What a delight to talk once again with Fr. George Montague, this time about “Living in the Father’s Embrace: Experiencing the Love at the Heart of the Trinity”!  Fr. Montague, besides serving as a former president of the Catholic Biblical Association of America and editor of the Catholic Biblical Quarterly, has offered numerous rich teachings in the areas of Catholic spirituality including the best selling “Holy Spirit, Make Your Home In Me : Biblical Meditations On Receiving The Gift Of The Spirit”  (a Discerning Hearts bestselling favorite!).

Can you call the God the Father “Abba” as Jesus did?  Did we have a complicated relationship with our earthly father that keeps us distant from our Father? How do we look at the Father when we are dealing with grief and loss?   By presenting the relationship found in the heart of the Holy Trinity, Fr. Montague uses everyday examples to helps us to envision what that awesome relationship is like between Father and Son and how they long, through the Holy Spirit, to bring each one of us into their communion of love. This is a book you will want to read again and again.   Highly recommended!!!!

[powerpress]

You can find the book here

Be sure to listen to  our conversation with Fr. Montague about “Holy Spirit, Make Your Home In Me” which can be found here

Episode 1 Praying with Scripture: Christian Contemplation and Mediation in the Ignatian tradition with Fr. Timothy 

Gallagher.

Fr. Gallagher introduces us to meditation and contemplation – the cornerstones of Ignatius of Loyola’s spiritual practice.

[powerpress]

For other episodes in the series visit The Discerning Hearts “Praying with Scripture” page

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

 For the other episodes in this series check out Fr. Timothy Gallagher’s “Discerning Hearts” page

SP#9 The School of Prayer: Foundations for the New Evangelization:

 The Keys to Good Discernment

[powerpress]

Fr. Scott Traynor talks about the hallmarks of encounter with the Holy Spirit and what can be a deception. How can the keys to good discernment effect my service to the Church and to the World.   What is the difference between “managing and/or deciding” and authentic “discernment”?  What is wrong with the phrase “What Would Jesus Do?”.  The better question is “Jesus, What ARE you doing?”.  Listening is the key for not only the one discerning.  How does the “school of prayer”, the parish, becomes an aid to the seeker.  How is the pastor a part of the process?

In Father Scott Traynor’s book, Blessed John Paul II’s memorable call to make of the parish a school of prayer takes on flesh and becomes concretely attainable. Those you read these faith-filled pages will find renewed desire to create such parishes and a clear road-map toward this goal.

–Father Timothy Gallagher, OMV

Father Scott Traynor received his STB from the Pontifical Gregorian University and his JCL from Catholic University of America. He has been an instructor and spiritual director for many of the programs at the Institute for Priestly Formation.

Father Traynor is a retreat master and spiritual director who has travelled the country as a speaker at various conferences, diocesan gatherings and national conferences.. He is especially sought after to present on the topics of prayer, discernment and priestly identity and mission.

He serves the Rector of the St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver Colorado.

SP#8 The School of Prayer: Foundations for the New Evangelization

[powerpress]

Fr. Scott Traynor talks about the relationship between our personal prayer and the sacramental life of prayer of the Church.  There is so much to encounter when we open up our hearts and minds to the experience of prayer found in the public worship of the Church.  Using the “ARRRR” method (Acknowledge, Relate, Recieve, and Respond) to enhance our prayer during the liturgy.

In Father Scott Traynor’s book, Blessed John Paul II’s memorable call to make of the parish a school of prayer takes on flesh and becomes concretely attainable. Those you read these faith-filled pages will find renewed desire to create such parishes and a clear road-map toward this goal.

–Father Timothy Gallagher, OMV

Father Scott Traynor received his STB from the Pontifical Gregorian University and his JCL from Catholic University of America. He has been an instructor and spiritual director for many of the programs at the Institute for Priestly Formation.

Father Traynor is a retreat master and spiritual director who has travelled the country as a speaker at various conferences, diocesan gatherings and national conferences.. He is especially sought after to present on the topics of prayer, discernment and priestly identity and mission.

He serves the Rector of the St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver Colorado.

Don’t have to time pray?  Think twice….Join Teresa Monaghen, of Pro Sanctity, as she offers a “Personal Plan for Holiness”.  Listen along with these short, but beautiful meditations which encourage us to continue on our journey as “saints in the making”!

[powerpress]

Learn more about Pro Sanctity at www.prosanctity.org

[powerpress]

Fr. James Rafferty and Deacon James Keating offered a Lenten Morning of Reflection on behalf of the Institute for Priestly Formation entitled “Into Your Hands I Commend My Spirit”.

William-Adolphe Bouguereau’s “Pieta” was used as the vocal point for reflection, as well as the following passages:

From  John 3:16-17

For God so loved the world that he gave^* his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.^k17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn^* the world, but that the world might be saved through him.^l

Excerpts from Pope Francis’ encyclical “Light of Faith“:

Our culture has lost its sense of God’s tangible presence and activity in our world. We think that God is to be found in the beyond, on another level of reality, far removed from our everyday relationships. But if this were the case, if God could not act in the world, his love would not be truly powerful, truly real, and thus not even true, a love capable of delivering the bliss that it promises. It would make no difference at all whether we believed in him or not. Christians, on the contrary, profess their faith in God’s tangible and powerful love which really does act in history and determines its final destiny: a love that can be encountered, a love fully revealed in Christ’s passion, death and resurrection.

Yet it is precisely in contemplating Jesus’ death that faith grows stronger and receives a dazzling light; then it is revealed as faith in Christ’s steadfast love for us, a love capable of embracing death to bring us salvation. This love, which did not recoil before death in order to show its depth, is something I can believe in; Christ’s total self-gift overcomes every suspicion and enables me to entrust myself to him completely.

Episode 6 St. Catherine of Siena: Her Life and Teachings with Fr. Thomas McDermott

[powerpress]

In this episode, Fr. McDermott aids in our understanding of St. Catherine’s teachings on the “Blood of Christ” and it’s context from Sacred Scripture and Medieval sensibilities.  He discusses “The Christ Bridge” as a central image in St. Catherine’s writings one’s spiritual journey.  The flowering of baptismal grace is exemplified in this teaching.

Fr. Thomas McDermott, OP is Regent of Studies for the Dominican Province of St. Albert the Great and is the author of “Catherine of Siena: Spiritual Development in Her Life and Teaching” (Paulist, 2008) and “Filled with all the Fullness of God: An Introduction to Catholic Spirituality”. He obtained a doctorate in spiritual theology from the Angelicum and taught for several years at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis. He crrently serves as pastor at St. Vincent Ferrer, in Chicago, IL.

Our series is based on “Catherine of Siena”
by Fr. McDermott

[powerpress]

Gospel MT 6:7-15

Jesus said to his disciples:
“In praying, do not babble like the pagans,
who think that they will be heard because of their many words.
Do not be like them.
Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.“This is how you are to pray: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.

“If you forgive men their transgressions,
your heavenly Father will forgive you.
But if you do not forgive men,
neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”

SP#6 The School of Prayer: Foundations for the New Evangelization

[powerpress]

Fr. Scott Traynor talks about how God wants to have an intimate relationship with us.  What is the dynamic of this relationship?  He longs for us to freely give ourselves to Him.  Fr. Scott talks about the gift of our imagination and what is  true spiritual reality as opposed to fantasy.  How do I tell the difference?  What is the nature of the effect?  Is it lasting  or does it evaporate after the experience?  Is Jesus in the center of the reality we are encountering? He describes the use of Lectio Divina, the praying with Sacred Scripture, that helps us to enter into the deeper relationship we are called to by God.  Fr. Scott explains the difference between the Ignatian  and Carmelite understandings of “contemplation”.  Is there an ordinary Catholic “mysticism”?  Do we miss it?

In Father Scott Traynor’s book, Blessed John Paul II’s memorable call to make of the parish a school of prayer takes on flesh and becomes concretely attainable. Those you read these faith-filled pages will find renewed desire to create such parishes and a clear road-map toward this goal.

–Father Timothy Gallagher, OMV

Father Scott Traynor received his STB from the Pontifical Gregorian University and his JCL from Catholic University of America. He has been an instructor and spiritual director for many of the programs at the Institute for Priestly Formation.

Father Traynor is a retreat master and spiritual director who has travelled the country as a speaker at various conferences, diocesan gatherings and national conferences.. He is especially sought after to present on the topics of prayer, discernment and priestly identity and mission.

He serves the Rector of the St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver Colorado.

It was with great joy we had the opportunity to talk with Fr. Thomas Dubay.     His work on “Fire Within” and all the programs he gave us on EWTN were instrumental in my spiritual growth.  In those early days, he was like having a distant spiritual director who guided me, as well as the rest of us, toward a deeper relationship with Christ.

[powerpress]

He told me once, “Kris, the best theology books are the lives of the saints; you study them and you won’t be led astray.”  Fr. Thomas Dubay, in a very real way, helped inspire the work of this blog and it’s mission.

Here’s a host of books by Fr. Thomas Dubay

[powerpress]

Dr. Anthony Lilles is the author of “Hidden Mountain, Secret Garden”

Available at Amazon.com as an ebook (click here), a paperback edition (click here).  You may also order a paperback edition at createspace.com.

This is the best biography I have read in years!  What a glorious testament to the fruitfulness of the Benedictine rule and how it transforms lives.  Mother Dolores Hart brings to us a generous sharing of her life experience and the joy found in the peace and stability in the living with her monastic community.  How could a woman walk away from “having it all”?  Mother Dolores discovered the “pearl of great price”, and she found it by listening to the “ear of the heart”.  An absolutely fantastic read and spiritually fulfilling work.  A must read!!!!  This conversation will go down as one of my favorites of all time!!!  Thank you God!!!

[powerpress]

You can find the book here
“What a joy to be in the company of Mother Dolores Hart. She is a compassionate narrator, from her childhood days, darkened by parental alcoholism, to her Hollywood career and her calling as a Catholic nun. Mother Dolores talks candidly about the difficulty of becoming a cloistered, Benedictine nun. The struggle with years of discipline and the rigorous farm work at the Abbey of Regina Laudis. We learn there was something in her deepest heart she sought.” — —-Pia Lindstrom, television journalist, daughter of Ingrid Bergman

“Listen and attend with the ear of your heart.”
Saint Benedict

“Mother Dolores Hart is a remarkable woman with a remarkable story-one of love, devotion and faith.”
—Maria Shriver, bestselling author of Just Who Will You Be?

CW5  All Hallow’s Eve (Halloween)
The Great Cloud of Witnesses: Guides for Prayer with Fr. Mark Cyza

[powerpress]

Fr. Mark Cyza discusses the origins of All Hallow’s Eve and it’s development into the secular celebration known as “Halloween”.  How should celebrate this time and what should our prayer reflect?

Resources:

“The Will of God: Finding and Fulfilling Your Purpose in Life” is a great book which uses the great Psalm 119 to help us in the area of discernment.  Taking a lifetime of steeped  in prayer and sound theology, Fr. Baker gives us a unique and penetrating resource to aid in our growth in the areas of contemplation and discernment. Father Baker was the editor of Homiletic & Pastoral Review for more than 40 years, and currently serves as Editor Emeritus of the online edition.  He was a joy to talk with and to learn from….not to be missed for the discerning heart!

[powerpress]

You can find the book here

“Father Baker helps us to discover God’s will and, what is even more, important how to live God’s will! He uses the Holy Scriptures,the teaching of the Church and the saints to help us become holy and transformed into the saints that God created us to be. Read this book and discover what God wants you to do!” —Fr. Larry Richards, Author, Be a Man!

What a glorious opportunity to discuss “Truth” with the one and only Dr. Peter Kreeft.  I have to admit, one must be on their toes when discussing any topic with the good doctor, he is one of the great intellects and authors of our time, period.  He is always patient, kind and just downright fascinating in this conversation;  Dr. Kreeft  engages the imagination and guides us deeper into the reality of Divine Revelation.  “Jacob’s Ladder: 10 Steps to Truth” is an absolutely splendid voyage to undertake;  put on your thinking caps, dive in to the ocean of your heart, and be prepared to be awed and delighted.  A must have book for anyone who is seeking Truth.

[powerpress]

You can find the book here

From the book description:

Among the topics, or “steps”, that Kreeft’s characters delve into include:

Do you have the passion to know?
Does truth exist?
What is the meaning of life?
What is love, and why is it so important for our lives?
If there is a God, what proof is there for his existence?
Has God revealed himself to us in a personal way?