Kris McGregor Archives

IP#504 Dan LeRoy – Why We Think What We Think on Inside the Pages w/ Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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Why We Think What We Think by Dan LeRoy on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor

In this episode of Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor, guest Dan LeRoy discusses his book, which explores the decline of philosophical thinking in the Western world. They discuss the importance of philosophy for fostering critical thinking and understanding cultural shifts. LeRoy critiques modern philosophy for becoming disconnected from practical realities, arguing that it has contributed to societal confusion and dissatisfaction.

They explore historical and philosophical influences, highlighting how figures like Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and later, St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas, have shaped Western thought. The discussion emphasizes the enduring relevance of classical philosophers and the consequences of abandoning their teachings in modern times. LeRoy argues that reconnecting with these foundational ideas is essential for addressing contemporary issues and achieving true happiness, which aligns with the pursuit of virtue and truth.

LeRoy also critiques modern philosophical trends that prioritize individual happiness over communal responsibility, linking these trends to broader societal unhappiness. The conversation underscores the need for a philosophical renaissance that embraces ancient and medieval thinkers’ rigorous, virtue-oriented approach to remedying modern existential and ethical dilemmas.

You can find the book here.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions:

Personal Reflection on Philosophy: How does your understanding of philosophy align with the perspectives shared by Dan Leroy? In what ways can you incorporate philosophical thinking into your daily life to make more informed, virtuous decisions?
Role of Virtue: How do you define virtue in your own life? Reflect on how the pursuit of virtue can lead to greater happiness and fulfillment, as discussed by LeRoy. Are there areas in your life where you could strive more actively for virtue?
Influence of Historical Philosophers: Consider the impact of philosophers like Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, St. Augustine, and St. Thomas Aquinas on your own understanding of the world. How do their teachings on truth and virtue resonate with your personal beliefs and practices?
Modern Philosophy’s Disconnect: LeRoy discusses the disconnect of modern philosophy from practical and ethical concerns. Reflect on any modern philosophical ideas or movements you are aware of. Do you agree that they are disconnected from “real-world” applications? Why or why not?
Critical Thinking in Culture: In what ways do you think critical thinking is lacking in today’s culture? How can the revival of classical philosophical principles contribute to solving contemporary problems?
Philosophy and the Catholic Faith: Reflect on how philosophy can complement your Catholic faith. How can embracing philosophical inquiry enhance your spiritual life and your understanding of Catholic teachings?
Community and Individualism: Reflect on the tension between individualism and community responsibilities as discussed in the episode. How do you balance personal freedom with communal obligations in your own life?
Pursuit of Truth and Happiness: How does your pursuit of truth impact your happiness? Do you agree with the assertion that true happiness comes from fulfilling our purpose and seeking virtue? Why or why not?
Engagement with Philosophical Texts: Are there philosophical texts or thinkers you have been meaning to explore? What might be holding you back, and how could engaging with these materials enrich your intellectual and spiritual life?
Action Steps: Based on the discussion in the podcast, what are some practical steps you can take to deepen your philosophical understanding and apply it to your life challenges?

From the book’s description:

We’re all starting to hear people ask how the world has gotten to be the way it is. Grafted onto the usual complaints about why people are so greedy, self-absorbed, and callous toward one another are new expressions of frustration about even more fundamental concerns. Why can’t we agree on concepts that used to be basic common sense? Why does our very language now seem to be a minefield that only the most wily and tactical (or cynical) among us can navigate?

The only way to understand fully how we have arrived at this state — and what, if anything, we might be able to do about it — is to embark on a journey back in time to see where we went off the rails. With candor and occasional humor, Dan LeRoy tells the sweeping story of Western thought from its beginnings to the present, revealing the souls and idiosyncrasies of its greatest thinkers. Through stirring vignettes, he tells the real story of how our customs and thought patterns developed and then relates it to our current moment of rupture.

In pages that sometimes read like an Indiana Jones adventure, LeRoy explains the detour that philosophy took nearly a thousand years ago that has led Western society to its current, dire situation. With sharp pen and clear eye, he reveals:

The roots of classical philosophy, including empiricism (Ready to wade into the water?)

How views on ethics and morality began to take shape even before Christ

The three ways to attain happiness, according to the Big Three philosophers

Four splinter groups and how their philosophies impact us today

The enduring teachings of Sts. Augustine and Aquinas, among many others

About the Author

Dan LeRoy is an author, journalist and teacher who has been the director of the Writing and Publishing Department at Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School in Midland, Pennsylvania, since 2006. His writing about music and politics has appeared in the New York Times, Rolling Stone, Newsweek, the Village Voice, Alternative Press, Esquire, and National Review Online.

Ep 8 – The Eleventh and Twelfth Shewings – All Shall Be Well w/ Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

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All Shall Be Well: A Journey Through Julian of Norwich’s Revelations of Divine Love with Kris McGregor

Episode 8: The Eleventh and Twelfth Shewings — The Joy of Christ (His Blessed Mother) and the Gaze of Heaven

Summary:

In this episode, Julian of Norwich is drawn into the radiant joy of Christ—the joy He takes in His Blessed Mother, and the glory revealed in His glorified Face. In the Eleventh Shewing, Christ lovingly invites Julian to “see her”—to behold the Virgin Mary as He does, with delight and reverence. Through Julian’s vision, we glimpse the profound place of Mary in Christ’s heart and in the life of every Christian. In the Twelfth Shewing, Julian is lifted to contemplate the joy of Heaven: the Beatific Vision, where the saints behold the Face of Christ and are fully seen, fully known, and fully loved. Drawing from Julian’s text, Scripture, the Catechism, and the wisdom of the saints, this episode opens the mystery of divine joy that begins in Christ’s Passion and culminates in eternal glory.

For other episodes in this series visit: All Shall Be Well: A Journey Through Julian of Norwich’s Revelations of Divine Love with Kris McGregor

Primary Source:

From Revelations of Divine Love, Long Text, Chapters XXV-XXVI, trans. Grace Warrack, Methuen & Co., 1901 (PDF edition).
You can access PDF edition here

Full Julian of Norwich Quotations Used in Episode 8:

“Wilt thou see her?” — The Shewing of Mary

“AND with this same cheer of mirth and joy our good Lord looked down on the right side and brought to my mind where our Lady stood in the time of His Passion; and said: Wilt thou see her?” (Ch. 25)

“And for the high, marvellous, singular love that He hath to this sweet Maiden, His blessed Mother, our Lady Saint Mary, He shewed her highly rejoicing… as if He said: Wilt thou see how I love her, that thou mightest joy with me in the love that I have in her and she in me?” (Ch. 25)

“For after Himself she is the most blissful sight. But hereof am I not learned to long to see her bodily presence while I am here, but the virtues of her blessed soul: her truth, her wisdom, her charity; whereby I may learn to know myself and reverently dread my God.” (Ch. 25)

“And Jesus in that word shewed me ghostly sight of her: right as I had seen her afore little and simple, so He shewed her then high and noble and glorious, and pleasing to Him above all creatures.” (Ch. 25)

The Three Shewings of Mary

“AND after this the Lord shewed Himself more glorified, as to my sight, than I saw Him before wherein I was learned to my understanding that it shall be thus in Heaven without end to all that shall come there. For the change of His blessed Countenance shall be the joy of the blessed without end that see Him.” (Ch. 26)

“This blessed Countenance of the Godhead fulfilleth the joy of the saints in Heaven; which blessed Countenance of the Lord is open to be seen, and shall be seen evermore of the blessed, which for His homely loving behold Him gladly; evermore enjoying Him, that is, God, their Maker and their Keeper, their Lover and their Bliss.” (Ch. 26)

Quotes from the Saints and other resources

“Lift up thine heart and behold thy Lord with eyes of love, for He hangeth there for thee… His arms stretched wide to embrace thee, His side open to receive thee, His blood flowing to cleanse thee.”
(Middle English Devotional Prose, ed. Veronica O’Mara, 1994)

“The Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.” (Munificentissimus Deus, §44, Pope Pius XII, 1950)

“If you ever feel distressed during your day — call upon our Lady — just say this simple prayer: ‘Mary, Mother of Jesus, please be a mother to me now.’ I must admit — this prayer has never failed me.” (St. Teresa of Calcutta – Come Be My Light, 2007, p. 197)

“She was made a book in which the Word was written, by the power of the eternal Father, and the wisdom of the Son, and the mercy of the Holy Spirit.” (St. Catherine of Siena – Dialogue, Ch. 116; trans. Suzanne Noffke, O.P., 1980)

“From the moment I first conceived Him in my womb, I never ceased carrying Him in my heart. When I gave birth to Him, I felt as though half my heart had left me. And when He suffered the Passion, His pain became my pain, because His heart was my heart. And when He died, it felt to me as though my own heart were dying.” (St. Bridget of Sweden – Revelations, Book 1, Ch. 10; trans. Denis Searby, Oxford University Press, 2006)

Catechism of the Catholic Church

CCC 964: “Thus the Blessed Virgin advanced in her pilgrimage of faith and faithfully persevered in her union with her Son unto the cross. There she stood… joining herself with his sacrifice in her mother’s heart.”

CCC 1028:“Because of his transcendent holiness, God cannot be seen as he is unless he himself opens up his mystery to man’s immediate contemplation and gives him the capacity for it. This contemplation of God in his heavenly glory is called ‘the beatific vision’

Scripture Featured

(Translations used: Revised Standard Version [RSV] )

“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood.” (1 Corinthians 13:12)

“You show me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy, in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11, RSV)

Reflection Questions for Listeners:

How does Julian’s vision of Christ’s joy in Mary deepen your understanding of devotion to the Blessed Virgin?
In what ways might you be called to imitate Mary’s virtues—truth, wisdom, and charity—in your daily life?
What do you imagine it will be like to see the Face of Christ in glory? How does that hope affect the way you live now?
Do you believe that God gazes on you with personal, homely love—even now? What keeps you from receiving that gaze more deeply?

Closing Prayer (inspired by Julian’s trust in Divine Love):

Lord Jesus Christ,
You revealed to Julian the joy You take in Your Blessed Mother,
And the joy You desire to share with us in the vision of Your glorified Face.
Draw us into that joy, even here and now,
That we might learn to love as You love,
To see as You see,
And to rejoice in what delights Your Sacred Heart.
Mary, Mother of Jesus, be a mother to us now.
Teach us to receive Christ’s love as you did—
Humbly, faithfully, and with open hearts.
Lord, prepare us for the day when Your Countenance shall be our everlasting joy.
Until then, help us to live in Your gaze—
As beloved children, seen and known,
Kept and cherished,
Now and forever.
Amen.

IP#512 Anthony DeStefano – The Miracle Book on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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Anthony DeStefano – The Miracle Book on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor

In this episode of Inside the Pages, Anthony DeStefano discusses his latest work The Miracle Book: A Simple Guide to Asking for the Impossible with host Kris McGregor. His book approaches the subject of miracles through a lens of theological clarity and practical spirituality.

The difference between extraordinary, supernatural events and more common, grace-filled answers to prayer is that they may appear natural but are divinely orchestrated. The tension between trusting God’s providence and making specific petitions, shows that such paradoxes deepen rather than diminish true faith. Drawing from Scripture, Church tradition, and personal stories, including the illness and death of his father, Anthony offers us a framework for understanding how God’s responses—though often unexpected—are always rooted in love and order.

A central theme is the call to interior conversion when seeking miracles: aligning spoken prayers with the deeper needs of the soul, practicing trust in divine timing, and accepting that God often answers in ways beyond human comprehension. We must persist in hopeful prayer and utilize concrete spiritual practices that foster receptivity to God’s intervention—not magical thinking, but humble cooperation with divine grace.

You can buy the book here.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions:

What is the difference between asking God for what you want and asking for what your soul truly needs?
How do you understand the distinction between miraculous interventions and natural but providential outcomes in your life?
In what ways might you be unintentionally limiting God by expecting Him to act according to your specific solutions?
How can you practice both persistent prayer and decisive trust in God’s will without falling into discouragement?
Are there any “unanswered prayers” in your past that, in hindsight, reveal a deeper grace or purpose?
What role does personal conversion play in preparing your heart to receive a miracle?
How do you see God’s providence working through the ordinary events of your life?
Do you find it difficult to surrender your desires to God’s will, and why might that be?
How can embracing the paradoxes of faith help you grow in spiritual maturity?
Who in your life can you invite to pray with you in times of need, and how might communal intercession strengthen your faith?

From the book’s description:

At some point everyone needs a miracle.

It might involve your health, your finances, your family, or feelings of anxiety or hopelessness. But there comes a time when all of us experience the need for supernatural help, whether we have faith or not.

Numerous books have been written on miracles, but few explain in clear, practical, theologically sound language how to ask for one.

So many people in the world are suffering but don’t know how to receive help. Some beg and plead with God. Some negotiate, promising that they will change their ways if only He will grant them this one request. But then, if their request is not answered in the way they desire, they lose faith or get angry or sink into despair.

There is a better way.

There is a method of praying for a miracle that guarantees the best possible chance of getting a yes from God — or at least alleviation of our stress and satisfaction for our souls.

Bestselling author Anthony DeStefano explains this powerful new approach and, in the process, relates exactly how to overcome your fears and to experience “the peace that transcends all understanding.”

Through his conversational style, compelling real-life stories, and wisdom, DeStefano explains:

How your prayers can help obtain miracles for yourself and others
Ways in which friends and loved ones can help you obtain your miracle
How to open your heart to receive “courage infusions” to persevere in trials and overcome fear
Ways in which the providential power of paradox can help you obtain the miracle you need
How to put all God’s “conditions” for granting a miracle in one powerful prayer

If you need a miracle right now, this is the book for you. Included inside these covers is the Miracle Prayer, inspirational verses on miracles and hope, and a list of key intercessors for various needs.

About the Author

Anthony DeStefano is the best-selling author of thirty Christian books for adults and children, including: “A Travel Guide to Heaven”, “Ten Prayers God Always Says Yes To”, “Little Star”, and “The Donkey No One Could Ride.” Anthony has been the host of two television series, “A Travel Guide to Life,” and “A Travel Guide to Heaven,” both broadcast on the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN), as well as several children’s programs.

He has received many awards and honors from religious communities throughout the world. In 2002, he was given an honorary Doctorate from the Joint Academic Commission of the National Clergy Council and the Methodist Episcopal Church for “the advancement of Christian beliefs in modern culture.” The commission is made up of outstanding Evangelical, Orthodox and Protestant theologians and educators. Anthony is a Knight of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, the oldest Order in the Catholic Church. He is an avid pilot, and lives with his wife, Jordan, in New Jersey.

Ep 7 – The 9th and 10th Shewing – All Shall Be Well w/ Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

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All Shall Be Well: A Journey Through Julian of Norwich’s Revelations of Divine Love with Kris McGregor

Episode 7: The Ninth and Tenth Shewings — The Joy of the Redeemer and the Open Side of Christ

Summary:

In Episode 7 we journey with Julian of Norwich into the mystery of Christ’s joy in His Passion. Rather than sorrow alone, Julian sees the Redeemer rejoicing in His self-offering, delighting to give Himself for the salvation of souls. She is shown the threefold joy of the Trinity, where the Father is pleased, the Son is crowned, and the Holy Spirit is satisfied. Then Julian is led through the wound in Christ’s side into the depths of His Heart—a resting place “large enough for all mankind.” Drawing on Scripture, the Catechism, and the mystical tradition of the Church, this episode opens the mystery of divine charity that transforms suffering into eternal joy, and invites the soul into the inexhaustible mercy of the pierced Heart of Jesus.

For other episodes in this series visit: All Shall Be Well: A Journey Through Julian of Norwich’s Revelations of Divine Love with Kris McGregor

Full Julian of Norwich Quotations Used in Episode 7:

From Revelations of Divine Love, Long Text, Chapters XXXII-XXIV, trans. Grace Warrack, Methuen & Co., 1901 (PDF edition).

The Joy of the Redeemer and the Gift of the Father

“THEN said our good Lord Jesus Christ: Art thou well pleased that I suffered for thee? I said: Yea, good Lord, I thank Thee; Yea, good Lord, blessed mayst Thou be. Then said Jesus, our kind Lord: If thou art pleased, I am pleased: it is a joy, a bliss, an endless satisfying to me that ever suffered I Passion for thee; and if I might suffer more, I would suffer more.” (Ch. 22)

“In this feeling my understanding was lifted up into Heaven, and there I saw three heavens: of which sight I marvelled greatly. And though I see three heavens—and all in the blessed manhood of Christ—none is more, none is less, none is higher, none is lower, but [they are] even-like in bliss.” (Ch. 22)

“For the First Heaven, Christ shewed me His Father; in no bodily likeness, but in His property and in His working. That is to say, I saw in Christ that the Father is.” (Ch. 22)

“The working of the Father is this, that He giveth meed to His Son Jesus Christ. This gift and this meed is so blissful to Jesus that His Father might have given Him no meed that might have pleased Him better.” (Ch. 22)

“Wherefore we be not only His by His buying, but also by the courteous gift of His Father we be His bliss, we be His meed, we be His worship, we be His crown.” (Ch. 22)

“And in these words: If that I might suffer more, I would suffer more,—I saw in truth that as often as He might die, so often He would, and love should never let Him have rest till He had done it.” (Ch. 22)

“For though the sweet manhood of Christ might suffer but once, the goodness in Him may never cease of proffer: every day He is ready to the same, if it might be.” (Ch. 22)

“This deed, and this work about our salvation, was ordained as well as God might ordain it. And here I saw a Full Bliss in Christ: for His bliss should not have been full, if it might any better have been done.” (Ch. 22)

The Harmony of Wills in the Son and the Father

“And in these three words: It is a Joy, and a Bliss, and an endless satisfying to Me,—were shewed three heavens, as thus: for the joy, I understood the pleasure of the Father; and for the bliss, the worship of the Son; and for the endless satisfying, the Holy Ghost.” (Ch. 23)

“And these three are one bliss: and one meed: and one endless fulfilling: and throughout all, I saw bliss in the end: in which bliss He is grounded, and rooted; and He is our very Meed.” (Ch. 23)

“For I saw truly that our substance is in God, and also I saw that in our sensuality God is: for in the self-same point that our Soul is made sensual, in the self-same point is the City of God ordained to Him from without beginning; into which seat He cometh, and never shall remove it.” (Ch. 23)

“And all this bliss I saw in the bodily sight, in the showing of the Passion of Christ.” (Ch. 23)

“Lo, how I loved thee” — The Wounded Side and the Heart of Divine Mercy

“THEN with a glad cheer our Lord looked unto His Side and beheld, rejoicing. With His sweet looking He led forth the understanding of His creature by the same wound into His Side within. And then he shewed a fair, delectable place, and large enough for all mankind that shall be saved to rest in peace and in love.” (Ch. 24)

“And therewith He brought to mind His dearworthy blood and precious water which he let pour all out for love. And with the sweet beholding He shewed His blessed heart even cloven in two.” (Ch. 24)

“And with this sweet enjoying, He shewed unto mine understanding, in part, the blessed Godhead… the endless Love that was without beginning, and is, and shall be ever.” (Ch. 24)

“And with this our good Lord said full blissfully: Lo, how that I loved thee, as if He had said: My darling, behold and see thy Lord, thy God that is thy Maker and thine endless joy… and for my love rejoice [thou] with me.” (Ch. 24)

“Behold and see that I loved thee so much ere I died for thee that I would die for thee; and now I have died for thee and suffered willingly that which I may. And now is all my bitter pain and all my hard travail turned to endless joy and bliss to me and to thee.” (Ch. 24)

“How should it now be that thou shouldst anything pray that pleaseth me but that I should full gladly grant it thee? For my pleasing is thy holiness and thine endless joy and bliss with me.” (Ch. 24)

Scripture Featured

(Translations used: Revised Standard Version [RSV] )

(Ephesians 1:9-10, RSV)

For he has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of his will, according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fulness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth”

(Matthew John 19:34, RSV)

“Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day.”

(Hebrews 12:2, RSV)

“…who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God”

(John 19:34, RSV)

“But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water”

(Isaiah 53:3–4, RSV)

“He was despised and rejected by men;
a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.

(Galatians 2:20, RSV)

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

(John 15:11, RSV)

“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”

Catechism of the Catholic Church

“The cross is the unique sacrifice of Christ, the ‘one mediator between God and men.’ But because in his incarnate divine person he has in some way united himself to every man, ‘the possibility of being made partners, in a way known to God, in the paschal mystery’ is offered to all men.” (CCC 618)

“Jesus revealed that God is ‘Father’ in an unheard-of sense: he is Father not only in being Creator; he is eternally Father by his relationship to his only Son.” (CCC 240)

“By his obedience unto death, Jesus accomplished the substitution of the suffering Servant… He makes himself an offering for sin… and shall make many to be accounted righteous.” (CCC 615)

“The sacrifice of Christ and the sacrifice of the Eucharist are one single sacrifice… “And since in this divine sacrifice which is celebrated in the Mass, the same Christ who offered himself once in a bloody manner on the altar of the cross is contained and is offered in an unbloody manner… this sacrifice is truly propitiatory.” (CCC 1367)

“The Word became flesh to make us ‘partakers of the divine nature.’” (CCC 460)

“Christ enables us to live in him all that he himself lived, and he lives it in us.” (CCC 521)

“For it was from the side of Christ as he slept the sleep of death upon the cross that there came forth the ‘wondrous sacrament of the whole Church.'”¹⁷² As Eve was formed from the sleeping Adam’s side, so the Church was born from the pierced heart of Christ hanging dead on the cross.” (CCC 766)

“God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life. For this reason, at every time and in every place, God draws close to man. He calls man to seek him, to know him, to love him with all his strength. He calls together all men, scattered and divided by sin, into the unity of his family, the Church. To accomplish this, when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son as Redeemer and Savior. In his Son and through him, he invites men to become, in the Holy Spirit, his adopted children and thus heirs of his blessed life. (CCC 1)

Pope Benedict XVI:

“She understood the core message of God’s love at a time when, even in theology, some currents emphasized God’s justice and harsh judgment more than his mercy.”
(Benedict XVI, General Audience, Julian of Norwich, November 3, 2010, Vatican.va)

St. Catherine of Siena:

“Sweet Jesus, I contemplate your open side as a hidden cellar filled with wine. I enter into it and see the secret of your heart.” (Letter T328/G148, to Fr. Bartolomeo Dominici)

“Do you want to be safe? Then hide yourself within this side. His open side is full of delight and sweetness. It is an open storehouse that souls will never want to leave.” (Letter T127/G59, to a religious)

Reflection Questions for Prayer

How does Christ’s joy in His Passion challenge my understanding of suffering and sacrifice?
In what ways do I see myself as part of Christ’s joy, His crown, and His reward?
Can I trust that God’s plan for my salvation is perfect—even when I cannot see or feel its fullness?
How might Christ be inviting me to enter more deeply into the “delectable place” of His open side—into the refuge of His Sacred Heart?

Closing Prayer (inspired by the Ninth and Tenth Shewing)

Lord Jesus Christ,
In Your Passion You rejoiced,
For love made Your suffering an offering of endless bliss.
You looked upon us not as burdens, but as Your joy,
The gift given You by the Father, the crown upon Your head.
You opened Your side and revealed the resting place prepared for every soul.
In Your cloven Heart, we find refuge, peace, and perfect love.
Draw us into the depths of Your mercy.
Teach us to gaze upon Your Passion not with fear but with confidence.
May we become for You what You have desired:
Your joy, Your reward, Your eternal delight.
And may Your love, once poured out on the Cross,
Continue to draw all souls into Your wounded Heart,
Where joy never ends.

Amen.

Fr. James Kubicki S.J. – A Heart on Fire on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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Fr. James Kubicki S.J. – A Heart on Fire on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor

In this episode of Inside the Pages, Fr. James Kubicki discusses his book A Heart on Fire: Rediscovering Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He explores the meaning and history of this devotion, tracing it back to the early Church rather than starting with St. Margaret Mary. Fr. Kubicki explains that the heart of Jesus represents his whole being, particularly his self-giving love and compassion. Through stories like that of Admiral Jeremiah Denton, he illustrates how trust and surrender to Christ can be transformative even in the darkest trials. This devotion is not sentimental nostalgia, but a profound spiritual path rooted in Scripture, Eucharistic spirituality, and the Church’s tradition.

The Sacred Heart calls Christians to deeper prayer and action. Fr. Kubicki highlights that devotion must be lived out—through practices like the Morning Offering, family consecration, and awareness of Christ’s presence throughout daily life. Far from being a private piety, he presents it as a way of participating in Jesus’ compassionate response to the suffering of the world. The Sacred Heart, he explains, helps move the faithful from intellectual assent to a loving, personal relationship with Christ, guiding them to integrate head and heart in their spiritual lives and sacramental worship.

You can find the book here

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

How does understanding the Sacred Heart of Jesus as a symbol of His whole person and love affect your personal relationship with Him?
In what ways can you offer your daily joys and sufferings to Jesus as part of a spiritual “morning offering”?
How does the story of Admiral Denton challenge you to deepen your trust and surrender to Christ in times of hardship?
What does it mean for your home and family life to enthrone the Sacred Heart of Jesus as king and center?
How can devotion to the Sacred Heart lead you to greater awareness of and response to the suffering of others?
Are there aspects of your faith life that remain only intellectual, and how might you allow them to move into your heart?
How can participation in the Eucharist become more personal and prayerful for you through devotion to the Sacred Heart?
What might Jesus be asking you to let go of in your life in order to love more fully with His heart?
How do the lives of saints like St. Gertrude, St. Margaret Mary, or Mother Teresa inspire your own devotion to the Sacred Heart?
What practical steps can you take this week to live out the love of Christ’s heart in your interactions with others?

About the Book

In A Heart on Fire: Rediscovering Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Rev. James Kubicki, SJ, presents a persuasive and engaging guide to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, an age-old and often misunderstood Catholic devotion. He delves into the rich theological and spiritual roots of the devotion and demonstrates how the faithful may encounter the Sacred Heart of Jesus in one another, scripture, the sacraments, and especially in the Eucharist.

Fr. Kubicki, former national director of the Apostleship of Prayer (now the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network), brings to life the rich imagery associated with the devotion’s history and provides a contemporary look at traditional devotions like the Twelve Promises, family consecration and enthronement, the Sacred Heart Badge, the Litany of the Sacred Heart, holy hours, and devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

About the Author

Fr. James Kubicki, SJ, serves as a spiritual director at St. Francis de Sales Seminary in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. He is a popular conference and parish mission speaker, retreat director, and the author of A Heart on Fire and A Year of Daily Offerings.

Kubicki previously served as the national director of the Apostleship of Prayer (now the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network) and as the president of St. Francis Mission on South Dakota’s Rosebud Reservation. Kubicki entered the Society of Jesus in 1971 and was ordained in 1983. He has served the Jesuits in numerous capacities including, vocations, priestly formation, and deacon and lay ministry formation.

The Lasting Influence of St. Augustine, Pt. 3 – In Conversation with Dcn. Omar Gutierrez – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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The Lasting Influence of St. Augustine, Pt. 3 – In Conversation with Deacon Omar Gutierrez

Deacon Omar Gutiérrez and Kris McGregor discuss the enduring significance of St. Augustine in Catholic thought, the Church’s spiritual life, and how he may influence Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate. St. Augustine made an immense impact on Western theology, especially his influence on St. Thomas Aquinas, and how this shaped Catholic social teaching through Rerum Novarum. St. Augustine’s deep interior exploration in Confessions resonated with saints like St. Teresa of Avila and St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (aka Edith Stein). St. Augustine’s vision in City of God contrasts the self-centered “city of man” with the divine love found in the “city of God,” presenting to us a framework relevant to contemporary challenges of community, power, and personal meaning.

St. Augustine’s personal journey—his moral struggles, intellectual conversion, and his mother Monica’s faithful intercession—is a mirror for today’s searchers, especially in an era marked by isolation and distraction. Deacon Omar reflects on his own experience with the Augustinian spirit of charity and dialogue, pointing out how their emphasis on unity in essentials, freedom in non-essentials, and charity in all things could guide the Church forward, particularly in Catholic social teaching.

For Part 1 of this conversation, click here.
For Part 2 of this conversation, click here.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

How does St. Augustine’s personal conversion story speak to the struggles in your own spiritual journey?
In what ways do you see the tension between the “city of man” and the “city of God” in today’s culture?
How can St. Augustine’s honest self-examination in Confessions inspire deeper prayer and reflection in your life?
What role does community play in your faith, and how might you nurture it more intentionally?
How does the witness of St. Monica challenge you to persevere in love and prayer for others?
Are you seeking comfort and power, or truth and love, in your daily decisions?
How can you cultivate unity in essentials, freedom in non-essentials, and charity in all things?
Where do you see the influence of St. Augustine’s thought in the Church’s social teachings today?
In what ways might you better listen to others as a way of honoring their dignity?
How is God inviting you to help build the city of God in your family, parish, or society?

Deacon Omar Gutiérrez is the President and co-Founder of the Evangelium Institute as well as the Director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith in the Archdiocese of Omaha.

About his book, “A Summary of Rerum Novarum or On Capital and Labor”

This short introduction provides the historical background for Pope Leo XIII’s Rerum Novarum as well as some detail about the pope himself. It also provides a paragraph-by-paragraph summary of the document to better understand the teaching. This is ideal for students of the document and those studying Catholic Social Teaching.

You can buy a copy of the book here.

Ep 6 – The 8th Shewing – All Shall Be Well w/ Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

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All Shall Be Well: A Journey Through Julian of Norwich’s Revelations of Divine Love with Kris McGregor

Episode 6: The Eighth Shewing — The Suffering Face of Love

Summary:

In Episode 6, In this powerful episode, we enter the Eighth Revelation of Julian of Norwich—a devastating yet holy vision of Christ’s dying. Julian beholds the gradual drying of Christ’s body, a slow agony revealing the depths of divine love. She reflects on His thirst—both physical and spiritual—and joins in His suffering through a profound union of compassion. Drawing on Isaiah, the Gospel of John, the Catechism, and the witness of mystics like St. Bridget and St. Teresa of Calcutta, this episode explores the mystery of redemptive suffering. Julian’s witness offers not only theological depth but an invitation to gaze upon the Crucified with love and trust.

For other episodes in this series visit: All Shall Be Well: A Journey Through Julian of Norwich’s Revelations of Divine Love with Kris McGregor

Full Julian of Norwich Quotations Used in Episode 6:

From Revelations of Divine Love, Long Text, Chapters XVI-XXI, trans. Grace Warrack, Methuen & Co., 1901 (PDF edition).

The Eighth Shewing —The Suffering Face of Love

“I saw His sweet face as it were dry and bloodless with pale dying. And later, more pale, dead, languoring; and then turned more dead unto blue; and then more brown-blue, as the flesh turned more deeply dead…” (Ch. 16)

“This long pining seemed to me as if He had been seven nights dead, dying, at the point of outpassing away, suffering the last pain. And when I said it seemed to me as if He had been seven night dead, it meaneth that the sweet body was so discoloured, so dry, so shrunken, so deathly, and so piteous, as if He had been seven night dead, continually dying. And methought the drying of Christ’s flesh was the most pain, and the last, of His Passion.” (Ch. 16)

“I Thirst” and the Drying of Love

“AND in this dying was brought to my mind the words of Christ: I thirst.
For I saw in Christ a double thirst: one bodily; another spiritual, the which I shall speak of in the Thirty-first Chapter.” (Ch. 17)

“I saw four manner of dryings: the first was bloodlessness; the second was pain following after; the third, hanging up in the air, as men hang a cloth to dry; the fourth, that the bodily Kind asked liquid and there was no manner of comfort ministered to Him in all His woe and distress. Ah! hard and grievous was his pain, but much more hard and grievous it was when the moisture failed and began to dry thus, shrivelling.” (Ch. 17)

“These were the pains that shewed in the blessed head: the first wrought to the dying, while it had moisture; and that other, slow, with shrinking drying, [and] with blowing of the wind from without, that dried and pained Him with cold more than mine heart can think.”(Ch. 17)

“I thought: Is any pain like this? And I was answered in my reason: Hell is another pain: for there is despair. But of all pains that lead to salvation this is the most pain, to see thy Love suffer. How might any pain be more to me than to see Him that is all my life, all my bliss, and all my joy, suffer? Here felt I soothfastly that I loved Christ so much above myself that there was no pain that might be suffered like to that sorrow that I had to [see] Him in pain.”(Ch. 17)

The Wound in the Side and the Opening of the Heart

“And after this, a wond [wound] was shewed in His side, right as it was shewed afore: which He shewed unto me in the same manner as I saw afore, and therewith He brought to mind the dearworthy blood and water which He suffered to be shed out of that same side. … And well I wist that it was He that shewed it. … And in the same shewing suddenly the Trinity filled my heart full of the greatest joy; and I understood that it shall be so in Heaven without end to all that shall come there.” (Ch. 18)

A Mother’s Compassion

“HERE I saw a part of the compassion of our Lady, Saint Mary: for Christ and she were so oned in love that the greatness of her loving was cause of the greatness of her pain. For in this [Shewing] I saw a Substance of Nature’s Love, continued by Grace, that creatures have to Him: which Kind Love was most fully shewed in His sweet Mother, and overpassing; for so much as she loved Him more than all other, her pains passed all other. For ever the higher, the mightier, the sweeter that the love be, the more sorrow it is to the lover to see that body in pain that is loved.” (Ch. 19)

“Here saw I a great oneing betwixt Christ and us, to mine understanding: for when He was in pain, we were in pain.
And all creatures that might suffer pain, suffered with Him: that is to say, all creatures that God hath made to our service. The firmament, the earth, failed for sorrow in their Nature in the time of Christ’s dying. For it belongeth naturally to their property to know Him for their God, in whom all their virtue standeth: when He failed, then behoved it needs to them, because of kindness [between them], to fail with Him, as much as they might, for sorrow of His pains.” (Ch. 19)

Choosing Christ as Heaven

“Thus was I learned to choose Jesus for my Heaven, whom I saw only in pain at that time.”(Ch 19)

“Then had I a proffer in my reason, as if it had been friendly said to me: Look up to Heaven to His Father. And then saw I well, with the faith that I felt, that there was nothing betwixt the Cross and Heaven that might have harmed me… I answered inwardly with all the might of my soul, and said: Nay; I may not: for Thou art my Heaven. For I would liever have been in that pain till Doomsday than to come to Heaven otherwise than by Him.” (Ch 19)

“The outward part is our deadly fleshhood, which is now in pain and woe, and shall be, in this life: whereof I felt much in this time; and that part it was that repented. The inward part is an high, blissful life, which is all in peace and in love: and this was more inwardly felt; and this part is [that] in which mightily, wisely and with steadfast will I chose Jesus to my Heaven.”(Ch 19)

The Measure of Divine Love

“And for every man’s sin that shall be saved He suffered: and every man’s sorrow and desolation He saw, and sorrowed for Kindness and love. (For in as much as our Lady sorrowed for His pains, in so much He suffered sorrow for her sorrow;—and more, in as greatly as the sweet manhood of Him was worthier in Kind.) For as long as He was passible He suffered for us and sorrowed for us; and now He is uprisen and no more passible, yet He suffereth with us.”(Ch 20)

“And I, beholding all this by His grace, saw that the Love of Him was so strong which He hath to our soul that willingly He chose it with great desire, and mildly He suffered it with well-pleasing.”(Ch 20)

“For the soul that beholdeth it thus, when it is touched by grace, it shall verily see that the pains of Christ’s Passion pass all pains: [all pains] that is to say, which shall be turned into everlasting, o’erpassing joys by the virtue of Christ’s Passion.”(Ch 20)

The Promise of Joy

“It is God’s will, as to mine understanding, that we have Three Manners of Beholding His blessed Passion. The First is: the hard Pain that He suffered,—[beholding it] with contrition and compassion.”(Ch 21)

“And I looked for the departing with all my might, and thought to have seen the body all dead; but I saw Him not so. And right in the same time that methought, by the seeming, the life might no longer last… suddenly (I beholding in the same Cross), He changed [the look of] His blessed Countenance. The changing of His blessed Countenance changed mine, and I was as glad and merry as it was possible. Then brought our Lord merrily to my mind: Where is now any point of the pain, or of thy grief? And I was full merry.”(Ch 21)

“And I understood that we be now, in our Lord’s meaning, in His Cross with Him in His pains and His Passion, dying; and we, willingly abiding in the same Cross with His help and His grace unto the last point, suddenly He shall change His Cheer to us, and we shall be with Him in Heaven.”(Ch 21)

“The harder our pains have been with Him in His Cross, the more shall our worship be with Him in His Kingdom.”Ch 21)

Scripture Featured

(Translations used: Revised Standard Version [RSV] )

(Isaiah 53:3–4, RSV)

“He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief… he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows”

(Matthew John 19:34, RSV)

“But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water”

(Romans 8:19, 22, RSV)

“For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God… For we know that the whole creation has been groaning in travail together until now”

(Romans 8:18, RSV)

“I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed in us”

(Isaiah 53:3–4, RSV)

“He was despised and rejected by men;
a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.

Catechism of the Catholic Church

Faith in God the Father Almighty can be put to the test by the experience of evil and suffering. God can sometimes seem to be absent and incapable of stopping evil. But in the most mysterious way God the Father has revealed his almighty power in the voluntary humiliation and Resurrection of his Son, by which he conquered evil. Christ crucified is thus “the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”¹¹¹ It is in Christ’s Resurrection and exaltation that the Father has shown forth “the immeasurable greatness of his power in us who believe” (CCC 272)

“The Church was born primarily of Christ’s total self-giving for our salvation, anticipated in the institution of the Eucharist and fulfilled on the cross. ‘The origin and growth of the Church are symbolized by the blood and water which flowed from the open side of the crucified Jesus.’” (CCC 766)

“Thus the Blessed Virgin advanced in her pilgrimage of faith and faithfully persevered in her union with her Son unto the Cross, where she stood, in keeping with the divine plan… enduring with her only begotten Son the intensity of his suffering.” (CCC 964)

“By his death, Christ liberates us from sin; by his Resurrection, he opens for us the way to a new life. This new life is above all justification… and it brings about filial adoption so that men become Christ’s brethren” (CCC 654).

“The desire for happiness is of divine origin: God has placed it in the human heart in order to draw man to himself, for he alone can fulfill it.” (CCC 1718)

“The cross is the unique sacrifice of Christ, the ‘one mediator between God and men’ (1 Tim 2:5). But because in his incarnate divine person he has in some way united himself to every man, the possibility of being made partners, in a way known to God, in the paschal mystery is offered to all men.” (CCC 618)

“By his passion and death on the cross Christ has given a new meaning to suffering: it can henceforth configure us to him and unite us with his redemptive Passion.” (CCC 1505)

Reflection Questions for Prayer

What stirs in your heart as you gaze upon the suffering face of Christ?
How does the image of Christ thirsting—physically and spiritually—deepen your understanding of His love?
In what ways might Christ be inviting you to remain with Him at the Cross, rather than look away?

Closing Prayer (inspired by the Eighth Shewing)

Lord Jesus Christ,
You chose the Cross out of love for every soul.
In Your suffering face, we see the depth of divine mercy.
In Your thirst, we hear the longing of Your Sacred Heart.

You were pierced, dried, and drained for our healing.
You remained, even unto death, so that we would never be alone.
You sorrowed for us—and even now, You suffer with us.

Give us the grace to remain near to You,
To see You not with fear, but with reverent love.
Let us not look away from Your Passion,
But receive it as the saving gift it is.

May Your wounds be our refuge,
Your thirst our call to prayer,
Your death our doorway to joy.

Amen.

IP#511 Marlene Watkins – Everyday Miracles of Lourdes on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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Marlene Watkins – Everyday Miracles of Lourdes on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor

In this episode of ‘Inside the Pages’, Marlene Watkins shares her deep connection to Lourdes through her work with Our Lady of Lourdes Hospitality North American Volunteers and her new book Everyday Miracles of Lourdes.

Marlene Watkins recounts how the Blessed Mother revealed herself as the Immaculate Conception to a simple, poor, and uneducated girl—a truth St. Bernadette communicated with unwavering sincerity and the enduring grace of Lourdes as a place where physical and spiritual transformations continue today.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions:

How does the story of St. Bernadette inspire you to trust in God’s work through the lowly and humble?
What does the title “Immaculate Conception” reveal to you about the unique role of the Blessed Mother?
How might the experience of pilgrimage to Lourdes deepen your own spiritual life?
In what ways are you being invited to seek healing—physical, emotional, or spiritual—in your life right now?
How does the unwavering simplicity and honesty of St. Bernadette challenge your approach to living and sharing the faith?
What role does humility play in allowing God’s grace to act through you, as it did through Bernadette?
How does contemplating the incorrupt body of St. Bernadette affect your understanding of holiness and eternal life?
Where in your life are you called to greater trust in divine providence, as shown in Bernadette’s acceptance of her sufferings?
How can you foster deeper devotion to the Blessed Mother in your daily prayer life?
What spiritual or physical “pilgrimage” is the Holy Spirit inviting you to undertake at this moment in your journey?

From the book’s description:

Though they escape the notice of many, stunning miracles of healing take place each and every day at Our Lady’s Grotto in Lourdes, France. Inexplicable, biblical-like healings of body, mind, and spirit leave visitors with the gifts of peace and renewed faith. Here is the book that will move you, deepen your faith in Our Lady’s active involvement in our world, and help you personally encounter Our Lord.

Marlene Watkins recounts twenty astounding true stories of miracles at Lourdes, including her own watershed healing, which inspired her to establish Our Lady of Lourdes Hospitality North American Volunteers and become the first volunteer.

In these absorbing pages, you will marvel at how these volunteer helpers bring the sick to the Grotto — and then also experience healings themselves.

You will read the stories of people who were cured and reconciled with God — from babies to preteens to near centenarians. You will be inspired, for instance, by the testimony of a woman with a progressive neurodegenerative disease who not only went to Lourdes to selflessly care for the sick but later returned to receive a gift from Our Eucharistic Lord and Our Lady.

In chapter after chapter, you will encounter men and women who were healed from debilitating traumas, panic attacks, or mood swings.

You will be consoled by stories of women who experienced the loss of babies, including by abortion, and found solace in the arms of our Heavenly Mother.

And you will encounter a man who was struggling with faith and was drawn to Lourdes, where he met the Blessed Mother. Moreover, you will discover:

The three Ps of the Gospel message at Lourdes and how they relate to your life

How we will enter Heaven (it’s not the way you may think!)

A remarkable miracle of the “time-suspending, life-saving Rosary”

One simple prayer that St. Bernadette taught that can get you into Heaven

How a young woman’s wish was fulfilled and helped numerous souls

The unexpected way the oldest pilgrim and her marriage were renewed at Lourdes

Above all, you will see how Our Lady leads souls into deeper communion with her Eucharistic Son and with one another, whether through caring for sick loved ones or experiencing loving relationships. Prepare yourself to become a believer and an ardent lover of Lourdes.

About the Author

Marlene Watkins is the founder of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospitality North American Volunteers, the first Lourdes Hospitality outside Europe and the first of the Americas.In twenty years, as a volunteer, Marlene has led over two hundred pilgrimages to Lourdes for more than six thousand pilgrims, including the seriously ill and profoundly disabled with medical, adult, university and youth volunteers. Marlene has guided Lourdes Virtual Pilgrimage Experiences TM across North America, and in Europe, Asia, South America and Africa.In 2015, Marlene was named an Our Sunday Visitor “Catholic of the Year.” She has appeared on CBS, EWTN, PBS, BBC; and hosts the EWTN “My Lourdes Faith Journey” miniseries.Marlene is a wife, mother, grandmother, Secular Franciscan and member of the Hospitalité Notre-Dame de Lourdes. Marlene and her husband, Bill, live in Syracuse, New York, or in the LourdesMobile RV traveling America and sharing the Gospel Message of Lourdes.

Pope Leo XIII and Rerum Novarum, Pt. 2 – In Conversation with Dcn. Omar Gutierrez – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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Pope Leo XIII and Rerum Novarum, Pt. 2 – In Conversation with Deacon Omar Gutierrez

Deacon Omar Gutiérrez and Kris McGregor take a look at the remarkable legacy of Pope Leo XIII, who inspired Pope Leo XIV’s chosen name, and his major contributions to modern Catholic thought and life and his wide-ranging influence: reviving Thomistic philosophy, championing the Sacred Heart devotion, initiating the Saint Michael Prayer, and issuing over 80 encyclicals that addressed freedom, citizenship, and social responsibility. Pope Leo XIII’s guidance helped unify the Benedictine orders, supported missionary efforts of saints like Thérèse of Lisieux, Frances Cabrini, and Katharine Drexel, and offered a vision of the Church that engaged deeply with modern challenges. His encyclical Rerum Novarum laid the foundation for Catholic social teaching: a response to industrialization rooted in the dignity of the human person, especially the working poor.

They discuss connections between Leo XIII’s era and current developments such as artificial intelligence and economic shifts. We shouldn’t reduce Catholic social teaching to political ideologies or mislabeling it as socialist. Instead, we must look at it from the truth that it stems from a call to love God and neighbo: caring for the vulnerable, implementing ethical labor practices, and the right use of property are not merely political concerns but spiritual imperatives grounded in Christ’s command to serve.

For Part 1 of this conversation, click here.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

How can Pope Leo XIII’s engagement with the modern world inspire my own response to current social and technological challenges?
In what ways am I called to recognize and uphold the dignity of the working poor in my daily decisions?
How does my understanding of Catholic social teaching shape the way I live out my faith in the public square?
What fears or misconceptions might I hold that prevent me from embracing the Church’s social doctrine more fully?
Do I make time to discern how Christ is calling me to respond to the needs of others in my community?
How can I, like Pope Leo XIII, listen attentively to differing perspectives and respond with truth and charity?
Where in my life am I being invited to sacrifice comfort for the sake of justice and solidarity?
How do I balance the gifts and resources I’ve received with my responsibility to serve others?
Have I ever avoided learning about Catholic social teaching because it felt too political or overwhelming?
What step can I take this week to deepen my understanding of Rerum Novarum and apply it practically?

Deacon Omar Gutiérrez is the President and co-Founder of the Evangelium Institute as well as the Director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith in the Archdiocese of Omaha.

About his book, “A Summary of Rerum Novarum or On Capital and Labor”

This short introduction provides the historical background for Pope Leo XIII’s Rerum Novarum as well as some detail about the pope himself. It also provides a paragraph-by-paragraph summary of the document to better understand the teaching. This is ideal for students of the document and those studying Catholic Social Teaching.

You can buy a copy of the book here.

IP#510 Dr. Matthew Bunson – Leo XIV: Portrait of the First American Pope on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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Dr. Matthew Bunson – Leo XIV: Portrait of the First American Pope on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor

Kris McGregor interviews Dr. Matthew Bunson about his new book on Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost. Dr. Bunson recounts the extraordinary events surrounding Pope Francis’s final days and the surprising election that followed. He offers a deeply personal perspective on the historic transition, describing his experience covering the month-long period in Rome with EWTN. Dr. Bunson reflects on the unexpected yet providential choice of Pope Leo XIV—a U.S.-born Augustinian with extensive missionary and Vatican experience—and explores why he resonated so strongly with the College of Cardinals.

Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate is already marked by clarity, humility, and theological depth rooted in the Augustinian tradition, as well as the Pope’s focus on the dignity of the human person, renewal of Catholic social teaching, and the global challenges posed by technology and modernity. With insight into the papal conclave, the Church’s current needs, and Pope Leo XIV’s spiritual and pastoral formation, Dr. Bunson presents a compelling portrait of a man uniquely positioned to guide the Church in a new era of both continuity and renewal.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions:

How does the unexpected election of Pope Leo XIV challenge your assumptions about how the Holy Spirit guides the Church?
What can Pope Leo XIV’s missionary background teach you about serving Christ across cultures and boundaries?
How might the Augustinian motto “In Christ, we are one” shape your approach to unity in your parish or community?
In what ways can you foster greater clarity and charity when sharing the truths of the Catholic faith?
How can you respond with trust when God’s plans surprise or disrupt your expectations?
What role does the Liturgy of the Hours or Church Fathers like Augustine play in your personal spiritual growth?
How do you discern the dignity of each person in light of today’s technological and societal shifts?
What does the reverence Pope Leo XIV shows for Church tradition invite you to reconsider in your own relationship with the Church’s teachings?
How can you contribute to healing divisions within the Church by anchoring your life more deeply in Christ?
What might God be asking of you in this new chapter of the Church’s journey under Pope Leo XIV?

From the book’s description:

We have a Pope! And his name is Leo XIV.

But who is this American-born 266th successor to St. Peter? What is the former Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost’s vision for the Church, and what impact will his papacy have on Catholics and on the world?

Renowned Vatican journalist Dr. Matthew Bunson offers the first authoritative portrait of the new Holy Father. With unmatched access and a reputation for integrity and insight, Bunson delivers a compelling, richly textured narrative of the new pope’s life, beliefs, and most improbable journey to the Chair of St. Peter.

This book will roll off the presses on May 21st, making it the first definitive biography available to readers worldwide. Accessible, informative, and rooted in journalistic rigor and an intimate understanding of the Church, Leo XIV: Portrait of the First American Pope is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the man inside the white cassock — and the moment in which he will reign.