Discerning Hearts - Catholic Podcasts

   Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin Novena Day 8 – The Virgin Mary «When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple there whom He loved, He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son.’ Then He said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.» John 19:26-27 Meditation Sts. Louis and Zélie had a great devotion to the Blessed Virgin. A statue of Mar...

St. Bonaventure Novena – Day 5 St. Bonaventure you have said: “Christ is both the way and the door. Christ is the staircase and the vehicle, like the throne of mercy over the Ark of the Covenant, and the mystery hidden from the ages. A man should turn his full attention to this throne of mercy, and should gaze at him hanging on the cross, full of faith, hope and charity, devoted, full...

When you gave us, Gracious Lady, the Scapular as our Habit, you called us to be not only servants, but also your own children. We ask you to gain for us from your Son the grace to live as your children in joy, peace and love. (State your request here…) Recite the following prayers… Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be… Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.

Friday of the Fourteenth 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...

Listening to God’s Voice…Obedience – The Holy Rule of St. Benedict with Fr. Mauritius Wilde O.S.B In this episode of The Holy Rule of St. Benedict: A Spiritual Path for Today’s World , Fr. Mauritius Wilde, OSB and Kris McGregor reflect on one of the central themes of the Rule: obedience as the art of deep listening. Drawing from Chapter 5, St. Benedict teaches that obedience is f...

Magnificent Humanity for the Discerning Heart A 30-Day Journey with Pope Leo XIV’s  Magnifica Humanitas Episode 18: When Efficiency Becomes the Measure In this episode of Magnificent Humanity for the Discerning Heart , we reflect on Pope Leo XIV’s warning about the technocratic paradigm. The Holy Father teaches that technology is not simply a tool when it becomes the standard by which everything i...

Novena to St. Benedict – Day 8 In the Holy Rule, St. Benedict you have said: If we do not venture to approach men who are in power, except with humility and reverence, when we wish to ask a favor, how much must we beseech the Lord God of all things with all humility and purity of devotion? And let us be assured that it is not in many words, but in the purity of heart and tears of compunction...

    Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin Novena Day 7 – Trials «Whoever wishes to come after Me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.» Matthew 16:24 Meditation The holy couple had many trials—in raising their daughters, in sickness and in grief. St. Zélie told her sister-in-law, « So you see, my dear sister, everyone has troubles. The happiest are only those who are less unhappy. Th...

St. Bonaventure Novena – Day 4 St. Bonaventure you have said: I confess before God that what made me love Saint Francis’ way of life so much was that it is exactly like the origin and the perfection of the Church itself, which began first with simple fishermen and afterward developed to include the most illustrious and learned doctors. You find the same thing in the Order of Saint Francis; i...

O Queen of Heaven, you gave us the Scapular as an outward sign by which we might be known as your faithful children. May we always wear it with honor by avoiding sin and imitating your virtues. Help us to be faithful to this desire of ours. (State your request here…) Recite the following prayers… Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be… Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.

Thursday of the Fourteenth 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 t...

Magnificent Humanity for the Discerning Heart A 30-Day Journey with Pope Leo XIV’s  Magnifica Humanitas Episode 17: Justice That Begins with the Least Among Us In this episode of Magnificent Humanity for the Discerning Heart , we reflect on Pope Leo XIV’s teaching that social justice is a concrete way of following Jesus and remaining faithful to the Gospel. The Holy Father reminds us that Christ i...

Holy Rule Novena to St. Benedict – Day 7 In the Holy Rule, St. Benedict you have said: We believe that God is present everywhere and that the eyes of the Lord behold the good and the bad in every place (cf Prov 15:3). Let us firmly believe this, especially when we take part in the Work of God. Let us, therefore, always be mindful of what the Prophet says, “Serve the Lord with fear&#822...

  Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin Novena Day 6 – Mercy «Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.» Luke 6:36 Meditation Sts. Louis and Zélie, aware of their own weakness, let the mercy of God transform them, and they tried to live it and pass it on in their everyday lives. Céline relates: « In her old age, Marie, our oldest sister, still remembered with regret, and even with tears, the sigh...

St. Bonaventure Novena Day 3 St. Bonaventure you have said: In beautiful things St. Francis saw Beauty itself, and through His vestiges imprinted on creation he followed his Beloved everywhere, making from all things a ladder by which he could climb up and embrace Him who is utterly desirable. If you desire to know … ask grace, not instruction; desire, not understanding; the groaning of prayer, no...

Most Holy Mary, Our Mother, in your great love for us you gave us the Holy Scapular of Mount Carmel, having heard the prayers of your chosen son Saint Simon Stock. Help us now to wear it faithfully and with devotion. May it be a sign to us of our desire to grow in holiness. (State your request here…) Recite the following prayers… Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be… Our L...

Wednesday of the Fourteenth 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...

Episode 7 – Know your Weapons pt. 2 – A Manual for Spiritual Warfare with Dr. Paul Thigpen, Ph. D In this episode of Put on the Armor: A Manual for Spiritual Warfare , Dr. Paul Thigpen and Kris McGregor reflect on the immense power of the sacraments in the Christian battle. Far from being optional devotions or familiar religious routines, the sacraments are concrete channels of divine...

Magnificent Humanity for the Discerning Heart A 30-Day Journey with Pope Leo XIV’s  Magnifica Humanitas Episode 16: Responsibility at the Right Level In this episode of Magnificent Humanity for the Discerning Heart , we reflect on Pope Leo XIV’s teaching on subsidiarity and solidarity. These two principles help us understand how responsibility should be shared, how people should be allowed to part...

O Beautiful Flower of Carmel, most fruitful vine, splendor of heaven, holy and singular, who brought forth the Son of God, still ever remaining a pure virgin, assist us in our necessity! O Star of the Sea, help and protect us! Show us that you are our Mother! (State your request here…) Recite the following prayers… Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be… Our Lady of Mount Ca...

Holy Rule Novena – Day 6 In the Holy Rule, St. Benedict you have said: The twelfth degree of humility is, when a monk is not only humble of heart, but always let it appear also in his whole exterior to all that see him; … and always saying to himself in his heart what the publican in the Gospel said, with his eyes fixed on the ground: “Lord, I am a sinner and not worthy to lift up mine...

  Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin Novena Day 5 – Charity «I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.» John 13:34 Meditation The Martins were conscious of their duties to their neighbor, and the simplicity of their life made them attentive to the needs of others. Céline said, « If frugality prevailed in our home, then lavishness rule...

St. Bonaventure Novena – Day 2 St. Bonaventure you have said: Three things are necessary to everyone regardless of status, sex, or age, i.e., truth of faith which brings understanding; love of Christ which brings compassion; endurance of hope which brings perseverance. No adult is in state of salvation unless he has faithful understanding in his mind, loving compassion in his heart, and endu...

Tuesday of the Fourteenth 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...

The 14 Rules for the Discernment of Spirits – The First Week Rules as formulated by St. Ignatius of Loyola, Fr. Timothy Gallagher  with Kris McGregor Episode Seven: Rule Five – Never Make a Change in Time of Desolation Episode 7 -The Fifth Rule: In time of desolation never to make a change; but to be firm and constant in the resolutions and determination in which one was the day preceding such des...