Discerning Hearts - Catholic Podcasts

Wednesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast

Wednesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly.  For at least the next few moments, surrender all the cares and concerns of this day to the Lord. Say slowly from your heart “Jesus, I Trust In You…You Take Over” Become aware that He is with you, looking upon you with love, wanting to be heard deep within in your heart… From the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew 20:1-16 Jesus said to his disciples: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner going out at daybreak to hire workers for his vineyard. He made an agreement with the workers for one denarius a day, and sent them to his vineyard. Going out at about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the market place and said to them, “You go to my vineyard too and I will give you a fair wage.” So they went. At about the sixth hour and again at about the ninth hour, he went out and did the same. Then at about the eleventh hour he went out and found more men standing round, and he said to them, “Why have you been standing here idle all day?” “Because no one has hired us” they answered. He said to them, “You go into my vineyard too.” In the evening, the owner of the vineyard said to his bailiff, “Call the workers and pay them their wages, starting with the last arrivals and ending with the first.” So those who were hired at about the eleventh hour came forward and received one denarius each. When the first came, they expected to get more, but they too received one denarius each. They took it, but grumbled at the landowner. “The men who came last” they said “have done only one hour, and you have treated them the same as us, though we have done a heavy day’s work in all the heat.” He answered one of them and said, “My friend, I am not being unjust to you; did we not agree on one denarius? Take your earnings and go. I choose to pay the last comer as much as I pay you. Have I no right to do what I like with my own? Why be envious because I am generous?” Thus the last will be first, and the first, 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: Jesus said to his disciples: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner going out at daybreak to hire workers for his vineyard. He made an agreement with the workers for one denarius a day, and sent them to his vineyard. Going out at about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the market place and said to them, “You go to my vineyard too and I will give you a fair wage.” So they went. At about the sixth hour and again at about the ninth hour, he went out and did the same. Then at about the eleventh hour he went out and found more men standing round, and he said to them, “Why have you been standing here idle all day?” “Because no one has hired us” they answered. He said to them, “You go into my vineyard too.” In the evening, the owner of the vineyard said to his bailiff, “Call the workers and pay them their wages, starting with the last arrivals and ending with the first.” So those who were hired at about the eleventh hour came forward and received one denarius each. When the first came, they expected to get more, but they too received one denarius each. They took it, but grumbled at the landowner. “The men who came last” they said “have done only one hour, and you have treated them the same as us, though we have done a heavy day’s work in all the heat.” He answered one of them and said, “My friend, I am not being unjust to you; did we not agree on one denarius? Take your earnings and go. I choose to pay the last comer as much as I pay you. Have I no right to do what I like with my own? Why be envious because I am generous?” Thus the last will be first, and the first, 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: Jesus said to his disciples: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner going out at daybreak to hire workers for his vineyard. He made an agreement with the workers for one denarius a day, and sent them to his vineyard. Going out at about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the market place and said to them, “You go to my vineyard too and I will give you a fair wage.” So they went. At about the sixth hour and again at about the ninth hour, he went out and did the same. Then at about the eleventh hour he went out and found more men standing round, and he said to them, “Why have you been standing here idle all day?” “Because no one has hired us” they answered. He said to them, “You go into my vineyard too.” In the evening, the owner of the vineyard said to his bailiff, “Call the workers and pay them their wages, starting with the last arrivals and ending with the first.” So those who were hired at about the eleventh hour came forward and received one denarius each. When the first came, they expected to get more, but they too received one denarius each. They took it, but grumbled at the landowner. “The men who came last” they said “have done only one hour, and you have treated them the same as us, though we have done a heavy day’s work in all the heat.” He answered one of them and said, “My friend, I am not being unjust to you; did we not agree on one denarius? Take your earnings and go. I choose to pay the last comer as much as I pay you. Have I no right to do what I like with my own? Why be envious because I am generous?” Thus the last will be first, and the first, 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 Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

St. Bernard of Clairvaux Novena – Day 7 – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

Day 7 St. Bernard you have said: “It was love that motivated His self-emptying, that led Him to become a little lower than angels, to be subject to parents, to bow His head beneath the Baptist’s hands, to endure the weakness of the flesh, and to submit to death even upon the cross” St. Bernard you have given us this prayer and with you, we pray: (The Memorare) REMEMBER, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come; before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen. O God, who made of the Abbot Saint Bernard a man consumed with zeal for your house and a light shining and burning in your Church, grant, through his intercession, that we may be on fire with the same spirit and walk always as children of light. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen. The music chant used within this prayer is an excerpt from “Missa pro defunctis – VI. Offertorium” by Giammatteo Asola  preformed by Papalin under creative common license For the complete novena visit: The Nine Day Novena to St. Bernard of Clairvaux – Mp3 audio and Text The post St. Bernard of Clairvaux Novena – Day 7 – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Tuesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast

 Tuesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly.  For at least the next few moments, surrender all the cares and concerns of this day to the Lord. Say slowly from your heart “Jesus, I Trust In You…You Take Over” Become aware that He is with you, looking upon you with love, wanting to be heard deep within in your heart… From the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew 19:23-30 Jesus said to his disciples, ‘I tell you solemnly, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Yes, I tell you again, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.’ When the disciples heard this they were astonished. ‘Who can be saved, then?’ they said. Jesus gazed at them. ‘For men’ he told them ‘this is impossible; for God everything is possible.’ Then Peter spoke. ‘What about us?’ he said to him ‘We have left everything and followed you. What are we to have, then?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I tell you solemnly, when all is made new and the Son of Man sits on his throne of glory, you will yourselves sit on twelve thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children or land for the sake of my name will be repaid a hundred times over, and also inherit eternal life. ‘Many who are first will be last, and the last, first.’ 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 solemnly, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Yes, I tell you again, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.’ When the disciples heard this they were astonished. ‘Who can be saved, then?’ they said. Jesus gazed at them. ‘For men’ he told them ‘this is impossible; for God everything is possible.’ Then Peter spoke. ‘What about us?’ he said to him ‘We have left everything and followed you. What are we to have, then?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I tell you solemnly, when all is made new and the Son of Man sits on his throne of glory, you will yourselves sit on twelve thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children or land for the sake of my name will be repaid a hundred times over, and also inherit eternal life. ‘Many who are first will be last, and the last, first.’ 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 solemnly, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Yes, I tell you again, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.’ When the disciples heard this they were astonished. ‘Who can be saved, then?’ they said. Jesus gazed at them. ‘For men’ he told them ‘this is impossible; for God everything is possible.’ Then Peter spoke. ‘What about us?’ he said to him ‘We have left everything and followed you. What are we to have, then?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I tell you solemnly, when all is made new and the Son of Man sits on his throne of glory, you will yourselves sit on twelve thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children or land for the sake of my name will be repaid a hundred times over, and also inherit eternal life. ‘Many who are first will be last, and the last, first.’ 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 Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

The Eleventh Rule – Discernment of Spirits /w Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

The 14 Rules of the Discernment of Spirits with Fr. Timothy Gallagher with Kris McGregor Episode Thirteen: Rule Eleven – Humility in Consolation and Trust in Desolation Episode 13-The Eleventh Rule: Let him who is consoled see to humbling himself and lowering himself as much as he can, thinking how little he is able for in the time of desolation without such grace or consolation. On the contrary, let him who is in desolation think that he can do much with the grace sufficient to resist all his enemies, taking strength in his Creator and Lord. Episode Thirteen of The Discernment of Spirits: Setting the Captives Free focuses on Rule Eleven, a rule that brings balance and maturity to the spiritual life. Fr. Timothy Gallagher, in conversation with Kris McGregor, explains how Ignatius teaches the soul to remain steady whether it is experiencing spiritual consolation or spiritual desolation. Fr. Gallagher describes Rule Eleven as a kind of spiritual portrait. Ignatius addresses the same person living through alternating experiences of consolation and desolation. Rather than treating these moments separately, this rule shows how to live both wisely and faithfully. The goal is balance. The result is spiritual maturity. Ignatius first addresses the person in spiritual consolation. When God’s love is felt deeply and prayer is filled with joy, the temptation can be subtle. A person may begin to rely on personal strength rather than grace. Ignatius counsels humility. The one who is consoled should lower himself as much as possible, remembering how little he is capable of in times of desolation without God’s grace. Fr. Gallagher illustrates this wisdom through Scripture and lived experience. He reflects on the words of Mary in the Magnificat. Her soul rejoices in God, yet she remains deeply aware of her lowliness. Consolation does not lead her to self-confidence. It leads her to humility and praise. By contrast, Fr. Gallagher recalls the experience of St. Peter on Holy Thursday. Peter sincerely loved the Lord and believed he was strong enough to remain faithful. Yet he relied on his own resolve rather than grace. When trial came, his strength failed. Ignatius’s counsel protects the heart from this kind of spiritual fall. Ignatius then turns to the person in spiritual desolation. Here the temptation is opposite. The heart feels weak. Prayer feels empty. Discouragement suggests failure is inevitable. Ignatius counters this lie directly. The person in desolation should remember that God’s sufficient grace remains fully present, even when it is not felt. Fr. Gallagher explains that this truth restores courage. With God’s grace, the soul can resist every spiritual enemy. Nothing essential is lost in desolation. The capacity to remain faithful endures. By recalling this truth, the heart takes on new strength and regains confidence. Rule Eleven holds these two movements together. In consolation, the soul avoids becoming naively high. In desolation, it avoids becoming despairingly low. Humility and trust work together. The soul moves forward steadily toward God. Episode Thirteen presents Rule Eleven as the mark of a mature discerning heart. It teaches how to remain grounded in joy and courageous in struggle. In both states, the soul learns to rely on grace rather than feeling. Freedom deepens. Stability grows. Captives are set free. Discerning Hearts Questions for Reflection and Study Personal Reflection How do you usually respond when prayer is filled with joy and clarity? Do times of consolation ever lead you to rely on your own strength? How do you tend to interpret your abilities during spiritual desolation? What helps you remember that God’s grace remains even when it is not felt? How does Rule Eleven invite you to greater balance in your spiritual life? Group Reflection or Study Why does Ignatius place Rule Eleven at this point in the series of rules? How do humility and trust protect the soul in opposite spiritual states? What do the examples of Mary and Peter reveal about consolation and trial? Why is remembering God’s sufficient grace essential during desolation? How might Rule Eleven help form mature discernment in parish communities?  The 14 Rules for Discerning Spirits – “The Different Movements Which Are Caused In The Soul” as outlined by St. Ignatius of Loyola click here  For the other episodes in this series visit Fr. Timothy Gallagher’s “Discerning Hearts”click here  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 The post The Eleventh Rule – Discernment of Spirits /w Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

St. Bernard of Clairvaux Novena – Day 6 – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

Day 6 St. Bernard you have said: “Let no one believe that he has received the divine kiss, if he knows the truth without loving it or loves it without understanding it. But blessed is that kiss whereby not only is God recognized but also the Father is loved; for there is never full knowledge without perfect love.” St. Bernard you have given us this prayer and with you, we pray: (The Memorare) REMEMBER, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come; before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen. O God, who made of the Abbot Saint Bernard a man consumed with zeal for your house and a light shining and burning in your Church, grant, through his intercession, that we may be on fire with the same spirit and walk always as children of light. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen. The music chant used within this prayer is an excerpt from “Missa pro defunctis – VI. Offertorium” by Giammatteo Asola  preformed by Papalin under creative common license For the complete novena visit: The Nine Day Novena to St. Bernard of Clairvaux – Mp3 audio and Text The post St. Bernard of Clairvaux Novena – Day 6 – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.