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

Day 9 – Opening to the Supreme Joy: Friendship with Jesus

“[The heart of the human person] finds itself in great distress without a close union with God, because only the fullness of being, of intelligence and of love, the infinite Unity and ineffable Trinity of God, can fill and satisfy its immense capacity.”

“The Church sings the solemn chant: Nobis datus, nobis natus–For us he has been given, for us he is born! Who would ever doubt this truth after so many testimonies? Jesus Christ is all for us. His Father gave him to us. He gave himself to us. There is no other acquisition better than this gift. He is therefore mine. Yes, he is mine and belongs to me. Oh Love! Oh Goodness! What is necessary on my part to gain this gift, greater than any gift, that contains in itself every other gift? Three things are necessary: faith, confidence and offering.”

“They are always in Jesus’ company; they are always conversing with Jesus. They strive to keep their memory gently fixed on Jesus, to accustom their intellect to always see and judge everything according to Jesus, to keep their will always tranquil and united to that of Jesus.”

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 become a living copy of Jesus, letting him rejoice in me.

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.

The post A Novena in Honor of Ven. Bruno Lanteri Day 9 – Mp3 audio and Text appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

A teaching from St. Dominic:

“A man who governs his passions is master of the world. We must either rule them, or be ruled by them. It is better to be the hammer than the anvil.”

St. Dominic practiced a disciplined lifestyle, emphasizing the importance of self-control and temperance. He believed that mastering one’s passions is key to achieving true freedom and spiritual growth. This aligns with the Catholic virtue of temperance, which helps individuals regulate their desires and actions in harmony with God’s will.

“A man who governs his passions is master of the world. We must either rule them, or be ruled by them. It is better to be the hammer than the anvil.”

What steps can you take to better manage your passions and desires?

“A man who governs his passions is master of the world. We must either rule them, or be ruled by them. It is better to be the hammer than the anvil.”

The Dominican Blessing, from an anonymous 13th-century English Dominican, captures St. Dominic’s timeless call for blessings, healing, and divine guidance.

May God the Father, who made us, bless us.

May God the Son, who redeemed us, send healing into our midst.

May God the Holy Spirit, who gives us life, move within us.

May God give us eyes to see to God, ears to hear God, and hands to bring God’s work into the world.

May we walk with God and preach the word of God to all.

May the angel of peace watch over us and lead us at last by God’s grace to the eternal Kingdom.

Amen

The post Day 6 – A St. Dominic Novena for the Discerning Heart – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

From the writings of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross

The soul of woman must therefore be expansive and open to all human beings; it must be quiet so that no small weak flame will be extinguished by stormy winds; warm so as not to benumb fragile buds; clear so that no vermin will settle in dark corners and recesses; self-contained, so that no invasions from without can imperil the inner life; empty of itself, in order that extraneous life may have room in it; finally, mistress of itself and also of its body, so that the entire person is readily at the disposal of every call.*

Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross uses vivid imagery to describe the ideal qualities of a woman’s soul. She emphasizes openness, nurturing warmth, clarity, and self-discipline as essential characteristics that enable women to care for others while maintaining their own integrity and strength. This vision encourages women to develop these traits actively. Edith Stein often wrote about the importance of balancing contemplation and action, advocating for a deeply integrated spiritual life.

The soul of woman must therefore be expansive and open to all human beings; it must be quiet so that no small weak flame will be extinguished by stormy winds; warm so as not to benumb fragile buds; clear so that no vermin will settle in dark corners and recesses; self-contained, so that no invasions from without can imperil the inner life; empty of itself, in order that extraneous life may have room in it; finally, mistress of itself and also of its body, so that the entire person is readily at the disposal of every call.*

In what ways can you cultivate a soul that is open, nurturing, and self-disciplined, ready to serve others?”

O my God, fill my soul with holy joy, courage and strength to serve You. Enkindle Your love in me and then walk with me along the next stretch of road before me. I do not see very far ahead, but when I have arrived where the horizon now closes down, a new prospect will open before me and I shall meet with peace

The post Day 5 – St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) Novena for the Discerning Heart – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

The Ninth Rule:

There are three principal reasons why we find ourselves desolate.

The first is, because of our being tepid, lazy or negligent in our spiritual exercises; and so through our faults, spiritual consolation withdraws from us.

The second, to try us and see how much we are and how much we let ourselves out in His service and praise without such great pay of consolation and great graces.

The third, to give us true acquaintance and knowledge, that we may interiorly feel that it is not ours to get or keep great devotion, intense love, tears, or any other spiritual consolation, but that all is the gift and grace of God our Lord, and that we may not build a nest in a thing not ours, raising our intellect into some pride or vainglory, attributing to us devotion or the other things of the spiritual consolation.

Episode Eleven of The Discernment of Spirits: Setting the Captives Free focuses on Rule Nine, where St. Ignatius addresses one of the most important questions in the spiritual life. If God loves us and we love God, why does He allow spiritual desolation? Fr. Timothy Gallagher, in conversation with Kris McGregor, explains why this rule completes and deepens the earlier teachings on desolation.

Fr. Gallagher begins by naming the problem directly. A person is sincere. Prayer has been faithful. Growth has been real. Then suddenly, consolation disappears. Prayer becomes difficult. God feels distant. Without Rule Nine, the spiritual life would be left with an unanswered wound. Ignatius does not avoid the question. He gives reasons.

Ignatius teaches that there are three principal causes for spiritual desolation. The first is straightforward. At times, desolation comes because of negligence or sloth in spiritual practices. Something has slipped. Prayer has been shortened. Attention has wandered. Desolation acts as a wake-up call. It alerts the heart so that healthy adjustments can be made and communion with God restored.

Fr. Gallagher offers a concrete example. A person begins daily prayer with Scripture and grows steadily. Life then becomes chaotic. Illness. Work pressures. Fatigue. Prayer is set aside for understandable reasons. When life settles again, prayer is not resumed. Over time, the sense of God’s closeness fades. Desolation reveals what has been lost and invites renewal.

Ignatius himself reflects on this in his spiritual diary. He recognizes that consolation withdrew when his attentiveness to God slipped. He concludes that it was better not to be consoled for his faults. God, who loves him more than he loves himself, permitted desolation for his greater good.

The second reason Ignatius gives is trial. God allows desolation to test the heart. The trial reveals how much a person seeks God apart from spiritual rewards. Growth occurs here. Something is learned that could not be learned otherwise. Fr. Gallagher notes that many people look back on periods of spiritual darkness and later recognize how much they grew through them.

To illustrate this, Fr. Gallagher recalls earlier examples and everyday spiritual life. Discernment is not lived only in peak moments or major decisions. It is lived while driving home, sitting at a kitchen table, or facing discouragement at the end of an ordinary day. This is where Ignatius’s wisdom meets real life.

Fr. Gallagher then turns to the words of St. Francis of Assisi. A brother approaches Francis during a time of temptation and heaviness. Francis responds with astonishing tenderness. He tells the brother that the more he is tempted, the more he is loved. Temptation overcome, Francis says, is like a ring by which the Lord espouses the soul to Himself. Trial becomes intimacy.

The third reason Ignatius gives is humility. Spiritual consolation is not something we produce. It is pure gift. Desolation teaches this truth in the flesh. When consolation is absent, the heart learns that devotion, tears, and love are not possessions. They belong to God. This protects the soul from subtle pride and roots it in humility.

Fr. Gallagher draws on the spiritual journal of St Peter Faber. Faber describes repeated experiences of discouragement followed closely by God’s remedy. Each trial became a stimulus to deeper growth. Desolation never left him lukewarm. It called him forward.

The episode concludes with a personal reflection from Fr. Gallagher. Looking back on a painful season of darkness, he recognizes that it compelled him to grow, study, and take new steps that shaped his entire vocation. What felt destructive at the time became formative in hindsight.

Episode Eleven presents Rule Nine as a rule of deep reassurance. Spiritual desolation is never meaningless. God may allow it to correct, to strengthen, or to humble. In every case, God acts out of love. The God who allows desolation is the God who loves us more than we love ourselves.

How do you usually interpret spiritual heaviness when it appears?

Have you ever noticed desolation revealing an area of neglect in your spiritual life?

Can you recall growth that came through a time of trial or darkness?

How does knowing that consolation is a pure gift change your perspective?

Which of the three reasons for desolation speaks most to your current experience?

Why is Rule Nine essential to understanding spiritual desolation?

How does Ignatius prevent us from assuming desolation always means failure?

What role does trial play in spiritual maturity?

How do the stories of St. Francis and Blessed Peter Faber illuminate this rule?

How can this teaching help parish leaders accompany others through discouragement?

 The 14 Rules for Discerning Spirits –

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

The post The Ninth Rule – Discernment of Spirits w/ Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Day 1

From a letter to St. Agnes of Prague

Place your mind in the mirror of eternity;

Dear St. Clare,

As a young girl you imitated your mother’s love for the poor of your native Assisi.

Inspired by the preaching of St. Francis, who sang enthusiastically of His Lord Jesus and Lady Poverty, you gave your life to Jesus at nineteen years of age, allowing St. Francis to cut off your beautiful hair and invest you with the Franciscan habit.

All through your life you offered your great suffering for your Sisters, the Poor Clares, and the conversion of souls. You greatly aided St. Francis with his new order, carrying on his spirit in the Franciscans after his death.

Most of all you had a deep love of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament, which fueled your vocation to love and care for the poor.

Please pray for me (mention your request) that I will seek to keep Jesus as my first love, as you did. Help me to grow in love of the Blessed Sacrament, to care for the poor, and to offer my whole life to God.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of St. Clare. Through her intercession, please hear and answer my prayer, in the name of Jesus Your Son.

Amen.

For the complete novena visit the St. Clare Novena Discerning Hearts Page

The post St. Clare of Assisi Novena – Day 1 – Discerning Hearts podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

From the writings of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross

To suffer and to be happy although suffering, to have one’s feet on the earth, to walk on the dirty and rough paths of this earth and yet to be enthroned with Christ at the Father’s right hand, to laugh and cry with the children of this world and to sing praises with the angels—this is the life of the Christian until the morning of eternity breaks forth.*

Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross reflects on the paradoxical nature of Christian life, where joy and suffering coexist. She emphasizes the need to embrace both aspects, finding joy not in the absence of suffering but in the presence of faith and hope. Edith Stein’s experiences during the tumultuous times of World War II, including her martyrdom at Auschwitz, reflect her profound acceptance of suffering and unwavering faith in God’s plan.

To suffer and to be happy although suffering, to have one’s feet on the earth, to walk on the dirty and rough paths of this earth and yet to be enthroned with Christ at the Father’s right hand, to laugh and cry with the children of this world and to sing praises with the angels—this is the life of the Christian until the morning of eternity breaks forth.*

How can you find joy and maintain faith amidst the trials and sufferings of life?

O my God, fill my soul with holy joy, courage and strength to serve You. Enkindle Your love in me and then walk with me along the next stretch of road before me. I do not see very far ahead, but when I have arrived where the horizon now closes down, a new prospect will open before me and I shall meet with peace

The post Day 4 – St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) Novena for the Discerning Heart – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

A teaching from St. Dominic:

“Arm yourself with prayer rather than a sword; wear humility rather than fine clothes.”

St. Dominic, renowned for his humility and dedication to a simple life, advised using spiritual tools over physical ones. He promoted prayer and humility as true defenses in life. This reflection invites us to consider what we rely on for protection and strength—encouraging a shift from external symbols of power to internal virtues.

“Arm yourself with prayer rather than a sword; wear humility rather than fine clothes.”

How can you cultivate humility and spiritual discipline in your life? 

“Arm yourself with prayer rather than a sword; wear humility rather than fine clothes.”

The Dominican Blessing, from an anonymous 13th-century English Dominican, captures St. Dominic’s timeless call for blessings, healing, and divine guidance.

May God the Father, who made us, bless us.

May God the Son, who redeemed us, send healing into our midst.

May God the Holy Spirit, who gives us life, move within us.

May God give us eyes to see to God, ears to hear God, and hands to bring God’s work into the world.

May we walk with God and preach the word of God to all.

May the angel of peace watch over us and lead us at last by God’s grace to the eternal Kingdom.

Amen

The post Day 5 – A St. Dominic Novena for the Discerning Heart – 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. Matthew 14:22-36

Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he would send the crowds away. After sending the crowds away he went up into the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, while the boat, by now far out on the lake, was battling with a heavy sea, for there was a head-wind. In the fourth watch of the night he went towards them, walking on the lake, and when the disciples saw him walking on the lake they were terrified. ‘It is a ghost’ they said, and cried out in fear. But at once Jesus called out to them, saying, ‘Courage! It is I! Do not be afraid.’ It was Peter who answered. ‘Lord,’ he said ‘if it is you, tell me to come to you across the water.’ ‘Come’ said Jesus. Then Peter got out of the boat and started walking towards Jesus across the water, but as soon as he felt the force of the wind, he took fright and began to sink. ‘Lord! Save me!’ he cried. Jesus put out his hand at once and held him. ‘Man of little faith,’ he said ‘why did you doubt?’ And as they got into the boat the wind dropped. The men in the boat bowed down before him and said, ‘Truly, you are the Son of God.’

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 made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he would send the crowds away. After sending the crowds away he went up into the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, while the boat, by now far out on the lake, was battling with a heavy sea, for there was a head-wind. In the fourth watch of the night he went towards them, walking on the lake, and when the disciples saw him walking on the lake they were terrified. ‘It is a ghost’ they said, and cried out in fear. But at once Jesus called out to them, saying, ‘Courage! It is I! Do not be afraid.’ It was Peter who answered. ‘Lord,’ he said ‘if it is you, tell me to come to you across the water.’ ‘Come’ said Jesus. Then Peter got out of the boat and started walking towards Jesus across the water, but as soon as he felt the force of the wind, he took fright and began to sink. ‘Lord! Save me!’ he cried. Jesus put out his hand at once and held him. ‘Man of little faith,’ he said ‘why did you doubt?’ And as they got into the boat the wind dropped. The men in the boat bowed down before him and said, ‘Truly, you are the Son of God.’

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 made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he would send the crowds away. After sending the crowds away he went up into the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, while the boat, by now far out on the lake, was battling with a heavy sea, for there was a head-wind. In the fourth watch of the night he went towards them, walking on the lake, and when the disciples saw him walking on the lake they were terrified. ‘It is a ghost’ they said, and cried out in fear. But at once Jesus called out to them, saying, ‘Courage! It is I! Do not be afraid.’ It was Peter who answered. ‘Lord,’ he said ‘if it is you, tell me to come to you across the water.’ ‘Come’ said Jesus. Then Peter got out of the boat and started walking towards Jesus across the water, but as soon as he felt the force of the wind, he took fright and began to sink. ‘Lord! Save me!’ he cried. Jesus put out his hand at once and held him. ‘Man of little faith,’ he said ‘why did you doubt?’ And as they got into the boat the wind dropped. The men in the boat bowed down before him and said, ‘Truly, you are the Son of God.’

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 Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

In this reflection, Msgr. John Esseff explores the Sacred Heart through the lens of the contemplative life, asking why so many people fail to recognize God’s immense love. He explains that God continually calls every person into a deeper relationship with Him, yet the noise of self-centeredness often prevents us from hearing His voice. The contemplative, whether living in a monastery or in the ordinary circumstances of daily life, becomes a living bridge between heaven and earth by listening to God and responding with love.

Drawing from the witness of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Ignatius of Loyola, and above all the Blessed Virgin Mary, Msgr. Esseff describes contemplation as a gift of the Holy Spirit rather than simply the study of theology. True prayer begins by recognizing God’s presence within, where the Holy Trinity already dwells through baptism. As the soul turns inward in humility and attentive listening, it discovers that every grace, every act of love, and every response to God flows from Christ living within.

The reflection concludes with a call to recover contemplation as the foundation of Christian life and evangelization. Msgr. Esseff teaches that the world’s deepest need is not more activity but more souls who truly know God through prayer. Only those transformed by the love of the Sacred Heart can become authentic witnesses, bringing Christ’s light to a world longing for hope, mercy, and communion with the Father.

Msgr. John A. Esseff is a Roman Catholic priest in the Diocese of Scranton. He was ordained on May 30, 1953, by the late Bishop William J. Hafey, D.D. at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Scranton, PA. Msgr. Esseff served 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 St. Pope John Paul II to bring the Good News to the world, especially to the poor. Msgr. Esseff assisted the founders of the Institute for Priestly Formation and serves as a spiritual director for the Institute. He continues to serve as a retreat leader and director to bishops, priests and sisters and seminarians and other religious leaders around the world.

The post SH10 – The Sacred Heart and the Contemplative Life – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

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

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.

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 love my life, and to approach my duties with a joyful spirit.

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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