By Cassandra Taylor, Publications Assistant
Thomas More College was thrilled to welcome Dan Burke to campus on Saturday, September 23, 2023. Mr. Burke is the chairman and president of the Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation and the founder of Apostoli Viae. He was invited to speak on campus by Board member Dr. Michael Mulski, who leads an Apostoli Viae small group in Nashua.
“We are very grateful to Mr. Burke for his time, his testimony, and his wisdom,” remarked Dr. Michael Dominic Taylor, Teaching Fellow and Dean of Students. “Mr. Burke offered the students profound insights into the nexus between prayer, spiritual combat, mental health, and God’s loving Providence. His visit was a special opportunity for students to think more deeply about the need for a full integration of their faith and daily life. Through the generosity of Dr. Mulski, the students also walked away with a copy of Mr. Burke’s Finding Peace in the Storm and Spiritual Warfare and the Discernment of Spirits, which they were all deeply grateful for. It was also an excellent occasion to connect the intellectual and academic with the spiritual and lived experience of the daily battle for holiness.”
“It was truly a blessing to hear Dr. Burke speak with passion about such a pertinent issue,” commented Resident Advisor Jonathan Wright ’23. “As Catholics, we are always in need of guidance and direction in our spiritual life, and his wise anecdotes, drawn from profound personal experience and considerable erudition, provided that guidance for me. I will be implementing his advice in my prayer regimen from now on, and I am excited to explore the wealth of resources his foundation has to offer on these matters.”
“What I enjoyed most about Mr. Burke’s presentation was his genuine enthusiasm,” stated Gabriella Braaten ’25. “The point from the talk that struck me most was that an individual’s thoughts or feelings need not define him. We are our own masters and can control how the thoughts that seek to drive us from Christ affect us. The world—which is full of people who have twisted thoughts—must hear this message. I am grateful that Mr. Burke shared this truth with us so that we can help convey it to others.”
Spiritual and intellectual formation are both integral to the life of a student at Thomas More College. We thank Mr. Burke for his time and generosity in visiting TMC to help guide our young people even deeper into the treasury of the Faith.
