Inside the Pages Archives

St. Bernadette, A Holy Life – In Conversation with Patricia McEachern – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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St. Bernadette, A Holy Life – In Conversation with Patricia McEachern

Patricia McEachern, an associate professor of French at Drew University in Missouri, discusses her book “A Holy Life: The Writings of St. Bernadette of Lourdes” with Bruce and Kris McGregor. Patricia shares her fascination with St. Bernadette and her journey from being introduced to St. Bernadette through a movie to translating her letters and spiritual notebook. She shares personal experiences, including her visit to Lourdes, which ultimately led to her conversion to Catholicism.

“St. Bernadette, A Holy Life” shows readers St. Bernadette’s remarkable character beyond her portrayal in films, highlighting her humility, courage, and devotion to her vocation. Patricia also sheds light on Bernadette’s suffering, her family relationships, and her unwavering faith, revealing a deeper understanding of St. Bernadette’s life beyond the famous apparitions and her enduring impact as a role model for holiness.

You can find the book here.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions:

Bernadette’s Humanity: How does Patricia McEachern’s discussion of St. Bernadette’s life reveal her humanity beyond her portrayal in films and popular culture?
Bernadette’s Devotion: What aspects of St. Bernadette’s devotion to her vocation and faith stand out to you?
Bernadette’s Suffering: In what ways did St. Bernadette endure suffering, both physically and emotionally, and how did she find meaning in it?
Bernadette’s Spiritual Growth: How did St. Bernadette’s spiritual journey evolve throughout her life, especially beyond the famous apparitions at Lourdes?
Bernadette’s Impact: Reflect on the impact of St. Bernadette’s life and writings as discussed by Patricia McEachern, particularly in terms of her role as a model for holiness.
Personal Conversion: Patricia mentions her own conversion to Catholicism after visiting Lourdes. How do personal experiences, like hers, shape our understanding and connection to saints like St. Bernadette?
Spiritual Lessons: Consider the spiritual lessons and insights gained from Bernadette’s writings, as highlighted by Patricia. How might these lessons apply to your own spiritual journey?

From the book’s description:

“While the story of the apparitions of Our Lady to Bernadette Soubirous at Lourdes in 1858 are well known, relatively few people are familiar with the saint’s own spiritual insights and profound holiness. For the first time in English, this book presents a wide selection of St. Bernadette’s thoughts, advice, sayings, and prayers through the touching words of her spiritual diary, notes, and letters to friends and family.
After receiving the visions of Our Lady at the grotto in Lourdes, Bernadette eventually became a religious sister as a member of the Sisters of Charity. She lived a life of simplicity, charity, suffering and deep holiness, dying at the age of 35. When she was canonized a saint, her body was found to be incorrupt.

In these beautiful writings of St. Bernadette, we learn the secrets of her holiness and happiness. Though she suffered greatly throughout her life, the heroic response of this humble, self-effacing nun transformed excruciating suffering into spiritual fruitfulness. Her letters and writings serve as a model for others passing through their own trials. Her writings reveal and intimate and profound love for God and neighbor. Anyone pursuing a deeper spiritual life will appreciate knowing Bernadette as she truly was, and the inspiring spiritual works of wisdom she offers to us all.”

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

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

Gil Baillie, founder of the Cornerstone Forum, joins Kris McGregor on Inside the Pages to discuss his book The Apocalypse of the Sovereign Self: Recovering the Christian Mystery of Personhood. Baillie examines the contemporary crisis of individualism, which distorts true personhood by prioritizing self-will over divine calling. Drawing from thinkers like René Girard and Romano Guardini, he argues that modern culture has lost sight of the relational nature of human identity. The book’s first half explores this crisis through figures like Nietzsche, Descartes, and Flannery O’Connor, while the second half presents the Christian alternative—a rediscovery of personhood rooted in the Trinitarian relationship and the call to self-giving love.

They take a look at how mimetic desire shapes human behavior, leading to societal fragmentation and the modern obsession with self-definition. True identity, as Baillie sees it, comes through Christ, echoing St. Paul’s words: “I live now, not I, but Christ lives in me.” He sees hope in a return to Christian anthropology, where personhood is understood through vocation and relational existence rather than autonomous self-determination.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

The Crisis of Individualism: How does modern culture’s focus on self-will and autonomy conflict with the Christian understanding of personhood as relational and God-centered?
Mimetic Desire and Identity: In what ways do we imitate others in shaping our identity, and how can this imitation either lead us closer to or further from Christ?
The Role of Suffering and Sacrifice: How does true personhood involve embracing sacrifice and suffering in the pattern of Christ, rather than seeking self-fulfillment through worldly means?
Literature as a Lens for Truth: How do stories like Flannery O’Connor’s Parker’s Back reveal spiritual truths about the search for meaning and the dangers of self-definition?
The Influence of Christian Anthropology: Why is the Christian understanding of personhood, as rooted in the Trinity, essential for resisting the cultural collapse of identity and meaning?
The Call to Evangelical Witness: In what ways can we live out a compelling Christian witness that draws others to Christ in a world increasingly shaped by relativism and self-invention?
True Freedom in Christ: How does surrendering to God’s call and living in relationship with Him lead to true freedom, rather than the false freedom promised by self-sovereignty?
The Yes or No to Christ: Considering Von Balthasar’s insight on history as the intensification of the “yes” or “no” to Christ, how does this apply to the moral and cultural choices we face today?
The Temptation of Victimhood: How has the modern world distorted the concept of victimhood, and how does Christ’s example on the cross reveal the proper response to suffering?
Hope in a Darkening World: What practical steps can we take to remain faithful and hopeful in a time of cultural confusion, ensuring that we live as authentic disciples of Christ?

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#484 – Deacon James Keating Ph.D. – Abiding in Christ on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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Deacon James Keating Ph.D. – Abiding in Christ on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor

Deacon James Keating and Kris McGregor discuss Abiding in Christ: Staying with God in a Busy World, a book aimed at helping the laity cultivate a deeper spiritual life. Abiding in Christ requires intentionality amidst the distractions of modern life and the importance of regularly recalling God’s presence, particularly through Scripture and the sacraments. Using the analogy of a physical move, he describes the spiritual journey as a transition from the fleeting pleasures of sin to the lasting fulfillment found in God’s presence. Sin often appears tangible and immediately gratifying, but God provides an equally concrete counter-move through the sacraments, which invite believers into a deeper encounter with Him.

Keating also addresses the modern challenge of reducing faith to an intellectual exercise or mere entertainment. Prayer and worship should focus on being with Christ rather than following rigid methodologies or seeking emotional highs. Simple, heartfelt prayer for the Eucharist as the ultimate home for the soul. To combat discouragement, we should seek fellowship with those who find hope in Christ, avoid the negativity of social media, and remain steadfast in prayer and sacramental life.

Discerning Hearts Discussion Questions

The Struggle to Remain with God: How do I intentionally make space in my daily life to abide in Christ despite the distractions of modern culture?
The Power of Scripture in Spiritual Renewal: In what ways can I incorporate Lectio Divina into my routine to displace worldly anxieties and deepen my encounter with God?
The Deceptive Pleasure of Sin: What sins in my life offer fleeting gratification, and how can I allow the beauty of God’s truth to attract me away from them?
The Tangibility of the Sacraments: How do I recognize and receive God’s presence in the sacraments as a real and substantial counter to the false comforts of sin?
The Challenge of Spiritual Transition: Where do I currently find myself in my spiritual journey, and how can I persevere through the discomfort of transition toward deeper communion with God?
The Eucharist as Spiritual Home: How does my participation in the Mass and reception of the Eucharist reflect my longing for true rest in Christ?
The Temptation to Reduce Faith to Entertainment: In what ways have I sought emotional or superficial experiences in my spiritual life instead of true encounter with God?
The Simplicity of Prayer: How can I strip away unnecessary complexity in my prayer life and simply rest in the presence of Christ?
The Need for Christian Fellowship: Who in my life strengthens my faith, and how can I cultivate relationships that encourage spiritual growth?
The Call to Persevere in Hope: What steps can I take to avoid discouragement and remain steadfast in my pursuit of holiness amid life’s challenges?

You can find the book here

About the Book

Deacon James Keating’s book Abiding in Christ: Staying with God in a Busy World is a how-to-pray resource. This book helps readers to find a quiet space wherein they can be present to God and offers suggestions of how they can be more open to God’s movement within them.

Deacon James Keating, Ph.D., is a professor of Spiritual Theology and serves as a spiritual director at Kenrick Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, MO.

Check out Deacon Keating’s “Discerning Heart” page

IP#318 Fr. John Burns – Lift Up Your Heart on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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Fr. John Burns – Lift Up Your Heart on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor

Fr. John Burns discusses his book, Lift Up Your Heart: A 10-Day Personal Retreat with St. Francis de Sales. The book brings St. Francis de Sales’ practical and profound wisdom to modern readers, guiding them through a structured retreat based on the saint’s classic Introduction to the Devout Life. Fr. Burns explains how the meditations are designed to help busy laypeople integrate faith into their daily lives using St. Francis’ method of creating a “spiritual bouquet” by carrying small graces from prayer into everyday tasks, making holiness accessible and actionable.

There’s relevance in St. Francis’ guidance for today’s world, where distractions and busyness often overshadow spiritual growth. Fr. Burns shares his hope that the book will inspire readers to embrace meditative prayer and daily choices for holiness. He suggests it as a tool for individual reflection or group study, particularly in programs like RCIA. By following this approach, readers can move closer to a vibrant, prayerful relationship with God and prepare their hearts for eternal life.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

Embracing St. Francis de Sales’ Practical Wisdom: How can you incorporate St. Francis de Sales’ teachings into your busy daily life to grow in holiness?
Choosing Holiness Daily: What intentional steps can you take each day to prioritize your relationship with God and move toward heaven?
The Power of Spiritual Bouquets: How can you carry the fruits of your prayer throughout your day to maintain a connection with God amid distractions?
Understanding Heaven’s Urgency: How does reflecting on the ultimate goal of heaven shape your daily decisions and priorities?
Integrating Prayer and Action: In what ways can you ensure your prayer life influences your actions, making your entire day a hymn of praise to God?
The Role of Conversion in Daily Life: What areas of your life need transformation, and how can you invite God to guide that conversion?
Overcoming Distractions in Prayer: How can St. Francis’ practical advice about distractions help you persist in prayer despite challenges?
Finding Guidance in the Saints: How can viewing St. Francis de Sales as a spiritual director enhance your spiritual journey?
Recognizing the Call to Contemplation: How can you create space for deeper reflection and meditation amidst the busyness of life?
Responding to God’s Invitation: What choices can you make today to live more intentionally for God and embrace His love?

You can find the book here

From the book description

This practical book goes right to the heart of helping you kick the habit of floating along on your spiritual journey to start actively pursuing holiness and devotion to God. During the course of the retreat, you ll learn the basics of forming a daily prayer routine, including how to offer yourself to God, meditate on his love, and maintain peace in the face of suffering and clarity in the midst of temptation.

The meditations will help you:

Adopt gratitude as a daily prayer practice.

Examine and reorder your priorities and relationships to better reflect your love for God.

Discern between good and evil in your life.

Desire to love and serve as Jesus did.

In a very real sense, Burns helps you take St. Francis de Sales as your spiritual director for ten days. As you do so, you’ll feel God’s fatherly love and restart your faith life, equipped with the tools to connect with God and live for heaven now.

About the Author

Fr. John Burns is a priest of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. He is the author of the bestselling books Adore: A Guided Advent Journal for Prayer and Meditation, Return: A Guided Lent Journal for Prayer and Meditation, and Lift Up Your Heart: A 10-Day Personal Retreat with St. Francis de Sales. Ordained in 2010, Burns has served as an associate pastor and pastor in Milwaukee in addition to being an adjunct professor of moral theology at the Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology. He completed a doctorate in moral theology at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome in 2019. His doctoral research focused on the theology of healing through forgiveness.

Burns speaks at conferences, preaches for missions, and directs retreats throughout the country. He works extensively with the Sisters of Life and St. Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity, and has given retreats, conferences, and spiritual direction for the sisters in Africa, Europe, and the United States.

IP#352 Dr. Peter Kreeft – Probes on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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Dr. Peter Kreeft – Probes on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor

Kris McGregor discusses with Dr. Peter Kreeft about his book Probes: Deep Sea Diving into St. John’s Gospel. Inviting readers to actively engage with scripture as a dialogue with God, it blends study and prayer in a manner akin to Lectio Divina. Dr. Kreeft describes it as a deep-sea dive into the Gospel of John, requiring readers to immerse themselves, ask questions, and ponder deeply, trusting God to guide their understanding. Designed for both personal reflection and communal study, it interprets scripture as a living, transformative encounter with God rather than a passive academic exercise.

The Gospel of John is a profound exploration of Christ’s divinity and humanity, particularly in passages like John 17, which offers a glimpse into the life of the Trinity. Scripture “reads” us as much as we read it, creating a dynamic relationship with the living

Suitable for all Christians and even inquirers, Probes bridges study and devotion, encouraging readers to see scripture as a window to encounter God’s truth and love.

You can find the book here.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

How Do I Engage With Scripture? Reflect on whether you approach the Bible as a living dialogue with God or merely as a study tool.
Am I Open to God’s Questions? Consider if you allow scripture to “read” and challenge your heart as much as you seek to understand its meaning.
Do I Ponder or Rush Through Prayer? Ask yourself if your spiritual practices include time for deep pondering and slow reflection, as Mary modeled in the Gospel.
Is My Faith Both Personal and Communal? Evaluate how your engagement with scripture fosters personal transformation and enriches group faith experiences.
How Does the Gospel Reveal Christ to Me? Reflect on how the Gospel of John helps you encounter the person of Christ, especially through passages like John 17.
Do I Trust God’s Guidance in My Search? Consider whether you trust God to lead you through the depths of scripture, even when answers aren’t immediately clear.
How Do I Share Scripture with Others? Contemplate how you can introduce others to a more profound engagement with the Word of God through shared study and prayer.
Do I Connect Scripture and Sacraments? Reflect on how your encounter with the Word deepens your appreciation of Christ’s presence in the sacraments.

From the book description

“This is no ordinary book. It is a set of probing questions (1,450 in fact) designed to help individuals or groups, especially groups, to dive deeply into Saint John’s Gospel. No answers are provided, but the questions are phrased in such a way as to set a person in a reliable direction for finding the answers.

The questions correspond to the verses of the Gospel and require active and personal interaction. Some of the questions are easy, some difficult, and they are marked accordingly. Some questions include background information or hints that help the reader along. Some were written with a fair bit of humor. Any person or group using these questions to explore John will find themselves entertained as well as informed and inspired.”

About the Author

Peter Kreeft, Ph.D., Professor of Philosophy at Boston College, is one of the most respected and prolific Christian authors of our time. His books cover a vast array of topics in spirituality, theology, and philosophy. They include Doors in the Walls of the World, The Greatest Philosopher Who Ever Lived, How to Be Holy, Because God Is Real, You Can Understand the Bible, and Summa of the Summa.

IP#503 Archbishop Emeritus Alfred Hughes – Spiritual Masters on Inside the Pages w/ Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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Spiritual Masters: Living and Praying in the Catholic Tradition by Archbishop Emeritus Alfred Hughes on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor

Kris McGregor discusses with Archbishop Hughes his recently published book, “Spiritual Masters: Living and Praying in the Catholic Tradition.” Archbishop Hughes explains that the book was inspired by a widespread desire for deeper spiritual engagement and a lack of knowledge on how to pursue it more meaningfully, in addition to the importance of moving beyond mere factual knowledge to gaining wisdom through reflection and divine guidance, advocating for an intellectual and spiritual conversion to deepen one’s faith and understanding.

They touch on the challenges posed by the digital age, which tends to keep people engaged only on a superficial level, and the necessity of creating reflective spaces to cultivate a deeper spiritual life. They also go into the significance of entering into solitude, as exemplified by St. Anthony of the Desert, and the role of spiritual direction in Christian life, a practice notably advanced by St. Anthony’s life and work.

Reflecting on the importance of not skipping the introductory sections of spiritual texts, as these often contain essential wisdom and guidance for reading the rest of the work; shifting from a student’s mindset to that of a disciple, seeking to learn and live out the teachings and wisdom found in spiritual writings.

You can find the book here.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions:

Spiritual Exercises vs. Spiritual Understanding: Discuss how Archbishop Hughes’ book shifts from a typical biographical approach to a format that engages the reader in spiritual exercises. How does this approach challenge your understanding of spiritual reading?
Consequences of the Digital Age: Reflect on the Archbishop’s view that the digital age keeps us at the surface of life. How has technology affected your personal prayer life or your ability to engage deeply with your faith?
Knowledge versus Wisdom: The Archbishop differentiates between gathering knowledge and cultivating wisdom. Can you share an instance where you felt your spiritual knowledge transitioned into deeper wisdom? How did this impact your faith practices?
The Importance of Solitude: Why do you think solitude is emphasized as the starting point for spiritual growth in the podcast? Share your thoughts on how solitude can lead to a deeper spiritual life.
Spiritual Direction and Guidance: How important is spiritual direction in your life? Discuss the benefits and challenges of seeking and maintaining a relationship with a spiritual director.
Reflective Time and Intellectual Conversion: Archbishop Hughes stresses the need for reflective time as essential for wisdom and spiritual conversion. How can you implement or improve reflective practices in your daily routine?
Learning from Saints and Spiritual Masters: Which saint or spiritual master do you feel most connected to, and what have they taught you about living a faithful Christian life? Discuss how their example can be applied in today’s world.
The Role of Desire in Spiritual Life: Reflect on the role of desire in your spiritual journey. How does understanding and nurturing your spiritual desires influence your relationship with God?
Scripture as a Living Word: Discuss the concept of Scripture as a ‘love letter from God’. How does this perspective change the way you read and interact with the Bible?
The Impact of Spiritual Writings on Modern Life: Considering the diverse teachings and lives of the spiritual masters mentioned, how can their wisdom be effectively applied to address the challenges of modern Christian living?

From the book’s description:

“This book introduces the reader to thirteen Christian spiritual classics that illustrate the ordinary steps we can take toward living the Gospel life more fully.

Drawing on the rich teaching of a particular saint or mystic, each chapter helps us grow in a different aspect of holiness, of intimacy with God. Archbishop Hughes offers an itinerary for becoming a good disciple of the Lord, giving the reader access to an impressive spiritual library that can support and strengthen progress in discipleship throughout one’s life.

Among the great saints and spiritual writers whose writings are included in this book are Augustine, Anthony of the Desert, Aelred, Teresa of Avila, Benedict, Guigo, Catherine of Siena, Walter Hilton, Francis de Sales, Ignatius of Loyola, Jean-Pierre de Caussade, Thomas à Kempis, and John of the Cross.”

About the Author

Archbishop Emeritus Alfred Hughes, a native of Boston, was ordained a priest in 1957. Having secured a doctorate in Spiritual Theology at the Gregorian University, he served in parish, seminary and administrative roles in Boston. Pope St. John Paul II appointed him Bishop of Baton Rouge in 1993 and Archbishop of New Orleans in 2002. As Emeritus, he now serves at Notre Dame Seminary.

IP#180 Adam English – The Saint Who Would Be Santa on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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Adam English – The Saint Who Would Be Santa on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor

In this episode of Inside the Pages, Kris McGregor talks to Dr. Adam English about his book, The Saint Who Would Be Santa Claus: The True Life and Trials of Nicholas of Myra.

Exploring the historical figure of St. Nicholas, distinguishing him from the popularized Santa Claus; Dr. English explains that Nicholas was a Christian bishop in Asia Minor during the 3rd and 4th centuries, a time when Christianity transformed from a persecuted faith to the favored religion of the Roman Empire. Known for his generosity, justice, and pastoral care, Nicholas inspired stories like helping impoverished families with dowries, which later became the foundation for his association with gift-giving.

The book also talks about Nicholas’s role in combating paganism, supporting marriage, and advocating for orthodoxy at the Council of Nicaea.

The book can be found here

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

The True Identity of St. Nicholas
How does understanding the historical St. Nicholas deepen your appreciation for his example of Christian virtue and service?
Generosity Beyond Our Walls
How can you emulate St. Nicholas’s generosity by serving those outside your immediate family or community?
Celebrating St. Nicholas in Advent
What traditions could you adopt or adapt to honor St. Nicholas’s feast day as part of your Advent and Christmas preparations?
Faith Amid Persecution
How does St. Nicholas’s perseverance during intense persecution inspire you to remain faithful in challenging circumstances?
The Value of Marriage
What lessons can you draw from St. Nicholas’s support for marriage as a good and noble estate in your own life or in guiding others?
Advocating for Orthodoxy
How can St. Nicholas’s participation in the Council of Nicaea encourage you to defend and articulate your Catholic faith today?
Distinguishing Cultural Traditions
What steps can you take to reconcile secular Christmas traditions with a deeper focus on Christ and St. Nicholas’s Christian legacy?
Integrating Faith and Action
How can St. Nicholas’s life inspire you to integrate acts of charity with your spiritual growth and faith journey?

About the Book

“With his rosy cheeks and matching red suit–and ever-present elf and reindeer companions–Santa Claus may be the most identifiable of fantastical characters. But what do we really know of jolly old Saint Nicholas, “patron saint” of Christmastime? Ask about the human behind the suit, and the tale we know so well quickly fades into myth and folklore.

In The Saint Who Would Be Santa Claus, religious historian Adam English tells the true and compelling tale of Saint Nicholas, bishop of Myra. Around the fourth century in what is now Turkey, a boy of humble circumstance became a man revered for his many virtues. Chief among them was dealing generously with his possessions, once lifting an entire family out of poverty with a single–and secret–gift of gold, so legend tells. Yet he was much more than virtuous. As English reveals, Saint Nicholas was of integral influence in events that would significantly impact the history and development of the Christian church, including the Council of Nicaea, the destruction of the temple to Artemis in Myra, and a miraculous rescue of three falsely accused military officers. And Nicholas became the patron saint of children and sailors, merchants and thieves, as well as France, Russia, Greece, and myriad others.

Weaving together the best historical and archaeological evidence available with the folklore and legends handed down through generations, English creates a stunning image of this much venerated Christian saint. With prose as enjoyable as it is informative, he shows why the life–and death–of Nicholas of Myra so radically influenced the formation of Western history and Christian thought, and did so in ways many have never realized.”

About the Author

Adam C. English is Associate Professor of Religion at Campbell University where he teaches on the philosophy of religion, constructive theology, and the history of Christian thought. He lives near Raleigh, North Carolina.

IP#506 Fr. James Kubicki, S.J. – A Year of Daily Offerings on Inside the Pages w/ Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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A Year of Daily Offerings by Fr. James Kubicki, S.J. on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor

In this episode of “Inside the Pages”, Fr. James Kubicki discusses his book, A Year of Daily Offerings: Giving Your Life to God One Day at a Time, which encourages believers to begin each day with a prayer of offering and reflect on how to live out the Eucharist in daily life.

Prayer is a response to God’s love and presence, which always comes first. Through brief reflections inspired by saints’ lives and writings, the book helps individuals integrate spiritual practices like discernment and examination, fostering a deeper relationship with Christ.

With challenges posed by modern distractions like technology, we must use discipline to prioritize spiritual growth, sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Confession, and the communal aspect of faith; rooted in the “communion of saints.”

This book provides practical, concise reflections to fit into busy schedules, serving as both a standalone spiritual tool and a complement to other devotions.

You can find the book here.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions:

Daily Offering Practice
How can I incorporate a daily offering prayer into my routine to dedicate my actions to God?
Responding to God’s Love
In what ways can I better recognize and respond to God’s love in my life?
Learning from the Saints
What aspects of a particular saint’s life inspire me to deepen my relationship with God?
Evening Reflection
How can I review my day to see where I encountered God and how I responded to His presence?
Discerning God’s Presence
Am I attentive to the movements of the Holy Spirit and the challenges God places before me throughout the day?
Managing Modern Distractions
What steps can I take to reduce distractions from technology and create more space for prayer?
Living the Eucharist
How can I make my daily life a reflection of the love and sacrifice I celebrate in the Eucharist?
Sacramental Life
How do regular participation in the sacraments, especially Confession and the Eucharist, shape my spiritual journey?
Building Spiritual Discipline
What practical changes can I make to develop a more disciplined and consistent prayer life?
Communion and Community
How can I better embrace the communal aspect of my faith, both in the Church and in my personal relationships?

From the book’s description:

“A daily offering of one’s life to God is an indispensable practice for every serious Catholic. In this book, Fr. James Kubicki, S.J., a longtime spiritual guide on Relevant Radio, presents a 366-day experience of morning offerings for busy laypeople. This rich array of reflections, based on the liturgical calendar and inspired by Ignatian spirituality, will help you develop—or reinvigorate—the habit of beginning each day by sincerely offering it to Christ.

For each day of the year, Fr. Kubicki offers a meditation based on the saint of the day or liturgical calendar, an offering prayer, and a “Daily Word” to help you recall the offering throughout the day. Each day concludes with a review question, based on the daily theme, inviting you to make an Examen.

Making and living a daily offering, uniting our everyday experience with the life of Christ—in imitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary—can help strengthen each of us to take up his daily cross and live a Eucharistic life.”

About the Author

Fr. James Kubicki, S.J., was ordained a Jesuit priest in 1983. He was the national director of the Apostleship of Prayer from 2003 to 2017. He currently leads retreats and parish missions while serving as a spiritual director at St. Francis de Sales Seminary in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

IP#483 – Thomas Jacobi – How Saints Die by Fr. Antonio Maria Sicari on Inside the Pages w/Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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Thomas Jacobi – How Saints Die by Fr. Antonio Maria Sicari on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor

How Saints Die: 100 Stories of Hope is more about how to live than how to die. With Ignatius Press editor, Thomas Jacobi, we discuss life and death, and the challenges of living a life which strives for holiness. We discuss how the saints are great beacons of hope for the world and our essential companions for the spiritual journey.

Thomas Jacobi will say in our conversation:

“Each Saint is a unique revelation actually of the personality of God, in Christ. Each Saint is so different and each saint reveals something new that we didn’t or couldn’t see before about Christ, about God. And that’s why it’s so important to get to know the saints. They reveal to us who God is in a fresh and exciting way. So I would encourage people to pick up this book for that reason.”

We would agree with Thomas!

You can find the book here

From the book description:

“Italian Carmelite Antonio Maria Sicari’s vibrant biographies of saints—from Augustine to Catherine of Siena to Faustina Kowalska—have been read across Europe for decades. In How Saints Die, Sicari turns to the most difficult challenge in the life of a Christian: the hour of death.

What he uncovers in this darkest moment, however, is not desolation, but inexplicable joy. “I have recounted the death of many saints,” he writes, “but all of them have confirmed for me the truth of this ancient Christian intuition: in the death of a saint, it is death that dies!”

With in-depth research and a flair for storytelling, Sicari brings before our eyes the gracious last hours of one hundred men and women—lovers and martyrs, thinkers and workers, ancients and moderns, old men and teens. Included are Kateri Tekakwitha, Maximilian Kolbe, Mother Teresa, Thomas Aquinas, Josephine Bakhita, Jérôme Lejeune, Clare of Assisi, and many more. In each, a new shade of the divine light shines through.

Those seeking insight into the mystery of death and suffering will find in this book not only wisdom, but rich and realistic consolation.“

IP#485 Fr. Cassian Koenemann – The Grace of Nothingness on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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Fr. Cassian Koenemann – The Grace of Nothingness on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor

Fr. Cassian Koenemann and Kris McGregor discuss the book The Grace of Nothingness, which explores the spiritual life of Blessed Columba Marmion. Fr. Koenemann shares how he initially resisted studying Marmion, but after Cardinal Burke’s persistent encouragement, he discovered Marmion’s profound teachings, especially through his book Christ the Life of the Monk.

Marmion, an Irish Benedictine monk, had a deep understanding of combining theological principles, such as Christ’s work in sanctifying individuals, with practical spiritual guidance. His teachings emphasized humility, prayer, and a reliance on God’s grace. His work, though not vast in volume, is rich in spiritual insight, especially his letters of spiritual direction, which guide individuals in their relationship with God.

A key theme is Marmion’s concept of “nothingness,” which highlights the paradox that while we are deeply loved by God, true spiritual growth comes from recognizing our dependence on His grace. This concept does not diminish personal value but encourages deeper humility and trust in God. Marmion’s spirituality also influenced St. Thérèse of Lisieux, especially in his reflections on God’s mercy.

Fr. Koenemann also addresses the modern struggle with control and self-reliance, advocating for surrender to God’s will and grace. Marmion’s spirituality is accessible and applicable for those seeking a deeper relationship with God, whether in monastic life or everyday situations.

To obtain a copy of the book, visit here.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

How do I approach spiritual growth in my life?
Reflect on whether you rely on your own efforts or open yourself to God’s grace for sanctification.
What role does humility play in my relationship with God?
Consider how accepting your “nothingness” before God can deepen your dependence on His will and grace.
Am I listening to God with the ear of my heart?
Examine how well you balance intellect and heart in discerning God’s voice and applying it to your life.
Do I recognize God’s mercy in my life?
Reflect on how you acknowledge and respond to God’s constant work in sanctifying and blessing you.
How do I understand the balance between personal dignity and humility?
Contemplate how you navigate your worth as God’s beloved while embracing a humble, selfless disposition.
Am I open to suffering as a means of grace?
Think about your attitude toward suffering and whether you trust God to bring good from painful experiences.
How do I live out humility in my interactions with others?
Evaluate your relationships and whether you express humility, service, and love in your community.

“The Grace of ‘Nothingness’ is a work of deep and sober reflection. What it reveals to us of Columba Marmion’s vision, however, is as fresh and surprising as the Gospel itself. Here we find, in the understanding of ‘nothingness,’ not the least hint of anything mandarin or esoteric, but a theme that focuses attention on the unique, saving grace of Christ. Fr Cassian complements his study with a helpful overview of the centuries of reflection on the theme of ‘nothingness’ in the writings of Catholic saints and mystics. This work is without question a truly insightful contribution to spiritual theology.”

—FR. PAUL MURRAY, OP
author of A Journey with Jonah

“St John of the Cross says that at the summit of the spiritual life there is ‘nothing.’ This introduction to the theme of ‘nothingness’ in the writings of Abbot Marmion offers fresh insights into this demanding feature of Christian life.”

—FR. CHRISTOPHER JAMISON, OSB
Abbot President of the English Benedictine Congregation