Discerning Hearts - Catholic Podcasts

Episode 1: God Calls Man First -Communion with Christ: Practical Prayer with Deacon James Keating Deacon James Keating joins Kris McGregor to explore the Church's teaching on prayer through the Catechism of the Catholic Church, beginning with the profound truth that God desires communion with each person. Prayer is not simply a human search for meaning but a response to God's loving presence and H...

 Episode 6 – Introduction to Rules 3 to 8 – The Second Week Rules for the Discernment of Spirits: An Ignatian Guide to a Greater Discernment of Spirits with Fr. Timothy Gallagher Fr. Gallagher offers an introduction to Rules 3 through 8 which primarily addresses the most common question in second mode discernment, "What about spiritual consolation with preceding cause?" Third Rule The third: with...

Pray Always and Never Grow Weary: Learning to Persevere in Prayer with Msgr. John Esseff – Building a Kingdom of Love podcast In this episode of Building a Kingdom of Love, Msgr. John Esseff reflects on Jesus' parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18 and His teaching about the necessity of praying always without becoming weary. Prayer is something every Christian must learn, and perseverance is...

St. Teresa of Avila on friendship with Christ, his sacred humanity, and why growing deeper in prayer always brings us closer to Jesus About This Episode What does it mean to grow deeper in prayer? St. Teresa of Avila gives us a simple answer: stay close to Jesus and learn to know him as a true friend. In this episode of The Spiritual Journey for the Discerning Heart, Kris McGregor reflects on St....

Episode 5 – The Second Rule – The Second Week Rules for the Discernment of Spirits: An Ignatian Guide to a Greater Discernment of Spirits with Fr. Timothy Gallagher Fr. Gallagher continues to break open the Second Rule by using examples of different types of Spiritual Consolation.  He also delves into the proper understanding of "preceding cause." Second Rule The second: it is of God our Lord alon...

Joseph Pearce – St. John Henry Newman on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor ***A Note for Listeners This conversation was recorded before the canonization of John Henry Newman. At the time, he was known as Blessed John Henry Newman. Today, we gratefully honor him as St. John Henry Newman, whose witness continues to guide the Church. In this episode of Inside the Pages, Kris McGregor speaks with J...

St. Bernard of Clairvaux on Contemplating the Life of Jesus with Mary About This Episode How can the life of Jesus help us through fear, uncertainty, suffering, difficult decisions, waiting, loss, and hope? In this episode of The Spiritual Journey for the Discerning Heart, Kris McGregor reflects on a sermon from St. Bernard of Clairvaux and what it can teach us about contemplative prayer and the H...

Episode 4 – The First and Second Rule – The Second Week Rules for the Discernment of Spirits: An Ignatian Guide to a Greater Discernment of Spirits with Fr. Timothy Gallagher In this episode, Fr. Timothy Gallagher continues exploring the enemy’s ability to tempt under the appearance of good. Through the example of St. John Vianney, he shows why greater discernment becomes increasingly important as...

Friday of the Twenty-Sixth 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 h...

 When to Apply the Rules Temptation Under the Appearance of Good – Second Week Rule One In this episode, Fr. Timothy Gallagher explains when the Second Week Rules become necessary. As a person grows in prayer, generosity, and love of God, the enemy may change tactics. Instead of discouraging through spiritual desolation, he may tempt under the appearance of good. A thought can be good and holy....

Which Son Are You? The Call to Conversion – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff In this episode of Building a Kingdom of Love, Msgr. John Esseff reflects on Jesus’ parable of the two sons and the uncomfortable truth that both sons can be found within each of us. One son refuses his father and later changes his mind. The other says yes but fails to act. Jesus directs the parable towar...

When Jesus Seems Hidden: Prayer, Hope, Temptation, and Trust with Kris McGregor About This Episode What happens when we’re trying to remain faithful to God, but instead of peace we encounter darkness, fear, temptation, sadness, or a sense that Jesus has become hidden? In this episode of The Spiritual Journey for the Discerning Heart, Kris McGregor reflects on a powerful letter from St. Pius of Pie...

 Episode 2 – Teachings on the Title Statement and a look at the Issue at Hand – The Second Week Rules for the Discernment of Spirits: An Ignatian Guide to a Greater Discernment of Spirits with Fr. Timothy Gallagher Fr. Gallagher breaks open the meaning of the term "greater discernment of spirits" and examens the issue at hand when entering second-week rule discernment The Title Statement:  "Rules...

The Laborers in the Vineyard – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff In this episode of Building a Kingdom of Love, Msgr. John Esseff reflects on Jesus' parable of the laborers in the vineyard and asks us to look again at what the workers actually receive. The landowner promises each laborer a day's wage, whether he begins at dawn or arrives near the end of the day. Msgr. Esseff sees t...

Temptation, Benedictine Listening, and Remaining Rooted in God with Kris McGregor About This Episode What happens when something God has given us begins to stir fear, self-doubt, anxiety, or even pride? In this episode of The Spiritual Journey for the Discerning Heart, Kris McGregor reflects on St. Hildegard of Bingen’s remarkable counsel to St. Elisabeth of Schönau. Elisabeth, herself a Benedicti...

St. Bernard of Clairvaux on Sorrow, Longing, and Remaining Open to God with Kris McGregor About This Episode In this episode of The Spiritual Journey for the Discerning Heart, Kris McGregor reflects with Saint Bernard of Clairvaux on Our Lady of Sorrows and the deeper spiritual meaning of sorrow. Sorrow reaches far beyond bereavement. It can arise when a relationship is wounded, health or independ...

 Episode 1 – Introduction – The Second Week Rules for the Discernment of Spirits: An Ignatian Guide to a Greater Discernment of Spirits with Fr. Timothy Gallagher In this opening episode of The Second Week Rules for the Discernment of Spirits, Fr. Timothy Gallagher reviews the foundation of the First Week Rules. He returns to the basic pattern of discernment: be aware, understand, and take action...

Standing on the Rock – St. Bernard of Clairvaux on the Stages of Contemplation with Kris McGregor About This Episode In this episode of The Spiritual Journey for the Discerning Heart, Kris McGregor reflects on Saint Bernard of Clairvaux’s teaching on the stages of contemplation and what it can teach us about discerning God’s will. St. Bernard begins with a powerful image: before trying to determin...

Episode 9 – Know Your Weapons pt. 4 – A Manual for Spiritual Warfare with Dr. Paul Thigpen, Ph. D In this episode of Put on the Armor: A Manual for Spiritual Warfare, Kris McGregor and Dr. Paul Thigpen continue their discussion of sacramentals by focusing on blessings and the way ordinary material things can be set apart for God’s service and protection. Dr. Thigpen explains the difference between...

The 14 Rules of the Discernment of Spirits with Fr. Timothy Gallagher with Kris McGregor Episode Sixteen: Rule Fourteen – Strengthening the Weakest Point Episode 16 – The Fourteenth Rule: Likewise, he behaves as a chief bent on conquering and robbing what he desires: for, as a captain and chief of the army, pitching his camp, and looking at the forces or defenses of a stronghold, attacks it on the...

The Sacred Heart, Sin, and Confession – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff In this episode of Building a Kingdom of Love, Msgr. John Esseff turns to the reality of sin and the healing power of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The battle between the Kingdom of Light and the Kingdom of Darkness isn't only visible in war, violence, and suffering throughout the world. That same struggle...

Trust, Surrender, “I Thirst,” and the Little Way with Kris McGregor About This Episode In this episode of The Spiritual Journey for the Discerning Heart, Kris McGregor reflects on the last letter of St. Teresa of Calcutta to the Missionaries of Charity, dated September 5, 1997, the day Mother Teresa died. At the end of her life, St. Teresa returns to the spiritual truths she had spent years teachi...

A Great Cloud of Witnesses: Introducing The Spiritual Journey for the Discerning Heart with Kris McGregor About This Episode What if the time, place, relationships, vocation, and circumstances of your life are not accidental, but the very place where God is calling you to become a saint? In this introductory episode of The Spiritual Journey for the Discerning Heart, Kris McGregor explores the deep...

Episode 8 – Know your Weapons pt. 3 – 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 turn to the Church’s sacramentals and their place in the spiritual battle. Dr. Thigpen explains that sacramentals are sacred signs established by the Church that dispose us to receive grace and help...

The 14 Rules of the Discernment of Spirits with Fr. Timothy Gallagher with Kris McGregor Episode Fifteen: Rule Thirteen – Breaking the Spiritual Silence Episode 15 – The Thirteenth Rule: Likewise, he acts as a licentious lover in wanting to be secret and not revealed. For, as the licentious man who, speaking for an evil purpose, solicits a daughter of a good father or a wife of a good husband, wan...