Ven. Lanteri Retreat Archives - Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

Day 5 – Honoring God by Joy “Sometimes it may seem as though God does not react to evil, as if he is silent. And yet God has spoken. He has replied, and his answer is the cross of Christ: a word that is love, mercy, forgiveness.” With spiritual joy, one gives greater honor and glory to God, manifesting with deeds that he thinks well of God and is content in His service and with His treatment. With...

Overcoming Pre-Event Desolation – Spiritual Desolation: Be Aware, Understand, Take Action with Fr. Timothy Gallagher Fr. Timothy Gallagher and Kris McGregor discuss “pre-event desolation,” a form of spiritual discouragement before significant spiritual activities. They highlight its tactics by the enemy to deter individuals from growth opportunities. Drawing from C.S. Lewis&#8217...

Day 7 – Acquiring Spiritual Joy “Means for acquiring Joyfulness: 1. Ask the Lord for joyfulness. Joy or cheerfulness is the second fruit of the Holy Spirit [Galatians 5:22]. Blessed [John] Berchmans [1599-1621] was always so joyful that many called him Saint Leto [joy] and Saint IIario [laughter]. Joy was a grace he daily prayed for at Mass. 2. Think frequently of the Lord and thank Him for the go...

Day 6 – Protecting against Sin and Vice “Through joyfulness one avoids sins and easily triumphs over temptation. It is proper to temptations to begin to instill despondency and sadness. And in these troubled waters the devil begins to fish. The joyful man has great regard for and always enjoys the spiritual goods he hopes for and possesses. When these are compared to the apparent goods temptations...

Day 4 – Strengthening the Reasons to be Joyful 1. Our gratitude requires it. We have an obligation to be thankful for the spiritual goods we possess. How will we ever show enough appreciation for them unless we really enjoy them and celebrate them? 2. Our honor demands it. How can we rejoice and show gratitude [for spiritual goods] if we are sad and melancholy? One would enjoy, most certainly, bei...

Day 3 – Turning toward Spiritual Joy “Spiritual joy is experienced when one ponders the spiritual goods it possesses. What are these goods? Participation in the divine nature (as children of God), union with Jesus Christ, being in the bosom of the Church as her children, God's special protection, the gifts of the theological virtues, the Sacraments, the communion of saints, grace, friendship with...

In this episode, Fr. Gallagher offers that a clear understanding of one’s state of life and of one’s specific path toward holiness—one’s vocation—forms a basic point of the spiritual direction which Lanteri offers to the laity. It is in “this state…and not in another” that God “wills that I serve Him and gain my salvation.” ... Read more The post BA-V15 – The Quality and Aim of Our Actions &...

In this episode, Fr. Timothy Gallagher discusses the actual spiritual direction Ven. Bruno Lanteri offered to a laywoman, Gabriella Solaro della Margarita, mother of Clemente Solara della Margarita, well known in Italian history as a political figure and faithful Catholic. The mother of six children, she is described as a woman “of faithful heart… with ... Read more The post BA-V12 Spiritual Accom...

In this episode, In this episode, Fr. Timothy Gallagher discusses the actual spiritual direction Ven. Bruno Lanteri offered to a laywoman, Gabriella Solaro della Margarita. You can obtain just the audio podcast if you would prefer For the other episodes in this series check out Fr. Timothy Gallagher’s “Discerning Hearts” page     The post BA-V13 Spiritual Accompaniment and its Frui...

In this episode, Fr. Timothy Gallagher discusses the time of the “Restoration” in the life of Ven. Bruno Lanteri. This is a period where there is now freedom in Europe to practice the faith, but a time of increasing secular hostility directed at the Church. Though limited by his health, Ven. Lanteri, inspired and supplied the formation to those who would go out and mission to the world. Deeply roo...

In this episode, Fr. Timothy Gallagher discusses the importance of spiritual direction in the life of Ven. Lanteri and in his instruction to his spiritual directees. Fr. Gallagher addresses what is it to be a “spiritual director”? What are the characteristics of the director-directee relationship? He will emphasize the importance of the “continuity of contact” which is vitally important in that re...

In this episode, Fr. Timothy Gallagher discusses the difficult times that was experienced by Ven. Bruno Lanteri, not only as a result of the political and cultural movements of the day, but also from physical and emotional persecutions in his own life. After being stripped of almost everything, Ven. Lanteri’s spiritual practice sustained and strengthened ... Read more The post BA-V8 Suffering and...

In this episode, Fr. Timothy Gallagher discusses the importance of the “spiritual struggles” in the life Ven. Lanteri. Outwardly, he was faced with a hostile secular climate. He also experienced tremendous physical struggles, as well as an inner resistance to certain virtues. Prayer, meditation, reflection and study became a remedy for Ven. Lanteri. Fr. Gallagher ... Read more The post BA-V5 The S...

In this episode, Fr. Timothy Gallagher discusses the importance of the virtues of prudence, humility, and perseverance in the life of Ven. Lanteri and in his instruction to his spiritual directees. He speaks of what is at the heart of what turns discouragement into hope – that it is vital to have a deep sense of the goodness of God. Ven. Lanteri encourages all of us even today to recall God’s merc...

In this episode, Fr. Timothy Gallagher discusses the influence of Fr. Nikolaus Joseph Albert von Diesbach on the young Bruno Lanteri. An encounter with a good spiritual book facilitates the conversion of Fr. Diesbach at a critical time in his life. Spiritual reading and the use of “media” of the time is a precursor to what we now call the “New Evangelization.” That use of Spiritual reading to aid...

In this episode, Fr. Timothy Gallagher discusses the influence of Fr. Nikolaus Joseph Albert von Diesbach on the young Bruno Lanteri. An encounter with a good spiritual book facilitates the conversion of Fr. Diesbach at a critical time in his life. Spiritual reading and the use of “media” of the time is a precursor to what we now call the “New Evangelization.” That use of Spiritual reading to aid...

A Novena in honor of Ven. Bruno Lanteri, founder of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary Day 2 – Letting Go of Worldly Joy “Such [worldly] joy is too shallow; it is as shallow as the thing enjoyed. This kind of childish joy, shared by the animals, soon passes away. Even if this joy lasts ... Read more The post A Novena in Honor of Ven. Bruno Lanteri Day 2 – In Preparation for the Seminar/Retreat a...

In this introductory episode, Fr. Timothy Gallagher offers a detailed spiritual portrait of a man once limited by his own impatience and lack of charity, Lanteri-1who evolved into a man of fierce spiritual courage, religious reformer, defender of the Pope against Napoleon’s command, and a symbol of perseverance who coined the term “begin again”—the official motto of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary....

In this episode, Fr. Timothy Gallagher discusses the influence of Fr. Nikolaus Joseph Albert von Diesbach on the young Bruno Lanteri. An encounter with a good spiritual book facilitates the conversion of Fr. Diesbach at a critical time in his life. Spiritual reading and the use of “media” of the time is a precursor to ... Read more The post BA-V2 – The Value of Spiritual Reading – Begin Again with...

A Novena in honor of Ven. Bruno Lanteri, founder of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary Day 1 Beginning in Hope  Whatever my failings may be, I will never lose heart, aware that I will commit many such failings; but I will always ask God’s forgiveness immediately, and strive to do better. And I will ... Read more The post A Novena in Honor of Ven. Bruno Lanteri Day 1 – In Preparation for the Semi...