Discerning Hearts - Catholic Podcasts

**Friday of the Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast** Nov 14, 2025

Friday of the Thirty-Second 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. Luke 17:26-37

Jesus said to the disciples:
‘As it was in Noah’s day, so will it also be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating and drinking, marrying wives and husbands, right up to the day Noah went into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. It will be the same as it was in Lot’s day: people were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but the day Lot left Sodom, God rained fire and brimstone from heaven and it destroyed them all. It will be the same when the day comes for the Son of Man to be revealed.
‘When that day comes, anyone on the housetop, with his possessions in the house, must not come down to collect them, nor must anyone in the fields turn back either. Remember Lot’s wife. Anyone who tries to preserve his life will lose it; and anyone who loses it will keep it safe. I tell you, on that night two will be in one bed: one will be taken, the other left; two women will be grinding corn together: one will be taken, the other left.’ The disciples interrupted. ‘Where, Lord?’ they asked. He said, ‘Where the body is, there too will the vultures gather.’

***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 the disciples:
‘As it was in Noah’s day, so will it also be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating and drinking, marrying wives and husbands, right up to the day Noah went into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. It will be the same as it was in Lot’s day: people were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but the day Lot left Sodom, God rained fire and brimstone from heaven and it destroyed them all. It will be the same when the day comes for the Son of Man to be revealed.
‘When that day comes, anyone on the housetop, with his possessions in the house, must not come down to collect them, nor must anyone in the fields turn back either. Remember Lot’s wife. Anyone who tries to preserve his life will lose it; and anyone who loses it will keep it safe. I tell you, on that night two will be in one bed: one will be taken, the other left; two women will be grinding corn together: one will be taken, the other left.’ The disciples interrupted. ‘Where, Lord?’ they asked. He said, ‘Where the body is, there too will the vultures gather.’

***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 the disciples:
‘As it was in Noah’s day, so will it also be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating and drinking, marrying wives and husbands, right up to the day Noah went into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. It will be the same as it was in Lot’s day: people were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but the day Lot left Sodom, God rained fire and brimstone from heaven and it destroyed them all. It will be the same when the day comes for the Son of Man to be revealed.
‘When that day comes, anyone on the housetop, with his possessions in the house, must not come down to collect them, nor must anyone in the fields turn back either. Remember Lot’s wife. Anyone who tries to preserve his life will lose it; and anyone who loses it will keep it safe. I tell you, on that night two will be in one bed: one will be taken, the other left; two women will be grinding corn together: one will be taken, the other left.’ The disciples interrupted. ‘Where, Lord?’ they asked. He said, ‘Where the body is, there too will the vultures gather.’

***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 post Friday of the Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Mike Aquilina Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcast Judas — **VEC3 – Pontius Pilate – Villains of the Early Church with Mike Aquilina – Discerning Hearts Podcast** Nov 13, 2025
Episode 3 – Pontius Pilate – Villains of the Early Church with Mike Aquilina

Mike Aquilina and Kris McGregor explore the complex figure of Pontius Pilate. Although remembered as a villain and named in the Creed alongside the Virgin Mary, Pilate emerges in the Gospels as a conflicted Roman governor caught between political pressure, personal misgivings, and the volatility of Judea. Aquilina explains how both Jewish and Roman sources portray Pilate as insensitive, often provocative, and capable of harsh actions that destabilized the region. Yet the Gospel narratives show layers—his wife’s troubling dream, his hesitation, and his uneasy awareness that Jesus is innocent—revealing a man far from a simple caricature. Early Christian imagination even produced traditions depicting Pilate’s household as eventually turning toward Christ, reflecting the Church’s instinct to look for the possibility of redemption in every story.

We turn from Pilate’s historical role to the spiritual lessons his failures reveal. Pilate’s most haunting question, “What is truth?”, becomes a mirror the listener must face. Jesus—Truth in person—stood before him, yet fear and self-interest led Pilate to walk away. This invites Cus to consider how often we do the same in our own spheres of influence, whether in public life, family leadership, or ordinary daily encounters. Instead of repeating Pilate’s pattern of avoidance, we are called to face reality with courage, lean on prayer and the sacraments, and let our lives present Christ clearly to others.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

How does Pilate’s struggle between fear and conscience mirror the moments when I avoid doing what I know is right?

When have I, like Pilate, chosen comfort or self-protection over fidelity to Christ’s truth?

What areas of my life require deeper courage, especially when my choices affect those entrusted to me?

How do I respond when Christ stands before me in Scripture, the sacraments, or other people—do I recognize Him or turn away?

In what ways do I “wash my hands” of responsibility instead of acting with clarity and integrity?

How does the witness of the women at the Passion challenge my own consistency and steadfastness in faith?

What practices of prayer or sacramental life can strengthen me against moral hesitation or cowardice?

How might I allow Christ’s presence in me to become more visible to others in ordinary daily situations?

An excerpt from Villains of the Early Church

“Jesus was crucified under Pontius Pilate. Countless millions of Christians recite that simple historical fact when they profess their faith. It reminds us that this is real history we’re dealing with. The death and Resurrection of Jesus are not just metaphors or allegories: they really happened at a particular moment in history.

Pilate is our anchor to that historical moment. He is our grounding in historical fact.

But he’s also one of the most fascinating characters in the Gospels. His doubt and dithering in the face of an unpredictable mob make him more than just a villain. They make him human, and we feel real sympathy for him. He’s doing a bad job, but in his position it was nearly impossible to do a good job.”

You can find the book on which this series is based here.

**For more episodes in the *Villians of the Early Church* podcast visit here – Villains of the Early Church – Discerning Hearts Podcast**

**Mike Aquilina** is a popular author working in the area of Church history, especially patristics, the study of the early Church Fathers.^[1] He is the executive vice-president and trustee of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, a Roman Catholic research center based in Steubenville, Ohio. He is a contributing editor of Angelus (magazine) and general editor of the Reclaiming Catholic History Series from Ave Maria Press. He is the author or editor of more than fifty books, including *The Fathers of the Church* (2006); *The Mass of the Early Christians* (2007); *Living the Mysteries* (2003); and *What Catholics Believe*(1999). He has hosted eleven television series on the Eternal Word Television Network and is a frequent guest commentator on Catholic radio.

Mike Aquilina’s website is found at fathersofthechurch.com

The post VEC3 – Pontius Pilate – Villains of the Early Church with Mike Aquilina – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

**VEC3 – Pontius Pilate – Villains of the Early Church with Mike Aquilina – Discerning Hearts Podcast** Nov 13, 2025
Episode 3 – Pontius Pilate – Villains of the Early Church with Mike Aquilina

Mike Aquilina and Kris McGregor explore the complex figure of Pontius Pilate. Although remembered as a villain and named in the Creed alongside the Virgin Mary, Pilate emerges in the Gospels as a conflicted Roman governor caught between political pressure, personal misgivings, and the volatility of Judea. Aquilina explains how both Jewish and Roman sources portray Pilate as insensitive, often provocative, and capable of harsh actions that destabilized the region. Yet the Gospel narratives show layers—his wife’s troubling dream, his hesitation, and his uneasy awareness that Jesus is innocent—revealing a man far from a simple caricature. Early Christian imagination even produced traditions depicting Pilate’s household as eventually turning toward Christ, reflecting the Church’s instinct to look for the possibility of redemption in every story.

We turn from Pilate’s historical role to the spiritual lessons his failures reveal. Pilate’s most haunting question, “What is truth?”, becomes a mirror the listener must face. Jesus—Truth in person—stood before him, yet fear and self-interest led Pilate to walk away. This invites Cus to consider how often we do the same in our own spheres of influence, whether in public life, family leadership, or ordinary daily encounters. Instead of repeating Pilate’s pattern of avoidance, we are called to face reality with courage, lean on prayer and the sacraments, and let our lives present Christ clearly to others.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

How does Pilate’s struggle between fear and conscience mirror the moments when I avoid doing what I know is right?

When have I, like Pilate, chosen comfort or self-protection over fidelity to Christ’s truth?

What areas of my life require deeper courage, especially when my choices affect those entrusted to me?

How do I respond when Christ stands before me in Scripture, the sacraments, or other people—do I recognize Him or turn away?

In what ways do I “wash my hands” of responsibility instead of acting with clarity and integrity?

How does the witness of the women at the Passion challenge my own consistency and steadfastness in faith?

What practices of prayer or sacramental life can strengthen me against moral hesitation or cowardice?

How might I allow Christ’s presence in me to become more visible to others in ordinary daily situations?

An excerpt from Villains of the Early Church

“Jesus was crucified under Pontius Pilate. Countless millions of Christians recite that simple historical fact when they profess their faith. It reminds us that this is real history we’re dealing with. The death and Resurrection of Jesus are not just metaphors or allegories: they really happened at a particular moment in history.

Pilate is our anchor to that historical moment. He is our grounding in historical fact.

But he’s also one of the most fascinating characters in the Gospels. His doubt and dithering in the face of an unpredictable mob make him more than just a villain. They make him human, and we feel real sympathy for him. He’s doing a bad job, but in his position it was nearly impossible to do a good job.”

You can find the book on which this series is based here.

**For more episodes in the *Villians of the Early Church* podcast visit here – Villains of the Early Church – Discerning Hearts Podcast**

**Mike Aquilina** is a popular author working in the area of Church history, especially patristics, the study of the early Church Fathers.^[1] He is the executive vice-president and trustee of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, a Roman Catholic research center based in Steubenville, Ohio. He is a contributing editor of Angelus (magazine) and general editor of the Reclaiming Catholic History Series from Ave Maria Press. He is the author or editor of more than fifty books, including *The Fathers of the Church* (2006); *The Mass of the Early Christians* (2007); *Living the Mysteries* (2003); and *What Catholics Believe*(1999). He has hosted eleven television series on the Eternal Word Television Network and is a frequent guest commentator on Catholic radio.

Mike Aquilina’s website is found at fathersofthechurch.com

The post VEC3 – Pontius Pilate – Villains of the Early Church with Mike Aquilina – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

**Day 7 – St. Gertrude the Great Novena – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts** Nov 13, 2025

St. Gertrude the Great Novena – Day 7 – For the Grace of a Greater Love of the Holy Eucharist

St. Gertrude embraced the Mass as a profound encounter with Christ’s redemptive suffering. Let us reflect on this prayer that she composed,

‘Through this Mass, I offer You in reparation, loving Father, all the sufferings of Your Son from His first cry in the manger to His last breath on the Cross. In my humble state, I praise and adore Your mercy,’ Amen.

Let us ask St. Gertrude to intercede for us as we seek to unite our own joys and sorrows with the Eucharistic sacrifice. May this act of communion inspire us to live out each day in accordance with God’s loving plan for our lives. May she also intercede in the intention we bring to this novena.

**We join St. Gertrude in a prayer she composed for the Holy Souls in Purgatory:**

Eternal Father,
I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son,
Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today,
for all the holy Souls in Purgatory,
for sinners everywhere,
for sinners in the Universal Church,
those in my own home and within my family.
Amen.

St. Gertrude the Great, pray for us

For the entire novena visit: A Novena to St. Gertrude the Great – Discerning Hearts Podcast

The post Day 7 – St. Gertrude the Great Novena – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

**Thursday of the Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast** Nov 13, 2025

Thursday of the Thirty-Second 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. Luke 17:20-25

Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was to come, Jesus gave them this answer, ‘The coming of the kingdom of God does not admit of observation and there will be no one to say, “Look here! Look there!” For, you must know, the kingdom of God is among you.’

He said to the disciples, ‘A time will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man and will not see it. They will say to you, “Look there!” or, “Look here!” Make no move; do not set off in pursuit; for as the lightning flashing from one part of heaven lights up the other, so will be the Son of Man when his day comes. But first he must suffer grievously and be rejected by this generation.’

***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:***

Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was to come, Jesus gave them this answer, ‘The coming of the kingdom of God does not admit of observation and there will be no one to say, “Look here! Look there!” For, you must know, the kingdom of God is among you.’

He said to the disciples, ‘A time will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man and will not see it. They will say to you, “Look there!” or, “Look here!” Make no move; do not set off in pursuit; for as the lightning flashing from one part of heaven lights up the other, so will be the Son of Man when his day comes. But first he must suffer grievously and be rejected by this generation.’

***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:***

Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was to come, Jesus gave them this answer, ‘The coming of the kingdom of God does not admit of observation and there will be no one to say, “Look here! Look there!” For, you must know, the kingdom of God is among you.’

He said to the disciples, ‘A time will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man and will not see it. They will say to you, “Look there!” or, “Look here!” Make no move; do not set off in pursuit; for as the lightning flashing from one part of heaven lights up the other, so will be the Son of Man when his day comes. But first he must suffer grievously and be rejected by this generation.’

***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 post Thursday of the Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

**WOM13 – The Purgative and Illuminative Way – The Way of Mystery with Deacon James Keating – Discerning Hearts** Nov 12, 2025

The Purgative and Illuminative Way – The Way of Mystery with Deacon James Keating

Deacon James Keating explains that moral life without a spiritual foundation quickly collapses into mere willpower and rule-keeping. True virtue begins when Christ’s own life and breath animate the soul so that goodness becomes joyful rather than forced. Drawing on the story of the rich young man, it contrasts external obedience with the interior transformation that comes from detachment and union with Christ. It outlines the classic stages of spiritual growth—purgation, illumination, and union—showing how conversion involves cooperating with grace to turn from sin, endure the pain of detachment, and gradually discover the delight of living virtuously.

In the illuminative stage, the moral teachings of the Church are seen not as burdens but as divine gifts that reveal humanity’s true fulfillment. We should not separate Jesus from the Church’s authority, as it’s a deception that isolates Christians and leaves them prey to self-deception and cultural ideologies. Moral relativism is a modern illusion that truth cannot be known, but the Catholic vision holds both mind and heart capable of grasping objective truth through Christ.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

How do I personally experience the presence of Christ during the Mass and in receiving the Eucharist?

In what ways can I slow down and truly “savor” the mystery of the Eucharist as the saints did?

How might I deepen my faith in the real presence of Jesus through prayer and meditation on Scripture?

Do I recognize that at every Mass, I am united not only with Christ but also with all of heaven and my loved ones who have gone before me?

How can the example and writings of the saints inspire me to approach the Eucharist with greater love and reverence?

What steps can I take to participate in Mass more frequently or spend more time in Eucharistic adoration?

How does understanding the Eucharist as a “sacrament of love” call me to greater self-giving in my daily relationships?

What does it mean for me to rest on the heart of Christ as St. John did at the Last Supper?

How do the teachings of the Church Fathers strengthen my understanding and devotion to the Eucharist?

In what ways is the Mass a foretaste of heaven that prepares my soul for eternal communion with God?

*Deacon James Keating, Ph.D., is a professor of Spiritual Theology and serves as a spiritual director at Kenrick Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, MO.*

**Check out Deacon Keating’s “Discerning Heart” page**

The post WOM13 – The Purgative and Illuminative Way – The Way of Mystery with Deacon James Keating – Discerning Hearts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

**Day 6 – St. Gertrude the Great Novena – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts** Nov 12, 2025

St. Gertrude the Great Novena – Day 6 – For the Grace of Holy Recollection

St. Gertrude cherished the scene of the shepherds in quiet awe as they discovered the Infant Jesus, cradled in the humble stable by Mary and Joseph. This tender image served as her daily reminder to remain conscious of God’s intimate presence and to observe her emotions as carefully as a shepherd tends their flock. Let us ask St. Gertrude to intercede for us, that we might receive the grace to keep our hearts attuned to the gentle movements of the Holy Spirit and to the loving encounters we experience throughout our day, and may she also intercede in the intention we bring to this novena.

**We join St. Gertrude in a prayer she composed for the Holy Souls in Purgatory:**

Eternal Father,
I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son,
Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today,
for all the holy Souls in Purgatory,
for sinners everywhere,
for sinners in the Universal Church,
those in my own home and within my family.
Amen.

St. Gertrude the Great, pray for us

For the entire novena visit: A Novena to St. Gertrude the Great – Discerning Hearts Podcast

The post Day 6 – St. Gertrude the Great Novena – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

**Wednesday of the Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast** Nov 12, 2025
Wednesday of the Thirty-Second 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. Luke 17:11-19

On the way to Jerusalem Jesus travelled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered one of the villages, ten lepers came to meet him. They stood some way off and called to him, ‘Jesus! Master! Take pity on us.’ When he saw them he said, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ Now as they were going away they were cleansed. Finding himself cured, one of them turned back praising God at the top of his voice and threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. The man was a Samaritan. This made Jesus say, ‘Were not all ten made clean? The other nine, where are they? It seems that no one has come back to give praise to God, except this foreigner.’ And he said to the man, ‘Stand up and go on your way. Your faith has saved you.’

***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:***

On the way to Jerusalem Jesus travelled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered one of the villages, ten lepers came to meet him. They stood some way off and called to him, ‘Jesus! Master! Take pity on us.’ When he saw them he said, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ Now as they were going away they were cleansed. Finding himself cured, one of them turned back praising God at the top of his voice and threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. The man was a Samaritan. This made Jesus say, ‘Were not all ten made clean? The other nine, where are they? It seems that no one has come back to give praise to God, except this foreigner.’ And he said to the man, ‘Stand up and go on your way. Your faith has saved you.’

***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:***

On the way to Jerusalem Jesus travelled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered one of the villages, ten lepers came to meet him. They stood some way off and called to him, ‘Jesus! Master! Take pity on us.’ When he saw them he said, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ Now as they were going away they were cleansed. Finding himself cured, one of them turned back praising God at the top of his voice and threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. The man was a Samaritan. This made Jesus say, ‘Were not all ten made clean? The other nine, where are they? It seems that no one has come back to give praise to God, except this foreigner.’ And he said to the man, ‘Stand up and go on your way. Your faith has saved you.’

***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 post Wednesday of the Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

**St. Leo the Great – The Doctors of the Church: The Charism of Wisdom with Dr. Matthew Bunson – Discerning Hearts Podcasts** Nov 11, 2025
St. Leo the Great – The Doctors of the Church: The Charism of Wisdom with Dr. Matthew Bunson

**Born**: Tuscany, Italy

**Died**: November 10, 461 AD, Rome, Italy

Dr. Matthew Bunson and Kris McGregor explore the life, teachings, and contributions of Pope St. Leo the Great. They discuss Leo’s background, his significant influence on the papacy, and his role in defending orthodox Christian doctrine amid turbulent times.

Pope St. Leo lived during a period of upheaval within both the Church and the Roman Empire. Notably, he confronted heresies that questioned Christ’s divinity and humanity, such as Arianism and Nestorianism, which led to ongoing debates over Christ’s nature. Leo’s “Tome,” a key theological document, clarified the Church’s stance on Christ’s dual nature as both fully human and divine, shaping the Council of Chalcedon’s doctrine in 451 AD. This affirmation became central to Christian Christology and reinforced the Virgin Mary’s title as Theotokos, or “Mother of God,” which had been confirmed in earlier councils.

Pope Leo’s theological insights and firm defense of the faith earned him the title “Doctor of the Church” and established his legacy as a “Great” saint. His contributions, particularly regarding the papal primacy and the nature of Christ, continue to influence Catholic teaching and underscore the importance of spiritual and doctrinal leadership within the Church.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

How does Pope Leo’s boldness in confronting both Attila the Hun and the Vandals inspire us to act courageously in defending our faith and values?

In what ways can we, like Pope Leo, respond to theological and cultural challenges to our faith with clarity and conviction?

How does Pope Leo’s affirmation of Christ’s full humanity and divinity shape our understanding of who Jesus is and our relationship with Him?

What does Pope Leo’s role in affirming the primacy of the Pope teach us about the importance of Church unity and obedience to spiritual authority?

How might Pope Leo’s deep personal holiness and spiritual influence inspire us to cultivate our own sanctity and positively impact those around us?

How can we follow Pope Leo’s example of striving for peace and reconciliation in our communities and personal lives?

In what ways does Pope Leo’s theological clarity at the Council of Chalcedon encourage us to seek and proclaim truth, even when it requires perseverance and effort?

How does the Council’s affirmation of Mary as Theotokos (Mother of God) deepen our devotion to her and understanding of her role in the mystery of Christ?

For more on St. Leo the Great and his teachings

Leo the Great, Pope (c. 395-461)

Sermons

Letters

From Vatican.va, an excerpt from the teachings of Pope Benedict XVI General Audience 2008

“Aware of the historical period in which he lived and of the change that was taking place – from pagan Rome to Christian Rome – in a period of profound crisis, Leo the Great knew how to make himself close to the people and the faithful with his pastoral action and his preaching. He enlivened charity in a Rome tried by famines, an influx of refugees, injustice and poverty. He opposed pagan superstitions and the actions of Manichaean groups. He associated the liturgy with the daily life of Christians: for example, by combining the practice of fasting with charity and almsgiving above all on the occasion of the Quattro tempora, which in the course of the year marked the change of seasons. In particular, Leo the Great taught his faithful – and his words still apply for us today – that the Christian liturgy is not the memory of past events, but the actualization of invisible realities which act in the lives of each one of us. This is what he stressed in a sermon (cf. 64, 1-2) on Easter, to be celebrated in every season of the year “not so much as something of the past as rather an event of the present”. All this fits into a precise project, the Holy Pontiff insisted: just as, in fact, the Creator enlivened with the breath of rational life man formed from the dust of the ground, after the original sin he sent his Son into the world to restore to man his lost dignity and to destroy the dominion of the devil through the new life of grace.

This is the Christological mystery to which St Leo the Great, with his Letter to the Council of Ephesus, made an effective and essential contribution, confirming for all time – through this Council – what St Peter said at Caesarea Philippi. With Peter and as Peter, he professed: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”. And so it is that God and man together “are not foreign to the human race but alien to sin” (cf. Serm. 64). Through the force of this Christological faith he was a great messenger of peace and love. He thus shows us the way: in faith we learn charity. Let us therefore learn with St Leo the Great to believe in Christ, true God and true Man, and to implement this faith every day in action for peace and love of neighbour.”

For more visit Vatican.va

For more from Dr. Matthew Bunson, check out his Discerning Hearts page.

Dr. Matthew E. Bunson is a Register senior editor and a senior contributor to EWTN News. For the past 20 years, he has been active in the area of Catholic social communications and education, including writing, editing, and teaching on a variety of topics related to Church history, the papacy, the saints and Catholic culture. He is faculty chair at Catholic Distance University, a senior fellow of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, and the author or co-author of over 50 books including The Encyclopedia of Catholic History, The Pope Encyclopedia, We Have a Pope! Benedict XVI, The Saints Encyclopedia and best-selling biographies of St. Damien of Molokai and St. Kateri Tekakwitha.

The post St. Leo the Great – The Doctors of the Church: The Charism of Wisdom with Dr. Matthew Bunson – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

**Ep 13 – The Anent Reflections, Part One – All Shall Be Well w/ Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts** Nov 11, 2025

*All Shall Be Well: A Journey Through Julian of Norwich’s Revelations of Divine Love with Kris McGregor*

**Episode 13: The Anent Reflections, Part One — Mercy, Wrath, and Peace**

**Summary:**

In this episode, we begin Julian of Norwich’s Anent reflections, a meditative pause in her Revelations of Divine Love. Instead of recounting new visions, Julian turns inward to contemplate the truths already revealed to her. These reflections open a contemplative space filled with theology and spiritual insight, helping us see what God has shown her more clearly.

We explore Julian’s teaching on God as unchanging Truth, Wisdom, and Love, and how our souls are created to share in those very attributes. We also reflect on her striking claim that there is no wrath in God — only goodness and mercy. Julian teaches that our judgment is distorted by sin, but God’s gaze remains fixed on the soul as He created it, whole and beloved.

Julian then introduces five inner movements of the soul: enjoying, mourning, desire, dread, and sure hope. Each one reveals a layer of the soul’s journey with God and helps us understand how grace is at work, even in moments of struggle.

Finally, we hear her deep assurance that God’s mercy never ceases. No matter how often we fail, fall, or fear, His gaze of love never turns away. In God’s sight, the soul that belongs to Him has never died, nor ever shall.

For other episodes in this series visit: All Shall Be Well: A Journey Through Julian of Norwich’s Revelations of Divine Love with Kris McGregor

**Full Julian of Norwich Quotations Used in Episode 13:**

From *Revelations of Divine Love*, Long Text, Chapters 41-43, trans. Grace Warrack, Methuen & Co., 1901 (PDF edition).

Truth, Wisdom, and Love

“Truth seeth God, and Wisdom beholdeth God, and of these two cometh the third: that is, a holy marvellous delight in God; which is Love. Where Truth and Wisdom are verily, there is Love verily, coming of them both. And all of God’s making: for He is endless sovereign Truth, endless sovereign Wisdom, endless sovereign Love, unmade; and man’s Soul is a creature in God which hath the same properties made, and evermore it doeth that it was made for: it seeth God, it beholdeth God, and it loveth God. Whereof God enjoyeth in the creature; and the creature in God, endlessly marvelling.” (Ch. 44)

God’s Judgment and Ours

GOD deemeth us [looking] upon our Nature-Substance, which is ever kept one in Him, whole and safe without end: and this doom is [because] of His rightfulness [in the which it is made and kept]. And man judgeth [looking] upon our changeable Sense-soul, which seemeth now one [thing], now other,—according as it taketh of the [higher or lower] parts,—and [is that which] showeth outward. And this wisdom [of man’s judgment] is mingled [because of the diverse things it beholdeth]. For sometimes it is good and easy, and sometimes it is hard and grievous. And in as much as it is good and easy it belongeth to the rightfulness; and in as much as it is hard and grievous [by reason of the sin beheld, which sheweth in our Sense-soul,] our good Lord Jesus reformeth it by [the working in our Sense-soul of] mercy and grace through the virtue of His blessed Passion, and so bringeth it to the rightfulness.” (Ch.45)

God Is Not Wroth

“For I saw truly that it is against the property of His Might to be wroth, and against the property of His Wisdom, and against the property of His Goodness. God is the Goodness that may not be wroth, for He is not [other] but Goodness: our soul is oned to Him, unchangeable Goodness, and between God and our soul is neither wrath nor forgiveness in His sight. For our soul is so fully oned to God of His own Goodness that between God and our soul may be right nought.” (Ch. 46)

The Five Workings of the Soul

“For I felt in me five manner of workings, which be these: Enjoying, mourning, desire, dread, and sure hope. Enjoying: for God gave me understanding and knowing that it was Himself that I saw; mourning: and that was for failing; desire: and that was I might see Him ever more and more, understanding and knowing that we shall never have full rest till we see Him verily and clearly in heaven; dread was: for it seemed to me in all that time that that sight should fail, and I be left to myself; sure hope was in the endless love: that I saw I should be kept by His mercy and brought to His bliss. And the joying in His sight with this sure hope of His merciful keeping made me to have feeling and comfort so that mourning and dread were not greatly painful.”(Ch. 47)

**The Working of Mercy**

“Mercy is a sweet gracious working in love, mingled with plenteous pity: for mercy worketh in keeping us, and mercy worketh turning to us all things to good. Mercy, by love, suffereth us to fail in measure and in as much as we fail, in so much we fall; and in as much as we fall, in so much we die: for it needs must be that we die in so much as we fail of the sight and feeling of God that is our life. Our failing is dreadful, our falling is shameful, and our dying is sorrowful: but in all this the sweet eye of pity and love is lifted never off us, nor the working of mercy ceaseth.” (Ch. 48)

**Where God Appears, Wrath Has No Place**

“For I saw full surely that where our Lord appeareth, peace is taken and wrath hath no place. For I saw no manner of wrath in God, neither for short time nor for long; for in sooth, as to my sight, if God might be wroth for an instant, we should never have life nor place nor being. For as verily as we have our being of the endless Might of God and of the endless Wisdom and of the endless Goodness, so verily we have our keeping in the endless Might of God, in the endless Wisdom, and in the endless Goodness. For though we feel in ourselves, frail wretches, debates and strifes, yet are we all-mannerful enclosed in the mildness of God and in His meekness, in His benignity and in His graciousness. For I saw full surely that all our endless friendship, our place, our life and our being, is in God.” (Ch. 49)

**Mercy and Forgiveness: The Soul Never Dies**

AND in this life mercy and forgiveness is our way and evermore leadeth us to grace. And by the tempest and the sorrow that we fall into on our part, we be often dead as to man’s doom in earth; but in the sight of God the soul that shall be saved was never dead, nor ever shall be.” ” (Ch. 50)

**Scripture Featured**

(Translations used: Revised Standard Version [RSV-CE] )

**(Zephaniah 3:17)**

“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”

**(1 Samuel 16:7)**

“Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

**(James 1:17)**

“Every good endowment and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”

**(Exodus 34:6–7)**

“The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty.”

**(1 Peter 1:8–9)**

“Though you do not now see him you believe in him and rejoice with unutterable and exalted joy. As the outcome of your faith you obtain the salvation of your souls.”

**(Psalm 42:1–2)**

“As a hart (deer) longs for flowing streams, so longs my soul for thee, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.”

**(2 Corinthians 4:7)**

“We have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us.”

**(1 Thessalonians 5:16–18)**

“Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

**(Hebrews 10:23)**

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”

**(Luke 1:54–55)**

“He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity for ever.”

**(Lamentations 3:22–23)**

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.”

**(Ephesians 2:14)**

“For he is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility.”

**(John 11:25–26)**

“I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.”

**Catechism of the Catholic Church**

“The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to himself. Only in God will he find the truth and happiness he never stops searching for.” (CCC 27)

“The heart is the place of decision, deeper than our psychic drives. It is the place of truth, where we choose life or death. It is the place of encounter, because as image of God we live in relation: it is the place of covenant.” (CCC 2563)

“God is infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life.” (CCC 1)

“The Gospel is the revelation in Jesus Christ of God’s mercy to sinners.” (CCC 1846)

“There are no limits to the mercy of God.” (CCC 1864)

“By revealing himself to Moses, God reveals that he is rich in mercy and fidelity. God is Love. His very being is Love. By sending his only Son and the Spirit of Love in the fullness of time, God has revealed his innermost secret: God himself is an eternal exchange of love, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and he has destined us to share in that exchange.” (CCC 214, 221)

“By his death Christ liberates us from sin; by his Resurrection, he opens for us the way to a new life.” (CCC 654)

**Teachings of the Saints**

**St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross:**

“The deeper one is drawn into God, the more one must go out of oneself; that is, one must go to the world in order to carry the divine life into it.” (*Essays on Woman*, “The Separate Vocations of Man and Woman According to Nature and Grace”)

**St. John of the Cross:**

“In the evening of life, we will be judged on love alone.” (*Sayings of Light and Love*, 64)

**St. Augustine of Hippo**:

“The wrath of God is not a disturbed feeling of His mind, but a judgment by which punishment is inflicted upon sin.” (*City of God*, XV.25)

**St. John Chrysostom:**

“When you hear that God is angry in the Scriptures, do not suppose that God is subject to some passion. Such expressions are condescensions, teaching us that His acts of punishment are the consequence of our sins.”(*Homilies on Genesis*, 6:6)

**St. Faustina Kowalska:**

“Let the sinner not be afraid to approach Me. The flames of mercy are burning Me—clamoring to be spent; I want to pour them out upon these souls.” (*Diary*, 50)

**St. Teresa of Ávila:**

“Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you, all things are passing; God never changes. Patience obtains all things. He who has God lacks nothing; God alone suffices.” (*Poem: Nada te turbe*)

**St. Gregory of Nyssa:**

“For it is not when we begin to exist, but when we are joined to God, that we truly live.” (*On the Soul and the Resurrection*)

**Reflection Questions for Prayer**

Julian insists that wrath has no place in God. How does this challenge the way you may have imagined His response to your sins or failings?

She teaches that mercy never ceases and that God’s gaze of love never leaves us. Where in your life do you most need to trust this truth?

Julian ends by assuring us that in God’s sight, the soul He loves never dies. How might this hope shape the way you endure trials and sorrow in this life?

**Closing Prayer**

**Lord Jesus Christ,**
**You who are endless Truth, Wisdom, and Love,**
**draw us into Your peace,**
**where wrath has no place and mercy never ceases.**
**When we fail, lift us with Your pity;**
**when we fall, keep us in Your forgiveness;**
**when we fear death, remind us that in You we live forever.**
**Let us rest in Your unchanging goodness,**
**until the day we see You face to face**
**and rejoice with You in the fullness of love.**

**Amen.**

© Discerning Hearts. All rights reserved.

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**Day 5 – St. Gertrude the Great Novena – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts** Nov 11, 2025

St. Gertrude the Great Novena – Day 5 – For the Grace of Compassion, especially for the Holy Souls in Purgatory

St. Gertrude was given a vision by Jesus of a golden table adorned with luminous pearls, each representing a prayer for the Souls in Purgatory. Let us join our prayers to this offering, trusting in God’s infinite and divine mercy. May St. Gertrude aid us in lifting our prayers for the holy souls, enveloping them in the love and compassion of Christ. May she intercede for us for the intention we bring to this novena.

**We join St. Gertrude in a prayer she composed for the Holy Souls in Purgatory:**

Eternal Father,
I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son,
Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today,
for all the holy Souls in Purgatory,
for sinners everywhere,
for sinners in the Universal Church,
those in my own home and within my family.
Amen.

St. Gertrude the Great, pray for us

For the entire novena visit: A Novena to St. Gertrude the Great – Discerning Hearts Podcast

The post Day 5 – St. Gertrude the Great Novena – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

**Tuesday of the Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast** Nov 11, 2025
Tuesday of the Thirty-Second 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. Luke 17:7-10

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Which of you, with a servant ploughing or minding sheep, would say to him when he returned from the fields, “Come and have your meal immediately”? Would he not be more likely to say, “Get my supper laid; make yourself tidy and wait on me while I eat and drink. You can eat and drink yourself afterwards”? Must he be grateful to the servant for doing what he was told? So with you: when you have done all you have been told to do, say, “We are merely servants: we have done no more than our duty.”’

***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: ‘Which of you, with a servant ploughing or minding sheep, would say to him when he returned from the fields, “Come and have your meal immediately”? Would he not be more likely to say, “Get my supper laid; make yourself tidy and wait on me while I eat and drink. You can eat and drink yourself afterwards”? Must he be grateful to the servant for doing what he was told? So with you: when you have done all you have been told to do, say, “We are merely servants: we have done no more than our duty.”’

***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: ‘Which of you, with a servant ploughing or minding sheep, would say to him when he returned from the fields, “Come and have your meal immediately”? Would he not be more likely to say, “Get my supper laid; make yourself tidy and wait on me while I eat and drink. You can eat and drink yourself afterwards”? Must he be grateful to the servant for doing what he was told? So with you: when you have done all you have been told to do, say, “We are merely servants: we have done no more than our duty.”’

***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 post Tuesday of the Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

**DWG3 – Foundation of Discernment – The Discernment of God’s Will in Everyday Decisions with Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Discerning Hearts Podcast** Nov 10, 2025
Foundation of Discernment – “What am I to do?” The Discernment of God’s Will in Everyday Decisions with Fr. Timothy Gallagher

Fr. Timothy Gallagher explains that true discernment begins not with decision-making techniques, but with a spiritual foundation rooted in knowing God’s love. Drawing from St. Ignatius of Loyola’s teachings, he reflects on 1 John 4:19: “We love because He first loved us.” Fr. Gallagher shares two conversion stories—Michael, a college student who encounters God’s mercy and love in a desperate moment, and Catherine, a young woman whose experience of God’s tender presence awakens a desire to respond in love. These encounters reveal that the ability to seek God’s will arises naturally from the awareness of being loved by Him.

Fr. Gallagher explores how this love forms the heart of discernment: it is a relationship of trust and communion of wills between God and the person. Referencing John Henry Newman, each person has an irreplaceable mission in God’s plan—“God has created me to do Him some definite service.” Like Jeremiah and Mary, every person is uniquely called from eternity. When one grows in prayer and faith, that love deepens into readiness to say, “Whatever You want, Lord.” This openness marks the true disposition needed for discernment, where love and freedom unite to follow God’s personal call.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions:

How have I personally experienced the truth that “we love because He first loved us”?

When have I most deeply recognized that I am loved by God without condition?

How does knowing God’s love affect the way I approach important decisions in my life?

In what ways might fear or self-reliance hinder me from trusting God’s loving will?

What helps me grow in awareness of God’s presence and affection in daily prayer?

Can I identify a time when I, like Michael or Catherine, sensed God inviting me into deeper relationship?

How does the idea that God has created me for “some definite service” shape my sense of purpose?

What unique gifts or circumstances in my life reveal my irreplaceable place in God’s plan?

Am I willing to say to God, “Whatever You want, Lord,” with a free and peaceful heart?

How can I nurture greater openness and love so that my discernment becomes a true response to God’s invitation?

From *The Discernment of God’s Will in Everyday Decisions*:

“**Three Times in which a Sound and Good Choice May Be Made**

*The first time* is when God Our Lord so moves and attracts the will that, without doubting or being able to doubt, the devout soul follows what is shown to it, as St. Paul and St. Matthew did in following Christ our Lord.

*The second time* is when sufficient clarity and understanding is received through experience of consolations and desolations, and through experience of discernment of different spirits.

*The third time* is one of tranquility, when one considers first for what purpose man is born, that is, to praise God our Lord and save his soul, and, desiring this, chooses as a means to this end some life or state within the bounds of the Church, so that he may be helped in the service of his Lord and the salvation of his soul. I said a tranquil time, that is, when the soul is not agitated by different spirits, and uses its natural powers freely and tranquilly.

If the choice is not made in the first or second time, two ways of making it in this third time are given below.”

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**

The post DWG3 – Foundation of Discernment – The Discernment of God’s Will in Everyday Decisions with Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

**Day 4 – St. Gertrude the Great Novena – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts** Nov 10, 2025
Santa Gertrudes de Helfta Museu de Arte Religiosa de Puebla (México) – Foto: Francisco Lecaros

St. Gertrude the Great Novena – Day 4 – For the Grace of Right Intention

St. Gertrude asked Jesus for fewer distractions in her days to have more time for prayer. The Lord answered her, “If I took pleasure only in spiritual exercises, I would have reformed human nature after Adam’s fall so that it would not need food, clothing, or other things. I require only that your will be directed to me with a right intention”. St. Gertrude mastered the Benedictine call to balance the active and contemplative life. Her dialogue with the Lord teaches us that sanctity lies not in tasks but in intention. We pray for her guidance to discern daily God’s will. May she also intercede for the intention we bring to this novena.

**We join St. Gertrude in a prayer she composed for the Holy Souls in Purgatory:**

Eternal Father,
I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son,
Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today,
for all the holy Souls in Purgatory,
for sinners everywhere,
for sinners in the Universal Church,
those in my own home and within my family.
Amen.

St. Gertrude the Great, pray for us

For the entire novena visit: A Novena to St. Gertrude the Great – Discerning Hearts Podcast

The post Day 4 – St. Gertrude the Great Novena – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

**Monday of the Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast** Nov 10, 2025

Monday of the Thirty-Second 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. Luke 17:1-6

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Obstacles are sure to come, but alas for the one who provides them! It would be better for him to be thrown into the Sea with a millstone put round his neck than that he should lead astray a single one of these little ones. Watch yourselves!
If your brother does something wrong, reprove him and, if he is sorry, forgive him. And if he wrongs you seven times a day and seven times comes back to you and says, “I am sorry,” you must forgive him.’
The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith.’ The Lord replied, ‘Were your faith the size of a mustard seed you could say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea,” and it would obey you.’

***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: ‘Obstacles are sure to come, but alas for the one who provides them! It would be better for him to be thrown into the Sea with a millstone put round his neck than that he should lead astray a single one of these little ones. Watch yourselves!
If your brother does something wrong, reprove him and, if he is sorry, forgive him. And if he wrongs you seven times a day and seven times comes back to you and says, “I am sorry,” you must forgive him.’
The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith.’ The Lord replied, ‘Were your faith the size of a mustard seed you could say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea,” and it would obey you.’

***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: ‘Obstacles are sure to come, but alas for the one who provides them! It would be better for him to be thrown into the Sea with a millstone put round his neck than that he should lead astray a single one of these little ones. Watch yourselves!
If your brother does something wrong, reprove him and, if he is sorry, forgive him. And if he wrongs you seven times a day and seven times comes back to you and says, “I am sorry,” you must forgive him.’
The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith.’ The Lord replied, ‘Were your faith the size of a mustard seed you could say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea,” and it would obey you.’

***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 post Monday of the Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

**Day 3 – St. Gertrude the Great Novena – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts** Nov 09, 2025

St. Gertrude the Great Novena – Day 3 – For the Grace of Holy Counsel

St. Gertrude, at only 30 years old, became the leader of her monastery. For more than 40 years, she guided her community with love and wisdom. May she inspire us to listen deeply to God’s voice and discern His will for our lives. May she intercede for us with our intention for this novena if it be in alignment with the will of the Father.

**We join St. Gertrude in a prayer she composed for the Holy Souls in Purgatory:**

Eternal Father,
I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son,
Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today,
for all the holy Souls in Purgatory,
for sinners everywhere,
for sinners in the Universal Church,
those in my own home and within my family.
Amen.

St. Gertrude the Great, pray for us

For the entire novena visit: A Novena to St. Gertrude the Great – Discerning Hearts Podcast

The post Day 3 – St. Gertrude the Great Novena – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

**Dedication of the Lateran Basilica – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast** Nov 09, 2025

Dedication of the Lateran Basilica – 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 John 2:13-22

Just before the Jewish Passover Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and in the Temple he found people selling cattle and sheep and pigeons, and the money changers sitting at their counters there. Making a whip out of some cord, he drove them all out of the Temple, cattle and sheep as well, scattered the money changers’ coins, knocked their tables over and said to the pigeon-sellers, ‘Take all this out of here and stop turning my Father’s house into a market.’ Then his disciples remembered the words of scripture: Zeal for your house will devour me. The Jews intervened and said, ‘What sign can you show us to justify what you have done?’ Jesus answered, ‘Destroy this sanctuary, and in three days I will raise it up.’ The Jews replied, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this sanctuary: are you going to raise it up in three days?’ But he was speaking of the sanctuary that was his body, and when Jesus rose from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the scripture and the words he had said.

***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:***

Just before the Jewish Passover Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and in the Temple he found people selling cattle and sheep and pigeons, and the money changers sitting at their counters there. Making a whip out of some cord, he drove them all out of the Temple, cattle and sheep as well, scattered the money changers’ coins, knocked their tables over and said to the pigeon-sellers, ‘Take all this out of here and stop turning my Father’s house into a market.’ Then his disciples remembered the words of scripture: Zeal for your house will devour me. The Jews intervened and said, ‘What sign can you show us to justify what you have done?’ Jesus answered, ‘Destroy this sanctuary, and in three days I will raise it up.’ The Jews replied, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this sanctuary: are you going to raise it up in three days?’ But he was speaking of the sanctuary that was his body, and when Jesus rose from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the scripture and the words he had said.

***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:***

Just before the Jewish Passover Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and in the Temple he found people selling cattle and sheep and pigeons, and the money changers sitting at their counters there. Making a whip out of some cord, he drove them all out of the Temple, cattle and sheep as well, scattered the money changers’ coins, knocked their tables over and said to the pigeon-sellers, ‘Take all this out of here and stop turning my Father’s house into a market.’ Then his disciples remembered the words of scripture: Zeal for your house will devour me. The Jews intervened and said, ‘What sign can you show us to justify what you have done?’ Jesus answered, ‘Destroy this sanctuary, and in three days I will raise it up.’ The Jews replied, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this sanctuary: are you going to raise it up in three days?’ But he was speaking of the sanctuary that was his body, and when Jesus rose from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the scripture and the words he had said.

***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 post Dedication of the Lateran Basilica – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

**ITP#514 – Fr. Ignatius Schweitzer O.P. / Dr. Anthony Lilles – St. Elizabeth of the Trinity on Inside the Pages w/ Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcast** Nov 08, 2025

Fr. Ignatius Schweitzer O.P. & Dr. Anthony Lilles – Named for Glory: Saint Elisabeth of the Trinity’s Identity and Mission on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcast

Fr. Ignatius Schweitzer, O.P. and Dr. Anthony Lilles discuss their collaboration on *Named for Glory: St. Elizabeth of the Trinity’s Identity and Mission*, a book exploring the spirituality of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity. A warm reflection on how they came to love St. Elizabeth—her contemplative depth, her letters, and her theological insight. Fr. Ignatius shares how reading St. Thérèse led him to Elizabeth’s writings, whose lofty yet practical spirituality bridges heaven and daily life. He and Dr. Lilles describe how St. Elizabeth’s understanding of the indwelling Trinity reveals the Christian’s interior union with God, forming the heart of contemplative prayer and identity. Their book, born during the COVID period with coauthor Julie Enzler, grew from meditations on St. Elizabeth’s letters and her three “names”: House of God, Praise of Glory, and Host of Praise.

They reflect on how Elizabeth’s mystical writings illuminate divine intimacy as both transcendent and deeply personal. Dr. Lilles describes her influence on St. John Paul II and praises her integration of Scripture, sacrament, and Trinitarian mystery. Both he and Fr. Ignatius note how her retreats and letters reveal that holiness is discovered in surrender—where the “abyss of misery meets the abyss of mercy.” Through trials and interior transformation, Elizabeth teaches that each soul is called to discover its true identity in Christ, to live as a radiant expression of divine life.

Discerning Hearts spiritual reflection questions:

How does St. Elizabeth of the Trinity’s teaching on the indwelling Trinity deepen your understanding of God’s presence within you?

In what ways can you live out your baptismal identity as a “house of God” in your daily life?

When have you experienced the “abyss of misery meeting the abyss of mercy” in your relationship with God?

How can you allow Scripture, as Elizabeth did, to shape your prayer and transform your heart?

What prevents you from resting in silence before God, and how might you open yourself more fully to His divine touch?

How does Elizabeth’s example invite you to see suffering as a pathway to deeper communion with the Trinity?

What does it mean for you personally to be a “praise of glory” for God?

How can Elizabeth’s contemplative spirit guide your response to the distractions and busyness of modern life?

In your own vocation or mission, where do you sense God calling you to go “out into the deep”?

How might you practice spiritual friendship or intercession, as Elizabeth did through her letters, to help others grow closer to God?

You can find the book here

From the book description

“*I am going to bury myself in the depths of my soul, that is, in God. Will you follow me in this very simple movement?*” — St. Elizabeth of the Trinity

St. Teresa of Avila said that every soul is made for transforming union with God. In her footsteps, St. Elizabeth of the Trinity (1880–1906) invites you to rendezvous with her in the interior castle and experience the indwelling presence of the Holy Trinity.

**Go out into the deep: My Three, my All!**

In describing her intimate relationship with God, St. Elizabeth referred to her Divine Bridegroom as “Maestro.” Here, she guides you in hearing His song and living the chorus of love, drawing ever closer to His very Heart. Through her powerful spiritual wisdom, as reflected in her letters to relatives, loved ones, and priests, you will find:

How to live in the freedom of silence and recollection and remain absorbed in love of God while fulfilling practical demands

Guidance on offering your life to God by uniting yourself to Jesus in the Holy Eucharist

Ways to deepen your life of prayer to experience the Holy Trinity’s indwelling presence

The secret to letting go and clinging to God with the intimacy of a contemplative gaze

How to imitate Mary in offering your life as a House of God, Praise of Glory, and Host of Praise

St. Elizabeth’s Oblation to the Trinity and how to enter the Furnace of Love in the altar of your heart

In these awe-inspiring pages, St. Elizabeth unveils the union that you were made to enjoy through Our Lady, Queen of Martyrs and Gate of Heaven. By reflecting on her name and vocation as Virgin, Spouse, and Mother, St. Elizabeth invites us to answer the universal call to holiness so that our lives will also flow into the very life of God — and His life will flow into ours. By imitating our Blessed Mother in her deep simplicity and making little acts of love and sacrifice each day, we unite with Jesus in the Sacred Host, become living oblations, and thus glorify our Crucified and Risen Lord.

About the Authors

**Dr. Anthony Lilles**: Anthony Lilles is co-founder and Academic Dean of the Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation and also serves as the Academic Dean and Associate Professor of Theology at St. John’s Seminary. He is a founding faculty member of St. John Vianney Theological Seminary where he was Academic Dean for nine years. Dr. Lilles has provided graduate level courses on a variety of topics including the Eucharist, the Sacraments of Healing, Church History, Spiritual Theology, Spiritual Direction and on various classics of Catholic Spirituality.

**Fr. Ignatius Schweitzer O.P.**: Fr. Ignatius John Schweitzer, OP is a Dominican priest of the St. Joseph (Eastern) Province. He was ordained in 2011. He spent six years living as a monk in a Carthusian monastery. He then returned to the Dominicans, discerning a strong call from the Lord to help others grow in the spiritual and mystical life. Upon returning, he completed his STL, writing on “The Life, Light, and Fire of Triune Love: A Trinitarian Spirituality from Scripture, Aquinas, Ruusbroec, and John of the Cross.” He is the promoter of the Dominican Laity, adjunct professor, spiritual director, and formator at St. Joseph’s Seminary. He hopes to be of service to the Lord’s loving cry to souls and souls’ cry for the Lord: “Abyss calls to abyss!”

The post ITP#514 – Fr. Ignatius Schweitzer O.P. / Dr. Anthony Lilles – St. Elizabeth of the Trinity on Inside the Pages w/ Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Dr. Anthony Lilles STD - Beginning to Pray 3 — **Holy Trinity, Whom I Adore – St. Elizabeth of the Trinity** Nov 08, 2025

“Holy Trinity, Whom I Adore” a prayer of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity (*translated by Dr. Anthony Lilles and offered by Miriam Gutierrez*)

Holy Trinity, Whom I Adore

O My God, Trinity whom I adore, help me to forget myself entirely so as to be established in you as still and as peaceful as if my soul were already in eternity. May nothing be able to disturb my peace, nor make me depart from you, o my Unchanging One, but may each moment carry me further into the depths of your Mystery. Pacify my soul: make it your heaven, your beloved abode, your resting place. May I never leave you there alone, but may I be entirely present, my faith completely ready, wholly adoring, fully surrendered to your creative action.

O my beloved Christ, crucified by love, I would like to be a bride for your heart. I would like to cover you with glory, I would like to love you… unto death. I feel my powerlessness, however, and I ask you to clothe me with yourself, to identify my soul with all the movements of your soul, to overwhelm me, to invade me, to substitute yourself for me, that my life might be but the radiation of your Life. Come into me as Adorer, as Healer, as Savior.

O Eternal Word, Word of my God, I want to spend my life listening to you. I want to be completely docile, ready to learn all from you. Then, through all nights, all voids, all weakness, I want always to fixate on you and to remain under your great light. O My beloved Star, fascinate me to the point that I could not forsake your shining light.

O Consuming Flame, Spirit of love, come over me until my soul is rendered into an incarnation of the Word; may I be for Him another humanity in which he renews His whole Mystery.

And you, O Father, bend over your little creature, cover her with your shadow, and in her only the Beloved in whom You are well-pleased.

O my Three, my All, my Beatitude, Infinite Solitude, Immensity in which I lose myself, I surrender myself as prey. Bury yourself in me in order that I might bury myself in you while waiting to contemplate in your light the immeasurable depths of your grandeur

.

The post Holy Trinity, Whom I Adore – St. Elizabeth of the Trinity appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

holy_trinity — **Holy Trinity, Whom I Adore – St. Elizabeth of the Trinity** Nov 08, 2025

“Holy Trinity, Whom I Adore” a prayer of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity (*translated by Dr. Anthony Lilles and offered by Miriam Gutierrez*)

Holy Trinity, Whom I Adore

O My God, Trinity whom I adore, help me to forget myself entirely so as to be established in you as still and as peaceful as if my soul were already in eternity. May nothing be able to disturb my peace, nor make me depart from you, o my Unchanging One, but may each moment carry me further into the depths of your Mystery. Pacify my soul: make it your heaven, your beloved abode, your resting place. May I never leave you there alone, but may I be entirely present, my faith completely ready, wholly adoring, fully surrendered to your creative action.

O my beloved Christ, crucified by love, I would like to be a bride for your heart. I would like to cover you with glory, I would like to love you… unto death. I feel my powerlessness, however, and I ask you to clothe me with yourself, to identify my soul with all the movements of your soul, to overwhelm me, to invade me, to substitute yourself for me, that my life might be but the radiation of your Life. Come into me as Adorer, as Healer, as Savior.

O Eternal Word, Word of my God, I want to spend my life listening to you. I want to be completely docile, ready to learn all from you. Then, through all nights, all voids, all weakness, I want always to fixate on you and to remain under your great light. O My beloved Star, fascinate me to the point that I could not forsake your shining light.

O Consuming Flame, Spirit of love, come over me until my soul is rendered into an incarnation of the Word; may I be for Him another humanity in which he renews His whole Mystery.

And you, O Father, bend over your little creature, cover her with your shadow, and in her only the Beloved in whom You are well-pleased.

O my Three, my All, my Beatitude, Infinite Solitude, Immensity in which I lose myself, I surrender myself as prey. Bury yourself in me in order that I might bury myself in you while waiting to contemplate in your light the immeasurable depths of your grandeur

.

The post Holy Trinity, Whom I Adore – St. Elizabeth of the Trinity appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

**Day 2 – St. Gertrude the Great Novena – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts** Nov 08, 2025

St. Gertrude the Great Novena – Day 2 – For the Grace of Holy Zeal

St. Gertrude the Great is held in the highest regard for her unwavering love for the Sacred Heart of Jesus and her profound compassion for the Holy Souls in Purgatory. Esteemed by many of her fellow saints, including St. Teresa of Avila, St. Gertrude’s spiritual insights have long inspired the faithful. With reverence, we invoke her patronage and beseech her to intercede for us that we may receive the graces most suited to our spiritual growth and needs (mention personal intention). May she also intercede for the intention we bring to this novena.

**We join St. Gertrude in a prayer she composed for the Holy Souls in Purgatory:**

Eternal Father,
I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son,
Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today,
for all the holy Souls in Purgatory,
for sinners everywhere,
for sinners in the Universal Church,
those in my own home and within my family.
Amen.

St. Gertrude the Great, pray for us

For the entire novena visit: A Novena to St. Gertrude the Great – Discerning Hearts Podcast

The post Day 2 – St. Gertrude the Great Novena – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

**Saturday of the Thirty-First Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast** Nov 08, 2025

Saturday of the Thirty-First 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. Luke 16:9-15

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘I tell you this: use money, tainted as it is, to win you friends, and thus make sure that when it fails you, they will welcome you into the tents of eternity. The man who can be trusted in little things can be trusted in great; the man who is dishonest in little things will be dishonest in great. If then you cannot be trusted with money, that tainted thing, who will trust you with genuine riches? And if you cannot be trusted with what is not yours, who will give you what is your very own?
‘No servant can be the slave of two masters: he will either hate the first and love the second, or treat the first with respect and the second with scorn. You cannot be the slave both of God and of money.’
The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and laughed at him. He said to them, ‘You are the very ones who pass yourselves off as virtuous in people’s sight, but God knows your hearts. For what is thought highly of by men is loathsome in the sight of God.’

***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 this: use money, tainted as it is, to win you friends, and thus make sure that when it fails you, they will welcome you into the tents of eternity. The man who can be trusted in little things can be trusted in great; the man who is dishonest in little things will be dishonest in great. If then you cannot be trusted with money, that tainted thing, who will trust you with genuine riches? And if you cannot be trusted with what is not yours, who will give you what is your very own?
‘No servant can be the slave of two masters: he will either hate the first and love the second, or treat the first with respect and the second with scorn. You cannot be the slave both of God and of money.’
The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and laughed at him. He said to them, ‘You are the very ones who pass yourselves off as virtuous in people’s sight, but God knows your hearts. For what is thought highly of by men is loathsome in the sight of God.’

***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 this: use money, tainted as it is, to win you friends, and thus make sure that when it fails you, they will welcome you into the tents of eternity. The man who can be trusted in little things can be trusted in great; the man who is dishonest in little things will be dishonest in great. If then you cannot be trusted with money, that tainted thing, who will trust you with genuine riches? And if you cannot be trusted with what is not yours, who will give you what is your very own?
‘No servant can be the slave of two masters: he will either hate the first and love the second, or treat the first with respect and the second with scorn. You cannot be the slave both of God and of money.’
The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and laughed at him. He said to them, ‘You are the very ones who pass yourselves off as virtuous in people’s sight, but God knows your hearts. For what is thought highly of by men is loathsome in the sight of God.’

***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 post Saturday of the Thirty-First Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

angel-praying-2 — **Friday – Praying daily for the Poor Souls – Discerning Hearts Podcasts** Nov 07, 2025

Friday

O LORD God almighty, I beseech Thee,
by the precious blood
which Thy Divine Son, Jesus, did shed on this day,
upon the tree of the cross,
especially from His sacred hands and feet,
deliver the souls in purgatory,
and particularly that soul for whom I am most bound to pray;
in order that I may not be the cause which hinders Thee
from admitting it quickly into the possession of Thy glory
where it may praise and bless Thee forever more.

Amen.

O Lord, hear my prayer
And let my prayer cry come onto thee.

O God
the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful,
grant unto the souls of thy servants and handmaids
the remission of all their sins
that through our devout supplications
they may obtain the pardon they have always desired.
Who live and reign world without end…Amen.

Say the following prayers:
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May their souls and the souls of all the faithfully departed rest in peace. Amen.

For every day of the week

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Day 1 – St. Gertrude the Great Novena – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts Nov 07, 2025

St. Gertrude the Great Novena – Day 1 – For the Grace of Self-Knowledge and Holy Understanding

As we begin our novena on this day, we reflect upon the providential beginnings of St. Gertrude, born on the Feast of the Epiphany in 1256. At the tender age of five, she was entrusted to the care of the holy St. Mechtilde at the Benedictine monastery, which became her lifelong spiritual home. Gertrude acknowledged that had she not been nurtured in such sanctity from her youth; she might have strayed far from her spiritual calling. Let us seek the intercession of St. Gertrude that we may have the grace to acknowledge our own sins of commission and omission. Let us pray together for the knowledge to recognize our missteps and the grace to pursue perfect contrition for our sins. May she also intercede in the intention we bring to this novena.

We join St. Gertrude in a prayer she composed for the Holy Souls in Purgatory:

Eternal Father,
I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son,
Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today,
for all the holy Souls in Purgatory,
for sinners everywhere,
for sinners in the Universal Church,
those in my own home and within my family.
Amen.

St. Gertrude the Great, pray for us

For the entire novena visit: A Novena to St. Gertrude the Great – Discerning Hearts Podcast

The post Day 1 – St. Gertrude the Great Novena – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

**Friday of the Thirty-First Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast** Nov 07, 2025

Friday of the Thirty-First 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. Luke 16:1-8

Jesus said to his disciples:
‘There was a rich man and he had a steward denounced to him for being wasteful with his property. He called for the man and said, “What is this I hear about you? Draw me up an account of your stewardship because you are not to be my steward any longer.” Then the steward said to himself, “Now that my master is taking the stewardship from me, what am I to do? Dig? I am not strong enough. Go begging? I should be too ashamed. Ah, I know what I will do to make sure that when I am dismissed from office there will be some to welcome me into their homes.”
Then he called his master’s debtors one by one. To the first he said, “How much do you owe my master?” “One hundred measures of oil” was the reply. The steward said, “Here, take your bond; sit down straight away and write fifty.” To another he said, “And you, sir, how much do you owe?” “One hundred measures of wheat” was the reply. The steward said, “Here, take your bond and write eighty.”
‘The master praised the dishonest steward for his astuteness. For the children of this world are more astute in dealing with their own kind than are the children of light.’

***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:
‘There was a rich man and he had a steward denounced to him for being wasteful with his property. He called for the man and said, “What is this I hear about you? Draw me up an account of your stewardship because you are not to be my steward any longer.” Then the steward said to himself, “Now that my master is taking the stewardship from me, what am I to do? Dig? I am not strong enough. Go begging? I should be too ashamed. Ah, I know what I will do to make sure that when I am dismissed from office there will be some to welcome me into their homes.”
Then he called his master’s debtors one by one. To the first he said, “How much do you owe my master?” “One hundred measures of oil” was the reply. The steward said, “Here, take your bond; sit down straight away and write fifty.” To another he said, “And you, sir, how much do you owe?” “One hundred measures of wheat” was the reply. The steward said, “Here, take your bond and write eighty.”
‘The master praised the dishonest steward for his astuteness. For the children of this world are more astute in dealing with their own kind than are the children of light.’

***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:
‘There was a rich man and he had a steward denounced to him for being wasteful with his property. He called for the man and said, “What is this I hear about you? Draw me up an account of your stewardship because you are not to be my steward any longer.” Then the steward said to himself, “Now that my master is taking the stewardship from me, what am I to do? Dig? I am not strong enough. Go begging? I should be too ashamed. Ah, I know what I will do to make sure that when I am dismissed from office there will be some to welcome me into their homes.”
Then he called his master’s debtors one by one. To the first he said, “How much do you owe my master?” “One hundred measures of oil” was the reply. The steward said, “Here, take your bond; sit down straight away and write fifty.” To another he said, “And you, sir, how much do you owe?” “One hundred measures of wheat” was the reply. The steward said, “Here, take your bond and write eighty.”
‘The master praised the dishonest steward for his astuteness. For the children of this world are more astute in dealing with their own kind than are the children of light.’

***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 post Friday of the Thirty-First Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

**IP#500 Sr. Mary Ann Fatula – The Wonders of the Mass and the Eucharist on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts** Nov 06, 2025

Sr. Mary Ann Fatula on “The Wonders of the Mass and the Eucharist: Insights of the Saints”

Sr. Mary Ann Fatula discusses her book *The Wonders of the Mass and the Eucharist: Insights of the Saints* with Kris McGregor. Sr. Mary Ann shares how the Holy Spirit inspired her to gather the most moving and profound reflections of the saints on the Mass and the Eucharist. She describes how these writings reveal the tenderness, depth, and divine intimacy found in the Eucharist, where heaven and earth meet. Through the Mass, the faithful truly encounter Christ’s sacrifice, presence, and love, joined by all of heaven and by their departed loved ones. The saints’ meditations invite the soul to rest upon Christ’s heart, to recognize the sacred reality of the Eucharist, and to experience it as a foretaste of heaven.

Sr. Mary Ann also reflects on the Church Fathers and how their insights, filled with strength and devotion, continue to nourish faith today. The Mass, she explains, is not merely symbolic but a living encounter with Jesus Himself—the “sacrament of love.” Deeper participation in daily Mass and Eucharistic adoration is where Christ draws souls into communion with Himself and one another.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

How do I personally experience the presence of Christ during the Mass and in receiving the Eucharist?

In what ways can I slow down and truly “savor” the mystery of the Eucharist as the saints did?

How might I deepen my faith in the real presence of Jesus through prayer and meditation on Scripture?

Do I recognize that at every Mass, I am united not only with Christ but also with all of heaven and my loved ones who have gone before me?

How can the example and writings of the saints inspire me to approach the Eucharist with greater love and reverence?

What steps can I take to participate in Mass more frequently or spend more time in Eucharistic adoration?

How does understanding the Eucharist as a “sacrament of love” call me to greater self-giving in my daily relationships?

What does it mean for me to rest on the heart of Christ as St. John did at the Last Supper?

How do the teachings of the Church Fathers strengthen my understanding and devotion to the Eucharist?

In what ways is the Mass a foretaste of heaven that prepares my soul for eternal communion with God?

You can find the book here.

**From the book description**:

“Above all other blessings, the most precious gifts of the Holy Trinity to us are the Mass and the Eucharist. In this awe-inspiring book, Sr. Mary Ann Fatula takes you to the feet of the saints to ponder these Sacred Mysteries. You will learn how to rest in the Lord’s intimate physical presence and gain peace of soul, receiving the remedy for temptation, sweetness in struggles, and healing from pain.

As Sr. Mary Ann breaks opens the treasure house of writings on the Holy Eucharist, the saints will lovingly teach you about the immeasurable graces the Lord gives you at Mass and through this most wondrous sacrament. You will learn how to grow in recollection during Mass, how to cherish the Lord’s intimate presence in Holy Communion, and how to rest in the Lord in Eucharistic adoration. As your love for the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament deepens, you will begin to treasure anew the delight of the Trinity’s intimate love, the light and warmth of the Holy Spirit’s anointing, and the joyful hope of eternal salvation.

In pondering with Sr. Mary Ann the insights of Church Fathers and other beloved saints, such as Thomas Aquinas, Catherine of Siena, Teresa of Ávila, John Henry Newman, John Vianney, Thérèse of Lisieux, and John Paul II, the Mystery of Faith will come alive to you in a new way. You will never experience Mass in the same way again, nor will you tire of returning to these saints’ insights to be inspired again and again.

You will learn that, at every Mass, the Lord Himself makes present to us His most tender Last Supper, His sacred death on the Cross, and His glorious Resurrection in order to feed us with His own precious Body and Blood. You will discover many other astounding blessings that the Lord wants to pour out on us at Mass, such as the grace that transformed St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s skepticism about the Catholic Church into a desire to give everything for the Faith. As you discover how to come to Mass with eagerness and awe, Sr. Mary Ann will unveils:

The key to seeing with faith the profound mysteries invisibly taking place at Mass

The depth of the Lord’s desire to work miracles of love for us through the Mass and the Eucharist

The comfort, tenderness, and sweetness of the Lord’s intimate physical presence within us in the Eucharist

Many other wonderful blessings the Lord lavishes upon us when we receive Holy Communion with the desire to love Him

How the Holy Eucharist ignites our love for one another, especially the poor and the suffering

The wondrous power of the Precious Blood of Jesus — even in the lives of hardened sinners

The power of the Eucharist to make the devil flee from us

The grace that the Eucharist gives us to approach death with confidence and trust

This is a must-read book for the Eucharistic revival. The saints show us that when people begin to appreciate the truth about the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, the Holy Spirit powerfully draws them to the Church, or back to the Church, and immeasurably deepens the joy and love of those who learn to cherish the life-giving treasures of the Mass and the Eucharist.”

**About the Author**: Sr. Mary Ann, O.P., holds a doctorate in systematic theology from The Catholic University of America and taught theology for more than 30 years at Ohio Dominican University in Columbus, Ohio.

The post IP#500 Sr. Mary Ann Fatula – The Wonders of the Mass and the Eucharist on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

**Thursday – Praying daily for the Poor Souls – Discerning Hearts Podcast** Nov 06, 2025

Thursday

O LORD God Almighty, I beseech Thee,
by the precious body and blood
of Thy Divine Son Jesus,
which He himself
on the night before His passion
gave as meat and drink to His beloved apostles,
and He bequeathed His Holy Church
be a perpetual sacrifice and life-giving nourishment
of His faithful people,
deliver the souls in purgatory,
and but most of all that soul
which was most devoted to this mystery of infinite love;
in order that it may praise thee, therefore
together with Thy Divine Son,
and The Holy Spirit,
in Thy glory forever.

Amen.

O Lord, hear my prayer
And let my prayer cry come onto thee.

O God
the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful,
grant unto the souls of thy servants and handmaids
the remission of all their sins
that through our devout supplications
they may obtain the pardon they have always desired.
Who live and reign world without end…Amen.

Say the following prayers:
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May their souls and the souls of all the faithfully departed rest in peace. Amen.

For every day of the week

The post Thursday – Praying daily for the Poor Souls – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

**Thursday of the Thirty-First Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast** Nov 06, 2025

Thursday of the Thirty-First 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 Luke 15:1-10

The tax collectors and the sinners were all seeking the company of Jesus to hear what he had to say, and the Pharisees and the scribes complained. ‘This man’ they said ‘welcomes sinners and eats with them.’ So he spoke this parable to them:
‘What man among you with a hundred sheep, losing one, would not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the missing one till he found it? And when he found it, would he not joyfully take it on his shoulders and then, when he got home, call together his friends and neighbours? “Rejoice with me,” he would say “I have found my sheep that was lost.” In the same way, I tell you, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine virtuous men who have no need of repentance.
‘Or again, what woman with ten drachmas would not, if she lost one, light a lamp and sweep out the house and search thoroughly till she found it? And then, when she had found it, call together her friends and neighbours? “Rejoice with me,” she would say “I have found the drachma I lost.” In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing among the angels of God over one repentant sinner.’

***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 tax collectors and the sinners were all seeking the company of Jesus to hear what he had to say, and the Pharisees and the scribes complained. ‘This man’ they said ‘welcomes sinners and eats with them.’ So he spoke this parable to them:
‘What man among you with a hundred sheep, losing one, would not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the missing one till he found it? And when he found it, would he not joyfully take it on his shoulders and then, when he got home, call together his friends and neighbours? “Rejoice with me,” he would say “I have found my sheep that was lost.” In the same way, I tell you, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine virtuous men who have no need of repentance.
‘Or again, what woman with ten drachmas would not, if she lost one, light a lamp and sweep out the house and search thoroughly till she found it? And then, when she had found it, call together her friends and neighbours? “Rejoice with me,” she would say “I have found the drachma I lost.” In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing among the angels of God over one repentant sinner.’

***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 tax collectors and the sinners were all seeking the company of Jesus to hear what he had to say, and the Pharisees and the scribes complained. ‘This man’ they said ‘welcomes sinners and eats with them.’ So he spoke this parable to them:
‘What man among you with a hundred sheep, losing one, would not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the missing one till he found it? And when he found it, would he not joyfully take it on his shoulders and then, when he got home, call together his friends and neighbours? “Rejoice with me,” he would say “I have found my sheep that was lost.” In the same way, I tell you, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine virtuous men who have no need of repentance.
‘Or again, what woman with ten drachmas would not, if she lost one, light a lamp and sweep out the house and search thoroughly till she found it? And then, when she had found it, call together her friends and neighbours? “Rejoice with me,” she would say “I have found the drachma I lost.” In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing among the angels of God over one repentant sinner.’

***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 post Thursday of the Thirty-First Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

**WOM12 – The Communion Rite – The Way of Mystery with Deacon James Keating – Discerning Hearts Podcast** Nov 05, 2025

The Communion Rite – The Way of Mystery with Deacon James Keating

Deacon James Keating reflects on the sacred reality of receiving Holy Communion as an act of faith and new life. Rising from the pew mirrors Christ’s call to Lazarus — a movement from death to life. Communion is not a casual act but an encounter with the living Christ who dwells within us to bring us through death into eternal life. Deacon Keating invites us to approach the Eucharist attentively, using reverence, focus, and prayer to center the heart on the mystery being received. Even distractions during the procession can become moments of intercession. Saying “Amen” boldly affirms one’s desire for salvation, while gestures like bowing unite body and soul in readiness for divine encounter. After receiving the Eucharist, silence allows the soul to interiorize grace — a sacred “epiclesis” within the communicant, like Mary’s silent fiat at the Annunciation.

This encounter leads to transformation and mission. The silence after Communion is where conversion deepens, forming the faithful to bring Christ into the world. The Mass is not complete until we allow the Lord to change us, sending us forth as witnesses in daily life. Fear often stifles this transformation — fear of rejection, ignorance, or standing alone in truth — yet authentic community and deeper knowledge of Christ dispel such fear. Participation in daily Mass, Eucharistic adoration, and acts of charity sustain this conversion. Each small offering or self-denial extends the mystery of the Mass into everyday life. The Eucharist thus unites worship and mission, healing the divide between faith and ordinary living so that the lay vocation can renew culture through Christ’s abiding presence.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

When I rise to receive Holy Communion, do I truly recognize it as a movement from death to life in Christ?

How mindful am I of Christ’s presence as I process toward the altar, and how can I gently refocus when distractions arise?

Do I proclaim my “Amen” at Communion with conviction, aware that I am affirming my desire for salvation?

How does my bodily reverence—such as bowing—reflect my inner readiness to receive the Lord?

In what ways can I allow silence after Communion to deepen my encounter with Christ rather than rush through it?

Do I permit the Eucharist to transform me into a person who brings Christ’s presence into the world?

What fears hold me back from witnessing to my faith, and how can I bring those fears to the Lord in the Mass?

How do I support others in my community who strive to live and speak the truth of the Gospel?

Am I nurturing my relationship with Christ beyond Sunday through daily Mass, adoration, or personal prayer?

How can I carry the grace of the Eucharist into my daily life by acts of charity, sacrifice, and love?

*Deacon James Keating, Ph.D., is a professor of Spiritual Theology and serves as a spiritual director at Kenrick Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, MO.*

**Check out Deacon Keating’s “Discerning Heart” page**

The post WOM12 – The Communion Rite – The Way of Mystery with Deacon James Keating – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

**Wednesday – Praying daily for the Poor Souls – Discerning Hearts Podcast** Nov 05, 2025

Wednesday

O Lord God Almighty, I beseech Thee,
by the precious blood
of Thy Divine Son Jesus that was shed
in the streets of Jerusalem
while He carried on His sacred shoulders,
the heavy burden of the cross
deliver the souls in purgatory,
and especially that one which is the richest in merits in thy sight;
so that having soon obtained the high place in glory to which it is destined,
it may praise Thee triumphantly and bless Thee forever.

Amen.

O Lord, hear my prayer
And let my prayer cry come onto thee.

O God
the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful,
grant unto the souls of thy servants and handmaids
the remission of all their sins
that through our devout supplications
they may obtain the pardon they have always desired.
Who live and reign world without end…Amen.

Say the following prayers:
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May their souls and the souls of all the faithfully departed rest in peace. Amen.

For every day of the week

The post Wednesday – Praying daily for the Poor Souls – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

**Wednesday of the Thirty-First Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast** Nov 05, 2025
Wednesday of the Thirty-First 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. Luke 14:25-33

Great crowds accompanied Jesus on his way and he turned and spoke to them. ‘If any man comes to me without hating his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes and his own life too, he cannot be my disciple. Anyone who does not carry his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

‘And indeed, which of you here, intending to build a tower, would not first sit down and work out the cost to see if he had enough to complete it? Otherwise, if he laid the foundation and then found himself unable to finish the work, the onlookers would all start making fun of him and saying, “Here is a man who started to build and was unable to finish.” Or again, what king marching to war against another king would not first sit down and consider whether with ten thousand men he could stand up to the other who advanced against him with twenty thousand? If not, then while the other king was still a long way off, he would send envoys to sue for peace. So in the same way, none of you can be my disciple unless he gives up all his possessions.’

***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:***

Great crowds accompanied Jesus on his way and he turned and spoke to them. ‘If any man comes to me without hating his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes and his own life too, he cannot be my disciple. Anyone who does not carry his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

‘And indeed, which of you here, intending to build a tower, would not first sit down and work out the cost to see if he had enough to complete it? Otherwise, if he laid the foundation and then found himself unable to finish the work, the onlookers would all start making fun of him and saying, “Here is a man who started to build and was unable to finish.” Or again, what king marching to war against another king would not first sit down and consider whether with ten thousand men he could stand up to the other who advanced against him with twenty thousand? If not, then while the other king was still a long way off, he would send envoys to sue for peace. So in the same way, none of you can be my disciple unless he gives up all his possessions.’

***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:***

Great crowds accompanied Jesus on his way and he turned and spoke to them. ‘If any man comes to me without hating his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes and his own life too, he cannot be my disciple. Anyone who does not carry his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

‘And indeed, which of you here, intending to build a tower, would not first sit down and work out the cost to see if he had enough to complete it? Otherwise, if he laid the foundation and then found himself unable to finish the work, the onlookers would all start making fun of him and saying, “Here is a man who started to build and was unable to finish.” Or again, what king marching to war against another king would not first sit down and consider whether with ten thousand men he could stand up to the other who advanced against him with twenty thousand? If not, then while the other king was still a long way off, he would send envoys to sue for peace. So in the same way, none of you can be my disciple unless he gives up all his possessions.’

***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 post Wednesday of the Thirty-First Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

**VEC2 – Caiaphas – Villains of the Early Church with Mike Aquilina – Discerning Hearts Podcast** Nov 04, 2025
Episode 2 – Caiaphas – Villains of the Early Church with Mike Aquilina

Mike Aquilina and Kris McGregor discuss Caiaphas, the high priest who played a crucial role in the trial and death of Jesus. Caiaphas lived in a time when religion and politics were inseparable—his role required balancing faith and diplomacy under Roman rule. Though the office of high priest was meant to be lifelong, Caiaphas’s father-in-law, Annas, was deposed by the Romans, showing their interference in Jewish religious life. Caiaphas maintained power by cooperating with Rome, seeking stability in a politically charged environment. He viewed Jesus as a potential threat to national peace, preferring compromise with foreign rulers over potential conflict, even at the cost of condemning an innocent man.

Mike Aquilina explores how Caiaphas’s story reveals the dangers of valuing worldly peace over divine truth. Though he believed he acted for the good of his people, Caiaphas allowed fear and convenience to guide his judgment. Every Christian faces the same temptation—to protect comfort or reputation rather than stand for what is right before God.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

How do I, like Caiaphas, sometimes prioritize comfort or stability over faithfulness to God’s will?

In what ways might I compromise spiritual truth to maintain peace with others or avoid conflict?

What “temples” in my life need cleansing of attitudes or habits that dishonor God?

How can I deepen my trust in God’s providence instead of relying on human control or compromise?

Do I examine my conscience regularly to recognize where fear influences my moral choices?

How does Caiaphas’s story challenge me to place divine truth above social or political convenience?

Where in my life am I called to speak truth boldly, even if it disrupts the status quo?

How can I grow in detachment from worldly success or approval to seek only God’s glory?

In what ways does the hope of Caiaphas’s possible redemption inspire me to pray for my own conversion?

How does reflecting on my complicity in sin deepen my gratitude for Christ’s mercy on the cross?

An excerpt from Villains of the Early Church

“Caiaphas IS mentioned everywhere in the Church Fathers, but almost as furniture—“ and Jesus was brought before Caiaphas.” If the early Christian writers are interested in anything about him, it’s that he could prophesy truly because of his office. Otherwise, they don’t seem to find much remarkable in him. He’s the banality of evil. A bureaucrat.

Yet, Caiaphas, like many of the characters caught up in the Passion story, was in a complicated position—more complicated than we may realize when we hear the story in the Gospels.”

*Aquilina, Mike. Villains of the Early Church: And How They Made Us Better Christians (Kindle Locations 304). Emmaus Road Publishing. Kindle Edition.*

You can find the book on which this series is based here.

**For more episodes in the *Villians of the Early Church* podcast visit here – Villains of the Early Church – Discerning Hearts Podcast**

**Mike Aquilina** is a popular author working in the area of Church history, especially patristics, the study of the early Church Fathers.^[1] He is the executive vice-president and trustee of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, a Roman Catholic research center based in Steubenville, Ohio. He is a contributing editor of Angelus (magazine) and general editor of the Reclaiming Catholic History Series from Ave Maria Press. He is the author or editor of more than fifty books, including *The Fathers of the Church* (2006); *The Mass of the Early Christians* (2007); *Living the Mysteries* (2003); and *What Catholics Believe*(1999). He has hosted eleven television series on the Eternal Word Television Network and is a frequent guest commentator on Catholic radio.

Mike Aquilina’s website is found at fathersofthechurch.com

The post VEC2 – Caiaphas – Villains of the Early Church with Mike Aquilina – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

**Practice What You Preach – St. Charles Borromeo from the Office of Readings – Discerning Hearts Podcasts** Nov 04, 2025
A sermon by St Charles Borromeo

Practice What You Preach

I admit that we are all weak, but if we want help, the Lord God has given us the means to find it easily. One priest may wish to lead a good, holy life, as he knows he should. He may wish to be chaste and to reflect heavenly virtues in the way he lives. Yet he does not resolve to use suitable means, such as penance, prayer, the avoidance of evil discussions and harmful and dangerous friendships. Another priest complains that as soon as he comes into church to pray the office or to celebrate Mass, a thousand thoughts fill his mind and distract him from God. But what was he doing in the sacristy before he came out for the office or for Mass? How did he prepare? What means did he use to collect his thoughts and to remain recollected?

Would you like me to teach you how to grow from virtue to virtue and how, if you are already recollected at prayer, you can be even more attentive next time, and so give God more pleasing worship? Listen, and I will tell you. If a tiny spark of God’s love already burns within you, do not expose it to the wind, for it may get blown out. Keep the stove tightly shut so that it will not lose its heat and grow cold. In other words, avoid distractions as well as you can. Stay quiet with God. Do not spend your time in useless chatter.

If teaching and preaching is your job, then study diligently and apply yourself to whatever is necessary for doing the job well. Be sure that you first preach by the way you live. If you do not, people will notice that you say one thing, but live otherwise, and your words will bring only cynical laughter and a derisive shake of the head.

Are you in charge of a parish? If so, do not neglect the parish of your own soul, do not give yourself to others so completely that you have nothing left for yourself. You have to be mindful of your people without becoming forgetful of yourself.

My brothers, you must realise that for us churchmen nothing is more necessary than meditation. We must meditate before, during and after everything we do. The prophet says: I will pray, and then I will understand. When you administer the sacraments, meditate on what you are doing. When you celebrate Mass, reflect on the sacrifice you are offering. When you pray the office, think about the words you are saying and the Lord to whom you are speaking. When you take care of your people, meditate on how the Lord’s blood has washed them clean so that all that you do becomes a work of love.

This is the way we can easily overcome the countless difficulties we have to face day after day, which, after all, are part of our work: in meditation we find the strength to bring Christ to birth in ourselves and in other men.

*Excerpts from the English translation of The Liturgy of the Hours (Four Volumes) © 1974, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.*

The post Practice What You Preach – St. Charles Borromeo from the Office of Readings – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

**Tuesday – Praying daily for the Poor Souls – Discerning Hearts Podcast** Nov 04, 2025

Tuesday

O Lord God Almighty, I beseech Thee,
by the precious blood
which Thy Divine Son Jesus
shed in His bitter crowning with thorns,
deliver the souls in purgatory,
and among them all,
particularly that soul which is in the greatest need of our prayers
in order that it may not long be delayed
in praising Thee in Thy glory,
and blessing Thee forever

Amen.

O Lord, hear my prayer
And let my prayer cry come onto thee.

O God
the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful,
grant unto the souls of thy servants and handmaids
the remission of all their sins
that through our devout supplications
they may obtain the pardon they have always desired.
Who live and reign world without end…Amen.

Say the following prayers:
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May their souls and the souls of all the faithfully departed rest in peace. Amen.

For every day of the week

The post Tuesday – Praying daily for the Poor Souls – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

**Tuesday of the Thirty-First Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast** Nov 04, 2025
Tuesday of the Thirty-First 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. Luke 14:15-24

One of those gathered round the table said to Jesus, ‘Happy the man who will be at the feast in the kingdom of God!’ But he said to him, ‘There was a man who gave a great banquet, and he invited a large number of people. When the time for the banquet came, he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, “Come along: everything is ready now.” But all alike started to make excuses. The first said, “I have bought a piece of land and must go and see it. Please accept my apologies.” Another said, “I have bought five yoke of oxen and am on my way to try them out. Please accept my apologies.” Yet another said, “I have just got married and so am unable to come.”

‘The servant returned and reported this to his master. Then the householder, in a rage, said to his servant, “Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in here the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.” “Sir” said the servant “your orders have been carried out and there is still room.” Then the master said to his servant, “Go to the open roads and the hedgerows and force people to come in to make sure my house is full; because, I tell you, not one of those who were invited shall have a taste of my banquet.”’

***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:***

One of those gathered round the table said to Jesus, ‘Happy the man who will be at the feast in the kingdom of God!’ But he said to him, ‘There was a man who gave a great banquet, and he invited a large number of people. When the time for the banquet came, he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, “Come along: everything is ready now.” But all alike started to make excuses. The first said, “I have bought a piece of land and must go and see it. Please accept my apologies.” Another said, “I have bought five yoke of oxen and am on my way to try them out. Please accept my apologies.” Yet another said, “I have just got married and so am unable to come.”

‘The servant returned and reported this to his master. Then the householder, in a rage, said to his servant, “Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in here the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.” “Sir” said the servant “your orders have been carried out and there is still room.” Then the master said to his servant, “Go to the open roads and the hedgerows and force people to come in to make sure my house is full; because, I tell you, not one of those who were invited shall have a taste of my banquet.”’

***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:***

One of those gathered round the table said to Jesus, ‘Happy the man who will be at the feast in the kingdom of God!’ But he said to him, ‘There was a man who gave a great banquet, and he invited a large number of people. When the time for the banquet came, he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, “Come along: everything is ready now.” But all alike started to make excuses. The first said, “I have bought a piece of land and must go and see it. Please accept my apologies.” Another said, “I have bought five yoke of oxen and am on my way to try them out. Please accept my apologies.” Yet another said, “I have just got married and so am unable to come.”

‘The servant returned and reported this to his master. Then the householder, in a rage, said to his servant, “Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in here the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.” “Sir” said the servant “your orders have been carried out and there is still room.” Then the master said to his servant, “Go to the open roads and the hedgerows and force people to come in to make sure my house is full; because, I tell you, not one of those who were invited shall have a taste of my banquet.”’

***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 post Tuesday of the Thirty-First Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

**DWG2 – God’s Guidance in Everyday Decisions – The Discernment of God’s Will in Everyday Decisions with Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Discerning Hearts Podcast** Nov 03, 2025
God’s Guidance in Everyday Decisions – “What am I to do?” The Discernment of God’s Will in Everyday Decisions with Fr. Timothy Gallagher

Fr. Timothy Gallagher discusses how Christians can seek God’s direction not only in major life choices but also in the ordinary moments of each day. Discerning God’s will begins with prayer and openness — asking God for light, reviewing the factors involved in a decision, acting with peace, and later reflecting on the outcome to learn from it. Drawing on St. Thomas Aquinas, this process cultivates the virtue of prudence — the habit of seeing what best leads to good ends. Through this daily attentiveness, our capacity to recognize divine guidance grows, especially when paired with a life of prayerful self-examination.

God’s love is intimately present in both great and small matters — even the most ordinary decisions can be part of a life offered to God. Living this way transforms daily actions into a continual offering, as described in Romans 12:1, making one’s life a “living sacrifice.” Fr. Gallagher shares from his own experience that prayerful discernment brings real clarity and peace — a partnership between human reason and divine wisdom. Over time, such faithfulness leads to serenity, as Dante wrote: “In your will is our peace.”

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions:

How do I invite God into my small, everyday choices rather than only my major life decisions?

When I face uncertainty, do I take time to pray before deciding, or do I act on impulse?

In what ways can I grow in the virtue of prudence through reflection on past experiences?

How might I let Jesus truly be “Lord” of my ordinary routines and interactions?

Do I view daily decisions as opportunities to offer my life as a “living sacrifice” to God?

How do I practice trust that God cares about the details of my life as deeply as the larger events?

What keeps me from turning first to prayer when discerning what to do?

How can I make my nightly examen a time to learn from the day’s choices and notice God’s guidance?

When have I experienced peace after following what I sensed to be God’s direction?

How does Jesus’ example of always doing the Father’s will challenge or inspire my own decision-making?

From *The Discernment of God’s Will in Everyday Decisions*:

“**Three Times in which a Sound and Good Choice May Be Made**

*The first time* is when God Our Lord so moves and attracts the will that, without doubting or being able to doubt, the devout soul follows what is shown to it, as St. Paul and St. Matthew did in following Christ our Lord.

*The second time* is when sufficient clarity and understanding is received through experience of consolations and desolations, and through experience of discernment of different spirits.

*The third time* is one of tranquility, when one considers first for what purpose man is born, that is, to praise God our Lord and save his soul, and, desiring this, chooses as a means to this end some life or state within the bounds of the Church, so that he may be helped in the service of his Lord and the salvation of his soul. I said a tranquil time, that is, when the soul is not agitated by different spirits, and uses its natural powers freely and tranquilly.

If the choice is not made in the first or second time, two ways of making it in this third time are given below.”

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**

The post DWG2 – God’s Guidance in Everyday Decisions – The Discernment of God’s Will in Everyday Decisions with Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

**Monday – Praying Daily for the Poor Souls – Discerning Hearts Podcast** Nov 03, 2025

Monday

O Lord God Almighty, I beseech Thee,
by the precious blood
which Thy Divine Son Jesus shed in His cruel scourging,
deliver the souls in purgatory,
and among them all,
especially that soul which is nearest
to its entrance into Thy glory;
that, so it may soon begin to praise Thee and bless Thee forever.

Amen.

O Lord, hear my prayer
And let my prayer cry come unto thee.

O God
the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful,
grant unto the souls of thy servants and handmaids
the remission of all their sins
that through our devout supplications
they may obtain the pardon they have always desired.
Who live and reign world without end…Amen.

Say the following prayers:
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May their souls and the souls of all the faithfully departed rest in peace. Amen.

For every day of the week

The post Monday – Praying Daily for the Poor Souls – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

**Monday of the Thirty-First Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast** Nov 03, 2025

Monday of the Thirty-First 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. Luke 14:12-14

Jesus said to his host, one of the leading Pharisees, ‘When you give a lunch or a dinner, do not ask your friends, brothers, relations or rich neighbours, for fear they repay your courtesy by inviting you in return. No; when you have a party, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; that they cannot pay you back means that you are fortunate, because repayment will be made to you when the virtuous rise again.’

***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 host, one of the leading Pharisees, ‘When you give a lunch or a dinner, do not ask your friends, brothers, relations or rich neighbours, for fear they repay your courtesy by inviting you in return. No; when you have a party, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; that they cannot pay you back means that you are fortunate, because repayment will be made to you when the virtuous rise again.’

***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 host, one of the leading Pharisees, ‘When you give a lunch or a dinner, do not ask your friends, brothers, relations or rich neighbours, for fear they repay your courtesy by inviting you in return. No; when you have a party, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; that they cannot pay you back means that you are fortunate, because repayment will be made to you when the virtuous rise again.’

***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 post Monday of the Thirty-First Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Sunday - Praying daily for the Poor Souls — **Sunday – Praying daily for the Poor Souls – Discerning Hearts Podcast** Nov 02, 2025

Sunday

O Lord God Almighty, I beseech Thee,
by the precious blood
which Thy Divine Son Jesus shed in the garden,
deliver the souls in purgatory,
and especially that one which is the most forsaken of all;
and bring it to Thy glory,
there to praise and bless Thee forever.

Amen.

O Lord, hear my prayer
And let my prayer cry come onto thee.

O God
the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful,
grant unto the souls of thy servants and handmaids
the remission of all their sins
that through our devout supplications
they may obtain the pardon they have always desired.
Who live and reign world without end…Amen.

Say the following prayers:
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May their souls and the souls of all the faithfully departed rest in peace. Amen.

For every day of the week

The post Sunday – Praying daily for the Poor Souls – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

**All Souls’ Day – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast** Nov 02, 2025

All Souls’ Day – 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 Luke 7:11-17

Jesus went to a town called Nain, accompanied by his disciples and a great number of people. When he was near the gate of the town it happened that a dead man was being carried out for burial, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a considerable number of the townspeople were with her. When the Lord saw her he felt sorry for her. ‘Do not cry’ he said. Then he went up and put his hand on the bier and the bearers stood still, and he said, ‘Young man, I tell you to get up.’ And the dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Everyone was filled with awe and praised God saying, ‘A great prophet has appeared among us; God has visited his people.’ And this opinion of him spread throughout Judaea and all over the countryside.

***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 went to a town called Nain, accompanied by his disciples and a great number of people. When he was near the gate of the town it happened that a dead man was being carried out for burial, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a considerable number of the townspeople were with her. When the Lord saw her he felt sorry for her. ‘Do not cry’ he said. Then he went up and put his hand on the bier and the bearers stood still, and he said, ‘Young man, I tell you to get up.’ And the dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Everyone was filled with awe and praised God saying, ‘A great prophet has appeared among us; God has visited his people.’ And this opinion of him spread throughout Judaea and all over the countryside.

***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 went to a town called Nain, accompanied by his disciples and a great number of people. When he was near the gate of the town it happened that a dead man was being carried out for burial, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a considerable number of the townspeople were with her. When the Lord saw her he felt sorry for her. ‘Do not cry’ he said. Then he went up and put his hand on the bier and the bearers stood still, and he said, ‘Young man, I tell you to get up.’ And the dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Everyone was filled with awe and praised God saying, ‘A great prophet has appeared among us; God has visited his people.’ And this opinion of him spread throughout Judaea and all over the countryside.

***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 post All Souls’ Day – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

**IP#483 – Thomas Jacobi – How Saints Die by Fr. Antonio Maria Sicari on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcast** Nov 01, 2025

Thomas Jacobi – How Saints Die by Fr. Antonio Maria Sicari on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor

Thomas Jacobi

***How Saints Die: 100 Stories of Hope*** is more about how to live than how to die. With Ignatius Press editor, Thomas Jacobi, we discuss life and death, and the challenges of living a life which strives for holiness. We discuss how the saints are great beacons of hope for the world and our essential companions for the spiritual journey.

As Thomas Jacobi will says in our conversation:

“Each Saint is a unique revelation actually of the personality of God, in Christ. Each Saint is so different and each saint reveals something new that we didn’t or couldn’t see before about Christ, about God. And that’s why it’s so important to get to know the saints. They reveal to us who God is in a fresh and exciting way. So I would encourage people to pick up this book for that reason.”

We would agree with Thomas!

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

How does viewing death as “the moment when death itself dies” transform your understanding of eternal life in Christ?

In what ways do the saints’ final moments reveal the depth of their love and trust in God?

How can reflecting on the deaths of the saints help you confront your own fears about mortality?

What does it mean for death to be “the supreme act of one’s life,” as described in the conversation?

How might you unite your daily sufferings to Christ’s Passion, as the saints did?

Which saint’s story from this discussion most inspires you to live with greater hope and surrender?

How does Madeleine Delbrêl’s acceptance of her fear of death challenge your own expectations of faith?

In what ways can humility, like that shown by St. Dominic and St. Josemaría Escrivá, deepen your spiritual growth?

How can meditating on the lives and deaths of saints renew your sense of purpose and mission today?

What does this episode teach you about finding joy—even within suffering—as a sign of union with Christ?

You can find the book here

From the book description:

“Italian Carmelite Antonio Maria Sicari’s vibrant biographies of saints—from Augustine to Catherine of Siena to Faustina Kowalska—have been read across Europe for decades. In How Saints Die, Sicari turns to the most difficult challenge in the life of a Christian: the hour of death.

What he uncovers in this darkest moment, however, is not desolation, but inexplicable joy. “I have recounted the death of many saints,” he writes, “but all of them have confirmed for me the truth of this ancient Christian intuition: in the death of a saint, it is death that dies!”

With in-depth research and a flair for storytelling, Sicari brings before our eyes the gracious last hours of one hundred men and women—lovers and martyrs, thinkers and workers, ancients and moderns, old men and teens. Included are Kateri Tekakwitha, Maximilian Kolbe, Mother Teresa, Thomas Aquinas, Josephine Bakhita, Jérôme Lejeune, Clare of Assisi, and many more. In each, a new shade of the divine light shines through.

*Those seeking insight into the mystery of death and suffering will find in this book not only wisdom, but rich and realistic consolation.*“

The post IP#483 – Thomas Jacobi – How Saints Die by Fr. Antonio Maria Sicari on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Teresa Monaghen…Pro Sanctity - The Universal Call to Holiness 1 — **A Litany of Saints – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts** Nov 01, 2025
A Litany of Saints for the Discerning Heart

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.

Saint Michael, pray for us.
Saint Gabriel, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, pray for us.
All you holy Angels and Archangels, pray for us.

Saint Joseph, Protector of the Church, pray for us.

Saint John the Baptist, pray for us.

Saint Peter, pray for us.
Saint Paul, pray for us.
Saint Andrew, pray for us.
Saint James, pray for us.
Saint John, pray for us.
All you holy Apostles and Evangelists, pray for us.
All you holy Martyrs, pray for us.

Saint Stephen, pray for us.
Saint Lawrence, pray for us.
Saint Gregory, pray for us.
Saint Ambrose, pray for us.
Saint Augustine, pray for us.
Saint Nicholas, pray for us.
Saint Benedict, pray for us.
Saint Bernard, pray for us.
Saint Dominic, pray for us.
Saint Francis, pray for us.
All you holy Priests and Clergy, pray for us.
All you holy Monks and Hermits, pray for us.

Saint Mary Magdalene, pray for us.
Saints Perpetua and Felicity, pray for us.
Saint Agatha, pray for us.
Saint Lucy, pray for us.
Saint Agnes, pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, pray for us.
Saint Catherine of Alexandria, pray for us.
Saint Anastasia, pray for us.
Saint Clare, pray for us.
All you holy Virgins and Widows, pray for us.

Saint Hildegard of Bingen, pray for us.
Saint Thomas Aquinas, pray for us.
Saint Bridget of Sweden, pray for us
Saint Catherine of Siena, pray for us
Saint Ignatius of Loyola, pray for us.
Saint Teresa of Avila, pray for us.
Saint John of the Cross, pray for us.
Saint Francis de Sales, pray for us.
Saint Jane de Chantal, pray for us.

Saint Claude de La Colombière, pray for us.
Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, pray for us.
Saint John Vianney, pray for us.
Saint John Henry Newman, pray for us
Saint Charbel Makhlouf, pray for us.

Saint Juan Diego, pray for us.
Saint Bernadette Soubirous, pray for us.
Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, pray for us.
Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity, pray for us.
Saint Gemma Gilgani, pray for us.

Saints Louis and Zélie Martin, pray for us.

Saint Fautina Kowalska, pray for us.
Saint Maximillian Mary Kolbe, pray for us.
Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, pray for us.
Saint Andrea Bessette, pray for us.
Saint Gianna Berretta Molla, pray for us.

Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, pray for us.
Saint Teresa of Calcutta, pray for us.
Saint John Paul II, pray for us.

Blessed Solanus Casey, pray for us.
Blessed Stanley Rother, pray for us.
Blessed Carlo Acutis, pray for us.
Venerable Bruno Lanteri, pray for us.
Venerable Fulton Sheen, pray for us.
Servant of God Leonie Martin, pray for us.
Servant of God Dorothy Day, pray for us.
Servant of God Catherine de Hueck Doherty, pray for us.
All you Holy Saints, Blesseds, and Servants of God, pray for us.

Lord, be merciful. Lord, deliver us, we pray.

From every evil, Lord, deliver us, we pray.
From every sin, Lord, deliver us, we pray.
From the snares of the devil, Lord, deliver us, we pray.
From disease, famine, and war, Lord, deliver us, we pray.
By your Incarnation, Lord, deliver us, we pray.
By your death and resurrection, Lord, deliver us, we pray.
By the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, Lord, deliver us, we pray.

Be merciful to us sinners, Lord, we ask you, hear our prayer.

Guide and protect your holy Church, Lord, we ask you, hear our prayer.

That You are continually taking care of me, Jesus, I trust in you.
That not knowing the future invites me to lean on You, Jesus, I trust in you.
That You are with me in my suffering, Jesus, I trust in you.
That my suffering, united to Your own,
will bear fruit in this life and the next, Jesus, I trust in you.
That You give me all the strength I need for what is asked, Jesus, I trust in you.
That my life is a gift, Jesus, I trust in you.
That You are my Lord and my God, Jesus, I trust in you.
That I am Your beloved one, Jesus, I trust in you.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

Christ, hear us. Christ, hear us.
Lord Jesus, hear our prayer. Lord Jesus, hear our prayer.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Amen.

The post A Litany of Saints – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

05-42th — **Novena for the Holy Souls in Purgatory – Day 9** Nov 01, 2025
Novena for the Holy Souls in Purgatory – Day 9

composed by by St. Alphonsus of Liguori

**Visit the Discerning Hearts “Holy Souls” page for the complete novena and text of the prayers**

My God! How was it possible that I, for so many years, have borne tranquilly the separation from Thee and Thy holy grace! O infinite Goodness, how long-suffering hast Thou shown Thyself to me! Henceforth, I shall love Thee above all things. I am deeply sorry for having offended Thee; I promise rather to die than to again offend Thee. Grant me the grace of holy perseverance, and do not permit that I should ever again fall into sin. Have compassion on the holy souls in Purgatory. I pray Thee, moderate their sufferings; shorten the time of their misery; call them soon unto Thee in heaven, that they may behold Thee face to face, and forever love Thee. Mary, Mother of Mercy, come to their aid with thy powerful intercession, **and pray for us also who are still in danger of eternal damnation.**

**Say the following prayers: 1 Our Father… 1 Hail Mary…**

**The Prayer to Our Suffering Savior for the Holy Souls in Purgatory**

O most sweet Jesus, through the bloody sweat which Thou didst suffer in the Garden of Gethsemane, have mercy on these Blessed Souls. Have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer during Thy most cruel scourging, have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in Thy most painful crowning with thorns, have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in carrying Thy cross to Calvary, have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer during Thy most cruel Crucifixion, have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in Thy most bitter agony on the Cross, have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

O most sweet Jesus, through the immense pain which Thou didst suffer in breathing forth Thy Blessed Soul, have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

(State your intention(s) here while recommending yourself to the souls in Purgatory.)

Blessed Souls, I have prayed for thee; I entreat thee, who are so dear to God, and who are secure of never losing Him, to pray for me a miserable sinner, who is in danger of being damned, and of losing God forever. Amen.

The post Novena for the Holy Souls in Purgatory – Day 9 appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

**All Saints’ Day – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast** Nov 01, 2025

All Saints’ Day – 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 5:1-12

Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up the hill. There he sat down and was joined by his disciples. Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them:
‘How happy are the poor in spirit;
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Happy the gentle:
they shall have the earth for their heritage.
Happy those who mourn:
they shall be comforted.
Happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right:
they shall be satisfied.
Happy the merciful:
they shall have mercy shown them.
Happy the pure in heart:
they shall see God.
Happy the peacemakers:
they shall be called sons of God.
Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right:
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Happy are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.’

***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:***

Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up the hill. There he sat down and was joined by his disciples. Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them:
‘How happy are the poor in spirit;
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Happy the gentle:
they shall have the earth for their heritage.
Happy those who mourn:
they shall be comforted.
Happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right:
they shall be satisfied.
Happy the merciful:
they shall have mercy shown them.
Happy the pure in heart:
they shall see God.
Happy the peacemakers:
they shall be called sons of God.
Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right:
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Happy are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.’

***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:***

Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up the hill. There he sat down and was joined by his disciples. Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them:
‘How happy are the poor in spirit;
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Happy the gentle:
they shall have the earth for their heritage.
Happy those who mourn:
they shall be comforted.
Happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right:
they shall be satisfied.
Happy the merciful:
they shall have mercy shown them.
Happy the pure in heart:
they shall see God.
Happy the peacemakers:
they shall be called sons of God.
Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right:
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Happy are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.’

***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 post All Saints’ Day – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

**IP#359 Dr. Scott Hahn – Hope to Die on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcast** Oct 31, 2025

Dr. Scott Hahn – Hope to Die on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor

Dr. Scott Hahn and Kris McGregor discuss his book *Hope to Die: The Christian Meaning of Death and the Resurrection of the Body*. Dr. Scott Hahn explores the sacred significance of the human body, created not as a mere vessel but as a bridge to communion with others and with God. Christianity confronts both the fear of physical death and the deeper reality of spiritual death. True hope lies not in escaping mortality but in the promise of resurrection—life that is divine rather than merely biological. Through Christ’s death and resurrection, death itself becomes a prayer and sacrifice of love that unites humanity to God’s eternal life.

It connects this mystery to the Eucharist, calling it the sacrament of the Resurrection. The same body of Christ that hung on the cross is now glorified and offered to the faithful, transforming not just bread and wine but the hearts and bodies of those who receive Him. Baptism and confession are likewise “sacraments of resurrection,” restoring the divine life lost through sin. In reclaiming a true Christian understanding of life, death, and resurrection, Dr. Scott Hahn offers a joyful antidote to modern fear—an invitation to live and die in the radiant hope of eternal communion with God.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

How does viewing the body as a “bridge” rather than a “barrier” shape the way I relate to others and to God?

In what ways do I struggle to see death as a passage to eternal life rather than an end to earthly existence?

How does the Eucharist help me understand the reality of Christ’s resurrected body and my own future resurrection?

What does my participation in the Mass reveal about my belief in the real presence of Jesus?

How can I renew my appreciation for the sacrament of baptism as a true sharing in Christ’s death and resurrection?

When I receive the sacrament of reconciliation, do I recognize it as an encounter with the risen Christ restoring divine life within me?

How do I allow fear or anxiety about physical death to overshadow the hope of eternal life promised in Christ?

What practical steps can I take to treat my body—and the bodies of others—as temples of the Holy Spirit?

How might reflecting on the communion of saints and the resurrection of the body transform the way I view suffering and mortality?

In what ways can I “blow off the dust” of my faith, rediscovering the beauty and power of the Church’s teachings in Scripture and the Catechism?

You can find the book here .

From the book description

As Catholics, we believe in the resurrection of the body. We profess it in our creed. We’re taught that to bury and pray for the dead are corporal and spiritual works of mercy. We honor the dead in our Liturgy through the Rite of Christian burial. We do all of this, and more, because when Jesus Christ took on flesh for the salvation of our souls he also bestowed great dignity on our bodies.

In Hope to Die: The Christian Meaning of Death and the Resurrection of the Body, Scott Hahn explores the significance of death and burial from a Catholic perspective. The promise of the bodily resurrection brings into focus the need for the dignified care of our bodies at the hour of death. Unpacking both Scripture and Catholic teaching, Hope to Die reminds us that we are destined for glorification on the last day.

Our bodies have been made by a God who loves us. Even in death, those bodies point to the mystery of our salvation.

About the Author

**Scott Hahn** is the Fr. Michael Scanlan Professor of Biblical Theology at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, where he has taught since 1990. Founder and President of the St. Paul Center, Dr. Hahn has been married to Kimberly since 1979; they have six children and twenty-three grandchildren. He is the author or editor of over fifty popular and academic books, including best-selling titles *Rome Sweet Home*, *The Lamb’s Supper*, and *Hope to Die.*

The post IP#359 Dr. Scott Hahn – Hope to Die on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

01-19th2-271x300 — **Novena for the Holy Souls in Purgatory – Day 8** Oct 31, 2025
Novena for the Holy Souls in Purgatory – Day 8

composed by St. Alphonsus of Liguori

**Visit the Discerning Hearts “Holy Souls” page for the complete novena and text of the prayers**

Oh my God! I also am one of these ungrateful beings, having received so much grace, and yet despised Thy love and deserved to be cast by Thee into hell. But Thy infinite goodness has spared me until now. Therefore, I now love Thee above all things, and I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee. I will rather die than ever offend Thee. Grant me the grace of holy perseverance. Have compassion on me and, at the same time, on the holy souls suffering in Purgatory.

**Say the following prayers: 1 Our Father… 1 Hail Mary…**

**The Prayer to Our Suffering Savior for the Holy Souls in Purgatory**

O most sweet Jesus, through the bloody sweat which Thou didst suffer in the Garden of Gethsemane, have mercy on these Blessed Souls. Have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer during Thy most cruel scourging, have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in Thy most painful crowning with thorns, have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in carrying Thy cross to Calvary, have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer during Thy most cruel Crucifixion, have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in Thy most bitter agony on the Cross, have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

O most sweet Jesus, through the immense pain which Thou didst suffer in breathing forth Thy Blessed Soul, have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

(State your intention(s) here while recommending yourself to the souls in Purgatory.)

Blessed Souls, I have prayed for thee; I entreat thee, who are so dear to God, and who are secure of never losing Him, to pray for me a miserable sinner, who is in danger of being damned, and of losing God forever. Amen.

The post Novena for the Holy Souls in Purgatory – Day 8 appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

**Friday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast** Oct 31, 2025
Friday of the Thirtieth 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. Luke 14:1-6

Now on a sabbath day Jesus had gone for a meal to the house of one of the leading Pharisees; and they watched him closely. There in front of him was a man with dropsy, and Jesus addressed the lawyers and Pharisees. ‘Is it against the law’ he asked ‘to cure a man on the sabbath, or not?’ But they remained silent, so he took the man and cured him and sent him away. Then he said to them, ‘Which of you here, if his son falls into a well, or his ox, will not pull him out on a sabbath day without hesitation?’ And to this they could find no answer.

***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:***

Now on a sabbath day Jesus had gone for a meal to the house of one of the leading Pharisees; and they watched him closely. There in front of him was a man with dropsy, and Jesus addressed the lawyers and Pharisees. ‘Is it against the law’ he asked ‘to cure a man on the sabbath, or not?’ But they remained silent, so he took the man and cured him and sent him away. Then he said to them, ‘Which of you here, if his son falls into a well, or his ox, will not pull him out on a sabbath day without hesitation?’ And to this they could find no answer.

***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:***

Now on a sabbath day Jesus had gone for a meal to the house of one of the leading Pharisees; and they watched him closely. There in front of him was a man with dropsy, and Jesus addressed the lawyers and Pharisees. ‘Is it against the law’ he asked ‘to cure a man on the sabbath, or not?’ But they remained silent, so he took the man and cured him and sent him away. Then he said to them, ‘Which of you here, if his son falls into a well, or his ox, will not pull him out on a sabbath day without hesitation?’ And to this they could find no answer.

***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 post Friday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

**VEC1 – Judas – Villains of the Early Church with Mike Aquilina – Discerning Hearts Podcast** Oct 30, 2025
Episode 1 – Judas – “*Villains of the Early Church: And How They Made Us Better Christians*“

Mike Aquilina and Kris McGregor reflect on Judas Iscariot and how his story reveals both the mystery of sin and the depth of divine mercy. Aquilina discusses how Judas, once chosen and loved by Christ, distorted his God-given gifts through betrayal. Rather than seeing Judas as a simple caricature of evil, we should take a more reflective approach—considering what Jesus might have seen in Judas and recognizing that his fall mirrors the ways all people can misuse their calling. They touch on Judas’ possible motives—greed, disappointment, or confusion—and his tragic despair that led to suicide. Despite this, the early Church maintained hope for God’s mercy, recalling stories such as St. John Vianney’s counsel that even in one’s final moments, God’s grace can reach a soul.

Anger toward those who have hurt us can imprison the heart and how offering such people to God—especially in the Mass—can bring deep spiritual peace. Mike Aquilina also examines the Gospel of Judas, a second-century Gnostic text that recasts Judas as a hero, which was rejected by the Church for lacking authentic human and divine truth.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

How does seeing Judas as someone once loved and chosen by Christ change the way you view those who have betrayed you?

In what ways might you, like Judas, misuse the gifts or responsibilities God has entrusted to you?

How do you respond when you feel disillusioned with God’s plans not aligning with your own?

What does Judas’ despair teach you about the importance of trusting in God’s mercy, even after grave sin?

How can you bring those who have hurt you to the altar in prayer, as an offering for healing and reconciliation?

When have you struggled to forgive, and what spiritual practices help you release anger or resentment?

How does reflecting on the mystery of Judas’ repentance deepen your understanding of divine mercy?

What does the Church’s refusal to declare anyone definitively in hell reveal about God’s justice and love?

How can you imitate Jesus’ response to betrayal in your own relationships and community life?

In what ways can the story of Judas move you to greater humility, compassion, and hope in your spiritual journey?

An excerpt from Villains of the Early Church

“What happened to Judas? Was it simple greed that snapped him? That seems unlikely. Thirty pieces of silver was a good bit of money, but Judas was doing all right with his embezzling racket. The Gospels don’t tell us his motivation most likely because their writers just didn’t know. It was a mystery to them as it is to us. And a lot of the Christian legends that later grew up about Judas seem like popular attempts to psychoanalyze him.

Judas was also present for the Last Supper, having a miserable time as Jesus told the disciples that one of them would betray him: “The Son of man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born” (Matthew 26:24).

John tells us that the disciple whom Jesus loved—John himself—asked Jesus who the betrayer would be. “It is he to whom I shall give this morsel when I have dipped it,” Jesus responded, and then dipped the morsel and handed it to Judas. Yet the others still didn’t understand what Jesus meant when he said to Judas, “What you are going to do, do quickly” (John 13:26–27). Was he sending Judas out to buy more food? Or to make a donation to the poor from the money box?

“So, after receiving the morsel, he immediately went out,” John says, adding the significant detail “and it was night.” Judas walked out of the Last Supper and into the very symbolic darkness (John 13:30).

But he knew where to look for Jesus when he came with the police. Judas and the rest of the disciples had often been with Jesus in that pleasant park across the Kidron Valley, the garden of Gethsemane (see John 18:2; Mark 14:32). That was where Judas led the soldiers to arrest Jesus.”

*Aquilina, Mike. Villains of the Early Church: And How They Made Us Better Christians (Kindle Locations 190-203). Emmaus Road Publishing. Kindle Edition.*

You can find the book on which this series is based here.

**For more episodes in the *Villians of the Early Church* podcast visit here – Villains of the Early Church – Discerning Hearts Podcast**

**Mike Aquilina** is a popular author working in the area of Church history, especially patristics, the study of the early Church Fathers.^[1] He is the executive vice-president and trustee of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, a Roman Catholic research center based in Steubenville, Ohio. He is a contributing editor of Angelus (magazine) and general editor of the Reclaiming Catholic History Series from Ave Maria Press. He is the author or editor of more than fifty books, including *The Fathers of the Church* (2006); *The Mass of the Early Christians* (2007); *Living the Mysteries* (2003); and *What Catholics Believe*(1999). He has hosted eleven television series on the Eternal Word Television Network and is a frequent guest commentator on Catholic radio.

Mike Aquilina’s website is found at fathersofthechurch.com

The post VEC1 – Judas – Villains of the Early Church with Mike Aquilina – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

18-87th2-276x300 — **Novena for the Holy Souls in Purgatory – Day 7** Oct 30, 2025
Novena for the Holy Souls in Purgatory – Day 7

composed by by St. Alphonsus of Liguori

**Visit the Discerning Hearts “Holy Souls” page for the complete novena and text of the prayers**

God, Father of Mercy, satisfy this their ardent desire! Send them Thy holy Angel to announce to them that Thou, their Father, are now reconciled with them through the suffering and death of Jesus, and that the moment of their deliverance has arrived.

Say the following prayers: 1 Our Father… 1 Hail Mary…

**The Prayer to Our Suffering Savior for the Holy Souls in Purgatory**

O most sweet Jesus, through the bloody sweat which Thou didst suffer in the Garden of Gethsemane, have mercy on these Blessed Souls. Have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer during Thy most cruel scourging, have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in Thy most painful crowning with thorns, have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in carrying Thy cross to Calvary, have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer during Thy most cruel Crucifixion, have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in Thy most bitter agony on the Cross, have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

O most sweet Jesus, through the immense pain which Thou didst suffer in breathing forth Thy Blessed Soul, have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

(State your intention(s) here while recommending yourself to the souls in Purgatory.)

Blessed Souls, I have prayed for thee; I entreat thee, who are so dear to God, and who are secure of never losing Him, to pray for me a miserable sinner, who is in danger of being damned, and of losing God forever. Amen.

The post Novena for the Holy Souls in Purgatory – Day 7 appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

**Thursday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast** Oct 30, 2025

Thursday of the Thirtieth 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 Luke 13:31-35

Some Pharisees came up to Jesus. ‘Go away’ they said. ‘Leave this place, because Herod means to kill you.’ He replied, ‘You may go and give that fox this message: Learn that today and tomorrow I cast out devils and on the third day attain my end. But for today and tomorrow and the next day I must go on, since it would not be right for a prophet to die outside Jerusalem.
‘Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you that kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often have I longed to gather your children, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you refused! So be it! Your house will be left to you. Yes, I promise you, you shall not see me till the time comes when you say:
‘Blessings on him who comes in the name of the Lord!’

***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 came up to Jesus. ‘Go away’ they said. ‘Leave this place, because Herod means to kill you.’ He replied, ‘You may go and give that fox this message: Learn that today and tomorrow I cast out devils and on the third day attain my end. But for today and tomorrow and the next day I must go on, since it would not be right for a prophet to die outside Jerusalem.
‘Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you that kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often have I longed to gather your children, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you refused! So be it! Your house will be left to you. Yes, I promise you, you shall not see me till the time comes when you say:
‘Blessings on him who comes in the name of the Lord!’

***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 came up to Jesus. ‘Go away’ they said. ‘Leave this place, because Herod means to kill you.’ He replied, ‘You may go and give that fox this message: Learn that today and tomorrow I cast out devils and on the third day attain my end. But for today and tomorrow and the next day I must go on, since it would not be right for a prophet to die outside Jerusalem.
‘Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you that kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often have I longed to gather your children, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you refused! So be it! Your house will be left to you. Yes, I promise you, you shall not see me till the time comes when you say:
‘Blessings on him who comes in the name of the Lord!’

***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 post Thursday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

051129c_01611-236x300 — **Novena for the Holy Souls in Purgatory – Day 6** Oct 29, 2025
Novena for the Holy Souls in Purgatory – Day 6

composed by by St. Alphonsus of Liguori

**Visit the Discerning Hearts “Holy Souls” page for the complete novena and text of the prayers**

My Divine Redeemer, Thou didst die for me on the Cross, and hast so often united Thyself with me in Holy Communion, and I have repaid Thee only with ingratitude. Now, however, I love Thee above all things, O supreme God; and I am more grieved at my offences against Thee than at any other evil. I will rather die than offend Thee again. Grant me the grace of holy perseverance. Have compassion on me, and, at the same time, on the holy souls suffering in Purgatory. Mary, Mother of God, come to their aid with thy powerful intercession

Say the following prayers: 1 Our Father… 1 Hail Mary…

**The Prayer to Our Suffering Savior for the Holy Souls in Purgatory**

O most sweet Jesus, through the bloody sweat which Thou didst suffer in the Garden of Gethsemane, have mercy on these Blessed Souls. Have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer during Thy most cruel scourging, have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in Thy most painful crowning with thorns, have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in carrying Thy cross to Calvary, have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer during Thy most cruel Crucifixion, have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in Thy most bitter agony on the Cross, have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

O most sweet Jesus, through the immense pain which Thou didst suffer in breathing forth Thy Blessed Soul, have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

(State your intention(s) here while recommending yourself to the souls in Purgatory.)

Blessed Souls, I have prayed for thee; I entreat thee, who are so dear to God, and who are secure of never losing Him, to pray for me a miserable sinner, who is in danger of being damned, and of losing God forever. Amen.

The post Novena for the Holy Souls in Purgatory – Day 6 appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

**Wednesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast** Oct 29, 2025

Wednesday of the Thirtieth 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 Luke 13:22-30

Through towns and villages Jesus went teaching, making his way to Jerusalem. Someone said to him, ‘Sir, will there be only a few saved?’ He said to them, ‘Try your best to enter by the narrow door, because, I tell you, many will try to enter and will not succeed.
‘Once the master of the house has got up and locked the door, you may find yourself knocking on the door, saying, “Lord, open to us” but he will answer, “I do not know where you come from.” Then you will find yourself saying, “We once ate and drank in your company; you taught in our streets” but he will reply, “I do not know where you come from. Away from me, all you wicked men!”
‘Then there will be weeping and grinding of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves turned outside. And men from east and west, from north and south, will come to take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.
‘Yes, there are those now last who will be first, and those now first who will be last.’

***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:***

Through towns and villages Jesus went teaching, making his way to Jerusalem. Someone said to him, ‘Sir, will there be only a few saved?’ He said to them, ‘Try your best to enter by the narrow door, because, I tell you, many will try to enter and will not succeed.
‘Once the master of the house has got up and locked the door, you may find yourself knocking on the door, saying, “Lord, open to us” but he will answer, “I do not know where you come from.” Then you will find yourself saying, “We once ate and drank in your company; you taught in our streets” but he will reply, “I do not know where you come from. Away from me, all you wicked men!”
‘Then there will be weeping and grinding of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves turned outside. And men from east and west, from north and south, will come to take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.
‘Yes, there are those now last who will be first, and those now first who will be last.’

***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:***

Through towns and villages Jesus went teaching, making his way to Jerusalem. Someone said to him, ‘Sir, will there be only a few saved?’ He said to them, ‘Try your best to enter by the narrow door, because, I tell you, many will try to enter and will not succeed.
‘Once the master of the house has got up and locked the door, you may find yourself knocking on the door, saying, “Lord, open to us” but he will answer, “I do not know where you come from.” Then you will find yourself saying, “We once ate and drank in your company; you taught in our streets” but he will reply, “I do not know where you come from. Away from me, all you wicked men!”
‘Then there will be weeping and grinding of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves turned outside. And men from east and west, from north and south, will come to take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.
‘Yes, there are those now last who will be first, and those now first who will be last.’

***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 post Wednesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

**WOM11 – The Liturgy of the Eucharist, pt. 3 – The Way of Mystery with Deacon James Keating – Discerning Hearts Podcast** Oct 28, 2025

The Liturgy of the Eucharist, Part 3 – The Way of Mystery with Deacon James Keating

Deacon James Keating reflects on the deep meaning of the Our Father and the moments that follow it in the Eucharistic liturgy. Christ not only left His Body and Blood as an enduring gift but also gave His Church the perfect words with which to approach the Father. The Our Father reveals the intimacy between the Son and the Father, inviting the faithful to share in that divine relationship. Heaven is this very communion of love among the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—a reality that the Mass allows us to enter even now. When we pray “Thy will be done,” we participate in Christ’s obedience and goodness, asking to be drawn into the Father’s will. The prayer for “daily bread” points both to the Eucharist and to our need for divine nourishment that sustains virtue and forgiveness. Before receiving this bread, we are called to forgive others, renounce attachment to sin, and trust God for deliverance from evil. The Our Father thus becomes the very language of reconciliation—the way heaven meets earth through Christ.

The Sign of Peace and the Lamb of God are moments that prepare the heart for communion. Peace means more than the absence of conflict—it is communion itself, the fruit of reconciliation through Christ. The repeated invocation “Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world” brings awareness of our dependence on divine mercy and the innocent power of Christ’s sacrifice. The priest’s private prayers before communion highlight fidelity to truth, interior healing, and the grace that restores what sin has fractured. We should not treat the Eucharist as a personal right or mere symbol. Receiving Christ’s true Body and Blood requires faith, repentance, and integrity of conscience; to receive unworthily is to lie before God. The Eucharist is the mystery of divine love offered to the reconciled—a gift we could never deserve, yet one that heals and integrates us into the very life of the Trinity.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

How does praying the Our Father during Mass draw you into the intimate relationship between Jesus and the Father?

In what ways do you experience the Eucharist as the meeting place of heaven and earth?

What does “Thy will be done” mean for your daily moral choices and spiritual surrender?

How can receiving your “daily bread” inspire greater trust in God’s goodness and providence?

Before receiving Communion, whom might you still need to forgive or seek forgiveness from?

How does the Sign of Peace call you to see others through God’s merciful eyes rather than their faults?

When you hear “Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,” how aware are you of your need for mercy?

What does the priest’s silent prayer before Communion teach you about humility and fidelity to truth?

How has receiving the Eucharist brought healing or integration to areas of disunity in your life?

Do you approach Holy Communion as an undeserved gift of love rather than a personal entitlement?

*Deacon James Keating, Ph.D., is a professor of Spiritual Theology and serves as a spiritual director at Kenrick Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, MO.*

**Check out Deacon Keating’s “Discerning Heart” page**

The post WOM11 – The Liturgy of the Eucharist, pt. 3 – The Way of Mystery with Deacon James Keating – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

**Tuesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast** Oct 28, 2025
Tuesday of the Thirtieth 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. Luke 6:12-19

Jesus went out into the hills to pray; and he spent the whole night in prayer to God. When day came he summoned his disciples and picked out twelve of them; he called them ‘apostles’: Simon whom he called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot who became a traitor. He then came down with them and stopped at a piece of level ground where there was a large gathering of his disciples with a great crowd of people from all parts of Judaea and from Jerusalem and from the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon who had come to hear him and to be cured of their diseases. People tormented by unclean spirits were also cured, and everyone in the crowd was trying to touch him because power came out of him that cured them all.

***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 went out into the hills to pray; and he spent the whole night in prayer to God. When day came he summoned his disciples and picked out twelve of them; he called them ‘apostles’: Simon whom he called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot who became a traitor. He then came down with them and stopped at a piece of level ground where there was a large gathering of his disciples with a great crowd of people from all parts of Judaea and from Jerusalem and from the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon who had come to hear him and to be cured of their diseases. People tormented by unclean spirits were also cured, and everyone in the crowd was trying to touch him because power came out of him that cured them all.

***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 went out into the hills to pray; and he spent the whole night in prayer to God. When day came he summoned his disciples and picked out twelve of them; he called them ‘apostles’: Simon whom he called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot who became a traitor. He then came down with them and stopped at a piece of level ground where there was a large gathering of his disciples with a great crowd of people from all parts of Judaea and from Jerusalem and from the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon who had come to hear him and to be cured of their diseases. People tormented by unclean spirits were also cured, and everyone in the crowd was trying to touch him because power came out of him that cured them all.

***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 post Tuesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

04-31th — **Novena for the Holy Souls in Purgatory – Day 5** Oct 28, 2025
Novena for the Holy Souls in Purgatory – Day 5

composed by St. Alphonsus of Liguori

**Visit the Discerning Hearts “Holy Souls” page for the complete novena and text of the prayers**

**Woe to me, unhappy being, if Thou, O Lord, hadst cast me into hell; for from that dungeon of eternal** pain there is no deliverance. I love Thee above all things, O infinite God and I am sincerely sorry for having offended Thee again. Grant me the grace of holy perseverance. Have compassion on me, and, at the same time, on the holy souls suffering in Purgatory. O Mary, Mother of God, come to their assistance with thy powerful intercession.

**Say the following prayers: 1 Our Father… 1 Hail Mary…**

**The Prayer to Our Suffering Savior for the Holy Souls in Purgatory**

O most sweet Jesus, through the bloody sweat which Thou didst suffer in the Garden of Gethsemane, have mercy on these Blessed Souls. Have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer during Thy most cruel scourging, have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in Thy most painful crowning with thorns, have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in carrying Thy cross to Calvary, have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer during Thy most cruel Crucifixion, have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in Thy most bitter agony on the Cross, have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

O most sweet Jesus, through the immense pain which Thou didst suffer in breathing forth Thy Blessed Soul, have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

(State your intention(s) here while recommending yourself to the souls in Purgatory.)

Blessed Souls, I have prayed for thee; I entreat thee, who are so dear to God, and who are secure of never losing Him, to pray for me a miserable sinner, who is in danger of being damned, and of losing God forever. Amen.

The post Novena for the Holy Souls in Purgatory – Day 5 appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

07-21th — **Novena for the Holy Souls in Purgatory – Day 4** Oct 27, 2025
Novena for the Holy Souls in Purgatory – Day 4

composed by St. Alphonsus of Liguori

**Visit the Discerning Hearts “Holy Souls” page for the complete novena and text of the prayers**

**My God!** because Thou art infinite goodness, I am sorry with my whole heart for having offended Thee. I promise to die rather than ever offend Thee more. Give me holy perseverance; have pity on me, and have pity on those holy souls that burn in the cleansing fire and love Thee with all their hearts. O Mary, Mother of God, assist them by thy powerful prayers.

**Say the following prayers: 1 Our Father… 1 Hail Mary…**

**The Prayer to Our Suffering Savior for the Holy Souls in Purgatory**

O most sweet Jesus, through the bloody sweat which Thou didst suffer in the Garden of Gethsemane, have mercy on these Blessed Souls. Have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer during Thy most cruel scourging, have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in Thy most painful crowning with thorns, have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in carrying Thy cross to Calvary, have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer during Thy most cruel Crucifixion, have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in Thy most bitter agony on the Cross, have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

O most sweet Jesus, through the immense pain which Thou didst suffer in breathing forth Thy Blessed Soul, have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

(State your intention(s) here while recommending yourself to the souls in Purgatory.)

Blessed Souls, I have prayed for thee; I entreat thee, who are so dear to God, and who are secure of never losing Him, to pray for me a miserable sinner, who is in danger of being damned, and of losing God forever. Amen.

The post Novena for the Holy Souls in Purgatory – Day 4 appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

**Monday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast** Oct 27, 2025

Monday of the Thirtieth 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. Luke 13:10-17

One sabbath day Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who for eighteen years had been possessed by a spirit that left her enfeebled; she was bent double and quite unable to stand upright. When Jesus saw her he called her over and said, ‘Woman, you are rid of your infirmity’ and he laid his hands on her. And at once she straightened up, and she glorified God.
But the synagogue official was indignant because Jesus had healed on the sabbath, and he addressed the people present. ‘There are six days’ he said ‘when work is to be done. Come and be healed on one of those days and not on the sabbath.’ But the Lord answered him. ‘Hypocrites!’ he said ‘Is there one of you who does not untie his ox or his donkey from the manger on the sabbath and take it out for watering? And this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan has held bound these eighteen years – was it not right to untie her bonds on the sabbath day?’ When he said this, all his adversaries were covered with confusion, and all the people were overjoyed at all the wonders he worked.

***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:***

One sabbath day Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who for eighteen years had been possessed by a spirit that left her enfeebled; she was bent double and quite unable to stand upright. When Jesus saw her he called her over and said, ‘Woman, you are rid of your infirmity’ and he laid his hands on her. And at once she straightened up, and she glorified God.
But the synagogue official was indignant because Jesus had healed on the sabbath, and he addressed the people present. ‘There are six days’ he said ‘when work is to be done. Come and be healed on one of those days and not on the sabbath.’ But the Lord answered him. ‘Hypocrites!’ he said ‘Is there one of you who does not untie his ox or his donkey from the manger on the sabbath and take it out for watering? And this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan has held bound these eighteen years – was it not right to untie her bonds on the sabbath day?’ When he said this, all his adversaries were covered with confusion, and all the people were overjoyed at all the wonders he worked.

***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:***

One sabbath day Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who for eighteen years had been possessed by a spirit that left her enfeebled; she was bent double and quite unable to stand upright. When Jesus saw her he called her over and said, ‘Woman, you are rid of your infirmity’ and he laid his hands on her. And at once she straightened up, and she glorified God.
But the synagogue official was indignant because Jesus had healed on the sabbath, and he addressed the people present. ‘There are six days’ he said ‘when work is to be done. Come and be healed on one of those days and not on the sabbath.’ But the Lord answered him. ‘Hypocrites!’ he said ‘Is there one of you who does not untie his ox or his donkey from the manger on the sabbath and take it out for watering? And this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan has held bound these eighteen years – was it not right to untie her bonds on the sabbath day?’ When he said this, all his adversaries were covered with confusion, and all the people were overjoyed at all the wonders he worked.

***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 post Monday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Msgr-Esseff-2-e1442263119679-497x526-283x300 — **The Trap of Self-Righteous Prayer – Building a Kingdom of Love w/ Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Podcast** Oct 26, 2025

Msgr. Esseff reflects on the teaching of the Sacred Scriptures and on how we pray:

Gospel LK 18:9-14
Jesus addressed this parable
to those who were convinced of their own righteousness
and despised everyone else.
“Two people went up to the temple area to pray;
one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector.
The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself,
‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity —
greedy, dishonest, adulterous — or even like this tax collector.
I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’
But the tax collector stood off at a distance
and would not even raise his eyes to heaven
but beat his breast and prayed,
‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’
I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former;
for whoever exalts himself will be humbled,
and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

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.

The post The Trap of Self-Righteous Prayer – Building a Kingdom of Love w/ Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Day-3 — **Novena for the Holy Souls in Purgatory – Day 3** Oct 26, 2025
Novena for the Holy Souls in Purgatory – Day 3

composed by by St. Alphonsus of Liguori

**Visit the Discerning Hearts “Holy Souls” page for the complete novena and text of the prayers**

My God! because Thou art infinite goodness, I love Thee above all things, and repent with my whole heart of my offenses against Thee. Grant me the grace of holy perseverance. Have compassion on me, and, at the same, on the holy souls suffering in Purgatory. And thou, Mary, Mother of God, come to their assistance with thy powerful intercession.

Say the following prayers: 1 Our Father… 1 Hail Mary…

**The Prayer to Our Suffering Savior for the Holy Souls in Purgatory**

O most sweet Jesus, through the bloody sweat which Thou didst suffer in the Garden of Gethsemane, have mercy on these Blessed Souls. Have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer during Thy most cruel scourging, have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in Thy most painful crowning with thorns, have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in carrying Thy cross to Calvary, have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer during Thy most cruel Crucifixion, have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in Thy most bitter agony on the Cross, have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

O most sweet Jesus, through the immense pain which Thou didst suffer in breathing forth Thy Blessed Soul, have mercy on them. *R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.*

(State your intention(s) here while recommending yourself to the souls in Purgatory.)

Blessed Souls, I have prayed for thee; I entreat thee, who are so dear to God, and who are secure of never losing Him, to pray for me a miserable sinner, who is in danger of being damned, and of losing God forever. Amen.

The post Novena for the Holy Souls in Purgatory – Day 3 appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

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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.

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An excerpt from Villains of the Early Church

You can find the book on which this series is based here.

For more episodes in the Villians of the Early Church podcast visit here – Villains of the Early Church – Discerning Hearts Podcast

Mike Aquilina’s website is found at fathersofthechurch.com

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For the entire novena visit: A Novena to St. Gertrude the Great – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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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 Purgative and Illuminative Way – The Way of Mystery with Deacon James Keating

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

St. Gertrude the Great Novena – Day 6 – For the Grace of Holy Recollection

For the entire novena visit: A Novena to St. Gertrude the Great – Discerning Hearts Podcast

Wednesday of the Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast

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.

St. Leo the Great – The Doctors of the Church: The Charism of Wisdom with Dr. Matthew Bunson

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

For more on St. Leo the Great and his teachings

From Vatican.va, an excerpt from the teachings of Pope Benedict XVI General Audience 2008

For more visit Vatican.va

All Shall Be Well: A Journey Through Julian of Norwich’s Revelations of Divine Love with Kris McGregor

Episode 13: The Anent Reflections, Part One — Mercy, Wrath, and Peace

Full Julian of Norwich Quotations Used in Episode 13:

Truth, Wisdom, and Love

God’s Judgment and Ours

God Is Not Wroth

The Five Workings of the Soul

The Working of Mercy

Where God Appears, Wrath Has No Place

Mercy and Forgiveness: The Soul Never Dies

Scripture Featured

Catechism of the Catholic Church

Teachings of the Saints

Reflection Questions for Prayer

Closing Prayer

St. Gertrude the Great Novena – Day 5 – For the Grace of Compassion, especially for the Holy Souls in Purgatory

For the entire novena visit: A Novena to St. Gertrude the Great – Discerning Hearts Podcast

Tuesday of the Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast

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.

Foundation of Discernment – “What am I to do?” The Discernment of God’s Will in Everyday Decisions with Fr. Timothy Gallagher

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions:

St. Gertrude the Great Novena – Day 4 – For the Grace of Right Intention

For the entire novena visit: A Novena to St. Gertrude the Great – Discerning Hearts Podcast

Monday of the Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast

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 Feast of St. John Lateran – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

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For the entire novena visit: A Novena to St. Gertrude the Great – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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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.

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For the entire novena visit: A Novena to St. Gertrude the Great – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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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.

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For the entire novena visit: A Novena to St. Gertrude the Great – Discerning Hearts Podcast

Friday of the Thirty-First Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast

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.

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Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

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Thursday of the Thirty-First Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast

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.

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**For more episodes in the Villians of the Early Church podcast visit here – Villains of the Early Church – Discerning Hearts Podcast**

**For more episodes in the Villians of the Early Church podcast visit here – Villains of the Early Church – Discerning Hearts Podcast**

**For more episodes in the Villians of the Early Church podcast visit here – Villains of the Early Church – Discerning Hearts Podcast**