Greg Dunne a working class Dubliner - Although he had a basic education it is clear that he has been graced with infused knowledge and understanding of the faith - quite remarkable -
Thanks for posting this. I have never even heard of Greg before and am really looking forward to watching. (He reminds me of Matt Talbot to look at, from the old photo. Our Lady used to appear to Matt on a regular basis).
Padraig - you are going to be amazed - he had a drink problem earlier in life I think - He's actually very funny. Please let me know what you think.
I'm surprised I have never even heard of him before, how did you find out about him? Is he well known?
I found out about him through Frances Hogan who endorses him. I did put another video of him on the forum before last year but you may have missed it?
This is the video link I put on before you might want to watch first Frances Hogan appears with Greg Dunne https://queenofthedivinewill.org/ar...greg-dunne-accompanied-by-miss-frances-hogan/
I listened to Greg and I am afraid he like all who have Devotion to the Divine Will totally loose me. I can follow in all that he says that goes with Traditional Catholic teaching. But I have no idea at all what it means in being coupled with Divine Will. I am also a little uneasy with the promise of some kind of super acceleration button being pressed when you do get it. I have read up as much as I could on Divine Will in the past and still did not get it. I am not saying it is wrong , just that I don't understand it and am made a little nervous of is on this lack of grasping it. So I could not recommend it to anyone. I would tend to be very chary of it. I did however notice Greg mention on the video about how many talks he is giving at the minute and how he does not feel tired. In fact to me he looks utterly exhausted and compensates for this by being what seems to be exalted or permanently excited.. I feel more than a little concerned about this too; that he does not seem to have the basic insight on himself to be aware of this... However..as they say, Doctors differ, patients die. I may be well be wrong on all this. But I'm not wrong about him looking exhausted. He needs to watch his health. Sleep and rest are very important, especially at his age. I just felt very uneasy listening to him. My spidey senses shot up. I don't really do excitement or exultation. I like housework and praying and the hum drum everyday. Finding God cleaning the toilet bowl. I love sleeping too. Saying the Rosary. Going to Mass. Praying walking the dog. Talking to God before I go to sleep at night and first thing in the morning. Singing hymns to myself. All the things our Catholic parents taught us to do as children. Rushing round Ireland giving talks , all excited and not sleeping would be the death of me. As I say it makes me uneasy. I would say when you can find God cleaning the toilet bowl you're in a good place. I can't imagine Greg getting excited about toilet bowls and that would be no bad thing. He needs to chill a little. He tires me out just watching him
I remember it. And I remember Frances Hogan speaking of him. I haven't listened to this talk but I share your sentiments about the Divine Will. It is so complicated. So many levels and steps. I am simple. I too find my best prayers and insights come in the middle of washing dishes or scrubbing the floor. And I am always praying for the grace to keep my will united to the will of Jesus. No easy thing sometimes. I love the Little Way of St Therese. That works for me.
I can’t go wrong following the Baltimore Catechism and praying the Rosary and offering up the sacrifice of my daily duties. Going to Confession often if possible. Keeping it simple.
Greg says something very important; a person is missing the boat if...you try to go into the religion without the relationship with the Lord...rather, one sees the religion in the relationship. On another thread we heard of an Irish priest who was filling in for another priest at Holy Mass, and got grief from his bishop because he was so forthright in calling out sin that a fair number of individuals walked out. I'm not saying what that priest preached was wrong. Those individuals walked out because they were angry to hear and think that accountability to God is scheduled on the day of their demise. In other words: we're here on earth to enter into a love relationship with God and make our ultimate aim to bring Him glory through our wholehearted obedience. And there is confession when we fall short of the goal of pleasing Him in all things. So one does not please Jesus by simply playing the minimalist card of showing up at church and being nice now and then. As Greg points out- religion without the relationship with the Lord is vanity. I know there is more to grasp about Living in the Divine Will as taught by Luisa; this little burst is a response to what Greg Dunne shared. O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!
Strange. I was remembering St Therese last night thinking about this last last, especially one incident shortly after her death. After every nun dies they circulate a little note giving a very few details about the dead sister. In the case of St Therese the nuns were a little alarmed that they could not find a single thing to say about St Therese she faded so much into the back ground. A good enough little nun, but nothing at all special. What set her apart was that she had been called on by her sister, (then Prioress) to keep a little Journal of her life ('Story of a Soul') and so she did. After she died they sent out a few copies to the Carmels in France the nuns passed them on to relatives and friends, folks loved them and wrote to the Carmel in Liseaux asking for more and so the whole thing snowballed. I would guess that if her actual sisters , who knew her best , had not lived with her no one would ever have known about her. This seems to me to be the very best way of all in the Spiritual Life. To be very, very small and very very hidden. Like a little snow mouse. But what of the souls like St Padre Pio who had extraordinary gifts and to whom the eyes of the World were so directed? Padre Pio said of these gifts, 'These were given to me for others'. In other words the light the attention that was given was to light the way for others. But Padre Pio really in his personal life lived a very,very humble hum drum kind of existence. I read a lovely true story about a nun in Belgium. She too lived a very hidden existence and was always given the very worst jobs in the convent and no one had a too high opinion of her. But there lived at that time a very famous Bishop and preacher, known throughout the country, a kind of Fulton Sheen of his day. He visited this convent to give a series of talks to the sisters. During a break he wandered over to the Stables to check on his horse which he had left there. He found an older sister who looked quite dirty and unkempt because of the job she did taking care of the stable and smelt not to good as well. So of course the other nuns did not let her attend the talks as she would have given a very bad impression to the famous Bishop because of her horrible condition. But the Bishop was interested in this mysterious old nun and fell to talking to her. It turned out the sister knew him because when he was a baby the Lord Jesus had pointed him out to her and asked her to be a victim soul so that he might retain the Faith , become a great priest and Bishop and covert many thousands of souls, gaining for them the Kingdom of Heaven. So here she was shovelling horse manure to make it happen. She made the Bishop promise never to tell anyone her tale and he didn't until long after the sister was dead.
I do the Unity Prayer every day which I think is a Divine Will type devotion. After that I do the traditional things eg rosary Mass, confession. I am involved in a Lectio Divina group also.
Fr Benedict Groeschel said that where mystics are concerned, a life of obscurity is a mark of authenticity. Of course there are famous teachers like Fulton Sheen and Scott Hahn, but mystics tend to live a life of hiddenness. Maria Simma for example was unknown until after her death. Even St Pio wasn’t that well known in his lifetime, not the way he is now. Fr Benedict wrote a book on discernment which is very good. As to the Divine Will, I know there are people who are very devoted to it. Is this the devotion where you add a weird line to the Hail Mary? I watched Fr Blount and he’s very keen on the Flame of Love. Again it adds to the Hail Mary and there are all kinds of promised benefits - the accelerate button. I dare say it is good if Fr Blount says so but I don’t want any bolt-ons to my faith. I do get a lot out of reading early Fathers like the Desert Fathers, and Benedictine spirituality has been my own ‘way’ I suppose.
Fr Benedict Groeschel said that where mystics are concerned, a life of obscurity is a mark of authenticity. I am glad you posted this.
I just got back from the Salmon River aquifer/spring. Monthly, I go and fill up 28 gallon jugs of delicious pure water. There are any number of roads one can travel on to eventually access the spring. It's an 8-mile drive for me. I've met people that travel 25 miles to access this water. Over the centuries, how many religious orders has God raised up for His children to access the spring of grace pouring forth from the Most Sacred Heart? How has the Holy Spirit led each of us to access this forum? What spiritual disciplines sustain any one of us? The most important question I need to ask myself is, "Am I growing or am I languishing?" It isn't the fast track I seek. It is the path which best corresponds to our personal gifts and circumstances in life, the plan God has ordained. One day at a time and one step at a time. Think of the personal call of Jesus to the rich man. Each of us have our own personal call and cross. Matthew 19:16 And behold, one came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?” 17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? One there is who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to him, “Which?” And Jesus said, “You shall not kill, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, 19 Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man said to him, “All these I have observed; what do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions. Luke 9:23 And he said to all, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake, he will save it.
so treat everyone you meet nicely, you'll never know when the beggar in the street is actually a "fool for Christ" type of saint im sure many people in medieval times accidentally mistreated saints who were beggars -not knowing any better-
