The Discerning Hearts Blog Archives

Conference 7 – The Trinitarian Reality of Self-Giving Love /w Msgr. Esseff & Sr. Cor Immaculatum Heffernan

Conference 7 – The Trinitarian Reality of Self-Giving Love /w Msgr. Esseff & Sr. Cor Immaculatum Heffernan – Discerning Hearts Online Retreat

Retreat Directors: Monsignor John A. Esseff and Sister Cor Immaculatum Heffernan, IHM

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Conference Seven

Called to Forgiveness

# 2712 CCC
“Contemplative Prayer is the prayer of the child of God, of the forgiven
sinner who agrees to welcome the love by which he is loved and who
wants to respond to it by loving even more. But he knows that the love he
is returning is poured out by the Spirit in his heart, for everything is grace
from God.”

Old Testament: prophets – historical books – retribution, retaliation
New Testament: Jesus – forgiveness

…“So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart”. – Matt.18: 20-35

Fruits of unforgiveness:

fracturing of persons, families, relationships, generations, nations

…led by anger and pain
…directed by negative memories
…do not act freely
…keep controlling grasp on situations and people
…pressured by lives of tension and stress
…resentment – re-sentire – to feel again

Are you called to forgive? True forgiveness:
• Is a decision
• Is unconditional
• Is showing mercy even when the act was deliberate
• Is taking the other where he/she is
• Is taking the risk of getting hurt again
• Is accepting an apology
• Is choosing to love

Having been forgiven of our sinfulness, we are called to forgive others.

Msgr. John A. Esseff is a Roman Catholic priest in the Diocese of Scranton. He 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. He has lived in areas around the world, serving in the Pontifical missions, a Catholic organization established by St. Pope John Paul II to bring the Good News to the world especially to the poor. He is a founding member of the Pope Leo XIII Institute. He continues to serve as a retreat leader and director to bishops, priests and sisters and seminarians, and other religious leaders.

Sister Cor Immaculatum Heffernan, IHM is a member of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Scranton, PA. “ She holds several degrees: a Bachelor of Arts in English/Art and a Master of Science degree in Counseling, both from Marywood; a Master of Arts degree in Sculpture from the University of Notre Dame; and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Illustration from Syracuse University. Her multi-faceted life is in itself a masterpiece: she is a teacher, a mentor, and a consultant; she is a sculptor, a harpist, a calligrapher, and a creator of mosaics; she is a counselor, a spiritual director, and above all, she is a servant of God to others”.

Conference 6 – The Trinitarian Reality of Self-Giving Love /w Msgr. Esseff & Sr. Cor Immaculatum Heffernan

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Conference 6 – The Trinitarian Reality of Self-Giving Love /w Msgr. Esseff & Sr. Cor Immaculatum Heffernan – Discerning Hearts Online Retreat

Retreat Directors: Monsignor John A. Esseff and Sister Cor Immaculatum Heffernan, IHM

[powerful]

Conference Six

The Mystery of Personal Sinfulness

#2563 CCC
“The heart is the dwelling-place where I am, where I live; according to the Semitic or Biblical expression, the heart is the place ‘to which I withdraw’. The heart is our hidden center, beyond the grasp of our reason and of others; only the Spirit of God can fathom the human heart and know it fully. The heart is the place of decision, deeper than our psychic drives. It is the place of truth where we choose life or death. It is the place of encounter, because as image of God we live in relation: it is the place of covenant”.

#2847 CCC
The Holy Spirit makes us discern between trials, which are necessary for the growth of the inner man, and temptation which leads to sin and death. We must also discern between being tempted and consenting to temptation. Finally, discernment unmasks the lie of temptation, whose object appears to be good, a “delight to the eyes” and desirable, when in reality its fruit is death.

James 1: 12-18 – Blessed is the man who perseveres in temptation…

Temptation

God does not want to impose the good, but wants free beings…there is a certain usefulness to temptation. No one but God knows what our soul has received from him, not even ourselves. But temptation reveals it in order to teach us to know ourselves, and in this way we discover our evil inclinations and are obliged to give thanks for the goods that temptation has revealed to us.

Dealing with the Devil …

#1848 CCC
As St. Paul affirms, “Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more”. But to do its work grace must uncover sin so as to convert our hearts and bestow on us
“righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”. Like a physician
who probes the wound before treating it, God, by his Word and by his Spirit, casts a living light on sin.

Conversion requires convincing of sin; it includes the interior judgment of conscience, and this, being a proof of the action of the Spirit of truth in man’s inmost being, becomes at the same time the start of a new grant of grace and love: “Receive the Holy Spirit”. Thus in this “convincing concerning sin” we discover a double gift: the gift of truth of conscience and the gift of certainty of redemption. The Spirit of truth is the Consoler”.
Of ourselves we can do nothing… Ephesians 6: 10-17

The Holy Spirit is the sanctifier and it is through the power of the Holy Spirit that I may recognize what prevents me from being fully alive…and that I may feel sorrow for any inner lies or attitudes of heart that prevent me from receiving and staying with Your love for me, Lord

Examination of Core Wounds, Attitudes, Capital Sins

Sinfulness and the Mercy of God

“God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking his mercy…Time and time again he bears us on his shoulders. No one can strip us of the dignity bestowed upon us by this boundless and unfailing love. With a tenderness that never disappoints, but is always capable of restoring our joy, he makes it possible for us to lift up our heads and to start anew. Let us not flee from the resurrection of Jesus; let us never give up…come what will. May
nothing inspire us more than his life, which impels us forward.
– Pope Francis The Joy of the Gospel

Conference 5 – The Trinitarian Reality of Self-Giving Love /w Msgr. Esseff & Sr. Cor Immaculatum Heffernan

Conference 5 – The Trinitarian Reality of Self-Giving Love /w Msgr. Esseff & Sr. Cor Immaculatum Heffernan – Discerning Hearts Online Retreat

Retreat Directors: Monsignor John A. Esseff and Sister Cor Immaculatum Heffernan, IHM

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Conference Five

Our Call to Prayer Is Essential…

#2565 CCC
“In the New Covenant, prayer is the living relationship of the children of od with their Father who is god beyond measure, with his Son Jesus Christ, and with the Holy Spirit. The grace of the Kingdom is “the union of the entire holy and royal Trinity…with the whole human spirit”. The life of prayer is the habit of being in the presence of the thrice-holy God and in communion with him. This communion of life is always possible because, through Baptism, we have already been united with Christ. Prayer is Christian insofar as it is communion with Christ and extends throughout the Church, which is his Body. Its dimensions are those of Christ’s love.”

“Great talent is a gift from God, but it is a gift which is by no means necessary in order to pray well. This gift is required in order to converse well with men, but it is not necessary in order to speak well with God. For that, one needs good desires and nothing more”. – St. John of the Cross

“We cannot put ourselves directly in the presence of God if we do not practice internal and external silence. In silence we will find new energy and true unity.
Silence gives us a new outlook on everything. The essential thing is not what we say but what God says to us and through us. In that silence, He will listen to us; there He will speak to our soul, and there we will hear His voice.
– St. Theresa of Calcutta – In the Heart of the World

St. John Paul II recommended that we reflect on the spirit of the home of Nazareth, the spirit of Mary – remembering and embracing in a single gaze of faith, the mystery of the Word made flesh…the spirit of Joseph – in contemplative silence – listening to the word of God.

Prayer is person-to-person communication with God.
There are three aspects of genuine prayer:
AWARENESS of God’s presence, acknowledging it, admitting that God has breathed life and being into me and all the things around me;
GRATITUDE for the Holy Spirit living within me, and for all that God is and is doing for me;
LOVING RESPONSE to God’s unique, unconditional love for me by loving Him in return

Note: the distinction between meditating on and communicating with…

Contemplative Prayer – encounter with the Living God within us.

FIVE KEYWORDS:

BE THERE WANT HIM
LISTEN TO HIM
LET HIM
RESPOND TO HIM

Contemplative prayer is more listening to and being aware of God, our Father, rather than saying or doing anything. It is more something that God does for us than anything we do for Him. It is consciously being with Him and letting Him be for us the loving God that He is, letting Him fill us with His Spirit, and letting Jesus become more and more alive and real to us. Armond Nigro, S.J. – Prayer – a Personal Response to God’s Presence.

A R R R – Acknowledge…Relate…Receive…Respond

Suggested Scripture passages for personal prayer and reflection:

Isaiah 43: 1-7
Jeremiah 29: 11-14
John 15: 9

1 Samuel 3: 10
Luke 11: 1-13
Matthew 6: 5-15

Episode 6 – The Day Is Now Far Spent – Fr. Joseph Fessio S.J., Vivian Dudro, and Joseph Pearce FBC Podcast

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Humane economics, fair-trade coffee, respect for creation: can we really save the world? The FORMED Book Club continues its march through Cardinal Robert Sarah’s “The Day Is Now Far Spent”—this week, the chapter on “The Hatred of Man”.

This discussion is part of the FORMED Book Club—an online community led by Fr. Joseph Fessio and Joseph Pearce that reads and discusses a different book each month. Go to formedbookclub.ignatius.com to sign up for free!

You can find the book here

Robert Cardinal Sarah calls The Day Is Now Far Spent his most important book. He analyzes the spiritual, moral, and political collapse of the Western world and concludes that “the decadence of our time has all the faces of mortal peril.”

A cultural identity crisis, he writes, is at the root of the problems facing Western societies. “The West no longer knows who it is, because it no longer knows and does not want to know who made it, who established it, as it was and as it is. Many countries today ignore their own history. This self-suffocation naturally leads to a decadence that opens the path to new, barbaric civilizations.”

While making clear the gravity of the present situation, the cardinal demonstrates that it is possible to avoid the hell of a world without God, a world without hope. He calls for a renewal of devotion to Christ through prayer and the practice of virtue.

IP#281 Vivian Dudro - Meriol Trevor's "Shadows and Images" on Inside the Pages 1 — Vivian Dudro

WOM11 – The Liturgy of the Eucharist part 3 – The Way of Mystery with Deacon James Keating – Discerning Hearts

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Episode 11 -The Way of Mystery: The Eucharist and Moral Living– The Liturgy of the Eucharist part 3: The Eucharistic Prayer…God teaching us to pray. What are we doing in our participation and are we truly ready to receive the Body of Christ? Should we, in integrity, receive the Truth of Christ in Communion…do we really believe?

Deacon James Keating, Ph.D., the director of Theological Formation for the Institute for Priestly Formation, located at Creighton University, in Omaha.

The Vatican II documents remind us that the spiritual journey is not made in a vacuum, that God has chosen to save us, not individually, but as The People of God. The Eucharist must help Christians to make their choices by discerning out of Christ’s paschal mystery. For this process to take place, however, Christians must first understand how the Eucharist puts them in touch with Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection, and what concrete implications being in touch with this mystery has for their daily lives.

Check out more episodes at “The Way of Mystery” Discerning Heart podcast page

Conference 3 – The Trinitarian Reality of Self-Giving Love /w Msgr. Esseff & Sr. Cor Immaculatum Heffernan

Conference 3 – The Trinitarian Reality of Self-Giving Love /w Msgr. Esseff & Sr. Cor Immaculatum Heffernan – Discerning Hearts Online Retreat

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Retreat Directors: Monsignor John A. Esseff and Sister Cor Immaculatum Heffernan, IHM

Conference Three

God, the Holy Spirit, Sanctifier

The glory that believers are destined to share with Christ far exceeds the sufferings of this present life. The destiny of the created world is linked with the future that belongs to believers; as it shares in the corruption brought about by sin, so it will share in the benefits of redemption and future glory that comprise the ultimate liberation of God’s people.

After patient endurance in steadfast expectation, the full harvest of the Spirit’s presence will be realized. – Romans 8: 22-27, 38-39

As Catholics, we are called to be witnesses to our faith in the way we live our lives. “On the one hand our actions engender hope for us and for others but, at the same time, it is the great hope based upon God’s promises that gives us courage and directs our action in good times and bad.” – Pope Benedict XVI, Spe Salve 48 #

1296 CCC “It is God who establishes us with you in Christ and has commanded us; He has put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. This seal of the Holy Spirit marks our total belonging to Christ, our enrollment in his service forever, as well as the promise of divine protection in the great eschatological trial”.

Confirmation, the Sacrament of Ministry – Ephesians 1: 11-14

Confirmation graces are adult powers to build up our brothers and sisters that, when used, produce great fruit in our own lives

Suggested Scripture passages for personal prayer and reflection:

Romans 8: 22-27
Ephesians 1: 11-14
1 Corinthians 12

HR-Soberness- 3 “Leadership and Soberness” – The Holy Rule of St. Benedict with Fr. Mauritius Wilde OSB Podcast

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A leader who is not sober can do a great deal of damage to those for whom he is responsible and, of course, harm the cause he is meant to serve. If you allow yourself to be seized with emotions, such as anger, vindictiveness, sadness, pride or envy – whatever “demons” you want to call them here – then you are not in contact with yourself and not in contact with your people. One is identified with the feeling and has no clear view of the truths. The task of the manager is to decide. However, to make the right decision requires a sober consideration of the alternatives that are given. The leader may need a break to make the right choice. The “discernment of spirits”, like those taught by St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) is only possible if we can be completely free and open inside, sober and not driven by emotions. One might follow this rule: When you are very upset, frustrated, angry, fearful, sad, whatever mood you might feel, make no decisions and do not respond immediately to those you lead. Give yourself one night to think about it and pray. It often happens that after this break, which does not have to be long, you will find a completely different perspective and have time to assess alternatives. If you do not spontaneously act out of feeling, step back until you are sober and compassionate enough to respond appropriately.

From the Holy Rule of St. Benedict:

CHAPTER XLVI

Of the Election of the Abbot

He must, therefore, be versed in the divine law, that he may know whence “to bring forth new things and old” (Mt 13:52). Let him be chaste, sober, and merciful, and let him always exalt “mercy above judgment” (Jas 2:13), that he also may obtain mercy.

Let him hate vice, but love the brethren. And even in his corrections, let him act with prudence and not go to extremes, lest, while he aimeth to remove the rust too thoroughly, the vessel be broken. Let him always keep his own frailty in mind, and remember that “the bruised reed must not be broken” (Is 42:3). In this we are not saying that he should allow evils to take root, but that he cut them off with prudence and charity, as he shall see it is best for each one, as we have already said; and let him aim to be loved rather than feared.

Let him not be fussy or over-anxious, exacting, or headstrong; let him not be jealous or suspicious, because he will never have rest. In all his commands, whether they refer to things spiritual or temporal, let him be cautious and considerate. Let him be discerning and temperate in the tasks which he enjoineth, recalling the discretion of holy Jacob who saith: “If I should cause my flocks to be overdriven, they would all die in one day” (Gen 33:13). Keeping in view these and other dictates of discretion, the mother of virtues, let him so temper everything that the strong may still have something to desire and the weak may not draw back. Above all, let him take heed that he keep this Rule in all its detail; that when he hath served well he may hear from the Lord what the good servant heard who gave his fellow-servants bread in season: “Amen, I say to you,” He saith,”he shall set him over all his goods” (Mt 24:47).

If, however, anyone is found to break this rule, let him undergo heavy punishment, unless the needs of guests should arise, or the Abbot should perhaps give a command to anyone. But let even this be done with the utmost gravity and moderation.

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.

Conference 2 – The Trinitarian Reality of Self-Giving Love /w Msgr. Esseff & Sr. Cor Immaculatum Heffernan

Conference 2 – The Trinitarian Reality of Self-Giving Love /w Msgr. Esseff & Sr. Cor Immaculatum Heffernan – Discerning Hearts Online Retreat

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Retreat Directors: Monsignor John A. Esseff and Sister Cor Immaculatum Heffernan, IHM

Conference Two

God the Son, Redeemer

SALVATION can only be understood by God’s redeeming love…the Divine choosing to become human, opening humankind to participation in the Divine life. – Colossians 1: 15-20

The Divine Plan – with Infinite Love, God sent Jesus to earth to take on human nature. This first step of love is so much greater than anything we ever could have imagined. Jesus, becoming human opened humankind to participation in the Divine life…those who believe in Christ believe in the divinization of human nature. – Ephesians 1: 1-10

Not until the death of Jesus was a personal relationship with God again offered to us… His death, we have life. Through Baptism we are baptized into the passion, death, and resurrection of Christ so that “we no longer live but Christ lives in us”. – Galatians 2: 20-21

1216 CCC “Baptism is God’s most beautiful and magnificent gift. . . .We call it gift, grace, anointing, enlightenment, garment of immortality, bath of rebirth, seal, and most precious gift. It is called gift because it is conferred on those who bring nothing of their own; grace since it is given even to the guilty; Baptism because sin is buried in the water; anointing for it is priestly and royal as are those who are anointed; enlightenment because it radiates light; clothing since it veils our shame; bath because it washes, and seal as it is our guard and the sign of God’s Lordship.

10 Sacrament of Baptism

Suggested Scripture passages for personal prayer and reflection:

Colossians 1: 15-20
Galatians 2: 20-21
Ephesians 1: 1-10

Conference 1 – The Trinitarian Reality of Self-Giving Love /w Msgr. Esseff & Sr. Cor Immaculatum Heffernan

The Trinitarian Reality of Self-Giving Love /w Msgr. Esseff & Sr. Cor Immaculatum Heffernan – Discerning Hearts Online Retreat

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Retreat Directors: Monsignor John A. Esseff and Sister Cor Immaculatum Heffernan, IHM

“Our faith is rooted in the mystery of the Trinity: the divine relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God’s own essence is a communion of persons. Created in God’s image, we too are social creatures. We are called to live this Trinitarian reality of self-giving love. It is in the community that we are shaped and formed. It is through the community that the dignity of every individual is realized. And it is out of the community that we are sent to love and serve the world.”
– U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

Theme: We Are Called to Live the Trinitarian Reality of Self-Giving Love

CREATION can only be understood by God’s unique, unconditional love…man is the height of God’s creation. – Psalm 8

SALVATION can only be understood by God’s redeeming love…the Divine choosing to become human, opening humankind to participation in the Divine life. – Colossians 1: 15-20

SANCTIFICATION can only be understood by God’s infinite love…creation itself would be set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God. – Romans 8: 18-27

Conference One God the Father, Creator

Creation can only be understood by God’s unique, unconditional love…man is the height of His creation. Psalm 8

Being and Becoming – everything and everyone is both being and becoming…

Adam and Eve had everything and a personal relationship with God in the garden and lost all but human life and free will. – Genesis 3

Creation by a loving God leads to HOPE…everything seems to be going away from God because of evil, but everything is really going back to Him by the force of love.

The Father’s Plan of Salvation – Ephesians 1: 3-6

# 2565 CCC

“In the New Covenant, prayer is the living relationship of the children of God with their Father who is good beyond measure, with his Son Jesus Christ and with the Holy Spirit. The grace of the Kingdom is “the union of the entire holy and royal Trinity…with the whole human spirit.”

Suggested Scripture passages for personal prayer and reflection:

Psalm 8
Genesis 3
Ephesians 1: 3-6

Episode 5 – The Day Is Now Far Spent – Fr. Joseph Fessio S.J., Vivian Dudro, and Joseph Pearce FBC Podcast

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The Novus Ordo, the purpose of bishops’ conferences, and the struggle against pandemic self-hatred. The FORMED Book Club panel continues its discussion of Cardinal Robert Sarah’s “The Day Is Now Far Spent”.

You can find the book here

Conference 7 – The Trinitarian Reality of Self-Giving Love /w Msgr. Esseff & Sr. Cor Immaculatum Heffernan – Discerning Hearts Online Retreat

Conference Seven

Called to Forgiveness

Conference 6 – The Trinitarian Reality of Self-Giving Love /w Msgr. Esseff & Sr. Cor Immaculatum Heffernan – Discerning Hearts Online Retreat

Conference Six

The Mystery of Personal Sinfulness

Temptation

Dealing with the Devil …

Examination of Core Wounds, Attitudes, Capital Sins

Sinfulness and the Mercy of God

Conference 5 – The Trinitarian Reality of Self-Giving Love /w Msgr. Esseff & Sr. Cor Immaculatum Heffernan – Discerning Hearts Online Retreat

Conference Five

Our Call to Prayer Is Essential…

FIVE KEYWORDS:

A R R R – Acknowledge…Relate…Receive…Respond

Suggested Scripture passages for personal prayer and reflection: Isaiah 43: 1-7 Jeremiah 29: 11-14 John 15: 9

1 Samuel 3: 10 Luke 11: 1-13 Matthew 6: 5-15

Conference 3 – The Trinitarian Reality of Self-Giving Love /w Msgr. Esseff & Sr. Cor Immaculatum Heffernan – Discerning Hearts Online Retreat

Conference Three

God, the Holy Spirit, Sanctifier

Suggested Scripture passages for personal prayer and reflection:

Romans 8: 22-27 Ephesians 1: 11-14 1 Corinthians 12

CHAPTER XLVI

Conference 2 – The Trinitarian Reality of Self-Giving Love /w Msgr. Esseff & Sr. Cor Immaculatum Heffernan – Discerning Hearts Online Retreat

Conference Two

God the Son, Redeemer

Suggested Scripture passages for personal prayer and reflection:

Colossians 1: 15-20 Galatians 2: 20-21 Ephesians 1: 1-10

The Trinitarian Reality of Self-Giving Love /w Msgr. Esseff & Sr. Cor Immaculatum Heffernan – Discerning Hearts Online Retreat

Suggested Scripture passages for personal prayer and reflection:

Psalm 8 Genesis 3 Ephesians 1: 3-6

Suggested Scripture passages for personal prayer and reflection:

Isaiah 43: 1-7
Jeremiah 29: 11-14
John 15: 9

1 Samuel 3: 10
Luke 11: 1-13
Matthew 6: 5-15

Romans 8: 22-27
Ephesians 1: 11-14
1 Corinthians 12

Colossians 1: 15-20
Galatians 2: 20-21
Ephesians 1: 1-10

Psalm 8
Genesis 3
Ephesians 1: 3-6