Send a text

We trace Brother Lawrence’s path from wounded soldier to humble Carmelite cook and explore how he learned to make prayer and work one seamless act of love. We share his hard decade of scruples, his breakthrough into peace, and practical ways to cultivate tenderness for Christ in daily tasks.

• Brother Lawrence’s early life, war wounds, and spiritual awakening
• Entering Carmel as a lay brother and serving in a large kitchen
• Ten years of interior struggle and the turn to peace
• Practicing presence as affective love, not a technique
• Service, community, and guarding against “me and Jesus” isolation
• Love transforming chores, parenting, and professional work
• A simple weekly practice: examine tenderness for Christ and return gently

If you like My Friend the Friar and want to support us, please consider subscribing or following us if you haven't already done so.

Support the show

Click here to support the Carmelite Friars!

Have something you'd love to hear Fr. Stephen and John talk about? Email us at myfriendthefriar@gmail.com or click here!

Send us a text

We open Season Four by catching up after a hard, grace-filled year and laying out a clear plan for what we will study next. We share travel, retreats, family loss, surprising audience growth, and the Carmelite themes we will explore with fresh focus.

• season three stretch due to illness, loss, and surgery
• retreats, parish missions, and formation work across several states
• top episode on Jewish marriage customs and the Last Supper
• audience in 80 countries and 700 plus cities
• plans for Brother Lawrence, Teresa of Ávila, and John of the Cross
• desire to teach desert roots of Christian spirituality
• early Church Fathers as a map for modern discipleship
• interest in stitched thematic episodes for easier learning
• Council of Trent creator conference service and networking
• explanation of the semi-province structure and needs

Please consider supporting the Discalced Carmelites of the Semi-Province of St. Thérèse. Links are in the show notes. Pray for us that the Holy Spirit gives us the time and grace to cover these topics well.

Support the show

Click here to support the Carmelite Friars!

Have something you'd love to hear Fr. Stephen and John talk about? Email us at myfriendthefriar@gmail.com or click here!

Send us a text

We trace the Carmelite path from Elijah’s quiet breeze to Teresa and John’s reform, exploring how silence, scripture, and daily Eucharist shape a life of allegiance to Christ. Along the way, we look at Mary’s role, major historical shifts, and why laypeople might discern the Secular Order.

• origins on Mount Carmel and Elijah’s witness
• the Rule of St Albert and daily Eucharist
• shift to mendicant life and urban presence
• crises, mitigations and the call to reform
• Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross’ renewal
• Mary as model contemplative and patron
• Spain’s Golden Age and Carmelite saints
• differences with the Ancient Observance
• why charisms matter for lay discernment
• how the Secular Order forms prayer and life

Share the podcast. Yep, like, subscribe, share all the good things, leave comments, leave reviews!

Support the show

Click here to support the Carmelite Friars!

Have something you'd love to hear Fr. Stephen and John talk about? Email us at myfriendthefriar@gmail.com or click here!