The impatient one, above all, desires to speed up time and to get what he wants, when he wants it. In this way, impatience is related to violence. Whereas patience takes suffering upon the self. The impatient one makes others suffer. The patient one suffers for the sake of others. This Advent, the one who suffered for our sake, will come and take on flesh; be born into our world and teach all of us the true way of love. It is not to be impatient, but to suffer for the sake of others. To suffer for the goodness of others. To suffer for what benefits others. Jesus, who lives within all Christians, moves the heart to this new kind of patience. Let us welcome it, and make choices that further the welfare of others.
Deacon James Keating, Ph.D., is a professor of Spiritual Theology and serves as a spiritual director at Kenrick Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, MO.
“We ought to let everything grow in us, as Christ grew in Mary. And we ought to realize that in everything that does grow quietly in us, Christ grows. We should let thoughts and words and songs grow slowly and unfold in darkness in us”
Commentary: Caryll Houselander invites us to approach our inner life as Mary did, allowing Christ to grow quietly within. She encourages us to embrace a gentle, patient approach to spiritual growth, letting our thoughts, words, and prayers unfold naturally, as seeds growing in the darkness. By not rushing or forcing our spiritual development, we create space for Christ to shape us from within, revealing His presence through every part of our being. This quiet, humble growth mirrors the Incarnation, reminding us that even in silence and simplicity, profound transformation is taking place.
Personal Reflection: Consider what areas of your spiritual life need a slower, more patient approach. How can you create space in your heart for Christ to grow quietly, like a seed in the dark?
Houselander quote from: Caryll Houselander, The Reed of God, Sheed & Ward, 1944
The Gift of Holiness at Christmas with Fr. Mauritius Wilde O.S.B.
This reflection was given during a special advent evening of prayer and meditation service at St. Margaret Mary’s Church, in Omaha, NE.
Fr. Mauritius Wilde reflects on the joy and love that naturally accompany creativity, whether through artistic endeavors, parenting, or spiritual growth. Connecting human creativity to the divine, he illustrates how God’s act of creation in Genesis reflects His delight in what He has made.
Just as we love the fruits of our labor or gaze lovingly upon our children, God looks at us with unwavering love, marveling at His creation. Through Jesus Christ, the perfect image of God, we are invited to embrace this divine love and strive toward holiness, becoming more fully aligned with God’s image through grace and spiritual growth.
Advent is an invitation to focus on Christ’s transformative gift of holiness. Drawing on the wisdom of Meister Eckhart, Fr. Mauritius likens God to a sculptor, who patiently removes what obscures His image within us. Fr. Wilde encourages listeners to embrace this process of refinement by being actively receptive to God’s grace.
Holiness is not about striving for perfection on our own but about allowing God to work in us, making His image shine more fully.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
How Do I See My Creative Work? Reflect on whether you view your creative efforts as a participation in God’s creative power and a way to glorify Him.
Do I Recognize God’s Delight in Me? Consider how often you acknowledge God’s loving gaze upon you as His beloved creation.
What Does Holiness Mean in My Life? Ponder how you can actively embrace the grace of God to become a clearer image of His holiness.
Am I Open to God’s Transformative Work? Reflect on your willingness to let God sculpt and refine you, removing what obscures His image.
How Do I Prepare for Christ at Advent? Evaluate whether your Advent practices focus on deepening your relationship with Christ rather than external busyness.
Father Mauritius Wilde, OSB, Ph.D., did his philosophical, theological and doctoral studies in Europe. He is the author of several books and directs retreats regularly. He serves as Prior at Sant’Anselmo in Rome.
Day 6 – St. John of the Cross Contemplative Novena – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcast
St. John of the Cross you have said:
The soul, desiring to be possessed by this immense God, for love of Whom she feels that her heart is robbed and wounded, unable to endure her sickness any longer, deliberately asks Him … to show her His beauty, His divine essence, and to kill her with this revelation, and thereby free her from the flesh since she cannot see and enjoy Him as she wants. She makes this request by displaying before Him the sickness and yearning of her heart, in which she perseveres suffering for love of Him, unable to find a cure in anything less than this glorious vision of His divine essence.
Spiritual Canticle, I. 11:2; Kavanaugh & Rodriguez, 1973; pp. 448-449
Prayer for Peace from St. John of the Cross
O Blessed Jesus, grant me stillness of soul in You. Let Your mighty calmness reign in me. Rule me, O King of gentleness, King of peace. Give me control, control over my words, thoughts and actions. From all irritability, want of meekness, want of gentleness, O dear Lord, deliver me. By Your own deep patience give me patience, stillness of soul in You. Make me in this, and in all, more and more like You. Amen.
Lord God, you gave Saint John of the Cross
the grace of complete self-denial
and an ardent love for the cross of Christ.
Grant that by following always in his footsteps
we may come to the eternal vision of your glory.
And through his intercession, if it be in accord with your holy will,
Grant the petition we bring before you in this novena.
We ask this 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.
I will wait, and wait, and wait with the Lord. I will wait with and in the Lord, rather than violate charity. Wanting to speed up time, and make things happen now is a violation of charity. It does violence to the nature of things. But the patient person keeps a perspective that is beyond expedient. Beyond what is immediate, and sees before him or her, all what serves love. This Advent, let’s ask for the grace to serve only what promotes love.
Deacon James Keating, Ph.D., is a professor of Spiritual Theology and serves as a spiritual director at Kenrick Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, MO.
“This time of Advent is absolutely essential to our contemplation too. If we have truly given our humanity to be changed into Christ, it is essential to us that we do not disturb this time of growth. It is a time of darkness, of faith. We shall not see Christ’s radiance in our lives yet; it is still hidden in our darkness; nevertheless, we must believe that He is growing in our lives; we must believe it so firmly that we cannot help relating everything, literally everything, to this almost incredible reality. This attitude it is which makes every moment of every day and night a prayer”
Commentary: Caryll Houselander describes Advent as a time of unseen transformation—a season when Christ’s presence grows quietly within us, veiled in darkness and requiring deep faith. She likens this process to a hidden gestation, where Christ’s light is not yet visible but is growing nonetheless. In this waiting period, we are called to believe so firmly in His presence that it permeates every aspect of our lives, transforming each moment into a silent prayer. For Houselander, this unwavering faith in Christ’s hidden growth is essential to a life of contemplation, shaping us in preparation for His radiance to be revealed.
Personal Reflection: Reflect on the unseen ways Christ may be working in your life. How can you cultivate faith in His hidden presence, letting this trust transform each part of your day into a quiet prayer of expectation?
Houselander quote from: Caryll Houselander, The Reed of God, Sheed & Ward, 1944
Mary, Mother of the Church, your apparitions at Tepeyac and the miraculous image you left fostered unity between Catholic conquerors and clergy and the millions of Aztec converts. Bring unity, Mother, to the various factions within the Church and the wider public so that all may work to establish a culture of life.
En el nombre del Padre, del Hijo y del Espíritu Santo. Amén.
“Señor mío, Jesucristo, Dios y Hombre verdadero, creador y redentor mío, por ser vos quien sois, y porque os amo sobre todas las cosas, me pesa de todo corazón haberos ofendido.
Propongo enmendarme y confesarme a su tiempo y ofrezco cuanto hiciere en satisfacción de mis pecados, y confío por vuestra bondad y misericordia infinita, que me perdonaréis y me daréis gracia para nunca más pecar. Así lo espero por intercesión de mi Madre, nuestra Señora la Virgen de Guadalupe. Amén”.
Octavo día
¡Oh Santísima Virgen de Guadalupe! ¡Qué misteriosa y qué acertada estuvo la mano del Artífice Supremo, bordando tu vestido con esa orla de oro finísimo que le sirve de guarnición! Aludió sin duda a aquel finísimo oro de la caridad y del amor de Dios con que fueron enriquecidas tus acciones. Y ¿quién duda, Señora, que esa tu encendida caridad y amor de Dios estuvo siempre acompañada del amor al prójimo y que no, por verte triunfante en la patria celestial, te has olvidado de nosotros?
Abre el seno de tus piedades a quien es tan miserable; dale la mano a quien caído te invoca para levantarse; tráete la gloria de haber encontrado en mí una misericordia proporcionada, más que todas, a tu compasión y misericordia. Amén.
Padre Nuestro
Padre nuestro, que estás en el cielo, santificado sea tu nombre, venga a nosotros tu reino, hágase tu voluntad, en la tierra como en el cielo. Danos hoy nuestro pan de cada día, perdona nuestras ofensas, como también nosotros perdonamos a los que nos ofenden. No nos dejes caer en la tentación, y líbranos del mal. Amén
Ave Maria
Dios te Salve, María, llena eres de gracia, el Señor está contigo. Bendita tú eres entre todas las mujeres y bendito es el fruto de tu vientre, Jesús. Santa María, Madre de Dios, ruega por nosotros pecadores, ahora y en la hora de nuestra muerte. Amén
Gloria
Gloria al Padre y al Hijo y al Espíritu Santo. Como era en el principio ahora y siempre, por los siglos de los siglos. Amén
Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, ruega por nosotros. Amén
En el nombre del Padre, del Hijo y del Espíritu Santo. Amén
Day 5 – St. John of the Cross Contemplative Novena – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcast
St. John of the Cross you have said:
It is clear that the desires weary and fatigue the soul; for they are like restless and discontented children, who are ever demanding this or that from their mother, and are never contented. And even as one that digs because he covets a treasure is wearied and fatigued, even so is the soul wearied and fatigued in order to attain that which its desires demand of it; and although in the end it may attain it, it is still weary, because it is never satisfied
Ascent of Mount Carmel. Trans. E. Allison Peers, Book 1, Chapter 6, Paragraph 6
Prayer for Peace from St. John of the Cross
O Blessed Jesus, grant me stillness of soul in You. Let Your mighty calmness reign in me. Rule me, O King of gentleness, King of peace. Give me control, control over my words, thoughts and actions. From all irritability, want of meekness, want of gentleness, O dear Lord, deliver me. By Your own deep patience give me patience, stillness of soul in You. Make me in this, and in all, more and more like You. Amen.
Lord God, you gave Saint John of the Cross
the grace of complete self-denial
and an ardent love for the cross of Christ.
Grant that by following always in his footsteps
we may come to the eternal vision of your glory.
And through his intercession, if it be in accord with your holy will,
Grant the petition we bring before you in this novena.
We ask this 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.
The Immaculate Conception – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff
On the the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, Msgr. Esseff reflects on the significance of the Immaculate Conception of Mary within the broader plan of salvation history. He uses Genesis, Ephesians, and the Gospel of Luke to show us God’s eternal plan to reconcile humanity with Himself through Jesus Christ. Humanity’s fall through Adam and Eve introduced sin and death into the world, but God’s response was the plan of redemption, preordained before creation, culminating in the birth of Christ. Mary, conceived without sin, is presented as the new Eve, uniquely chosen to bring Jesus into the world. Her “yes” to the angel Gabriel is seen as a pivotal moment in God’s plan, countering the disobedience of the first parents and initiating the ultimate defeat of sin, Satan, and death.
Through Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection, humanity is adopted as children of God and incorporated into Christ’s body, the Church. He encourages us to see the Immaculate Conception as a profound reminder of God’s love and the invitation to holiness.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
God’s Eternal Plan: How does reflecting on God’s plan for redemption before creation deepen your trust in His providence?
The Fall and Redemption: In what ways can recognizing the effects of original sin in your life inspire a greater appreciation for Christ’s saving work?
Mary’s Role in Salvation: How does the Immaculate Conception help you understand Mary’s unique role in God’s plan and her intercession for you?
Adoption in Christ: What does it mean to you personally to be adopted into God’s family through Jesus Christ?
Living as the Body of Christ: How can you live more fully as a member of Christ’s body, united with Him and His Church?
Advent Preparation: In this Advent season, how are you preparing your heart to welcome Christ more fully into your life?
Power of the Holy Spirit: How do you experience the Holy Spirit working in your life to bring about holiness and transformation?
Contemplating Mary’s Example: How can Mary’s fiat, her “yes” to God, inspire you to trust and surrender to His will in your own life?
“After the man, Adam, had eaten of the tree,
the LORD God called to the man and asked him, “Where are you?”
He answered, “I heard you in the garden;
but I was afraid, because I was naked,
so I hid myself.”
Then he asked, “Who told you that you were naked?
You have eaten, then,
from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat!”
The man replied, “The woman whom you put here with me
she gave me fruit from the tree, and so I ate it.”
The LORD God then asked the woman,
“Why did you do such a thing?”
The woman answered, “The serpent tricked me into it, so I ate it.”Then the LORD God said to the serpent:
“Because you have done this, you shall be banned
from all the animals
and from all the wild creatures;
on your belly shall you crawl,
and dirt shall you eat
all the days of your life.
I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will strike at your head,
while you strike at his heel.”The man called his wife Eve,
because she became the mother of all the living.”
Brothers and sisters:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in Christ
with every spiritual blessing in the heavens,
as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world,
to be holy and without blemish before him.
In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ,
in accord with the favor of his will,
for the praise of the glory of his grace
that he granted us in the beloved.
In him we were also chosen,
destined in accord with the purpose of the One
who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will,
so that we might exist for the praise of his glory,
we who first hoped in Christ.
“The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
“Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end.”
But Mary said to the angel,
“How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?”
And the angel said to her in reply,
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God.”
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”
Then the angel departed from her.”
Msgr. John A. Esseff is a Roman Catholic priest in the Diocese of Scranton. Msgr. Esseff served as a retreat director and confessor to St. Teresa of Calcutta. He continues to offer direction and retreats for the sisters of the Missionaries of Charity around the world. Msgr. Esseff encountered St. Padre Pio, who would become a spiritual father to him. He has lived in areas around the world, serving in the Pontifical missions, a Catholic organization established by Pope St. John Paul II to bring the Good News to the world, especially to the poor. Msgr. Esseff assisted the founders of the Institute for Priestly Formation and continues to serve as a spiritual director for the Institute. He continues to serve as a retreat leader and director to bishops, priests and sisters and seminarians, and other religious leaders around the world.
The impatient one, above all, desires to speed up time and to get what he wants, when he wants it. In this way, impatience is related to violence. Whereas patience takes suffering upon the self. The impatient one makes others suffer. The patient one suffers for the sake of others. This Advent, the one who suffered for our sake, will come and take on flesh; be born into our world and teach all of us the true way of love. It is not to be impatient, but to suffer for the sake of others. To suffer for the goodness of others. To suffer for what benefits others. Jesus, who lives within all Christians, moves the heart to this new kind of patience. Let us welcome it, and make choices that further the welfare of others.
