Many of us have a lukewarm desire or hunger for God and think that we must resign ourselves to a lukewarm spiritual life. As Teresa of Avila said, “Unless you have a great desire for God you won’t make much progress in the spiritual life, but if you lack such a desire, ask God to increase your desire, and he will!” This talk will consider how to increase our desire for God and for holiness and how to make this practical in our daily lives by turning away from those things that block or impede our spiritual progress and turning towards God in prayer.

Ralph Martin is the president of Renewal Ministries, an organization devoted to Catholic renewal and evangelization. He also is the director of Graduate Theology Programs in Evangelization and a professor of theology at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in the Archdiocese of Detroit. He holds a doctorate in theology from the Angelicum University in Rome. Pope Benedict XVI appointed Ralph as a consulter to the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization, and he continues to serve in this capacity. Ralph also was appointed as a theological expert for the Synod on the New Evangelization. He is the author of many books as well as many articles in scholarly and popular publications. He and his wife, Anne, reside in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and have six children and eighteen grandchildren.

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