Feast of the Archangels – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast


Feast of the Archangels – 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. John 1:47-51

When Jesus saw Nathanael coming he said of him, ‘There is an Israelite who deserves the name, incapable of deceit.’ ‘How do you know me?’ said Nathanael. ‘Before Philip came to call you,’ said Jesus ‘I saw you under the fig tree.’ Nathanael answered, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God, you are the King of Israel.’ Jesus replied, ‘You believe that just because I said: I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.’ And then he added ‘I tell you most solemnly, you will see heaven laid open and, above the Son of Man, the angels of God ascending and descending.’

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:

When Jesus saw Nathanael coming he said of him, ‘There is an Israelite who deserves the name, incapable of deceit.’ ‘How do you know me?’ said Nathanael. ‘Before Philip came to call you,’ said Jesus ‘I saw you under the fig tree.’ Nathanael answered, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God, you are the King of Israel.’ Jesus replied, ‘You believe that just because I said: I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.’ And then he added ‘I tell you most solemnly, you will see heaven laid open and, above the Son of Man, the angels of God ascending and descending.’

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:

When Jesus saw Nathanael coming he said of him, ‘There is an Israelite who deserves the name, incapable of deceit.’ ‘How do you know me?’ said Nathanael. ‘Before Philip came to call you,’ said Jesus ‘I saw you under the fig tree.’ Nathanael answered, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God, you are the King of Israel.’ Jesus replied, ‘You believe that just because I said: I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.’ And then he added ‘I tell you most solemnly, you will see heaven laid open and, above the Son of Man, the angels of God ascending and descending.’

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.

Day 5 – St. Francis of Assisi Novena for the Discerning Heart – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

Day 5 – St. Francis of Assisi Novena for the Discerning Heart with Msgr. John Esseff

Day 5: Poverty

St. Francis, you embraced Lady Poverty, imitating Christ who was born in a humble manger and died naked upon the Cross. By detaching yourself from the things of this world, you found the riches of Heaven, for “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). You remind us that the true wealth of a soul is found in loving and serving God above all else, and that spiritual poverty is the path to perfect freedom in Christ.

Let us pray:
St. Francis, you gave up everything to follow Christ, finding perfect joy in holy poverty. Obtain for me the grace to detach from the fleeting things of this world and to seek the eternal riches of Heaven. Teach me to live with a spirit of poverty, trusting in God’s providence and finding contentment in His love. May I always place God first in my life, knowing that He alone is my true treasure.

Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…

St. Francis, pray for us.


For the entire 9-Day St. Francis of Assisi Novena for the Discerning Hearts with Msgr. John Esseff tap here

Seeing Lazarus – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Podcast

Seeing Lazarus – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff

In this powerful reflection, Msgr. John Essef and Kris McGregor enter into the Gospel of Luke 16, the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. Monsignor shares his own encounters with the poor, beginning with his mission experiences in Haiti, where he vividly recalls ministering to a woman named Regina as she died of AIDS. Her joy in going home to God became for him the living image of Lazarus.

Through his story, he warns of the spiritual blindness of the rich man who never truly saw Lazarus at his doorstep. Monsignor reflects on how Mother Teresa of Calcutta opened his eyes to the poor and how we too must ask the Holy Spirit for the grace to see those who are right beside us. He urges listeners to recognize both material poverty and poverty of spirit, and to examine their lives for ways to share their abundance with those in need. The episode closes with a heartfelt prayer to discover Jesus in the face of the poorest of the poor, beginning in our own families and communities


Discerning Hearts Spiritual Reflection Questions:

  1. How does the parable of the rich man and Lazarus challenge us to open our eyes to the poor around us?

  2. What prevents us from seeing the “Lazarus” who may be right at our doorstep?

  3. How did Mother Teresa’s witness help Msgr. Essef recognize the presence of the poor in a new way?

  4. What does Regina’s joy in dying teach us about faith, hope, and the promise of eternal life?

  5. How can we make a personal inventory of our goods and find ways to share with those in need?

  6. What is the difference between mailing money to the poor abroad and personally encountering the poor near us?

  7. How can fear keep us from responding to those who are materially or spiritually poor in our own communities?

  8. How do our choices on earth shape our eternal destiny, as reflected in this Gospel story?


Msgr. John A. Esseff is a Roman Catholic priest in the Diocese of Scranton. He served as a retreat director and confessor to St. Teresa of Calcutta. He continues to offer direction and retreats for 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 Pope St. John Paul II to bring the Good News to the world, especially to the poor.  He continues to serve as a retreat leader and director to bishops, priests and sisters and seminarians, and other religious leaders.

Right Priorities – The Seven Attitudes of a Discerning Heart w/Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

The Seven Attitudes of a Discerning Heart with Kris McGregor

Right Priorities

Right priorities are the sixth attitude of a discerning heart. In Catholic discernment, priorities are ordered when God comes first. Jesus teaches us: “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.”St. Augustine reminds us that the restless heart finds peace only in God. When we put Him first, all else finds its place in His loving care.


Scripture Reading:
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.
Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.
Let the day’s own trouble be sufficient for the day.”
 (Matthew 6:33–34)

Our lives can easily become filled with anxieties — about work, family, money, or the future. But Jesus reminds us that the way forward is not found in worry, but in ordering our hearts rightly.

In the discerning heart, priorities are clear: God comes first. Everything else takes its place under Him. When we seek His kingdom first, our decisions, our time, and our relationships all find their proper order.

This does not mean life will be without struggles. But it does mean that we face them with peace, knowing our lives are in God’s hands. Right priorities free us from being controlled by passing concerns and help us walk in the confidence of His care.

Saint’s Teaching:
St. Augustine, after years of searching, discovered that only God could satisfy the deep desires of the heart. He confessed: “You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in You.”

His words remind us that no created thing, no matter how good, can take the place of God. To give Him first place is not to lose, but to gain the peace of a heart at rest.

Guided Application Questions:

  • In what part of my life do I give first place to something other than God?
    Ask Him to re-order your heart so He is at the center.
  • How can I seek God first in prayer each day?
    Begin and end the day with a short offering of love to Him.
  • How is the Lord inviting me to trust that if I put Him first, He will provide for my needs?
    Bring that concern into prayer and say: “Lord, I seek Your kingdom first.”

Closing Prayer:
Lord Jesus, You taught us to seek first the kingdom of God.
Grant me a heart that places You above all things.
Through the prayers of St. Augustine, help me to find rest only in You.
Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.


Discover The Seven Attitudes of a Discerning Heart — openness, generosity, courage, interior freedom, prayerful reflection, right priorities, and God as the true end — HERE 


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Day 4 – St. Francis of Assisi Novena for the Discerning Heart – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

Day 4 – St. Francis of Assisi Novena for the Discerning Heart with Msgr. John Esseff

Day 4: Love of Creation

St. Francis, you praised God through all of His creation, seeing in every creature the hand of the Creator. In your “Canticle of the Creatures,” you praised the Lord for Brother Sun and Sister Moon, recognizing that all of nature reflects God’s goodness and beauty. You remind us that creation is a gift from God, entrusted to us as stewards, and that we are called to use it for His glory and the good of others. At the same time, you knew that creation must never be worshiped, for only God, the Creator, is to be adored.

Let us pray:
St. Francis, lover of all God’s creation, intercede for me that I may grow in my appreciation for the beauty of the world around me and my responsibility to care for it as a gift from God. Help me to respect the earth and all its creatures, using the resources God has given us wisely and for His glory. May I see in the wonders of creation a reflection of the Creator’s infinite love and majesty.

Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…

St. Francis, pray for us.


For the entire 9-Day St. Francis of Assisi Novena for the Discerning Hearts with Msgr. John Esseff tap here

A Novena to St. Thérèse of Lisieux – Day Seven – Discerning Hearts Podcast

St. Thérèse of Lisieux Novena – Day Seven
St.-Therese-7

St. Therese you have said:

“Do you realize that Jesus is there in the tabernacle expressly for you – for you alone? He burns with the desire to come into your heart… don’t listen to the demon, laugh at him, and go without fear to receive the Jesus of peace and love…”

Saint Therese, flower of Carmel,
you said you would spend your heaven
doing good upon the earth.
Your trust in God was complete.

Listen to my prayer;
bring before God my special intention…
Pray for me that I may have something of your confidence
in the loving promises of our God.
Pray that I may live my life in union with God’s plan for me,
and one day see the Face of God who you so ardently loved.

Saint Therese,
you kept your word to love God
and to trust the world to that loving providence.
Pray for us that we may be faithful to our commitment to love.
May our lives, like yours,
be able to touch the world and bring it to peace.

Amen

 

Day 9 – The Angels – St. Michael and the Holy Angels Novena – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

Day 9 – The Celestial Choir of Angels – St. Michael and the Holy Angels Novena

V/. O God, + come to my assistance
R/. O Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory Be

Day 9 – The Celestial Choir of Angels

The ANGELS primary focus is the caretakership of humanity and the world. While the lowest ranked of all angelic beings—if one accepts the idea of a regulated angelic organization—angels are nevertheless members of the heavenly host and thus possess the profound and beautiful attributes given to them by their Creator. They are beings of pure spirituality and exist to fulfill the tasks given to them by God. Chief among these are to act as messengers of the Lord to the earth and guardians of the human soul.

Bunson, Matthew. Angels A to Z (Kindle Locations 293-299). Potter/Ten Speed/Harmony/Rodale. Kindle Edition.

By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Angels, may the Lord grant us to be protected by them in this mortal life and conducted hereafter to eternal glory. Amen.

Our Father …Hail Mary

O GLORIOUS Prince St. Michael, chief and commander of the heavenly hosts, guardian of souls, vanquisher of rebel spirits, servant in the house of the Divine King, and our admirable conductor, thou who dost shine with excellence and superhuman virtue, vouchsafe to deliver us from all evil, who turn to thee with confidence, and enable us by thy gracious protection to serve God more and more faithfully every day.

V/. Pray for us, O glorious St. Michael, Prince of the Church of Jesus Christ.
R/. That we may be made worthy of His promises.

Almighty and Everlasting God, Who by a prodigy of goodness and a merciful desire for the salvation of all men, hast appointed the most glorious Archangel, St. Michael, Prince of Thy Church, make us worthy, we beseech Thee, to be delivered from all our enemies that none of them may harass us at the hour of death, but that we may be conducted by him into the august presence of Thy Divine Majesty. This we beg through the merits of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.


Visit here for the entire 9-Day Novena to St. Michael and the Holy Angels

Visit here for the Chaplet of St. Michael – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcast



Day 3 – The Power of Suffering – St. Faustina Novena for the Discerning Heart – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

Day 3 – The Power of Suffering – St. Faustina Novena for the Discerning Heart

From the Diary of St. Faustina, 57 – Faustina writes:

“Suffering is a great grace; through suffering, the soul becomes like the Savior; in suffering, love becomes crystallized; the greater the suffering, the purer the love. This true, pure love gives the soul strength and power.”

Suffering, when united with Christ, becomes a source of spiritual strength. St. Faustina teaches us that through suffering, love is purified and becomes like that of Christ. How do you respond to the sufferings in your life? Do you view them as burdens, or do you see them as opportunities to grow in holiness and draw nearer to Jesus? Today, reflect on the way you bear your crosses. Jesus is present in your sufferings, and when you unite them to His, they become a means to greater love, a source of grace, and a path to sanctity.

Prayer & Petition:
Lord Jesus, You suffered for me, and I want to unite my sufferings with Yours. Help me to embrace the crosses in my life with patience and trust, knowing that You are with me. Strengthen my heart through suffering and make my love for You purer and more selfless. St. Faustina, help me to accept my sufferings as a grace that brings me closer to Christ and allows me to participate in His saving work. Amen.

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus, through the intercession of St. Faustina, Apostle of Divine Mercy, I ask for the grace to live more fully in Your mercy. Help me to trust in You completely, to offer mercy to others, and to live in the joy of Your love. May St. Faustina guide me in my journey toward holiness, and may her prayers obtain for me the graces I most need. Amen.

St. Faustina, pray for us.


You find the entire 9-Day St. Faustina Novena for the Discerning Heart tap here

You can find the Discerning Hearts “Chaplet of Divine Mercy” tap here


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You find the Diary here

 

Sunday of the Twenty-Sixth Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast


Sunday of the Twenty-Sixth 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 Luke 16:19-31

Jesus said to the Pharisees: ‘There was a rich man who used to dress in purple and fine linen and feast magnificently every day. And at his gate there lay a poor man called Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to fill himself with the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even came and licked his sores. Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried.
‘In his torment in Hades he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off with Lazarus in his bosom. So he cried out, “Father Abraham, pity me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in agony in these flames.” “My son,” Abraham replied “remember that during your life good things came your way, just as bad things came the way of Lazarus. Now he is being comforted here while you are in agony. But that is not all: between us and you a great gulf has been fixed, to stop anyone, if he wanted to, crossing from our side to yours, and to stop any crossing from your side to ours.”
‘The rich man replied, “Father, I beg you then to send Lazarus to my father’s house, since I have five brothers, to give them warning so that they do not come to this place of torment too.” “They have Moses and the prophets,” said Abraham “let them listen to them.” “Ah no, father Abraham,” said the rich man “but if someone comes to them from the dead, they will repent.” Then Abraham said to him, “If they will not listen either to Moses or to the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone should rise from the dead.”’

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 the Pharisees: ‘There was a rich man who used to dress in purple and fine linen and feast magnificently every day. And at his gate there lay a poor man called Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to fill himself with the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even came and licked his sores. Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried.
‘In his torment in Hades he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off with Lazarus in his bosom. So he cried out, “Father Abraham, pity me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in agony in these flames.” “My son,” Abraham replied “remember that during your life good things came your way, just as bad things came the way of Lazarus. Now he is being comforted here while you are in agony. But that is not all: between us and you a great gulf has been fixed, to stop anyone, if he wanted to, crossing from our side to yours, and to stop any crossing from your side to ours.”
‘The rich man replied, “Father, I beg you then to send Lazarus to my father’s house, since I have five brothers, to give them warning so that they do not come to this place of torment too.” “They have Moses and the prophets,” said Abraham “let them listen to them.” “Ah no, father Abraham,” said the rich man “but if someone comes to them from the dead, they will repent.” Then Abraham said to him, “If they will not listen either to Moses or to the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone should rise from the dead.”’

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 the Pharisees: ‘There was a rich man who used to dress in purple and fine linen and feast magnificently every day. And at his gate there lay a poor man called Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to fill himself with the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even came and licked his sores. Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried.
‘In his torment in Hades he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off with Lazarus in his bosom. So he cried out, “Father Abraham, pity me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in agony in these flames.” “My son,” Abraham replied “remember that during your life good things came your way, just as bad things came the way of Lazarus. Now he is being comforted here while you are in agony. But that is not all: between us and you a great gulf has been fixed, to stop anyone, if he wanted to, crossing from our side to yours, and to stop any crossing from your side to ours.”
‘The rich man replied, “Father, I beg you then to send Lazarus to my father’s house, since I have five brothers, to give them warning so that they do not come to this place of torment too.” “They have Moses and the prophets,” said Abraham “let them listen to them.” “Ah no, father Abraham,” said the rich man “but if someone comes to them from the dead, they will repent.” Then Abraham said to him, “If they will not listen either to Moses or to the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone should rise from the dead.”’

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.

Day 3 – St. Francis of Assisi Novena for the Discerning Heart – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

Day 3 – St. Francis of Assisi Novena for the Discerning Heart with Msgr. John Esseff

Day 3: Humility

St. Francis, you embraced the profound humility of Christ, who “emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant” (Philippians 2:7). You considered yourself the least of all and sought not your own glory, but the glory of God. You saw in humility the path to holiness and the surest way to imitate Our Lord, who came “not to be served, but to serve” (Matthew 20:28). In a world that exalts pride and self-promotion, your example calls us to embrace the hidden life, seeking only the will of God and the salvation of souls.

Let us pray:
O humble St. Francis, obtain for me the grace to recognize my own lowliness and to rely completely on God’s mercy. Help me to imitate your example by putting aside my pride and seeking only to do the will of the Father. Teach me to serve others with humility and love, following the example of Christ, who humbled Himself even to death on the Cross. Through your intercession, may I grow in the virtue of humility, so that God may be glorified in all that I do.

Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…

St. Francis, pray for us.


For the entire 9-Day St. Francis of Assisi Novena for the Discerning Hearts with Msgr. John Esseff tap here