Friday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast


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Friday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast

As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly.  For at least the next few moments, surrender all the cares and concerns of this day to the Lord.

Say slowly from your heart “Jesus, I Trust In You…You Take Over”

Become aware that He is with you, looking upon you with love, wanting to be heard deep within in your heart…

From the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew 19:3-12

Some Pharisees approached Jesus, and to test him they said, ‘Is it against the Law for a man to divorce his wife on any pretext whatever?’ He answered, ‘Have you not read that the creator from the beginning made them male and female and that he said: This is why a man must leave father and mother, and cling to his wife, and the two become one body? They are no longer two, therefore, but one body. So then, what God has united, man must not divide.’
They said to him, ‘Then why did Moses command that a writ of dismissal should be given in cases of divorce?’ ‘It was because you were so unteachable’ he said ‘that Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but it was not like this from the beginning. Now I say this to you: the man who divorces his wife – I am not speaking of fornication – and marries another, is guilty of adultery.’
The disciples said to him, ‘If that is how things are between husband and wife, it is not advisable to marry.’ But he replied, ‘It is not everyone who can accept what I have said, but only those to whom it is granted. There are eunuchs born that way from their mother’s womb, there are eunuchs made so by men and there are eunuchs who have made themselves that way for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let anyone accept this who can.’

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:

Some Pharisees approached Jesus, and to test him they said, ‘Is it against the Law for a man to divorce his wife on any pretext whatever?’ He answered, ‘Have you not read that the creator from the beginning made them male and female and that he said: This is why a man must leave father and mother, and cling to his wife, and the two become one body? They are no longer two, therefore, but one body. So then, what God has united, man must not divide.’
They said to him, ‘Then why did Moses command that a writ of dismissal should be given in cases of divorce?’ ‘It was because you were so unteachable’ he said ‘that Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but it was not like this from the beginning. Now I say this to you: the man who divorces his wife – I am not speaking of fornication – and marries another, is guilty of adultery.’
The disciples said to him, ‘If that is how things are between husband and wife, it is not advisable to marry.’ But he replied, ‘It is not everyone who can accept what I have said, but only those to whom it is granted. There are eunuchs born that way from their mother’s womb, there are eunuchs made so by men and there are eunuchs who have made themselves that way for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let anyone accept this who can.’

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:

Some Pharisees approached Jesus, and to test him they said, ‘Is it against the Law for a man to divorce his wife on any pretext whatever?’ He answered, ‘Have you not read that the creator from the beginning made them male and female and that he said: This is why a man must leave father and mother, and cling to his wife, and the two become one body? They are no longer two, therefore, but one body. So then, what God has united, man must not divide.’
They said to him, ‘Then why did Moses command that a writ of dismissal should be given in cases of divorce?’ ‘It was because you were so unteachable’ he said ‘that Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but it was not like this from the beginning. Now I say this to you: the man who divorces his wife – I am not speaking of fornication – and marries another, is guilty of adultery.’
The disciples said to him, ‘If that is how things are between husband and wife, it is not advisable to marry.’ But he replied, ‘It is not everyone who can accept what I have said, but only those to whom it is granted. There are eunuchs born that way from their mother’s womb, there are eunuchs made so by men and there are eunuchs who have made themselves that way for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let anyone accept this who can.’

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.

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff

Msgr. John Esseff and Kris McGregor discuss the theological significance of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Msgr. Esseff uses the Assumption as a sign of Mary’s unique role in salvation history, being free from sin and death, like her Son, Jesus Christ. He connects Mary’s Assumption to the broader Christian belief in the resurrection and eternal life; that death has no power over those united with Christ.

Msgr. Esseff shares personal reflections on the death of his family members, illustrating the hope and comfort that faith in the resurrection brings. He also discusses the importance of understanding suffering as a way to unite with Christ, echoing Mary’s own participation in the suffering of her Son.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

  1. Understanding the Assumption: How does the Assumption of Mary deepen your understanding of the resurrection and eternal life in Christ?
  2. Conquering Death: In what ways does your faith help you to see death not as an end, but as the beginning of eternal life?
  3. Role of Suffering: How can you embrace suffering as a path to unite more closely with Jesus, following the example of Mary?
  4. Mary as a Model: How does Mary’s sinlessness and Assumption inspire you to strive for holiness in your own life?
  5. The Power of the Rosary: How often do you pray the Rosary, and how do you see it as a tool for spiritual warfare and peace?
  6. Personal Reflection on Loss: How do you find comfort in the belief that your loved ones are with Mary and Jesus in heaven?
  7. Living with an Eternal Perspective: How can you cultivate a mindset that sees this life as a prelude to the eternal joy of heaven?

Reading 2  1 COR 15:20-27

Brothers and sisters:
Christ has been raised from the dead,
the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
For since death came through man,
the resurrection of the dead came also through man.
For just as in Adam all die,
so too in Christ shall all be brought to life,
but each one in proper order:
Christ the firstfruits;
then, at his coming, those who belong to Christ;
then comes the end,
when he hands over the Kingdom to his God and Father,
when he has destroyed every sovereignty
and every authority and power.
For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
The last enemy to be destroyed is death,
for “he subjected everything under his feet.”

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 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.  He continues to serve as a retreat leader and director to bishops, priests and sisters and seminarians, and other religious leaders.

DOS8- La Sexta Regla – El camino de la desolación con la Regla 6 – Discernimiento de Espíritus con el Padre Timothy Gallagher – Podcasts de Corazones Discernientes

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Episodio 8 –La Sexta Regla – El camino de la desolación con la Regla 6

La Sexta Regla:

Aunque en la desolación no debemos cambiar nuestros primeros propósitos, es muy ventajoso cambiarnos intensamente contra la desolación misma, como insistiendo más en la oración, en la meditación, en el mucho examen y en extendernos en algún modo conveniente de hacer penitencia.

El Padre Timothy Gallagher y Kris McGregor se centran en la guía espiritual proporcionada por San Ignacio de Loyola en la sexta regla del Discernimiento de Espíritus. Esta regla trata de cómo responder cuando se experimenta desolación espiritual.

El Padre Gallagher explica que, mientras se está en desolación, uno no debe cambiar sus compromisos espirituales, sino más bien cambiar él mismo intensamente contra la desolación. La desolación no debe aceptarse pasivamente, ya que no es una cruz que hay que soportar, sino algo a lo que hay que resistir activamente.

Cuatro son las herramientas que San Ignacio recomienda para combatir la desolación: la oración (pedir la ayuda de Dios), la meditación (reflexionar sobre las verdades y el amor de Dios), mucho examen (analizar las causas profundas de la desolación) y la penitencia adecuada. El P. Gallagher ilustra estas prácticas con anécdotas personales, demostrando cómo acudir a Dios en momentos de desolación puede aliviar y ayudar a superar las luchas espirituales.

 

Preguntas de reflexión de Discerning Hearts para este episodio:

  1. Comprender la desolación espiritual: ¿Qué nos enseña San Ignacio sobre la experiencia de la desolación espiritual y cómo afecta a nuestra relación con Dios?
  2. Reaccionar ante la desolación: ¿Cómo podemos responder activamente a la desolación espiritual con esperanza y energía en lugar de aceptarla pasivamente?
  3. El papel de la oración: ¿De qué manera sugiere Ignacio usar la oración como herramienta para resistir y superar la desolación espiritual?
  4. Meditación en la oscuridad: ¿Cómo puede ayudarnos recordar las verdades de nuestra fe en momentos de desolación espiritual?
  5. Examinar el origen: ¿Por qué es importante examinar las causas y la progresión de nuestra desolación espiritual para comprender su origen?
  6. El poder de la penitencia: ¿Cómo puede ayudarnos la penitencia a romper el poder de la desolación espiritual?
  7. Reflexión personal: ¿Qué escrituras específicas, oraciones o experiencias personales puedes preparar de antemano para ayudarte durante los momentos de desolación espiritual?

 

Para ver más episodios de la serie, visite: El Discernimiento de los Espíritus: Liberar a los cautivos con el Padre Timothy Gallagher; Podcast de Discernimiento de Corazones

El Padre Timothy M. Gallagher, O.M.V., fue ordenado en 1979 como miembro de los Oblatos de la Virgen María, una comunidad religiosa dedicada a los retiros y a la formación espiritual según los Ejercicios Espirituales de San Ignacio. El P. Gallagher aparece en la serie de EWTN “Living the Discerning Life: Las enseñanzas espirituales de San Ignacio de Loyola”.

Para más información sobre cómo obtener copias de los diversos libros y audios del P. Gallaghers que están disponibles para su compra, por favor visite su  website: www.frtimothygallagher.org

BTP-L14 – Letter 335 – The Letters of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity – Beginning to Pray with Dr. Anthony Lilles – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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Letter 335 – The Letters of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity – Beginning to Pray with Dr. Anthony Lilles

Dr. Anthony Lilles and Kris McGregor discuss one of St. Elizabeth’s final letters, written to Sister Marie-Odile on October 28th, 1906. This letter, known as Letter 335, holds a deep spiritual significance as it was penned just days before Elizabeth’s death.

Centering on the themes of spiritual communion, the transformative power of God’s love, and the mystical relationship between heaven and earth; Elizabeth, aware of her approaching death, speaks with profound love and joy, expressing her commitment to continue praying for and guiding Sister Marie-Odile, even after her passing. Describing her mission in heaven as helping souls detach from themselves and cling to God through simple, loving movements, she reminds us of the importance of entering into the silence where God can transform the soul.

Reflecting on Elizabeth’s message of embracing God’s love even in the face of death, drawing parallels to Pope Francis’ exhortation on holiness, and the eucharistic nature of spiritual transformation, they discuss the fear of death that many experience, contrasting it with the audacity of grace that allows believers to face death with courage. Elizabeth’s letters are seen as a testament to her deepening union with God, especially as she approached her final moments, turning her death into a powerful act of love and glorification of God.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

  1. Understanding Spiritual Friendship: How does the deep spiritual friendship between Elizabeth of the Trinity and Sister Marie O’Dell challenge our own approach to nurturing relationships rooted in faith?
  2. Embracing the Mystery of Death: How can Elizabeth’s peaceful acceptance of her impending death inspire us to confront our own fears about mortality with faith and trust in God?
  3. The Power of Prayer: In what ways can we deepen our prayer life to experience the same transformative union with God that Elizabeth describes in her letters?
  4. The Role of Silence in Spiritual Growth: How can we cultivate a fruitful silence in our lives that allows God to speak to and transform our hearts?
  5. Living a Eucharistic Life: How does Elizabeth’s understanding of transformation through the Eucharist challenge us to offer ourselves more fully to God in our daily lives?
  6. Holiness in Everyday Life: How can we apply Elizabeth’s example of living by love and embracing the cross to our own daily struggles and responsibilities?
  7. Intercession and Communion of Saints: How can we grow in our understanding of the communion of saints and the power of intercession in our spiritual journey?

Letter 335

To Sister Marie-Odile

[October 28, 1906]
Our God is a consuming Fire

Before flying away to Heaven, dear little Sister Marie-Odile, I want to send you a little note from my soul, for I am anxious for you to know that in the Father’s House I will pray especially for you. I am keeping a rendez-vous with you in the Furnace of love; my eternity will be spent there, and you can begin it already here on earth. Dear Sister, I will be jealous for the beauty of your soul, for, as you know, my little heart loves you very much, and when one loves, one desires the best for the beloved. I think that in Heaven my mission will be to draw souls by helping them go out of themselves to cling to God by a wholly simple and loving movement, and to keep them in this great silence within that will allow God to communicate Himself to them and transform them into Himself. Dear little sister of my soul, it seems to me I now see everything in God’s light, and if I started my life over again, oh, I would wish not to waste one instant! He does not allow us, His brides in Carmel, to devote ourselves to anything but love, but the divine, and if by chance, in the radiance of His Light, I see you leave that sole occupation, I will come very quickly to call you to order; you would want that, wouldn’t you?

Pray for me, help me prepare for the wedding feast of the Lamb. Death entails a great deal of suffering, and I am counting on you to help me. In return, I will come to help you at your death. My Master urges me on, He speaks to me of nothing but the eternity of love. It is so grave, so serious; I wish to live each moment fully. A Dieu, I don’t have the strength or the permission to write at length, but you know Saint Paul’s words: “Our conversation is in Heaven.” Beloved little sister, let us live by love so we may die of love and glorify the God Who is all Love.

“Laudem gloriae,”
October 28, 1906.

Catez, Elizabeth of the Trinity. The Complete Works of Elizabeth of the Trinity volume 2: Letters from Carmel (pp. 360-361). ICS Publications. Kindle Edition.

We would like to thank Miriam Gutierrez for providing “the voice” of St. Elizabeth for this series

For other episodes in the series visit the Discerning Hearts page for Dr. Anthony Lilles

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 .

PSM10 – The Inward then Outward, Upward then Downward Movement of Liturgy – Pathway to Sacred Mysteries with Dr. David Fagerberg – Discerning Hearts Podcast


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Dr. David Fagerberg

Episode 10 – The Inward then Outward, Upward then Downward Movement of Liturgy – Pathway to Sacred Mysteries with Dr. David Fagerberg Ph.D.

Dr. David Fagerberg and Kris McGregor discuss how marriage, as a sacrament, symbolizes the union between Christ and the Church, reflecting God’s original plan before the Fall. Discussing asceticism in the context of both Eden and our current spiritual practices; and how living in an upright manner aligns with God’s original justice, they delve into the concept of liturgy as a two-way movement, where the faithful ascend into the heavenly realms, and the Holy Spirit descends upon the assembly.

The mystery and beauty of sacraments, particularly the Eucharist and reconciliation, Dr. Fagerberg uses vivid metaphors to illustrate how sacraments reconnect believers with God, especially after sin has disrupted their relationship.

Mysticism is discussed as an integral part of Christian life, not a separate path but a deeper way of walking the path laid by Christ. With repetition in spiritual practices, it fosters a deep and steady communion with God, preparing the soul for the ultimate mystical union in heaven.

From the discussion with Dr. Fagerberg:

“This is from my theological diary once more. There are two movements in the liturgy and the Greek language identified them as anabatic and katabatic. Basis means to go. Anabatic is to go up. Katabatic is to go down. The anabatic movement in liturgy is our ascent into the heavenly realms. Lift up your hearts. The katabatic is the spirit’s descent upon the assembly and the sacrifice.

Oh, the dictionary includes a meteorological definition for Anabasis as well. It says pertaining to an uphill wind produced by the effects of local heating. No wait. That’s a Pentecostal definition. The dictionary also gives a spatial metaphor. Anabasis, it says, is a march from the coast to the interior, where in silence one will find the Holy Spirit waiting. While Catabasis is a march from the interior of a country to the coast, where in need one will find the world waiting.

Every liturgy is a two-way march inward then outward, or upward then downward. But here’s the paragraph that made me think of it now and this is just especially for you in your tornado. The prefix acro means aloft. The Holy Spirit restores Adam and Eve’s wings making us liturgical acrobats, acrobasis, tumbling twirling, doing barrel rolls with the angels above the altar. Liturgical aestheticism lightens one’s gravity and increases the measure of our liturgical capacity.

So I’ll open a summer camp for liturgical acrobats and the people who have a thin definition will think that I’m actually doing something like a clown liturgy, but will actually start with prayer fasting and alms giving. Try to overcome the passions, learn how to overcome the passions so that we could become lofty liturgists twirling aloft. Acrobasis. I told you I don’t know other languages. I mean, I’m just bad at it. I passed my language exams, but I do like single words and they just turn like a ruby. They don’t have all those other words cluttering up the sentence, those single words are just gems to me.”

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

  1. The Sacramental Union in Marriage: How does your marriage (or relationships) reflect the union between Christ and the Church?
  2. Original Justice and Asceticism: In what ways can you practice asceticism in your life to align more closely with God’s original plan for humanity?
  3. Liturgy as Spiritual Ascent: How can you more consciously participate in the liturgical ascent and descent during Mass to deepen your connection with God?
  4. Reconciliation and Renewal: Do you view the Sacrament of Reconciliation as a “kickstart” for your spiritual life, and how can it help restore your relationship with God?
  5. The Role of Mysticism: How do you understand mysticism within your faith journey, and how can you begin to cultivate a mystical life grounded in the sacraments?
  6. The Power of Repetition: What spiritual practices in your life need more consistent repetition to build a deeper and more stable relationship with God?
  7. Communion with God in Everyday Life: How can you foster a continuous, habitual communion with God, even in the ordinary moments of daily life?

For more podcast episodes of this series visit the Pathways to Sacred Mysteries w/Dr. David Fagerberg page

David W. Fagerberg is Professor in the Department of Theology at the University of Notre Dame. He holds masters degrees from Luther Northwestern Seminary, St. John’s University (Collegeville), Yale Divinity School, and Yale University. His Ph.D. is from Yale University in liturgical theology.

Fagerberg’s work has explored how the Church’s lex credendi (law of belief) is founded upon the Church’s lex orandi (law of prayer). This was expressed in Theologia Prima (Hillenbrand Books, 2003). He has integrated into this the Eastern Orthodox understanding of asceticism by considering its role in preparing the liturgical person. This was treated in On Liturgical Asceticism (Catholic University Press, 2013). And these two themes come together in Consecrating the World: On Mundane Liturgical Theology (Angelico Press, 2016).

He also has an avocation in G. K. Chesterton, having published Chesterton is Everywhere (Emmaus Press, 2013) and The Size of Chesterton’s Catholicism (University of Notre Dame, 1998).

Here are a few of Dr. Fagerberg’s books:
Liturgical Theology Liturgical Mysticism Liturgical Theology Theological Theology

SISL1 – Introduction – Struggles in the Spiritual Life with Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Discerning Hearts Podcasts


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Introduction – Struggles in the Spiritual Life with Fr. Timothy Gallagher O.M.V.

Fr. Timothy Gallagher and Kris McGregor begin a 20-part series on the various Struggles in the Spiritual Life. Spiritual struggles are not only common but can be a positive sign of a growing and alive spiritual life. Centering around recognizing and understanding these struggles, as well as the remedies to overcome them, Fr. Gallagher draws heavily on the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola.

Struggles, though challenging, are opportunities for spiritual growth. Fr. Gallagher shares that being aware of these struggles and knowing how to address them can lead to greater freedom and deeper spiritual maturity. The importance of focusing on one’s own spiritual life before effectively helping others and that a strong personal connection with God enables us to share our faith more joyfully and fruitfully.

Throughout the conversation, Fr. Gallagher uses examples from the lives of saints and other spiritual figures to illustrate how struggles can lead to profound spiritual experiences and growth. While struggles are part of the spiritual journey, they are secondary to the central truth of God’s love, which is the foundation of our spiritual life.

You can pick up a copy of the book here.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

  1. Understanding Spiritual Struggles: What specific spiritual struggles have you encountered recently, and how might they indicate growth in your spiritual life?
  2. Awareness in the Spiritual Life: Are you actively aware of the spiritual movements within your heart, and how does this awareness influence your response to struggles?
  3. Embracing Spiritual Remedies: How have you applied remedies from the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius to overcome struggles, and what impact have they had?
  4. Learning from the Saints: Which saint’s experiences resonate with your own spiritual journey, and how can their example guide you through your struggles?
  5. Fostering Spiritual Growth: In what ways have your struggles led to significant spiritual growth, and how have you seen God’s providence in them?
  6. Prioritizing Personal Spirituality: How are you focusing on deepening your own spiritual life before trying to guide others in their spiritual journeys?
  7. Recognizing God’s Love: How does the knowledge of God’s love as the foundation of your spiritual life shape your perspective on the struggles you face?

An excerpt from the Prologue:

“All who walk the spiritual journey undergo, in their individual ways, such struggles. Our spiritual tradition knows these struggles, explains their causes, and supplies their remedies. Such struggles lie within God’s loving providence. Understood and faced well, they will not harm us. They will, on the contrary, lead to growth — the reason for which God permits them.

Struggles are not the heart of the spiritual life. God’s love is — His deep, warm, faithful, and personal love for you. That is the center. That is the source of your joy. Because you know this, you love the spiritual life. And because you love it, you have begun to read this book.

We turn now to a wisdom that will protect this center and guide us into its richness.”

Gallagher O.M.V, Fr. Timothy. Struggles in the Spiritual Life: Their Nature and Their Remedies (p. 11). Sophia Institute Press. Kindle Edition.

 

To find more episodes from this series, visit the Struggles in the Spiritual Life Podcast

From the book’s description: “Here is a powerful, life-changing book that will help you understand and conquer the struggles you face in your spiritual life. It’s a book for those who love the Lord and desire holiness yet often feel adrift or stagnant in their search for spiritual growth.

All of us encounter valleys on our journey with the Lord — those periods of spiritual desolation that are a painful yet unavoidable feature of our prayer life. Spiritual desolation is as complex as we are, so understanding what is happening and responding to it properly are critical to reaching the heights of holiness.

With warmth and understanding, Fr. Gallagher carefully identifies in this book the various forms of spiritual and nonspiritual desolation and supplies the remedy for each. You’ll learn how to discern whether your struggles derive from medical or psychological conditions or whether those struggles are spiritual and permitted by the Lord for reasons of growth. In each case, you’ll be given the remedy for the struggle. You’ll also learn the forms of spiritual dryness and of the Dark Night — and how to respond to them.

In chapter after chapter, Fr. Gallagher presents a particular struggle as experienced by fictional characters and then provides the advice he gives to those who come to him for spiritual direction about that struggle. You’ll gain confidence as you journey through desolation, and you’ll learn to reject the enemy’s ploys to infect you with a sense of hopelessness.”

Did you know that Fr. Timothy Gallagher has 14 different podcast series on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts?
Visit here to discover more!

 

Christ’s Healing Sacrament – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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Christ’s Healing Sacrament – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff

Msgr. John Esseff and Kris McGregor discuss the profound spiritual significance of the Eucharist and its transformative power in our lives. Using the Eucharist as the “food of life,” which grants divine life and eternal salvation to those who partake in it, Msgr. Esseff reflects on John 6, where Jesus teaches that His flesh and blood are true food and drink, essential for eternal life.

Msgr. Esseff connects this teaching to those struggling with various addictions, such as alcoholism, drug abuse, and eating disorders, highlighting the Eucharist as a source of healing and strength. He discusses the importance of surrendering to Christ, especially in the context of the 12-step recovery program, where recognizing one’s powerlessness and turning to a higher power are crucial steps. He also touches on how the Eucharist can bring about healing and order in other areas of life, such as self-centeredness and compulsive behaviors.

The Eucharist is both a remedy for sinners and a source of spiritual nourishment, and to deepen their devotion to this sacrament is a means of experiencing Christ’s healing and love in our lives.

From John 6:41-51

The Jews murmured about Jesus because he said,
“I am the bread that came down from heaven, ”
and they said,
“Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph?
Do we not know his father and mother?
Then how can he say,
‘I have come down from heaven’?”
Jesus answered and said to them,
“Stop murmuring among yourselves.
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him,
and I will raise him on the last day.
It is written in the prophets:
They shall all be taught by God.
Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me.
Not that anyone has seen the Father
except the one who is from God;
he has seen the Father.
Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever believes has eternal life.
I am the bread of life.
Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died;
this is the bread that comes down from heaven
so that one may eat it and not die.
I am the living bread that came down from heaven;
whoever eats this bread will live forever;
and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

  1. Understanding the Eucharist as the Bread of Life: How does the Eucharist deepen your understanding of Jesus as the source of eternal life?
  2. Applying Eucharistic Healing to Addictions: In what ways can receiving the Eucharist help you or others overcome personal struggles or addictions?
  3. Surrendering to Christ in Recovery: How can surrendering to Christ, especially in the Eucharist, aid in your journey towards spiritual and emotional healing?
  4. Recognizing the Eucharist as a Remedy for Sin: How does viewing the Eucharist as a medicine for sinners change your approach to receiving Holy Communion?
  5. Embracing the Eucharist for Daily Living: How can the Eucharist empower you to live a life of greater love, selflessness, and service to others?

Msgr. John A. Esseff is a Roman Catholic priest in the Diocese of Scranton. He was ordained on May 30, 1953, by the late Bishop William J. Hafey, D.D. at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Scranton, PA. Msgr. Esseff served a retreat director and confessor to St. Teresa of Calcutta. He continues to offer direction and retreats for the sisters of the Missionaries of Charity around the world. Msgr. Esseff encountered St. Padre Pio, who would become a spiritual father to him. He has lived in areas around the world, serving in the Pontifical Missions, a Catholic organization established by St. Pope John Paul II to bring the Good News to the world especially to the poor. Msgr. Esseff assisted the founders of the Institute for Priestly Formation and serves as a spiritual director for the Institute. He continues to serve as a retreat leader and director to bishops, priests and sisters and seminarians and other religious leaders around the world.

Sunday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast

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Sunday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast

As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly.  For at least the next few moments, surrender all the cares and concerns of this day to the Lord.

Say slowly from your heart “Jesus, I Trust In You…You Take Over”

Become aware that He is with you, looking upon you with love, wanting to be heard deep within in your heart…

From the Holy Gospel According to St. John 6:41-51

The Jews were complaining to each other about Jesus, because he had said, ‘I am the bread that came down from heaven.’ ‘Surely this is Jesus son of Joseph’ they said. ‘We know his father and mother. How can he now say, “I have come down from heaven”?’ Jesus said in reply, ‘Stop complaining to each other.
‘No one can come to me
unless he is drawn by the Father who sent me,
and I will raise him up at the last day.
It is written in the prophets:
They will all be taught by God,
and to hear the teaching of the Father,
and learn from it,
is to come to me.
Not that anybody has seen the Father,
except the one who comes from God:
he has seen the Father.
I tell you most solemnly,
everybody who believes has eternal life.
‘I am the bread of life.
Your fathers ate the manna in the desert
and they are dead;
but this is the bread that comes down from heaven,
so that a man may eat it and not die.
I am the living bread which has come down from heaven.
Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever;
and the bread that I shall give is my flesh,
for the life of the world.’

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:

The Jews were complaining to each other about Jesus, because he had said, ‘I am the bread that came down from heaven.’ ‘Surely this is Jesus son of Joseph’ they said. ‘We know his father and mother. How can he now say, “I have come down from heaven”?’ Jesus said in reply, ‘Stop complaining to each other.
‘No one can come to me
unless he is drawn by the Father who sent me,
and I will raise him up at the last day.
It is written in the prophets:
They will all be taught by God,
and to hear the teaching of the Father,
and learn from it,
is to come to me.
Not that anybody has seen the Father,
except the one who comes from God:
he has seen the Father.
I tell you most solemnly,
everybody who believes has eternal life.
‘I am the bread of life.
Your fathers ate the manna in the desert
and they are dead;
but this is the bread that comes down from heaven,
so that a man may eat it and not die.
I am the living bread which has come down from heaven.
Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever;
and the bread that I shall give is my flesh,
for the life of the world.’

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:

The Jews were complaining to each other about Jesus, because he had said, ‘I am the bread that came down from heaven.’ ‘Surely this is Jesus son of Joseph’ they said. ‘We know his father and mother. How can he now say, “I have come down from heaven”?’ Jesus said in reply, ‘Stop complaining to each other.
‘No one can come to me
unless he is drawn by the Father who sent me,
and I will raise him up at the last day.
It is written in the prophets:
They will all be taught by God,
and to hear the teaching of the Father,
and learn from it,
is to come to me.
Not that anybody has seen the Father,
except the one who comes from God:
he has seen the Father.
I tell you most solemnly,
everybody who believes has eternal life.
‘I am the bread of life.
Your fathers ate the manna in the desert
and they are dead;
but this is the bread that comes down from heaven,
so that a man may eat it and not die.
I am the living bread which has come down from heaven.
Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever;
and the bread that I shall give is my flesh,
for the life of the world.’

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.

Saturday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast

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Saturday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast

As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly.  For at least the next few moments, surrender all the cares and concerns of this day to the Lord.

Say slowly from your heart “Jesus, I Trust In You…You Take Over”

Become aware that He is with you, looking upon you with love, wanting to be heard deep within in your heart…

From the Holy Gospel According to St. John 12:24-26

Jesus said to his disciples:
‘I tell you, most solemnly,
unless a wheat grain falls on the ground and dies,
it remains only a single grain;
but if it dies,
it yields a rich harvest.
Anyone who loves his life loses it;
anyone who hates his life in this world
will keep it for the eternal life.
If a man serves me, he must follow me,
wherever I am, my servant will be there too.
If anyone serves me, my Father will honour him.’

What word made this passage come alive for you?

What did you sense the Lord saying to you?

Once more give the Lord an opportunity to speak to you:

Jesus said to his disciples:
‘I tell you, most solemnly,
unless a wheat grain falls on the ground and dies,
it remains only a single grain;
but if it dies,
it yields a rich harvest.
Anyone who loves his life loses it;
anyone who hates his life in this world
will keep it for the eternal life.
If a man serves me, he must follow me,
wherever I am, my servant will be there too.
If anyone serves me, my Father will honour him.’

What did your heart feel as you listened?

What did you sense the Lord saying to you?

Once more, through Him, with Him and in Him listen to the Word:

Jesus said to his disciples:
‘I tell you, most solemnly,
unless a wheat grain falls on the ground and dies,
it remains only a single grain;
but if it dies,
it yields a rich harvest.
Anyone who loves his life loses it;
anyone who hates his life in this world
will keep it for the eternal life.
If a man serves me, he must follow me,
wherever I am, my servant will be there too.
If anyone serves me, my Father will honour him.’

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.

IP#283 – Sr. Regina van den Berg – Communion with Christ according to St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross on Inside the Pages w/ Kris McGregor

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Sr.-Regina

Sr. Regina van den Berg – Communion with Christ according to St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor

In this episode of “Inside the Pages”, Sr. Regina van den Berg joins in conversation with Kris McGregor about Sr. Regina’s book, Communion with Christ. Focusing on the life and spirituality of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, also known as Edith Stein, Sr. Regina shares how she first became interested in Edith Stein after being encouraged to read her works when she took the religious habit. Edith Stein’s journey from a Jewish background to Catholicism, and eventually to becoming a Carmelite nun, serves as a central theme in the conversation.

Sr. Regina explains that Edith Stein, influenced by her philosophical background and personal experiences, offers profound insights into suffering, empathy, and the vocation of both men and women; as well as the contrast between community and association; that true communion involves a deep, personal connection with others and with God, unlike associations formed merely for a specific goal.

You can find the book here.

Communion-with-Christ

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

  1. Understanding Communion with Christ: How does St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross deepen your understanding of true communion with Christ, especially through embracing the cross?
  2. The Role of Suffering in Faith: In what ways can you find meaning and consolation in your own suffering by uniting it with the suffering of Christ?
  3. Empathy and Communion: How can the practice of empathy, as described by St. Teresa Benedicta, enhance your relationships with others and deepen your spiritual life?
  4. Identity and God’s Will: Are you at peace with who God created you to be, and how do you surrender your will to align with God’s will in your daily life?
  5. Community versus Association: How does your participation in your community reflect true communion, rather than just an association with a shared goal?

From the Book’s Description:

“Pope Saint John Paul II declared that the great challenge for Christians today is to become “the home and school of communion.”St. Teresa Benedicta (Edith Stein) is a sure guide to attaining the communion for which every human heart longs. This work considers St. Teresa’s life and writings in the context of the “spirituality of communion”. As a philosopher she was directed towards attaining communion with the Truth, and she discovered that Truth was a Person, Jesus Christ. As a Carmelite nun she gave up everything for communion with him.

Dr. Alice von Hildebrand, in the foreword, says Edith Stein’s message “is above her time” and that the author, Sister M. Regina van den Berg, F.S.G.M. “is well qualified to write such a book.” Sister Regina explores in detail Edith Stein’s theory of empathy as developed in her doctoral dissertation, as well as her later theory of community. Sister Regina has also used a number of Edith Stein’s writings that, until this work, have not yet been available in English translation.

Each chapter explores an aspect of “communion”, richly revealing the wisdom of Edith Stein, “a Jew who became a philosopher . . . a convert to Catholicism who became a Carmelite nun and crowned her life with martyrdom”. Stein’s work “provides insights that can help us to grow in the spirituality of communion, first by presenting to us the truth about the human person’s nature and vocation and then by showing us how we can arrive at a spirituality of communion in the various aspects of life.”

About the Author

Sister M. Regina van den Berg, F.S.G.M., obtained her Ph.D. in Philosophy from the Catholic University of America. She has served in various apostolates for her religious community and currently resides in Rome.