Week 05 - This is a 5-week course designed to introduce people to the full scope of Catholic prayer as articulated by Teresa of Avila in her famous “four waters” analogy. It explains these four stages beginning with vocal and discursive prayer (such as meditation and mental prayer) to contemplative prayer and transforming union. Classes include instruction and hands-on practice of the various types of prayer and addresses common questions such as:What can we do to deepen our connection with God in prayer?How do we discern His voice in prayer?What are the main stumbling blocks in our prayer life?How do we handle distractions, dryness, and consolations.What are the signs of advancing prayer?Each week participants have a homework assignment. Instruction will include a once-a-week online course lasting one hour. It will consist of an opening prayer, review of the homework assignment, a 20 minute lecture, 15 minutes of prayer practice and 15 minutes for Q&A. ﾿ Susan Brinkmann, O.C.D.S., author and award-winning journalist is a member of the Third Order of Discalced Carmelites. She is the Director of Communications and New Age Research for Women of Grace® and is a frequent guest on EWTN's Women of Grace® television show. She formerly worked as a Correspondent for the Catholic Standard & Times, the newspaper for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. For the last 10 years she has been the lead researcher for Women of Grace’s New Age Q&A Blog which is the largest blog of this kind in the world. The library of information now exceeds 1200 entries on everything from acupuncture and angels to wicca and yoga. She has also authored seven books, including The Learn to Discern Compendium: Is It Christian or New Age which has an imprimatur from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Liguori Publications published the story of her conversion, entitled, We Need to Talk: God Speaks to a Modern Girl. Along with Johnnette Benkovic, she co-authored the Young Women of Grace Study Program which teaches girls ages 13+ about what it means to be authentically feminine. Her latest publication is The Catholic Guide to Mindfulness, published by Avila Institute, which has an imprimatur from the Diocese of Birmingham. Her national journalism awards include the Bernadine-O'Connor Award for Pro-Life Journalism, the Eileen Egan Journalism Award from Catholic Relief Services, and numerous awards from the Catholic Press Association and the Philadelphia Press Association. Read More …

Week 04 - This is a 5-week course designed to introduce people to the full scope of Catholic prayer as articulated by Teresa of Avila in her famous “four waters” analogy. It explains these four stages beginning with vocal and discursive prayer (such as meditation and mental prayer) to contemplative prayer and transforming union. Classes include instruction and hands-on practice of the various types of prayer and addresses common questions such as:What can we do to deepen our connection with God in prayer?How do we discern His voice in prayer?What are the main stumbling blocks in our prayer life?How do we handle distractions, dryness, and consolations.What are the signs of advancing prayer?Each week participants have a homework assignment. Instruction will include a once-a-week online course lasting one hour. It will consist of an opening prayer, review of the homework assignment, a 20 minute lecture, 15 minutes of prayer practice and 15 minutes for Q&A. ﾿ Susan Brinkmann, O.C.D.S., author and award-winning journalist is a member of the Third Order of Discalced Carmelites. She is the Director of Communications and New Age Research for Women of Grace® and is a frequent guest on EWTN's Women of Grace® television show. She formerly worked as a Correspondent for the Catholic Standard & Times, the newspaper for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. For the last 10 years she has been the lead researcher for Women of Grace’s New Age Q&A Blog which is the largest blog of this kind in the world. The library of information now exceeds 1200 entries on everything from acupuncture and angels to wicca and yoga. She has also authored seven books, including The Learn to Discern Compendium: Is It Christian or New Age which has an imprimatur from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Liguori Publications published the story of her conversion, entitled, We Need to Talk: God Speaks to a Modern Girl. Along with Johnnette Benkovic, she co-authored the Young Women of Grace Study Program which teaches girls ages 13+ about what it means to be authentically feminine. Her latest publication is The Catholic Guide to Mindfulness, published by Avila Institute, which has an imprimatur from the Diocese of Birmingham. Her national journalism awards include the Bernadine-O'Connor Award for Pro-Life Journalism, the Eileen Egan Journalism Award from Catholic Relief Services, and numerous awards from the Catholic Press Association and the Philadelphia Press Association. Read More …

Week 03 - This is a 5-week course designed to introduce people to the full scope of Catholic prayer as articulated by Teresa of Avila in her famous “four waters” analogy. It explains these four stages beginning with vocal and discursive prayer (such as meditation and mental prayer) to contemplative prayer and transforming union. Classes include instruction and hands-on practice of the various types of prayer and addresses common questions such as:What can we do to deepen our connection with God in prayer?How do we discern His voice in prayer?What are the main stumbling blocks in our prayer life?How do we handle distractions, dryness, and consolations.What are the signs of advancing prayer?Each week participants have a homework assignment. Instruction will include a once-a-week online course lasting one hour. It will consist of an opening prayer, review of the homework assignment, a 20 minute lecture, 15 minutes of prayer practice and 15 minutes for Q&A. ﾿ Susan Brinkmann, O.C.D.S., author and award-winning journalist is a member of the Third Order of Discalced Carmelites. She is the Director of Communications and New Age Research for Women of Grace® and is a frequent guest on EWTN's Women of Grace® television show. She formerly worked as a Correspondent for the Catholic Standard & Times, the newspaper for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. For the last 10 years she has been the lead researcher for Women of Grace’s New Age Q&A Blog which is the largest blog of this kind in the world. The library of information now exceeds 1200 entries on everything from acupuncture and angels to wicca and yoga. She has also authored seven books, including The Learn to Discern Compendium: Is It Christian or New Age which has an imprimatur from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Liguori Publications published the story of her conversion, entitled, We Need to Talk: God Speaks to a Modern Girl. Along with Johnnette Benkovic, she co-authored the Young Women of Grace Study Program which teaches girls ages 13+ about what it means to be authentically feminine. Her latest publication is The Catholic Guide to Mindfulness, published by Avila Institute, which has an imprimatur from the Diocese of Birmingham. Her national journalism awards include the Bernadine-O'Connor Award for Pro-Life Journalism, the Eileen Egan Journalism Award from Catholic Relief Services, and numerous awards from the Catholic Press Association and the Philadelphia Press Association. Read More …

Week 02 - This is a 5-week course designed to introduce people to the full scope of Catholic prayer as articulated by Teresa of Avila in her famous “four waters” analogy. It explains these four stages beginning with vocal and discursive prayer (such as meditation and mental prayer) to contemplative prayer and transforming union. Classes include instruction and hands-on practice of the various types of prayer and addresses common questions such as:What can we do to deepen our connection with God in prayer?How do we discern His voice in prayer?What are the main stumbling blocks in our prayer life?How do we handle distractions, dryness, and consolations.What are the signs of advancing prayer?Each week participants have a homework assignment. Instruction will include a once-a-week online course lasting one hour. It will consist of an opening prayer, review of the homework assignment, a 20 minute lecture, 15 minutes of prayer practice and 15 minutes for Q&A. ﾿ Susan Brinkmann, O.C.D.S., author and award-winning journalist is a member of the Third Order of Discalced Carmelites. She is the Director of Communications and New Age Research for Women of Grace® and is a frequent guest on EWTN's Women of Grace® television show. She formerly worked as a Correspondent for the Catholic Standard & Times, the newspaper for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. For the last 10 years she has been the lead researcher for Women of Grace’s New Age Q&A Blog which is the largest blog of this kind in the world. The library of information now exceeds 1200 entries on everything from acupuncture and angels to wicca and yoga. She has also authored seven books, including The Learn to Discern Compendium: Is It Christian or New Age which has an imprimatur from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Liguori Publications published the story of her conversion, entitled, We Need to Talk: God Speaks to a Modern Girl. Along with Johnnette Benkovic, she co-authored the Young Women of Grace Study Program which teaches girls ages 13+ about what it means to be authentically feminine. Her latest publication is The Catholic Guide to Mindfulness, published by Avila Institute, which has an imprimatur from the Diocese of Birmingham. Her national journalism awards include the Bernadine-O'Connor Award for Pro-Life Journalism, the Eileen Egan Journalism Award from Catholic Relief Services, and numerous awards from the Catholic Press Association and the Philadelphia Press Association. Read More …

Week 01 - This is a 5-week course designed to introduce people to the full scope of Catholic prayer as articulated by Teresa of Avila in her famous “four waters” analogy. It explains these four stages beginning with vocal and discursive prayer (such as meditation and mental prayer) to contemplative prayer and transforming union. Classes include instruction and hands-on practice of the various types of prayer and addresses common questions such as:What can we do to deepen our connection with God in prayer?How do we discern His voice in prayer?What are the main stumbling blocks in our prayer life?How do we handle distractions, dryness, and consolations.What are the signs of advancing prayer?Each week participants have a homework assignment. Instruction will include a once-a-week online course lasting one hour. It will consist of an opening prayer, review of the homework assignment, a 20 minute lecture, 15 minutes of prayer practice and 15 minutes for Q&A. ﾿ Susan Brinkmann, O.C.D.S., author and award-winning journalist is a member of the Third Order of Discalced Carmelites. She is the Director of Communications and New Age Research for Women of Grace® and is a frequent guest on EWTN's Women of Grace® television show. She formerly worked as a Correspondent for the Catholic Standard & Times, the newspaper for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. For the last 10 years she has been the lead researcher for Women of Grace’s New Age Q&A Blog which is the largest blog of this kind in the world. The library of information now exceeds 1200 entries on everything from acupuncture and angels to wicca and yoga. She has also authored seven books, including The Learn to Discern Compendium: Is It Christian or New Age which has an imprimatur from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Liguori Publications published the story of her conversion, entitled, We Need to Talk: God Speaks to a Modern Girl. Along with Johnnette Benkovic, she co-authored the Young Women of Grace Study Program which teaches girls ages 13+ about what it means to be authentically feminine. Her latest publication is The Catholic Guide to Mindfulness, published by Avila Institute, which has an imprimatur from the Diocese of Birmingham. Her national journalism awards include the Bernadine-O'Connor Award for Pro-Life Journalism, the Eileen Egan Journalism Award from Catholic Relief Services, and numerous awards from the Catholic Press Association and the Philadelphia Press Association. Read More …