Msgr. John Esseff Archives

On Retreat with Msgr. John Esseff Day 2 Talk 3 on “On Sinfulness and the Sacrament of Reconciliation” – Discerning Hearts

In January 2012, Msgr. Esseff conducted a weekend retreat for the Deacons and Deacon-Candidates and their wives of the Diocese of Fargo.

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The subject is SINFULNESS and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The crucifixion and death of Jesus and what Jesus “sees” from the Cross. We will not grow in the Divine life given to us in Baptism if we do not become fully aware of our sinfulness in direct relation to our blessedness. The Devil is aware of Christ in us; he hates the beauty of that union. The Enemy’s purpose is to destroy that relationship. Why would we sin and endanger our union with Christ? Sin is not just breaking a commandment, it is the destruction of the Divine life in us. Sin is a mystery; it is a darkness. Our souls are a battleground…between the forces of light and the forces of darkness, the forces of love and the forces of hatred…a complete head on crash in every soul.

Msgr. Esseff then instructs on the importance of enlisting the aid of the Holy Spirit to truly prepare us for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It’s only through the aid of the Holy Spirit can God reveal to us what truly separates us from the Father. He reveals to us our “core wound”…the tendency in our behavior that causes us to sin. Often we only pay attention to the symptoms of the wound, we need the Holy Spirit to show us the cause. The deeper we go into our sinfulness the deeper the experience of the Divine Mercy.

Be sure to visit Msgr. Esseff’s website “Building a Kingdom of Love”

On Retreat with Msgr. John Esseff Day 3 Talk 4 on “The Wounds of Unforgiveness” – Discerning Hearts

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Msgr. Esseff reflects on Matthew chap 18 v 21-35. He shares the stories of a woman named Immaculee from Rwanda and young girl named Maria from Lebanon and the damage done by the hatred which is manifested in the world. We have a capacity for communion…24 hours every day, 7 days a week. How does that look in the relationship found in marriage? From childhood, there are deep wounds we carry from our parents…from siblings…or from others. What can cause those wounds? The bitterness and resentment that we carry…the damage it does to us. What is the remedy? The joy of forgiveness…and forgetting. Msgr. Esseff shares a poignant story of a man named John, and how he came to forgive what many would find “unforgivable”.

This is the prayer mentioned by Msgr. Esseff in the talk...click here

Be sure to visit Msgr. Esseff’s website….”Building A Kingdom of Love”

Exorcism and Deliverance – What is the difference? – Discerning Hearts

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Part 1: Msgr. Esseff describes the difference between Exorcism and Deliverance:

The role of the Bishop and the priest. The power we have by virtue of our baptism. What is possession? What is a curse? The rite of Exorcism and the need for inner healing of the individual. The ministry of Deliverance and how it differs from the need for Exorcism. Addictions that effect the person and how . Priests and gifted individuals work in harmony to free the person from the evil spirit. The wounds that contribute to the affliction experienced by the individual. The need to distinguish between spiritual pain and psychological pain, and the need for the Sacrament of Reconciliation….”one good confession is worth 100 exorcisms.” The role of the laity today in deliverance ministry.

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In part 2, after the intial recording, Msgr. Esseff answers various questions posed on various topics:

The priesthood and the role of spiritual healing. Do we give the devil too much credit? The role of Mary. The power of the Cross. How do slip back into oppression or sin? How can we prevent that? The power of prayer in temptation.

visit Msgr. Esseff’s website “Building A Kingdom of Love”

A Prayer to Take Authority – a prayer and teaching from Msgr. Esseff – Discerning Hearts

A Prayer to Take Authority

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Msgr. Esseff teaches about the need for healing, protection and deliverance. Msgr. Esseff discusses the importance of the “Our Father”. He then leads the following prayer:

In the name of Jesus, I take authority and I bind all the powers and forces in the air, in the ground, in the water, in the underground, in the netherworld, in nature and in fire. You are the Lord over the entire universe and I give you the glory for your creation. In your name, I bind all demonic forces that have come against us and our families and I seal all of us in the protection of your precious blood that was shed for us on the cross.

Mary Our Mother, we seek your protection and intercession, with the Sacred heart of Jesus, for us and our families and surround us with your mantle of love to discourage the enemy.

St. Michael and our Guardian Angels, come and defend us and our families in battle against all the evil ones that roam the earth.

In the name of Jesus, I bind and command all the powers and forces of evil to depart right now away from us, our families, our homes, and our lands and I cast you at the foot of the cross to remain there forever. And I thank you Lord Jesus for you are a faithful and compassionate God, Amen.

Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed be the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now
and at the hour of our death. Amen.

visit Msgr. Esseff’s website “Building A Kingdom of Love”

St. Padre Pio and bilocation – Msgr. Esseff describes his first encounter – Discerning Hearts

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Msgr. Esseff describes his first encounter with Padre Pio at Mary Pyle’s house in San Giovanni Rotondo in 1959 and bearing witness to the saint’s charism of bilocation.

He talks of becoming one of Padre Pio’s spiritual children and directee. Msgr. then discusses the experience of being present at one of St. Pio’s masses.

visit Msgr. Esseff’s website: “Building a Kingdom of Love”

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts

Upon visiting the Chapel of the Apparition in Paray le Monial during the 1st Sacred Heart World Congress, Msgr. Esseff reflects on the meaning of the Sacred Heart for St. Margaret Mary, her experience and ours today.

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At that particular moment it felt as though there was a beating of the Sacred Heart, similiar to what must have been experienced by St. Margaret Mary. “Behold the heart that has loved so much that has received so little love in return.”

Check out Msgr. John Esseff’s website: Building a Kingdom of Love

St.-Margaret-Mary-Chapel — The Side Altar and Main Sanctuary of the Chapel of Apparition

St.-Margaret-Mary-Chapel-1 — The Body of St. Margaret Mary at rest where the visitation took place

St.-Margaret-Mary-Chapel-2 — The Sanctuary image above the altar

The Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Ancestry, and Spiritual Warfare

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Msgr. Esseff reflects on the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the area of spiritual warfare. He encourages all listeners to engage in a deep reflection on their own ancestry (particularly their parents) and it’s possible influence on our own spiritual battles.

reading 2 Gal 4:4-7

Brothers and sisters:
When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son,
born of a woman, born under the law,
to ransom those under the law,
so that we might receive adoption as sons.
As proof that you are sons,
God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts,
crying out, “Abba, Father!”
So you are no longer a slave but a son,
and if a son then also an heir, through God.

Gospel Lk 2:16-21

The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph,
and the infant lying in the manger.
When they saw this,
they made known the message
that had been told them about this child.
All who heard it were amazed
by what had been told them by the shepherds.
And Mary kept all these things,
reflecting on them in her heart.
Then the shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God
for all they had heard and seen,
just as it had been told to them.

When eight days were completed for his circumcision,
he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel
before he was conceived in the womb.

The Prinicipal and Foundation of Prayer and Discernment: a teaching from Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts

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I had the opportunity to speak with Msgr. Esseff, who is conducting a spiritual retreat for the Sisters of the

Missionaries of Charity in Sydney, Australia. He shares with us the teachings from the first day, which is on the principal and foundation of prayer as taught by St. Ignatius of Loyola.

Msgr. Esseff begins by reflecting on the Awe of God and the difference between “being” and “becoming”. He shares a special memory of an experience that helped him to understand this which occurred when he was a young boy on his grandfather’s farm. Many years later, he would learn this was a basic teaching of St. Thomas Aquinas on the nature of God and creation. God is being and creation (including man) is becoming.

With that foundation, Msgr. Esseff proceeds to teach us that all of our are becoming therefore because mankind has a soul and has the capacity for reflection, we have the power to glorify God. That is the first call we have, to glorify God. To often we focus on our selves and what serves our needs. St. Ignatius would say, that instead when faced with a decision or direction, each human being is called to discern, to ask whether if this is what God wants or is this is what I want. The key is to take ask the Father “What do you want us to do?” This is discernment at its basic level.

To obtain a copy of Msgr. Esseff’s book byvisiting here

Be sure to visit Msgr. Esseff’s website “Building a Kingdom of Love”

Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta: reflections by Msgr. Esseff – Discerning Hearts

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Msgr. Esseff reflects on Blessed Mother Teresa whom he met in 1984 in Beruit, Lebanon.

Msgr. Esseff worked alongside Blessed Mother Teresa in Calcutta, Lebanon, West Africa, Haiti and elsewhere and would go on to serve as a spiritual director and confessor for Mother Teresa and her sisters. (The last few minutes of the reflection are particularly poignant)

Be sure to visit Msgr. Esseff’s website “Building A Kingdom of Love”

“HALT” – The Danger of False Generosity with Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts

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Msgr. Esseff discusses HALT and how it is the response to False Generosity. False Generosity can be destructive…we don’t even realize we are doing it.

When you find yourself:

H – Hungry, A- Angry,
L – Lonely, T – Tired

We must take care of ourselves! Msgr. Esseff first gives a checklist to attend to our physical needs and then he addresses our prayer lives. When you become the source of others feeding off you, you will become drained! You cannot give to your brothers and sisters what you do not receive from Him. Discernment is key! When you get exhausted, frustrated, overwhelmed, or run down it is your body saying you are doing things that are none of your business. God is not asking you to do what is not in your ability. Serving God Jesus-follow may involve suffering, fatique, and even moments of great physical or emotional pain, but none of this pull you away from your deepest self or from God. Those who want to be helpful to their community must ask themselves, “What do I need to be present to and what is it that I need to refrain from?

From the NAB St. Matthew Chap 11

28^* “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,^* and I will give you rest.29^* ^p Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves.30For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”