Episode 3 – Pontius Pilate – Villains of the Early Church with Mike Aquilina
Mike Aquilina and Kris McGregor explore the complex figure of Pontius Pilate. Although remembered as a villain and named in the Creed alongside the Virgin Mary, Pilate emerges in the Gospels as a conflicted Roman governor caught between political pressure, personal misgivings, and the volatility of Judea. Aquilina explains how both Jewish and Roman sources portray Pilate as insensitive, often provocative, and capable of harsh actions that destabilized the region. Yet the Gospel narratives show layers—his wife’s troubling dream, his hesitation, and his uneasy awareness that Jesus is innocent—revealing a man far from a simple caricature. Early Christian imagination even produced traditions depicting Pilate’s household as eventually turning toward Christ, reflecting the Church’s instinct to look for the possibility of redemption in every story.
We turn from Pilate’s historical role to the spiritual lessons his failures reveal. Pilate’s most haunting question, “What is truth?”, becomes a mirror the listener must face. Jesus—Truth in person—stood before him, yet fear and self-interest led Pilate to walk away. This invites Cus to consider how often we do the same in our own spheres of influence, whether in public life, family leadership, or ordinary daily encounters. Instead of repeating Pilate’s pattern of avoidance, we are called to face reality with courage, lean on prayer and the sacraments, and let our lives present Christ clearly to others.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
How does Pilate’s struggle between fear and conscience mirror the moments when I avoid doing what I know is right?
When have I, like Pilate, chosen comfort or self-protection over fidelity to Christ’s truth?
What areas of my life require deeper courage, especially when my choices affect those entrusted to me?
How do I respond when Christ stands before me in Scripture, the sacraments, or other people—do I recognize Him or turn away?
In what ways do I “wash my hands” of responsibility instead of acting with clarity and integrity?
How does the witness of the women at the Passion challenge my own consistency and steadfastness in faith?
What practices of prayer or sacramental life can strengthen me against moral hesitation or cowardice?
How might I allow Christ’s presence in me to become more visible to others in ordinary daily situations?
An excerpt from Villains of the Early Church
“Jesus was crucified under Pontius Pilate. Countless millions of Christians recite that simple historical fact when they profess their faith. It reminds us that this is real history we’re dealing with. The death and Resurrection of Jesus are not just metaphors or allegories: they really happened at a particular moment in history.
Pilate is our anchor to that historical moment. He is our grounding in historical fact.
But he’s also one of the most fascinating characters in the Gospels. His doubt and dithering in the face of an unpredictable mob make him more than just a villain. They make him human, and we feel real sympathy for him. He’s doing a bad job, but in his position it was nearly impossible to do a good job.”
You can find the book on which this series is based here.
Mike Aquilina is a popular author working in the area of Church history, especially patristics, the study of the early Church Fathers.[1] He is the executive vice-president and trustee of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, a Roman Catholic research center based in Steubenville, Ohio. He is a contributing editor of Angelus (magazine) and general editor of the Reclaiming Catholic History Series from Ave Maria Press. He is the author or editor of more than fifty books, including The Fathers of the Church (2006); The Mass of the Early Christians (2007); Living the Mysteries(2003); and What Catholics Believe(1999). He has hosted eleven television series on the Eternal Word Television Network and is a frequent guest commentator on Catholic radio.
The Purgative and Illuminative Way – The Way of Mystery with Deacon James Keating
Deacon James Keating explains that moral life without a spiritual foundation quickly collapses into mere willpower and rule-keeping. True virtue begins when Christ’s own life and breath animate the soul so that goodness becomes joyful rather than forced. Drawing on the story of the rich young man, it contrasts external obedience with the interior transformation that comes from detachment and union with Christ. It outlines the classic stages of spiritual growth—purgation, illumination, and union—showing how conversion involves cooperating with grace to turn from sin, endure the pain of detachment, and gradually discover the delight of living virtuously.
In the illuminative stage, the moral teachings of the Church are seen not as burdens but as divine gifts that reveal humanity’s true fulfillment. We should not separate Jesus from the Church’s authority, as it’s a deception that isolates Christians and leaves them prey to self-deception and cultural ideologies. Moral relativism is a modern illusion that truth cannot be known, but the Catholic vision holds both mind and heart capable of grasping objective truth through Christ.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
How do I personally experience the presence of Christ during the Mass and in receiving the Eucharist?
In what ways can I slow down and truly “savor” the mystery of the Eucharist as the saints did?
How might I deepen my faith in the real presence of Jesus through prayer and meditation on Scripture?
Do I recognize that at every Mass, I am united not only with Christ but also with all of heaven and my loved ones who have gone before me?
How can the example and writings of the saints inspire me to approach the Eucharist with greater love and reverence?
What steps can I take to participate in Mass more frequently or spend more time in Eucharistic adoration?
How does understanding the Eucharist as a “sacrament of love” call me to greater self-giving in my daily relationships?
What does it mean for me to rest on the heart of Christ as St. John did at the Last Supper?
How do the teachings of the Church Fathers strengthen my understanding and devotion to the Eucharist?
In what ways is the Mass a foretaste of heaven that prepares my soul for eternal communion with God?
Deacon James Keating, Ph.D., is a professor of Spiritual Theology and serves as a spiritual director at Kenrick Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, MO.
St. Leo the Great – The Doctors of the Church: The Charism of Wisdom with Dr. Matthew Bunson
Born: Tuscany, Italy
Died: November 10, 461 AD, Rome, Italy
Dr. Matthew Bunson and Kris McGregor explore the life, teachings, and contributions of Pope St. Leo the Great. They discuss Leo’s background, his significant influence on the papacy, and his role in defending orthodox Christian doctrine amid turbulent times.
Pope St. Leo lived during a period of upheaval within both the Church and the Roman Empire. Notably, he confronted heresies that questioned Christ’s divinity and humanity, such as Arianism and Nestorianism, which led to ongoing debates over Christ’s nature. Leo’s “Tome,” a key theological document, clarified the Church’s stance on Christ’s dual nature as both fully human and divine, shaping the Council of Chalcedon’s doctrine in 451 AD. This affirmation became central to Christian Christology and reinforced the Virgin Mary’s title as Theotokos, or “Mother of God,” which had been confirmed in earlier councils.
Pope Leo’s theological insights and firm defense of the faith earned him the title “Doctor of the Church” and established his legacy as a “Great” saint. His contributions, particularly regarding the papal primacy and the nature of Christ, continue to influence Catholic teaching and underscore the importance of spiritual and doctrinal leadership within the Church.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
How does Pope Leo’s boldness in confronting both Attila the Hun and the Vandals inspire us to act courageously in defending our faith and values?
In what ways can we, like Pope Leo, respond to theological and cultural challenges to our faith with clarity and conviction?
How does Pope Leo’s affirmation of Christ’s full humanity and divinity shape our understanding of who Jesus is and our relationship with Him?
What does Pope Leo’s role in affirming the primacy of the Pope teach us about the importance of Church unity and obedience to spiritual authority?
How might Pope Leo’s deep personal holiness and spiritual influence inspire us to cultivate our own sanctity and positively impact those around us?
How can we follow Pope Leo’s example of striving for peace and reconciliation in our communities and personal lives?
In what ways does Pope Leo’s theological clarity at the Council of Chalcedon encourage us to seek and proclaim truth, even when it requires perseverance and effort?
How does the Council’s affirmation of Mary as Theotokos (Mother of God) deepen our devotion to her and understanding of her role in the mystery of Christ?
“Aware of the historical period in which he lived and of the change that was taking place – from pagan Rome to Christian Rome – in a period of profound crisis, Leo the Great knew how to make himself close to the people and the faithful with his pastoral action and his preaching. He enlivened charity in a Rome tried by famines, an influx of refugees, injustice and poverty. He opposed pagan superstitions and the actions of Manichaean groups. He associated the liturgy with the daily life of Christians: for example, by combining the practice of fasting with charity and almsgiving above all on the occasion of the Quattro tempora, which in the course of the year marked the change of seasons. In particular, Leo the Great taught his faithful – and his words still apply for us today – that the Christian liturgy is not the memory of past events, but the actualization of invisible realities which act in the lives of each one of us. This is what he stressed in a sermon (cf. 64, 1-2) on Easter, to be celebrated in every season of the year “not so much as something of the past as rather an event of the present”. All this fits into a precise project, the Holy Pontiff insisted: just as, in fact, the Creator enlivened with the breath of rational life man formed from the dust of the ground, after the original sin he sent his Son into the world to restore to man his lost dignity and to destroy the dominion of the devil through the new life of grace.
This is the Christological mystery to which St Leo the Great, with his Letter to the Council of Ephesus, made an effective and essential contribution, confirming for all time – through this Council – what St Peter said at Caesarea Philippi. With Peter and as Peter, he professed: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”. And so it is that God and man together “are not foreign to the human race but alien to sin” (cf. Serm. 64). Through the force of this Christological faith he was a great messenger of peace and love. He thus shows us the way: in faith we learn charity. Let us therefore learn with St Leo the Great to believe in Christ, true God and true Man, and to implement this faith every day in action for peace and love of neighbour.”
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, We Have a Pope! Benedict XVI, The Saints Encyclopedia and best-selling biographies of St. Damien of Molokai and St. Kateri Tekakwitha.
All Shall Be Well: A Journey Through Julian of Norwich’s Revelations of Divine Love with Kris McGregor
Episode 13: The Anent Reflections, Part One — Mercy, Wrath, and Peace
Summary:
In this episode, we begin Julian of Norwich’s Anent reflections, a meditative pause in her Revelations of Divine Love. Instead of recounting new visions, Julian turns inward to contemplate the truths already revealed to her. These reflections open a contemplative space filled with theology and spiritual insight, helping us see what God has shown her more clearly.
We explore Julian’s teaching on God as unchanging Truth, Wisdom, and Love, and how our souls are created to share in those very attributes. We also reflect on her striking claim that there is no wrath in God — only goodness and mercy. Julian teaches that our judgment is distorted by sin, but God’s gaze remains fixed on the soul as He created it, whole and beloved.
Julian then introduces five inner movements of the soul: enjoying, mourning, desire, dread, and sure hope. Each one reveals a layer of the soul’s journey with God and helps us understand how grace is at work, even in moments of struggle.
Finally, we hear her deep assurance that God’s mercy never ceases. No matter how often we fail, fall, or fear, His gaze of love never turns away. In God’s sight, the soul that belongs to Him has never died, nor ever shall.
Full Julian of Norwich Quotations Used in Episode 13:
From Revelations of Divine Love, Long Text, Chapters 41-43, trans. Grace Warrack, Methuen & Co., 1901 (PDF edition).
Truth, Wisdom, and Love
“Truth seeth God, and Wisdom beholdeth God, and of these two cometh the third: that is, a holy marvellous delight in God; which is Love. Where Truth and Wisdom are verily, there is Love verily, coming of them both. And all of God’s making: for He is endless sovereign Truth, endless sovereign Wisdom, endless sovereign Love, unmade; and man’s Soul is a creature in God which hath the same properties made, and evermore it doeth that it was made for: it seeth God, it beholdeth God, and it loveth God. Whereof God enjoyeth in the creature; and the creature in God, endlessly marvelling.” (Ch. 44)
God’s Judgment and Ours
GOD deemeth us [looking] upon our Nature-Substance, which is ever kept one in Him, whole and safe without end: and this doom is [because] of His rightfulness [in the which it is made and kept]. And man judgeth [looking] upon our changeable Sense-soul, which seemeth now one [thing], now other,—according as it taketh of the [higher or lower] parts,—and [is that which] showeth outward. And this wisdom [of man’s judgment] is mingled [because of the diverse things it beholdeth]. For sometimes it is good and easy, and sometimes it is hard and grievous. And in as much as it is good and easy it belongeth to the rightfulness; and in as much as it is hard and grievous [by reason of the sin beheld, which sheweth in our Sense-soul,] our good Lord Jesus reformeth it by [the working in our Sense-soul of] mercy and grace through the virtue of His blessed Passion, and so bringeth it to the rightfulness.” (Ch.45)
God Is Not Wroth
“For I saw truly that it is against the property of His Might to be wroth, and against the property of His Wisdom, and against the property of His Goodness. God is the Goodness that may not be wroth, for He is not [other] but Goodness: our soul is oned to Him, unchangeable Goodness, and between God and our soul is neither wrath nor forgiveness in His sight. For our soul is so fully oned to God of His own Goodness that between God and our soul may be right nought.” (Ch. 46)
The Five Workings of the Soul
“For I felt in me five manner of workings, which be these: Enjoying, mourning, desire, dread, and sure hope. Enjoying: for God gave me understanding and knowing that it was Himself that I saw; mourning: and that was for failing; desire: and that was I might see Him ever more and more, understanding and knowing that we shall never have full rest till we see Him verily and clearly in heaven; dread was: for it seemed to me in all that time that that sight should fail, and I be left to myself; sure hope was in the endless love: that I saw I should be kept by His mercy and brought to His bliss. And the joying in His sight with this sure hope of His merciful keeping made me to have feeling and comfort so that mourning and dread were not greatly painful.”(Ch. 47)
The Working of Mercy
“Mercy is a sweet gracious working in love, mingled with plenteous pity: for mercy worketh in keeping us, and mercy worketh turning to us all things to good. Mercy, by love, suffereth us to fail in measure and in as much as we fail, in so much we fall; and in as much as we fall, in so much we die: for it needs must be that we die in so much as we fail of the sight and feeling of God that is our life. Our failing is dreadful, our falling is shameful, and our dying is sorrowful: but in all this the sweet eye of pity and love is lifted never off us, nor the working of mercy ceaseth.” (Ch. 48)
Where God Appears, Wrath Has No Place
“For I saw full surely that where our Lord appeareth, peace is taken and wrath hath no place. For I saw no manner of wrath in God, neither for short time nor for long; for in sooth, as to my sight, if God might be wroth for an instant, we should never have life nor place nor being. For as verily as we have our being of the endless Might of God and of the endless Wisdom and of the endless Goodness, so verily we have our keeping in the endless Might of God, in the endless Wisdom, and in the endless Goodness. For though we feel in ourselves, frail wretches, debates and strifes, yet are we all-mannerful enclosed in the mildness of God and in His meekness, in His benignity and in His graciousness. For I saw full surely that all our endless friendship, our place, our life and our being, is in God.” (Ch. 49)
Mercy and Forgiveness: The Soul Never Dies
AND in this life mercy and forgiveness is our way and evermore leadeth us to grace. And by the tempest and the sorrow that we fall into on our part, we be often dead as to man’s doom in earth; but in the sight of God the soul that shall be saved was never dead, nor ever shall be.” ” (Ch. 50)
Scripture Featured
(Translations used: Revised Standard Version [RSV-CE] )
(Zephaniah 3:17)
“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”
(1 Samuel 16:7)
“Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
(James 1:17)
“Every good endowment and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
(Exodus 34:6–7)
“The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty.”
(1 Peter 1:8–9)
“Though you do not now see him you believe in him and rejoice with unutterable and exalted joy. As the outcome of your faith you obtain the salvation of your souls.”
(Psalm 42:1–2)
“As a hart (deer) longs for flowing streams, so longs my soul for thee, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.”
(2 Corinthians 4:7)
“We have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:16–18)
“Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
(Hebrews 10:23)
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”
(Luke 1:54–55)
“He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity for ever.”
(Lamentations 3:22–23)
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.”
(Ephesians 2:14)
“For he is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility.”
(John 11:25–26)
“I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.”
Catechism of the Catholic Church
“The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to himself. Only in God will he find the truth and happiness he never stops searching for.” (CCC 27)
“The heart is the place of decision, deeper than our psychic drives. It is the place of truth, where we choose life or death. It is the place of encounter, because as image of God we live in relation: it is the place of covenant.” (CCC 2563)
“God is infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life.” (CCC 1)
“The Gospel is the revelation in Jesus Christ of God’s mercy to sinners.” (CCC 1846)
“There are no limits to the mercy of God.” (CCC 1864)
“By revealing himself to Moses, God reveals that he is rich in mercy and fidelity. God is Love. His very being is Love. By sending his only Son and the Spirit of Love in the fullness of time, God has revealed his innermost secret: God himself is an eternal exchange of love, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and he has destined us to share in that exchange.” (CCC 214, 221)
“By his death Christ liberates us from sin; by his Resurrection, he opens for us the way to a new life.” (CCC 654)
Teachings of the Saints
St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross:
“The deeper one is drawn into God, the more one must go out of oneself; that is, one must go to the world in order to carry the divine life into it.” (Essays on Woman, “The Separate Vocations of Man and Woman According to Nature and Grace”)
St. John of the Cross:
“In the evening of life, we will be judged on love alone.” (Sayings of Light and Love, 64)
St. Augustine of Hippo:
“The wrath of God is not a disturbed feeling of His mind, but a judgment by which punishment is inflicted upon sin.” (City of God, XV.25)
St. John Chrysostom:
“When you hear that God is angry in the Scriptures, do not suppose that God is subject to some passion. Such expressions are condescensions, teaching us that His acts of punishment are the consequence of our sins.”(Homilies on Genesis, 6:6)
St. Faustina Kowalska:
“Let the sinner not be afraid to approach Me. The flames of mercy are burning Me—clamoring to be spent; I want to pour them out upon these souls.” (Diary, 50)
St. Teresa of Ávila:
“Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you, all things are passing; God never changes. Patience obtains all things. He who has God lacks nothing; God alone suffices.” (Poem: Nada te turbe)
St. Gregory of Nyssa:
“For it is not when we begin to exist, but when we are joined to God, that we truly live.” (On the Soul and the Resurrection)
Reflection Questions for Prayer
Julian insists that wrath has no place in God. How does this challenge the way you may have imagined His response to your sins or failings?
She teaches that mercy never ceases and that God’s gaze of love never leaves us. Where in your life do you most need to trust this truth?
Julian ends by assuring us that in God’s sight, the soul He loves never dies. How might this hope shape the way you endure trials and sorrow in this life?
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, You who are endless Truth, Wisdom, and Love, draw us into Your peace, where wrath has no place and mercy never ceases. When we fail, lift us with Your pity; when we fall, keep us in Your forgiveness; when we fear death, remind us that in You we live forever. Let us rest in Your unchanging goodness, until the day we see You face to face and rejoice with You in the fullness of love.
Foundation of Discernment – “What am I to do?” The Discernment of God’s Will in Everyday Decisions with Fr. Timothy Gallagher
Fr. Timothy Gallagher explains that true discernment begins not with decision-making techniques, but with a spiritual foundation rooted in knowing God’s love. Drawing from St. Ignatius of Loyola’s teachings, he reflects on 1 John 4:19: “We love because He first loved us.” Fr. Gallagher shares two conversion stories—Michael, a college student who encounters God’s mercy and love in a desperate moment, and Catherine, a young woman whose experience of God’s tender presence awakens a desire to respond in love. These encounters reveal that the ability to seek God’s will arises naturally from the awareness of being loved by Him.
Fr. Gallagher explores how this love forms the heart of discernment: it is a relationship of trust and communion of wills between God and the person. Referencing John Henry Newman, each person has an irreplaceable mission in God’s plan—“God has created me to do Him some definite service.” Like Jeremiah and Mary, every person is uniquely called from eternity. When one grows in prayer and faith, that love deepens into readiness to say, “Whatever You want, Lord.” This openness marks the true disposition needed for discernment, where love and freedom unite to follow God’s personal call.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions:
How have I personally experienced the truth that “we love because He first loved us”?
When have I most deeply recognized that I am loved by God without condition?
How does knowing God’s love affect the way I approach important decisions in my life?
In what ways might fear or self-reliance hinder me from trusting God’s loving will?
What helps me grow in awareness of God’s presence and affection in daily prayer?
Can I identify a time when I, like Michael or Catherine, sensed God inviting me into deeper relationship?
How does the idea that God has created me for “some definite service” shape my sense of purpose?
What unique gifts or circumstances in my life reveal my irreplaceable place in God’s plan?
Am I willing to say to God, “Whatever You want, Lord,” with a free and peaceful heart?
How can I nurture greater openness and love so that my discernment becomes a true response to God’s invitation?
From The Discernment of God’s Will in Everyday Decisions:
“Three Times in which a Sound and Good Choice May Be Made
The first time is when God Our Lord so moves and attracts the will that, without doubting or being able to doubt, the devout soul follows what is shown to it, as St. Paul and St. Matthew did in following Christ our Lord.
The second time is when sufficient clarity and understanding is received through experience of consolations and desolations, and through experience of discernment of different spirits.
The third time is one of tranquility, when one considers first for what purpose man is born, that is, to praise God our Lord and save his soul, and, desiring this, chooses as a means to this end some life or state within the bounds of the Church, so that he may be helped in the service of his Lord and the salvation of his soul. I said a tranquil time, that is, when the soul is not agitated by different spirits, and uses its natural powers freely and tranquilly.
If the choice is not made in the first or second time, two ways of making it in this third time are given below.”
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
The Feast of St. John Lateran – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff
Msgr. John Esseff reflects on the Feast of the Dedication of St. John Lateran, calling it a reminder that the Church is not a building but the living Body of Christ. He traces the biblical understanding of the temple from the Old Testament to Jesus, whose pierced side poured forth blood and water—the sacraments of baptism and Eucharist—through which the faithful are united to Him. Each baptized person becomes a living stone in the spiritual temple founded on Christ. Msgr. Esseff recalls a mystical encounter in St. John Lateran where Christ revealed the power of divine love flowing from His Sacred Heart, urging him to teach this love to the world. Thus, we shouldn’t be relying on worldly powers or comfort: such dependence is a spiritual decay.
There is a need for authentic witness, especially for younger generations. Many youth long for challenge and genuine examples of holiness, not comfort or compromise. Renewal begins in families through sacrificial love between husband and wife, parents and children. Every Christian, he says, is called to manifest Christ’s love daily through charity and courage, becoming a light amid cultural darkness.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
How do I understand my identity as a living temple of God rather than just a member of an institution?
In what ways can I let the love flowing from Christ’s Sacred Heart transform my daily actions?
What “marketplaces” in my own heart need cleansing so that God may dwell more fully within me?
How does my participation in the Eucharist unite me more deeply to Christ and His Church?
When faced with cultural opposition, how can I draw strength from the witness of the early martyrs?
Do I rely more on worldly comfort and security or on God’s providence and grace?
How am I nurturing sacrificial love within my family or community?
What example of faith and courage am I offering to younger generations seeking authenticity?
How can I live each day as part of Christ’s mission to bring light into the world’s darkness?
What concrete step can I take this week to let Christ’s love flow through me to someone in need?
Msgr. John A. Esseff is a Roman Catholic priest in the Diocese of Scranton. Msgr. Esseff served as a retreat director and confessor to St. Teresa of Calcutta. He continues to offer direction and retreats for the sisters of the Missionaries of Charity around the world. Msgr. Esseff encountered St. Padre Pio, who would become a spiritual father to him. He has lived in areas around the world, serving in the Pontifical missions, a Catholic organization established by Pope St. 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 continues to serve 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 Communion Rite – The Way of Mystery with Deacon James Keating
Deacon James Keating reflects on the sacred reality of receiving Holy Communion as an act of faith and new life. Rising from the pew mirrors Christ’s call to Lazarus — a movement from death to life. Communion is not a casual act but an encounter with the living Christ who dwells within us to bring us through death into eternal life. Deacon Keating invites us to approach the Eucharist attentively, using reverence, focus, and prayer to center the heart on the mystery being received. Even distractions during the procession can become moments of intercession. Saying “Amen” boldly affirms one’s desire for salvation, while gestures like bowing unite body and soul in readiness for divine encounter. After receiving the Eucharist, silence allows the soul to interiorize grace — a sacred “epiclesis” within the communicant, like Mary’s silent fiat at the Annunciation.
This encounter leads to transformation and mission. The silence after Communion is where conversion deepens, forming the faithful to bring Christ into the world. The Mass is not complete until we allow the Lord to change us, sending us forth as witnesses in daily life. Fear often stifles this transformation — fear of rejection, ignorance, or standing alone in truth — yet authentic community and deeper knowledge of Christ dispel such fear. Participation in daily Mass, Eucharistic adoration, and acts of charity sustain this conversion. Each small offering or self-denial extends the mystery of the Mass into everyday life. The Eucharist thus unites worship and mission, healing the divide between faith and ordinary living so that the lay vocation can renew culture through Christ’s abiding presence.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
When I rise to receive Holy Communion, do I truly recognize it as a movement from death to life in Christ?
How mindful am I of Christ’s presence as I process toward the altar, and how can I gently refocus when distractions arise?
Do I proclaim my “Amen” at Communion with conviction, aware that I am affirming my desire for salvation?
How does my bodily reverence—such as bowing—reflect my inner readiness to receive the Lord?
In what ways can I allow silence after Communion to deepen my encounter with Christ rather than rush through it?
Do I permit the Eucharist to transform me into a person who brings Christ’s presence into the world?
What fears hold me back from witnessing to my faith, and how can I bring those fears to the Lord in the Mass?
How do I support others in my community who strive to live and speak the truth of the Gospel?
Am I nurturing my relationship with Christ beyond Sunday through daily Mass, adoration, or personal prayer?
How can I carry the grace of the Eucharist into my daily life by acts of charity, sacrifice, and love?
Deacon James Keating, Ph.D., is a professor of Spiritual Theology and serves as a spiritual director at Kenrick Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, MO.
Episode 2 – Caiaphas – Villains of the Early Church with Mike Aquilina
Mike Aquilina and Kris McGregor discuss Caiaphas, the high priest who played a crucial role in the trial and death of Jesus. Caiaphas lived in a time when religion and politics were inseparable—his role required balancing faith and diplomacy under Roman rule. Though the office of high priest was meant to be lifelong, Caiaphas’s father-in-law, Annas, was deposed by the Romans, showing their interference in Jewish religious life. Caiaphas maintained power by cooperating with Rome, seeking stability in a politically charged environment. He viewed Jesus as a potential threat to national peace, preferring compromise with foreign rulers over potential conflict, even at the cost of condemning an innocent man.
Mike Aquilina explores how Caiaphas’s story reveals the dangers of valuing worldly peace over divine truth. Though he believed he acted for the good of his people, Caiaphas allowed fear and convenience to guide his judgment. Every Christian faces the same temptation—to protect comfort or reputation rather than stand for what is right before God.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
How do I, like Caiaphas, sometimes prioritize comfort or stability over faithfulness to God’s will?
In what ways might I compromise spiritual truth to maintain peace with others or avoid conflict?
What “temples” in my life need cleansing of attitudes or habits that dishonor God?
How can I deepen my trust in God’s providence instead of relying on human control or compromise?
Do I examine my conscience regularly to recognize where fear influences my moral choices?
How does Caiaphas’s story challenge me to place divine truth above social or political convenience?
Where in my life am I called to speak truth boldly, even if it disrupts the status quo?
How can I grow in detachment from worldly success or approval to seek only God’s glory?
In what ways does the hope of Caiaphas’s possible redemption inspire me to pray for my own conversion?
How does reflecting on my complicity in sin deepen my gratitude for Christ’s mercy on the cross?
An excerpt from Villains of the Early Church
“Caiaphas IS mentioned everywhere in the Church Fathers, but almost as furniture—“ and Jesus was brought before Caiaphas.” If the early Christian writers are interested in anything about him, it’s that he could prophesy truly because of his office. Otherwise, they don’t seem to find much remarkable in him. He’s the banality of evil. A bureaucrat.
Yet, Caiaphas, like many of the characters caught up in the Passion story, was in a complicated position—more complicated than we may realize when we hear the story in the Gospels.”
Aquilina, Mike. Villains of the Early Church: And How They Made Us Better Christians (Kindle Locations 304). Emmaus Road Publishing. Kindle Edition.
You can find the book on which this series is based here.
Mike Aquilina is a popular author working in the area of Church history, especially patristics, the study of the early Church Fathers.[1] He is the executive vice-president and trustee of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, a Roman Catholic research center based in Steubenville, Ohio. He is a contributing editor of Angelus (magazine) and general editor of the Reclaiming Catholic History Series from Ave Maria Press. He is the author or editor of more than fifty books, including The Fathers of the Church (2006); The Mass of the Early Christians (2007); Living the Mysteries(2003); and What Catholics Believe(1999). He has hosted eleven television series on the Eternal Word Television Network and is a frequent guest commentator on Catholic radio.
God’s Guidance in Everyday Decisions – “What am I to do?” The Discernment of God’s Will in Everyday Decisions with Fr. Timothy Gallagher
Fr. Timothy Gallagher discusses how Christians can seek God’s direction not only in major life choices but also in the ordinary moments of each day. Discerning God’s will begins with prayer and openness — asking God for light, reviewing the factors involved in a decision, acting with peace, and later reflecting on the outcome to learn from it. Drawing on St. Thomas Aquinas, this process cultivates the virtue of prudence — the habit of seeing what best leads to good ends. Through this daily attentiveness, our capacity to recognize divine guidance grows, especially when paired with a life of prayerful self-examination.
God’s love is intimately present in both great and small matters — even the most ordinary decisions can be part of a life offered to God. Living this way transforms daily actions into a continual offering, as described in Romans 12:1, making one’s life a “living sacrifice.” Fr. Gallagher shares from his own experience that prayerful discernment brings real clarity and peace — a partnership between human reason and divine wisdom. Over time, such faithfulness leads to serenity, as Dante wrote: “In your will is our peace.”
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions:
How do I invite God into my small, everyday choices rather than only my major life decisions?
When I face uncertainty, do I take time to pray before deciding, or do I act on impulse?
In what ways can I grow in the virtue of prudence through reflection on past experiences?
How might I let Jesus truly be “Lord” of my ordinary routines and interactions?
Do I view daily decisions as opportunities to offer my life as a “living sacrifice” to God?
How do I practice trust that God cares about the details of my life as deeply as the larger events?
What keeps me from turning first to prayer when discerning what to do?
How can I make my nightly examen a time to learn from the day’s choices and notice God’s guidance?
When have I experienced peace after following what I sensed to be God’s direction?
How does Jesus’ example of always doing the Father’s will challenge or inspire my own decision-making?
From The Discernment of God’s Will in Everyday Decisions:
“Three Times in which a Sound and Good Choice May Be Made
The first time is when God Our Lord so moves and attracts the will that, without doubting or being able to doubt, the devout soul follows what is shown to it, as St. Paul and St. Matthew did in following Christ our Lord.
The second time is when sufficient clarity and understanding is received through experience of consolations and desolations, and through experience of discernment of different spirits.
The third time is one of tranquility, when one considers first for what purpose man is born, that is, to praise God our Lord and save his soul, and, desiring this, chooses as a means to this end some life or state within the bounds of the Church, so that he may be helped in the service of his Lord and the salvation of his soul. I said a tranquil time, that is, when the soul is not agitated by different spirits, and uses its natural powers freely and tranquilly.
If the choice is not made in the first or second time, two ways of making it in this third time are given below.”
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
The Poor/Holy Souls and Purgatory – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff
Msgr. John Esseff and Kris McGregor discuss the significance of All Souls’ Day and the theology of purgatory. The deep connection Catholics share with the souls in purgatory, who are part of the larger body of Christ. He describes his personal practice of praying for those he’s known who have passed, recalling their names and lifting them in prayer during Mass. The Church provides special graces on All Souls’ Day to pray for these “holy souls,” who yearn to be with God but require purification.
The process of purgation as a cleansing fire, likening it to the Sacred Heart’s fire that purifies the soul’s imperfections, drawing it closer to God’s perfect love. This fire is not only for the souls in purgatory but is present throughout the Christian life, in trials and sufferings that refine believers. He reflects on Jesus as an anchor for the souls, grounding them in hope and drawing them closer to heaven. Msgr. Esseff invites listeners to pray for the dead, encouraging them to recall and “remember” those they love, trusting in God’s mercy and the promise of eternal life.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
Union with the Holy Souls: How can I deepen my relationship with the souls in purgatory through prayer and remembrance?
Understanding Purgation as Divine Love: In what ways do I see God’s purifying love working in my own life?
Embracing the Fire of the Sacred Heart: How can I open myself more fully to God’s love that refines and transforms?
Contemplating Life after Death: What beliefs do I hold about purgatory, and how do they shape my prayers for the deceased?
Reflecting on Baptism and Eternal Life: How does my baptismal identity anchor my hope in the resurrection and eternal life?
Offering Prayers and Sacrifices: What specific actions can I take today to pray for the souls in purgatory and support their journey to heaven?
Facing Death without Fear: How can I grow in trust and confidence in God’s love, freeing myself from fear of death?
Interceding for Family and Friends: Who in my life, living or deceased, needs my prayers, and how can I actively remember them today?
Living the Paschal Mystery: How am I experiencing the cycles of suffering, death, and resurrection in my spiritual journey?
Recognizing God’s Mercy for All Souls: How does God’s desire for everyone’s salvation influence the way I pray and hope for others, even those who struggled in life?
“The souls of the just are in the hand of God,
and no torment shall touch them.
They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead;
and their passing away was thought an affliction
and their going forth from us, utter destruction.
But they are in peace.
For if before men, indeed, they be punished,
yet is their hope full of immortality;
chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed,
because God tried them
and found them worthy of himself.
As gold in the furnace, he proved them,
and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself.
In the time of their visitation they shall shine,
and shall dart about as sparks through stubble;
they shall judge nations and rule over peoples,
and the LORD shall be their King forever.
Those who trust in him shall understand truth,
and the faithful shall abide with him in love:
because grace and mercy are with his holy ones,
and his care is with his elect.”
Msgr. John A. Esseff is a Roman Catholic priest in the Diocese of Scranton. Msgr. Esseff served as a retreat director and confessor to St. Teresa of Calcutta. He continues to offer direction and retreats for the sisters of the Missionaries of Charity around the world. Msgr. Esseff encountered St. Padre Pio, who would become a spiritual father to him. He has lived in areas around the world, serving in the Pontifical missions, a Catholic organization established by Pope St. 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 continues to serve 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.
Episode 3 – Pontius Pilate – Villains of the Early Church with Mike Aquilina
“Aware of the historical period in which he lived and of the change that was taking place – from pagan Rome to Christian Rome – in a period of profound crisis, Leo the Great knew how to make himself close to the people and the faithful with his pastoral action and his preaching. He enlivened charity in a Rome tried by famines, an influx of refugees, injustice and poverty. He opposed pagan superstitions and the actions of Manichaean groups. He associated the liturgy with the daily life of Christians: for example, by combining the practice of fasting with charity and almsgiving above all on the occasion of the Quattro tempora, which in the course of the year marked the change of seasons. In particular, Leo the Great taught his faithful – and his words still apply for us today – that the Christian liturgy is not the memory of past events, but the actualization of invisible realities which act in the lives of each one of us. This is what he stressed in a sermon (cf. 64, 1-2) on Easter, to be celebrated in every season of the year “not so much as something of the past as rather an event of the present”. All this fits into a precise project, the Holy Pontiff insisted: just as, in fact, the Creator enlivened with the breath of rational life man formed from the dust of the ground, after the original sin he sent his Son into the world to restore to man his lost dignity and to destroy the dominion of the devil through the new life of grace.
Foundation of Discernment – “What am I to do?” The Discernment of God’s Will in Everyday Decisions with Fr. Timothy Gallagher
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions:
