Hearing With The Heart: Conversations Over Coffee

Bridgett and Janet introduce the book Jesus the Bridegroom: The Greatest Love Story Every Told   by Brant Pitre and the covenant relationship God has with us. Resources: Jesus the Bridegroom: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told by Brant Pitre Catechism – definition of covenant Song of Songs Baby Steps: Consider your image of God from the Old Testament. Sit with this image a bit, and have an open dia...

Have you attended an Easter Vigil Mass? Walk with Janet and Bridgett through the symbolism of "the mother of all holy vigils" (St Augustine) and the joy and celebration of Easter. Resources: Hallow Easter Vigil Guide Ignatius Catholic Study Bible New Testament Easter Vigil Readings  Easter Sunday Readings Jesus the Bridegroom: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told by Brant Pitre   Baby Steps...

The journey we take with Jesus during Holy Week leads us to the pinnacle moment of our Catholic faith. Janet and Bridgett walk with us through the scriptures from Jesus' jubilant (but humble) entrance in Jerusalem to his death on the cross. Resources: Catechism of the Catholic Church #1168 Triduum The Significance of Holy Thursday Ignatius Catholic Study Bible New Testament Kreeft, Peter. Foo...

Our Catholic faith teaches us to deny ourselves - a counter-cultural idea for our modern world. Janet & Bridgett discuss how the concept of dying to self can lead to spiritual fulfillment and make space for all that God has in store for our lives. Resources: Fifth Sunday of Lent Gospel Ignatius Catholic Study Bible New Testament Kreeft, Peter. Food for the Soul: Reflections on the Mass Reading...

Janet & Bridgett discuss the Gospel from the Fourth Sunday, which includes the most often quoted verse (John 3:16), and the depth of love God has for each one of us. Resources: Ignatius Catholic Study Bible New Testament Kreeft, Peter. Food for the Soul: Reflections on the Mass Readings Cycle B.  Word on Fire, 2023. Marquette University Gospel Reflection Fourth Sunday of Lent Gospel Reading Cy...

Bridgett and Janet discuss Jesus' righteous anger when he finds his Father's house, the temple, being defiled. How can we use this lesson in our lives - this Lent, and beyond? Resources:   Ignatius Catholic Study Bible New Testament Kreeft, Peter. Food for the Soul: Reflections on the Mass Readings Cycle B.  Word on Fire, 2023. Third Sunday of Lent: Jesus Cleanses the Temple In Jesus&apo...

For the second week of Lent, Janet and Bridgett discuss the Transfiguration, a reading we hear every Lenten season, and how mountaintop experiences bring us closer to God. Resources: Ignatius Catholic Study Bible New Testament Kreeft, Peter. Food for the Soul: Reflections on the Mass Readings Cycle B.  Word on Fire, 2023. Second Sunday of Lent: The Transfiguration 2 Peter 1: 17-21 Baby Steps: When...

During this first week of Lent, Bridgett and Janet discuss the desert - from the journey of the Israelites fleeing Egypt to Jesus' temptation in the desert, and what we can learn for our own faith journeys. Resources: Ignatius Catholic Study Bible New Testament First Sunday of Lent: The Temptation in the Desert The Three Temptations of Christ by Deacon R. Christoph Sandoval Lessons on the Tem...

As we prepare for Ash Wednesday, Janet discusses her favorite liturgical season, Lent, with Bridgett. Together, they share both the #funfacts and the reverent aspects of the season and remind us to just breathe! Resources: CCC 2849   Such a battle and such a victory become possible only through prayer. It is by his prayer that Jesus vanquishes the tempter, both at the outset of his public mission...

What does it mean to be Sent? Janet and Bridgett consider how they have been Sent out into the world on what Janet calls God's greatest adventure, and discuss how we are all called to share the love of Christ with others. Resources: Living as Missionary Disciples: A Resource for Evangelization Discipleship Book Joy of the Gospel   Living as Intentional Disciples of Jesus Am I a Disciple of Ch...

In the third of a 4-part series on Missionary Disciples, Janet and Bridgett reveal the history behind the need for community, and its importance today, especially for our faith journeys. Resources: Living as Missionary Disciples: A Resource for Evangelization Discipleship Book Joy of the Gospel   Community in the Catholic Church The Messy Necessity of Authentic Catholic Community - Catholic Missio...

In the second of a 4-part series on Missionary Disciples, Bridgett and Janet discuss what Janet describes as a beautiful word: accompaniment. But what does it mean for a Missionary Disciple? Resources: Living as Missionary Disciples: A Resource for Evangelization Joy of the Gospel   The Reed of God: A Spiritual Classic  Hearing with the Heart Coffee Mug:    https://bit.ly/HWTHmu g Baby Steps: Pray...

You may heave heard the term Missionary Disciple but what does it really mean? Let Janet and Bridgett break it down for you in their latest podcast episode Resources: Living as Missionary Disciples: A Resource for Evangelization Discipleship Book Toups, Fr. Mark. Rejoice! An Advent Pilgrimage into the Heart of Scripture. Ascension Press, 2023.  Edward Sri “Into His Likeness” Joy of the Gospel para...

Janet & Bridgett discuss Epiphany, including some surprises, historical references, and thoughts about what it means for us today. References: The Epiphany of the Lord The history behind the Feast of the Epiphany The Origins and Spirituality of the Epiphany Ignatius Catholic Study Bible New Testament USCCB Readings for Epiphany Baby Steps: Reflect upon the journey of the Wise Men What journey...

Merry Christmas! Join Bridgett and Janet as they discuss Christmas memories and favorite Christmas carols.   Resources: The Surprising Origins of Christmas Carols: Explained Christmas Carols: The History Behind 9 Festive Favorites The Stories Behind Our Most Beloved Christmas Carols   O Holy Night https://www.americamagazine.org/arts-culture/2023/11/26/o-holy-night-history-slavery-246556 https://w...

Bridgett and Janet discuss their Advent traditions and explore what Advent means to them (and to our Church). Resources: Advent resources: https://www.ascensionvb.org/advent Readings for 1st Sunday in Advent: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120323.cfm Readings for 2nd Sunday in Advent: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121023.cfm Ascension Press Ten Family Advent Traditions What is Adv...

Janet & Bridgett discuss the Liturgical year - ends and beginnings, Matthew and Mark, and more. Have faith, not fear! Resources: Matthew Chapter 25 Gospel of Mark Baby Steps: Read Matthew 25 and pray on a verse that touches your heart Read through Mark's Gospel (the shortest of the Gospels) Email us: podcast@ascensionvb.org Additional episodes: https://hearingwiththeheart.buzzsprout.com C...

Join Bridgett and her special Thanksgiving guests: her brothers! Fred (the deacon), Greg (the priest),  Rudy (the Dad), and Bridgett discuss their Catholic upbringing and how it has shaped their lives today. Email us: podcast@ascensionvb.org Additional episodes: https://hearingwiththeheart.buzzsprout.com Church of the Ascension: www.ascensionvb.org/podcast Send us Fan Mail Thanks for joining us. H...

As we prepare for Thanksgiving (and family dynamics), Janet & Bridgett discuss the parable of the Prodigal Son, and consider the perspectives of both the older son and the Father. Who do you identify with the most? Resources: The Prodigal Son - Luke 15:11-32 Bishop Barron on the Prodigal Son Ephesians 3:14-15 : For this reason, I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on...

Resources: John 6:  https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/6 Isaiah 49:15   "Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you." Ignatius Catholic Study Bible New Testament (Amazon link) Baby Steps: Invite the Holy Spirit in and read John Chapter 6  Ponder the question: "Do you also want to leave?" Send...

Janet & Bridgett discuss sainthood and holiness - can you see yourself as a saint? Resources: " Many poets are not poets for the same reason that many religious men are not saints: they never succeed in being themselves. They never get around to being the particular poet or the particular monk they are intended to be by God. They never become the man or the artist who is called for by all...

The first question posed by God in the Bible is, "Where are you?" which he asks of Adam and Eve. How often do we ask our family, friends, and even God this same question? Janet and Bridgett share their experiences as they ponder the same. Resources: Hallelujah Anyway by Rend Collective   music video “God’s job is not to protect us from life, but to call us forth from life and draw us clo...

Jesus asks blind Bartimaeus, "What do you want me to do for you?" even when the answer seems obvious. How do things change when we take time to deepen our conversation with Jesus and not only tell him what we need, but also ask him what he wants us to do for him ? Bridgett and Janet both share personal experiences of doing just that. Resources Mark 10:46-52 John 15:16 - It’s not you who...

Janet and Bridgett turn the tables on Jesus' question to his disciples, "Who do you say that I am?" and explore "Who does Jesus say that I am?" Life is a journey toward our belovedness as we open ourselves to receive the grace of Jesus. Resources:  Glorious Day Video by Passion featuring Kristian Stanfil Belovedness Video by Sarah Kroger Isaiah 61:10 - I will rejoice heart...

Get to know Janet and Bridgett as they explore how their faith backgrounds (one a cradle Catholic, one a Protestant) influenced their relationship (or lack thereof) with Jesus and how they continue to grow in their faith journey today. While many Christians know the verse John 3:16, Janet shares how the next verse (John 3:17) impacted her life. Resources:  Bishop Robert Barron on Knowing Jesus Per...