The Discerning Hearts Blog Archives - Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

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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 According to Luke 16:19-31

Jesus said to the Pharisees: ‘There was a rich man who used to dress in purple and fine linen and feast magnificently every day. And at his gate there lay a poor man called Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to fill himself with the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even came and licked his sores. Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried.

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:

Jesus said to the Pharisees: ‘There was a rich man who used to dress in purple and fine linen and feast magnificently every day. And at his gate there lay a poor man called Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to fill himself with the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even came and licked his sores. Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried.

What did your heart feel as you listened?

What did you sense the Lord saying to you?

Once more, through Him, with Him and in Him listen to the Word:

Jesus said to the Pharisees: ‘There was a rich man who used to dress in purple and fine linen and feast magnificently every day. And at his gate there lay a poor man called Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to fill himself with the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even came and licked his sores. Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried.

What touched your heart in this time of prayer?

What did your heart feel as you prayed?

What do you hope to carry with you from this time with the Lord?

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us,

and lead us not into temptation,

 but deliver us from evil.

Amen

The post Sunday of the Twenty-Sixth Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Scripture Reading:

A discerning heart does not rush through life without pause. It learns to stop, to remember, and to reflect. Prayerful reflection is the space where we allow God to show us how He has been present — in the blessings and also in the challenges.

The psalmist tells us that God knows us completely. Nothing escapes His gaze. When we take time to reflect, we begin to see our lives as He sees them. We recognize moments of grace that might have passed unnoticed. We also see where we turned away, where sin or selfishness clouded our choices.

Prayerful reflection helps us grow in gratitude, humility, and clarity. It is not simply an exercise in memory, but an encounter with God’s living presence in our daily story.

Saint’s Teaching:

The Benedictines also practiced this rhythm of reflection in the Divine Office, pausing throughout the day to pray the Psalms. Their lives show us that reflection is not a luxury, but an essential rhythm of Christian life.

Guided Application Questions:

Closing Prayer:

Amen.

© Discerning Hearts. All rights reserved.

The post Prayerful Reflection – The Seven Attitudes of a Discerning Heart w/Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Scripture Reading:

We all desire freedom, yet the world often confuses freedom with license — the idea that we can do whatever we please. But true freedom is not about indulging every whim. True freedom is the capacity to choose the good, to choose what leads us closer to God.

In the discerning heart, interior freedom means that our hearts are not held captive by fear, resentment, possessions, or even by our own plans. When we are bound by these things, our vision becomes clouded, and it becomes harder to recognize God’s voice. But when we allow His grace to loosen our grip, we discover a freedom that brings peace.

This freedom does not come by our own strength. It is God’s grace that gently but firmly encourages us to let go. Sometimes that grip has been tight for a long time. Yet God does not demand all at once — He invites, He waits, He strengthens. Interior freedom grows as we place our trust in His love and take one step at a time.

Saint’s Teaching:

St. Ignatius of Loyola later echoed this wisdom, speaking of “holy indifference” — not in the sense of apathy, but of being so free in heart that we desire only what God desires. And St. Francis of Assisi lived this truth with his whole being, finding joy in poverty because his heart was utterly free for God.

These saints show us that freedom is not about escape. It is about belonging — fully and joyfully — to God.

Guided Application Questions:

Closing Prayer:

Amen.

© Discerning Hearts. All rights reserved.

The post Interior Freedom – The Seven Attitudes of a Discerning Heart w/Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Scripture Reading:

The disciples were in the boat when a storm rose against them. Waves crashed, the wind howled, and their hearts were filled with fear. In that moment, they saw Jesus walking on the water, but instead of comfort, their terror deepened — they thought they were seeing a ghost.

Into their fear, Jesus spoke words that cut through the chaos: “Take heart, it is I; have no fear.” With those words, He not only calmed the storm, but He gave His disciples courage.

Courage is not the absence of fear. Even saints felt trembling in the face of difficulty. Courage means moving forward in trust, even while fear is still present. It is choosing to fix our eyes on Christ rather than on the storm.

In the discerning heart, courage means letting go of our demand for certainty. We may not know how everything will unfold. The road ahead may be hidden. Yet if Christ is calling, courage moves us to step forward. Each act of trust, no matter how small, strengthens us to follow Him more faithfully.

Saint’s Teaching:

She encouraged her sisters with words that still speak to us today: “Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you. All things are passing; God never changes.”

Her courage was not loud or dramatic. It was rooted in the quiet conviction that God is faithful, that His presence is stronger than fear, and that He never abandons His children.

Guided Application Questions:

Closing Prayer:

Amen.

© Discerning Hearts. All rights reserved.

The post Courage – The Seven Attitudes of a Discerning Heart w/Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Fr. Anthony Wieck and Kris McGregor explores St. Ignatius of Loyola’s rules for discerning spirits, which are seen as one of the saint’s greatest gifts to the Church. Fr. Wieck explains that thoughts can arise from three sources: ourselves, God and the good angels, or the evil one and his forces. The rules help us recognize these origins, allowing us to receive inspirations that lead toward God and reject those that draw us away. In the first stages of the spiritual life, Ignatius notes that the evil spirit encourages people to remain in sin by appealing to comfort, vanity, and pride, while the Holy Spirit unsettles the conscience to draw the soul back. As one grows in virtue, this dynamic reverses—the Holy Spirit consoles and strengthens, while the evil spirit creates obstacles, discouragement, and confusion.

Consolation brings inner joy, a deepening of faith, hope, and charity, and a greater desire for God. Desolation, on the other hand, feels heavy and dry, with temptations toward sadness, doubt, or giving up. St. Ignatius teaches not to make changes during desolation, but rather to resist by continuing prayer, even adding to it, and by remembering hopeful truths. God allows desolation for three reasons: to show us when we have strayed, to strengthen spiritual “muscles” through resistance, and to remind us that consolation is pure gift, not something earned. Both states, when lived faithfully, draw us deeper into freedom and love of God, helping us persevere in the daily choice to follow Christ.

Fr. Anthony Wieck is a Jesuit priest of the Central & Southern province. Sixth of nine children, raised on a farm in Oregon, Fr. Anthony began religious life in 1994, spending his first five years of formation in Rome, Italy, studying at the Casa Balthasar and the Gregorian. The former was under the watchful patronage of Pope Benedict XVI (then-Card. Joseph Ratzinger).  Fr. Anthony currently acts as retreat master at White House Jesuit Retreat in St. Louis, Missouri. He also offers spiritual direction at the St. Louis diocesan seminary for 25 future priests there. 

The post HSE9 – The Reasons for Spiritual Desolation – The Heart of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola with Fr. Anthony Wieck S.J. – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Scripture Reading:

At the Annunciation, the angel Gabriel brings Mary a message she could never have imagined. She is told she will conceive and bear the Son of God. Her whole life will change in a moment.

Mary’s response is simple yet profound: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” She does not ask for guarantees. She does not negotiate terms. She simply offers herself, completely and without reserve, into the hands of God.

This is the heart of generosity: a willingness to give ourselves to God’s plan, even when we do not fully understand it. True generosity is not only about giving possessions or time, but about offering our very selves. It means holding nothing back, trusting that God’s will, though sometimes mysterious, is always rooted in love.

In the discerning heart, generosity frees us. When we cling to control or keep parts of our lives closed off from God, we carry burdens He never meant for us to carry. But when we give ourselves wholly to Him, we discover a freedom and joy that only surrender can bring.

Saint’s Teaching:

Francis did not simply give things away; he gave himself away. His life became a continual yes to God, echoing the fiat of Mary. In him, we see that generosity is not loss — it is the discovery of life in abundance.

Guided Application Questions:

Closing Prayer:

Amen.

© Discerning Hearts. All rights reserved.

The post Generosity – The Seven Attitudes of a Discerning Heart w/Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Scripture Reading:

When Samuel first heard God’s voice, he did not recognize it.

That short prayer shows us the heart of openness.

Openness does not mean coming to prayer empty of cares.

To be open is to make space for God to act in ways we could not have planned.

Saint’s Teaching:

The “ear of the heart” listens differently from the ear of the body.

In the discerning heart, openness means cultivating this kind of listening.

Guided Application Questions:

Closing Prayer:

Amen

© Discerning Hearts. All rights reserved.

The post Openness – The Seven Attitudes of a Discerning Heart w/Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Fr. Timothy Gallagher and Kris McGregor explore the relationship between dryness in prayer and spiritual desolation through the lens of St. Ignatius and early Jesuit writings. While Ignatius’ Rule 4 doesn’t list dryness explicitly, later directories—some influenced by his notes—do connect dryness with desolation, describing it as the absence of consolation, warmth, or clarity. Different forms of dryness are discussed: lack of instruction in prayer, neglect of regular practices, or inconsistency between prayer and life. In these cases, the response is practical—learning to pray, renewing commitment, or aligning life with prayer. Importantly, not every dryness signals failure; some arises from natural life changes or circumstances that shift how prayer can be lived out.

The conversation also highlights real-life examples: new parents unable to attend daily Mass, elderly or ill individuals whose energy for formal prayer diminishes, or active servants of the Church suddenly facing aridity. In each case, the counsel is to pray in ways that are possible within current circumstances, without guilt or self-condemnation. True prayer may take humble forms—silent trust, brief moments of recollection, or even offering suffering as prayer. Gallagher points to St. Francis de Sales and St. Thérèse of Lisieux as guides, noting that the smallest acts of love united with God can bear immense fruit for the Church. The enemy exploits discouragement, but Ignatian wisdom helps recognize such lies and persevere with hope.

From  Setting the Captives Free: Personal Reflections on Ignatian Discernment of Spirits:

“A first form of dryness may result simply from lack of formation in prayer. Persons of good will desire to pray and make sincere attempts to do so. Because these persons, how- ever, have never received formation in prayer, they flounder, unsure of how to proceed: their prayer is dry. The need here is exposure to classic and effective forms of prayer: lectio div- ina, Ignatian meditation or imaginative contemplation, the Liturgy of the Hours, and so forth. Once these persons learn how to pray, the floundering will cease, and this form of dry- ness will be overcome.21

Dryness may also arise from negligence in the life of prayer or from an inconsistency between a person’s prayer and life. If such persons weaken in fidelity to prayer, no longer dedi- cate consistent time to it, or no longer prepare in the way they find helpful, dryness may result. Likewise, behavior contrary to the Gospel may also cause prayer to feel dry: the dishar- mony between prayer and life will render prayer more dif- ficult—more dry.22

Yet another experience of “dryness” may result from solid growth in prayer. A point may arrive when God now calls such persons to a more simplified form of prayer. The ear- lier, more active and discursive methods no longer assist as before, while the new and simpler way of praying is not yet firmly established. This is a healthy “dryness” and a sign of growth. Competent spiritual direction will greatly assist such persons to negotiate this blessed passage in prayer.”

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 SD6 – Dealing with Dryness in Prayer – Spiritual Desolation: Be Aware, Understand, Take Action with Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

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 According to St. Luke 8:16-18

Jesus said to the crowds:

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:

Jesus said to the crowds:

What did your heart feel as you listened?

What did you sense the Lord saying to you?

Once more, through Him, with Him and in Him listen to the Word:

Jesus said to the crowds:

What touched your heart in this time of prayer?

What did your heart feel as you prayed?

What do you hope to carry with you from this time with the Lord?

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us,

and lead us not into temptation,

 but deliver us from evil.

Amen

The post Monday of the Twenty-Fifth Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Msgr. John Esseff reflects on Scripture readings that highlight the fleeting nature of earthly life and the danger of allowing greed to govern choices. Drawing from St. Paul, he explains that God calls everyone to salvation and to live in prayer, thanksgiving, and peace. Through personal stories of his family’s many moves, he illustrates how every home and possession is temporary, reminding listeners that nothing in this world truly belongs to us. He warns against dishonesty, corruption, and the pursuit of wealth at the expense of justice, echoing the words of the prophet Amos about exploiting the poor.

Turning to the Gospel parable of the dishonest steward, Msgr. Esseff stresses that all gifts, talents, and resources are entrusted by God and meant to be used according to His will. True discernment involves asking God how to direct one’s education, career, and vocation, rather than relying on personal ambition or financial security. From youth considering future paths to pastors leading parishes, everyone must consult God in their decisions. The heart of the teaching is clear: no one can serve both God and money. Only by entrusting everything back to God—the master of all—can one find lasting peace and purpose.

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 around the world. Msgr. Esseff encountered St. Padre Pio, who would become a spiritual father to him. He has lived in areas around the world, serving in the Pontifical missions, a Catholic organization established by Pope St. John Paul II to bring the Good News to the world especially to the poor.  He continues to serve as a retreat leader and director to bishops, priests and sisters and seminarians, and other religious leaders.

The post The Danger of Serving Mammon – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.