Adam Blai on “The History of Exorcism,” Part Two – Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor
In part two of our conversation, Adam Blai and Kris McGregor discuss the nature of spiritual warfare and deliverance, emphasizing the central role of sacramental life and personal conversion. Adam Blai explains that 90% of the enemy’s actions are temptations, which can be effectively countered through the sacraments like confession, mass, baptism, and confirmation. Deliverance primarily comes through these sacraments and genuine personal transformation, rather than dramatic prayers or rituals. True deliverance requires a sincere turn towards God and away from sin, with the person actively participating in their spiritual growth and repentance.
Blai highlights that even in cases of possession, the goal is spiritual growth and conversion, not just relief from suffering. Exorcism is a liturgical act aimed at guiding individuals towards a life of faith, repentance, and forgiveness. Forgiving others and oneself is crucial, as demons can exploit unforgiveness to maintain their hold. And the historical context of exorcism in the church, noting that it evolved over centuries and has become more regulated to ensure proper and safe practice.
The importance of the church’s authority and wisdom in handling exorcisms, cautioning against individuals attempting exorcisms without proper authorization and training. Blai advises those facing spiritual issues to seek help from their parish priests or diocesan offices and stresses that the focus should always be on Jesus, not the devil. The ultimate message is one of hope and trust in God’s love and the transformative power of a life centered on Christ.
Understanding the Enemy’s Strategies: How does recognizing that 90% of the enemy’s actions are temptations change your approach to spiritual warfare?
Role of Sacraments in Deliverance: In what ways have you experienced the power of sacramental grace in your life, especially through confession and the Eucharist?
Personal Conversion and Deliverance: Reflect on a time when personal conversion and repentance brought you closer to God. How did this impact your spiritual struggles?
Forgiveness as a Path to Freedom: How can you practice forgiveness towards others and yourself to prevent spiritual oppression?
Historical Context of Exorcism: How does understanding the historical development of exorcism in the Church deepen your appreciation for its current practice and regulation?
Authority and Wisdom in Exorcism: Why is it important for the Church to regulate who performs exorcisms, and how does this safeguard both the practitioner and the person in need?
Focus on Christ, Not the Devil: How can you ensure that your spiritual life remains Christ-centered and not overly focused on fear of the devil?
Seeking Help within the Church: When facing spiritual difficulties, how can you effectively seek help from your parish priest or diocesan offices?
From the book description:
“Due to the advancement of observable evil in our society, the topic of exorcism has increasingly come to the forefront in the West in this century. In Hollywood movies, exorcism has often been sensationalized and misconstrued. Although volumes have been written about demons and exorcism, little has been explained about what solemn exorcism really is within the larger context of deliverance ministry. But now, Church-decreed expert on demonology and exorcism Adam Blai thoroughly explores the roots of exorcism and breaks open its significance for you.
You will find answers to wide-ranging questions such as: Is possession an exclusively Christian phenomenon, or is it a universal problem? Did exorcism exist before Jesus, or did He introduce it? If it predated Christianity, how did other cultures see it and deal with it? How do other world religions view the phenomenon of possession and exorcism? Are there other methods of confronting it besides the Catholic rite?
Blai lays out how exorcisms were performed in the earliest days of the Church. Over time, a liturgical rite was developed and teachings were provided to safeguard the faithful in the practice of exorcisms.
In these pages, Blai reveals:
Twenty-one guidelines for exorcists, produced under St. Charles Borromeo
Fascinating examples of actual exorcisms (some made famous in movies!)
Astounding examples of how saints helped drive out demons (even from the great beyond!)
Which psalm is known for offering protection and deliverance from evil spirits (Can you guess?)
The revolutionary way in which Jesus performed exorcisms
You will learn about how a harpist helped deliver King Saul of an evil spirit and how the spirits of giants tormented people. As you read about the evolution of exorcism, you will observe how strange practices sometimes occurred through the use of magic and superstition. You will also find five exorcism guidelines from the Middle Ages and four signs of genuine possession today.
Additionally, you will see how the 1614 rite of exorcism differs from the 1998 rite. You will also find a helpful appendix about how to determine whether a disturbance is spiritual, mental, or medical. Extensive references are included throughout the book.”
About the Author: Adam Blai (pronounced “Bly”) is a Church-decreed expert on religious demonology and exorcism in the Pittsburgh diocese. He is an auxiliary member of the International Association of Exorcists based in Rome. Over the past decade, he has helped educate priests regarding exorcism at national conferences, seminars, and through consultation on many cases in a number of dioceses.
“The more a person loves God, the more reason he has to hope in Him. This hope produces in the Saints an unutterable peace, which they preserve even in adversity, because as they love God, and know how beautiful He is to those who love Him, they place all their confidence and find all their repose in Him alone.”
GLORIOUS Saint Alphonsus, Bishop and Doctor of the Church, devoted servant of our Lord and loving child of Mary, I invoke you as a Saint in heaven. I give myself to your protection that you may always be my protector and my guide in the way of holiness and salvation. Aid me in observing the duties of my state of life. Obtain for me great purity of heart and a fervent love of the interior life after your own example.
Great lover of the Blessed Sacrament and the Passion of Jesus Christ, teach me to love Holy Mass and Holy Communion as the source of grace and holiness. Give me a tender devotion to the Passion of my Redeemer.
Promoter of the truth of Christ in your preaching and writing, give me a greater knowledge and appreciation of the Divine truths.
Gentle father of the poor and sinners, help me to imitate your charity toward others in word and deed.
Consoler of the suffering, help me to bear my daily cross patiently in imita tion of your own patience in your long and painful illness and to resign myself to the Will of God.
Good Shepherd of the flock of Christ, obtain for me the grace of being a true child of Holy Mother Church.
Saint Alphonsus, I humbly implore your powerful intercession for obtaining from the Heart of Jesus all the graces necessary for my spiritual and temporal welfare. I recommend to you in particular this favor: (Mention your request).
I have great confidence in your prayers. I earnestly trust that if it is God’s holy Will, my petition will be granted through your intercession for me at the throne of God.
Saint Alphonsus, pray for me and for those I love. I beg of you, by your love for Jesus and Mary, do not abandon us in our needs. May we experience the peace and joy of your holy death. Amen.
Prayer
HEAVENLY Father, You continually build up Your Church by the lives of Your Saints. Give us grace to follow Saint Alphonsus in his loving concern for the salvation of people and so come to share his reward in heaven. Walking in the footsteps of this devoted servant of Yours, may we be consumed with zeal for souls and attain the reward he enjoys in Your Kingdom. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Friday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast
As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly. For at least the next few moments, surrender all the cares and concerns of this day to the Lord.
Say slowly from your heart “Jesus, I Trust In You…You Take Over”
Become aware that He is with you, looking upon you with love, wanting to be heard deep within in your heart…
From the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew 13:18-23
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You are to hear the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom without understanding, the evil one comes and carries off what was sown in his heart: this is the man who received the seed on the edge of the path. The one who received it on patches of rock is the man who hears the word and welcomes it at once with joy. But he has no root in him, he does not last; let some trial come, or some persecution on account of the word, and he falls away at once. The one who received the seed in thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this world and the lure of riches choke the word and so he produces nothing. And the one who received the seed in rich soil is the man who hears the word and understands it; he is the one who yields a harvest and produces now a hundredfold, now sixty, now thirty.’
What word made this passage come alive for you?
What did you sense the Lord saying to you?
Once more give the Lord an opportunity to speak to you:
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You are to hear the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom without understanding, the evil one comes and carries off what was sown in his heart: this is the man who received the seed on the edge of the path. The one who received it on patches of rock is the man who hears the word and welcomes it at once with joy. But he has no root in him, he does not last; let some trial come, or some persecution on account of the word, and he falls away at once. The one who received the seed in thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this world and the lure of riches choke the word and so he produces nothing. And the one who received the seed in rich soil is the man who hears the word and understands it; he is the one who yields a harvest and produces now a hundredfold, now sixty, now thirty.’
What did your heart feel as you listened?
What did you sense the Lord saying to you?
Once more, through Him, with Him and in Him listen to the Word:
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You are to hear the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom without understanding, the evil one comes and carries off what was sown in his heart: this is the man who received the seed on the edge of the path. The one who received it on patches of rock is the man who hears the word and welcomes it at once with joy. But he has no root in him, he does not last; let some trial come, or some persecution on account of the word, and he falls away at once. The one who received the seed in thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this world and the lure of riches choke the word and so he produces nothing. And the one who received the seed in rich soil is the man who hears the word and understands it; he is the one who yields a harvest and produces now a hundredfold, now sixty, now thirty.’
What touched your heart in this time of prayer?
What did your heart feel as you prayed?
What do you hope to carry with you from this time with the Lord?
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen
Excerpt from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE, copyright (c) 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd. and Doubleday, a division of Penguin Random House, Inc. Reprinted by Permission.
Letter 214, Pt. 2 – The Letters of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity – Beginning to Pray with Dr. Anthony Lilles
Dr. Anthony Lilles and Kris McGregor explore the misconception that spiritual experiences must always feel comforting or consoling and address the deeper, often challenging experiences of divine encounters, emphasizing that God’s presence can be felt even in suffering and discomfort, using Letter 214 from St. Elizabeth of the Trinity. In this letter, St. Elizabeth encourages her seminarian friend to embrace humility and the spirit of sacrifice, associating these virtues with the passion of Christ.
Dr. Lilles explains that while God does console, He also uses different forms of comfort to draw believers into a deeper relationship with Him, sometimes through suffering. This idea is crucial for understanding St. Elizabeth’s writings, where she speaks about a love for suffering not for its own sake but as a means of union with Christ’s salvific work.
This path requires trust in God’s plan and a willingness to be vulnerable. True spiritual humility and suffering are not about self-aggrandizement or seeking pain but about offering oneself out of love for God and others. This approach leads to a deeper communion with Christ, transforming personal suffering into a source of grace and solidarity with the suffering of others.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
The Nature of Consolation in Prayer: How do we discern authentic consolations from God in our prayer life, especially when they do not come in expected forms?
Embracing Suffering with Christ: What does it mean to love suffering in union with Christ, and how can we offer our own suffering for the salvation of others?
The Role of Humility and Sacrifice: How do humility and the spirit of sacrifice enhance our spiritual journey and deepen our relationship with God?
The Precious Blood of Christ: Why is the devotion to the Precious Blood of Christ significant, and how does it transform our understanding of redemption and suffering?
Holy Communion and Solidarity: How does receiving Holy Communion draw us into deeper solidarity with the suffering and marginalized?
Trusting in God’s Love: How can we deepen our trust in God’s love and providence, especially during times of suffering and trial?
Responding to God’s Gift of Self: In what practical ways can we respond to God’s gift of Himself by living a life of self-giving love?
Letter 214
To Abbé Chevignard
[November 29, 1904]
J. M. + J. T.
“Providebam Dominum in conspectu meo semper; quoniam a dextris est mihi, ne commovear.”
Monsieur l’Abbé,
I am very grateful to you for your feastday wishes, and I am very happy the Church has placed our saints so close to each other, because that gives me the chance to offer you my best wishes today. Saint Augustine says that “love, forgetful of its own dignity, is eager to raise and magnify the beloved: it has only one measure, which is to be without measure.” I am asking God to fill you with that measure without measure, which is to say, according to the “riches of His glory,” that the weight of His love may draw you to the point of happy loss the Apostle spoke of when he wrote “Vivo enim jam non ego, vivit vero in me Christus.” That is the dream of my Carmelite soul and, I believe, also the dream of your priestly soul. Above all it is the dream of Christ, and I ask Him to accomplish it fully in our souls. Let us be for Him, in a way, another humanity in which He may renew His whole Mystery. I have asked Him to make His home in me as Adorer, as Healer, and as Savior, and I cannot tell you what peace it gives my soul to think that He makes up for my weaknesses and, if I fall at every passing moment, He is there to help me up again and carry me farther into Himself, into the depths of that divine essence where we already live by grace and where I would like to bury myself so deeply that nothing could make me leave. My soul meets yours there and, in unison with yours, I keep silent to adore Him who has loved us so divinely.
I unite myself to you in the emotions and profound joys of your soul as you await ordination and beg you to let me share in this grace with you: each morning I am reciting the Hour of Terce for you so the Spirit of love and light may “come upon” you to bring about all His creative work in you. If you would like, when you recite the Divine Office we could unite in the same prayer during this Hour that I have a particular devotion to. We will breathe in love11a and draw it down on our souls and on the whole Church.
You tell me to pray that you may be granted humility and the spirit of sacrifice. In the evening, while making the Way of the Cross before Matins, at every outpouring of the Precious Blood I used to ask for this grace for my own soul; from now on it will also be for yours. Don’t you believe that, to achieve the annihilation, contempt of self, and love of suffering that were deep in the souls of the saints, we must gaze for a very long time at the God crucified by love, to receive an outflowing of His power through continual contact with Him? Père Vallée once said to us that “martyrdom was the response of any lofty soul to the Crucified.” It seems to me that this could also be said for immolation. So let us be sacrificial souls, which is to say, true in our love: “He loved me, He gave Himself up for me!” A Dieu, Monsieur l’Abbé. Let us live by love, by adoration, by self-forgetfulness, in wholly joyful and confident peace, for “we are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s”! . . .
Sister M. Elizabeth of the Trinity r.c.i.
On the 8th, we are going to give our Immaculate Mother and Queen a beautiful feast day in our souls; I will meet you under her virginal mantle.”
Catez, Elizabeth of the Trinity. The Complete Works of Elizabeth of the Trinity volume 2: Letters from Carmel (pp. 179-180). ICS Publications. Kindle Edition.
We would like to thank Miriam Gutierrez for providing “the voice” of St. Elizabeth for this series
Anthony Lilles, S.T.D., has served the Church and assisted in the formation of clergy and seminarians since 1994. Before coming to St. Patrick’s, he served at seminaries and houses of formation in the Archdiocese of Denver and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The son of a California farmer, married with young adult children, holds a B.A. in theology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville with both the ecclesiastical licentiate and doctorate in spiritual theology from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome (the Angelicum). An expert in the writings of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity and the Carmelite Doctors of the Church, he co-founded the Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation and the High Calling Program for priestly vocations. He also founded the John Paul II Center for Contemplative Culture, which hosts symposiums, retreats, and conferences. In addition to his publications, he blogs at www.beginningtopray.com .
“Acquire the habit of speaking to God as if you were alone with Him, familiarly and with confidence and love, as to the dearest and most loving of friends. Speak to Him often of your business, your plans, your troubles, your fears— of everything that concerns you. Converse with Him confidently and frankly; for God is not wont to speak to a soul that does not speak to Him.”
GLORIOUS Saint Alphonsus, Bishop and Doctor of the Church, devoted servant of our Lord and loving child of Mary, I invoke you as a Saint in heaven. I give myself to your protection that you may always be my protector and my guide in the way of holiness and salvation. Aid me in observing the duties of my state of life. Obtain for me great purity of heart and a fervent love of the interior life after your own example.
Great lover of the Blessed Sacrament and the Passion of Jesus Christ, teach me to love Holy Mass and Holy Communion as the source of grace and holiness. Give me a tender devotion to the Passion of my Redeemer.
Promoter of the truth of Christ in your preaching and writing, give me a greater knowledge and appreciation of the Divine truths.
Gentle father of the poor and sinners, help me to imitate your charity toward others in word and deed.
Consoler of the suffering, help me to bear my daily cross patiently in imita tion of your own patience in your long and painful illness and to resign myself to the Will of God.
Good Shepherd of the flock of Christ, obtain for me the grace of being a true child of Holy Mother Church.
Saint Alphonsus, I humbly implore your powerful intercession for obtaining from the Heart of Jesus all the graces necessary for my spiritual and temporal welfare. I recommend to you in particular this favor: (Mention your request).
I have great confidence in your prayers. I earnestly trust that if it is God’s holy Will, my petition will be granted through your intercession for me at the throne of God.
Saint Alphonsus, pray for me and for those I love. I beg of you, by your love for Jesus and Mary, do not abandon us in our needs. May we experience the peace and joy of your holy death. Amen.
Prayer
HEAVENLY Father, You continually build up Your Church by the lives of Your Saints. Give us grace to follow Saint Alphonsus in his loving concern for the salvation of people and so come to share his reward in heaven. Walking in the footsteps of this devoted servant of Yours, may we be consumed with zeal for souls and attain the reward he enjoys in Your Kingdom. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Sacred Heart and Spiritual Warfare – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff
Msgr. John Esseff on Discerning Hearts addresses the spiritual battle between good and evil, emphasizing the role of Satan, the enemy of humanity. He discusses the inherent sinfulness in every person, the temptation that Satan uses to lure souls away from God, and the ongoing conflict within every human heart between the kingdom of light (Jesus) and the kingdom of darkness (Satan).
Msgr. Esseff explains that Satan’s primary tactic is temptation, which aims to lead people away from God’s kingdom and towards self-centeredness. He highlights the significance of the prayer “lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one” in the Lord’s Prayer, as it directly addresses this spiritual battle. He further explores the origin of Satan’s hatred towards humanity, tracing it back to his refusal to serve and his subsequent fall from grace.
Tthe preciousness of each soul to God and the lengths to which God goes to save it, includes sending Jesus to conquer sin, Satan, and death through his crucifixion and resurrection. The importance of recognizing and combating the subtle influences of Satan in modern society, such as through pornography and media manipulation, which gradually lead individuals away from spiritual truth.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
Recognizing the Enemy: How can we become more aware of Satan’s subtle influences in our daily lives and resist his temptations?
Spiritual Warfare: What practical steps can we take to actively engage in the spiritual battle between the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness?
Value of the Soul: How does understanding the immense value God places on each soul affect our view of ourselves and others?
Role of Temptation: In what ways can we strengthen our resistance to temptation and seek God’s guidance in overcoming it?
Importance of Vigilance: How can we cultivate a greater awareness of our thoughts and their alignment with God’s will?
Marriage and Forgiveness: How can the practice of forgiveness within marriage and family life serve as a model of Christ’s love for others?
Civilization of Love: What actions can we take to contribute to building a civilization of love rooted in the Sacred Heart of Jesus?
Spiritual Nourishment: How can we ensure that our souls are properly nourished and not led into spiritual desolation by self-centeredness?
Msgr. John A. Esseff is a Roman Catholic priest in the Diocese of Scranton. He was ordained on May 30, 1953, by the late Bishop William J. Hafey, D.D. at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Scranton, PA. Msgr. Esseff served a retreat director and confessor to St. Teresa of Calcutta. He continues to offer direction and retreats for the sisters of the Missionaries of Charity around the world. Msgr. Esseff encountered St. Padre Pio, who would become a spiritual father to him. He has lived in areas around the world, serving in the Pontifical Missions, a Catholic organization established by St. Pope John Paul II to bring the Good News to the world especially to the poor. Msgr. Esseff assisted the founders of the Institute for Priestly Formation and serves as a spiritual director for the Institute. He continues to serve as a retreat leader and director to bishops, priests and sisters and seminarians and other religious leaders around the world.
The Legacy of St. Charbel Makhluf and St. Nimatullah Kassab – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff
Msgr. John Esseff shares a personal and profound connection with Saint Charbel Makhlouf, a Maronite saint from Lebanon, whose feast day is being celebrated. Msgr. Esseff recounts his experience in Lebanon as the Pontifical Mission Director, where he visited Saint Charbel’s shrine and learned about his life and influence.
Saint Charbel was a Maronite monk known for his deep spirituality and ascetic life, who eventually chose a hermit’s life for 27 years of prayer and fasting. His life and miraculous incorrupt body, which glowed after his death, drew many pilgrims, including Muslims and Christians.
Msgr. Esseff discusses the significance of Saint Charbel for both Eastern and Western Christians, emphasizing unity in Christ despite historical and political division and the need for holiness and true leadership rooted in Christ rather than worldly power, drawing parallels to contemporary issues in both Eastern and Western Churches.
Relationship with Saints: Reflect on how the lives of saints, particularly Saint Charbel, can inspire and guide your spiritual journey.
Call to Holiness: Consider the importance of personal holiness and how you can strive to be more Christ-like in your daily life.
Leadership in the Church: Examine the qualities of true leadership in the Church, as exemplified by Saint Charbel, and how they differ from worldly power and prestige.
Unity among Christians: Contemplate the common foundation of faith in Christ that unites Eastern and Western Christians, despite historical and political differences.
Role of Prayer and Fasting: Reflect on the role of prayer and fasting in deepening your relationship with God, inspired by Saint Charbel’s example.
Miracles and Faith: Think about the significance of miracles in the Church, such as the incorrupt body of Saint Charbel, and what they reveal about God’s presence and power.
Witness to Christ: Consider how you can be a witness to Christ in your community, following the example of Saint Charbel’s humble and devoted life.
Reading 1 JER 2:1-3, 7-8, 12-13
This word of the LORD came to me:
Go, cry out this message for Jerusalem to hear!
I remember the devotion of your youth,
how you loved me as a bride,
Following me in the desert,
in a land unsown.
Sacred to the LORD was Israel,
the first fruits of his harvest;
Should any presume to partake of them,
evil would befall them, says the LORD.
When I brought you into the garden land
to eat its goodly fruits,
You entered and defiled my land,
you made my heritage loathsome.
The priests asked not,
“Where is the LORD?”
Those who dealt with the law knew me not:
the shepherds rebelled against me.
The prophets prophesied by Baal,
and went after useless idols.
Be amazed at this, O heavens,
and shudder with sheer horror, says the LORD.
Two evils have my people done:
they have forsaken me, the source of living waters;
They have dug themselves cisterns,
broken cisterns, that hold no water.
Msgr. John A. Esseff is a Roman Catholic priest in the Diocese of Scranton. He was ordained on May 30, 1953, by the late Bishop William J. Hafey, D.D. at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Scranton, PA. Msgr. Esseff served a retreat director and confessor to St. Teresa of Calcutta. He continues to offer direction and retreats for the sisters of the Missionaries of Charity around the world. Msgr. Esseff encountered St. Padre Pio, who would become a spiritual father to him. He has lived in areas around the world, serving in the Pontifical Missions, a Catholic organization established by St. Pope John Paul II to bring the Good News to the world especially to the poor. Msgr. Esseff assisted the founders of the Institute for Priestly Formation and serves as a spiritual director for the Institute. He continues to serve as a retreat leader and director to bishops, priests and sisters and seminarians and other religious leaders around the world.
Episode 7 – The Definition of Liturgy – Pathway to Sacred Mysteries with Dr. David Fagerberg Ph.D.
Dr. David Fagerberg and Kris McGregor discuss the profound theological concepts underlying the definition of liturgy. Dr. Fagerberg begins by explaining the term “perichoresis,” which refers to the mutual indwelling and dynamic relationship within the Trinity. He ties this concept to the idea of “kenosis,” the self-emptying nature of Christ in the Incarnation, and extends it to the act of creation. Dr. Fagerberg elaborates on how these divine interactions exemplify the overflowing love of God, which reaches out to humanity and invites participation in the divine life.
Dr. Fagerberg introduces “synergy,” the cooperation between God’s grace and human response and likening this to a divine dance where God leads, and humans follow, aiming towards deification or becoming one with God. He emphasizes that liturgy is the communal participation in this divine life, where human beings are called to cooperate with God’s will. This cooperation transforms them and draws them into deeper communion with God. Liturgy is not just a ritual but a transformative encounter that involves the entire person in a mystical union with the Trinity.
The universal call to holiness is the idea that every baptized person has a vocation, not just those in ordained ministry. This vocation involves offering one’s life as a spiritual sacrifice and participating in the priesthood of all believers.
Here are some of the topics explored in this episode:
Liturgy is the perichoresis of the Trinity kenotically extended to invite our synergistic ascent into deification.
From the discussion with Dr. Fagerberg:
“So conversion metanoia means to take on a new mind, to receive a new mind. Well, what could you do with a new mind? I might see things differently. I might change my values. They might be turned upside down from selfish values to kingdom values. Conversion is one step, but it’s a lifelong step. The entire life is a extended baptismal conversion. So one baptism doesn’t end something. It starts something the same way that a wedding starts a marriage. It’s it’s not the end of the marriage. It’s the beginning of the marriage. And baptism is the start of what, what do you want to call? The thing that baptism is the start of, Christianity, spirituality, your liturgical life, your spiritual warfare, your joys in the kingdom. It’s the beginning.”
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
Understanding Perichoresis: How does the concept of perichoresis deepen your understanding of the Trinity and its relationship within itself?
Embracing Kenosis: In what ways can you practice kenosis, or self-emptying, in your own life to better follow Christ’s example?
Participating in Synergy: How can you better cooperate with God’s grace in your daily activities, seeing it as a divine dance where God leads?
Liturgy as Transformation: How does viewing liturgy as a transformative encounter rather than just a ritual change your approach to worship?
Universal Call to Holiness: Reflect on your vocation as a baptized Christian. How can you live out your call to holiness in your current state of life?
Offering Spiritual Sacrifice: What aspects of your daily life can be offered as a spiritual sacrifice to God?
Priesthood of All Believers: How do you understand your role in the priesthood of all believers, and how can you actively participate in this communal priesthood?
Continuous Conversion: In what ways can you embrace a continual process of conversion to deepen your union with God through the liturgy and sacraments?
David W. Fagerberg is Professor in the Department of Theology at the University of Notre Dame. He holds masters degrees from Luther Northwestern Seminary, St. John’s University (Collegeville), Yale Divinity School, and Yale University. His Ph.D. is from Yale University in liturgical theology.
Fagerberg’s work has explored how the Church’s lex credendi (law of belief) is founded upon the Church’s lex orandi (law of prayer). This was expressed in Theologia Prima (Hillenbrand Books, 2003). He has integrated into this the Eastern Orthodox understanding of asceticism by considering its role in preparing the liturgical person. This was treated in On Liturgical Asceticism (Catholic University Press, 2013). And these two themes come together in Consecrating the World: On Mundane Liturgical Theology (Angelico Press, 2016).
“If we would completely rejoice the heart of God, let us strive in all things to conform ourselves to His divine will. Let us not only strive to conform ourselves, but also to unite ourselves to whatever dispositions God makes of us. Conformity signifies that we join our wills to the will of God. Uniformity means more. Uniformity means that we make one will of God’s will and our will. In this way we will only what God wills. God’s will alone is our will. “
GLORIOUS Saint Alphonsus, Bishop and Doctor of the Church, devoted servant of our Lord and loving child of Mary, I invoke you as a Saint in heaven. I give myself to your protection that you may always be my protector and my guide in the way of holiness and salvation. Aid me in observing the duties of my state of life. Obtain for me great purity of heart and a fervent love of the interior life after your own example.
Great lover of the Blessed Sacrament and the Passion of Jesus Christ, teach me to love Holy Mass and Holy Communion as the source of grace and holiness. Give me a tender devotion to the Passion of my Redeemer.
Promoter of the truth of Christ in your preaching and writing, give me a greater knowledge and appreciation of the Divine truths.
Gentle father of the poor and sinners, help me to imitate your charity toward others in word and deed.
Consoler of the suffering, help me to bear my daily cross patiently in imita tion of your own patience in your long and painful illness and to resign myself to the Will of God.
Good Shepherd of the flock of Christ, obtain for me the grace of being a true child of Holy Mother Church.
Saint Alphonsus, I humbly implore your powerful intercession for obtaining from the Heart of Jesus all the graces necessary for my spiritual and temporal welfare. I recommend to you in particular this favor: (Mention your request).
I have great confidence in your prayers. I earnestly trust that if it is God’s holy Will, my petition will be granted through your intercession for me at the throne of God.
Saint Alphonsus, pray for me and for those I love. I beg of you, by your love for Jesus and Mary, do not abandon us in our needs. May we experience the peace and joy of your holy death. Amen.
Prayer
HEAVENLY Father, You continually build up Your Church by the lives of Your Saints. Give us grace to follow Saint Alphonsus in his loving concern for the salvation of people and so come to share his reward in heaven. Walking in the footsteps of this devoted servant of Yours, may we be consumed with zeal for souls and attain the reward he enjoys in Your Kingdom. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The private revelation which was given to St. Bridget of Sweden that day in the chapel of the church of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls in Rome over 600 years ago is still one of the most poignant and compelling moments in all mystical experiences. The Church has deemed this worthy of belief to the extent that it can edify one’s faith rather than hurt; that indeed if practiced and nurtured it could open the heart for an outpouring of grace.
The “Pieta Prayers” of St. Bridget of Sweden can be a challenging practice in today’s world. To help foster a greater understanding and devotion to Our Lord’s Passion, Discerning Hearts has produced an MP3 Downloadable Audio, which we hope will assist you in some way. Thank you to Bruce McGregor and Lesa Lindsey for giving voice to the prayer.
Are published under the sanction of the Decree of November 18, 1966, published in the Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Vol. 58, No. 16 of December 29, 1966.
Prayers Approved by Pope Pius IX Magnificent Promises to Saint Bridget of Sweden
Pope Benedict XV expressed himself as follows on the Revelations of St. Bridget: “The approbation of such revelations implies nothing more than, after mature examination, it is permissible to publish them for the unit of the faithful. Though they don’t merit the same credence as the truths of religion, one can, however, believe them out of human faith, conforming to the rules of prudence by which they are probable, and supported by sufficient motives that one might believe in them piously. (Les Petits Bollandistes, tome XII)
These prayers can serve as the Way of the Cross. Visitors to the Church of St. Paul at Rome can see the crucifix, above the Tabernacle in the Blessed
Sacrament Chapel, sculptured by Pierre Cavallini, before which St. Bridge knelt when she received these 15 prayers from Our Lord.
The following inscription is placed in the church to commemorate the event: “Pendentis, Pendente Dei verba accepit aure accipit et verbum corde Brigitta Deum. Anno Jubilei MCCCL.” As St. Bridget for a long time wanted to know the number of blows Our Lord received during His Passion, He one day appeared to her and said: “I received 5480 blows on My Body. If you wish to honor them in some way, say 15 Our Fathers and 15 Hail Mary’s with the following Prayers (which He taught her) for a whole year. When the year is up, you will have honored each one of My Wounds.”
First Prayer
Our Father – Hail Mary.
O, Jesus Christ! Eternal Sweetness to those who love Thee, joy surpassing all joy and all desire, Salvation and Hope of all sinners, Who hast proved that Thou hast no greater desire than to be among men, even assuming human nature at the fullness of time for the love of men, recall all the sufferings Thou hast endured from the instant of Thy conception, and especially during Thy Passion, as it was decreed and ordained from all eternity in the Divine plan. Remember, O Lord, that during the Last Supper with Thy disciples, having washed their feet, Thou gavest them Thy Most Precious Body and Blood, and while at the same time Thou didst sweetly console them, Thou didst foretell them Thy coming Passion. Remember the sadness and bitterness which Thou didst experience in Thy Soul as Thou Thyself bore witness saying: “My Soul is sorrowful even unto death.” Remember all the fear, anguish and pain that Thou didst suffer in Thy delicate Body before the torment of the Crucifixion, when, after having prayed three times, bathed in a sweat of blood, Thou wast betrayed by Judas, Thy disciple, arrested by the people of a nation Thou hadst chosen and elevated, accused by false witnesses, unjustly judged by three judges during the flower of Thy youth and during the solemn Paschal season. Remember that Thou wast despoiled of Thy garments and clothed in those of derision; that Thy Face and Eyes were veiled, that Thou wast buffeted, crowned with thorns, a reed placed in Thy Hands, that Thou was crushed with blows and overwhelmed with affronts and outrages. In memory of all these pains and sufferings which Thou didst endure before Thy Passion on the Cross, grant me before my death true contrition, a sincere and entire confession, worthy satisfaction, and the remission of all my sins. Amen
Second Prayer
Our Father – Hail Mary.
O Jesus! True liberty of angels, Paradise of delights, remember the horror and sadness which Thou didst endure when Thy enemies, like furious lions, surrounded Thee, and by thousands of insults, spits, blows, lacerations and other unheard-of-cruelties, tormented Thee at will. In consideration of these torments and insulting words, I beseech Thee, O my Savior, to deliver me from all my enemies, visible and invisible, and to bring me, under Thy protection, to the perfection of eternal salvation. Amen
Third Prayer
Our Father – Hail Mary.
O Jesus! Creator of Heaven and earth Whom nothing can encompass or limit, Thou Who dost enfold and hold all under Thy Loving power, remember the very bitter pain Thou didst suffer when the Jews nailed Thy Sacred Hands and Feet to the Cross by blow after blow with big blunt nails, and not finding Thee in a pitiable enough state to satisfy their rage, they enlarged Thy Wounds, and added pain to pain, and with indescribable cruelty stretched Thy Body on the Cross, pulled Thee from all sides, thus dislocating Thy Limbs. I beg of Thee, O Jesus, by the memory of this most Loving suffering of the Cross, to grant me the grace to fear Thee and to Love Thee. Amen.
Fourth Prayer
Our Father – Hail Mary.
O Jesus! Heavenly Physician, raised aloft on the Cross to heal our wounds with Thine, remember the bruises which Thou didst suffer and the weakness of all Thy Members which were distended to such a degree that never was their pain like unto Thine. From the crown of Thy Head to the Soles of Thy Feet there was not one spot on Thy Body that was not in torment, and yet, forgetting all Thy sufferings, Thou didst not cease to pray to Thy heavenly Father for Thy enemies, saying “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” Through this great Mercy, and in memory of this suffering, grant that the remembrance of Thy Most Bitter Passion may effect in us a perfect contrition and the remission of all our sins. Amen.
Fifth Prayer
Our Father – Hail Mary.
O Jesus! Mirror of eternal splendor, remember the sadness which Thou experienced, when contemplating in the light of Thy Divinity the predestination of those who would be saved by the merits of Thy Sacred passion, Thou didst see at the same time, the great multitude of reprobates who would be damned for their sins, and Thou didst complain bitterly of those hopeless lost and unfortunate sinners. Through this abyss of compassion and pity, and especially through the goodness which Thou displayed to the good thief when Thou sadist to him: “This day, thou shalt be with Me in paradise.” I beg of Thee, O Sweet Jesus, that at the hour of my death, Thou wilt show me mercy. Amen.
Sixth Prayer
Our Father – Hail Mary.
O Jesus! Beloved and most desirable King, remember the grief Thou didst suffer when naked and like a common criminal, Thou was fastened and raised on the Cross, when all Thy relatives and friends abandoned Thee, except Thy Beloved Mother, who remained close to Thee during Thy agony and whom Thou didst entrust to Thy faithful disciple when Thou sadist to Mary: “Woman, behold thy son!” and to St. John: “Son, behold thy Mother!” I beg of Thee O my Savior, by the sword of sorrow which pierced the soul of Thy holy Mother, to have compassion on me in all my affliction and tribulations, both corporal and spiritual, and to assist me in all my trials, and especially at the hour of my death. Amen
Seventh Prayer
Our Father – Hail Mary.
O Jesus! Inexhaustible Fountain of compassion, Who by a profound gesture of Love, said from the Cross: “I thirst!” suffered from the thirst for the salvation of the human race. I beg of Thee O my Savior, to inflame in our hearts the desire to tend toward perfection in all our acts; and to extinguish in us the concupiscence of the flesh and the ardor of worldly desires. Amen
Eighth Prayer
Our Father – Hail Mary.
O Jesus! Sweetness of hearts, delight of the spirit, by the bitterness of the vinegar and gall which Thou didst taste on the Cross for Love of us, grant us the grace to receive worthily Thy Precious Body and Blood during our life and at the hour of our death, that they may serve as a remedy and consolation for our souls. Amen
Ninth Prayer
Our Father – Hail Mary.
O Jesus! Royal virtue, joy of the mind, recall the pain Thou didst endure when, plunged in an ocean of bitterness at the approach of death, insulted, outraged by the Jews, Thou didst cry out in a loud voice that Thou was abandoned by Thy Father, saying: “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me?” Through this anguish, I beg of Thee, O my Savior, not to abandon me in the terrors and pains of my death. Amen
Tenth Prayer
Our Father – Hail Mary.
O Jesus! Who art the beginning and end of all things, life and virtue, remember that for our sakes Thou was plunged in an abyss of suffering from the soles of Thy Feet to the crown of Thy Head. In consideration of the enormity of Thy Wounds, teach me to keep, through pure love, Thy Commandments, whose way is wide and easy for those who love Thee. Amen
Eleventh Prayer
Our Father – Hail Mary.
O Jesus! Deep abyss of mercy, I beg of Thee, in memory of Thy Wounds which penetrated to the very marrow of Thy Bones and to the depth of Thy being, to draw me, a miserable sinner, overwhelmed by my offenses, away from sin and to hide me from Thy Face justly irritated against me, hide me in Thy Wounds, until Thy anger and just indignation shall have passed away. Amen
Twelfth Prayer
Our Father – Hail Mary.
O Jesus! Mirror of Truth, symbol of unity, link of Charity, remember the multitude of wounds with which Thou was covered from head to foot, torn and reddened by the spilling of Thy adorable blood. O great and universal pain which Thou didst suffer in Thy virginal flesh for love of us! Sweetest Jesus! What is there that Thou couldst have done for us which Thou hast not done! May the fruit of Thy sufferings be renewed in my soul by the faithful remembrance of Thy passion, and may Thy love increase in my heart each day, until I see Thee in eternity, Thou Who art the treasury of every real good and every joy, which I beg Thee to grant me, O sweetest Jesus, in Heaven. Amen
Thirteenth Prayer
Our Father – Hail Mary.
O Jesus! Strong Lion, Immortal and Invincible King, remember the pain which Thou didst endure when all Thy strength, both moral and physical, was entirely exhausted, Thou didst bow Thy head, saying: “It is consummated!” Through this anguish and grief, I beg of Thee Lord Jesus, to have mercy on me at the hour of my death when my mind will be greatly troubled and my soul will be in anguish. Amen
Fourteenth Prayer
Our Father – Hail Mary.
O Jesus! Only Son of the Father, splendor and figure of His substance remember the simple and humble recommendation Thou didst make of Thy Soul to Thy Eternal Father, saying: “Father, into Thy Hands I commend My Spirit!” And with Thy body all torn, and Thy Heart broken, and the bowels of Thy mercy open to redeem us, Thou didst expire. By this precious death, I beg of Thee O King of Saints, comfort me and help me to resist the devil, the flesh and the world, so that being dead to the world I may live for Thee alone. I beg of Thee at the hour of my death to receive me, a pilgrim and an exile returning to Thee. Amen
Fifteenth Prayer
Our Father – Hail Mary.
O Jesus! True and fruitful Vine! Remember the abundant outpouring of Blood which Thou didst so generously shed from Thy Sacred Body as juice from grapes in a wine press. From Thy Side, pierced with a lance by a soldier, blood and water issued forth until there was not left in Thy Body a single drop, and finally, like a bundle of myrrh lifted to the top of the Cross, Thy delicate flesh was destroyed, the very Substance of Thy Body withered, and the Marrow of Thy Bones dried up. Through this bitter Passion and through the outpouring of Thy precious Blood, I beg of Thee, O Sweet Jesus, to receive my soul when I am in my death agony. Amen
Conclusion
O, Sweet Jesus! Pierce my heart so that my tears of penitence and love will be my bread day and night; may I be converted entirely to Thee, may my heart be Thy perpetual habitation, may my conversation be pleasing to Thee, and my the end of my life be so praiseworthy that I may merit Heaven and there with Thy saints, praise Thee forever. Amen<
From the book description:
Friday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast
Sacrament Chapel, sculptured by Pierre Cavallini, before which St. Bridge knelt when she received these 15 prayers from Our Lord.