The Discerning Hearts Blog Archives

SD1 – Journey Through Desolation – Spiritual Desolation: Be Aware, Understand, Take Action with Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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Journey Through Desolation – Spiritual Desolation: Be Aware, Understand, Take Action with Fr. Timothy Gallagher

Fr. Timothy Gallagher and Kris McGregor discuss spiritual desolation in the context of Ignatian spirituality, focusing on three important actions: Being aware, understanding, and taking action. They highlight the confusion between desolation and depression, emphasizing the need for clarity.

Fr. Gallagher shares insights from St. Ignatius’ conversion experience, highlighting his awareness, understanding, and how he took action during that time. Fr. Gallagher also explores practical steps to reject desolation and move towards the goal of spiritual consolation. The saints’ relatable struggles underscore the universal nature of the spiritual journey, providing hope and guidance for discernment.

From the Prologue of Setting the Captives Free: Personal Reflections on Ignatian Discernment of Spirits:

“Five hundred years ago, Ignatius entered the realm of the heart and crafted a set of guidelines for responding to interior experience, both joyful (spiritual consolation) and discouraging (spiritual desolation), on the spiritual level. These guidelines, when well explained, equip hearers to be aware of, understand the significance of, and take action in response to their spiritual experience. Said differently, they take Christian anthropology—the fact that only in Christ can the human person be understood fully—seriously, and render it operative. When one applies these guidelines, the full Christian understanding of the human person ceases to remain a theological construct and is rendered concretely applicable in daily living. For over three decades, I have seen many apply these guidelines with much fruit.“

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions:

How do you distinguish between spiritual desolation and depression in your own life, and why is this distinction important in the context of Ignatian spirituality?
Reflect on a moment in your life when you experienced spiritual consolation. How did that experience impact your relationship with God and your spiritual journey?
In your understanding, how does the concept of being aware, understanding, and taking action apply to discernment in the spiritual life? Share a personal example if possible.
Consider the role of hope in facing spiritual desolation. How can the teachings of Ignatius and the experiences of saints inspire hope in times of discouragement?
How has the universal nature of the spiritual struggle, as discussed in the podcast, resonated with your own experiences? In what ways does knowing that saints faced similar challenges provide encouragement for your spiritual journey?
Discuss the importance of sharing personal stories and experiences in the context of Catholic spirituality. How can your own journey serve as a mirror for others, fostering a sense of community and mutual understanding in faith?

For the other episodes in this series check out Fr. Timothy Gallagher’s “Discerning Hearts” page

Father Timothy M. Gallagher, O.M.V., was ordained in 1979 as a member of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary, a religious community dedicated to retreats and spiritual formation according to the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. Fr. Gallagher is featured on the EWTN series “Living the Discerning Life: The Spiritual Teachings of St. Ignatius of Loyola”.

For more information on how to obtain copies of Fr. Gallaghers’s various books and audio which are available for purchase, please visit his website: frtimothygallagher.org

St. Anthony of the Desert Novena – Day 1 – Discerning Hearts Podcast

St. Anthony of the Desert Novena – Day 1

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Day 1

From the Sayings of St. Anthony of the Desert:

When the holy Abba Anthony lived in the desert he was beset by acedia (lack of care, sloth), and attacked by many sinful thoughts. He said to God, “Lord, I want to be saved but these thoughts do not leave me alone; what shall I do in my affliction? How can I be saved?” A short while afterward, when he got up to go out, Anthony saw a man like himself sitting at his work, getting up from his work to pray, then sitting down again and plaiting a rope, then getting up again to pray. It was an angel of the Lord sent to correct and reassure him. He heard the angel saying to him, “Do this and you will be saved.” At these words, Anthony was filled with joy and courage. He did this, and he was saved.

Dear God,

St Anthony of the Desert accepted your call to renounce the world and to love you above all things.
He faithfully served you in the solitude of the desert by fasting, prayer, humility and good works.
In the Sign of the Cross, he triumphed over the devil.
Through his intercession, may we learn to love you better; with all our hearts, all our souls, all our minds, all our strength and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.
St Anthony, great and powerful saint, intercede for us also for this special request (mention your request).
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Amen

St. Anthony of the Desert, pray for us.

The sayings of St. Anthony us, as translated by the late Sr Benedicta Ward SLG , are taken from her The Sayings of the Desert Fathers

FJ7 – The Complexity of Brain Death – The Final Journey with Dr. Stephen Doran M.D. – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

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Episode 7 – The Complexity of Brain Death – The Final Journey with Dr. Stephen Doran, M.D.

In this episode, Dr. Stephen Doran and Kris McGregor explore brain death, its historical evolution, and challenges in determining death for organ transplantation. Highlighting the ontological nature of death, Dr. Doran cautions against dehumanizing language, and encourage trust in God for guidance in end-of-life decisions. He also mentions the significance of precise criteria and highlights the impact of a third party in organ donation decisions.

Dr. Doran advises against succumbing to perceived urgency, urging reflection and prayer. For those with regrets, he advocates assuming good intent, learning from the experience, and moving forward with newfound strength.

For more episodes in the series, visit The Final Journey: Insights from a Catholic Doctor and Neurosurgeon w/ Dr. Stephen Doran M.D. – Discerning Hearts Podcasts.

Stephen Doran, M.D., a board-certified neurosurgeon with over twenty-five years of experience, is an ordained permanent deacon and serves as the bioethicist for the Archdiocese of Omaha. His writings in bioethics, neurosurgery, and gene therapy for brain disorders have been widely published in national media outlets, academic journals, and neurosurgery textbooks. He is married with five sons. He co-founded Seeking Truth Catholic Bible Study with his wife, Sharon.

Discerning Hearts reflection questions for this episode:

Ontological Reflection: How does Dr. Doran’s discussion deepen your understanding of death as an ontological event, separating the soul from the body?
Evolution of Criteria: In what ways has the historical evolution of criteria for determining death influenced your perception of end-of-life decisions?
Dehumanizing Language: Reflect on the caution against dehumanizing language, such as “harvest.” How can language impact attitudes towards organ donation and end-of-life decisions?
Impact of External Interests: Consider the role of a third party in organ donation decisions. How does this introduction of external interests impact the decision-making process?
Avoiding Perceived Urgency: Dr. Doran advises against succumbing to perceived urgency in end-of-life decisions. How can this perspective change your approach to such decisions?
Prayerful Guidance: Reflect on the advice to trust in God for guidance in end-of-life decisions. How does prayer play a role in your decision-making process, especially in difficult situations?

You can find the book here

From the book description:

Dr. Stephen Doran draws from his vast experience as a neurosurgeon, a bioethicist, and a permanent deacon to present the Catholic perspective on the art of dying well. The spiritual and moral issues related to death and the process of dying can be challenging and complicated. To Die Well provides a detailed yet readily understandable guide to these topics.

Each chapter begins with a story from Dr. Doran’s personal or professional life that not only provides context for the topic at hand but also gently draws the reader toward the personal realities of dying. The first part focuses on the moral issues that surround death and dying, including end-of-life medical decisions. The second part is devoted to the Catholic spiritual understanding of dying and the rites that accompany the death of a Catholic.

To Die Well will help readers contemplate, pray about, and prepare for the end of their earthly lives.

The Twelfth Day of Christmas – A Prayerful Meditation on the Twelve Days of Christmas – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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“On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me: Twelve Drummers Drumming …” sounding out the cadence of what we believe in our lives, the Twelve Points of Doctrine in the Apostle’s Creed:

1. I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
2. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord.
3. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.
4. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried.
5. On the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
6. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
7. I believe in the Holy Spirit,
8. The holy catholic Church,
9. The communion of saints,
10. The forgiveness of sins,
11. The resurrection of the body,
12. And life everlasting.

Text gratefully found at
Via Rosa Rosaries, Devotional Chaplets, Rosary Beads, and Catholic Gifts
entitled A Christian meditation on the Twelve Days of Christmas
Copyright © 2005-2006

DOS4- La Segunda Regla- Discernimiento de Espíritus con el Padre Timothy Gallagher – Podcasts de Corazones Discernientes

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Episodio 4 -La Segunda Regla

La Segunda Regla:

En las personas que van limpiando intensamente sus pecados y elevándose de bien en mejor en el servicio de Dios nuestro Señor, es el método contrario al de la primera Regla, pues entonces es propio del mal espíritu morder, entristecer y poner obstáculos, inquietando con falsas razones, para que no se siga adelante; y es propio del bien dar ánimo y fortaleza, consuelos, lágrimas, inspiraciones y sosiego, aliviando y apartando todos los obstáculos, para que se siga adelante en el bien obrar.

El Padre Gallagher retoma discusiones anteriores sobre cómo el enemigo facilita el alejamiento de una persona de Dios, utilizando la imaginación y las imágenes sensuales, mientras que el buen espíritu se esfuerza por obstaculizar este movimiento. La segunda regla invierte este escenario, examinando la dinámica cuando un individuo se esfuerza sinceramente por eliminar el pecado y acercarse a Dios. Es aquí donde el espíritu maligno emplea tácticas para interrumpir: morder, entristecer, poner obstáculos e inquietar con falsas razones, todo ello diseñado para impedir el progreso espiritual.

Los oyentes reciben ejemplos perspicaces y análisis detallados, que ofrecen una comprensión clara de estas dinámicas espirituales. El episodio también enfatiza la importancia de reconocer y rechazar las tácticas del enemigo, destacando cómo el discernimiento juega un papel crucial en el crecimiento espiritual.

Esta profunda discusión no sólo ilumina las luchas del viaje espiritual, sino que también ofrece esperanza y guía para superar estos desafíos. Es una lectura obligada para cualquiera que busque una comprensión más profunda de su vida espiritual y de las fuerzas que influyen en ella.

Preguntas de reflexión de Discerning Hearts para este episodio:

Contrastando Tentaciones y Conciencia: Reflexiona sobre tus experiencias con la tentación. ¿Cómo reconoces cuando te sientes atraído por los “placeres terrenales”? ¿Cómo responde a estas tentaciones tu conciencia informada por la fe?
La transformación de san Agustín: Considera el viaje espiritual de San Agustín. ¿Qué aspectos de su historia resuenan con tus propias experiencias espirituales? ¿Ha habido momentos en tu vida en los que hayas sentido un cambio significativo en tu fe o en tu comprensión moral?
El papel de los medios de comunicación y las influencias modernas: En el mundo actual, lleno de medios de comunicación, ¿cómo disciernes qué influencias te acercan a Dios y cuáles te alejan? ¿Qué pasos puedes dar para alinear tu compromiso diario con los medios con tus valores católicos?
Reconocer el “buen espíritu”: ¿Cómo identificas la acción del “buen espíritu” en tu vida? ¿Puedes recordar casos en los que sentiste que tu conciencia te guiaba activamente por el buen camino?
Ejercicios Espirituales de San Ignacio: ¿Conoces bien los Ejercicios Espirituales de San Ignacio? Teniendo en cuenta las ideas de la discusión, ¿cómo podrían estos ejercicios beneficiar a tu propio crecimiento espiritual, especialmente en la comprensión de la interacción entre la tentación y la conciencia?

Para ver más episodios de la serie, visite: El Discernimiento de los Espíritus: Liberar a los cautivos con el Padre Timothy Gallagher; Podcast de Discernimiento de Corazones

El Padre Timothy M. Gallagher, O.M.V., fue ordenado en 1979 como miembro de los Oblatos de la Virgen María, una comunidad religiosa dedicada a los retiros y a la formación espiritual según los Ejercicios Espirituales de San Ignacio. El P. Gallagher aparece en la serie de EWTN “Living the Discerning Life: Las enseñanzas espirituales de San Ignacio de Loyola”.

Para más información sobre cómo obtener copias de los diversos libros y audios del P. Gallaghers que están disponibles para su compra, por favor visite su website: www.frtimothygallagher.org

LORT11 – Echoes of Eucatastrophe: Unveiling Spiritual Truths – A “Lord of the Rings” Spiritual Retreat with Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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Echoes of Eucatastrophe: Unveiling Spiritual Truths – A “Lord of the Rings” Spiritual Retreat with Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Discerning Hearts Podcast

In the final episode of “A Lord of the Rings Spiritual Retreat,” Father Timothy Gallagher concludes his profound exploration of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “On Fairy-Stories.” Here, he emphasizes how fairy tales transcend age, captivating both children and adults with their enchanting narratives that delve into universal themes of joy, sorrow, and the perennial battle between good and evil.

Father Gallagher meticulously dissects Tolkien’s notion of ‘eucatastrophe,’ a term coined to describe a sudden, redemptive turn of events in a story, effectively tying it to the Christian ethos of salvation and redemption. He presents Tolkien’s fantasy world as a reflective mirror of our reality – a world where hope and joy triumph in the face of despair, underscored by God’s redemptive grace.

This final episode also highlights other literary giants like George MacDonald and C.S. Lewis, who, akin to Tolkien, utilize fantasy as a medium to convey profound spiritual truths. Gallagher encourages listeners to delve into these narratives, offering insights into the workings of grace in both our personal spiritual journeys and the wider world.

As the retreat draws to a close, Father Gallagher invites listeners to perceive Tolkien’s work as a metaphor for our spiritual journey. The experiences of the characters in “The Lord of the Rings,” particularly their encounters with eucatastrophe, mirror our own life experiences where hope and redemption are possible amidst tribulation and adversity.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions:

Eucatastrophe and Personal Faith: Reflect on a moment in your life that felt like a ‘eucatastrophe’ – a sudden turn from despair to hope. How did this experience strengthen or challenge your faith?
Fairy Stories and Spiritual Truths: How do fairy stories or fantasy literature, like Tolkien’s works, help you understand or relate to spiritual truths in your own life? Can you identify any specific instances where such a story mirrored your spiritual journey?
The Battle Between Good and Evil: In what ways do you experience the battle between good and evil in your daily life? How do you find strength and guidance in your Catholic faith to navigate this battle?
Grace in Trials and Tribulations: Consider a difficult period in your life. How did you experience God’s grace during this time? Did this period bring any insights or deepened understanding of God’s plan for you?
Joy and Sorrow in Faith: Reflect on how joy and sorrow coexist in your spiritual life. How do these emotions bring depth to your understanding and experience of faith?
Christian Redemption and Personal Salvation: How do you relate the Christian concept of redemption and salvation to your personal life? Are there aspects of your life where you’ve felt particularly redeemed or called to a deeper understanding of salvation?
Hope in a Fallen World: In the face of global or personal challenges, how does your faith sustain your hope? What role does prayer, the sacraments, and community play in maintaining this hope?
Spiritual Growth Through Literature: How has engaging with spiritually-themed literature, like Tolkien’s works, contributed to your spiritual growth or understanding of your faith?
Tolkien’s Vision and Christian Living: How can J.R.R. Tolkien’s vision of a world filled with hope, courage, and redemption inspire your everyday Christian living?
The Call to Spiritual Adventure: In what ways are you being called to a ‘spiritual adventure’ in your life right now? How does this call align with your understanding of God’s purpose for you?

I PROPOSE to speak about fairy-stories, though I am aware that this is a rash adventure. Faerie is a perilous land, and in it are pitfalls for the unwary and dungeons for the overbold. And overbold I may be accounted, for though I have been a lover of fairy-stories since I learned to read, and have at times thought about them, I have not studied them professionally. I have been hardly more than a wandering explorer (or trespasser) in the land, full of wonder but not of information.

The realm of fairy-story is wide and deep and high and filled with many things: all manner of beasts and birds are found there; shoreless seas and stars uncounted; beauty that is an enchantment, and an ever-present peril; both joy and sorrow as sharp as swords. In that realm a man may, perhaps, count himself fortunate to have wandered, but its very richness and strangeness tie the tongue of a traveller who would report them. And while he is there it is dangerous for him to ask too many questions, lest the gates should be shut and the keys be lost.

Tolkien, J.R.R.. On Fairy Stories

For more episodes in this series: A “Lord of the Rings” Spiritual Retreat with Fr. Timothy Gallagher

For more information on how to obtain copies of Fr. Gallaghers’s various books and audio which are available for purchase, please visit his website: frtimothygallagher.org

For the other episodes in this series check out Fr. Timothy Gallagher’s “Discerning Hearts” page

The Eleventh Day of Christmas – A Prayerful Meditation on the Twelve Days of Christmas – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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“On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me: Eleven Pipers Piping …” symbolizing the eleven faithful apostles: Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John, Phillip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas son of James. The list does not include Judas Iscariot, the twelfth disciple who betrayed Jesus.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Your Son Jesus called the twelve to His side, called them to leave their homes and families, just as Jesus left his to teach us to live worthily. As we are called this holy season to help the poor and needy, the weak, the inflicted and the abandoned help us to walk perseveringly in the difficult and sometimes painful paths of service to others. Amen.

The Tenth Day of Christmas – A Prayerful Meditation on the Twelve Days of Christmas – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: Ten Lords A Leaping …” the lords or rulers of our lives establish the law. The lords stand for the Ten Commandments given to Moses on Mt. Sinai, which are holy and good, by which we should live and by which we are all judged. (Gal 3:10-28)

Prayer: Heavenly Father we strive to live by your commandments, help us oh Lord. We pray for those who have been called to rule, give them good judgment, discernment, and humbleness. Lord, help us to honor those who have been called to lead and pray for them and their families. Amen.

LORT10 – The Experience of Eucatastrophe – A “Lord of the Rings” Spiritual Retreat with Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Discerning Hearts

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In this episode, Fr. Gallagher discusses “eucatastrophe.” J. R. R. Tolkien defined this term in his lecture “On Fairy-Stories,” as a “good catastrophe, the sudden joyous ‘turn’…it is a sudden and miraculous grace…a fleeting glimpse of Joy” (On Fairy-Stories 153) Going further, it is a moment experienced in the Gospel, referencing the greatest moment of eucatastrophe in human history: the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (On Fairy-Stories 156). When understood through the mechanism of eucatastrophe “The Lord of the Rings” becomes a “fundamentally religious and Catholic work” (Letter 142).

Father Gallagher’s reflections extend to the joy of heaven as imagined in literature, drawing parallels between Tolkien’s fictional world and Christian eschatology. He concludes with a focus on the joys of home and family, as seen in Tolkien’s works, emphasizing their importance in both the spiritual and earthly realms.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions:

Experiencing ‘Eucatastrophe’: Reflect on an instance in your life that mirrored a ‘eucatastrophe’ – a sudden shift from hardship to joy. How did this experience impact your faith and understanding of God’s plan?
Joy from Sorrow: How do you comprehend the Christian concept of finding joy in sorrow, as seen from Good Friday to Easter Sunday? Have you experienced such a transformation in your life?
Nature’s Divine Connection: Reflect on moments when you’ve felt God’s presence in nature. How do these experiences enhance your spiritual life?
Stories Shaping Faith: Think of a story, biblical or literary, that profoundly influenced your spiritual journey. What lesson did you take from it?
Heavenly Joy in Daily Life: Can you identify moments in your life that seemed like a glimpse of heavenly joy? How do these moments influence your perspective on spirituality?
Home and Family as Spiritual Foundations: How do your family and home life reflect Christian virtues like love and sacrifice? What steps can you take to strengthen these virtues?
Learning from Fictional Characters: Which character in “The Lord of the Rings” resonates with you spiritually, and what lessons can you draw from their journey?

Full memory flooded back, and Sam cried aloud: ‘It wasn’t a dream! Then where are we?’ And a voice spoke softly behind him: ‘In the land of Ithilien, and in the keeping of the King; and he awaits you.’ With that Gandalf stood before him, robed in white, his beard now gleaming like pure snow in the twinkling of the leafy sunlight. ‘Well, Master Samwise, how do you feel?’ he said. But Sam lay back, and stared with open mouth, and for a moment, between bewilderment and great joy, he could not answer. At last he gasped:

‘Gandalf! I thought you were dead! But then I thought I was dead myself. Is everything sad going to come untrue? What’s happened to the world?’ ‘

A great Shadow has departed,’ said Gandalf, and then he laughed, and the sound was like music, or like water in a parched land; and as he listened the thought came to Sam that he had not heard laughter, the pure sound of merriment, for days upon days without count. It fell upon his ears like the echo of all the joys he had ever known. But he himself burst into tears. Then, as a sweet rain will pass down a wind of spring and the sun will shine out the clearer, his tears ceased, and his laughter welled up, and laughing he sprang from his bed. ‘How do I feel?’ he cried. ‘Well, I don’t know how to say it. I feel, I feel’ – he waved his arms in the air – ‘I feel like spring after winter, and sun on the leaves; and like trumpets and harps and all the songs I have ever heard!’

Tolkien, J.R.R.. The Return of the King: Being the Third Part of the Lord of the Rings (Kindle Locations 4133-4140). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Kindle Edition.

Frodo ran to meet him, and Sam followed close behind. ‘Well, if this isn’t the crown of all!’ he said. ‘Strider, or I’m still asleep!’

‘Yes, Sam, Strider,’ said Aragorn. ‘It is a long way, is it not, from Bree, where you did not like the look of me? A long way for us all, but yours has been the darkest road.’

And then to Sam’s surprise and utter confusion he bowed his knee before them; and taking them by the hand, Frodo upon his right and Sam upon his left, he led them to the throne, and setting them upon it, he turned to the men and captains who stood by and spoke, so that his voice rang over all the host, crying:

‘Praise them with great praise!’

And when the glad shout had swelled up and died away again, to Sam’s final and complete satisfaction and pure joy, a minstrel of Gondor stood forth, and knelt, and begged leave to sing. And behold! he said:

‘Lo! lords and knights and men of valour unashamed, kings and princes, and fair people of Gondor, and Riders of Rohan, and ye sons of Elrond, and Dúnedain of the North, and Elf and Dwarf, and greathearts of the Shire, and all free folk of the West, now listen to my lay. For I will sing to you of Frodo of the Nine Fingers and the Ring of Doom.’ And when Sam heard that he laughed aloud for sheer delight, and he wept.

And all the host laughed and wept, and in the midst of their merriment and tears the clear voice of the minstrel rose like silver and gold, and all men were hushed. And he sang to them, now in the elven-tongue, now in the speech of the West, until their hearts, wounded with sweet words, overflowed, and their joy was like swords, and they passed in thought out to regions where pain and delight flow together and tears are the very wine of blessedness.

Tolkien, J.R.R.. The Return of the King: Being the Third Part of the Lord of the Rings (Kindle Locations 4178-4193). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Kindle Edition.

For more episodes in this series: A “Lord of the Rings” Spiritual Retreat with Fr. Timothy Gallagher

For more information on how to obtain copies of Fr. Gallaghers’s various books and audio which are available for purchase, please visit his website: frtimothygallagher.org

For the other episodes in this series check out Fr. Timothy Gallagher’s “Discerning Hearts” page

The Ninth Day of Christmas – A Prayerful Meditation on the Twelve Days of Christmas – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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“On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: Nine Ladies Dancing …”
symbolizing the fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Prayer: Holy Spirit abide in me, let my life be abundant with Your fruit that I may bring peace and love to a hurting world. I pray that during this season of excess that the greatest of all will be the harvest of Your fruits in my life, for without an abundant harvest of Your fruits, I have nothing to give. Amen.