Episode 15 – The Thirteenth Rule:

Likewise, he acts as a licentious lover in wanting to be secret and not revealed. For, as the licentious man who, speaking for an evil purpose, solicits a daughter of a good father or a wife of a good husband, wants his words and persuasions to be secret, and the contrary displeases him much, when the daughter reveals to her father or the wife to her husband his licentious words and depraved intention, because he easily gathers that he will not be able to succeed with the undertaking begun: in the same way, when the enemy of human nature brings his wiles and persuasions to the just soul, he wants and desires that they be received and kept in secret; but when one reveals them to his good Confessor or to another spiritual person that knows his deceits and evil ends, it is very grievous to him, because he gathers, from his manifest deceits being discovered, that he will not be able to succeed with his wickedness begun..

Episode Fifteen of The Discernment of Spirits: Setting the Captives Free focuses on Rule Thirteen, which reveals one of the enemy’s most effective tactics. The enemy seeks secrecy. Freedom comes through bringing spiritual burdens into the light. Fr. Timothy Gallagher, in conversation with Kris McGregor, explains why this rule is among the most important and grace-filled in the entire set of rules.

Ignatius begins Rule Thirteen with a vivid metaphor. The enemy acts like a false lover who seeks secrecy in order to succeed. As long as his words remain hidden, his influence continues. The moment they are revealed to the proper authority, his power collapses. Ignatius applies this image directly to the spiritual life. When troubling thoughts, temptations, doubts, or discouragements are kept secret, they grow stronger. When they are spoken openly to a wise spiritual person, they lose their grip.

Fr. Gallagher explains that this rule touches very deep places in the heart. Many people carry a spiritual burden for years. Sometimes for decades. It may be a past event. It may be a recurring temptation. It may be a painful doubt that quietly resurfaces whenever God’s love is spoken of. These burdens often remain powerful for one reason. They have never been put into words.

Drawing from years of pastoral experience, Fr. Gallagher describes the grace that unfolds when a person finally speaks. He recalls parish missions where people, feeling safe for the first time, shared spiritual burdens they had carried silently for most of their lives. Again and again, he witnessed the same result. When the burden was spoken, freedom followed. Captives were set free.

Ignatius gives clear guidance about to whom one should speak. The first is one’s good confessor. By “good,” Ignatius does not mean simply kind or holy. He means a confessor who understands the enemy’s deceits and malicious designs. This knowledge allows the confessor to recognize what is happening and guide the soul toward freedom.

The second option Ignatius gives is another competent spiritual person. This person may be in any state of life. The key is wisdom. This is someone who understands the spiritual life and the enemy’s tactics. Speaking to the wrong person can increase confusion. Speaking to the right person brings clarity and peace.

Fr. Gallagher then offers one of the most moving illustrations of Rule Thirteen from the life of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus. On the evening before her final vows, after years of absolute clarity about her vocation, Thérèse was suddenly overwhelmed by doubt. The darkness was intense. Her vocation appeared to her as an illusion. She believed she had been mistaken all along.

The temptation included a powerful lie. If she spoke about this doubt, everything she hoped for would collapse. Silence seemed safer. Yet Thérèse chose the opposite. With great courage, she asked to speak with her novice mistress and revealed everything. The result was immediate. As soon as she finished speaking, the doubt vanished. Peace flooded her soul. The next morning, she professed her vows in deep consolation.

Fr. Gallagher highlights the decisive moment. The imagined outcome of speaking was catastrophic. The real outcome was freedom. This contrast reveals the heart of Rule Thirteen. The enemy always exaggerates the cost of speaking. The truth is always gentler than the fear.

The episode then addresses common excuses that keep people silent. “The priest is too busy.” “I don’t have time.” “They won’t understand.” “Nothing can change this anyway.” Fr. Gallagher explains that when months or years pass under these justifications, Rule Thirteen should come to mind. Someone does not want this burden brought into the light.

Fr. Gallagher offers practical ways to live this rule. Regular confession can provide brief but meaningful guidance. Retreats offer safe spaces for spiritual conversation. Spiritual friendships, prayer groups, and even the companionship of spouses can support openness. He shares a striking story of a missionary priest who recorded his spiritual struggles on cassette tapes and mailed them across the ocean to his spiritual guide. The message is clear. Accompaniment is always possible.

The episode concludes with a powerful reminder. We are not meant to live the spiritual life alone. The moment a burden is spoken to the right person, its power diminishes. Freedom begins. As Ignatius teaches, secrecy is the enemy’s shelter. Truth spoken in love brings light. Captives are set free.

Are there spiritual burdens you have carried without speaking about them?

What fears arise when you consider bringing these struggles into the light?

Have you ever experienced relief simply by speaking honestly to a wise person?

Who might be a good confessor or competent spiritual person for you?

How does Rule Thirteen invite you to greater freedom and trust?

Why does Ignatius insist that secrecy strengthens spiritual burdens?

How does the story of St. Thérèse illuminate Rule Thirteen?

What distinguishes a wise spiritual person from a well-meaning listener?

What excuses most commonly keep people silent about spiritual struggles?

How can parish communities create safe spaces for spiritual accompaniment?

 The 14 Rules for Discerning Spirits –

Explore the complete Discernment of Spirits series with Fr. Timothy Gallagher

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

In this episode of The Great Works in Western Literature, Joseph Pearce and Kris McGregor explore St. Augustine’s Confessions, one of the great masterpieces of Christian literature and a work that remains remarkably personal more than sixteen centuries after it was written. Part autobiography, part theology, and part extended prayer, the Confessions recount Augustine’s restless search for truth and the obstacles of pride, sin, and false ideas that kept him from God. Pearce describes Augustine as an “everyman” whose journey mirrors our own: the prodigal who wanders from the Father, searches for fulfillment elsewhere, and ultimately discovers that truth must be received with humility and gratitude as a gift from God.

The conversation also considers the indispensable roles of St. Monica and St. Ambrose in Augustine’s conversion. Monica perseveres in prayer for her wandering son, while Ambrose witnesses to the union of faith, reason, holiness, and love. As the Confessions moves from Augustine’s outward experiences into an increasingly interior encounter with God, it becomes more than the story of one man’s conversion. It becomes an invitation to examine our own restless hearts, our resistance to grace, and our desire for truth. Pearce explains why Augustine’s struggles with the errors and competing philosophies of his own age remain strikingly relevant today and why the Confessions can still lead serious readers toward greater wisdom, virtue, and love of God.

A native of England, Joseph Pearce is the internationally acclaimed author of many books, which include bestsellers such as The Quest for Shakespeare, Tolkien: Man and Myth, The Unmasking of Oscar Wilde, C. S. Lewis and The Catholic Church, Literary Converts, Wisdom and Innocence: A Life of G.K. Chesterton, Solzhenitsyn: A Soul in Exile and Old Thunder: A Life of Hilaire Belloc. His books have been published and translated into Spanish, Portuguese, French, Dutch, Italian, Korean, Mandarin, Croatian, and Polish.

He has hosted two 13-part television series about Shakespeare on EWTN, and has also written and presented documentaries on EWTN on the Catholicism of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. His verse drama, Death Comes for the War Poets, was performed off-Broadway to critical acclaim. He has participated and lectured at a wide variety of international and literary events at major colleges and universities in the U.S., Canada, Britain, Europe, Africa, and South America.

He is a Visiting Professor of Literature at Ave Maria University and a Visiting Chair of Catholic Studies at Thomas More College of Liberal Arts (Merrimack, New Hampshire). He is editor of the St. Austin Review, series editor of the Ignatius Critical Editions, senior instructor with Homeschool Connections, and senior contributor at the Imaginative Conservative and Crisis Magazine. His personal website is www.jpearce.co.

The post GWWL14 – St. Augustine and The Confessions – Great Works in Western Literature with Joseph Pearce – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Episode 13-The Eleventh Rule:

Let him who is consoled see to humbling himself and lowering himself as much as he can, thinking how little he is able for in the time of desolation without such grace or consolation. On the contrary, let him who is in desolation think that he can do much with the grace sufficient to resist all his enemies, taking strength in his Creator and Lord.

Episode Thirteen of The Discernment of Spirits: Setting the Captives Free focuses on Rule Eleven, a rule that brings balance and maturity to the spiritual life. Fr. Timothy Gallagher, in conversation with Kris McGregor, explains how Ignatius teaches the soul to remain steady whether it is experiencing spiritual consolation or spiritual desolation.

Fr. Gallagher describes Rule Eleven as a kind of spiritual portrait. Ignatius addresses the same person living through alternating experiences of consolation and desolation. Rather than treating these moments separately, this rule shows how to live both wisely and faithfully. The goal is balance. The result is spiritual maturity.

Ignatius first addresses the person in spiritual consolation. When God’s love is felt deeply and prayer is filled with joy, the temptation can be subtle. A person may begin to rely on personal strength rather than grace. Ignatius counsels humility. The one who is consoled should lower himself as much as possible, remembering how little he is capable of in times of desolation without God’s grace.

Fr. Gallagher illustrates this wisdom through Scripture and lived experience. He reflects on the words of Mary in the Magnificat. Her soul rejoices in God, yet she remains deeply aware of her lowliness. Consolation does not lead her to self-confidence. It leads her to humility and praise.

By contrast, Fr. Gallagher recalls the experience of St. Peter on Holy Thursday. Peter sincerely loved the Lord and believed he was strong enough to remain faithful. Yet he relied on his own resolve rather than grace. When trial came, his strength failed. Ignatius’s counsel protects the heart from this kind of spiritual fall.

Ignatius then turns to the person in spiritual desolation. Here the temptation is opposite. The heart feels weak. Prayer feels empty. Discouragement suggests failure is inevitable. Ignatius counters this lie directly. The person in desolation should remember that God’s sufficient grace remains fully present, even when it is not felt.

Fr. Gallagher explains that this truth restores courage. With God’s grace, the soul can resist every spiritual enemy. Nothing essential is lost in desolation. The capacity to remain faithful endures. By recalling this truth, the heart takes on new strength and regains confidence.

Rule Eleven holds these two movements together. In consolation, the soul avoids becoming naively high. In desolation, it avoids becoming despairingly low. Humility and trust work together. The soul moves forward steadily toward God.

Episode Thirteen presents Rule Eleven as the mark of a mature discerning heart. It teaches how to remain grounded in joy and courageous in struggle. In both states, the soul learns to rely on grace rather than feeling. Freedom deepens. Stability grows. Captives are set free.

How do you usually respond when prayer is filled with joy and clarity?

Do times of consolation ever lead you to rely on your own strength?

How do you tend to interpret your abilities during spiritual desolation?

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

How does Rule Eleven invite you to greater balance in your spiritual life?

Why does Ignatius place Rule Eleven at this point in the series of rules?

How do humility and trust protect the soul in opposite spiritual states?

What do the examples of Mary and Peter reveal about consolation and trial?

Why is remembering God’s sufficient grace essential during desolation?

How might Rule Eleven help form mature discernment in parish communities?

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

Episode 12-The Tenth Rule:

Let him who is in consolation think how he will be in the desolation which will come after, taking new strength for then.

Episode Twelve of The Discernment of Spirits: Setting the Captives Free focuses on Rule Ten, which turns attention to what a person can do during times of spiritual consolation. Fr. Timothy Gallagher, in conversation with Kris McGregor, explains that this rule is still ultimately about facing spiritual desolation with strength and freedom.

Fr. Gallagher begins by noting that Ignatius never loses sight of the real struggle in the spiritual life. The greatest danger often arises when discouragement returns. For this reason, Ignatius teaches that times of consolation are not only gifts to be received, but opportunities to prepare. Consolation strengthens the heart. It also provides clarity and foresight.

Ignatius urges the person in consolation to think ahead. Desolation will return. This is normal in the spiritual life. The question is not whether it will come, but whether we will be ready. Fr. Gallagher compares this wisdom to the story of Joseph, who stored grain during years of abundance so that there would be food during famine. Consolation is a season of abundance meant to sustain future struggle.

To show how this works in lived experience, Fr. Gallagher reflects on a moving account from St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. As a young woman, Elizabeth experienced an overwhelming sense of God’s love while alone in nature. She described God as her Father and her All. That moment of deep peace and joy became a source of lasting spiritual growth. Fr. Gallagher explains that the first and primary response to consolation is exactly this. We receive it fully. We allow God’s love to take root.

Only after this does Ignatius add a second counsel. In times of consolation, we can consciously store strength for future desolation. Fr. Gallagher uses simple images to explain this. A sailor who anticipates changes in the wind braces himself. A passenger who sees a sharp turn ahead steadies his grip. Awareness makes the difference between falling and remaining secure.

Fr. Gallagher then offers practical ways to live Rule Ten. One is to ask God directly for help for future desolation while still in consolation. Another is to recall Scriptures and truths that have sustained us in past trials. These truths become readily available later, when clarity feels harder to find. Reflecting again on the reasons God may allow desolation, as taught in Rule Nine, also prepares the heart to endure it with trust.

The episode highlights the value of remembering past desolations. When we look back with God and see how growth came through struggle, confidence grows. The heart learns that God remains faithful even when consolation fades. This memory becomes a source of strength when darkness returns.

Fr. Gallagher and Kris McGregor also discuss the practice of journaling. Writing during times of consolation can preserve clarity. When desolation comes, those written words serve as a reminder of truth. They counter forgetfulness and discouragement. Journaling also helps patterns emerge and deepens self-awareness.

Finally, Fr. Gallagher encourages regular review of the rules themselves. Learning the rules once is not enough. They must be revisited and kept close. Some people post them visibly. Others carry summaries. The form matters less than the habit. What matters is keeping Ignatius’s wisdom within reach.

Episode Twelve presents Rule Ten as a rule of foresight and hope. Consolation is not only a moment of joy. It is a gift meant to strengthen the heart for future trials. When consolation is received fully and lived wisely, desolation loses its power. The spiritual life grows steady and resilient. Captives are set free.

How do you usually respond when you experience spiritual consolation?

Have you ever prepared for future struggles during a time of peace?

What Scriptures or truths strengthen you most during difficulty?

How does remembering past desolations change your outlook on current trials?

Would journaling help you retain clarity during times of consolation?

Why does Ignatius place Rule Ten after the rules on desolation?

How does the image of storing grain help explain this rule?

Why is it important to receive consolation fully before trying to prepare?

How can journaling or review strengthen communal spiritual life?

How might Rule Ten help parish leaders and retreat participants remain steady?

 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 Tenth Rule – Discernment of Spirits w/ Fr. Timothy Gallagher – 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.

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.

(Cap 1, 5-9: Acta Sanctorum, Julii, 7[ 1868], 647)

Put inward experiences to the test to see if they come from God

Ignatius was passionately fond of reading worldly books of fiction and tales of knight-errantry. When he felt he was getting better, he asked for some of these books to pass the time. But no book of that sort could be found in the house; instead they gave him a life of Christ and a collection of the lives of saints written in Spanish.

By constantly reading these books he began to be attracted to what he found narrated there. Sometimes in the midst of his reading he would reflect on what he had read. Yet at other times he would dwell on many of the things which he had been accustomed to dwell on previously. But at this point our Lord came to his assistance, insuring that these thoughts were followed by others which arose from his current reading.

While reading the life of Christ our Lord or the lives of the saints, he would reflect and reason with himself: “What if I should do what Saint Francis or Saint Dominic did?” In this way he let his mind dwell on many thoughts; they lasted a while until other things took their place. Then those vain and worldly images would come into his mind and remain a long time. This sequence of thoughts persisted with him for a long time.

But there was a difference. When Ignatius reflected on worldly thoughts, he felt intense pleasure; but when he gave them up out of weariness, he felt dry and depressed. Yet when he thought of living the rigorous sort of life he knew the saints had lived, he not only experienced pleasure when he actually thought about it, but even after he dismissed these thoughts, he still experienced great joy. Yet he did not pay attention to this, nor did he appreciate it until one day, in a moment of insight, he began to marvel at the difference. Then he understood his experience: thoughts of one kind left him sad, the others full of joy. And this was the first time he applied a process of reasoning to his religious experience. Later on, when he began to formulate his spiritual exercises, he used this experience as an illustration to explain the doctrine he taught his disciples on the discernment of spirits.

Excerpts from the English translation of The Liturgy of the Hours (Four Volumes) © 1974, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.

The post Put Inward Experiences to the Test – Saint Ignatius of Loyola from the Office of Readings – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Dr. Matthew Bunson and Kris McGregor discuss St. Peter Chrysologus, a Doctor of the Church known as the “Doctor of Homilies” due to his exceptional preaching skills. Chrysologus, who lived from around 380 to 450 AD, was noted for his brief, clear, and impactful homilies that conveyed deep theological truths concisely to avoid boring his congregation. His teachings emphasized prayer, fasting, and mercy, which he believed were interdependent and vital for a steadfast faith and virtuous life.

Declared a Doctor of the Church in 1729 by Pope Benedict XIII, Chrysologus was honored during a period of rationalism and skepticism in Europe. His ability to distill complex theological concepts into accessible and inspiring messages made him an essential figure during the Enlightenment. Despite the turmoil of his era, including the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the rise of various heresies like Arianism and Monophysitism, Chrysologus remained a steadfast defender of orthodox Christian doctrine.

Chrysologus’s significant influence is highlighted by his relationship with Pope Leo the Great and his response to the heretic Eutyches, which emphasized papal primacy and the importance of unity in the Church. His eloquence and gentle nature, combined with his theological depth, made his homilies resonate deeply with his congregation and contributed to his lasting legacy in the Church. The podcast underscores the relevance of Chrysologus’s teachings in today’s context of social and religious challenges, encouraging listeners to draw inspiration from his life and work.

“Peter was born in Imola, where Cornelius, bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Imola, baptized him, educated him, and ordained him a deacon. He was made an archdeacon through the influence of Emperor Valentinian III. Pope Sixtus III appointed Peter as Bishop of Ravenna (or perhaps archbishop) circa 433, apparently rejecting the candidate whom the people of the city ofRavenna elected. The traditional account, as recorded in the Roman Breviary, is that Sixtus had a vision of Pope Saint Peter the Apostle and Saint Apollinaris of Ravenna, the first bishop of that see, who showed Sixtus a young man, the next Bishop of Ravenna. When a group from Ravenna arrived, including Cornelius and his archdeacon Peter from Imola, Sixtus recognized Peter as the young man in his vision and consecrated him as a bishop.

People knew Saint Peter Chrysologus, the Doctor of Homilies, for his short but inspired talks; he supposedly feared boring his audience. His piety and zeal won universal admiration. After hearing oratory of his first homily as bishop, Roman Empress Galla Placidia supposedly gave him the surname Chrysologus, meaning “golden-worded.” Empress Galla Placidia patronized many of projects of Bishop Saint Peter.

In his extant homilies, bishop Peter explained Biblical texts briefly and concisely. He also condemned Arianism and Monophysitism as heresies and explained beautifully the Apostles’ Creed, the mystery of the Incarnation, and other topics in simple and clear language. He dedicated a series of homilies to Saint John the Baptist and the Blessed Virgin Mary. Peter advocated daily reception of Eucharist. He urged his listeners to confide in the forgiveness offered through Christ. He shared the confidence of Saint Pope Leo I the Great (440-461), another doctor of the Church.

A synod held in Constantinople in 448 condemned Eutyches for Monophysitism; Eutyches then appealed to Saint Peter Chrysologus but failed in his endeavour to win the support of the Bishop. The Acts of the Council of Chalcedon(451) preserves the text of letter of Saint Peter Chrysologus in response to Eutyches; Peter admonishes Eutyches to accept the ruling of the synod and to give obedience to the Bishop of Rome as the successor of Saint Peter.

Archbishop Felix of Ravenna in the early eighth century collected and preserved 176 of his homilies. Various authors edited and translated these works into numerous languages.

St Peter died circa or after 450 during a visit to Imola, the town of his birth. Older reference books say he died on 2 December, but a more recent interpretation of the ninth-century “Liber Pontificalis Ecclesiae Ravennatis” indicated that he died on 31 July. When in 1729 he was declared a Doctor of the Church, his feast day, not already included in the Tridentine Calendar, was inserted in the Roman Catholic calendar of saints for celebration on 4 December. In 1969 his feast was moved to 30 July, as close as possible to the day of his death, 31 July, the feast day of Saint Ignatius of Loyola.”

Dr. Matthew E. Bunson is a Register senior editor and a senior contributor to EWTN News. For the past 20 years, he has been active in the area of Catholic social communications and education, including writing, editing, and teaching on a variety of topics related to Church history, the papacy, the saints, and Catholic culture. He is faculty chair at Catholic Distance University, a senior fellow of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, and the author or co-author of over 50 books, including The Encyclopedia of Catholic History, The Pope Encyclopedia, and We Have a Pope! Benedict XVI, The Saints Encyclopedia, and best-selling biographies of St. Damien of Molokai and St. Kateri Tekakwitha.

The post St. Peter Chrysologus – The Doctors of the Church: The Charism of Wisdom with Dr. Matthew Bunson – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

From the writings of St. Ignatius of Loyola:

I recommend that virtue to you which includes all others, and which our Lord so greatly praised by calling it His great commandment: “This is My commandment that you love one another” (John 15:12). You are not only to maintain a union of love among yourselves, but you must extend it to every one and set your hearts on fire with the desire for your neighbor’s salvation, realizing that each soul is the price of our Lord’s life and blood [Ep. 1:507].

Prefer the glory of God above everything else . . . .Let your thoughts, words, and actions be in Him. . .and let God’s commandments take first place over everything else that is good. This is what He desires, and this is what He commands [Ep. 1:72].

Our Father….

With St. Ignatius we pray:

Soul of Christ, sanctify me.

O Good Jesus, hear me.

Amen.

St. Ignatius of Loyola, pray for us

The post St. Ignatius of Loyola Novena Day 9 – Discerning Hearts podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

From the writings of St. Ignatius of Loyola:

I ask you to put forth your every effort to win honor in heaven, fame and renown before the Lord, who is to be our judge. If God has given you the world’s goods in abundance, it is to help you gain those of heaven and to be a good example of sound teaching to your sons, servants, and relatives [Ep. 1:81].

Be generous to the poor orphans and those in need. The man to whom our Lord has been liberal ought not to be stingy. We shall one day find in heaven as much rest and joy as we ourselves have dispensed in this life [Ep. 1:81].

Our Father….

With St. Ignatius we pray:

Soul of Christ, sanctify me.

O Good Jesus, hear me.

Amen.

St. Ignatius of Loyola, pray for us

The post St. Ignatius of Loyola Novena Day 8 – Discerning Hearts podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.