Show Notes


Episode 46. The Love That Keeps Us Sane w/ Fr. Marc Foley

Episode 46. The Love That Keeps Us Sane w/ Fr. Marc Foley

"Holiness consists simply in doing God's will,
and being just what God wants us to be."
~ St. Thérèse of Lisieux


This Whole Life returns to its roots! In episode 46, Kenna is joined by Fr. Marc Foley, OCD, author of the seminal work that led to this very podcast:
The Love That Keeps Us Sane: Living the Little Way of St. Thérèse of LisieuxTogether, Kenna and Fr. Marc delve into the complexities of human nature and God's work in the midst of our messy thoughts, emotions, and relationships. As Fr. Marc explains, St. Thérèse of Lisieux is far more relevant to our 21st century experience than we might initially think.

In preparation for our upcoming book study (episodes 47 & 48) on The Love That Keeps Us Sane, Fr. Marc shares insights from his extensive psychological and spiritual experience, emphasizing the value of patience with oneself while working toward greater virtue. The discussion covers topics such as resisting the temptation to create a perfect persona, managing the balance between acceptance without complacency, and interpreting human experiences from a spiritual perspective. We live in a fallen, and often insane, world; it is the love of God lived through us every day that keeps us sane.

Fr. Marc Foley, O.C.D. entered the Discalced Carmelites in 1967 as a lay brother and was ordained a priest in 1981. He studied psychology at the Catholic University of America and continued on to receive a Master of Divinity. He later earned M.S. and CAS degrees in Pastoral Counseling at Loyola College in Baltimore. Fr. Foley has served as a parish priest, a postulant director, a director of formation, and a professor. Fr. Marc is currently the prior of the Carmelite monastery in Washington, D.C., a spiritual director, an author, and the publisher of ICS Publications.

Show Notes

Mark your calendars & join us!

The two May 2024 episodes of
This Whole Life will be a book study of
The Love That Keeps Us Sane
by Fr. Marc Foley.

Join us to learn, pray, and grow!

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  • “The only thing worth writing about is human nature in conflict with itself.”

    • William Faulkner

  • “What I do, I do not understand. For I do not do what I want, but I do what I hate.”

    • Romans 7:15

  • “The Divided Self”, a chapter from William James’ book The Varieties of Religious Experience

  • “Under stress you regress”, a maxim in therapy

  • “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a tough battle.”

  • "Behave as if you were a stranger, and wherever you are, do not expect your words to have an influence and you will be at peace."

    • Abba Poeman, desert father

  • “Can I be patient with my impatience?”

    • St. Francis de Sales

  • Speaking of her fellow sisters: “These characteristics are chronic and there is no hope of a cure” - St. Thérèse, The Story of a Soul

  • “These [first movements, thoughts] can give rise to all the vices but they can also give rise to all the virtues”

    • St. John of the Cross

  • Don’t interpret the anxiety you feel with regards to objective reality but with regards to the significance it has for you

    • Karen Horney

  • You can take too big a step but you can’t take too small a step

  • The most devastating thing in a child’s life is the unlived part of their parents

    • Carl Jung

  • Thérèse’s cloister as a symbol of each of our lives: living with & relating to the same 25 people day after day

Challenge By Choice

Read The Love That Keeps Us Sane!

  • Join us for our podcast book study in Episodes 47 & 48 in May 2024

Reflection Questions

For personal reflection or group discussion

  1. What is one thing that stuck out to you from this episode?

  2. How have you experienced your own "human nature in conflict with itself"?

  3. When have you been discouraged by your failures? When has God's grace broken through and consoled you in your despair?

  4. How are your desires an indication of what you might be avoiding?

  5. What might St. Thérèse be able to teach you about your own "cloister" life with the people you interact with most?