The Spiritual Life: The Keys to Growing Closer to God

Lectures

1. The Christ
   • Because of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, we now have a better understanding of who God is and what His plans are for us.
2. We Have Come to Believe
   • Declaring Jesus as Lord demands certain things from us, but we do not make this decision alone.  When we are transformed in Christ, we become part of a family of believers and are united with the Communion of Saints.
3. Departing from God
   • In order to make progress in the spiritual life, we must acknowledge our unworthiness and follow the purgative way.  Only then can we hope to grow in virtue and experience a continual conversion.
4. Jesus as Teacher
   • God is calling each one of us to holiness.  In order to walk along this noble path, we must recognize the tangibility of such a demand and take advantage of the spiritual aids that are given to us.
5. Dining with Christ
   • As we continue down the road of holiness, we are fed by the very body of Christ, and are thus given a foretaste of the world to come.
6. Consecrated in Truth
   • If we heed the words of Christ and stay close to Him in prayer, we need not be afraid of failure, for He Himself has prayed for us, consecrating us to the Father.
7. The Desert
   • Entering into silence is essential in maintaining a thriving spiritual life.  As such, we must follow Christ into the desert and learn from Him there.
8. A Personal Prayer Life
   • A fruitful spiritual life requires that we turn to God in prayer throughout the day, training ourselves to recognize His presence in every moment.

Lecture Sample

Meet Your Professor

Father Jeffrey Kirby was ordained to the priesthood in 2007. He has been the Vicar of Vocations for the Diocese of Charleston since 2010. He received his Masters in Bioethics from Queen of the Apostles in Rome, and his Masters of Arts in Philosophy from Franciscan University where he graduated summa cum laude. His other academic works include: a Master of Education in Secondary Administration from the Military College of South Carolina, a licentiate in Moral Theology from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome, a Bachelor of Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Franciscan University.

Father Kirby has also been named “Honors Scholar of the Great Books” for his completion of studies in the Great Books of Western Civilization Program.

He has served in the Army Nation Guard from 1996 to 2002 and is a recipient of the National Defense Service Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, Humanitarian Service Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal.

He has been a contributor of the Homiletic and Pastoral Review, and a guest columnist in: The Catholic Miscellany, The Post and Courier, The Charlotte Observer, and The Aiken Standard.

Father Kirby has also contributed to the Encyclopedia of Catholic Social Thought, Social Science, and Social Policy and co-hosted the radio show, “Pathways to Rome” on Mediatrix Radio. He is the co-author of the children’s book, Becoming Father Bob and author of the books, Encountering the Lord in His Holy Court: A Walk through St. Peter’s Basilica and Lord, Teach Us To Pray.

In 2011, he founded the Drexel House, a Catholic Residence for Men.