Daily Lent Archives - Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

The Cross of Christ Illumines. . .Lag Time The-CrossSteps to Take as You Follow Christ Ask—Do I trust that God answers all prayer? Seek—Believe in God even when all appearances suggest that God is not listening to you. Think of Jesus on the cross and his resurrection on the third day. Knock—Meditate on Hebrews 11:1. Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen....

DAY SIX O glorious Saint Joseph, appointed by the Eternal Father as the guardian and protector of the life of Jesus Christ, the comfort and support of His Holy Mother, and the instrument in His great design for the redemption of mankind; you who had the happiness of living with Jesus and Mary, and of dying in their arms, be moved with confidence we place in you, and procure for us from the Almight...

The Cross of Christ Illumines. . .Blindness The-CrossSteps to Take as You Follow Christ Ask—What would it be like to see everything in God’s light? Seek—Observe the world, expecting to see God at work in it. Put skepticism aside and ask God to enlighten your vision! Knock—Meditate on John 9:39–41. Jesus said, “For Judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those w...

DAY FIVE O holy St. Joseph, what a lesson your life is for us, ever so eager to appear so anxious to display before the eyes of men the graces that we owe entirely to the liberality of God. In addition to the special favor for which we plead in this novena... (State your request here...) grant that we may attribute to God the glory of all things, that we may love the humble and hidden life, that w...

The Cross of Christ Transforms. . .How We See Ourselves Steps to Take as You Follow Christ Ask—From what do I need Jesus to save me? Seek—God’s forgiveness for your sins. Ask God to transform you into the image of his Son, so that you may be an instrument of God’s grace to others. Knock—Meditate on 1 Corinthians 6:9–11. Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do n...

DAY FOUR Saint Joseph, pride of Heaven, unfailing hope for our lives, and support of those on earth, graciously accept our prayer of praise. You were appointed spouse of the chaste Virgin by the Creator of the world. He willed that you be called "father" of the Word and serve as agent of our salvation. May the triune God who bestowed upon you heavenly honors, be praised forever. And may He grant u...

The Cross of Christ Transforms. . .Our Priorities Steps to Take as You Follow Christ Ask—How does the cross fit into my stance toward God? Seek—Acknowledge God’s priority in your life, over your heart (all of your emotions), over your understanding (all of your thoughts), and over all of your strength (all of your actions). Knock—Meditate on 1 John 4:10–12. In this is love, not that we loved God b...

DAY THREE Blessed St. Joseph, enkindle in our cold hearts a spark of your charity. May God be always the first and only object of our affections. Keep our souls always in sanctifying grace and, if we should be so unhappy as to lose it, give us the strength to recover it immediately by a sincere repentance. Help us to such a love of our God as will always keep us united to Him. O glorious St. Josep...

The Cross of Christ Transforms. . .Our Lives Steps to Take as You Follow Christ Ask—Do I trust in God? Seek—Frequently call upon the Lord for his help throughout the day. Life was not intended to be a solitary venture; recognize that God is always present, and is there for us when we call upon him. Knock—Meditate on 10:11–13. The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” F...

DAY TWO O blessed Saint Joseph, tenderhearted father, faithful guardian of Jesus, chaste spouse of the Mother of God, we pray and beseech you to offer to God the Father, His divine son, bathed in blood on the Cross for sinners, and through the thrice holy name of Jesus obtain for us of the eternal Father the favor for which we implore your intercession... (State your request here...) Amid the sple...

The Cross of Christ Transforms. . .Law and Love Steps to Take as You Follow Christ Ask—How much do I love God? Seek—God’s love for us and his plans for us are greater than our minds can conceive. Starting today, acknowledge these realities by undertaking acts of trust in God throughout the day. Ask God to fill you with his love. Share God’s love with everyone. Knock—Meditate on Romans 13:8–10. Owe...

O glorious Saint Joseph, faithful follower of Jesus Christ, to you we raise our hearts and hands to implore your powerful intercession in obtaining from the benign heart of Jesus all the helps and graces necessary for our spiritual and temporal welfare, particularly for the grace of a happy death and the special favor we now request... (State your request here.) O guardian of the Word Incarnate, w...

The Cross of Christ Transforms. . .How We Forgive Steps to Take as You Follow Christ Ask—Do I still harbor past sins for which I have not accepted God’s forgiveness? Seek—Go to confession regularly. As part of your examination of conscience, review how you have accepted God’s forgiveness for past sins in your life, and review how well you have forgiven others in God’s name. Knock—Meditate on Ephes...

The Cross of Christ Transforms. . .How We See Jesus Steps to Take as You Follow Christ Ask—Am I overly familiar with Christ? Seek—Read the Gospels every day. Encounter Christ as he is presented and try to imagine him in the world today, doing the same acts, confronting unbelief in the modern world. Knock—Meditate on 1 Peter 2:4–5. Come to him, to that living stone, rejected by men but in God’s sig...

The Cross of Christ Transforms. . .How We Worship Steps to Take as You Follow Christ Ask—What do I do with God’s spirit? Seek—From a prayer posture, concentrate on your breathing. As you inhale, ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit. As you exhale, breathe the name from the core of your being: Jesus. Knock—Meditate on Galatians 6:7–9. Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for whatever a man so...

The Cross of Christ Unites. . .God’s Mercy and Love Steps to Take as You Follow Christ Ask—When have I judged someone wrongly? Seek—Do you need to be reconciled to someone in your life? It might be someone in your family, a former friend, an enemy, or even God. Go to confession; through the grace of absolution, seek to trust in God more and more. Knock—Meditate on 2 Corinthians 5:16–18. From now o...

The Cross of Christ Unites. . .Us in the Work We Have to Do Steps to Take as You Follow Christ Ask—How can dying to myself help me to know God’s purpose? Seek—Ask others to describe what your gifts are, and where they see you as being most authentic in your life. Knock—Meditate on Revelation 22:1–2. Then he showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God...

The Cross of Christ Unites. . .Those Who Suffer for Justice Steps to Take as You Follow Christ Ask—What does God ask me to do for those who suffer? Seek—Look for opportunities to help someone who needs it (and who cannot help you back). Stand up for someone who is being brought low. Knock—Meditate on Romans 8:18. I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the...

The Cross of Christ Unites. . .In Liberty Steps to Take as You Follow Christ Ask—What continues to enslave me? Seek—Ask God to point out areas of slavery that still exist in your life. As you go through your day, catch yourself not being true to who you really are, and ask yourself: Who are you serving now? Knock—Meditate on Romans 7:22–25. For I delight in the law of God, in my inmost self, but I...

The Cross of Christ Unites. . .In Humility Steps to Take as You Follow Christ Ask——In what areas of my life do I have the most trouble with pride? Seek—Pray the Litany of Humility. What parts of the litany do you find it most difficult to say? Take concrete steps to defer to others throughout the day, to die to yourself in little things. Knock—Meditate on Philippians 2:5–9. Have this mind among yo...

The Cross of Christ Unites. . .Those Divided by Sin The Way of Perfection by St. Teresa of Avila - Audio Mp3 Audio 3Steps to Take as You Follow Christ Ask—Whom do I treat as an outsider in God’s kingdom? Seek—As you go about your daily activities, think about how often you see someone else as “one of them” rather than “one of us.” Of course, people are all unique and different. However, the gospel...

 The Cross of Christ Unites. . .the Temporal and Eternal Steps to Take as You Follow Christ Ask—How does the “light” of Christ shine into the darkness of my world? Seek—At every moment of the day say with St. Peter, “Lord, it is good that we are here!” Realize that when we follow Jesus we see ... Read more The post PoC-12 2nd Sunday of Lent: The Power of the Cross Lenten Meditation appeared firs...

The Cross of Christ Teaches Us. . .How to Love Steps to Take as You Follow Christ Ask——Do I allow God to love through me? Seek—Keep before you the image of Jesus forgiving those who nailed him on the cross and see everyone with whom you come into contact through Christ. Think about how Christ died for those people and how precious they are as children of God, the same God who loves you. Knock—Medi...

The Cross of Christ Teaches Us. . .Reconciliation Steps to Take as You Follow Christ Ask—Is there anyone I do not love? In what way can I allow the love of Christ to control me? Seek—Allow the image of the cross of Christ, the price Jesus paid to redeem all creation, to dominate your thoughts when you find yourself growing angry at someone. Ask the Holy Spirit to empower you to be reconciled to th...

The Cross of Christ Teaches Us. . .How to Trust and Give Thanks Steps to Take as You Follow Christ Ask—What do I need from God to follow Jesus more closely? Seek—As the day progresses, when you find yourself impatient, unloving, judgmental, lustful, or anything that strikes you as against the gospel of Jesus, ask God for the gift that will help you to be more like Christ. Knock—Meditate on James 1...