The Gift of Holiness at Christmas with Fr. Mauritius Wilde O.S.B.
This reflection was given during a special advent evening of prayer and meditation service at St. Margaret Mary’s Church, in Omaha, NE.
Fr. Mauritius Wilde reflects on the joy and love that naturally accompany creativity, whether through artistic endeavors, parenting, or spiritual growth. Connecting human creativity to the divine, he illustrates how God’s act of creation in Genesis reflects His delight in what He has made.
Just as we love the fruits of our labor or gaze lovingly upon our children, God looks at us with unwavering love, marveling at His creation. Through Jesus Christ, the perfect image of God, we are invited to embrace this divine love and strive toward holiness, becoming more fully aligned with God’s image through grace and spiritual growth.
Advent is an invitation to focus on Christ’s transformative gift of holiness. Drawing on the wisdom of Meister Eckhart, Fr. Mauritius likens God to a sculptor, who patiently removes what obscures His image within us. Fr. Wilde encourages listeners to embrace this process of refinement by being actively receptive to God’s grace.
Holiness is not about striving for perfection on our own but about allowing God to work in us, making His image shine more fully.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
How Do I See My Creative Work? Reflect on whether you view your creative efforts as a participation in God’s creative power and a way to glorify Him.
Do I Recognize God’s Delight in Me? Consider how often you acknowledge God’s loving gaze upon you as His beloved creation.
What Does Holiness Mean in My Life? Ponder how you can actively embrace the grace of God to become a clearer image of His holiness.
Am I Open to God’s Transformative Work? Reflect on your willingness to let God sculpt and refine you, removing what obscures His image.
How Do I Prepare for Christ at Advent? Evaluate whether your Advent practices focus on deepening your relationship with Christ rather than external busyness.
Father Mauritius Wilde, OSB, Ph.D., did his philosophical, theological and doctoral studies in Europe. He is the author of several books and directs retreats regularly. He serves as Prior at Sant’Anselmo in Rome.
The Immaculate Conception – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff
On the the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, Msgr. Esseff reflects on the significance of the Immaculate Conception of Mary within the broader plan of salvation history. He uses Genesis, Ephesians, and the Gospel of Luke to show us God’s eternal plan to reconcile humanity with Himself through Jesus Christ. Humanity’s fall through Adam and Eve introduced sin and death into the world, but God’s response was the plan of redemption, preordained before creation, culminating in the birth of Christ. Mary, conceived without sin, is presented as the new Eve, uniquely chosen to bring Jesus into the world. Her “yes” to the angel Gabriel is seen as a pivotal moment in God’s plan, countering the disobedience of the first parents and initiating the ultimate defeat of sin, Satan, and death.
Through Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection, humanity is adopted as children of God and incorporated into Christ’s body, the Church. He encourages us to see the Immaculate Conception as a profound reminder of God’s love and the invitation to holiness.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
God’s Eternal Plan: How does reflecting on God’s plan for redemption before creation deepen your trust in His providence?
The Fall and Redemption: In what ways can recognizing the effects of original sin in your life inspire a greater appreciation for Christ’s saving work?
Mary’s Role in Salvation: How does the Immaculate Conception help you understand Mary’s unique role in God’s plan and her intercession for you?
Adoption in Christ: What does it mean to you personally to be adopted into God’s family through Jesus Christ?
Living as the Body of Christ: How can you live more fully as a member of Christ’s body, united with Him and His Church?
Advent Preparation: In this Advent season, how are you preparing your heart to welcome Christ more fully into your life?
Power of the Holy Spirit: How do you experience the Holy Spirit working in your life to bring about holiness and transformation?
Contemplating Mary’s Example: How can Mary’s fiat, her “yes” to God, inspire you to trust and surrender to His will in your own life?
“After the man, Adam, had eaten of the tree,
the LORD God called to the man and asked him, “Where are you?”
He answered, “I heard you in the garden;
but I was afraid, because I was naked,
so I hid myself.”
Then he asked, “Who told you that you were naked?
You have eaten, then,
from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat!”
The man replied, “The woman whom you put here with me
she gave me fruit from the tree, and so I ate it.”
The LORD God then asked the woman,
“Why did you do such a thing?”
The woman answered, “The serpent tricked me into it, so I ate it.”Then the LORD God said to the serpent:
“Because you have done this, you shall be banned
from all the animals
and from all the wild creatures;
on your belly shall you crawl,
and dirt shall you eat
all the days of your life.
I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will strike at your head,
while you strike at his heel.”The man called his wife Eve,
because she became the mother of all the living.”
Brothers and sisters:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in Christ
with every spiritual blessing in the heavens,
as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world,
to be holy and without blemish before him.
In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ,
in accord with the favor of his will,
for the praise of the glory of his grace
that he granted us in the beloved.
In him we were also chosen,
destined in accord with the purpose of the One
who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will,
so that we might exist for the praise of his glory,
we who first hoped in Christ.
“The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
“Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end.”
But Mary said to the angel,
“How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?”
And the angel said to her in reply,
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God.”
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”
Then the angel departed from her.”
Msgr. John A. Esseff is a Roman Catholic priest in the Diocese of Scranton. Msgr. Esseff served as 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 Pope St. 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 continues to serve 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 Second Sunday of Advent – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff
On the Second Sunday of Advent, Msgr. John Esseff focuses on Advent as a season of hope, preparation, and trust in God. Reflecting on Mary’s surrender during the Annunciation and as the ultimate model of faith and dependence on God. Msgr. Esseff reminds us of the transformative power of repentance, faith, and love; using a moving testimony of a woman miraculously healed at Lourdes underscores the greater miracle of selfless love and intercessory prayer for others.
The scriptural themes of redemption urge us to live courageously and joyfully as the “new Jerusalem,” radiating God’s glory. We must have confidence in Christ’s victory, encouraging listeners to embrace the sacraments and prepare for the Lord’s coming with renewed faith.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
Faith in Surrender: How can Mary’s complete trust in God inspire you to surrender your fears and uncertainties to His will?
Trust in God’s Providence: In what areas of your life do you need to let go of self-reliance and place total dependence on God?
Love as a Miracle: How does the testimony of selfless prayer and intercession challenge you to prioritize the needs of others in your relationship with God?
Advent Preparation: How are you preparing your heart during this Advent season to welcome Christ with joy and trust?
Living the Beatitudes: How can you embrace the struggles and challenges in your life as opportunities to live out the Beatitudes with faith and courage?
Joy Amidst Suffering: What steps can you take to find joy and hope in God’s promises, even during times of personal or communal suffering?
Being the New Jerusalem: How can you reflect God’s light and love in your daily actions, becoming a witness to His glory and redemption?
Embracing the Sacraments: How do the Eucharist and other sacraments strengthen your faith and empower you to live as a disciple of Christ?
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar,
when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea,
and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee,
and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region
of Ituraea and Trachonitis,
and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene,
during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas,
the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert.
John went throughout the whole region of the Jordan,
proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,
as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: A voice of one crying out in the desert:
“Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths.
Every valley shall be filled
and every mountain and hill shall be made low.
The winding roads shall be made straight,
and the rough ways made smooth,
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”
Msgr. John A. Esseff is a Roman Catholic priest in the Diocese of Scranton. Msgr. Esseff served as 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 Pope St. 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 continues to serve 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.
St. Ambrose of Milan, Part 2 – The Doctors of the Church with Dr. Matthew Bunson
Born: 340 AD
Died: January 1, 397 AD
Dr. Matthew Bunson and Kris McGregor continue their discussion on the life and profound impact of St. Ambrose of Milan, a pivotal figure in Church history and a Doctor of the Church. Dr. Bunson emphasizes how Ambrose’s unexpected rise to the episcopate during a time of crisis in the Western Roman Empire exemplified his integrity and strength of character. Chosen by opposing factions who hoped to sway him to their cause, Ambrose steadfastly upheld orthodox Christian teaching, most notably opposing the Arian heresy. His tenure as Bishop of Milan was marked by his dedication to unity, deep prayer life, and commitment to scriptural study, which not only inspired his contemporaries but also profoundly influenced St. Augustine, whom he guided gently toward conversion. Ambrose’s unique method of silent scriptural reading and contemplative prayer impressed Augustine and modeled a new depth of spiritual engagement, contributing to the theological foundation of Christian mysticism.
St. Ambrose’s fearless moral authority extended to his interactions with the Roman emperors, particularly his courageous confrontation with Emperor Theodosius after the massacre of 7,000 innocents. By demanding genuine repentance from the emperor, Ambrose demonstrated his unwavering commitment to justice and the spiritual well-being of his flock, including rulers. His legacy also includes his promotion of Marian theology, the introduction of Eastern hymns to Western liturgy, and his composition of the Te Deum, reportedly written for Augustine’s baptism. Although Ambrose died relatively young at around 60, his life exemplified total self-gift to God, leaving an enduring legacy of wisdom, courage, and pastoral care. His life and teachings continue to inspire modern bishops and faithful, calling all to live with integrity, grace, and a relentless pursuit of truth.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
Integrity in Leadership: How can I emulate St. Ambrose’s steadfastness in upholding truth and unity in my own roles of influence?
Prayerful Scripture Engagement: In what ways can I deepen my prayer life by absorbing scripture into my heart, as St. Ambrose exemplified?
Guiding Others Gently: How can I, like St. Ambrose with St. Augustine, accompany others on their spiritual journey with patience and wisdom?
Moral Courage: Am I willing to stand up for truth and justice, even when it requires confronting authority or making personal sacrifices?
Living the Faith Fully: How can I integrate my beliefs into daily actions to reflect Christ’s presence in the world?
Witnessing through Worship: In what ways can my participation in and promotion of sacred traditions, like hymns and liturgy, enhance my community’s faith experience?
Total Self-Gift to God: What areas of my life am I still holding back from offering completely to God’s service?
Concern for Eternal Souls: How can I show genuine love and concern for the spiritual well-being of others, even those in positions of power or authority?
Influence of the Blessed Mother: How does my devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary inspire me to grow in holiness and faithfulness to Christ?
Legacy of Faith: What steps can I take to leave a lasting impact on others by living a life of grace and virtue, as St. Ambrose did?
For more on St. Ambrose of Milan and his teachings
Dr. Matthew E. Bunson is a Register senior editor and a senior contributor to EWTN News. For the past 20 years, he has been active in the area of Catholic social communications and education, including writing, editing, and teaching on a variety of topics related to Church history, the papacy, the saints and Catholic culture. He is faculty chair at Catholic Distance University, a senior fellow of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, and the author or co-author of over 50 books including The Encyclopedia of Catholic History, The Pope Encyclopedia, We Have a Pope! Benedict XVI, The Saints Encyclopedia and best-selling biographies of St. Damien of Molokai and St. Kateri Tekakwitha.
St. Ambrose of Milan, Part 1 – The Doctors of the Church with Dr. Matthew Bunson
Born: 340 AD
Died: January 1, 397 AD
Dr. Matthew Bunson and Kris McGregor delve into the life and legacy of St. Ambrose of Milan, one of the first four Doctors of the Church. St. Ambrose, born in 340 AD to a prominent Christian Roman family, was shaped by a devout household and a comprehensive education in literature, rhetoric, and law. Despite initially serving as a governor in the Roman Empire, his unexpected appointment as Bishop of Milan arose during a contentious period marked by the Arian heresy. Despite his reluctance, Ambrose accepted the role, undergoing baptism and theological study, and embracing his mission to defend and shepherd the Christian community. His dedication to scripture, particularly the Old Testament, influenced his homiletic style and laid the foundation for practices like Lectio Divina.
St. Ambrose’s ability to bridge secular leadership and ecclesial authority brought stability to Milan and served as an inspiration for future saints like Augustine of Hippo. His profound faith and intellectual contributions include his role in opposing Arianism and shaping the Christian theological tradition. St. Ambrose’s life exemplifies the hallmark of a Doctor of the Church: profound teaching intertwined with sanctity, humility, and obedience to God’s will.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
The Role of Divine Providence: How can we recognize and embrace God’s unexpected plans for our lives, as St. Ambrose did when called to be a bishop?
Faith and Family Influence: In what ways does your family or community shape your faith journey, similar to how St. Ambrose’s upbringing prepared him for his vocation?
The Witness of Integrity: How does living a life of integrity and faithfulness to Christ impact those around you, as it did for St. Ambrose with his community?
Preparation for Mission: What steps can you take to deepen your knowledge of Scripture and Church teachings, following St. Ambrose’s example of relentless study?
Defending the Faith: How can you actively defend the truths of the Catholic faith in the face of modern challenges, inspired by St. Ambrose’s opposition to heresies?
Surrendering to God’s Will: What areas of your life require greater surrender to God’s will, mirroring St. Ambrose’s total dedication to his calling?
The Influence of Prayer: How can practices like Lectio Divina and prayerful reflection on Scripture strengthen your spiritual life and guide your actions?
For more on St. Ambrose of Milan and his teachings
Dr. Matthew E. Bunson is a Register senior editor and a senior contributor to EWTN News. For the past 20 years, he has been active in the area of Catholic social communications and education, including writing, editing, and teaching on a variety of topics related to Church history, the papacy, the saints and Catholic culture. He is faculty chair at Catholic Distance University, a senior fellow of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, and the author or co-author of over 50 books including The Encyclopedia of Catholic History, The Pope Encyclopedia, We Have a Pope! Benedict XVI, The Saints Encyclopedia and best-selling biographies of St. Damien of Molokai and St. Kateri Tekakwitha.
Unveiling the Light of St. Nicholas – Advent Reflections with Dr. Anthony Lilles
Dr. Anthony Lilles offers a captivating exploration of the spiritual significance of St. Nicholas through the reflections of Pope Benedict XVI. St. Nicholas, known for his generosity and kindness, serves as a model of Christ’s light, especially during Advent. His actions, rooted in faith and love, reflect the incarnation of Christ, demonstrating the meaningfulness of human life and love.
St. Nicholas’ defense of Jesus’ divinity at the Council of Nicaea highlights the profound truth of God’s love entering humanity. His life of everyday holiness teaches us to bring Christ’s light into the world through acts of charity and selflessness.
Families should honor St. Nicholas during Advent, embracing his virtues through acts of giving and reflection. Traditions like lighting candles symbolize the consuming nature of love and service, tying directly to the saint’s legacy. Even in today’s often commercialized image of Santa Claus, St. Nicholas can remind us of the profound connection between the incarnation and the Eucharist. By incorporating his example into Advent practices, listeners are called to foster hope, joy, and faith in their communities, embodying the true spirit of the season.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
Faith in the Incarnation: How does your belief in Jesus as true God and true man shape your understanding of human love and the meaning of life?
Living Generously: In what ways can you emulate St. Nicholas’ everyday acts of kindness and generosity during this Advent season?
Bringing Christ’s Light: How can you be a source of hope and light in your community, inspired by St. Nicholas’ selfless service?
Advent as a Time for Almsgiving: What practical steps can you take to incorporate almsgiving and care for the vulnerable into your Advent preparation?
Recognizing Holiness in the Ordinary: How can you find and reflect Christ’s light in the small, consistent actions of daily life?
Engaging Family in Faith: How can you share the spiritual legacy of St. Nicholas with your children or loved ones to deepen their Advent experience?
Connecting Advent to the Eucharist: How does the mystery of the incarnation lead you to a deeper appreciation of the Eucharist this season?
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 .
Contemplative Faith: Certitude in Darkness – St. John of the Cross: Master of Contemplation with Fr. Donald Haggerty
Fr. Haggerty and Kris McGregor discuss the interconnectedness of saints, using examples like St. Thérèse of Lisieux, who embraced St. John’s teachings, influencing others like St. Teresa of Calcutta. Pope St. John Paul II’s deep engagement with St. John’s work, particularly his doctoral dissertation on the experiential impact of faith, which explores how deeper prayer transforms our understanding of God’s presence and our relationship with Him.
Contemplative prayer leads to greater certitude in faith, even as it brings “darkness” to the intellect, requiring trust in God’s unseen presence. This shift often involves a loss of emotional consolations or insights but marks an entry into the mystery of God’s indwelling presence. He encourages integrating scripture into prayer to listen to God’s timeless word personally. As prayer life matures, it becomes simpler yet more profound, as seen in devotions like the Rosary.
The journey of contemplation, marked by silence, trust, and receptivity, deepens our love and union with God, transforming both prayer and life itself.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
1. The Influence of Saints: How do the lives and teachings of saints inspire and shape your own spiritual journey?
2. Trust in God’s Presence: In moments of silence or spiritual “darkness,” how do you deepen your trust in God’s unseen presence?
3. Scripture as Living Word: How can you integrate scripture into your prayer life to hear God speaking personally to you?
4. Simplicity in Prayer: As you grow in faith, how can you embrace simplicity and childlike trust in your prayer practices?
5. Transition in Spiritual Life: How do you respond to changes in your prayer experience, such as the loss of emotional consolations or vivid insights?
6. Certitude vs. Clarity: How does your faith sustain you when certainty in God’s presence doesn’t bring intellectual or emotional clarity?
7. Role of Contemplative Prayer: How does contemplative prayer deepen your awareness of God’s indwelling presence in your life?
An excerpt from St. John of the Cross: Master of Contemplation
“What can be the reason for this experience in prayer? Saint John of the Cross affirms that supernatural faith, inasmuch as it places us in an immediate contact with God, affects the intellect in a strangely painful way with the onset of contemplative graces. The truths of revelation that the intellect embraces in faith now seem to surpass comprehension in a manner unlike any previous experience in prayer. A deeper understanding of theological faith can explain why this occurs. It is inadequate to conceive of our faith as simply an assent by our mind to truths that are then held securely with personal conviction. This is not at all the full picture. On a very personal level, in our relations with God himself, faith is a kind of real conduit into the actual mystery of God. As a theological virtue, it unites the intellect quite directly and immediately to the mystery of God. The effect of this union, depending on a soul’s closeness to God, is to stretch the intellect beyond what it can assimilate in its natural capacity. The result in the time of interior prayer is a painful experience of obscurity within the intellect toward the God of ultimate mystery known personally in faith. This is not an experience of dark doubts about God. Rather, it is as though a light has begun to shine too brightly, preventing our eyes from seeing what is there in front of us. The closer we approach the light of God, the more his presence blinds us. The ordinary act of comprehension in regard to natural objects of knowledge does not function in this way. But when the knowledge is of God himself in his immediate personal presence to the soul, the consequence is vastly different.”
Haggerty, Donald. Saint John of the Cross: Master of Contemplation (pp. 67-68). Ignatius Press. Kindle Edition.
St. John Damascene, Pt. 2 – The Doctors of the Church: The Charism of Wisdom with Dr. Matthew Bunson
Born: 676 AD, Damascus, Syria
Died: December 4, 749 AD, Mar Saba, Jordan
Dr. Matthew Bunson and Kris McGregor continue exploring the life and contributions of St. John Damascene and his role in the defense of sacred icons during the Byzantine Empire’s iconoclastic controversies. St. John’s theological insights on the veneration of images, emphasizing the distinction between worship (latria) due to God alone and veneration (dulia) offered to saints and holy images as reminders of divine truths. St. John defended the sacredness of matter, rooted in the Incarnation, and argued that icons served as tangible connections to the divine, much like family photographs evoke deep personal memories. His work helped preserve the Church’s understanding of creation’s goodness and the role of art in theological expression.
The episode also delves into St. John’s influence on Marian doctrine, notably his title as the “Doctor of the Assumption.” His writings laid the foundation for the dogma of the Assumption defined in 1950, emphasizing Mary’s unique role as Theotokos (God-bearer) and her assumption as a reflection of her purity and divine mission. St. John’s broader legacy as a poet, theologian, and champion of Christian art, whose insights remain relevant for understanding the interplay between faith, art, and devotion. His contributions, translated into various languages, continue to resonate universally, reflecting the timeless and inclusive nature of the Church’s teachings.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
The Role of Sacred Art in Faith: How do icons and sacred images deepen your understanding and experience of God’s presence in creation?
Veneration vs. Worship: How can you better explain the distinction between veneration of saints and worship of God to those unfamiliar with Catholic teaching?
Theology of Creation and Incarnation: In what ways does recognizing the goodness of matter enhance your appreciation of Christ’s Incarnation and the sacraments?
Marian Devotion and Christology: How does reflecting on Mary’s role as Theotokos help you grow closer to Jesus and understand His divine mission?
Memory and Holiness: How can sacred art or practices of remembrance inspire you to follow the example of saints in your daily life?
Faith Amid Controversy: How can the courage of figures like St. John Damascene inspire you to stand firm in defending your faith traditions in the face of challenges?
Unity of Truth and Beauty: How does the universality of sacred art and theology affirm your belief in the Church’s mission to reach all cultures and generations?
“St. John Damascene extends these fundamental ideas to the veneration of the relics of Saints, on the basis of the conviction that the Christian Saints, having become partakers of the Resurrection of Christ, cannot be considered simply “dead”. Numbering, for example, those whose relics or images are worthy of veneration, John states in his third discourse in defence of images: “First of all (let us venerate) those among whom God reposed, he alone Holy, who reposes among the Saints (cf. Is 57: 15), such as the Mother of God and all the Saints. These are those who, as far as possible, have made themselves similar to God by their own will; and by God’s presence in them, and his help, they are really called gods (cf. Ps 82[81]: 6), not by their nature, but by contingency, just as the red-hot iron is called fire, not by its nature, but by contingency and its participation in the fire. He says in fact : you shall be holy, because I am Holy (cf. Lv 19: 2)” (III, 33, col. 1352 a). After a series of references of this kind, John Damascene was able serenely to deduce: “God, who is good, and greater than any goodness, was not content with the contemplation of himself, but desired that there should be beings benefited by him, who might share in his goodness: therefore he created from nothing all things, visible and invisible, including man, a reality visible and invisible. And he created him envisaging him and creating him as a being capable of thought (ennoema ergon), enriched with the word (logo[i] sympleroumenon), and orientated towards the spirit (pneumati teleioumenon)” (II, 2, pg 94, col. 865a). And to clarify this thought further, he adds: “We must allow ourselves to be filled with wonder (thaumazein) at all the works of Providence (tes pronoias erga), to accept and praise them all, overcoming any temptation to identify in them aspects which to many may seem unjust or iniquitous, (adika), and admitting instead that the project of God (pronoia) goes beyond man’s capacity to know or to understand (agnoston kai akatalepton), while on the contrary only he may know our thoughts, our actions, and even our future” (ii, 29, pg 94, col. 964c). Plato had in fact already said that all philosophy begins with wonder. Our faith, too, begins with wonder at the very fact of the Creation, and at the beauty of God who makes himself visible.The optimism of the contemplation of nature (physike theoria), of seeing in the visible creation the good, the beautiful, the true, this Christian optimism, is not ingenuous: it takes account of the wound inflicted on human nature by the freedom of choice desired by God and misused by man, with all the consequences of widespread discord which have derived from it. From this derives the need, clearly perceived by John Damascene, that nature, in which the goodness and beauty of God are reflected, wounded by our fault, “should be strengthened and renewed” by the descent of the Son of God in the flesh, after God had tried in many ways and on many occasions, to show that he had created man so that he might exist not only in “being”, but also in “well-being” (cf. The Orthodox Faith, II, 1, pg 94, col. 981). With passionate eagerness John explains: “It was necessary for nature to be strengthened and renewed, and for the path of virtue to be indicated and effectively taught (didachthenai aretes hodòn), the path that leads away from corruption and towards eternal life…. So there appeared on the horizon of history the great sea of love that God bears towards man (philanthropias pelagos)”…. It is a fine expression. We see on one side the beauty of Creation, and on the other the destruction wrought by the fault of man. But we see in the Son of God, who descends to renew nature, the sea of love that God has for man. John Damascene continues: “he himself, the Creator and the Lord, fought for his Creation, transmitting to it his teaching by example…. And so the Son of God, while still remaining in the form of God, lowered the skies and descended… to his servants… achieving the newest thing of all, the only thing really new under the sun, through which he manifested the infinite power of God” (III, 1, pg 94, col. 981c-984b).
We may imagine the comfort and joy which these words, so rich in fascinating images, poured into the hearts of the faithful. We listen to them today, sharing the same feelings with the Christians of those far-off days: God desires to repose in us, he wishes to renew nature through our conversion, he wants to allow us to share in his divinity. May the Lord help us to make these words the substance of our lives.”
Dr. Matthew E. Bunson is a Register senior editor and a senior contributor to EWTN News. For the past 20 years, he has been active in the area of Catholic social communications and education, including writing, editing, and teaching on a variety of topics related to Church history, the papacy, the saints and Catholic culture. He is faculty chair at Catholic Distance University, a senior fellow of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, and the author or co-author of over 50 books including The Encyclopedia of Catholic History, The Pope Encyclopedia, We Have a Pope! Benedict XVI, The Saints Encyclopedia and best-selling biographies of St. Damien of Molokai and St. Kateri Tekakwitha.
St. John Damascene, Pt. 1 – The Doctors of the Church: The Charism of Wisdom with Dr. Matthew Bunson
Born: 676 AD, Damascus, Syria
Died: December 4, 749 AD, Mar Saba, Jordan
Dr. Matthew Bunson and Kris McGregor explore the life and legacy of St. John Damascene, an influential figure in the Eastern Church and one of the last Fathers of the Church. St. John is celebrated for his theological contributions, particularly his defense of the veneration of icons amid the iconoclast controversy. Living in a time when Islamic rule dominated the East and imposed restrictions on Christians, John navigated complex socio-political and religious challenges to articulate the theological significance of sacred images. His defense, rooted in the Incarnation, made the proper distinction between worship, owed only to God, and veneration, directed to holy representations that lift the mind and heart to the divine. This nuanced understanding helped preserve the Church’s appreciation of material creation as a vehicle for encountering God.
Dr. Bunson also discusses John’s life as a scholar, monk, and theologian, shaped by his education under a former Christian slave named Cosmas. St. John’s writings on icons defend their use as a reflection of God’s beauty in creation and as tools for prayer and contemplation. He framed his arguments against the iconoclasts with clarity, illustrating that icons, like other sacred objects, serve to deepen faith without violating the prohibition against idolatry. Dr. Bunson ties John’s teachings to contemporary challenges, providing Catholics with a foundation to respond to criticisms of the use of sacred images, whether in churches or homes, while underlining the optimism of the Christian view of creation as good, true, and beautiful.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
Understanding the Incarnation Through Icons: How does St. John of Damascus’s defense of icons deepen your appreciation of the Incarnation and God’s presence in creation?
Veneration vs. Worship: How can you explain the difference between veneration and worship to someone who challenges the use of sacred images in Catholic practice?
Role of Beauty in Faith: In what ways do you see the beauty of creation leading you closer to God, as St. John emphasized?
Faith Amid Persecution: How can the example of St. John remaining faithful under Islamic rule inspire your response to challenges to your faith?
Sacred Art as Prayer: How do you experience icons or other forms of sacred art as a means of encountering the divine in your personal prayer life?
Optimism in Creation: How does the Christian optimism about creation, as discussed by St. John and Pope Benedict XVI, challenge or affirm your worldview?
Learning from Tradition: What aspect of St. John’s teachings on icons or theology most inspires you to engage with the Church’s tradition in your spiritual growth?
“Today I should like to speak about John Damascene, a personage of prime importance in the history of Byzantine Theology, a great Doctor in the history of the Universal Church. Above all he was an eyewitness of the passage from the Greek and Syrian Christian cultures shared by the Eastern part of the Byzantine Empire, to the Islamic culture, which spread through its military conquests in the territory commonly known as the Middle or Near East. John, born into a wealthy Christian family, at an early age assumed the role, perhaps already held by his father, of Treasurer of the Caliphate. Very soon, however, dissatisfied with life at court, he decided on a monastic life, and entered the monastery of Mar Saba, near Jerusalem. This was around the year 700. He never again left the monastery, but dedicated all his energy to ascesis and literary work, not disdaining a certain amount of pastoral activity, as is shown by his numerous homilies. His liturgical commemoration is on the 4 December. Pope Leo XIII proclaimed him Doctor of the Universal Church in 1890.
In the East, his best remembered works are the three Discourses against those who calumniatewhich were condemned after his death by the iconoclastic Council of Hieria (754). These discourses, however, were also the fundamental grounds for his rehabilitation and canonization on the part of the Orthodox Fathers summoned to the Council of Nicaea (787), the Seventh Ecumenical Council. In these texts it is possible to trace the first important theological attempts to legitimise the veneration of sacred images, relating them to the mystery of the Incarnation of the Son of God in the womb of the Virgin Mary.
John Damascene was also among the first to distinguish, in the cult, both public and private, of the Christians, between worship (latreia), and veneration (proskynesis): the first can only be offered to God, spiritual above all else, the second, on the other hand, can make use of an image to address the one whom the image represents. Obviously the Saint can in no way be identified with the material of which the icon is composed. This distinction was immediately seen to be very important in finding an answer in Christian terms to those who considered universal and eternal the strict Old Testament prohibition against the use of cult images. This was also a matter of great debate in the Islamic world, which accepts the Jewish tradition of the total exclusion of cult images. Christians, on the other hand, in this context, have discussed the problem and found a justification for the veneration of images. John Damascene writes, “In other ages God had not been represented in images, being incorporate and faceless. But since God has now been seen in the flesh, and lived among men, I represent that part of God which is visible. I do not venerate matter, but the Creator of matter, who became matter for my sake and deigned to live in matter and bring about my salvation through matter. I will not cease therefore to venerate that matter through which my salvation was achieved. But I do not venerate it in absolute terms as God! How could that which, from non-existence, has been given existence, be God?… But I also venerate and respect all the rest of matter which has brought me salvation, since it is full of energy and Holy graces. Is not the wood of the Cross, three times blessed, matter?… And the ink, and the most Holy Book of the Gospels, are they not matter? The redeeming altar which dispenses the Bread of life, is it not matter?… And, before all else, are not the flesh and blood of Our Lord matter? Either we must suppress the sacred nature of all these things, or we must concede to the tradition of the Church the veneration of the images of God and that of the friends of God who are sanctified by the name they bear, and for this reason are possessed by the grace of the Holy Spirit. Do not, therefore, offend matter: it is not contemptible, because nothing that God has made is contemptible” (cf. Contra imaginum calumniatores, I, 16, ed. Kotter, pp. 89-90). We see that as a result of the Incarnation, matter is seen to have become divine, is seen as the habitation of God. It is a new vision of the world and of material reality. God became flesh and flesh became truly the habitation of God, whose glory shines in the human Face of Christ. Thus the arguments of the Doctor of the East are still extremely relevant today, considering the very great dignity that matter has acquired through the Incarnation, capable of becoming, through faith, a sign and a sacrament, efficacious in the meeting of man with God. John Damascene remains, therefore, a privileged witness of the cult of icons, which would come to be one of the most distinctive aspects of Eastern spirituality up to the present day. It is, however, a form of cult which belongs simply to the Christian faith, to the faith in that God who became flesh and was made visible. The teaching of Saint John Damascene thus finds its place in the tradition of the universal Church, whose sacramental doctrine foresees that material elements taken from nature can become vehicles of grace by virtue of the invocation (epiclesis) of the Holy Spirit, accompanied by the confession of the true faith.”
Dr. Matthew E. Bunson is a Register senior editor and a senior contributor to EWTN News. For the past 20 years, he has been active in the area of Catholic social communications and education, including writing, editing, and teaching on a variety of topics related to Church history, the papacy, the saints and Catholic culture. He is faculty chair at Catholic Distance University, a senior fellow of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, and the author or co-author of over 50 books including The Encyclopedia of Catholic History, The Pope Encyclopedia, We Have a Pope! Benedict XVI, The Saints Encyclopedia and best-selling biographies of St. Damien of Molokai and St. Kateri Tekakwitha.
Episode 7 – The Poetry of Saint Thérèse – St. Thérèse and Marie: The Story of Two Cousins with Fr. Timothy Gallagher
St. Thérèse of Lisieux
Fr. Timothy Gallagher explores the poetic expressions of St. Thérèse of Lisieux and her profound ability to convey spiritual truths through poetry despite her young age, lack of formal training, and challenging circumstances.
St. Thérèse’s poetry, much of which was written between the ages of 21 and 24, often loses some of its beauty in translation. Her poems were not just literary creations but deeply personal and spiritual reflections meant to uplift, console, and inspire those around her, such as her cousin Marie on the day she entered Carmel. Thérèse’s works reflect her deep love for Christ and the Eucharist, her longing for heaven, and her ability to connect with others’ experiences, expressing sentiments that resonate deeply despite their simplicity.
Fr. Gallagher delves into specific examples of Thérèse’s poetry, such as a canticle she composed for Marie, setting it to a popular aria to highlight Marie’s beautiful soprano voice. He also reflects on Thérèse’s family dynamic and their shared longing for heaven as a reunion with God and with each other. Thérèse’s gestures, such as leaving a copy of her poem “Living on Love” adorned with flowers in Marie’s cell, illustrate her thoughtful love and understanding of others’ needs. Her unique perspective of life as a journey toward eternal rest with God is a perspective deeply rooted in her family’s spirituality and reflected in her writings and actions.
Through her poetry and life, Thérèse invites others to live with a similar heavenly perspective, finding purpose in sacrifices and hope in eternal reunion.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
The Role of Poetry in Expressing Faith: How does Thérèse’s use of poetry reveal the depth of her spirituality and her ability to connect with others through creative expression?
Living with a Heavenly Perspective: In what ways can Thérèse’s longing for heaven inspire us to view our earthly struggles as part of a greater journey toward eternal life with God?
The Impact of Translation on Spiritual Texts: How does the challenge of translating Thérèse’s poetry into other languages affect our understanding of her spiritual insights and personal expressions?
Small Gestures of Love: How can Thérèse’s thoughtful acts, like composing personalized poems or leaving flowers for her sister, teach us to show love and encouragement in simple, meaningful ways?
Community and Eternal Reunion: How does Thérèse’s deep love for her family and her vision of an eternal reunion in heaven influence our own understanding of the communion of saints?
Apostolic Value of Sacrifice: How does Thérèse’s belief in the power of small sacrifices to bring souls to Christ challenge our approach to daily acts of love and service?
The Ordinary Mystic: What does Thérèse’s life teach us about finding profound spirituality in the simplicity of ordinary life and relationships?
Christ-Centered Creativity: How can Thérèse’s integration of her artistic talents with her faith encourage us to use our own creative abilities for spiritual purposes?
Marie Guérin
About this Series
Fr. Timothy Gallagher reflects upon the enduring legacy of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, exploring how her life and spirituality, deeply influenced by her family and how it offers profound insights into everyday holiness. He examines the role of family and spiritual friendships in nurturing faith, the importance of compassionate care for others, and how Thérèse’s example can inspire listeners to seek sanctity in their daily lives. He also brings forth more details of the spiritual bond between the Martin and Guérin families, offering a model for fostering deeper connections within one’s own family and community.
Father Timothy M. Gallagher, O.M.V., was ordained in 1979 as a member of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary, a religious community dedicated to retreats and spiritual formation according to the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. Fr. Gallagher is featured on the EWTN series “Living the Discerning Life: The Spiritual Teachings of St. Ignatius of Loyola”. For more information on how to obtain copies of Fr. Gallaghers’s various books and audio which are available for purchase, please visit his website: frtimothygallagher.org
Did you know that Fr. Timothy Gallagher has 14 different podcast series on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts?
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