Discerning Hearts - Catholic Podcasts Discerning Hearts
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- Religion och spiritualitet
Fr. Timothy Gallagher, Dr. Anthony Lilles, Deacon James Keating, Archbishop George Lucas, Msgr. John Esseeff and so many other Catholic Spiritual leaders and teachers/catechists offer the best teachings in the rich Catholic Spiritual/Discernment tradition. From the lives of the saints to the basics of Catholic Social teaching, from the Sacred Liturgy to prayer in everyday moments of our lives, we walk together as we fulfill our call to be saints in the making. By the renewal of our minds, we form ourselves so that may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect. (Rom 12:2)
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PoC-45 Good Friday: The Power of the Cross Lenten Meditation
Taking Up Our Cross. . .To Stay with Jesus
Steps to Take as You Follow Christ
Ask—Do I feel “lucky” to carry the cross that God has given me?
Seek—Keep the cross of Christ before you at all times. Let it be a reminder of Christ’s forgiveness for you when you feel sorrowful for your sins. Let it be a sign of God’s love for others when you are tempted to judge. Let it be a light that you can share with those whose lives you touch.
Knock—Meditate on 1 Corinthians 12:26–27.
If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
Do you think of yourself as a part of Christ’s body? What changes are necessary for you to make in order to act as a member of the body of Christ rather than as an individual follower of Jesus?
Transform Your Life—Realize the difference that embracing the cross of Christ makes in your life. Learn to see the world in a new way and to see what Jesus meant when he said, “Behold, I make all things new” (Revelation 21:5).
The author of The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ in Your Life, Michael Dubriuel, passed away in 2009. His wife, author Amy Welborn, has made his book available as a free e-book! We HIGHLY encourage you to download this exceptional work.
The Power of the Cross is now available as a free e-book,
check out more information by going here
Check out more at the Discerning Hearts’ Michael Dubruiel page
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Divine Mercy Novena – Day One – Mp3 audio & Text
Divine Mercy Novena – Day One
First Day – “For all mankind, especially sinners”
“Today bring to Me all mankind, especially all sinners, and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. In this way you will console Me in the bitter grief into which the loss of souls plunges Me.”
Most Merciful Jesus, whose very nature it is to have compassion on us and to forgive us, do not look upon our sins but upon our trust which we place in Your infinite goodness. Receive us all into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart, and never let us escape from It. We beg this of You by Your love which unites
You to the Father and the Holy Spirit.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon all mankind and especially upon poor sinners, all enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion show us Your mercy, that we may praise the omnipotence of Your mercy forever and ever. Amen.
Jesus asked that the Feast of the Divine Mercy be preceded by a Novena to the Divine Mercy which would begin on Good Friday. He gave St. Faustina an intention to pray for on each day of the Novena, saving for the last day the most difficult intention of all, the lukewarm and indifferent of whom He said:
“These souls cause Me more suffering than any others; it was from such souls that My soul felt the most revulsion in the Garden of Olives. It was on their account that I said: ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass Me by.’ The last hope of salvation for them is to flee to My Mercy.”
In her diary, St. Faustina wrote that Jesus told her:
“On each day of the novena you will bring to My heart a different group of souls and you will immerse them in this ocean of My mercy … On each day you will beg My Father, on the strength of My passion, for the graces for these souls.” -
Ep 4 – A Sister of St. Thérèse: Servant of God, Léonie Martin – Bearer of Hope with Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Discerning Hearts Podcast
In this episode, we come to learn of "the pivotal moment" in the life of Léonie. - Even with all of the physical and emotional issues suffered by Léonie, there seemed to be something more, a mystery as it were,
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Conference 3: Holy Triduum – That All May Be One: A Holy Week Retreat /w Msgr. John Esseff & Sr. Cor Immaculatum Heffernan
Conference 3: The Holy Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday) – That All May Be One: A Holy Week Retreat /w Msgr. Esseff & Sr. Cor Immaculatum Heffernan – Discerning Hearts Online Retreat
Retreat Directors: Monsignor John A. Esseff and Sister Cor Immaculatum Heffernan, IHM
The Paschal Mystery
The Last Supper…Passion…Death…Burial
Theme: Jesus’ love, humility, suffering, dying – John 13 – 18
Holy Thursday The Lord’s Supper
* Jesus washes the disciples’ feet John 13: 1-20
* Jesus announces Judas’ betrayal John 13: 21-30
* The Bread of Life Discourse John 6: 22-51
* Take and eat…this is my body 26: 26-30
* Jesus’ passion, death, resurrection
Eucharist is the gift of Jesus, suffering, dying, rising.
We are Baptized into Jesus, we are to suffer, die, and rise…
My Suffering: Wounds in the Sacred Heart of Jesus – When did I suffer, die, rise?
* As a child – sexual & physical abuse; being made fun of; called names; rejected; did I relate my suffering to Jesus’ suffering?
* As a teenager – bullying; rejection; divorce of parents; did I realize that the depth of my suffering could be united to the wounds of Jesus?
* Throughout my life, what were – and are – my little and big crosses? Have I united them to Jesus’ wounded Heart?
Good Friday: The Passion, Death, and Burial of Jesus
* You are invited to reflect on Jesus and your own experiences of suffering during these days of rejection, abandonment, condemnation, torture, death, and burial.
* When were you lied about? falsely accused? rejected? scorned? abandoned?
* Who was your Peter? Judas?
The friend who deserted you? The person who ruined your reputation?
* Who was your Simon? Veronica? Mary? John?
Suffering and death are not the final answer…
* The Christian life is one of JOY…always ends in happiness…in GLORY.
* Mary took Jesus down from the Cross…held Him in her arms… prepared Him for burial…laid Him in the tomb…went home with John – John 19: 38-42
Holy Saturday with Mary
Spend Saturday with Mary…be with her…talk to her… listen to her
Forgiveness Litany
The Lord spoke very clearly when He said: “And so, when you stand in prayer, forgive whatever you have against anybody so that your Father in Heaven may forgive you your failings, too”. Mark 11: 25
Lord Jesus, I ask that You give me the grace to forgive any person who has hurt me at any time in my life. I ask, too, that I may be forgiven those persons whom I have hurt.
Significant areas of forgiveness may include:
God, I forgive YOU for:
Lord, I forgive MYSELF for:
Lord, I truly forgive my MOTHER for:
Jesus, I forgive my FATHER for:
Lord, I extend my forgiveness to my BROTHERS and SISTERS for:
Lord, I forgive my RELATIVES for:
Jesus, I forgive my HUSBAND/WIFE for:
Jesus, I forgive the PEOPLE with whom I work for:
Jesus, I forgive my BOSS for:
Lord, I forgive those of DIFFERENT RELIGIOUS BELIEFS for:
Lord, I forgive those who have harmed me ETHNICALLY or RACIALLY for:
Jesus, I pray especially the grace to forgive the ONE PERSON who has HURT ME the MOST:
Lord, I beg pardon of all those persons whom I HAVE HURT most deeply:
Thank You, Jesus, that I am being freed of the evil of unforgiveness.
May Your Holy Spirit fill me with light and let every dark area of my mind be enlightened.
Msgr. John A. Esseff is a Roman Catholic priest in the Diocese of Scranton. He served as a retreat director and confessor to St. Teresa of Calcutta. He continues to offer direction and retreats for the sisters of the missionaries of charity. He has lived in areas around the world, -
PoC-44 Holy Thursday: The Power of the Cross Lenten Meditation
Taking Up Our Cross. . .In Imitation of Christ
Steps to Take as You Follow Christ
Ask—Am I willing to do small things for Christ?
Seek—Volunteer to do a task that no one wants to do, a menial or unpleasant one, all the while uniting yourself with the Passion and death of Jesus.
Knock—Meditate on Philippians 2:5–8.
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.
Paul says that we should have the mind of Christ, and Jesus told Peter that he was thinking like men and not God. How is having the mind of Christ different than the thoughts that we are apt to naturally have about life issues? Do your thoughts clash with the gospel message? Are you trying to be like the god you imagine, or the God Jesus revealed by his cross?
Transform Your Life——Seek to follow the example of Christ in all that you do. Be solicitous for the care of others. Learn the truth that in dying to self you are born into eternal life.
The author of The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ in Your Life, Michael Dubriuel, passed away in 2009. His wife, author Amy Welborn, has made his book available as a free e-book! We HIGHLY encourage you to download this exceptional work.
The Power of the Cross is now available as a free e-book,
check out more information by going here
Check out more at the Discerning Hearts’ Michael Dubruiel page
Excerpt from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE, copyright (c) 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd. and Doubleday, a division of Penguin Random House, Inc. Reprinted by Permission. -
Holy Thursday – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast
Holy Thursday – 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 heard deep within in your heart…
From the Holy Gospel of St. John 13:1-15
It was before the festival of the Passover, and Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to pass from this world to the Father. He had always loved those who were his in the world, but now he showed how perfect his love was.
They were at supper, and the devil had already put it into the mind of Judas Iscariot son of Simon, to betray him. Jesus knew that the Father had put everything into his hands, and that he had come from God and was returning to God, and he got up from table, removed his outer garment and, taking a towel, wrapped it round his waist; he then poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel he was wearing. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’ Jesus answered, ‘At the moment you do not know what I am doing, but later you will understand.’ ‘Never!’ said Peter ‘You shall never wash my feet.’ Jesus replied, ‘If I do not wash you, you can have nothing in common with me.’ ‘Then, Lord,’ said Simon Peter ‘not only my feet, but my hands and my head as well!’ Jesus said, ‘No one who has taken a bath needs washing, he is clean all over. You too are clean, though not all of you are.’ He knew who was going to betray him, that was why he said, ‘though not all of you are.’
When he had washed their feet and put on his clothes again he went back to the table. ‘Do you understand’ he said ‘what I have done to you? You call me Master and Lord, and rightly; so I am. If I, then, the Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you should wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example so that you may copy what I have done to you.’
What word made this passage come alive for you?
What did you sense the Lord saying to you?
Once more give the Lord an opportunity to speak to you:
It was before the festival of the Passover, and Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to pass from this world to the Father. He had always loved those who were his in the world, but now he showed how perfect his love was.
They were at supper, and the devil had already put it into the mind of Judas Iscariot son of Simon, to betray him. Jesus knew that the Father had put everything into his hands, and that he had come from God and was returning to God, and he got up from table, removed his outer garment and, taking a towel, wrapped it round his waist; he then poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel he was wearing. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’ Jesus answered, ‘At the moment you do not know what I am doing, but later you will understand.’ ‘Never!’ said Peter ‘You shall never wash my feet.’ Jesus replied, ‘If I do not wash you, you can have nothing in common with me.’ ‘Then, Lord,’ said Simon Peter ‘not only my feet, but my hands and my head as well!’ Jesus said, ‘No one who has taken a bath needs washing, he is clean all over. You too are clean, though not all of you are.’ He knew who was going to betray him, that was why he said, ‘though not all of you are.’
When he had washed their feet and put on his clothes again he went back to the table. ‘Do you understand’ he said ‘what I have done to you? You call me Master and Lord, and rightly; so I am. If I, then, the Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you should wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example so that you may copy what I have done to you.’