LOH Archives - Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

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 ... Read more The post St. Bonaventure Novena – Day 5 – Discerning Hearts podcast appea...

I tasted and I saw - From the dialogue On Divine Providence - St. Catherine of Siena from the Office of Readings - Discerning Hearts Podcasts The post I tasted and I saw – Saint Catherine of Siena from the Office of Readings – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts .

From a letter from Saint Bernadette Soubirous, virgin (Ep. ad Gondrand a 1861: cf. A. Ravier, Les escrits de sainte Bernadette, Paris, 1961, pp. 53-59) The apparition of Our Lady of Lourdes I had gone down one day with two other girls to the bank of the river Gave when suddenly I heard a kind ... Read more The post “The Apparition of Our Lady of Lourdes” – St. Bernadette Soubirou...

From a conference by Saint Thomas Aquinas, priest (Collatio 6 super Credo in Deum) The Cross exemplifies every virtue Why did the Son of God have to suffer for us? There was a great need, and it can be considered in a twofold way: in the first place, as a remedy for sin, and secondly, ... Read more The post “The Cross exemplifies every virtue” – Saint Thomas Aquinas from the Office of Readings app...

From the Office of Readings: From a report by Don Antonio Valeriano, a Native American author of the sixteenth century (Nicon Mopohua, 12th ed., 3-9, 21) The Voice of the Turtledove has been heard in our land At daybreak one Saturday morning in 1531, on the very first days of the month of December, an ... Read more The post Our Lady of Guadalupe – From the Office of Readings – Discerni...

To Mary God gave his only-begotten Son, whom he loved as himself. Through Mary God made himself a Son, not different but the same, by nature Son of God and Son of Mary. The whole universe was created by God, and God was born of Mary. God created all things, and Mary gave birth to God. The God who made all things gave himself form through Mary, and thus he made his own creation. He who could create...

To prevent his disciples from asking the time of his coming, Christ said: About that hour no one knows, neither the angels nor the Son. It is not for you to know times or moments. He has kept those things hidden so that we may keep watch, each of us thinking that he will come in our own day. If he had revealed the time of his coming, his coming would have lost its savour: it would no longer be an...

From a sermon by Saint Bernard, abbot The Three Comings of the Lord We know that there are three comings of the Lord. The third lies between the other two. It is invisible, while the other two are visible. In the first coming he was seen on earth, dwelling among men; he himself testifies that they saw him and hated him. In the final coming all flesh will see the salvation of our God, and they will...

A letter from St Francis Xavier to St Ignatius Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel We have visited the villages of the new converts who accepted the Christian religion a few years ago. No Portuguese live here, the country is so utterly barren and poor. The native Christians have no priests. ... Read more The post Dec. 3 St. Francis Xavier – “Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel&...

A pastoral letter by St Charles Borromeo The season of Advent Beloved, now is the acceptable time spoken of by the Spirit, the day of salvation, peace and reconciliation: the great season of Advent. This is the time eagerly awaited by the patriarchs and prophets, the time that holy Simeon rejoiced at last to see. This is the season that the Church has always celebrated with special solemnity. We t...

St Cyril of Jerusalem The twofold coming of Christ We do not preach only one coming of Christ, but a second as well, much more glorious than the first. The first coming was marked by patience; the second will bring the crown of a divine kingdom. In general, whatever relates to our Lord Jesus Christ has two aspects. There is a birth from God before the ages, and a birth from a virgin at the fullnes...

From the Revelations of Divine Peace of St Gertrude May my soul bless you, O Lord God my Creator, may my soul bless you. From the very core of my being may all your merciful gifts sing your praise. Your generous care for your daughter has been rich in mercy; indeed it has been immeasurable, ... Read more The post From the Revelations of Divine Peace – St. Gertrude the Great from the Office o...

A sermon by St Charles Borromeo Practice What You Preach I admit that we are all weak, but if we want help, the Lord God has given us the means to find it easily. One priest may wish to lead a good, holy life, as he knows he should. He may wish to be chaste ... Read more The post Practice What You Preach – St. Charles Borromeo from the Office of Readings – Discerning Hearts Podcasts ap...

A letter from St Francis of Assisi to all the faithful “It was through his archangel, Saint Gabriel, that the Father above made known to the holy and glorious Virgin Mary that the worthy, holy and glorious Word of the Father would come from heaven and take from her womb the real flesh of our ... Read more The post We must be simple, humble and pure – St. Francis of Assisi from the Offi...

From a sermon of St Bernard of Clairvaux He has given his angels charge over you to guard you in all your ways. Let them thank the Lord for his mercy; his wonderful works are for the children of men. Let them give thanks and say among the nations, the Lord has done great things ... Read more The post The Guardian Angels – St Bernard of Clairvaux from the Office of Readings – Discerning...

From the autobiography of St Theresa of the Child Jesus, virgin (Manuscrits autobiographiques, Lisieux 1957, 227-229) In the heart of the church I will be love Since my longing for martyrdom was powerful and unsettling, I turned to the epistles of St. Paul in the hope of finally finding an answer. By chance the 12th ... Read more The post In the Heart of the Church I will be Love – Saint Thé...

From the Confessions of St. Augustine, bishop (Lib. 7,10,18; 10,27: CSEL 33,157-163,255) O eternal truth, true love, and beloved eternity Urged to reflect upon myself, I entered under your guidance into the inmost depth of my soul. I was able to do so because you were my helper. On entering into myself I saw, as ... Read more The post “O Eternal Truth, True Love, and Beloved Eternity”...

From the Confessions of St. Augustine, bishop (Lib. 9,10-11:CSEL 33, 215-219) Let us gain eternal wisdom The day was now approaching when my mother Monica would depart from this life; you know that day, Lord, though we did not. She and I happened to be standing by ourselves at a window that overlooked the garden ... Read more The post “Let Us Gain Eternal Wisdom” – Saint Augustin...

One sister asked what form this martyrdom took. The saint answered: "Yield yourself fully to God, and you will find out! Divine love takes its sword to the hidden recesses of our inmost soul and divides us from ourselves. I know one person whom love cut off from all that was dearest to her, just as completely and effectively as if a tyrant's blade had severed spirit from body." We realized that sh...

When Ignatius reflected on worldly thoughts, he felt intense pleasure; but when he gave them up out of weariness, he felt dry and depressed. Yet when he thought of living the rigorous sort of life he knew the saints had lived, he not only experienced pleasure when he actually thought about it, but even after he dismissed these thoughts, he still experienced great joy. Yet he did not pay attention...

From the Journey of the Mind to God by St Bonaventure Mystical wisdom is revealed by the Holy Spirit 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 a...

The faithful foster-father and guardian - St. Bernardine of Siena from the Office of Readings - Discerning Hearts Podcasts The post The Faithful Foster-Father and Guardian – St. Bernardine of Siena from the Office of Readings – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts .

From a treatise On Virgins by Saint Ambrose, bishop Too young to be punished, yet old enough for a martyr’s crown Today is the birthday of a virgin; let us imitate her purity. It is the birthday of a martyr; let us offer ourselves in sacrifice. It is the birthday of Saint Agnes, who is said ... Read more The post “Too young to be punished, yet old enough for a martyr’s crown&#822...

From a commentary of Luke by Venerable Bede, priest (Lib 1, 46-55: CCL 120, 37-39)  The Magnificat Mary said: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. The Lord has exalted me by a gift so great, so unheard of, that language is useless to describe it, and ... Read more The post The Magnificat – Venerable Bede from the Office of Readings appeared first...

For unless the new man, by being made in the likeness of sinful flesh, had taken on himself the nature of our first parents, unless he had stooped to be one in substance with his mother while sharing the Father's substance and, being alone free from sin, united our nature to his, the whole human race would still be held captive under the dominion of Satan. The Conqueror's victory would have profit...