Anthony Lilles
Anthony Lilles

Dr. Anthony Lilles

Chief Academic Officer, Instructor, Spiritual Theology and the Interior Life

  • B.A. in Theology (Franciscan University of Steubenville)
  • S.T.L. (Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas)
  • S.T.D. in Spiritual Theology (Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas)

Dr. Anthony Lilles, completed his graduate and post-graduate studies in Rome at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas. Living in Oxnard, California with his wife Agnes, they are blessed to be parents of three young adults. Dr. Lilles also serves as Associate Professor, Admissions Director and Academic Advisor to the Academic Dean of St. John’s Seminary; and has been appointed as the Academic Dean of St. Patrick’s Seminary and University in Menlo Park. Having taught graduate level theology for over 20 years, Dr. Lilles is specialized in Spiritual Theology, Spiritual Direction, and various classics of Catholic Spirituality. His expertise is in the spiritual doctrine of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity and the Carmelite Doctors of the Church: St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, and St. Thérèse of Lisieux. He’s the author of Fire From Above, published by Sophia Institute Press, Living the Mystery of Merciful Love: 30 Days with Thérèse of Lisieux and 30 days with Teresa of Avila – both published by Emmaus Road.

  • Module 4: St. Thérèse and Foundations of the Little Way

    This Propaedeutic Year course on St. Thérèse of Lisieux will introduce students to the principal themes of her spirituality, and a glimpse at her works. Students will have an opportunity to reflect on why her “Little Way” is so important even now and how St. Thérèse attained the summit of love by facing the depths of her own powerlessness and by abandoning herself more and more to the incarnation of God’s mercy: Jesus Christ. By entering with Thérèse into her way of humility, suffering, beauty, and spiritual thoughtfulness, we too can grow in holiness and in awareness of being loved by an infinitely merciful Father.

  • Module 2: Introduction to Spiritual Theology

    In this Propaedeutic Year course, the systematic presentation of Spiritual Theology and the principles of spiritual direction is geared toward personal appropriation for those involved in the apostolate. Lecture topics include the universal call to holiness, the indwelling of the Trinity, the nature and stages of Christian perfection, the supernatural organism and the Christian life, identification with Jesus and Mary, kinds and stages of prayer, the means to spiritual maturity appropriate for the various states of life, discernment of spirits, and ordinary and extraordinary mystical phenomena.

  • Module 0: The Way of Holiness/Orientation Seminar

    God has called us out from the world and into the life of the Church. What does that mean?

    The opening module addresses this question by reflecting on the call of God and the way of personal holiness. God has a specific plan for each of us, but knowing this plan is to take the first step of claiming our sonship in Christ and allowing God to mold our hearts as His own (cf CCC, 2563).

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