Kris McGregor Archives

IP#500 Sr. Mary Ann Fatula – The Wonders of the Mass and the Eucharist on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts podcasts

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 21:46 — 15.0MB) | Embed

Sr. Mary Ann Fatula on “The Wonders of the Mass and the Eucharist: Insights of the Saints”

Join Kris McGregor as she discusses the book “The Wonders of the Mass and the Eucharist: Insights of the Saints” with Sr. Mary Ann Fatula.

You can find the book here.

From the book description:

“Above all other blessings, the most precious gifts of the Holy Trinity to us are the Mass and the Eucharist. In this awe-inspiring book, Sr. Mary Ann Fatula takes you to the feet of the saints to ponder these Sacred Mysteries. You will learn how to rest in the Lord’s intimate physical presence and gain peace of soul, receiving the remedy for temptation, sweetness in struggles, and healing from pain.

As Sr. Mary Ann breaks opens the treasure house of writings on the Holy Eucharist, the saints will lovingly teach you about the immeasurable graces the Lord gives you at Mass and through this most wondrous sacrament. You will learn how to grow in recollection during Mass, how to cherish the Lord’s intimate presence in Holy Communion, and how to rest in the Lord in Eucharistic adoration. As your love for the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament deepens, you will begin to treasure anew the delight of the Trinity’s intimate love, the light and warmth of the Holy Spirit’s anointing, and the joyful hope of eternal salvation.

In pondering with Sr. Mary Ann the insights of Church Fathers and other beloved saints, such as Thomas Aquinas, Catherine of Siena, Teresa of Ávila, John Henry Newman, John Vianney, Thérèse of Lisieux, and John Paul II, the Mystery of Faith will come alive to you in a new way. You will never experience Mass in the same way again, nor will you tire of returning to these saints’ insights to be inspired again and again.

You will learn that, at every Mass, the Lord Himself makes present to us His most tender Last Supper, His sacred death on the Cross, and His glorious Resurrection in order to feed us with His own precious Body and Blood. You will discover many other astounding blessings that the Lord wants to pour out on us at Mass, such as the grace that transformed St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s skepticism about the Catholic Church into a desire to give everything for the Faith. As you discover how to come to Mass with eagerness and awe, Sr. Mary Ann will unveils:

The key to seeing with faith the profound mysteries invisibly taking place at Mass

The depth of the Lord’s desire to work miracles of love for us through the Mass and the Eucharist

The comfort, tenderness, and sweetness of the Lord’s intimate physical presence within us in the Eucharist

Many other wonderful blessings the Lord lavishes upon us when we receive Holy Communion with the desire to love Him

How the Holy Eucharist ignites our love for one another, especially the poor and the suffering

The wondrous power of the Precious Blood of Jesus — even in the lives of hardened sinners

The power of the Eucharist to make the devil flee from us

The grace that the Eucharist gives us to approach death with confidence and trust

This is a must-read book for the Eucharistic revival. The saints show us that when people begin to appreciate the truth about the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, the Holy Spirit powerfully draws them to the Church, or back to the Church, and immeasurably deepens the joy and love of those who learn to cherish the life-giving treasures of the Mass and the Eucharist.”

About the Author: Sr. Mary Ann, O.P., holds a doctorate in systematic theology from The Catholic University of America and taught theology for more than 30 years at Ohio Dominican University in Columbus, Ohio.

IP#499 Gil Bailie – The Apocalypse of the Sovereign Self on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts podcasts

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 34:06 — 23.5MB) | Embed

Gil Bailie on “The Apocalypse of the Sovereign Self: Recovering the Christian Mystery of Personhood”

Join Kris McGregor as she discusses the book “The Apocalypse of the Sovereign Self: Recovering the Christian Mystery of Personhood” with Gil Bailie.

You can find the book here.

From the book description:

“The Apocalypse of the Sovereign Self is a collection of stories, fictional and factual, highlighting two themes: the autonomous self, now in a profound crisis; and the person, whose Christian sources and contours have too long been overlooked. The ongoing cultural and confessional evisceration of Christianity all too graphically proves the validity of Christ’s warning: “Apart from me you can do nothing” (Jn 15:5). For these words were addressed to the first Christians, and they now apply not only to Christians but also to those whose exposure to Christ has been merely cultural, those who mistakenly think that the spiritual resources that fostered and sustained the dignity of the human person will survive the renunciation of the faith that gave that dignity its salience.”

About the Author: Gil Bailie is the founder of The Cornerstone Forum, a founding member of The Colloquium on Violence and Religion, a member of the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars, and Fellow of the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology.

IP#498 Fr. Basil Nortz – Holy Silence Part 2 on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts podcasts

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:49 — 19.2MB) | Embed

Fr. Basil Nortz on Holy Silence: A Practical Guide to Recollection in God, Part 2

Join Kris McGregor as she continues her discussion on the book Holy Silence: A Practical Guide to Recollection in God with Fr. Basil Nortz in the conclusion of this two-part interview.

For part 1 of our conversation visit:
IP#497 Fr. Basil Nortz – Holy Silence, Part 1 on Inside the Pages w/ Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts podcasts

You can find the book here.

From the book description:

“Fr. Basil Nortz masterfully builds upon the classic reflections of Sr. Marie-Aimée de Jésus, a nineteenth-century spiritual mystic and Carmelite nun, on the twelve degrees of silence. By cultivating these types of silence, you will find out how you can — even amid your busy days filled with chatter, commotion, and noise — listen to the voice of God.

In these profound pages you will find ways to overcome your fear of silence and discover:

Keys to obeying God’s will

Kinds of silence that are holy and kinds that are unholy

Ten tips on what to do — and what to avoid — to bridle your senses

Seven ways to guard your imagination and foster recollection

How to direct your emotions with reason and foster silence of the heart

Effective ways of responding to injustice

You will learn the one sinful attitude that cuts us off from the merciful forgiveness of God and will acquire ways to stop passing judgment against others. Additionally, you will learn the most important attitude that disposes us to God’s plans and allows us to enter into His love and converse with Him affectionately throughout the day. Moreover, you will find practical techniques for overcoming distractions in prayer and advice from the saints on methods of meditation to develop silence of the spirit.

Above all, you will glean how to maintain peace of soul and live free from anxiety and despair, regardless of temptations or life’s battles. By relying totally on God, you will fearlessly rise after falls and begin again. You will begin to see the loving hand of God in all things, contemplate the light of His presence, and “be still” in the silence of His love.

“Holy silence is what helps the soul acquire the strength necessary to bear the presence of the all-pure God, who is ipsum esse subsistens (subsistent being itself),” explains Fr. Nortz. “The intensity of that fullness, far from inspiring languid inaction, produces a vibrant joyfulness that St. John expresses in the book of Revelation in terms of the saints singing with full voice.”

About the Author: Reverend Basil Nortz, O.R.C., is a priest in the Order of Canons Regular of the Holy Cross. He graduated from Christendom College in 1986 with a B.A. in theology. His seminary studies were at the Insitutum Sapientiae in Anapolis, Brazil.

IP#497 Fr. Basil Nortz – Holy Silence Part 1 on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts podcasts

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:53 — 20.6MB) | Embed

Fr. Basil Nortz on Holy Silence: A Practical Guide to Recollection in God, Part 1

Join Kris McGregor as she discusses the book Holy Silence: A Practical Guide to Recollection in God with Fr. Basil Nortz in part one of this two-part interview.

To listen to part 2 of our conversation visit here: Fr. Basil North – Holy Silence, Part 2 on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor -Discerning Hearts podcasts

You can find the book here.

From the book description:

“Fr. Basil Nortz masterfully builds upon the classic reflections of Sr. Marie-Aimée de Jésus, a nineteenth-century spiritual mystic and Carmelite nun, on the twelve degrees of silence. By cultivating these types of silence, you will find out how you can — even amid your busy days filled with chatter, commotion, and noise — listen to the voice of God.

In these profound pages you will find ways to overcome your fear of silence and discover:

Keys to obeying God’s will

Kinds of silence that are holy and kinds that are unholy

Ten tips on what to do — and what to avoid — to bridle your senses

Seven ways to guard your imagination and foster recollection

How to direct your emotions with reason and foster silence of the heart

Effective ways of responding to injustice

You will learn the one sinful attitude that cuts us off from the merciful forgiveness of God and will acquire ways to stop passing judgment against others. Additionally, you will learn the most important attitude that disposes us to God’s plans and allows us to enter into His love and converse with Him affectionately throughout the day. Moreover, you will find practical techniques for overcoming distractions in prayer and advice from the saints on methods of meditation to develop silence of the spirit.

Above all, you will glean how to maintain peace of soul and live free from anxiety and despair, regardless of temptations or life’s battles. By relying totally on God, you will fearlessly rise after falls and begin again. You will begin to see the loving hand of God in all things, contemplate the light of His presence, and “be still” in the silence of His love.

“Holy silence is what helps the soul acquire the strength necessary to bear the presence of the all-pure God, who is ipsum esse subsistens (subsistent being itself),” explains Fr. Nortz. “The intensity of that fullness, far from inspiring languid inaction, produces a vibrant joyfulness that St. John expresses in the book of Revelation in terms of the saints singing with full voice.” “

IP#496 Dr. Larry Chapp – Confessions of a Catholic Worker, Part 2 on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts podcasts

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:53 — 20.6MB) | Embed

Dr. Larry Chapp on “Confession of a Catholic Worker: Our Moment of Christian Witness,” Part 2

Join Kris McGregor as she discusses the book “Confession of a Catholic Worker: Our Moment of Christian Witness” with Dr. Larry Chapp in part one of this two-part interview.

You can find the book here.

From the book description:

“Everyone knows there is a “crisis” in the Catholic Church and in the world around us. Some say it is capitalism gone wild. Others say it is the decay of tradition, family, and objective truth. Still others say it is the rise of radical, reactionary conservatism. Though all may not agree on the nature of the crisis, who doesn’t agree that there is one, and who isn’t worried?

For Larry Chapp, crisis is always the norm of Christian existence. In a cold, dying world choked by greed, the Gospel calls for radical love and radical living according to the Sermon on the Mount. Using the theology of Hans Urs von Balthasar, Peter Maurin, and Dorothy Day, Chapp argues that the real remedy to the disease of sin is not niceness, not political liberation, not fancy liturgical dress, not technical rigor, but a free decision to live totally and joyfully in Jesus Christ, without compromise.

Just as the martyrs chose God over life itself, so each Christian must, in the crucial hour, choose Jesus over all things. Everything hinges on the moment of Christian witness.”

About the Author: Larry Chapp, Ph.D., is a retired professor of theology who taught at DeSales University for twenty years. He received his doctorate from Fordham University in 1994 with a specialization in the theology of Hans Urs von Balthasar. He is now the owner and manager of the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker Farm near Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania.

IP#495 Dr. Larry Chapp – Confessions of a Catholic Worker, Part 1 on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts podcasts

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:02 — 21.4MB) | Embed

Dr. Larry Chapp on “Confession of a Catholic Worker: Our Moment of Christian Witness”, Part 1

Join Kris McGregor as she discusses the book “Confession of a Catholic Worker: Our Moment of Christian Witness” with Dr. Larry Chapp in part one of this two-part interview.

You can find the book here.

From the book description:

“Everyone knows there is a “crisis” in the Catholic Church and in the world around us. Some say it is capitalism gone wild. Others say it is the decay of tradition, family, and objective truth. Still others say it is the rise of radical, reactionary conservatism. Though all may not agree on the nature of the crisis, who doesn’t agree that there is one, and who isn’t worried?

For Larry Chapp, crisis is always the norm of Christian existence. In a cold, dying world choked by greed, the Gospel calls for radical love and radical living according to the Sermon on the Mount. Using the theology of Hans Urs von Balthasar, Peter Maurin, and Dorothy Day, Chapp argues that the real remedy to the disease of sin is not niceness, not political liberation, not fancy liturgical dress, not technical rigor, but a free decision to live totally and joyfully in Jesus Christ, without compromise.

Just as the martyrs chose God over life itself, so each Christian must, in the crucial hour, choose Jesus over all things. Everything hinges on the moment of Christian witness.”

IP#494 Fr. Thomas Morrow – Straight to Heaven on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts podcasts

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:47 — 19.9MB) | Embed

Fr. Thomas Morrow on “Straight to Heaven: A Practical Guide for Growing in Holiness”

Join Kris McGregor as she discusses the book “Straight to Heaven: A Practical Guide for Growing in Holiness” with Fr. Thomas Morrow.

You can find the book here.

From the book description:

“If you’re hoping to get to Heaven, you’ll need a plan to reach your goal. This handy manual not only presents all the elements of a life well lived; it also helps you incorporate those elements into everyday practice. Straight to Heaven is the one guide you need to achieve holiness now and Heaven later – all while eluding the traps and pains of Hell.

Fr. Morrow explains that happiness is attainable now for those who live the gospel because they are bringing a bit of Heaven to earth. Conversely, those who fail to live the gospel are doomed to live a hellish life in this world and in the next.

That’s why Fr. Morrow wrote this book – to help you put in place a practical plan to enable you to love God with your whole heart, mind, and soul. Fr. Morrow shows you how to discern and follow God’s will and improve your ability to extend mercy to others.

Through engaging stories of individuals who lived heroically in difficult circumstances, you will discover ways to overcome vice and grow in the fruits of the Holy Spirit so you can become the saint God calls you to be. Most importantly, you will learn to keep your eyes fixed on the heavenly Wedding Feast and your eternal reward. You will also learn:

The difference between meditation and contemplation

How to grow in authentic sorrow for sin

The three methods of prayer – and when to use each

The most effective aid to staying on the path to holiness

How to overcome difficulties in prayer

Three ways to display your love to God”

About the Author: Fr. Thomas G. Morrow graduated from St. Charles Seminary in Philadelphia and was ordained in 1982 for the Archdiocese of Washington (DC). He has an STL in Moral Theology from the Dominican House of Studies and received his Doctorate in Sacred Theology (STD) from the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family in 1999. He was host for three years (1989-1992) of Catholic Faith Alive!, a radio program on WNTR in Washington, in which he explained the Catholic faith. Fr. Morrow has appeared as a guest on Mother Angelica Live and The Abundant Life programs on Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN). He has written booklets on the rosary, the Stations of the Cross, and on heaven, hell and purgatory.

IP#493 Fr. Brice Higginbotham – Remaining with Jesus on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts podcasts

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 43:22 — 29.9MB) | Embed

Fr. Brice Higginbotham on “Remaining with Jesus: Discipleship in the Gospel of John”

Join Kris McGregor as she discusses the book “Remaining with Jesus: Discipleship in the Gospel of John” with Fr. Brice Higginbotham.

You can find the book here.

From the book description:

“What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus today? (And why should you want to be one?)

Using the Gospel of John as his roadmap, Father Brice Higginbotham invites you to join him on an inspiring exploration of what Scripture tells us about being a disciple of Jesus and how Christian discipleship brings peace and fulfillment to your daily life. By delving into Jesus’ encounters with real people, the author provides practical guidance for healthy spiritual living based on two primary concepts: believing in Jesus and remaining with, or staying true to, Jesus in good times and bad.

Father Brice introduces you to Jesus’ first disciples, offering a lens through which you can see yourself in the experiences of these men and women. Unpacking these historical encounters, he makes them as relevant to modern life as they were to Christ’s first followers. Most practically, he presents a four-part program of discipleship according to the Gospel that can uplift and transform your faith life through fellowship with Jesus.”

About the Author: Father S. Brice Higginbotham is a Catholic priest for the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in Louisiana who is currently pursuing a Licentiate in Sacred Scripture at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, Italy. Ordained to the priesthood of Jesus Christ in 2017, Father Brice received his master’s degree in theological studies from Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, Louisiana. He has published one other book, Daily Lessons from the Saints (Rockridge Press, 2020), articles and homilies in Homiletic & Pastoral Review, and more than sixty catechetical videos in cooperation with the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux’s Offices of Parish Support and Communications, all of which are available on YouTube and Facebook..

IP#492 Sarah Park McLaughlin – Praying with St. Augustine on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts podcasts

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:33 — 20.4MB) | Embed

Sarah Park McLaughlin on “Praying with St. Augustine”

Join Kris McGregor as she discusses the book “Praying with St. Augustine” with Sarah Park McLaughlin.

You can find the book here.

From the book description:

“For years, there have been no books of St. Augustine’s prayers available. Finally, in this treasure trove, you will find select prayers from his works — some of the most potent prayers ever composed. As you read the innermost thoughts of the greatest Church Father, you will be transported in time and learn how to pray with the heart of a saint. St. Augustine’s timeless words will help you encounter the “Beauty of ancient days, yet ever new” face-to-face and experience the relationship between praying and believing.

As Dr. Kreeft explains, “No Christian writer, perhaps no writer at all, has ever been as eloquent as St. Augustine. Few have been as philosophically and theologically profound, or as passionately in love with God…. No passages in Augustine’s writings are more eloquent than his prayers, or more profound than his prayers, or more saintly than his prayers, for prayer is the very lifeblood of sanctity.”

These precious gems are uplifting and accessible to all. Covering a range of topics and styles, they include praise and petition for health, docility, forgiveness, restoration, and salvation. You will also find prayers glorifying the Trinity’s attributes, such as wisdom, light, goodness, mercy, and truth, as well as intimate prayers of adoration to the Incarnate Word.

Offering these magnificent prayers will ready you to behold glimpses into the mystery of God. St. Augustine will teach you:

The three valuable lessons Jesus taught us about prayer
The two things always to pray for and how to pray always
Ways to kindle virtues on the road to sanctity
How to deepen your love for and devotion to God
Line by line wisdom on praying the Our Father
“What better way could we have to know the heart of a man like St. Augustine than to listen to him pray?” Sara Park McLaughlin reflects. “By reading his vast writings, we discover something of the saint’s enormous genius and theological insight…. Through his prayers we experience his relationship to God.”

When you pray these prayers fervently you will join forces with the entire company of Heaven in a litany of endless worship and praise. St. Augustine taught that prayer makes you ready to receive God’s blessings. As you pray with St. Augustine, be prepared to be blessed!”

About the Author: Sarah Park McLaughlin, Former humor columnist, author of My Humor Writing Journal [Amazon] and retired university English teacher, love Catholicism, apologetics, C. S. Lewis. Her blog can be found here.

IP#491 Joe Paprocki – 8 Steps to Energize Your Faith, Part 2 on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts podcasts

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:59 — 22.1MB) | Embed

Joe Paprocki on “8 Steps to Energize Your Faith”, Part Two

Join Kris McGregor as she continues her conversation about the book “8 Steps to Energize Your Faith” with Joe Paprocki.

You can find the book here.

From the book description:

“Act now to tap into the current of God’s loving grace.

While uncertainty and tough times are hallmarks of life, our current era feels more than a little unpredictable. And if we’re honest with ourselves, many of us are feeling uncertain about God’s plan. In times like these, we need a healthy boost of faith and a solid shot of inspiration to get through the day and lead us back to God. Pie-in-the-sky advice or overwrought platitudes won’t do. We need substantial, practical ways to fortify our souls.

In 8 Steps to Energize Your Faith, beloved spiritual teacher Joe Paprocki offers hands-on advice to guide us out of the fog of an often-confusing world and bolster our confidence in who we are—children of God with a vision and a purpose. This, of course, means growing in faith, but how? By tapping into God’s loving Spirit so we can go with the holy flow to put first things first and let the small stuff go.

Timely, inspiring, and filled with hard-earned, practical wisdom that applies to your life right now, 8 Steps to Energize Your Faith offers a path that we can all start on today to feel motivated, focused, and renewed in the Spirit.”

About the Author: Joe Paprocki, DMin, is National Consultant for Faith Formation at Loyola Press. He has over 40 years of experience in pastoral ministry and has taught at the high school, college, and general-adult levels. He is the author of over 20 books that have sold nearly a half-million copies, including the best sellers The Catechist’s Toolbox and A Well-Built Faith. His latest book, 8 Steps to Energize Your Faith, was published in 2023. He has presented in over 150 dioceses in North America and blogs about the catechetical ministry at www.catechistsjourney.com.

Sr. Mary Ann Fatula on “The Wonders of the Mass and the Eucharist: Insights of the Saints”

Gil Bailie on “The Apocalypse of the Sovereign Self: Recovering the Christian Mystery of Personhood”

Fr. Basil Nortz on Holy Silence: A Practical Guide to Recollection in God, Part 2

For part 1 of our conversation visit: IP#497 Fr. Basil Nortz – Holy Silence, Part 1 on Inside the Pages w/ Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts podcasts

Fr. Basil Nortz on Holy Silence: A Practical Guide to Recollection in God, Part 1

To listen to part 2 of our conversation visit here: Fr. Basil North – Holy Silence, Part 2 on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor -Discerning Hearts podcasts

Dr. Larry Chapp on “Confession of a Catholic Worker: Our Moment of Christian Witness,” Part 2

Dr. Larry Chapp on “Confession of a Catholic Worker: Our Moment of Christian Witness”, Part 1

Fr. Thomas Morrow on “Straight to Heaven: A Practical Guide for Growing in Holiness”

Fr. Brice Higginbotham on “Remaining with Jesus: Discipleship in the Gospel of John”

Sarah Park McLaughlin on “Praying with St. Augustine”

Joe Paprocki on “8 Steps to Energize Your Faith”, Part Two

For part 1 of our conversation visit:
IP#497 Fr. Basil Nortz – Holy Silence, Part 1 on Inside the Pages w/ Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts podcasts