He Leadeth Me

In our last episode in the "Discerning God's Will" series, Fr. Kevin Dyer and Jess discuss the final stages of discernment. Fr. Kevin and Jess discuss:

• How do you know if your discernment is complete?
• The dangers of rushing a decision and delaying a decision and becoming a "perpetual discerner"
• What if I'm wrong in my discernment?
• The way signs can confirm God's will
• The importance of following through with the decision you have discerned

Fr. Kevin Dyer, S.J., is a priest in the Society of Jesus and serves FOCUS as Senior National Chaplain. Fr. Dyer completed studies at St. Louis University and Boston College and was ordained in 2010. In 2019, he became a part-time FOCUS National Chaplain, and in 2022 he stepped into the role of Senior National Chaplain. Fr. Dyer resides in Denver, Colorado.

In this episode, Fr. Kevin Dyer is back to explain the 3 Modes of Discerning God's Will according to St. Ignatius of Loyola. Fr. Kevin and Jess discuss:

• The first mode of discernment, when God makes His will perfectly clear beyond all doubt
• The second mode, when God attracts a person's heart to His will by means of consolation and desolation
• The third mode, when a person uses his or her reasoning faculties to make a decision.

Fr. Kevin also shares

• The mode of discernment that he thinks is the rarest
• His advice to people who want to make a step away from their current situation but don't yet feel God's call to something else
• His advice on how to pray through the different modes of discernment

Fr. Kevin Dyer, S.J., is a priest in the Society of Jesus and serves FOCUS as Senior National Chaplain. Fr. Dyer completed studies at St. Louis University and Boston College and was ordained in 2010. In 2019, he became a part-time FOCUS National Chaplain, and in 2022 he stepped into the role of Senior National Chaplain. Fr. Dyer resides in Denver, Colorado.

In this episode, Fr. Kevin Dyer joins Jessica to talk about the first steps in discerning God will. Fr. Kevin and Jess discuss:

• The importance of keeping the purpose of your life in mind as you begin to discern God's will for a specific choice
• How God speaks through consolation and desolation
• Mindsets that should be avoided in the discernment process

This episode is the first in a 3 part series on discerning God's will.

Fr. Kevin Dyer, S.J., is a priest in the Society of Jesus and serves FOCUS as Senior National Chaplain. Fr. Dyer completed studies at St. Louis University and Boston College and was ordained in 2010. In 2019, he became a part-time FOCUS National Chaplain, and in 2022 he stepped into the role of Senior National Chaplain. Fr. Dyer resides in Denver, Colorado.

In this episode, Jess sits down with FOCUS Senior National Chaplain Fr. Kevin Dyer to talk about Ignatian retreats and their power to transform a person's spiritual life. Jess and Fr. Kevin discuss:

• What is an Ignatian retreat and how is it different than other retreats?
• Why St. Ignatius of Loyola named his retreat the Spiritual Exercises
• The role of silence on Ignatian retreats
• How to prepare before making an Ignatian retreat

Fr. Kevin Dyer, S.J., is a priest in the Society of Jesus and serves FOCUS as Senior National Chaplain. Fr. Dyer completed studies at Saint Louis University and Boston College and was ordained in 2010. In 2019, he became a part-time FOCUS National Chaplain, and in 2022 he stepped into the role of Senior National Chaplain. Fr. Dyer resides in Denver, Colorado.

St. Jose Maria Escriva once said, "The rosary is a powerful weapon. Use it with confidence and you will be amazed at the results." In this episode, Jess and Fr. James Brent talk about the power of the holy rosary as a weapon in spiritual warfare.

Fr. James recommends praying the rosary for anyone who believes they are experiencing spiritual warfare. He also recommends the practice of praying all the mysteries of the rosary daily. You can find a YouTube video about this practice here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dfyk53nrDzc&t=509s

Fr. James Brent, O.P., is a priest in the St. Joseph Province Dominican Friars. He is a professor at the Dominican House of Studies and a popular retreat master and preacher.

You can listen to Fr. Brent's homilies on his soundcloud site at: https://soundcloud.com/james-dominic-brent-o-p

In this episode, Jess sits down with Fr. Mark McCormick to hear his riveting testimony. 

Fr. Mark started out as a devout young priest, but after years in ministry he gradually stopped praying and reached a low point in his relationship with the Lord. Listen to the inspiring story of how the Blessed Mother intervened in Fr. Mark's life to renew his relationship with Jesus and save his priesthood!

Fr. Mark McCormick serves the Diocese of Rapid City, South Dakota, as Director of Vocations and Chaplain at the Newman Center of South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and St. Thomas More Middle and High School. Fr. Mark participates in several prayer groups, fostering to live a life of generous hospitality, a lively faith and a dedicated discipleship, modeling the "yes" of the Blessed Mother Mary and seeking to respond to the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Each year on June 13th and December 12th, FOCUS renews its Consecration to Mary. In this episode, Jessica sits down with Curtis Martin, Founder and CEO of FOCUS, to talk about the transforming power of Marian Consecration.

Jessica and Curtis discuss:

• The history of the Marian Consecration in FOCUS
• Why FOCUS renews its consecration on the feast of Our Lady of Fatima on June 13th and the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12th
• The life-changing power of making a Marian Consecration

Curtis is the Founder and CEO of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students. He is the author of the best-selling book "Made for More" and co-author of "The Real Story: Understanding the Big Picture of the Bible" with Dr. Edward Sri. Curtis and his wife, Michaelann, were awarded the Benemerenti Medal by Pope St. John Paul II for their outstanding service to the Church. Curtis and Michaelann live in Colorado. They are blessed with nine children and six grandchildren.

How can we be better disposed to receive Holy Communion?

Fr. James Brent returns to talk about the dispositions we need to have to receive Holy Communion more fruitfully. These dispositions include:

• Being free from grave sin
• Fasting before receiving Holy Communion
• Faith
• Humility
• Confidence
• Love and desire

Fr. James also gives advice for those who receive Holy Communion frequently and struggle with the Sacrament feeling routine.

Fr. James Brent, O.P. is a priest in the St. Joseph Province Dominican Friars. He is a professor at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington D.C. and a popular retreat master and preacher. You can listen to Fr. Brent's homilies on his soundcloud site: https://soundcloud.com/james-dominic-brent-o-p

What does Christ do in your soul when you receive Holy Communion? 

In this episode, Fr. James Brent explains the powerful effects of Holy Communion by walking line by line through St. Basil the Great's Prayer After Receiving Holy Communion. Fr. James notes that the effects of Holy Communion include:

• Healing
• Purification
• Enlightenment
• Protection
• Sanctification
• Expulsion of evil
• And more!

Fr. James Brent, O.P., is a priest in the St. Joseph Province Dominican Friars. He is a professor at the Dominican House of Studies and a popular retreat master and preacher.

You can listen to Fr. Brent’s homilies at his soundcloud site:
https://soundcloud.com/james-dominic-brent-o-p

In this episode, Fr. James Brent joins Jessica to talk about the Sacrifice of the Mass. Jess and Fr. James discuss:

• How Christ has entered into the Eternal Sanctuary of Heaven and offers Himself to the Father by showing the Father His glorified wounds
• Fr. James explains that the essence of sacrifice is to say, "I'm Yours." 
• Fr. James encourages lay people "play their PART" in the Sacrifice of the Mass by offering God:

1. Petition
2. Adoration
3. Reparation
4. Thanksgiving

Fr. James Brent, O.P., is a priest in the St. Joseph Province Dominican Friars. He is a professor at the Dominican House of Studies and a popular retreat master and preacher. 

You can listen to Fr. Brent's homilies at his soundcloud site: https://soundcloud.com/james-dominic-brent-o-p