The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life: Learning to Listen to God with a Discerning Heart- Discerning Hearts Podcast

Learning to Listen to God with a Discerning Heart with Kris McGregor

This series offers a sustained engagement with the Holy Rule of St. Benedict of Nursia, presented as a guide for ordinary Christian life. It unfolds the wisdom of the Benedictine tradition in a way that is steady, realistic, and grounded in daily experience.

Offered by Kris McGregor, an Oblate of St. Benedict, these episodes follow a simple rhythm of reflection and prayer rooted in the Rule itself and in the writings of Benedictine saints and teachers. The focus is not on technique or spiritual intensity, but on formation — learning how to listen, how to remain faithful, and how to live attentively before God.

St. Benedict wrote the Holy Rule as a beginning. Its wisdom addresses the desires of the human heart, the discipline of speech and action, the ordering of prayer, and the steady shaping of humility. This series draws that wisdom into the realities of work, family life, responsibility, and perseverance.

At its center stands Christ, the Word made flesh, who dwells among us and within us. The Benedictine way teaches us how to make room for that presence through patience, restraint, and fidelity over time.

This is not a program to complete. It is a way of living that matures slowly. For those seeking peace, steadiness, and deeper attentiveness to God in daily life, the Rule of St. Benedict remains a reliable guide.

➜ Explore Benedictine Spirituality and Prayer on Discerning Hearts

BW1 – Beginning the Way – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life: Learning to Listen to God with a Discerning Heart with Kris McGregor Episode 1 – Beginning the Way In this opening episode of The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life, Kris McGregor introduces the Benedictine path as a way of attentiveness rather than achievement. Drawing from … Read more

BW2 – Obedience as Deep Listening – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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St. Benedict presents obedience not as pressure or performance, but as a loving response to a word received. In this episode, Kris McGregor reflects on obedience as deep listening rooted in trust, patience and daily faithfulness.

BW3 – Desiring True and Everlasting Life – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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St. Benedict speaks directly to desire, not as impulse but as what quietly directs a life. This episode explores how speech, restraint and the pursuit of peace reveal what the heart is truly living for.

BW4 – The Sweetness of the Lord’s Voice – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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“What is sweeter to us than this voice of the Lord inviting us?” In this episode, we reflect on recognizing God’s gentle call in peace rather than urgency.

BW5 – The Delight of Love – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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“As we progress in this way of life…” St. Benedict promises that perseverance opens into the inexpressible delight of love. This episode explores steady faithfulness and quiet joy.

BW6 – The Tools for Good Works – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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St. Benedict turns from desire and invitation to daily practice in Chapter 4 of the Holy Rule. The tools for good works begin with love and take shape through small, steady acts of faithfulness that quietly form the heart in Christ.

BW7 – Guarding the Tongue – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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St. Benedict warns that careless words wound charity and disturb peace. This episode reflects on guarding the tongue as a path to freedom and interior strength.

BW8 – Endurance and Patience – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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“To endure hardship for the sake of Christ.” St. Benedict teaches how to remain steady in suffering through grace rather than willpower.

BW9 – Not My Will – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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“Not to seek after self-will.” St. Benedict teaches humility as freedom from the need to insist, rooted in Christ’s surrender.

BW10 – Preferring Nothing to Christ – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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“To prefer nothing whatever to Christ.” St. Benedict calls us to concrete charity that remains present to real need.

BW11 – Before the Setting of the Sun – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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“Not to nurse anger… to make peace before the setting of the sun.” St. Benedict calls the heart to release resentment and trust in mercy.

BW12 – Unhesitating Obedience – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life: Learning to Listen to God with a Discerning Heart with Kris McGregor Episode 12 – Unhesitating Obedience In this episode of The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life, Kris McGregor reflects on the beginning of Chapter 5 and St. Benedict’s teaching on unhesitating obedience. This obedience … Read more

BW13 – Obedience Without Murmuring – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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St. Benedict teaches that obedience must be offered without murmuring. Exterior compliance is not enough if the heart resists.

BW14 – Receiving Admonition and Correction – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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St. Benedict teaches that correction is not punishment but formation. This episode reflects on remaining teachable and free from defensiveness.

BW15 – Humility as Truth – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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Chapter 7 names what has been forming all along: humility as truth lived steadily before God.

BW16 – The First Degree of Humility – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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The first degree of humility is living each moment before God. This episode reflects on reverence and steady awareness.

BW17 – The Second Degree of Humility – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life: Learning to Listen to God with a Discerning Heart with Kris McGregor Episode 17 – The Second Degree of Humility In this episode of The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life, Kris McGregor reflects on the second degree of humility in Chapter 7 of the Holy … Read more

BW18 – The Third Degree of Humility – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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St. Benedict’s third degree of humility calls the heart to obedience under authority for the love of God.

BW19 – The Fourth Degree of Humility – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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The Fourth Degree of Humility forms endurance. This episode reflects on patient perseverance in ordinary trials.

BW20 – The Fifth Degree of Humility – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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The Fifth Degree of Humility is about honest confession, freedom from concealment and the healing that begins when truth is spoken.

BW21 – The Sixth Degree of Humility – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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The Sixth Degree of Humility forms freedom from praise, comparison and the need to be seen. Hidden fidelity becomes an offering to God.

BW22 – The Seventh Degree of Humility – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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St. Benedict teaches that the seventh degree of humility frees the heart from comparison so it can live more peacefully before God.

BW23 – The Eighth Degree of Humility – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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St. Benedict teaches that humility grows when we stop shaping everything around our preferences and learn to live faithfully within a shared life.

BW24 – The Ninth Degree of Humility – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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St. Benedict teaches that humility grows when speech is governed by prudence, charity and the discipline of silence.

BW25 – The Tenth Degree of Humility – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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St. Benedict teaches that humility appears in steady conduct and balanced joy that does not lose its measure.

BW26 – The Eleventh Degree of Humility – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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St. Benedict teaches that humility appears in gentle and measured speech where truth is spoken clearly without harshness or display.

BW27 – The Twelfth Degree of Humility – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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St. Benedict teaches that when humility has taken root in the heart, it becomes visible in the whole person’s bearing and presence.

BW28 – Prayer Shaped by Humility – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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St. Benedict teaches that prayer becomes deeper when it is offered with humility, reverence and an attentive heart.

BW29 – On Loving God – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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St Bernard of Clairvaux teaches that the love of God begins in need but matures into communion. Through prayer, the heart learns to rest in God who is Love.

BW30 – Love in Its Beginning – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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Episode 30 reflects on St. Bernard of Clairvaux’s teaching that love often begins in need. With the wisdom of St. Benedict’s Rule, we see how grace gently purifies the heart and leads it toward deeper love of God.

BW31 – Loving God for God’s Sake – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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In Episode 31, we continue with St. Bernard of Clairvaux’s On Loving God and reflect on the purification of love. Bernard teaches that the soul can be led by grace from loving God for His gifts to loving Him for who He is. In light of the Holy Rule of St. Benedict, this episode explores how prayer, obedience, stability and perseverance form a quieter, steadier and more faithful love.

BW32 – Love Returned in God – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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In Episode 32, we continue with St. Bernard of Clairvaux’s On Loving God and reflect on the healing of love in God. Bernard teaches that the soul can be so purified by grace that even love of self is no longer anxious or self-seeking, but rightly ordered in God. In light of the Holy Rule of St. Benedict, this episode explores how humility, obedience, prayer and perseverance make room for this hidden restoration.

BW33 – Scivias: God’s Living Work – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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St. Hildegard of Bingen reveals the living God who sustains creation, heals the soul and restores all things in Christ.

BW34 – The Ruler of All – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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St. Hildegard of Bingen reveals God as the Ruler of All whose faithful love sustains creation and teaches the soul to trust.

BW35 – Bearing Fruit in Steadfastness – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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St. Hildegard of Bingen teaches that the soul bears lasting fruit through steadfastness, prayer and grace received over time.

BW36 – Living In Harmony – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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St. Hildegard of Bingen shows how grace restores harmony in soul, body and daily life when life is rightly ordered in God.

BW37 – Friendship With the Lord – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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St. Gertrude the Great shows that friendship with Christ grows through prayer, fidelity and a heart that keeps returning to Him.

BW38 – Trust Before God – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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St. Gertrude the Great teaches that trust grows when the soul believes Christ is more ready to forgive than we are to ask.

BW39 – Being Held by God – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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St. Mechtilde of Hackeborn teaches that the soul is never outside God’s care and can learn to rest in being held by Him.

BW40 – Faith Seeking Understanding – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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St. Anselm of Canterbury shows how faith seeks understanding through prayer, humility and a mind that remains rooted in Christ.

BW41 – Seeking the Face of God – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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St. Anselm teaches that seeking God’s face with patience and holy desire deepens prayer, conversion and faithful love.

BW42 – Compassion Rooted in Prayer – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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St. Gregory the Great teaches that compassion remains faithful only when responsibility stays rooted in contemplation and prayer.

BW43 – Discretion and Self-Knowledge – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life: Learning to Listen to God with a Discerning Heart with Kris McGregor Episode 43 – St. Gregory the Great – The Pastoral Rule: Discretion and Self-Knowledge In this episode of The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life, Kris McGregor continues with St. Gregory the Great and … Read more