Spiritual Formation Library Archives

IP#202 Fr. Donald Calloway – Under the Mantle on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor

“Under the Mantle: Marian Thoughts from a 21st Century Priest” is fantastic! Fr. Donald Calloway’s books just keep getting better and better. In this work, he begins this journey with Our Lady, who then guides the reader through the rich treasures found in the Church established by her Son, Jesus Christ. Through the Sacraments, to the depth of devotion found in our spiritual practices, and then with a rich appreciation of what authentic manhood and femininity truly are, Fr. Calloway explores the many facets of our faith. This book is a book well suited for everyday mystagogia. Without ever dumbing down the content, Fr. Calloway’s writing style is engaging and designed for “joe or josephine” pew person. This book is perfect for those who are in the RCIA, for folks who have completed a consecration preparation to Our Lady, or for anyone just looking for a more penetrating study of the faith. You will not be disappointed! And what a beautiful tribute to Our Blessed Mother!

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You can find the book here

“We are living in an extraordinary time of grace and mercy. It is a time in which many people, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, are experiencing a renewed appreciation for the sacred and unchanging truths of Catholicism. Though the vast majority of universities and colleges today indoctrinate their students into the dictatorship of moral relativism, the media puts forth an ideology of rampant secularism, and the political realm is filled with proponents of a culture of death, nevertheless, it is in these times that Jesus, through the Immaculata, is raising up a new generation of Catholics. In Under the Mantle: Marian Thoughts from a 21st Century Priest, Fr. Calloway masterfully blends together aspects of his own conversion story with profound theological insights into Catholicism, presenting everyone from “Joe six-pack in the pew” to a seminary rector with incredibly vivid and thought-provoking analogies into why it is so important for a Christian to live under the mantle of Mary. I very highly recommend that everyone read this book! ”
-Very Rev. Douglas Mosey, C.S.B., Ph.D. President-Rector
Holy Apostles College & Seminary. Cromwell, CT

Also check out: IP#16 Fr. Donald Calloway – No Turning Back on Inside the Pages

WOM#15 – The Unitive Way – The Way of Mystery w/ Deacon James Keating – Discerning Hearts

Episode 15-The Way of Mystery: The Eucharist and Moral Living

The journey begins into the unitive way…the beginning of falling in love with God. Combined with the entry into the sacramental life, the living out the moral life becomes more than meeting a “goal”, but becomes a “way” of life.

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For more episodes in “The Way of Mystery” Series click here

Deacon James Keating, PhD, the director of Theological Formation for the Institute for Priestly Formation, located at Creighton University, in Omaha, is making available to ”Discerning Hearts” and all who listen, his series of programs entitled “The Way of Mystery”.

The Vatican II documents remind us that the spiritual journey is not made in a vacuum, that God has chosen to save us, not individually, but as The People of God. The Eucharist must help Christians to make their choices by discerning out of Christ’s paschal mystery. For this process to take place, however, Christians must first understand how the Eucharist puts them in touch with Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection, and what concrete implications being in touch with this mystery has for their daily lives.

For more information on the “Institute of Priestly Formation” and for oth er material available by Deacon Keating, just click here

Don’t forget to pickup a copy of “Communion with Christ” , it is on e of the best audio sets on prayer…ever!

Check out Deacon Keating’s “Discerning Heart” page

WOM#14 – The Eucharist: What if I can’t receive? – The Way of Mystery w/ Deacon James Keating – Discerning Hearts

Episode 14-The Way of Mystery: The Eucharist and Moral Living

The Eucharist summons us like a beacon. Even in the face of scandal, the moral authority of the Church shines through the Eucharist and challenges us to follow Christ in moving forward and allowing our hearts to be transformed. Mortal sin, what is it and how does it effect our relationship with the Eucharist…with Christ? Being present at mass even if you shouldn’t receive…not allowing yourself to be separated from worship.

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For more episodes in “The Way of Mystery” Series click here

For more information on the “Institute of Priestly Formation” and for oth er material available by Deacon Keating, just click here

Don’t forget to pickup a copy of “Communion with Christ” , it is on e of the best audio sets on prayer…ever!

Check out Deacon Keating’s “Discerning Heart” page

IP#257 Fr. George Montague S.M. – Living in the Father’s Embrace on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor

What a delight to talk once again with Fr. George Montague, this time about “Living in the Father’s Embrace: Experiencing the Love at the Heart of the Trinity”! Fr. Montague, besides serving as a former president of the Catholic Biblical Association of America and editor of the Catholic Biblical Quarterly, has offered numerous rich teachings in the areas of Catholic spirituality including the best selling “Holy Spirit, Make Your Home In Me : Biblical Meditations On Receiving The Gift Of The Spirit” (a Discerning Hearts bestselling favorite!).

Can you call the God the Father “Abba” as Jesus did? Did we have a complicated relationship with our earthly father that keeps us distant from our Father? How do we look at the Father when we are dealing with grief and loss? By presenting the relationship found in the heart of the Holy Trinity, Fr. Montague uses everyday examples to helps us to envision what that awesome relationship is like between Father and Son and how they long, through the Holy Spirit, to bring each one of us into their communion of love. This is a book you will want to read again and again. Highly recommended!!!!

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You can find the book here

Be sure to listen to our conversation with Fr. Montague about “Holy Spirit, Make Your Home In Me” which can be found here

MC1 – Praying with Scripture: Christian Contemplation and Meditation in the Ignatian tradition w/Fr. Timothy Gallagher

Episode 1 Praying with Scripture: Christian Contemplation and Meditation in the Ignatian tradition with Fr. Timothy

Gallagher.

Fr. Gallagher introduces us to meditation and contemplation – the cornerstones of Ignatius of Loyola’s spiritual practice.

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For other episodes in the series visit The Discerning Hearts “Praying with Scripture” page

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

For the other episodes in this series check out Fr. Timothy Gallagher’s “Discerning Hearts” page

BKL#67 – Pentecost Sunday – Be Not Afraid!!! Peace Be With You!!! – Building a Kingdom of Love w/ Msgr. John Esseff

BKL 67 ” Building a Kingdom of Love” – Pentecost Sunday – Be Not Afraid!!! Peace Be With You!!!

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Gospel JN 20:19-23

On the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained.”

Msgr. John A. Esseff is a Roman Catholic priest in the Diocese of Scranton. He was ordained on May 30th 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 Blessed Mother Teresa. 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 Bl. 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 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. To obtain a copy of Msgr. Esseff’s book by visiting here Be sure to visit Msgr. Esseff’s website “Building a Kingdom of Love”

SP#6 “The Spiritual Director” The School of Prayer: Foundations for the New Evangelization with Fr. Scott Traynor

SP#6 The School of Prayer: Foundations for the New Evangelization

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Fr. Scott Traynor talks about how God wants to have an intimate relationship with us. What is the dynamic of this relationship? He longs for us to freely give ourselves to Him. Fr. Scott talks about the gift of our imagination and what is true spiritual reality as opposed to fantasy. How do I tell the difference? What is the nature of the effect? Is it lasting or does it evaporate after the experience? Is Jesus in the center of the reality we are encountering? He describes the use of Lectio Divina, the praying with Sacred Scripture, that helps us to enter into the deeper relationship we are called to by God. Fr. Scott explains the difference between the Ignatian and Carmelite understandings of “contemplation”. Is there an ordinary Catholic “mysticism”? Do we miss it?

In Father Scott Traynor’s book, Blessed John Paul II’s memorable call to make of the parish a school of prayer takes on flesh and becomes concretely attainable. Those you read these faith-filled pages will find renewed desire to create such parishes and a clear road-map toward this goal.

–Father Timothy Gallagher, OMV

Father Scott Traynor received his STB from the Pontifical Gregorian University and his JCL from Catholic University of America. He has been an instructor and spiritual director for many of the programs at the Institute for Priestly Formation.

Father Traynor is a retreat master and spiritual director who has travelled the country as a speaker at various conferences, diocesan gatherings and national conferences.. He is especially sought after to present on the topics of prayer, discernment and priestly identity and mission.

He serves the Rector of the St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver Colorado.

SP#8 The School of Prayer: Foundations for the New Evangelization

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Fr. Scott Traynor talks about the relationship between our personal prayer and the sacramental life of prayer of the Church. There is so much to encounter when we open up our hearts and minds to the experience of prayer found in the public worship of the Church. Using the “ARRRR” method (Acknowledge, Relate, Recieve, and Respond) to enhance our prayer during the liturgy.

–Father Timothy Gallagher, OMV

He serves the Rector of the St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver Colorado.

SP#9 The Keys to Good Discernment – The School of Prayer: Foundations for the New Evangelization w/Fr. Scott Traynor

SP#9 The School of Prayer: Foundations for the New Evangelization:

The Keys to Good Discernment

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Fr. Scott Traynor talks about the hallmarks of encounter with the Holy Spirit and what can be a deception. How can the keys to good discernment effect my service to the Church and to the World. What is the difference between “managing and/or deciding” and authentic “discernment”? What is wrong with the phrase “What Would Jesus Do?”. The better question is “Jesus, What ARE you doing?”. Listening is the key for not only the one discerning. How does the “school of prayer”, the parish, becomes an aid to the seeker. How is the pastor a part of the process?

–Father Timothy Gallagher, OMV

He serves the Rector of the St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver Colorado.