in union with God, through faith, hope and love.
The Dark Night of the Spirit
God desires to bring us into close union with Him through the deep purification that St. John of the Cross calls the Dark Night of the Spirit. Sister Teresa Christine explores what this night looks like and how God is at work in the soul, through the actual circumstances of life in relationship with God.
Dependence on God
Sister Shawn Pauline unpacks how as we grow in prayer, we learn that we must depend on God rather than ourselves. Our human limitations, when embraced and surrendered to God allow us to find deep freedom. This is the heart of detachment and poverty in the spiritual life.
The Passive Night of the Senses
Sister Shawn Pauline describes St. John of the Cross’ teaching on the dark night of the senses. John teaches us how God purifies our senses to bring us into deeper union with him. In the passive night of sense, God take over in the work of purification, and we learn to wait for Him to deepen our prayer life.
What does it mean when prayer is dry?
When a parent is teaching a child to walk, at some point in time he lets go and allows the child to walk on their own. Sister Teresa Christine explores St. John of the Cross’ teaching on discerning the meaning and purpose of dryness in prayer, and how to respond.
Breathe Through the Garden
The Holy Spirit is the wind of God’s love, the animator of our virtue and the author of our faith. St. John of the Cross speaks of the Holy Spirit that breathes through the garden of our souls, giving us freedom to live in the freedom of the sons of God.
Introduction to the Dark Night of St. John of the Cross
St. John of the Cross is perhaps best known for His teaching on the dark night of the sense and the soul. When God desires to bring us into deeper union with Him, he begins to lead the soul through purification. The purpose is for the sake of love and deeper freedom.