Day 7 – The Prayers at the Foot of the Cross – St. Bridget of Sweden Novena – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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Day 7: The Prayers at the Foot of the Cross – St. Bridget of Sweden Novena

Quote from the Revelations

“I received these prayers from the lips of Christ Himself as I knelt before the Crucifix. They are for those who desire to remember His Passion and live in His love.”
—Revelations, Book V, Prologue

Reflection
The Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls was a place of deep prayer for St. Bridget during her years in Rome. There, she would come before the crucifix suspended above the altar—its hands broken by age and conflict—and offer her heart completely to Christ. In that sacred space, she received a series of revelations from the Lord, who shared with her prayers that would help the faithful unite more closely to His Passion.

These prayers became known as the Fifteen Prayers of St. Bridget. Through them, Christ drew her into the mystery of His suffering and invited her to share it with others. Bridget wrote down the words she heard and the insights given to her—not to spark fear, but to awaken love. Her purpose was to help hearts remain close to Jesus, especially in His sorrows.

Bridget shows us how the Passion is not an event to be observed from a distance. It is the place where we meet Christ in His deepest gift of self. When we meditate on His wounds, we are invited to entrust Him with our own. When we remember His suffering, we are drawn into the mercy that flows from it. These prayers were not only a gift for personal devotion—they were also a call to renewal. Bridget urged the leaders of her time to remember the love Christ poured out on the Cross and to live lives worthy of that love. As the Church—the Bride of Christ—struggled with wounds and division, Bridget called her to reflect again the holiness of her Divine Bridegroom.

Prayer for Intercession
St. Bridget, you listened with love at the foot of the Cross and received a treasure for the Church.
Help us to pray the Passion with devotion and gratitude.
Teach us to remain close to Jesus in sorrow and in joy,
and to bring others to the healing love of the Crucified.
With confidence in your prayers, we now place before the Lord the intention we bring to this novena.
May the mystery of the Cross strengthen our hearts, renew our hope, and inspire the Church to conversion, healing, and the courage to act with holiness and clarity.
Amen.

St. Bridget of Sweden, pray for us

For the complete 9-Day St. Bridget of Sweden Novena visit here

Day 6 – Pilgrimage to the Holy Land – St. Bridget of Sweden Novena – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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Day 6: Pilgrimage to the Holy Land — Walking in the Footsteps of Christ – St. Bridget of Sweden Novena

Quote from the Revelations

“If thou wouldst be My companion, walk where I have walked, and let My love be thy path.”
—Revelations, Book V, Chapter 12

Reflection
In the later years of her life, St. Bridget traveled to the Holy Land. Despite her age and fragile health, she undertook the journey with reverence and determination. Every place she visited—Bethlehem, Nazareth, the Mount of Olives, Gethsemane, Calvary—became a place of prayer and encounter.

As she walked where Jesus had walked, her heart opened more fully to the mysteries of His life. Her time in Jerusalem was marked by profound interior experiences, which she received and recorded in obedience. The path was long and difficult, but she offered it to the Lord in love.

At Calvary, her soul was especially united to the Passion of Christ. She also drew close to the sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who had stood there in silence and strength. The Virgin’s maternal suffering became a source of grace for Bridget, helping her to remain close to Jesus in prayer and sacrifice.

Bridget returned from the Holy Land strengthened in faith and ready for the final chapter of her earthly journey.

How her life speaks to us today
Each of us is called to walk with Christ—not by going to distant places, but by turning toward Him in daily life. Bridget shows us that prayer, fidelity, and love can lead us to union with the Lord, even through suffering and uncertainty.

Prayer for Intercession
St. Bridget, faithful pilgrim and servant of Christ,
you walked the sacred roads of the Holy Land with love and devotion.
Pray for us, that we may carry our crosses with grace
and remain close to Jesus through every trial.
Help us to honor the sorrows of His Blessed Mother
and to open our hearts to the mysteries of salvation.
We entrust to your intercession the intention we carry in this novena.
Guide us to walk in love and faithfulness.
Amen.

St. Bridget of Sweden, pray for us

For the complete 9-Day St. Bridget of Sweden Novena visit here

Day 5 – Faithful Messenger – St. Bridget of Sweden Novena – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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Day 5: Faithful Messenger – A Heart for the Church and Her Shepherds – St. Bridget of Sweden Novena

Quote from the Revelations

“Cry out as with a trumpet. My Spouse is wounded. Her face is disfigured. Her voice is faint. Call My people to return to Me with humility and love.”
—Revelations, Book IV, Chapter 89

Reflection
Bridget lived during one of the most painful chapters in Church history. The papacy had been moved to Avignon, and Rome was suffering—spiritually neglected, politically unstable, and stripped of the leadership it once knew. Bridget remained in the city, caring for the sick, feeding the poor, and pouring out her life in prayer.

As she prayed, she began to receive revelations that pierced her heart. She saw the Bride of Christ disfigured by scandal, weakened by division, and longing for renewal. These were not cold denunciations, but cries of love. Her writings to popes and rulers carried a mother’s plea: return to holiness, restore the Church, bring the successor of Peter home to Rome.

Her words were bold, shaped by long hours of silence before the Blessed Sacrament and the constant offering of prayer for the needs of the Church. Bridget believed that true reform began not in anger or accusation, but in intercession—lifting the wounds of the Church into the heart of Christ and trusting in His mercy.

Prayer for Intercession
St. Bridget, you remained faithful when the Church was torn and scattered.
Teach us to pray with perseverance and hope.
Help us to love the Church not from a distance, but with hearts willing to suffer and serve.
With confidence in your prayers, we now place before the Lord the intention we bring to this novena.
May your voice strengthen ours in calling for healing and unity.
Amen.

St. Bridget of Sweden, pray for us

For the complete 9-Day St. Bridget of Sweden Novena visit here

Day 4 – Called to Rome – St. Bridget of Sweden Novena – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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Day 4: Called to Rome — A Pilgrim with a Prophetic Voice – St. Bridget of Sweden Novena

Quote from the Revelations

“Go forth, therefore, and speak boldly. I shall be in thy mouth and in the hearts of those who hear thee.”
—Revelations, Book IV, Chapter 136

Reflection
Bridget’s years at Alvastra prepared her for something unexpected. In her early fifties, she received a divine call to leave Sweden and travel to Rome—then a city caught in political chaos, spiritual confusion, and deep need. It was the era of the Avignon papacy, with the pope residing in France, and the city of Peter’s martyrdom sat wounded and neglected.

When she arrived, Bridget did not seek comfort or favor. She set up a small house near what is now the Piazza Farnese. There she cared for the sick and poor—essentially establishing a hospital with the help of her companions. Many came to her not only for food or shelter, but also for spiritual comfort. She would often make her way to the nearby church of San Lorenzo in Panisperna, where St. Lawrence was martyred, to pray and to gather alms for the poor in his name.

Her revelations during these years included letters and messages to popes, kings, and clergy—calling for reform, repentance, and renewal of the Body of Christ. Bridget’s prophetic voice was rooted not in judgment, but in deep sorrow and prayerful love for the Church. She longed for unity and holiness, and she offered her life for that intention.

Prayer for Intercession
St. Bridget, you brought mercy where there was suffering, and truth where there was confusion.
Help us to love the Church with fidelity and hope.
Teach us to offer ourselves in service, even when the world misunderstands.
With confidence in your prayers, we now place before the Lord the intention we bring to this novena.
May we follow your example of courage, prayer, and care for the most vulnerable.
Amen.

St. Bridget of Sweden, pray for us

For the complete 9-Day St. Bridget of Sweden Novena visit here

Day 3 – The Turning Point — Loss, Solitude, and Surrender – St. Bridget of Sweden Novena – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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Day 3 – The Turning Point — Loss, Solitude, and Surrender – St. Bridget of Sweden Novena

Quote from the Revelations

“It is I who have taken from thee what was thine, that I might give thee what is Mine.”
—Revelations, Book I, Chapter 3

Reflection
The death of Ulf was a profound turning point in Bridget’s life. After years of shared love and labor, she was now a widow, left with grief, responsibility, and a stirring call from God. Her children were grown or nearly grown, and she withdrew for a time to the monastery at Alvastra, where she deepened her life of prayer and silence.

In the rhythm of monastic life, Bridget began to listen more attentively to the voice she had always known. There, she received the first of many mystical revelations—words and images that would become the foundation of her spiritual mission. But this surrender did not come all at once. It unfolded through grief, letting go, and learning to listen in stillness.

In times of loss and uncertainty, Bridget teaches us not to rush to fill the silence, but to allow space for God’s voice. He often speaks most clearly when we are emptied of everything else. Her solitude became a sacred threshold, where she could entrust her sorrow and receive the beginnings of a new calling.

Prayer for Intercession
St. Bridget, in your sorrow you turned to the Lord with a heart open to His voice.
Help us in our own moments of transition and loss.
Teach us to surrender what we cannot hold and to trust that God is doing something new.
With confidence in your prayers, we now place before the Lord the intention we bring to this novena.
May our hearts find peace in God’s timing and purpose, as yours did at Alvastra.
Amen.

St. Bridget of Sweden, pray for us

For the complete 9-Day St. Bridget of Sweden Novena visit here

Mystical Wisdom – St. Bonaventure from the Office of Readings – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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DC34 St. Bonaventure pt. 1 – The Doctors of the Church: The Charism of Wisdom w/ Dr. Matthew Bunson

From the Journey of the Mind to God by St Bonaventure

Mystical wisdom is revealed by the Holy Spirit

Christ is both the way and the door. Christ is the staircase and the vehicle, like the throne of mercy over the Ark of the Covenant, and the mystery hidden from the ages. A man should turn his full attention to this throne of mercy, and should gaze at him hanging on the cross, full of faith, hope and charity, devoted, full of wonder and joy, marked by gratitude, and open to praise and jubilation. Then such a man will make with Christ a pasch, that is, a passing-over. Through the branches of the cross he will pass over the Red Sea, leaving Egypt and entering the desert. There he will taste the hidden manna, and rest with Christ in the sepulchre, as if he were dead to things outside. He will experience, as much as is possible for one who is still living, what was promised to the thief who hung beside Christ: Today you will be with me in paradise.

  For this passover to be perfect, we must suspend all the operations of the mind and we must transform the peak of our affections, directing them to God alone. This is a sacred mystical experience. It cannot be comprehended by anyone unless he surrenders himself to it; nor can he surrender himself to it unless he longs for it; nor can he long for it unless the Holy Spirit, whom Christ sent into the world, should come and inflame his innermost soul. Hence the Apostle says that this mystical wisdom is revealed by the Holy Spirit.

  If you ask how such things can occur, seek the answer in God’s grace, not in doctrine; in the longing of the will, not in the understanding; in the sighs of prayer, not in research; seek the bridegroom not the teacher; God and not man; darkness not daylight; and look not to the light but rather to the raging fire that carries the soul to God with intense fervour and glowing love. The fire is God, and the furnace is in Jerusalem, fired by Christ in the ardour of his loving passion. Only he understood this who said: My soul chose hanging and my bones death. Anyone who cherishes this kind of death can see God, for it is certainly true that: No man can look upon me and live.

  Let us die, then, and enter into the darkness, silencing our anxieties, our passions and all the fantasies of our imagination. Let us pass over with the crucified Christ from this world to the Father, so that, when the Father has shown himself to us, we can say with Philip: It is enough. We may hear with Paul: My grace is sufficient for you; and we can rejoice with David, saying: My flesh and my heart fail me, but God is the strength of my heart and my heritage for ever. Blessed be the Lord for ever, and let all the people say: Amen. Amen!

Let us pray.

Almighty God and Father,

enlighten our minds with the splendour of St. Bonaventure teaching,

and help us to imitate his ardent love of you.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

Day 2 – A Marriage Rooted in Grace – St. Bridget of Sweden Novena – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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Day 2 – A Marriage Rooted in Grace – St. Bridget of Sweden Novena

Quote from the Revelations

“Love Me above all things, and thou shalt find in Me all that thou hast lost, and infinitely more.”
—Revelations, Book I, Chapter 22

Reflection
Bridget’s marriage to Ulf Gudmarsson was arranged when she was only fourteen, but over the years it blossomed into a deep partnership grounded in prayer and mutual respect. Together they raised eight children, managed estates, and opened their home to those in need. Their marriage became a shared spiritual journey, and they eventually made a pilgrimage to the shrine of Santiago de Compostela. Shortly after returning, Ulf fell ill and died. Bridget grieved deeply, but her trust in God remained firm.

In her later writings, Bridget reflected on the grace that sanctifies Christian marriage. She understood that love rooted in God could transform daily life into a path of holiness. Pope Benedict XVI, while reflecting on the life St. Bridget in a Wednesday audience in 2010, observed that “together, Christian spouses can make a journey of holiness sustained by the grace of the sacrament of Marriage.”¹

Bridget’s example reminds us that holiness often unfolds over time—through perseverance, shared sacrifice, and quiet fidelity. Her life shows us that even in sorrow, God continues to shape the soul with mercy and purpose.

Prayer for Intercession
St. Bridget, you walked the path of marriage with faith and compassion.
Help us to be patient and generous in our relationships.
Teach us to offer our joys and burdens to God, trusting
that He is always at work in the lives we share with others.
With confidence in your prayers, we now place before the Lord the intention we bring to this novena.
May our hearts be strengthened by your example of steadfast love and grace.
Amen.

St. Bridget of Sweden, pray for us

¹ Pope Benedict XVI, General Audience, 27 October 2010.

For the complete 9-Day St. Bridget of Sweden Novena visit here

Novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel – Day 9 – Discerning Hearts podcast

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O Most Holy Mother of Mount Carmel,
when asked by a saint to grant privileges to the family of Carmel,
you gave assurance of your Motherly love
and help to those faithful to you and to your Son.
Behold us, your children.

We glory in wearing your holy habit,
which makes us members of your family of Carmel,
through which we shall have your powerful protection in life,
at death and even after death.

Look down with love,
O Gate of Heaven,
on all those now in their last agony!

Look down graciously,
O Virgin, Flower of Carmel,
on all those in need of help!

Look down mercifully,
O Mother of our Savior,
on all those who do not know
that they are numbered among your children.

Look down tenderly,
O Queen of All Saints,
on the poor souls!
(State your request here…)

Recite the following prayers…

Our Father…
Hail Mary…
Glory Be…

Our Lady of Mount Carmel,
pray for us.

Day 1 – Called from the Womb – St. Bridget of Sweden Novena – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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Day 1 – Called from the Womb – St. Bridget of Sweden Novena

Quote from the Revelations

“Before thou camest into the world, I loved thee; when thou wast born, I sanctified thee. I have chosen thee to be My bride and My herald.”
—Revelations, Book I, Chapter 1

Reflection
Bridget of Sweden was born in 1303 into a noble family,from the very beginning her life was marked by a deep and personal relationship with God. After her mother’s early death, Bridget was raised by an aunt who nurtured her faith and education. At the age of seven, Bridget had a vision of Jesus crucified—a moment that stayed with her all her life and awakened in her a desire to respond to His love.

As a young girl, she was drawn to prayer and Scripture, and often experienced God speaking to her heart. When she was fourteen, she entered into marriage with Ulf Gudmarsson. Over time, their union became known for its faith, generosity, and hospitality. They raised eight children, made pilgrimage together, and were eventually invited to the royal court as a model of Christian virtue in family life.

From her earliest days, Bridget listened for God’s voice—through joy and sorrow, in youth and in family life. God speaks and calls each one of us, often in quiet and familiar places. Bridget’s attentiveness encourages us to listen for Him in our own lives—with open hearts, even in the ordinary rhythms of the day.

Prayer for Intercession
St. Bridget, you listened for the voice of God even in your earliest years.
Help us to recognize His presence in the everyday moments of our lives.
Teach us to be faithful in the vocations we’ve been given—whether in marriage, family, work, or solitude.
May we learn from your example to respond to God’s call with courage and humility.
With confidence in your prayers, we now place before the Lord the intention we bring to this novena.
May our lives be rooted in trust, as yours was from the beginning.
Amen.

St. Bridget of Sweden, pray for us

For the complete 9-Day St. Bridget of Sweden Novena visit here

Novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel – Day 8 – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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You give us hope,

O Mother of Mercy,
that through your Scapular promise
we might quickly pass through the fires of purgatory
to the Kingdom of your Son.
Be our comfort and our hope.

Grant that our hope may not be in vain but that,
ever faithful to your Son and to you,
we may speedily enjoy after death
the blessed company of Jesus and the saints.
(State your request here…)

Recite the following prayers…

Our Father…
Hail Mary…
Glory Be…

Our Lady of Mount Carmel,
pray for us.