The Discerning Hearts Blog Archives

Day 9 Novena to St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta

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Ninth Day – Holiness is Jesus Living and Acting in Me

Thought for the day:
“Charity for each other is the surest way to great holiness.”

Ask for the grace to become a saint.

St. Teresa of Calcutta, you allowed the thirsting love of Jesus on the Cross to become a living flame within you, and so became the light of His love to all.

Obtain from the Heart of Jesus (here make your request).

Teach me to allow Jesus to penetrate and possess my whole being so completely that my life, too, may radiate His light and love to others. Amen.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, Cause of Our Joy, pray for me.
St. Teresa of Calcutta, pray for me.

text © Missionaries of Charity

Mother Teresa: In the Shadow of Our Lady … In Conversation with the late Fr. Joseph Langford

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There are endless collections of reflections on the life, teachings, and works of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta…all wonderful and worth exploration. One however stands out for me, and that is the writings of the late Fr. Joseph Langford, co-founder with Mother Teresa of the Missionaries of Charity Fathers. In particular, “Mother Teresa: In the Shadow of Our Lady”

Join Bruce and I as we talk with Fr. Langford about Mother Teresa and Our Lady

“Stay very close to Our Lady. If you do this, you can do great things for God and the good of people.” –Mother Teresa of Calcutta

As it was for Mother Teresa, so it can be for the rest of us. By standing close to Our Lady we can find the grace and courage to overcome our own personal trials and crosses. Summon the same powerful presence and aid of Our Lady by following the example of Mother Teresa. From dawn to dusk, decade to decade, Mother Teresa’s life had been spent, in every sense of the word, in the shadow of Our Lady. Our Lady helps us, as Mother Teresa found in her vision, to become contemplatives at the foot of the cross–to discover God’s presence and love, even in the midst of our trials and dark nights. Nothing was impossible for Mother Teresa while she clung to Our Lady, and as Mother Teresa tells us, “nothing is impossible for all who call Mary mother.”

“Sitting with Mother Teresa, watching her tend to the sick and the dying, feeling the aura of holiness around her person, seeing her bent in prayer, lost in God–how often I asked myself if I was not seeing something of Our Lady, experiencing a glimpse of the Virgin of Nazareth” –-Author and co-founder of Mother Teresa’s priests’ community, Joseph Langford, MC

This is a very special book, check it out!

Day 8 Novena to St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta

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Eighth Day – Jesus Made Himself the Bread of Life and the Hungry One

Thought for the day: “Believe that He, Jesus, is in the appearance of Bread and that He, Jesus, is in the hungry, naked, sick, lonely, unloved, homeless, helpless and hopeless.”

Ask for the grace of a deep faith to see Jesus in the Bread of Life and to serve Him in the distressing disguise of the poor.

St. Teresa of Calcutta, you allowed the thirsting love of Jesus on the Cross to become a living flame within you, and so became the light of His love to all.

Obtain from the Heart of Jesus (here make your request).

Teach me to allow Jesus to penetrate and possess my whole being so completely that my life, too, may radiate His light and love to others. Amen.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, Cause of Our Joy, pray for me. St. Teresa of Calcutta, pray for me.

text © Missionaries of Charity

Day 7 Novena to St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta

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Seventh Day – God Loves a Cheerful Giver

Thought for the day:
“Joy is the sign of union with God, of God’s presence. Joy is love, the normal result of a heart burning with love.”

Ask for the grace to find joy in loving and to share this joy with all you meet.

St. Teresa of Calcutta, you allowed the thirsting love of Jesus on the Cross to become a living flame within you, and so became the light of His love to all.

Obtain from the Heart of Jesus (here make your request).

Teach me to allow Jesus to penetrate and possess my whole being so completely that my life, too, may radiate His light and love to others. Amen.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, Cause of Our Joy, pray for me.
St. Teresa of Calcutta, pray for me.

text © Missionaries of Charity

ST-V4 – “Acts of the Apostles, Chapters 3 – 5 ” – Seeking Truth with Sharon Doran – Video Podcast

Do some of the stories of the Bible seem unfair? Does God seem to be overly harsh? If these thoughts have occurred to you, keep reading. The birth of the Church at Pentecost is heralded by the dawn of a new priesthood. In this week’s lecture, Sharon traces the origin of the priesthood, beginning with Adam and then to Noah, Abraham, Moses and the Levites. However, with the great commissioning of the Apostles and our first Pope, Peter, a new priesthood in the order of Melchizedek is established. Jesus gives this new priesthood the power to forgive AND retain sins. Understanding this priestly role is critical to unlocking the unsettling story of Ananias and Sapphira, who were struck dead when they did not give Peter all their money. Many “Ah Hah!” moments are found in this lecture. You won’t want to miss it.

Sharon Doran serves as the teaching director of “Seeking Truth.” An experienced Bible Study teacher, Sharon has a passion for scripture that will motivate and challenge you to immerse yourself in God’s Word and apply His message to your everyday life.

“Seeking Truth” is an in-depth Catholic Bible Study, commissioned by the Archdiocese of Omaha in response to John Paul II’s call to the New Evangelization as well as Pope Benedict XVI’s exhortation for all Catholics to study scripture. To learn more go to:www.seekingtruth.net

SH-V3 – “The First Gift of the Sacred Heart ” – with Msgr. John Esseff – Video Podcast

Be sure to visit Msgr. Esseff’s website “Building a Kingdom of Love” for Enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus materials

Msgr. John A. Esseff is a Roman Catholic priest in the Diocese of Scranton. He was ordained on May 30th 1953, by the late Bishop William J. Hafey, D.D. at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Scranton, PA. Msgr. Esseff served a retreat director and confessor to Blessed Mother Teresa. 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 St.. Pope 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.

Episode 16 – St. John XXIII and Pacem in Terras (Peace on Earth) and an understanding of the Natural Law – Regnum Novum

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Episode 16 – Regnum Novum: Bringing forth the New Evangelization through Catholic Social Teaching with Omar Gutierrez – St. John XXIII , Pacem in Terras (Peace on Earth) and the Natural Law

We live at a very special time. The confluence of many things has brought forth the clear need to be able to articulate the Social Teaching of the Catholic Church in a way that is accessible and applicable. This is not to be an effort where high-minded theories are to be bandied about. Rather, this is a time of opportunity wherein we can apply the Social Doctrine to the concrete so as to bring about a New Kingdom, a Revolution. – Omar G.

Pacem in Terris (Peace on Earth) was a papal encyclical issued by Pope John XXIII on 11 April 1963.

Also visit Omar’s “Discerning Hearts” page Catholic Social Teaching 101

Day 6 Novena to St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta

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Sixth Day – True Love is Surrender

Thought for the day:
“Allow God to use you without consulting you.”

Ask for the grace to surrender your whole life to God.

St. Teresa of Calcutta, you allowed the thirsting love of Jesus on the Cross to become a living flame within you, and so became the light of His love to all.

Obtain from the Heart of Jesus (here make your request).

Teach me to allow Jesus to penetrate and possess my whole being so completely that my life, too, may radiate His light and love to others. Amen.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, Cause of Our Joy, pray for me.
St. Teresa of Calcutta, pray for me.

MIL#1 “The Intimate Partnership” – Marriage in the Lord w/ Deacon James Keating, Ph.D.

Episode 1 -Marriage in the Lord with Deacon James Keating –
Deacon James Keating, PhD, explores the theological and spiritual meaning of the Sacrament of Marriage. Using the Catechism of the Catholic Church as a touchstone, Deacon Keating challenges listeners to go to the depths of what it means to be married in the Lord.

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From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

2364 The married couple forms “the intimate partnership of life and love established by the Creator and governed by his laws; it is rooted in the conjugal covenant, that is, in their irrevocable personal consent.” Both give themselves definitively and totally to one another. They are no longer two; from now on they form one flesh. The covenant they freely contracted imposes on the spouses the obligation to preserve it as unique and indissoluble. “What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder.”

Deacon James Keating, PhD, the director of Theological Formation for the Institute for Priestly Formation, located at Creighton University, in Omaha, is making available to ”Discerning Hearts” and all who listen, his series of programs entitled “Marriage in the Lord”

For other episodes in this series visit here

Marriage-in-the-Lord For more information on the “Institute of Priestly Formation” and for oth er material availabl IPF_logo-small e by Deacon Keating, just click here

Don’t forget to pickup a copy of “Marriage in the Lord” ,it is one of the best audio sets on the Sacrament of Marriage…ever!

Check out Deacon Keating’s “Discerning Hearts” page

USCCA15 – Baptism: Becoming a Christian – U. S. Catholic Catechism for Adults w/ Arch. George Lucas

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USCCA15- Episode 15 – Baptism: Becoming a Christian

Archbishop Lucas offers insights on the US Catholic Catechism for Adults Chapter 15:

As mentioned earlier in this chapter, the Lord himself affirms that Baptism is necessary for salvation. “No one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit” (Jn 3:5). Christ commanded his disciples to preach the Gospel, draw people to faith in him, and baptize those who come to conversion. The Church does not neglect the mission she has received form Christ to ensure that all be baptized and reborn of water and the Spirit.

The Most Reverend George J. Lucas leads the Archdiocese of Omaha.

For other episodes in the visit our Archbishop George Lucas page

This programs is based on:

More information can be found here.

We wish to thank the USCCB for the permissions granted for use of relevant material used in this series.
Also we wish to thank Deacon Chuck Adams for his vocal talents in this episode.

Ninth Day – Holiness is Jesus Living and Acting in Me

Thought for the day: “Charity for each other is the surest way to great holiness.”

Ask for the grace to become a saint.

Eighth Day – Jesus Made Himself the Bread of Life and the Hungry One

Thought for the day: “Believe that He, Jesus, is in the appearance of Bread and that He, Jesus, is in the hungry, naked, sick, lonely, unloved, homeless, helpless and hopeless.”

Ask for the grace of a deep faith to see Jesus in the Bread of Life and to serve Him in the distressing disguise of the poor.

Seventh Day – God Loves a Cheerful Giver

Thought for the day: “Joy is the sign of union with God, of God’s presence. Joy is love, the normal result of a heart burning with love.”

Ask for the grace to find joy in loving and to share this joy with all you meet.

Sixth Day – True Love is Surrender

Thought for the day: “Allow God to use you without consulting you.”

Ask for the grace to surrender your whole life to God.

Thought for the day:
“Charity for each other is the surest way to great holiness.”

Thought for the day:
“Joy is the sign of union with God, of God’s presence. Joy is love, the normal result of a heart burning with love.”

Thought for the day:
“Allow God to use you without consulting you.”