Episode 11 – The Battles of the Seventh Mansion – St. Teresa, Spiritual Warfare, and the Progress of the Soul with Dan Burke

Dan Burke and Kris McGregor share reflections on the progression through the “mansions” of the soul described by St. Teresa.

The “seventh mansion” symbolizes an advanced state of unity with God, where spiritual battles diminish as the soul reaches detachment from earthly attachments, sin, and even subtle demonic deceptions. Here, humility and a profound awareness of one’s need for God become central to one’s life, fostering a deep, abiding reliance on divine grace rather than on personal willpower. While this level of holiness is rare, it remains an ultimate spiritual goal and a foretaste of heaven.

The idea of a “universal call to holiness” affirmed by Vatican II, makes this journey accessible to all—whether through monastic disciplines or daily life responsibilities, like those of a mother or even those with limited time for prayer can reach profound spiritual heights if they orient their lives toward God with discipline and trust.

Spiritual readings like St. Teresa’s are meant not merely for knowledge but for self-transformation, deepening one’s relationship with God. If we approach these writings with a purely intellectual focus, we risk developing a “critical spirit” rather than authentic growth in love and humility.

Discerning Hearts Discussion Questions

1. Understanding Spiritual Progress: How do you interpret the stages of the soul’s journey in St. Teresa’s Interior Castle as it applies to your own spiritual life?


2. Humility and Detachment: In what ways can you cultivate the humility necessary to detach from earthly attachments and recognize your complete reliance on God?


3. Embracing the Universal Call to Holiness: How does the concept of a universal call to holiness influence your understanding of your personal vocation?


4. Practicing Disciplined Prayer: How might you incorporate mental prayer more consistently, even amid daily obligations, to deepen your relationship with God?


5. Transforming Knowledge into Relationship: When you read spiritual books, do you seek to grow in relationship with God, or are you primarily acquiring knowledge?


6. Identifying and Addressing Root Sins: What recurring weaknesses or sins have you identified in yourself, and how might greater humility help you address them?


7. Responding to Truth with Action: How can you take the insights from spiritual readings and translate them into practical actions in your daily life?


8. Navigating Spiritual Deceptions: How do you discern and guard against the subtle deceptions that may arise as you progress in your spiritual journey?


9. Reflecting on Your Need for God: How often do you acknowledge your need for God, and in what ways can you reinforce this awareness in your life?


10. Commitment to Holiness Amid Challenges: How can you continue pursuing holiness despite suffering or challenges that may arise in your spiritual growth?

You can find the book here.

An excerpt from the book:

“Have you ever considered that the devil is active in your prayer life? In the parish church where you attend Mass? In the lives and actions of people of goodwill all around you? The saints remind us of a key aspect of living the spiritual life that we are wont to forget simply because we can’t see it and because we have been conditioned by the media and popular culture to think the devil works visibly only in “bad” people or in extraordinary ways, as in the movies. And although demons are certainly capable of extravagant or extraordinary manifestations, their ordinary work flies under our radar because it just isn’t that spectacular, though it is deadly.

In fact, subtlety, illusion, and deceit are their preferred methods of attack. An invisible battle for souls is being waged in and around us without reprieve, and we remain ignorant of it to our peril. St. Teresa of Avila, great mystic and Doctor of the Church, is best known for her writings on the way God leads souls along the path to union with Him through prayer. What many do not know about St. Teresa is that she also observed the actions of demons working with militant force to lead even good souls astray in ways that might surprise you. She shares these experiences freely in her autobiography, which she was commanded to write under obedience to her spiritual director.“

Burke, Dan; Burke, Dan. The Devil in the Castle: St. Teresa of Avila, Spiritual Warfare, and the Progress of the Soul (p. 12). Sophia Institute Press. Kindle Edition.

For more episodes in this series visit Dan Burke’s Discerning Hearts page here:

Dan Burke is the founder and President of the Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation, which offers graduate and personal enrichment studies in spiritual theology to priests, deacons, religious, and laity in 72 countries and prepares men for seminary in 14 dioceses.

Dan is the author and editor of more than 15 books on authentic Catholic spirituality and hosts the Divine Intimacy Radio show with his wife, Stephanie, which is broadcast weekly on EWTN Radio. Past episodes can be found, along with thousands of articles on the interior life, at SpiritualDirection.com.

In his deep commitment to the advancement of faithful Catholic spirituality, he is also the founder of Apostoli Viae, a world-wide, private association of the faithful dedicated to living and advancing the authentic spiritual patrimony of the Church.

Most importantly, Dan is a blessed husband, father of four, grandfather of one—and grateful to be Catholic.

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