Why do you confuse yourselves by worrying? Leave the care of your affairs to me and everything will be peaceful. I say to you in truth that every act of true, blind, complete surrender to me produces the effect that you desire and resolves all difficult situations.
O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything! (10 times)
Mother, I am yours now and forever. Through you and with you I always want to belong completely to Jesus.
What a delight to be joined by Fr. Thomas Berg to discuss Choosing Forgiveness: Unleash the Power of God’s Grace. Hands down, this is one of the very best books I’ve read on the subject of forgiveness. Practical, compelling, and needed today more than ever, Choosing Forgiveness is a must for every home and vital to every heart. Don’t miss this conversation!
“This work will stand the test of time as it is anchored in an authentic Catholic anthropology, psychology and spirituality. It is a complete and robust presentation on forgiveness. Every page invites realism and hope. This would be a useful book for pastors and clinicians and spiritual directors. The Church will be aided greatly by the authors’ insights and faith.” — Deacon James Keating, Ph.D., Professor of Spiritual Theology, Kenrick Glennon Seminary
To say that offering forgiveness is a challenge is an understatement. Forgiveness is tough! Forgiveness is often messy. Forgiveness doesn’t feel good to most of us. And when it comes to the biggest, deepest hurts in life, forgiveness can seem impossible.
Some hurts are the everyday, garden-variety irritations we endure for having to live in the company of other human beings who lose their tempers, get up on the wrong side of the bed, say nasty things, are ungrateful, selfish, and irritable. Some hurts are of a magnitude that far transcend these — degradation, exploitation, abandonment, rejection, humiliation, racism, bullying, physical, sexual, or emotional abuse. But with God’s grace, even in those most difficult cases, forgiveness is possible.
In Choosing Forgiveness, Fr. Thomas Berg and Dr. Timothy G. Lock are your guides on the way toward forgiveness through the grace of God. This book will help you discover the pathway to healing, peace, and interior freedom, releasing you and those who have wronged you from the bondage of unforgiveness.
El Primer Misterio Luminoso: El Bautismo de Nuestro Señor en el Río Jordán Deseo vivir mis promesas bautismales (Mateo 3:13-16)
El Segundo Misterio Luminoso: Las Bodas de Caná, cuando Cristo se manifesto Deseo hacer lo que Jesús diga (Juan 2:1-11)
El Tercer Misterio Luminoso: La Proclamación del Reino de Dios Deseo el perdón, la gracia y la misericordia de Dios (Marcos 1:14-15)
El Cuarto Misterio Luminoso: La Transfiguración de Nuestro Señor Deseo ser una persona nueva en Cristo (Mateo 17:1-8)
El Quinto Misterio Luminoso: La Última Cena, o la Institución de la Sagrada Eucaristía Deseo un mayor amor a la Sagrada Eucaristía (Mateo 26)
Comienzo de las oraciones
La Señal de la Cruz
En el nombre del Padre, y del Hijo, y del Espíritu Santo. Amén.
El Credo de los Apóstoles
Creo en Dios, Padre todopoderoso, Creador del cielo y de la tierra. Creo en Jesucristo, su único Hijo, nuestro Señor, que fue concebidopor obra del Espíritu Santo, nació de Santa María Virgen, padeció bajo el poder de Poncio Pilato, fue crucificado, muerto y sepultado. El tercer día resucitó de entre los muertos. Subió a los cielos y está sentado a la derecha de Dios, Padre todopoderoso. Él vendrá a juzgar a los vivos y a los muertos. Creo en el Espíritu Santo, la santa Iglesia católica, la comunión de los santos, el perdón de los pecados, la resurrección de los muertos y la vida eterna. Amén.
Oraciones principales
Padre nuestro Padre nuestro, que estás en el cielo, santificado sea tu nombre, venga a nosotros tu reino, hágase tu voluntad, en la tierra como en el cielo. Danos hoy nuestro pan de cada día, perdona nuestras ofensas, como también nosotros perdonamos a los que nos ofenden. No nos dejes caer en la tentación, y líbranos del mal. Amén
Ave Maria
Dios te Salve, María, llena eres de gracia, el Señor está contigo. Bendita tú eres entre todas las mujeres y bendito es el fruto de tu vientre, Jesús. Santa María, Madre de Dios, ruega por nosotros pecadores, ahora y en la hora de nuestra muerte. Amén
Gloria
Gloria al Padre y al Hijo y al Espíritu Santo. Como era en el principio ahora y siempre, por los siglos de los siglos. Amén.
Oración de Fátima
Oh Jesús mío, perdona nuestros pecados, líbranos del fuego del Infierno, lleva todas las almas al cielo, especialmente a las más necesitadas de tu misericordia. Amén.
Oraciones finales
Salve Santa Reina Dios te Salve, Reina y Madre de misericordia, vida, dulzura y esperanza nuestra, Dios te salve.
A ti llamamos los desterrados hijos de Eva; a ti suspiramos, gimiendo y llorando, en este valle de lágrimas. Ea, pues, Señora, abogada nuestra, vuelve a nosotros esos tus ojos misericordiosos, y, después de este destierro, muéstranos a Jesús, fruto bendito de tu vientre. ¡Oh clementísima, oh piadosa, oh dulce Virgen María!
Rezo final del Rosario Oh Dios, cuyo Unigénito Hijo con su vida, muerte y resurrección, ha comprado para nosotros la recompensa de la vida eterna, concédenos, te rogamos, que, al meditar los Misterios del Más Santo Rosario de la BienaventuradaVirgen María, imitemos lo que contienen y obtengamos lo que promete, por el mismo Cristo nuestro Señor. Amén.[
El primer Misterio Doloroso – La Agonía de Nuestro Señor en el Huerto Deseo el verdadero arrepentimiento de mis pecados
Mateo 26:36-56
El Segundo Misterio Doloroso: Nuestro Señor es Flagelado en el Pilar Deseo un espíritu de mortificación Mateo 27:26
El Tercer Misterio Doloroso: Nuestro Señor es Coronado de Espinas Deseo valor moral Mateo 27:27-31 El Cuarto Misterio Doloroso: Nuestro Señor Lleva la Cruz al Calvario Deseo la virtud de la paciencia Mateo 27:32
El Quinto Misterio Doloroso: La Crucifixión de Nuestro Señor Deseo la gracia de la perseverancia final Mateo 27:33-56
Comienzo de las oraciones
La Señal de la Cruz
En el nombre del Padre, y del Hijo, y del Espíritu Santo. Amén.
El Credo de los Apóstoles
Creo en Dios, Padre todopoderoso, Creador del cielo y de la tierra. Creo en Jesucristo, su único Hijo, nuestro Señor, que fue concebidopor obra del Espíritu Santo, nació de Santa María Virgen, padeció bajo el poder de Poncio Pilato, fue crucificado, muerto y sepultado. El tercer día resucitó de entre los muertos. Subió a los cielos y está sentado a la derecha de Dios, Padre todopoderoso. Él vendrá a juzgar a los vivos y a los muertos. Creo en el Espíritu Santo, la santa Iglesia católica, la comunión de los santos, el perdón de los pecados, la resurrección de los muertos y la vida eterna. Amén.
Oraciones principales
Padre nuestro Padre nuestro, que estás en el cielo, santificado sea tu nombre, venga a nosotros tu reino, hágase tu voluntad, en la tierra como en el cielo. Danos hoy nuestro pan de cada día, perdona nuestras ofensas, como también nosotros perdonamos a los que nos ofenden. No nos dejes caer en la tentación, y líbranos del mal. Amén
Ave Maria
Dios te Salve, María, llena eres de gracia, el Señor está contigo. Bendita tú eres entre todas las mujeres y bendito es el fruto de tu vientre, Jesús. Santa María, Madre de Dios, ruega por nosotros pecadores, ahora y en la hora de nuestra muerte. Amén
Gloria
Gloria al Padre y al Hijo y al Espíritu Santo. Como era en el principio ahora y siempre, por los siglos de los siglos. Amén.
Oración de Fátima
Oh Jesús mío, perdona nuestros pecados, líbranos del fuego del Infierno, lleva todas las almas al cielo, especialmente a las más necesitadas de tu misericordia. Amén.
Oraciones finales
Salve Santa Reina Dios te Salve, Reina y Madre de misericordia, vida, dulzura y esperanza nuestra, Dios te salve.
A ti llamamos los desterrados hijos de Eva; a ti suspiramos, gimiendo y llorando, en este valle de lágrimas. Ea, pues, Señora, abogada nuestra, vuelve a nosotros esos tus ojos misericordiosos, y, después de este destierro, muéstranos a Jesús, fruto bendito de tu vientre. ¡Oh clementísima, oh piadosa, oh dulce Virgen María!
Rezo final del Rosario Oh Dios, cuyo Unigénito Hijo con su vida, muerte y resurrección, ha comprado para nosotros la recompensa de la vida eterna, concédenos, te rogamos, que, al meditar los Misterios del Más Santo Rosario de la BienaventuradaVirgen María, imitemos lo que contienen y obtengamos lo que promete, por el mismo Cristo nuestro Señor. Amén.
Msgr. Esseff reflects on the Sacred Scriptures chosen for the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States. The greatest gift we have is the relationship with Jesus Christ.
And now, bless the God of all,
who has done wondrous things on earth;
Who fosters people’s growth from their mother’s womb,
and fashions them according to his will!
May he grant you joy of heart
and may peace abide among you;
May his goodness toward us endure in Israel
to deliver us in our days
As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem,
he traveled through Samaria and Galilee.
As he was entering a village, ten persons with leprosy met him.
They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying,
“Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!”
And when he saw them, he said,
“Go show yourselves to the priests.”
As they were going they were cleansed.
And one of them, realizing he had been healed,
returned, glorifying God in a loud voice;
and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.
He was a Samaritan.
Jesus said in reply,
“Ten were cleansed, were they not?
Where are the other nine?
Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?”
Then he said to him, “Stand up and go;
your faith has saved you.
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. He continues to serve as a retreat leader and director to bishops, priests and sisters and seminarians, and other religious leaders around the world.
Why did Dostoyevsky love Jesus but hate the Catholic Church? Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro continue to read Henri de Lubac’s analysis of the great Fyodor Dostoyevsky in “The Drama of Atheist Humanism.”
De Lubac traces the origin of 19th century attempts to construct a humanism apart from God, the sources of contemporary atheism which purports to have “moved beyond God.” The three persons he focuses on are Feuerbach, who greatly influenced Marx; Nietzsche, who represents nihilism; and Comte, who is the father of all forms of positivism.
He then shows that the only one who really responded to this ideology was Dostoevsky, a kind of prophet who criticizes in his novels this attempt to have a society without God. Despite their historical and scholarly appearance, de Lubac’s work clearly refers to the present.
As he investigates the sources of modern atheism, particularly in its claim to have definitely moved beyond the idea of God, he is thinking of an ideology prevalent today in East and West which regards the Christian faith as a completely outdated.
Miércoles y domingos fuera de Cuaresma y Adviento (Se reza los miércoles y domingos fuera de Cuaresma y Adviento)
El Primer Misterio Glorioso: La Gloriosa Resurrección de Nuestro Señor Deseo una fe fuerte (Juan 20:1-29)
El Segundo Misterio Glorioso: La Ascensión de Nuestro Señor Deseo la virtud de la esperanza (Lucas 24:36-53)
El Tercer Misterio Glorioso: La venida del Espíritu Santo en Pentecostés Deseo celo por la gloria de Dios (Hechos 2:1-41)
El Cuarto Misterio Glorioso: La Asunción de María al Cielo Deseo la gracia de una muerte santa
El Quinto Misterio Glorioso: La Coronación de María como Reina del Cielo y de la Tierra Deseo un mayor amor a la Santísima Virgen María
Comienzo de las oraciones
La Señal de la Cruz
En el nombre del Padre, y del Hijo, y del Espíritu Santo. Amén.
El Credo de los Apóstoles
Creo en Dios, Padre todopoderoso, Creador del cielo y de la tierra. Creo en Jesucristo, su único Hijo, nuestro Señor, que fue concebidopor obra del Espíritu Santo, nació de Santa María Virgen, padeció bajo el poder de Poncio Pilato, fue crucificado, muerto y sepultado. El tercer día resucitó de entre los muertos. Subió a los cielos y está sentado a la derecha de Dios, Padre todopoderoso. Él vendrá a juzgar a los vivos y a los muertos. Creo en el Espíritu Santo, la santa Iglesia católica, la comunión de los santos, el perdón de los pecados, la resurrección de los muertos y la vida eterna. Amén.
Oraciones principales
Padre nuestro Padre nuestro, que estás en el cielo, santificado sea tu nombre, venga a nosotros tu reino, hágase tu voluntad, en la tierra como en el cielo. Danos hoy nuestro pan de cada día, perdona nuestras ofensas, como también nosotros perdonamos a los que nos ofenden. No nos dejes caer en la tentación, y líbranos del mal. Amén
Ave Maria
Dios te Salve, María, llena eres de gracia, el Señor está contigo. Bendita tú eres entre todas las mujeres y bendito es el fruto de tu vientre, Jesús. Santa María, Madre de Dios, ruega por nosotros pecadores, ahora y en la hora de nuestra muerte. Amén
Gloria
Gloria al Padre y al Hijo y al Espíritu Santo. Como era en el principio ahora y siempre, por los siglos de los siglos. Amén.
Oración de Fátima
Oh Jesús mío, perdona nuestros pecados, líbranos del fuego del Infierno, lleva todas las almas al cielo, especialmente a las más necesitadas de tu misericordia. Amén.
Oraciones finales
Salve Santa Reina Dios te Salve, Reina y Madre de misericordia, vida, dulzura y esperanza nuestra, Dios te salve.
A ti llamamos los desterrados hijos de Eva; a ti suspiramos, gimiendo y llorando, en este valle de lágrimas. Ea, pues, Señora, abogada nuestra, vuelve a nosotros esos tus ojos misericordiosos, y, después de este destierro, muéstranos a Jesús, fruto bendito de tu vientre. ¡Oh clementísima, oh piadosa, oh dulce Virgen María!
Rezo final del Rosario Oh Dios, cuyo Unigénito Hijo con su vida, muerte y resurrección, ha comprado para nosotros la recompensa de la vida eterna, concédenos, te rogamos, que, al meditar los Misterios del Más Santo Rosario de la BienaventuradaVirgen María, imitemos lo que contienen y obtengamos lo que promete, por el mismo Cristo nuestro Señor. Amén.
Struggles with Sin and Patience – The Life of St. Teresa of Avila – Beginning to Pray with Dr. Anthony Lilles
Join Dr. Anthony Lilles and Kris McGregor as they dive into the life of St. Teresa of Avila, using her autobiography, “The Life of St. Teresa of Jesus of The Order of Our Lady of Carmel”. In this episode, Dr. Lilles goes over how as a young adult, Teresa was already experiencing advanced favors in prayer and was practicing recollection. However, she was also struggling with sin and backsliding, which hindered her spiritual growth. She was inspired by a fellow sister who showed great patience in suffering, and asked God for the grace to have the same patience. Teresa’s journey was also marked by struggles with confessors who gave her bad counsel, downplaying the seriousness of her sins.
They also discuss the concept of fear of the Lord, explaining that it is not about fearing God as an angry tyrant, but understanding that sin is repugnant to God because it harms us and prevents us from fulfilling our purpose.
“I forgot to say how, in the year of my novitiate, I suffered much uneasiness about things in themselves of no importance; but I was found fault with very often when I was blameless. I bore it painfully and with imperfection; however, I went through it all, because of the joy I had in being a nun. When they saw me seeking to be alone, and even weeping over my sins at times, they thought I was discontented, and said so.
All religious observances had an attraction for me, but I could not endure any which seemed to make me contemptible. I delighted in being thought well of by others, and was very exact in everything I had to do. All this I thought was a virtue, though it will not serve as any excuse for me, because I knew what it was to procure my own satisfaction in everything, and so ignorance does not blot out the blame. There may be some excuse in the fact that the monastery was not founded in great perfection. I, wicked as I was, followed after that which I saw was wrong, and neglected that which was good.
There was then in the house a nun labouring under a most grievous and painful disorder, for there were open ulcers in her body, caused by certain obstructions, through which her food was rejected. Of this sickness she soon died. All the sisters, I saw, were afraid of her malady. I envied her patience very much; I prayed to God that He would give me a like patience; and then, whatever sickness it might be His pleasure to send, I do not think I was afraid of any, for I was resolved on gaining eternal good, and determined to gain it by any and by every means.”
Excerpt from Chapter 5 from “The Life of St. Teresa of Jesus of The Order of Our Lady of Carmel”
Listen Here to the Discerning Hearts audio recording of “The Life of St. Teresa of Jesus” by St. Teresa of Avila
Anthony Lilles, S.T.D. is an associate professor and the academic dean of Saint John’s Seminary in Camarillo as well as the academic advisor for Juan Diego House of Priestly Formation for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. For over twenty years he served the Church in Northern Colorado where he joined and eventually served as dean of the founding faculty of Saint John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver. Through the years, clergy, seminarians, religious and lay faithful have benefited from his lectures and retreat conferences on the Carmelite Doctors of the Church and the writings of St. Elisabeth of the Trinity.
The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary – 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 12:46-50
Jesus was speaking to the crowds when his mother and his brothers appeared; they were standing outside and were anxious to have a word with him. But to the man who told him this Jesus replied, ‘Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?’ And stretching out his hand towards his disciples he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother.’
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 was speaking to the crowds when his mother and his brothers appeared; they were standing outside and were anxious to have a word with him. But to the man who told him this Jesus replied, ‘Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?’ And stretching out his hand towards his disciples he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother.’
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 was speaking to the crowds when his mother and his brothers appeared; they were standing outside and were anxious to have a word with him. But to the man who told him this Jesus replied, ‘Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?’ And stretching out his hand towards his disciples he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother.’
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 Complete Conversion Grace – The Letters of St. Therese of Lisieux with Fr. Timothy Gallagher
In this conversation, Fr. Gallagher continues his reflection on “the little way” and then discusses the Christmas moment that St. Therese described as her “complete conversion” moment.
St. Therese of Liesuex
Here are some of the various texts Fr. Gallagher refers to in this episode:
It was December 25, 1886, that I received the grace of leaving my childhood, in a [5]word, the grace of my complete conversion. We had come back from Midnight Mass where I had the happiness of receiving the strong and powerful God. Upon arriving at Les Buissonnets, I used to love to take my shoes from the chimney corner and examine the presents in them; this old custom had given us so much joy in our youth that Céline wanted to continue treating me as a baby since I was the youngest in the family. Papa [10]had always loved to see my happiness and listen to my cries of delight as I drew each surprise from the magic shoes, and my dear King’s gaiety increased my own happiness very much. However, Jesus desired to show me that I was to give up the defects of my childhood and so He withdrew its innocent pleasures. He permitted Papa, tired out after the Midnight Mass, to experience annoyance when seeing my shoes at the fireplace, and that he speak [15]those words which pierced my heart: “Well, fortunately, this will be the last year!” I was going upstairs, at the time, to remove my hat, and Céline, knowing how sensitive I was and seeing the tears already glistening in my eyes, wanted to cry too, for she loved me very much and understood my grief. She said, “Oh, Thérèse, don’t go downstairs; it would cause you too much grief to look [20]at your slippers right now!” But Thérèse was no longer the same; Jesus had changed her heart! Forcing back my tears, I descended the stairs rapidly; controlling the poundings of my heart, I took my slippers and placed them in front of Papa, and withdrew all the objects joyfully. I had the happy appearance of a Queen. Having regained his own cheerfulness, Papa was laughing; Céline believed it was all a dream! Fortunately, it was a sweet reality; Thérèse had discovered once again the strength of soul which she had lost at the age of four and a half, and she was to preserve it forever! [45v°]
On that night of light began the third period of my life, the most beautiful and the most filled with graces from heaven. The work I had been unable to do in ten years was done by Jesus in one instant, contenting himself with my good will which was never lacking.
Foley OCD, Marc. Story of a Soul The Autobiography of St. Thérèse of Lisieux Study Edition (pp. 152-153). ICS Publications. Kindle Edition.
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
What a delight to be joined by Fr. Thomas Berg to discuss 
You can find the book 
The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast
