Kris McGregor Archives

IP#305 Dr. Peter Kreeft – I Burned for Your Peace on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor

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These are indeed good days for book lovers because we are so blessed to have yet another Christian spiritual classic broken open for us by Dr. Peter Kreeft! In “I Burned for Your Peace: Augustine’s Confessions Unpacked“, Dr. Kreeft gives us a guided tour through one of the finest works in all Western literature. In our conversation, we discuss how St. Augustine, in many ways, is the everyman and why is life is so important for us today. Written in a personal dialogue with God, the saint’s “Confessions” is more than an autobiography or a book of theology, it is, in the end, a living prayer. It is one man’s compelling witness that is, as Dr. Kreeft will say, astonishingly contemporary. St. Augustine looks at himself, so honestly, we can’t help but see ourselves in the reflection. “I Burned for Your Peace” is the must have book to accompany you on this spiritual journey, especially if your heart is a restless one. So plan your pilgrimage now! Get the Frank Sheed translation of the “Confessions” as mentioned by Dr. Kreeft in our conversation and grab this book today

You can find the book here

“Two teachers we all know and trust enter into a dialogue to bring forth a Confessions for our day.”
— Fr. David Meconi, S.J., Editor, The Confessions of St. Augustine

“Kreeft is always brilliant, and in this book he is even more astonishing than ever. If I were allowed only one book on the Confessions, this would be it.”
—Joseph Pearce, Author, Catholic Literary Giants

“Kreeft illustrates the truth of Augustine’s comment that God is more intimate to us than we are even to ourselves. Only when we realize that we are loved into being by the Triune God, will we experience the profound peace that sustains the pilgrimage to eternal life.”
Fr. Matthew Lamb, Professor of Theology, Ave Maria University

St. Clare, pray for us – a model for the discerning heart…In Conversation with Sr. Joan Mueller

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Enter into the life story of St. Clare’s life by listening to one of the best storytellers we know…Sr. Joan Mueller. Both women are enthralling!!!

St. Clare of Assisi, the foundress of the Order of Poor Ladies, or Clares, was the first Abbess of San Damiano; born at Assisi, on 16 July 1194; died there on 11 August 1253.

One of the best DVDs we have seen on the life of Clare and Francis is distributed by Ignatius Press.

If you’d like to see her life summed up in a quick read, try here.
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A personal reflection on St. Clare by Kris McGregor:

In 2007, I had a chance to visit Assisi…I just wanted to be near St. Clare. I didn’t plan it, but my hotel ended up being right across the street from St. Clare’s Basilica (it seems wrong to call it a street, its width is so small). Early one morning, I got up and began walking outside of the Basilica. No one else was out; all the shops closed, and the sun was just coming up. On a whim, I thought I would see if the church’s doors were open (thinking to myself, of course, they wouldn’t be), but to my surprise, they were, so I entered. No one was around. I saw steps leading down to a lower level. I stepped over the rope blocking the entrance (boorish American that I am) and walked down. The path led down to an area with a display of relics, clothing, and other items (I assumed they were Clare’s), and then I turned and saw something incredible…the crypt of St. Clare. I quietly walked over to the enclosure grates. I knelt and unexpectedly started to weep…I just couldn’t help it. It was so quiet and peaceful; it was such a gift. I brought to St. Clare all the petitions I held deeply in my heart. And when that was done, silence once more filled the space. After about 10 minutes, I could hear the sound of the Poor Clare Sisters in the distance chanting their morning office. I knelt at that spot and listened with St. Clare. After about 30 minutes, I praised God for this special moment and left the basilica. St. Clare has been with me in a special way ever since a friendship I continue to cherish. Dear St. Clare, pray for us.

IP#489 Fr. Christopher Collins S.J. – Habits of Freedom on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor podcast

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What a delight to talk again with Fr. Christopher Collins S.J., this time about his book Habits of Freedom: 5 Ignatian Tools for Clearing Your Mind and Resting Daily in the Lord

You can find the book here, a wonderful resource

From the book description –

Popular retreat leader and spiritual director Fr. Christopher Collins, SJ, says that if you turn your heart to God you will find clarity and spiritual peace. In Habits of Freedom, Collins offers you five practical tools to help you develop a habit of daily discernment that will lead to inner calm.

Drawing on the wisdom of St. Ignatius Loyola and his renowned Spiritual Exercises, Collins offers practical spiritual exercises for incorporating five tools into your daily life to help you de-stress, organize your thoughts, and experience the calming presence of Jesus. These are:

allowing God to show you the signs of oncoming anxiety and mental breakdown;

developing the ancient practice of spiritual discernment to help analyze your moods and perceptions;

interpreting life events with an eye toward personal growth and resiliency;

practicing detachment from negative influences; and

engaging in interior sensitivity to how God works to bring you peace.

Habits of Freedom is an excellent resource for spiritual directors and individuals, as well as for use in prayer and parish groups seeking practical material that can speak broadly to members from a variety of backgrounds and seasons of life. The book can be easily adapted for small groups and retreat use.

IP#488 Joseph Pearce – Faith of Our Fathers on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor podcast

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What a delight to once again talk with the prolific Joseph Pearce. This time about his extraordinary book Faith of Our Fathers: A History of True England. A compelling read that spans the story of a great nation and the heartbeat that makes the lion roar. We couldn’t put the book down! Don’t miss this opportunity to hear Joseph speak of his beloved homeland and the faith that changed the world.

You can find the book here

From the book description –

The Catholic Church has been a part of English history since the arrival of Christian missionaries to Roman Britain in the first century after Christ. England was evangelized in these early centuries to such an extent that, by the time the Romans withdrew in the fifth century, the Celtic population was largely Catholic.

Anglo-Saxon England, prior to the Norman Conquest, was a land of saints. From St. Bede, with his history of the early Church, to the holy king St. Edward the Confessor, Saxon England was ablaze with the light of Christ. During the reign of St. Edward, a vision of the Virgin at Walsingham placed the Mother of God on the throne as England’s queen, the land being considered her dowry. Even following the Norman Conquest, the Faith continued to flourish and prosper, making its joyful presence felt in what would become known as Merrie England.

Then in the sixteenth century, this Catholic heart was ripped from the people of England, against their will and in spite of their spirited and heroic resistance, by the reign of the Tudors. This made England once again a land of saints—that is, of martyrs, with Catholic priests and laity being put to death for practicing the Faith. The martyrdoms would continue for 150 years, followed by a further 150 years of legal and political persecution.

In the nineteenth century, against all the odds, there was a great Catholic revival, heralded by the conversion of St. John Henry Newman, which would continue into the twentieth century. Much of the greatest literature of the past century has been written by literary converts to the Church, such as G. K. Chesterton, Evelyn Waugh, Graham Greene, and J. R. R. Tolkien.

This whole exciting, faith-filled story is told by Joseph Pearce within a single-volume history of “true England”, the England that remained true to the faith through thick and thin, in times both “merrie” and perilous. It is a story not only worth telling but worth celebrating.

Fiorella Nash – The Abolition of Woman on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor Podcast

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“The Abolition of Woman: How Radical Feminism is Betraying Women” is a powerful book and so needed today. Author and international pro-life advocate Fiorella Nash is an incredible advocate for authentic feminism. With this work, she shines a bright penetrating light on the destructive twistings and distortions projected onto women throughout the world by extraordinarily dark forces that many cannot or do not want to see.

You can find the book here

From the book description:

This book unashamedly calls mainstream feminists, journalists and Western politicians to account for their silence and – in some cases – vocal justification of the persecution of women because of an absolutist loyalty to abortion. It asks uncomfortable questions to those who claim to believe in women’s empowerment: Where is their passionate outrage when Chinese women are forcibly aborted and sterilised? Where is their concern for the thousands of baby girls killed by abortion every year because their lives are held as worthless simply for being female? What about the thousands of women used as surrogates for wealthy Western couples, treated as chattels and denied their most basic human rights?

But the book also tackles difficult issues for the pro-life side—the need for a sensitive, realistic approach to problematic pregnancies and the importance of confronting the continued exploitation and abuse of women within a sexualised society.

Pro-life feminism is not only possible; it is vital if the complex struggles facing women are to be adequately met. The Abolition of Woman is a rallying cry to feminists to stand with the pro-life movement, fighting to build a society in which women are equal and every human life is protected.

IP#352 Dr. Peter Kreeft – Probes on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor Podcast

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“Probes: Deep Sea Diving into St. John’s Gospel” is a beautiful union of Scripture Study and the prayer experience of Lectio Divina. I’ve never seen anything quite like it (and I hope I see more). What the reader will find is that diving deeper is actually climbing higher. Under Dr. Kreeft’s guidance, we learn to ask penetrating questions of Sacred Scripture, but more importantly, we learn to listen to the Word for the answers. Designed for community study or individual reflection, this is the “John” book I have been waiting for! Thank you once again Dr. Kreeft!

You can find the book here

From the book description:

This is no ordinary book. It is a set of probing questions (1,450 in fact) designed to help individuals or groups, especially groups, to dive deeply into Saint John’s Gospel. No answers are provided, but the questions are phrased in such a way as to set a person in a reliable direction for finding the answers.

The questions correspond to the verses of the Gospel and require active and personal interaction. Some of the questions are easy, some difficult, and they are marked accordingly. Some questions include background information or hints that help the reader along. Some were written with a fair bit of humor. Any person or group using these questions to explore John will find themselves entertained as well as informed and inspired.

IP#315 Fr. Robert Spitzer – The Light Shines On In The Darkness on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor podcast

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Simply one of the finest works ever compiled on the mystery of suffering. Fr. Robert Spitzer’s “The Light Shines On In The Darkness: Transforming Suffering through Faith (Happiness, Suffering, and Transcendence)” could be considered a “catechism of suffering,” but not one rooted in misery, but rather anchored in the experience of God’s great mercy and redemptive sacrifice. This is a book of hope and one that should be experienced by all Christians, and in particular, those who minister in any way, shape, or form in the New Evangelization. Why would a loving God allow suffering? Is there any good that can be brought forth from our trials? So much more is addressed in this opus. I could not put this book down. Pick it up, you won’t regret it!

You can find the book here

“Suffering has the power to break or elevate the human spirit. Lived in the spirit of the Gospel and borne for the sake of others, it’s the most redemptive, transfiguring force in creation. Fr. Spitzer has written a magisterial work on the meaning of suffering, a work remarkable both for its depth and beauty.”
— Most Rev. Charles Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., Archbishop of Philadelphia

“In this trenchant and searching book, Fr. Spitzer responds to the most powerful objection to the proposition that God exists, namely, the problem of suffering. And he dares to do what very few are willing to do today: to articulate how evil and pain are ingredients in the providential design of a loving God.”
—Bishop Robert Barron, Host, Catholicism film series

IP#487 Fr. Eamonn Bourke – Make Your Home In Me on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor podcast

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Make Your Home In Me: Reflections on Prayer is a gem of a book and so is the opportunity to talk with its author Fr. Eamonn Bourke. Fr. Timothy Gallagher said it best when asked to review this book – “Do you want to pray? Really to pray? To pray daily? To pray from your heart? Then read this book. Read it slowly; absorb its message, and it will transform your prayer.” We completely agree! We highly recommend you pick up a copy of this small book and let it lead you into deeper prayer.

You can find the book here

From the book description –

Father Bourke’s book takes the sometimes elusive process of prayer and presents it in easily accessible terms. Because of this gift for clarity in the author, this book makes prayer inviting and attractive. Each chapter provides insight into creating a closer relationship with God and ends with some thought-provoking questions and a simple prayer.

IP#357 Gretchen Crowe – Praying the Rosary with St. John Paul II on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor podcast

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What a delight to have a conversation with Gretchen Crowe about two of my favorite topics – the Holy Rosary of Our Lady and St. Pope John Paul II! Gretchen has authored a beautiful book entitled “Praying the Rosary with St. John Paul II” which is filled with reflections and images which illuminate the mysteries of this treasured prayer through the gaze of this beloved saint. We highly recommend this book!

You can find the book here

From the book description:

With this book, you can pray the Rosary with the saint who loved it so much. For each mystery of the Rosary, you will find:

The spiritual fruit that accompanies each mystery

A short reflection on how Pope St. John Paul II embodied the spiritual fruit

A Scripture passage for reflection

An excerpt from a talk or writing of John Paul II

Whether the Rosary is already your favorite prayer or you’re just learning to pray it, Praying the Rosary with St. John Paul II will help you “rediscover the Rosary in the light of Scripture, in harmony with the Liturgy, and in the context of your daily lives.”

IP#485 Fr. Cassian Koenemann – The Grace of Nothingness on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor podcast

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What a delight to discuss with Fr. Cassian Koenemann O.S.B. The Grace of “Nothingness” – Navigating the Spiritual Life with Blessed Columba Marmion. Many today are unaware of the teachings of this great 20th-century spiritual master, but his influence can be seen in the lives of today’s beloved saints, including St. Teresa of Calcutta. Thanks to Fr. Cassian, we can all better benefit from Bl. Columba’s great spiritual legacy. We HIGHLY recommend this book for the spiritual library. Don’t miss the opportunity to grow in “nothingness”, your life will be richer for it.

To obtain a copy of the book visit here

“The Grace of ‘Nothingness’ is a work of deep and sober reflection. What it reveals to us of Columba Marmion’s vision, however, is as fresh and surprising as the Gospel itself. Here we find, in the understanding of ‘nothingness,’ not the least hint of anything mandarin or esoteric, but a theme that focuses attention on the unique, saving grace of Christ. Fr Cassian complements his study with a helpful overview of the centuries of reflection on the theme of ‘nothingness’ in the writings of Catholic saints and mystics. This work is without question a truly insightful contribution to spiritual theology.”

—FR. PAUL MURRAY, OP
author of A Journey with Jonah

“St John of the Cross says that at the summit of the spiritual life there is ‘nothing.’ This introduction to the theme of ‘nothingness’ in the writings of Abbot Marmion offers fresh insights into this demanding feature of Christian life.”

—FR. CHRISTOPHER JAMISON, OSB
Abbot President of the English Benedictine Congregation