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 has taught graduate level theology and assisted in clergy formation since 1994, having served at St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary in Denver, St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver, and St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo prior to his current role at St. Patrick’s Seminary. With a BA in theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville, as well as an ecclesiastical licentiate and doctorate in spiritual theology from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome (the Angelicum), he is specialized in St. Elisabeth of the Trinity and the Carmelite Doctors of the Church. He co-founded the Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation and the High Calling Program for priestly vocations. He also founded and serves as president for the John Paul II Center for Contemplative Culture. He was appointed Academic Dean at St. Patrick’s Seminary from 2019-2022 before joining the full-time teaching and formation faculties. He’s the author of multiple books including 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. Living in the Bay Area of California with his wife Agnes, they are blessed to be parents of three young adults.

  • 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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