The Discerning Hearts Blog Archives - 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 John 20:1-2,11-18

It was very early on the first day of the week and still dark, when Mary of Magdala came to the tomb. She saw that the stone had been moved away from the tomb and came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved. ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb’ she said ‘and we don’t know where they have put him.’

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 very early on the first day of the week and still dark, when Mary of Magdala came to the tomb. She saw that the stone had been moved away from the tomb and came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved. ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb’ she said ‘and we don’t know where they have put him.’

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:

It was very early on the first day of the week and still dark, when Mary of Magdala came to the tomb. She saw that the stone had been moved away from the tomb and came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved. ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb’ she said ‘and we don’t know where they have put him.’

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 Feast of St. Mary Magdalene – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Day 1

From the writings of St. Ignatius of Loyola:

The moment you decided to use all your strength in praising, honoring, and serving God our Lord, that was the moment you entered battle with the world, raised your standards against it, and made yourself ready to reject all that is exalted by embracing all that is lowly. At the same time you resolved to accept with indifference positions high or low, honor or dishonor, riches or poverty, to be loved or hated, to be appreciated or scorned—in short, the world’s glory or the injuries it could inflict upon you

If we desire to live in honor and to be esteemed by our neighbors, then we shall never be solidly rooted in God our Lord, and it will be impossible for us to remain undisturbed when insults come our way

Our Father….

With St. Ignatius we pray:

Soul of Christ, sanctify me.

St. Ignatius of Loyola, pray for us

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

Join Sr. Joseph Andrew Bogdanowicz and Kris McGregor as they discuss the founding and charism of the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist.  We discuss:

Our world is constantly changing and each generation faces new challenges of faith and identity. In this increasingly post-Christian, radically secular culture, the vocation of a consecrated religious might appear outdated or, perhaps, wasteful. Even within the Church, the vocation of a Bride of Christ is a mystery to many who have never encountered it. But who is a religious Sister? She is one who hears our Lord’s call to “Come, follow me!” and answers with the resounding confidence of Mary’s Fiat! She is exactly what our world needs: a light in the darkness, a soul dedicated completely to loving and serving God and her neighbor.

In this new volume, And Mary’s Yes Continues Afresh, the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist present a treasure-trove of education and inspiration for young women, parents, priests, and educators alike. You’ll learn what religious life is all about; hear the inspiring vocation stories of women from all walks of life and many different nationalities; and discover—perhaps for the first time—the incredible gift of the consecrated life. You might even hear the Lord’s call in your own heart. Ultimately, you will come away with a deeper understanding and appreciation of the life-giving vocation of religious Sisters, and their role in our world today.

The Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, were canonically established in 1997 in response to Pope St. John Paul II’s call for a New Evangelization. We seek to share God’s message of faith and the joy of religious life with the modern world through various outreaches including education, vocations, and culture.

Beginning with four foundresses, their community has now grown to over 150 Sisters with an average age of 32. Their Motherhouse is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Their website can be found at sistersofmary.org

The post Ep 1 – The Gift of Self – And Mary’s ‘Yes’ Continues Afresh with Sr. Joseph Andrew Bogdanowicz – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

In this final episode of Magnificent Humanity for the Discerning Heart, we reflect on Pope Leo XIV’s invitation to consider what kind of world we are building. In the conclusion of Magnifica Humanitas, the Holy Father returns to Saint Paul’s instruction: “Let each builder choose with care how to build.” In an age of artificial intelligence, digital power, rapid change, and deep human vulnerability, every choice, word, habit, relationship, and use of technology becomes part of what we are building.

Pope Leo XIV brings the whole journey back to the mystery of the Incarnation. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Because Christ entered our humanity, no human person can be treated as disposable, forgotten, or reduced to a function. The child, the elderly, the sick, the poor, the worker, the victim, the lonely, the wounded, and the silenced all belong within the concern of Christ.

This reflection also considers the Eucharistic spirituality needed for our time. The Amen we speak at Mass should shape our daily life, teaching us to recognize the Body of Christ in those around us and to build communion where division would be easier. With Mary, the Woman of the Magnificat, we are invited to become weavers of hope, sharing who we are and what we have, so that the presence of Jesus may grow among us and His Kingdom may take shape.

Selection from Magnifica Humanitas

Pope Leo XIV, Magnifica Humanitas, Conclusion, nos. 229, 231, 234-235 and 245:

“‘Let each builder choose with care how to build’ (1 Cor 3:10). With these words, Saint Paul encouraged the Christians of Corinth to preserve unity. Dear brothers and sisters, we have reflected on the world we are building, and we asked ourselves what it means to safeguard the human person in the era of artificial intelligence.”

“At the heart of everything is the mystery of the Incarnation, the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us.”

“The spirituality that we need is a Eucharistic spirituality, that is, a spirituality of ecclesial unity in love… The ‘Amen’ that we say in the liturgy, the Body we eat and the Blood we drink shape our entire lives.”

“With the same faith as Mary, let us become ‘weavers of hope’ in our world, sharing who we are and what we have, so that the presence of Jesus may grow among us and his Kingdom take shape.”

1 Corinthians 3:10, RSV–Catholic Edition

Copyright © 2026 Kris McGregor. All rights reserved. No portion of this content may be reproduced, distributed, published, or transmitted in any form, including audio, print, or digital media, without prior written permission from Discerning Hearts®.

The post MH30 – Weavers of Hope – Magnificent Humanity for the Discerning Heart – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on 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 Matthew 12:46-50

Jesus was speaking to the crowds when his mother and his brothers appeared; they were standing outside and were anxious to have a word with him. But to the man who told him this Jesus replied, ‘Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?’ And stretching out his hand towards his disciples he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother.

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 was speaking to the crowds when his mother and his brothers appeared; they were standing outside and were anxious to have a word with him. But to the man who told him this Jesus replied, ‘Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?’ And stretching out his hand towards his disciples he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother.

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 was speaking to the crowds when his mother and his brothers appeared; they were standing outside and were anxious to have a word with him. But to the man who told him this Jesus replied, ‘Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?’ And stretching out his hand towards his disciples he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother.

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

Episode 9 -The Seventh Rule:

Let him who is in desolation consider how the Lord has left him in trial in his natural powers, in order to resist the different agitations and temptations of the enemy; since he can with the Divine help, which always remains to him, though he does not clearly perceive it: because the Lord has taken from him his great fervor, great love and intense grace, leaving him, however, grace enough for eternal salvation.

Episode Nine of The Discernment of Spirits: Setting the Captives Free focuses on Rule Seven, which teaches how to endure spiritual desolation with trust, courage, and faith. Fr. Timothy Gallagher, in conversation with Kris McGregor, explains why this rule transforms desolation from a meaningless burden into a moment of spiritual growth.

Fr. Gallagher begins by describing a familiar experience. Prayer feels dry. Energy for spiritual things is low. Commitments that once brought joy now feel heavy. Without understanding, these moments seem pointless and exhausting. Rule Seven changes everything by revealing the meaning of desolation within God’s loving providence.

Ignatius invites the person in desolation to consider. This is a conscious act. The desolation is a trial permitted by God. It is not random. It is not abandonment. When the heart understands this, the burden becomes lighter. Suffering gains meaning. Endurance becomes possible.

To illuminate this truth, Fr. Gallagher turns to the life of Blessed Angela of Foligno. During a prolonged period of desolation, Angela felt abandoned by God. She could not pray. She could not praise God. Yet beneath the desolation, something remained untouched. Her firm resolve never to consent to sin endured. Grace was at work on a level deeper than feeling.

Fr. Gallagher explains that this is the heart of Rule Seven. In desolation, spiritual consolation may be taken away. Fervor may fade. Warmth may disappear. Yet God never withdraws the grace needed for salvation. Divine help always remains, even when it cannot be felt.

Ignatius teaches that desolation is permitted so the person may learn to resist it. Resistance strengthens the soul. Each time discouragement is resisted, spiritual capacity grows. Over time, the heart becomes rooted. Stability develops. A quiet strength forms that nothing can easily shake.

Fr. Gallagher shares personal experiences of encountering deeply peaceful and grounded individuals. These are often people who have passed through many trials. Their serenity is not accidental. It is the fruit of resisting desolation again and again with God’s help.

A recurring lie of desolation is the voice that says, “I can’t.” I can’t pray. I can’t persevere. I can’t continue. Rule Seven exposes this lie. Even when consolation is absent, sufficient grace remains. The heart can continue. Fidelity is possible. Love can still be chosen.

The episode also clarifies an important distinction. On the non-spiritual level, exhaustion or emotional strain may truly require rest. On the spiritual level, desolation never removes the grace needed to remain faithful. Recognizing this difference restores courage and confidence.

This presents Rule Seven as a powerful source of hope. Desolation is never empty time. God is always at work. Grace is always present. When these truths are recalled in the moment of trial, trust grows. The heart is strengthened. Captives are set free.

Have you experienced times when prayer felt dry or burdensome?

How do you usually interpret spiritual heaviness when it arises?

Can you recall moments when you continued faithfully despite feeling empty?

What helps you remember that God’s grace remains even when it is not felt?

How does Rule Seven change your understanding of perseverance?

Why does Ignatius ask the person in desolation to consider specific truths?

How does the story of Blessed Angela help clarify Rule Seven?

What does it mean to say that desolation is a trial permitted by God?

How does resisting desolation strengthen the spiritual life over time?

How can this rule help parish leaders support others in 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 Seventh Rule – Discernment of Spirits w/ Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

In this episode of Magnificent Humanity for the Discerning Heart, we reflect on Pope Leo XIV’s call to look at war, violence, and division from the perspective of those who suffer. The Holy Father reminds us that, to remain human, we must not allow victims to disappear behind arguments, statistics, policies, or headlines.

This reflection considers how peace begins when we recover the face, the story, and the dignity of the wounded person. Pope Leo XIV invites us to draw near to those who suffer, listen to their stories, and acknowledge their wounds. This is not sentimentality. It is a Christian way of seeing, rooted in the example of Christ, who never treats suffering as an abstraction.

Through the light of Matthew 5:9, this episode invites us to become peacemakers in the wounded places of the world, and in the smaller histories of our homes, parishes, friendships, and ministries. A discerning heart resists indifference, cynicism, and fear. It receives the peace of the risen Christ, listens with patience, seeks justice with humility, and allows dialogue to become a path toward healing.

Selection from Magnifica Humanitas

Pope Leo XIV, Magnifica Humanitas, Chapter Five, no. 218, 218, and 220:

“There are times when, in order to remain human, we must set aside our reservations and take a stand… Pope Francis encouraged us to ‘touch the wounded flesh’ of those who suffer, look at their faces, listen to their stories and acknowledge their wounds.”

“We are in need of a healthy realism that avoids both political idealism and cynicism… Authentic realism does not give up on changing the world.”

“Dialogue is an ordinary part of human life and does not only concern relations between States. It involves acquiring an attitude that seeks to forge bonds of fraternity built on listening, an open demeanor, making time for each other and even wasting time together.”

Matthew 5:9, RSV–Catholic Edition

Copyright © 2026 Kris McGregor. All rights reserved. No portion of this content may be reproduced, distributed, published, or transmitted in any form, including audio, print, or digital media, without prior written permission from Discerning Hearts®.

The post MH29 – The Faces That Call Us to Peace – Magnificent Humanity for the Discerning Heart – Discerning Hearts Podcasts 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 Matthew 12:38-42

Some of the scribes and Pharisees spoke up. ‘Master,’ they said ‘we should like to see a sign from you.’ He replied, ‘It is an evil and unfaithful generation that asks for a sign! The only sign it will be given is the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was in the belly of the sea-monster for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. On Judgement day the men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation and condemn it, because when Jonah preached they repented; and there is something greater than Jonah here. On Judgement day the Queen of the South will rise up with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here.’

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:

Some of the scribes and Pharisees spoke up. ‘Master,’ they said ‘we should like to see a sign from you.’ He replied, ‘It is an evil and unfaithful generation that asks for a sign! The only sign it will be given is the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was in the belly of the sea-monster for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. On Judgement day the men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation and condemn it, because when Jonah preached they repented; and there is something greater than Jonah here. On Judgement day the Queen of the South will rise up with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here.’

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:

Some of the scribes and Pharisees spoke up. ‘Master,’ they said ‘we should like to see a sign from you.’ He replied, ‘It is an evil and unfaithful generation that asks for a sign! The only sign it will be given is the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was in the belly of the sea-monster for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. On Judgement day the men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation and condemn it, because when Jonah preached they repented; and there is something greater than Jonah here. On Judgement day the Queen of the South will rise up with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here.’

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

Msgr. John Esseff on Discerning Hearts addresses the spiritual battle between good and evil, emphasizing the role of Satan, the enemy of humanity. He discusses the inherent sinfulness in every person, the temptation that Satan uses to lure souls away from God, and the ongoing conflict within every human heart between the kingdom of light (Jesus) and the kingdom of darkness (Satan).

Msgr. Esseff explains that Satan’s primary tactic is temptation, which aims to lead people away from God’s kingdom and towards self-centeredness. He highlights the significance of the prayer “lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one” in the Lord’s Prayer, as it directly addresses this spiritual battle. He further explores the origin of Satan’s hatred towards humanity, tracing it back to his refusal to serve and his subsequent fall from grace.

The preciousness of each soul to God and the lengths to which God goes to save it include sending Jesus to conquer sin, Satan, and death through his crucifixion and resurrection. The importance of recognizing and combating the subtle influences of Satan in modern society, such as through pornography and media manipulation, which gradually lead individuals away from spiritual truth.

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 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 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, seminarians, and other religious leaders around the world.

The post SH8 – The Sacred Heart and Spiritual Warfare – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

In this episode of Magnificent Humanity for the Discerning Heart, we reflect on Pope Leo XIV’s call to disarm our words. The Holy Father reminds us that no one is without responsibility. Each of us has an area of action, whether in the home, the workplace, the parish, the digital world, or the next sentence we choose to speak.

This reflection considers how words can either fuel the mentality of force or preserve the mindset of peace. A sarcastic comment, a rumor, a careless label, or a harsh post can wound another person and weaken communion. A truthful word spoken with charity, a gentle correction, an apology, or a refusal to repeat gossip can help protect dignity and become a small foundation for peace.

Through the light of Ephesians 4:29, this episode invites us to let our speech become a channel of grace. A discerning heart asks whether its words serve truth, justice, peace, and the dignity of the person. The civilization of love begins close to home, in the way we look at others, listen to others, speak about others, and choose whether our words will build up or tear down.

Selection from Magnifica Humanitas

Pope Leo XIV, Magnifica Humanitas, Chapter Five, no. 212-215:

“Yet, no one is without responsibility. We all have our own areas for action, and it is precisely there — and nowhere else — that we must choose whether to fuel the mentality of force (even if only through indifference, cynicism, lies or hatred), or to preserve the mindset of peace (with truth, moderation, closeness and care).”

“The first contribution we can make toward a more humane civilization is to be mindful of our words. ‘Let us disarm words and we will help to disarm the world.’”

“All of us, at every level, can contribute to building the foundation of peace, which is justice… Let us never grow weary of seeking justice!”

Ephesians 4:29, RSV–Catholic Edition

Copyright © 2026 Kris McGregor. All rights reserved. No portion of this content may be reproduced, distributed, published, or transmitted in any form, including audio, print, or digital media, without prior written permission from Discerning Hearts®.

The post MH28 – Disarming Words – Magnificent Humanity for the Discerning Heart – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.