Five Signs of Progress in the Spiritual Life

Episode Overview

David and Adam share humorous anecdotes from their chaotic home lives—mice-catching kids, runaway cows, and pig feeder mishaps—before diving into a deep discussion on spiritual growth. Drawing from Father Frederick Faber’s Growth in Holiness, they explore five practical signs of progress in the spiritual life, offering insights for men seeking to deepen their relationship with God. The episode balances lighthearted banter with profound reflections on humility, perseverance, and living intentionally for Christ.

Key Discussion Points

Life Updates:

• Adam recounts his son Leo’s antics, including catching mice and feeding them into traps, and opening a gate, letting a cow escape during relentless Oklahoma rain. He also shares the challenges of a kitchen remodel, leading to household disorder and a mouse infestation.
• David discusses his pigs knocking over their feeder, eating through plywood, and his frustration-driven rebuild with metal siding, highlighting the manual labor woes of farm life.
• Spiritual Focus: The hosts explore Father Frederick Faber’s Growth in Holiness (published by Cor Iesu Press), focusing on Chapter 1’s five signs of progress in the spiritual life. Faber, a 19th-century Oratorian and convert, offers timeless clarity on Catholic spirituality.
• Contradictions in the Spiritual Life: Faber notes the spiritual life is full of contradictions due to our fallen nature, particularly the tension between knowing ourselves deeply while thinking of ourselves humbly. David challenges the modern adage that humility is “thinking about yourself less,” arguing that true humility requires rightly ordered self-reflection.

What Not to Do:

• Don’t Ask Your Spiritual Director for Progress Reports: Faber advises against seeking your spiritual director’s judgment on your progress, as it places unfair pressure on them and risks oversimplifying complex spiritual states.
• Avoid Arbitrary Benchmarks: Setting personal, artificial markers of progress can lead to disquietude, distracting from genuine growth and forfeiting graces.

Five Signs of Spiritual Progress:

1. Discontent with Your Present State: A desire to be holier, coupled with humility and gratitude for past graces, indicates progress. This discontent must avoid sloth (acedia) or unease with devotional practices.
2. Constant Fresh Starts: Persevering through repeated failures by recommitting to holiness (e.g., overcoming a persistent sin like pornography) is a sign of growth, reflecting perseverance.
3. Specific Goals in View: Actively pursuing a particular virtue, overcoming a specific fault, or adopting a penance shows intentionality, akin to a business plan for spiritual growth.
4. Feeling God’s Particular Call: An “attraction” to a specific fault to correct or pious work to undertake, guided by the Holy Spirit, signals progress. Not all experience this, but it’s significant when present.
5. General Desire for Perfection: A broad desire to be more perfect, if acted upon through prayer, penance, or zealous acts, is valuable but must be channeled into action to avoid spiritual stagnation.

Practical Reflections:

• Adam shares his practice of writing down elements of a “good day” (waking early, praying, reading, working hard, family dinner, early bedtime) to replicate satisfying days, aligning with Faber’s call for specific goals.
• David reflects on overcoming obsessive thoughts by offering gratitude to God, transforming burdens into opportunities for grace, illustrating the power of fresh starts.

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