He Leadeth Me

Would you like to get more out of spiritual direction? In this episode, Fr. John Ignatius and Jess discuss: Common reasons why directees don't get much out of spiritual direction Advice on how to go deeper in spiritual direction How to know if it's time to find a new director The common question: Should I pay for spiritual direction? Fr. John Ignatius Ezratty is a priest in the Miles Chr...

Any person who wants to grow in their spiritual life needs to practice frequent confession. In this episode, Fr. John Ezratty and Jess discuss: 8 reasons to receive confession frequently What if I don't feel as much sorrow as I wish I did for my sins? How to create an Examination of Conscience specific to you Want to use the Examination of Conscience by St. Anthony  Mary Claret that Jess refe...

During Lent, the Church calls us to conversion. During this episode, Jess and Fr. John Ignatius discuss the dynamics of conversion. Fr. John Ignatius' points out: The word conversion means "to turn around", but it can also be translated as "to change one's mind." The call to conversion involves thinking in a new way, especially about our attachments. Self-denial durin...

What are you giving up for Lent? In this episode, Fr. Kevin and Jess will help you make a plan for Lent! Fr. Kevin and Jess discuss: Undertaking the Church's 3 traditional Lenten practices: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving The idea of "giving something up" vs. adding additional practices Fasting from social media, music, and other mortifications Do Sundays "count"? Fr. Kevi...

The Examen Prayer can be a helpful prayer tool as you discern God's will for your life. In this episode, Fr. John Ignatius Ezratty returns to talk about the Examen Prayer. He and Jess discuss: How many people miss graces God wants to give them in the Examen Prayer by only focusing on the sins they commit How people can unlock graces in the Examen Prayer by not only reviewing what they did thr...

Can reading fiction benefit your spiritual life? Fr. Kevin and Jess think so! In this episode, Fr. Kevin and Jess discuss: Why reading fiction can be good for the spiritual life Fr. Kevin's top 3 book recommendations for 2023 Fr. Kevin Dyer, S.J., is a priest in the Society of Jesus and serves FOCUS as Senior National Chaplain. Fr. Dyer completed studies at St. Louis University and Boston Col...

Thirst for Souls: The Michelle Duppong Story is a documentary created by FOCUS on the life of FOCUS alumna and Servant of God Michelle Duppong.  In this episode, Jessica sits down with FOCUS staff members Trevor Jin, the director of the documentary, and Stephany Anderson, who served as an interview assistant, about their experience creating the documentary.  Thirst for Souls: The Michelle Duppong...

In this episode, Fr. Daniel Cardo joins Jessica to talk about the connection between the liturgy and evangelization. Fr. Cardo and Jessica discuss: St. John Paul II's statement that if efforts to promote the liturgy and promote evangelization don't go hand in hand, both will falter How the power for evangelization comes from offering our difficulties and joys to the Father in the Sacrifi...

In our last episode in the "Discerning God's Will" series, Fr. Kevin Dyer and Jess discuss the final stages of discernment. Fr. Kevin and Jess discuss: How do you know if your discernment is complete? The dangers of rushing a decision and delaying a decision and becoming a "perpetual discerner" What if I'm wrong in my discernment? The way signs can confirm God's...

In this episode, Fr. Kevin Dyer is back to explain the 3 Modes of Discerning God's Will according to St. Ignatius of Loyola. Fr. Kevin and Jess discuss: The first mode of discernment, when God makes His will perfectly clear beyond all doubt The second mode, when God attracts a person's heart to His will by means of consolation and desolation The third mode, when a person uses his or her...

In this episode, Fr. Kevin Dyer joins Jessica to talk about the first steps in discerning God will. Fr. Kevin and Jess discuss: The importance of keeping the purpose of your life in mind as you begin to discern God's will for a specific choice How God speaks through consolation and desolation Mindsets that should be avoided in the discernment process This episode is the first in a 3 part seri...

In this episode, Jess sits down with FOCUS Senior National Chaplain Fr. Kevin Dyer to talk about Ignatian retreats and their power to transform a person's spiritual life. Jess and Fr. Kevin discuss: What is an Ignatian retreat and how is it different than other retreats? Why St. Ignatius of Loyola named his retreat the Spiritual Exercises The role of silence on Ignatian retreats How to prepar...

St. Jose Maria Escriva once said, "The rosary is a powerful weapon. Use it with confidence and you will be amazed at the results." In this episode, Jess and Fr. James Brent talk about the power of the holy rosary as a weapon in spiritual warfare. Fr. James recommends praying the rosary for anyone who believes they are experiencing spiritual warfare. He also recommends the practice of pra...

In this episode, Jess sits down with Fr. Mark McCormick to hear his riveting testimony.  Fr. Mark started out as a devout young priest, but after years in ministry he gradually stopped praying and reached a low point in his relationship with the Lord. Listen to the inspiring story of how the Blessed Mother intervened in Fr. Mark's life to renew his relationship with Jesus and save his priesth...

Each year on June 13th and December 12th, FOCUS renews its Consecration to Mary. In this episode, Jessica sits down with Curtis Martin, Founder and CEO of FOCUS, to talk about the transforming power of Marian Consecration. Jessica and Curtis discuss: The history of the Marian Consecration in FOCUS Why FOCUS renews its consecration on the feast of Our Lady of Fatima on June 13th and the feast of Ou...

How can we be better disposed to receive Holy Communion? Fr. James Brent returns to talk about the dispositions we need to have to receive Holy Communion more fruitfully. These dispositions include: Being free from grave sin Fasting before receiving Holy Communion Faith Humility Confidence Love and desire Fr. James also gives advice for those who receive Holy Communion frequently and struggle with...

What does Christ do in your soul when you receive Holy Communion?  In this episode, Fr. James Brent explains the powerful effects of Holy Communion by walking line by line through St. Basil the Great's Prayer After Receiving Holy Communion. Fr. James notes that the effects of Holy Communion include: Healing Purification Enlightenment Protection Sanctification Expulsion of evil And more! Fr. J...

In this episode, Fr. James Brent joins Jessica to talk about the Sacrifice of the Mass. Jess and Fr. James discuss: How Christ has entered into the Eternal Sanctuary of Heaven and offers Himself to the Father by showing the Father His glorified wounds Fr. James explains that the essence of sacrifice is to say, "I'm Yours."  Fr. James encourages lay people "play their PART"...

In this episode, Fr. Matt Book joins Jessica to take a walk through the Mass and explain its different rites and prayers. Fr. Matt and Jess discuss The introductory rites, Liturgy of the Word, Liturgy of the Eucharist, and concluding rites of the Mass How the different rites of the Mass mirror the purgative, illuminative, and unitive stages of the interior life The beauty of the structure of Mass...

With the parable of the Persistent Widow (Luke 18:1-8), Jesus encourages us to be persistent in prayer. Yet, there can be times when we wonder, “Should I continue to ask for what I want, or should I pray ‘not my will be Yours be done’?'” In this episode, we will discuss Why God wants us to be persistent in prayer How the Father answered Jesus’ prayer in the Agony of the Garden How we should p...

The Gospel of St. John teaches us that Jesus gave us "power to become children of God." The churches teaches us that we are God's beloved children, yet sometimes it can be difficult to take this teaching from head to heart. Fr. James Brent, O.P., joins Jessica to talk about divine adoption and how we can learn to live out of this grace. Fr. James and Jess discuss: The early Church F...

How can I grow in my spiritual life and become a saint? Fr. John Ignatius gives us one of his top recommendations: get a spiritual director. In this episode, Fr. John Ignatius and Jessica discuss: How a spiritual director can help you overcome your spiritual blind spots How a spiritual director can help you discern God's will for your life The difference between spiritual direction and counse...

In this episode, Dr. Joseph Hollcraft returns to talk about roadblocks to vocational discernment and how God overcomes them. Dr. Hollcraft and Jess discuss: Can broken family backgrounds be a roadblock in vocational discernment? What is the role of healing in the discernment process? How does someone know if they are ready to discern or if they should pursue more healing? What advice do you have f...

How do I know if I am in the Dark Night of the Soul or if I just have dryness if prayer? The Dark Night is a metaphor used by St. John of the Cross to express ways that God purifies a soul and brings it deeper into union with Him. In this episode, Fr. Pier Giorgio, OCD, returns to talk with Jessica about the writings of St. John of the Cross related to the Dark Night. Jess and Fr. Pier Giorgio dis...

How can I go deeper in prayer? In this episode, Fr. Pier Giorgio Pacelli, OCD, joins Jessica to talk about the 4 Waters of Prayer that St. Theresa of Avila writes about in her autobiography. Jess and Fr. Pier Giorgio discuss: St. Theresa's analogy of watering a garden and the 4 "waters" of prayer she describes How God moves a soul from active to more passive prayer The prayer of rec...