The Desert Mystic: St. John the Baptist

Why does the most intimate book in the Bible begin with a kiss?In this episode, we explore the Song of Songs through the lens of Catholic bridal mysticism—a love story not just between a Bride and her Beloved, but between your soul and God.We’ll walk through the spiritual arc of the Song: longing, absence, union, and the deep healing that comes when we finally stop performing and let ourselves be seen. Expect mystic commentary, reflections on scrupulosity and spiritual dryness, and a reminder that yes—God actually desires you.

We’re told to seek God.But what if He’s already seeking us?This episode introduces Bridal Mysticism — a deeply Catholic tradition that sees the soul as the beloved of Christ.We explore:The parable of the Bride Who RanHow Scripture tells a love story from Genesis to RevelationWhy burnout and scrupulosity miss the heart of the GospelYou're not climbing a mountain.You're being found.✨ Support on Patreon for extras: patreon.com/anthonystongue📥 Companion Devotional:https://www.stanthonystongue.com/products/p/pdf-let-yourself-be-loved-devotional-guide

Are you overwhelmed by Catholic devotions, content, and the pressure to “get holier faster”? You’re not alone.In this episode of St. Anthony’s Tongue, we explore the growing experience of Catholic spiritual burnout. From overloading your life with novenas, consecrations, and scapulars, to the anxiety of trying to keep up with Catholic content and rituals—you may be doing everything “right,” but still feel far from God.This episode is a spiritual detox: a call to slow down, let go, and rediscover the peace that comes from simply being with God.Drawing on the wisdom of Brother Lawrence, we discuss the Practice of the Presence of God—a path of simplicity, attention, and abiding love. You’ll also hear reflections on:Why doing more doesn’t always bring more graceWhat Catholic mysticism teaches about rest and stillnessHow to stop confusing devotion with performanceWhat the Prodigal Son and Gethsemane reveal about God's heartThe role of consecration, novenas, and sacramentals when done in love—not anxietyIf you’re an exhausted Catholic, this episode is for you.🕊️ Subscribe for more mystical Catholic reflections, spiritual theology, and saintly wisdom to deepen your interior life.

Spiritual Attack or Dark Night of the Soul? A Guide to DiscernmentNot every battle is with the devil—sometimes, the silence is from God.In this episode, we explore the difference between spiritual attack and the Dark Night of the Soul. Many today blame hardship on demonic interference, but what if God is the one withdrawing, inviting us to love Him more purely? This episode offers a thoughtful reflection on suffering, purification, and discernment, drawing from the lives of the saints and the deep tradition of Catholic mysticism.Topics include:What defines a true spiritual attackCommon errors in modern demonologyWhy God may allow darkness or silenceSaints who encountered demons—and whySigns you may be entering a Dark NightThis is a conversation for those seeking clarity in confusion, maturity in faith, and peace amid spiritual struggle.

Praying a novena shouldn’t feel like a chore—or a transaction. The mystics teach us that novena prayer is a path into the heart of God, not a formula for getting what we want.In this episode of St. Anthony’s Tongue, we explore how to pray novenas in a contemplative, mystical way. Learn how to transform this nine-day devotion from legalistic repetition into a meaningful journey of union with Christ and communion with the saints.If you're drawn to Catholic spirituality, contemplative prayer, or mystical theology, this episode will help you pray novenas not out of obligation—but out of love.

Saint of the Liminal. Saint of the Desert. Saint of the Moon.John the Baptist isn’t just the wild prophet of the Jordan — he is the mystic of the in-between. In this episode of St. Anthony’s Tongue, we explore how John embodies the liminal, the purgative power of the desert, and the quiet radiance of reflected light.We’ll dive into:John as the Threshold Saint — not the light, but witness to itThe desert as mystical geography and a place of purificationHis title as the Lunar Saint, reflecting Christ’s light into darknessStrange and beautiful folktales — from haunted relics to St. John’s WaterHow John’s life reflects the purgative, illuminative, and unitive way of the soulPlus: Learn how to join the 9-day St. John the Baptist Novena, and find God in the holy ache of becoming.Here is our digital novena guide!—Follow @StAnthonysTongue on Instagram & YouTube for novenas, mystic reflections, and strange Catholic devotionals.

Long before devotion to the Sacred Heart was formalized, a few mystics were already listening—already burning.In this episode, we explore the mystical beginnings of Sacred Heart devotion through the lives and visions of three extraordinary women:— St. Lutgardis, the first to exchange hearts with Christ.— St. Gertrude the Great, who heard the heart of Jesus like a harp singing divine music.— St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, who brought the devotion into the heart of the Church during a time of spiritual coldness.We’ll trace the Scriptural roots of the Sacred Heart, its emergence during times of crisis, and the spiritual invitation these mystics offer us today: to enter the burning heart of Christ, and mirror it in the world.If you’ve ever felt drawn to divine love, bridal mysticism, or the deeper meaning of Catholic devotion—this episode is for you.

In this contemplative episode, I offer a poetic spiritual letter inspired by the Feast of the Ascension. Drawing on the language of Scripture, bridal mysticism, and the insights of saints like Bernard of Clairvaux, this reflection explores the longing of the soul for the risen and ascended Christ.The Ascension is not Christ’s departure, but His drawing us upward. He leaves in body but not in love. His heart remains with us, and ours with Him. This is a time of holy yearning, of gazing through the lattice and crying out: “Draw me after You, let us run.”If you’ve ever felt pierced by love, stirred by divine absence, or overwhelmed by the beauty of the risen Lord, this reflection is meant for you.For those who live between the tomb and the throne, between resurrection and return, may this meditation enkindle hope, desire, and devotion.

As I explain in the video, I don't like talking about my personal experiences in prayer. Though, given that this was the experience that led me back to Catholicism, and something that shows the merits of contemplative prayer within the Catholic tradition, this is one "experience" that I am okay with sharing. While experiences are not the point, the great saints tell us that these consolations are often the first step towards our journey with God. They are natural, and also common.

Catholics are often told to meditate. "Meditate" on the mysteries of the rosary, "meditate" on scripture - and yet, we are rarely told "how" to do it. Though many of the mystics and saints of our faith, names like St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. John Paul II, St. Catherine of Siena, and many more practiced what is called Lectio Divina, or Divine Reading. This is an incredible way to connect with God through scripture.