Family Archives

Holy Family Sunday – Honoring Mother and Father – Building a Kingdom of Love w/ Msgr. John Esseff Podcast

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Holy Family Sunday – Honoring Mother and Father

Msgr. John Esseff reflects on the need for healing mother and father wounds, a topic that resonates with many. Monsignor Esseff, with his deep spiritual insight and experience, provided profound reflections on the complex dynamics of family life, emphasizing the crucial role of understanding and forgiveness.

Msgr. Esseff discusses the intricacies of parental relationships and the profound impact of fatherhood. Monsignor Esseff shares personal narratives that illustrate the journey of reconciling with parental figures and the transformative power of forgiveness. He highlights how these familial relationships significantly influence our spiritual and emotional growth.

Central to the reflection is the healing from mother and father wounds. Monsignor Esseff addressed the emotional scars left by strained or absent parental relationships and the path to healing these deep-seated wounds. Through his guidance, listeners are encouraged to explore forgiveness, not just as a religious act, but as a vital step towards inner peace and spiritual maturity.

This episode offers an enlightening exploration of the challenges and opportunities for growth presented by our relationships with our parents. It serves as a valuable resource for anyone seeking to understand and heal from the complex emotions tied to their family experiences.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions:

1. Understanding Parental Influence: Reflect on how your relationship with your parents has shaped your faith and personal beliefs. What positive lessons have you learned, and what challenges have you faced?
2. Healing and Forgiveness: Consider any wounds or unresolved issues you may have with your parents. How can you approach these with a spirit of forgiveness and understanding, as guided by Catholic teachings?
3. Role of Fathers in Faith: How has the role of your father or father figures impacted your spiritual life? Reflect on the importance of fatherhood in the Catholic faith.
4. Caring for Aging Parents: Reflect on the commandment to honor your father and mother. How does this apply to caring for aging parents in today’s world, and how can you balance this responsibility with other duties?
5. Embracing Love and Understanding: How can you better incorporate the virtues of love, patience, and understanding in your family relationships, as modeled by the Holy Family?
6. Personal Transformation through Forgiveness: Share a personal experience where forgiveness led to healing and transformation in your family or community.
7. Spiritual Growth through Family Dynamics: In what ways have your family experiences contributed to your spiritual growth? How can you use these experiences to deepen your faith?
8. Impact of Absent Parents: If applicable, reflect on the impact of an absent parent in your life. How has this shaped your understanding of God as a Father?
9. Prayer and Family Life: How can prayer strengthen your family relationships? Consider developing a prayer routine that includes praying for and with family members.
10. Role Modeling and Legacy: What legacy do you wish to leave for your children or future generations in terms of faith and family values?

Reading 1 SIR 3:2-6, 12-14

God sets a father in honor over his children;
a mother’s authority he confirms over her sons.
Whoever honors his father atones for sins,
and preserves himself from them.
When he prays, he is heard;
he stores up riches who reveres his mother.
Whoever honors his father is gladdened by children,
and, when he prays, is heard.
Whoever reveres his father will live a long life;
he who obeys his father brings comfort to his mother.My son, take care of your father when he is old;
grieve him not as long as he lives.
Even if his mind fail, be considerate of him;
revile him not all the days of his life;
kindness to a father will not be forgotten,
firmly planted against the debt of your sins
—a house raised in justice to you.

Msgr. John A. Esseff is a Roman Catholic priest in the Diocese of Scranton. He served as a retreat director and confessor to St. Teresa of Calcutta and encountered St. Padre Pio, who became a spiritual father to him. Msgr. Esseff has lived in various parts of the world, working in the Pontifical missions, a Catholic organization established by Pope St. John Paul II to spread the Good News, especially to the poor. Msgr. Esseff continues his service as a retreat leader and director for bishops, priests, sisters, seminarians, and other religious leaders worldwide.

IP#376 Kimberly Hahn – Grace and Gifted on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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What a delight to be joined by Kimberly Hahn to discuss Grace and Gifted: Biblical Wisdom for the Homemaker’s Heart! With Kimberly, we continue our journey through the wisdom found in Proverbs 31. This time we explore the joy of creating a home for our loved ones fueled by the grace found in the sacraments.

Kimberly is also the host of the Beloved and Blessed podcast. Her voice is a much-needed source of grace in this ever-expanding media platform. You can check it out at the link found below. We encourage you to subscribe!

You can find the book here

From the book description

As wives and mothers, we know that the home is the sacred space in which we live out our vocations. But many of us struggle to manage the various aspects of homemaking.

Graced and Gifted: Biblical Wisdom for the Homemaker’s Heart draws from Proverbs 31 to give women indispensable wisdom on caring for our homes and families. In this six-part Bible study, learn

Tips for time management

How to create a pleasant environment

The secrets of food preparation

The importance of making meals a time of communion

How to cultivate a garden

And why each of the sacraments relate to homemaking

Grace and Gifted is an inspiring Bible study, perfect for personal or group use, that will help you discover the noble virtues that every wife needs.

Be sure to also check out Kimberly’s Beloved and Blessed Podcast! You can find it by visiting: BelovedandBlessed.com

IP#366 Kimberly Hahn – Chosen and Cherished on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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What a delight to be joined by Kimberly Hahn to discuss Chosen and Cherished: Biblical Wisdom for your Marriage! Kimberly is the guide we have needed for far too long to lead us to the well of the maternal nurturing wisdom contained in the Sacred Scriptures. With her gift of insight and understanding, and fueled by her 24/7 receptivity to the Word, Kimberly speaks to both men and women about the grace contained for marriage in Proverbs 31. We truly feel this is a must have book for the discerning heart.

Kimberly also has entered the arena of podcasting. Her voice is a much-needed source of grace in this ever-expanding media platform. You can check it out at the link found below. We encourage you to subscribe!

You can find the book here

From the book description

Proverbs 31 paints a picture of a woman resplendent with virtue, “far more precious than jewels.” In Chosen and Cherished, a Bible study based on Proverbs 31, beloved author Kimberly Hahn highlights this radiant image as a model for all wives and provides lessons on marriage for each season of life.

Whether you are engaged or have been married for decades, Chosen and Cherished offers biblical insight that will nurture your heart—and your marriage. With advice on everything from prioritizing relationships, communication, financial goals, and more, Kimberly Hahn invites you to boldly embrace Proverbs 31 to become

A woman of faith who trusts in the Lord

A woman of truth who knows her worth

A woman of virtue who values faithfulness in marriage

A woman of service who complements her husband

A woman of goodness who is committed to peace and

A woman of love who treasures the sanctity of marriage.

Chosen and Cherished is an inspiring Bible study, perfect for personal or group use, that will help you discover the noble virtues that every wife needs.

Be sure to also check out Kimberly’s Beloved and Blessed Podcast! You can find it by visiting: BelovedandBlessed.com

IP#367 – Kathleen Beckman – A Family Guide to Spiritual Warfare on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor Podcast

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Kathleen Beckman was meant to write this book: A Family Guide to Spiritual Warfare: Strategies for Deliverance and Healing! It is EXCELLENT! There really is no other person more suited to bring the wisdom of the Marian heart and the profound teachings of the Church to one of the most important needs of the domestic church, to prepare and undertake the spiritual battle with dark forces of the enemy assailing families around the world today! Do not be afraid! You can trust Kathleen’s guidance in this area. Always practical and presented with clarity, this book should be in every home. In this conversation, we touch on only the tip of spiritual gold contained in its pages. We cannot recommend this book more highly!

You can find the book here:

From the book description

In A Family Guide to Spiritual Warfare, Kathleen Beckman offers you potent advice from her 12 years of active participation on an exorcist’s team. She shows you how to clean up your household by cultivating in your family a civilization of love and how to withstand the spiritual attacks that inevitably come to destroy the harmonious family life you create.

Beckman reveals how you can recognize diabolical disguises in your home and offers proven means of protection found only in the Church’s arsenal of spiritual weapons.

You’ll also learn the devil’s strategies how he does not necessarily seek to possess but simply to seed your family with the venom of hatred, desolation, envy, and vice. This, she explains, is why it s so important for spouses and children to become schooled in the art of spiritual combat. It’s the only way you can destroy the works of the devil and unmask the hidden evil that weaves in and out of your daily family life.

Along with more than two dozen effective prayers for family healing and deliverance, you’ll also learn:

How to understand the spirits working for and against your family, and what to do in response to them

What specific actions to take if you believe your family has come under the influence of demonic activity

How to use your baptismal, spousal, and parental authority in spiritual warfare

How curses can become effective and what can be done to counteract them

The difference between diabolical temptation, oppression, obsession, and possession

The seven ways your family can wear the full armor of God

The diabolical counterparts to each of the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes

The 13 weapons you can use to defend yourself and your family against evil spirits

You can also check out IP#262 Kathleen Beckman; Praying For Priests on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor

Dr. Thomas Howard – Hallowed Be This House on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor Special Podcast

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This is a special reposting of a conversation I had with Dr. Thomas Howard several years ago. This great man died on October 15, 2020. His wisdom continues to be a blessed gift to all of us. R.I.P. – KM

What a delight to talk once again with Dr. Thomas Howard. This time we discuss “Hallowed Be This House: Finding Signs of Heaven in Your Home.” Dr. Howard has such a beautiful gift of recognizing the sacred. Through this marvelous book, he helps us all to appreciate the many ways in which we too can dive deeper into the “mystery,” especially in those ordinary places and things found in our lives. This book is a treasure!

You can find the book here

Tom Howard, an accomplished writer of great distinction, has the rare gift of being able to express profound truths in whimsical terms. In Hallowed Be This House, he explores with charm and wit the sacramental aspect of our daily lives. I found the book vastly entertaining and, what is more, felt refreshed and the happier of having read it. So, I am sure, will all its readers. —Malcolm Muggeridge

Howard’s vision is the quintessential Catholic, sacramental vision. To read this book is to see with the eyes of Christ. —Peter Kreeft, Handbook of Christian Apologetics

IP#351 Laura Fanucci – Grieving Together on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor Podcast

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It was truly a blessing to share this conversation with Laura Fanucci about the book she co-authored with her husband Franco entitled “Grieving Together: A Couple’s Journey through Miscarriage.” This is an important work and the best I have ever seen on the subject. Filled with tender, relatable situations and practical advice, “Grieving Together” is not only for couples who have experienced the loss of miscarriage, but also for those who love and minister to them.

You can find the book here

Be sure to visit Laura’s website: Mothersspirit.com

From the book description:

You might feel, in the days and weeks after a miscarriage, like the Lord is anything but close.

Laura and Franco Fanucci understand. After struggling with infertility, they miscarried their third child in the first trimester. Later, their twin daughters were born prematurely and lived only a few days. Laura and Franco are here to tell you that, while your miscarriage is a deeply personal loss, you are not alone.

Grieving Together is written by a couple specifically for couples, understanding that both spouses have experienced a loss and grieve differently. Drawing from Catholic tradition and teaching, Laura and Franco gently guide you through:

The physical and emotional experiences of miscarriage – including help in making the hardest decisions

How couples respond to grief – and how to support each other

Turning to family, friends, and the Church – finding help and support from loved ones and your Church community

The future after miscarriage – where to go from here as a couple

Grieving Together is the book the Fanuccis had wished for after their miscarriage. Practical resources include Scripture, prayers, and official Catholic rites. It also speaks to the unique concerns of fathers, and includes many real-life stories from couples in many different circumstances.

IP#348 Ashley Hales – Finding Holy in the Suburbs on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor Podcast

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What a delight to talk with Ashley Hales about her book “Finding Holy in the Subrubs: Living Faithfully in the Land of Too Much.” This book is about bringing things out into the light. We discuss the “idols” of the suburbs and the challenges of being truly present to our neighbors.

.”

Can find the book here

From the book description:

What does it look like to live a full Christian life in the suburbs? Suburbs reflect our good, God-given desire for a place to call home. And suburbs also reflect our own brokenness. This book is an invitation to look deeply into your soul as a suburbanite and discover what it means to live holy there.

IP#344 Timothy Muldoon – The Discerning Parent on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor Podcast

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What a great conversation with Dr. Timothy Muldoon, who with his wife, Sue, has written a wonderfully rich spiritual resource for today’s family entitled “The Discerning Parent: An Iganatius Guide to Raising Your Teen.” Fr. Timothy Gallagher said it so well, this is “An engaging book for parents who desire that God be the center of raising their teenage children. Applying Ignatian discernment to this specific task–a valuable contribution–the authors offer clarity and hope to all parents.”

You can find the book here

From the book description:

This thoughtful approach shows you how to talk with your children openly about freedom vs. limits, friendships, family time, sexuality, the use and abuse of technology, faith and Catholic practice, recognizing the needs of others, and getting through hard times together. You’ll discover when to be tough and when to be forgiving, when to control and when to give freedom, when to give feedback and when to wait. You will learn the importance of praying for your teens, and the important of praying together as a family.

Daily and weekly prayers, devotions, and meditations will guide you as the Muldoons show how this is a time of discernment for you as well as your teens–and create a way for you to move through these challenging years together. The Discerning Parent offers you an opportunity to pause and consider your life and your teen’s in the light of faith.

USCCA39 – The 6th Commandment: Marital Fidelity Part 2 – U. S. Catholic Catechism for Adults w/ Arch. George Lucas

USCCA39 Chapter 30 – Marital Fidelity pt 2

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Archbishop Lucas offers insights on the US Catholic Catechism for Adults Chapter 30:

THREATS TO MARRIAGE The Catechism lists the following behaviors as acts that undermine the purpose and dignity of marriage.

Adultery is gravely sinful because it violates God’s call to a loving covenant of fidelity between a married man and woman. The act of adultery is an injustice to the wounded spouse. It weakens the institution of marriage and the stability of the family.

Divorce is contrary to the natural law for it breaks the promise “to which the spouses freely consented to live with each other till death” (CCC, no. 2384). Jesus clearly taught that God’s original plan for marriage excluded divorce (cf. Mt 5:31-32, 9:3-9; Mk 10:9; Lk 16:18; 1 Cor 7:10-11). Marriage is an indissoluble union. Jesus removed the accommodations for divorce that had been tolerated under the Old Law.

The couple may be allowed a separation in certain cases, such as when adultery is occurring or some type of abuse is present. A separation can be, at times, a prudent action to take. “If civil divorce remains the only possible way of ensuring certain legal rights, the care of the children, or the protection of inheritance, it can be tolerated and does not constitute a moral offense” (CCC, no. 2383). In such cases, a Catholic can still receive the Sacraments.

Cohabitation (an unmarried couple living together) involves the serious sin of fornication. It does not conform to God’s plan for marriage and is always wrong and objectively sinful. Cohabitation does not guarantee successful married life, as has been revealed in the painful experience of many, and is detrimental to future commitment.

Polygamy (having more than one spouse at a time) violates the understanding of the equal dignity that a man and woman bring to marriage and contradicts the unitive purpose of marriage.

Attempts to justify same-sex unions or relationships or to give them matrimonial status also contradict God’s plan—as revealed from the beginning both in nature and in Revelation—for marriage to be a lifelong union of a man and a woman.

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) (2012-04-02). United States Catholic Catechism for Adults (Kindle Locations 5936-5951). United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Kindle Edition.

The Most Reverend George J. Lucas leads the Archdiocese of Omaha.

For other episodes in the visit our Archbishop George Lucas page

This programs is based on:

More information can be found here.

We wish to thank the USCCB for the permissions granted for use of relevant material used in this series.

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IP#1 Kimberly Hahn – “Beloved and Blessed” on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor

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What a blessing to have my first “Inside the Pages” show be with Kimberly Hahn! She is an inspiration on

so many levels. The entire “Life-Nurturing Love” series is wonderful (book and DVD). When you read Kimberly Hahn, you can’t help but feel you are receiving the best advice from a wise and cherished friend. With good humor and joy, Kimberly offers Christ-centered teaching from the heart of the Church in her unique maternal-nurturing way. Beloved and Blessed is one of the most important witnesses in recent times on how to truly live out God’s design for marriage.

Click here to purchase Kimberly’s book online at www.servantbooks.org

The third in a series of Bible studies based on Proverbs 31, Beloved and Blessed offers tools to help you strengthen your marriage and raise your children, creating a civilization of love in your home. Applying Sacred Scripture, Church teaching, and pastoral wisdom, Kimberly Hahn helps you explore: