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Fr. Timothy Gallagher recounts St. Thérèse of Lisieux’s compassionate outreach to Sister Maria of St. Joseph, a troubled nun often avoided by her community due to severe mood swings and emotional instability. Instead of joining in the avoidance, Thérèse intentionally sought her out, offering to assist in the linen room and patiently enduring her anger, all as a way of living her “casting flowers” spirituality—small acts of love and sacrifice offered to Jesus, who transforms them into blessings for the whole Church. While her words to the sister may sound poetic, Fr. Gallagher explains that beneath the tender imagery lies a steely, deliberate charity rooted in perseverance, humility, and the conviction that every small offering—especially in difficult relationships—has immense spiritual value when united to Christ.

Fr. Gallagher also reflects on Thérèse’s own explanation of “casting flowers” from Story of a Soul: never letting a single opportunity for love pass by, whether in smiles, patient endurance, or unnoticed sacrifices, and trusting Jesus to use them for the good of souls in purgatory and the Church on earth. The episode concludes with letters from Thérèse’s sister Léonie, showing how the Little Way shaped her own life. By the time of her final profession and even five weeks before her death, Léonie radiated the same trust, gratitude, and spiritual confidence, fully convinced that her littleness would lead her straight into the arms of Jesus.

Fr. Gallagher obtained his doctorate in 1983 from Gregorian University. He has taught (St. John’s Seminary, Brighton, MA; Our Lady of Grace Seminary Residence, Boston, MA), assisted in formation work for twelve years, and served two terms as provincial in his own community. He has dedicated many years to an extensive ministry of retreats, spiritual direction, and teaching about the spiritual life. Fr. Gallagher is the author of six books (Crossroad) on the spiritual teaching of St. Ignatius of Loyola.

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Fr. Timothy Gallagher reflects on the pivotal transformation in Léonie Martin’s life, one of St. Thérèse’s sisters. He recounts the painful history between Léonie and the family maid, Louise, who secretly mistreated her for years under the guise of discipline. Despite outward appearances of affection, Marie, Léonie’s older sister, discerned something amiss. After the death of their aunt, Marie bravely revealed her concerns to their mother, Zélie, who took immediate action, forbidding Louise from interacting with Léonie and arranging her eventual dismissal. This intervention opened Léonie’s heart for the first time to true maternal love and marked the beginning of her interior healing. Though her path remained marked by trials, including repeated failed attempts to enter religious life, this moment was a decisive turning point.

The second half of the talk centers on the deep spiritual bond between Thérèse and her aunt, Celine, who had stepped in as a maternal figure after Zélie’s death. Fr. Gallagher reads a letter from Thérèse to her aunt on her feast day, expressing profound gratitude and love, and a moving response from Celine. Through these letters, listeners glimpse the loving sensitivity of Thérèse’s heart and the Martin family’s ethos of grace, forgiveness, and deep familial affection. Fr. Gallagher beautifully illustrates how love—especially when rooted in Christ—has the power to heal, restore, and elevate even the most wounded of hearts.

Fr. Gallagher obtained his doctorate in 1983 from Gregorian University. He has taught (St. John’s Seminary, Brighton, MA; Our Lady of Grace Seminary Residence, Boston, MA), assisted in formation work for twelve years, and served two terms as provincial in his own community. He has dedicated many years to an extensive ministry of retreats, spiritual direction, and teaching about the spiritual life. Fr. Gallagher is the author of six books (Crossroad) on the spiritual teaching of St. Ignatius of Loyola.

The post HIDT7- Conference 7 – Hope in Difficult Times with Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

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A Novena in honor of Ven. Bruno Lanteri, founder of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary

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 persistent unhappiness, by contrast, one dishonors God, slights God by one’s deeds and manifests that he thinks poorly of God. …If it is such a horrible thing to demean one’s neighbor, what then will it be to demean God? A sad servant dishonors his master, but a joyful and content servant honors him. For that reason we want to give to others a great idea of God our Father in order to give Him the glory that is His due. We want to serve Him with joy and delight, and not with sadness and against our will. We esteem, we appreciate, we magnify His gifts. We pray by hoping in Him, and we glorify Him again, as a God absolutely good, merciful, generous, and faithful. Let those be sad who serve tyrants, such as the world, the flesh, and the devil.

”Speak about God with all, however, in a way that is worthy of Him. It is in accordance with the counsel of the Holy Spirit: Think of God in a spirit of goodness (Wisdom 1:1).”

Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, you created me in your plan of love. You created all the things on the face of the earth to help me find true happiness. Fully aware of my weakness, I resolve this day to think of you as you really are: merciful, compassionate, loving, and determined to bring me happiness.

Daily Novena Prayer 

Venerable Bruno Lanteri, I come to you confident in the words of Jesus: Ask and you shall receive (Matthew 7:7). You said, “It is impossible to hope too much; the one who hopes for everything attains everything.” You taught that the greatest miracles are those that change the heart. Through your intercession, may the good God, whose infinite mercy surpasses all the malice of the world, console my heart and grant my request.

By your prayers keep my poor heart in peace, protect me from discouragement, and help me to serve God with a holy joy. Amen.

O Father, fountain of all life and holiness you gave Father Bruno Lanteri great faith in Christ, your Son, a lively hope, and an active love for the salvation of his brethren. You made him a prophet of your Word and a witness to your Mercy. He had a tender love for Mary and by his very life he taught fidelity to the Church. Father, hear the prayer of your family and, through the intercession of Fr. Lanteri, grant us the grace for which we now ask…. May he be glorified on earth that we may give you greater praise.

We ask this through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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Fr. Timothy Gallagher explores the profound faith, resilience, and sacrificial love embodied by St. Zélie Martin, the mother of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. Through excerpts from her letters, Fr. Gallagher illustrates St. Zélie’s trials in marriage, business, motherhood, and terminal illness. Her writings reveal a woman deeply devoted to her family, tirelessly caring for her children and employees despite her own suffering. Her honesty, humor, sense of duty, and unwavering trust in God are evident as she navigates economic hardship, family illnesses, and her growing awareness of her cancer. Even as her health declines, her concern remains for the well-being and formation of her children, especially Leonie whose personal struggles weighed heavily on her heart.

Fr. Gallagher highlights the mutual self-giving between St. Zélie and her husband St. Louis, who repeatedly sacrificed personal comfort and business pursuits for the good of his wife and daughters. He also takes a look at Zélie’s final months, her peaceful death, and the enduring spiritual legacy she and Louis left for their daughters—especially Thérèse. Fr. Gallagher ties their lived holiness to the “little way” Thérèse would later articulate, and encourages the audience to reflect on how ordinary acts done with love and fidelity can shape lives and sanctify families.

Fr. Gallagher obtained his doctorate in 1983 from Gregorian University. He has taught (St. John’s Seminary, Brighton, MA; Our Lady of Grace Seminary Residence, Boston, MA), assisted in formation work for twelve years, and served two terms as provincial in his own community. He has dedicated many years to an extensive ministry of retreats, spiritual direction, and teaching about the spiritual life. Fr. Gallagher is the author of six books (Crossroad) on the spiritual teaching of St. Ignatius of Loyola.

The post HIDT6- Conference 6 – Hope in Difficult Times with Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

In this fourth conference, Fr. Timothy Gallagher takes a look into a series of letters written by St. Zélie Martin, mother of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, highlighting the family’s profound trust in God amid suffering. Zélie writes about the devastating fire that destroyed her brother’s business and the severe illnesses afflicting her children, particularly Thérèse and Marie. Despite personal and familial hardships—including her own deteriorating health—Zélie constantly reorients her heart toward heaven, finding solace in the hope of eternal reunion. Fr. Gallagher reflects on her unwavering maternal love, especially as she navigates the painful separation from her baby Thérèse, who had bonded more closely with her wet nurse. These struggles are met with deep faith and surrender to divine providence.

Fr. Gallagher also recounts the intense trials faced in raising Léonie. Fr. Gallagher shares how Zélie and her sister Elise (a Visitation nun) tried repeatedly, and at great emotional cost, to find the right formation for Léonie. Elise eventually discovers that gentleness, rather than correction, brings forth a transformation in Léonie’s heart. And Zélie’s letters to her husband Louis reveal their deep marital love and unity.

Fr. Gallagher obtained his doctorate in 1983 from Gregorian University. He has taught (St. John’s Seminary, Brighton, MA; Our Lady of Grace Seminary Residence, Boston, MA), assisted in formation work for twelve years, and served two terms as provincial in his own community. He has dedicated many years to an extensive ministry of retreats, spiritual direction, and teaching about the spiritual life. Fr. Gallagher is the author of six books (Crossroad) on the spiritual teaching of St. Ignatius of Loyola.

The post HIDT4- Conference 4 – Hope in Difficult Times with Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Fr. Timothy Gallagher and Kris McGregor explore the trials endured by the Martin family, especially through the personal letters of Zélie Martin during the years leading up to and during the Franco-Prussian War. Zélie’s heartbreaking experiences include the loss of multiple children, financial hardship, and the terror of war as German soldiers occupy their home. Through it all, her steadfast faith, maternal devotion, and courage are deeply apparent—especially when she seeks a wet nurse for baby Thérèse in a desperate effort to save her life. The emotional intensity of Zélie’s writings reveals not only the weight of her suffering but also the serenity and surrender she maintained in trusting God’s providence.

He also touches on the spiritual roots of Thérèse’s profound longing for maternal presence, as her early life was marked by repeated separations and grief. Thérèse’s deep inner world and spiritual sensitivity emerged from these early losses. The Martin family’s view of earthly life as a temporary exile, their hope for eternal reunion, and their readiness to suffer for one another and for God are key themes that emerge; painting a vivid portrait of a household marked by grace in suffering, grounded in prayer and shaped by sacrificial love.

Fr. Gallagher obtained his doctorate in 1983 from Gregorian University. He has taught (St. John’s Seminary, Brighton, MA; Our Lady of Grace Seminary Residence, Boston, MA), assisted in formation work for twelve years, and served two terms as provincial in his own community. He has dedicated many years to an extensive ministry of retreats, spiritual direction, and teaching about the spiritual life. Fr. Gallagher is the author of six books (Crossroad) on the spiritual teaching of St. Ignatius of Loyola.

The post HIDT3- Conference 3 – Hope in Difficult Times with Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

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Fr. Timothy Gallagher continues a reflection on the life and letters of Zélie Martin, mother of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, and her deeply personal letters to her brother during the years when she was raising her growing family amid intense physical, emotional, and spiritual trials. Fr. Gallagher narrates Zélie’s account of caring for her elderly, dying father-in-law while managing her lace business and family, enduring migraine headaches, and responding to the illnesses and deaths of her infant sons. Her expressions of maternal love, grief, and faith illustrate how suffering and joy coexisted in her vocation. Her happiness was most often found in the presence and well-being of her children, and her love for them gave her strength even in sorrow.

Through her words, we witness a heart formed by trust in God’s will, even while enduring anguish, such as the loss of two sons to illness and the death of her own father. Fr. Gallagher draws parallels between Zélie and Thérèse, particularly in their tendency to quietly bear suffering without burdening others. He notes the strength of their spiritual lives, anchored in prayer and a quiet surrender to divine providence. The episode closes with reflections on how Zélie’s ordinary home life and deep familial love became the context for sanctity, reminding us that holiness is accessible in the everyday trials of family life.

Fr. Gallagher obtained his doctorate in 1983 from Gregorian University. He has taught (St. John’s Seminary, Brighton, MA; Our Lady of Grace Seminary Residence, Boston, MA), assisted in formation work for twelve years, and served two terms as provincial in his own community. He has dedicated many years to an extensive ministry of retreats, spiritual direction, and teaching about the spiritual life. Fr. Gallagher is the author of six books (Crossroad) on the spiritual teaching of St. Ignatius of Loyola.

The post HIDT2- Conference 2 – Hope in Difficult Times with Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

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In this first conference of Hope in Difficult Times with St. Thérèse and Her Family, Fr. Timothy Gallagher introduces the deeply faith-filled and resilient lives of St. Thérèse’s parents, Saints Louis and Zélie Martin. Setting the historical and geographical stage of 19th-century Normandy, he describes how the Martins’ lives were shaped by a deep devotion to God, personal suffering, and commitment to family. Zélie, a talented and industrious lace maker, built a successful business to ensure her daughters’ futures, while Louis, a devout man of prayer, set aside his dream of monastic life to raise a family steeped in spiritual depth. Through the reading of their letters, especially Zélie’s correspondence with her younger brother Isidore, we see the Martins’ daily struggles, joys, and their unwavering reliance on divine providence, prayer, and the sacraments.

Zélie’s letters offer a vivid portrait of her tender care for her children, her affectionate marriage, and the suffering she endured, including health challenges and anxiety over her children’s well-being. Her words reveal a woman grounded in practical love and maternal concern, writing late at night after long days to remain connected with family. Louis’ one surviving letter to Zélie expresses his affection and concern for her health with heartfelt sincerity. Like many parents, Zélie and Louis had challenges in raising their children, particularly young Léonie’s serious illness and baby Hélène being sent to a wet nurse due to Zélie’s declining health—early signs of the breast cancer that would eventually take her life. These stories serve as a powerful witness of grace at work in ordinary family life.

Fr. Gallagher obtained his doctorate in 1983 from Gregorian University. He has taught (St. John’s Seminary, Brighton, MA; Our Lady of Grace Seminary Residence, Boston, MA), assisted in formation work for twelve years, and served two terms as provincial in his own community. He has dedicated many years to an extensive ministry of retreats, spiritual direction, and teaching about the spiritual life. Fr. Gallagher is the author of six books (Crossroad) on the spiritual teaching of St. Ignatius of Loyola.

The post HIDT1- Conference 1 – Hope in Difficult Times with Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Fr. Timothy Gallagher takes a look at the final years of Marie of the Eucharist, cousin of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. As Marie suffered from tuberculosis, she experienced physical decline but also a deepening spiritual life. Through correspondence with her friend Céline Poitier, Marie gradually became a source of spiritual support, drawing from the wisdom of Thérèse and her own painful journey. One poignant letter uses a musical metaphor to comfort Céline, comparing her imperfect endurance of suffering to a child’s flawed but heartfelt piano recital—offered with love and accepted with tenderness. Marie encouraged Céline to see God as a loving parent, quick to console, forgive, and embrace. Her spiritual growth is seen in her patient endurance and her consistent effort to reassure others, despite her weakening condition.

Fr. Gallagher reflects on Marie’s long struggle with scruples, her sensitive nature, artistic gifts, and modesty; her transformation—from someone burdened with inner turmoil to a woman of serene faith and self-giving love. Thérèse’s personal influence helped Marie find freedom from self-focus, allowing her to live a quiet version of the “little way”—loving God through the hidden, everyday trials of illness and community life. Her final days were marked by peace, surrender, and affection for those around her. In her dying words—“My Jesus, I love you”—Marie reveals a heart wholly turned toward God.

For more episodes in this series visit here:

Fr. Timothy Gallagher reflects upon the enduring legacy of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, exploring how her life and spirituality were deeply influenced by her family and how it offers profound insights into everyday holiness. He examines the role of family and spiritual friendships in nurturing faith, the importance of compassionate care for others, and how Thérèse’s example can inspire listeners to seek sanctity in their daily lives. He also brings forth more details of the spiritual bond between the Martin and Guérin families, offering a model for fostering deeper connections within one’s own family and community.

Father Timothy M. Gallagher, O.M.V., was ordained in 1979 as a member of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary, a religious community dedicated to retreats and spiritual formation according to the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius.  Fr. Gallagher is featured on the EWTN series “Living the Discerning Life:  The Spiritual Teachings of St. Ignatius of Loyola.” For more information on how to obtain copies of Fr. Gallaghers’s various books and audio, which are available for purchase, please visit  his  website:   frtimothygallagher.org

The post TM13 – The Death of Marie and Reflections – St. Therese and Marie: The Story of Two Cousins with Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Fr. Timothy Gallagher and Kris McGregor discuss the final moments of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, drawing from the detailed account written by her sister Pauline, also known as Mother Agnes of Jesus. As Thérèse approached death at the age of 24, she endured immense physical suffering from tuberculosis, compounded by deep spiritual desolation. Despite this, she remained centered on love and trust in God, uttering her final words, “My God, I love you,” while gazing at her crucifix. Her last moments were marked by a profound surrender to God’s will, even in the face of excruciating pain. The sisters in her Carmelite community observed a radiant transformation in her countenance after death, interpreting it as a sign of her immediate entry into eternal joy.

Fr. Gallagher also touches on the impact of Thérèse’s passing on her cousin Marie and other family members. Marie, who struggled with scrupulosity, experienced a deepening of her spiritual life, reflecting the grace Thérèse had promised to shower upon souls from heaven. Shortly after, Marie’s mother, Céline, also passed away, reinforcing the family’s growing sense of heavenly intercession. Their letters reveal a profound love for family, which did not diminish in the cloister but grew stronger through their sanctity

For more episodes in this series visit here:

Fr. Timothy Gallagher reflects upon the enduring legacy of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, exploring how her life and spirituality were deeply influenced by her family and how it offers profound insights into everyday holiness. He examines the role of family and spiritual friendships in nurturing faith, the importance of compassionate care for others, and how Thérèse’s example can inspire listeners to seek sanctity in their daily lives. He also brings forth more details of the spiritual bond between the Martin and Guérin families, offering a model for fostering deeper connections within one’s own family and community.

Father Timothy M. Gallagher, O.M.V., was ordained in 1979 as a member of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary, a religious community dedicated to retreats and spiritual formation according to the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius.  Fr. Gallagher is featured on the EWTN series “Living the Discerning Life:  The Spiritual Teachings of St. Ignatius of Loyola.” For more information on how to obtain copies of Fr. Gallaghers’s various books and audio, which are available for purchase, please visit  his  website:   frtimothygallagher.org

The post TM12 – The Death of St. Thérèse – St. Therese and Marie: The Story of Two Cousins with Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.