SBN1 – Introduction – Salvation Begins Now: Last Things First with Deacon James Keating – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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Episode 1: Introduction – Salvation Begins Now: Last Things First

Deacon James Keating and Kris McGregor explore the Christian understanding of life, death, and the eternal destiny in light of Catholic teaching on the “last things” (heaven, hell, death, and the final judgment). Contemporary Catholics may struggle with these concepts, as the vocabulary and focus on eternal destiny have diminished, often overshadowed by preoccupations with everyday life.

It’s important for us to acknowledge death as a reality and mystery that ultimately gives meaning to life. Avoidance of death, often seen in euphemisms like “passing,” detracts from the full Christian understanding of life and resurrection. Keating highlights that clergy should guide people in facing death meaningfully, as this helps people better live in alignment with their faith.

A core element is the resurrection of the body, which Christianity views as essential to personal identity and continuity with life on earth. Contrasting this with Platonic ideas that view the soul as separate from the body, Dcn. Keating tells us that, in Christian teaching, body and soul are intertwined and will be united in the resurrection. The sacramental life, particularly the Eucharist, provides a connection to this eternal life, as Jesus himself says, “I am the resurrection and the life.” Faith, hope, and love in Jesus draw Christians into eternal life, already beginning on earth.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

Awareness of Eternal Destiny: How often do I contemplate my eternal destiny, and do I see its relevance in my daily life?
Understanding of Death and Resurrection: How comfortable am I with discussing death, and do I fully understand the hope that the resurrection of the body offers?
Connection to Heaven in Everyday Life: Do I recognize the continuity between my current life and eternal life, seeing hints of resurrection in moments of healing and reconciliation?
Respect for the Dignity of the Body: How do I value and care for my own body and those of others, especially the vulnerable, as a reflection of my belief in the resurrection?
Living the Sacramental Life: How am I staying connected to Jesus, especially through the Eucharist, as a way to experience and deepen my communion with eternal life?

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

994 “But there is more. Jesus links faith in the resurrection to his own person: “I am the Resurrection and the life.”544 It is Jesus himself who on the last day will raise up those who have believed in him, who have eaten his body and drunk his blood.545 Already now in this present life he gives a sign and pledge of this by restoring some of the dead to life,546 announcing thereby his own Resurrection, though it was to be of another order. He speaks of this unique event as the “sign of Jonah,”547 the sign of the temple: he announces that he will be put to death but rise thereafter on the third day.548”

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.

Check out Deacon Keating’s “Discerning Heart” page

TSP9 – Entering the Sixth Mansion – St. Teresa of Avila, Spiritual Warfare, and the Progress of the Soul with Dan Burke – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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Episode 9 – Entering the Sixth Mansion – St. Teresa, Spiritual Warfare, and the Progress of the Soul with Dan Burke

Dan Burke and Kris McGregor explore St. Teresa of Ávila’s profound influence, particularly through her work The Interior Castle. Burke admires Teresa’s unique blend of genius, spirituality, and resilience, emphasizing her late awakening and subsequent achievements despite physical and societal hardships. Teresa’s nonlinear, almost “stream of consciousness” writing style—perhaps influenced by her various locations and personal challenges—presents a relatable, deeply human way of sharing mystical experiences.

They discuss Teresa’s guidance on spiritual phenomena like “locutions”—divine impressions or messages experienced in the soul. These mystical experiences can arise from God, angels, or even personal thoughts and must be discerned carefully. Dan describes his own experience with a locution reminding him to be “slow to speak,” which has since become part of his daily rule of life.

The simplicity yet power of such locutions, while brief, leave a lasting impression, providing clarity and the grace needed to act on them.

Discerning Hearts Discussion Questions

Reflect on Teresa’s Resilience: How does St. Teresa’s courage amidst physical and societal struggles inspire your own perseverance in faith?
Embrace Nonlinear Spirituality: In what ways can you appreciate and accept the seemingly chaotic or nonlinear parts of your spiritual journey?
Discern Your Locutions: Have you experienced moments of inner clarity that felt divinely inspired, and how did you discern their source?
Prioritize Vocational Clarity: How might God be calling you to realign your roles and priorities in life, focusing more on your core identity as His child?
Practice Humility in Gifts: How can you guard against pride in any spiritual gifts or insights you receive, allowing them to deepen your love and humility?
Seek Simplicity in Faith: In what ways can you simplify your spiritual understanding to connect more deeply with God’s message?
Reflect on the Power of Love: How does each spiritual experience or insight guide you to love others more fully and generously?

You can find the book here.

An excerpt from the book:

“Have you ever considered that the devil is active in your prayer life? In the parish church where you attend Mass? In the lives and actions of people of goodwill all around you? The saints remind us of a key aspect of living the spiritual life that we are wont to forget simply because we can’t see it and because we have been conditioned by the media and popular culture to think the devil works visibly only in “bad” people or in extraordinary ways, as in the movies. And although demons are certainly capable of extravagant or extraordinary manifestations, their ordinary work flies under our radar because it just isn’t that spectacular, though it is deadly.

In fact, subtlety, illusion, and deceit are their preferred methods of attack. An invisible battle for souls is being waged in and around us without reprieve, and we remain ignorant of it to our peril. St. Teresa of Avila, great mystic and Doctor of the Church, is best known for her writings on the way God leads souls along the path to union with Him through prayer. What many do not know about St. Teresa is that she also observed the actions of demons working with militant force to lead even good souls astray in ways that might surprise you. She shares these experiences freely in her autobiography, which she was commanded to write under obedience to her spiritual director.“

Burke, Dan; Burke, Dan. The Devil in the Castle: St. Teresa of Avila, Spiritual Warfare, and the Progress of the Soul (p. 12). Sophia Institute Press. Kindle Edition.

For more episodes in this series visit Dan Burke’s Discerning Hearts page here:

Dan Burke is the founder and President of the Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation, which offers graduate and personal enrichment studies in spiritual theology to priests, deacons, religious, and laity in 72 countries and prepares men for seminary in 14 dioceses.

Dan is the author and editor of more than 15 books on authentic Catholic spirituality and hosts the Divine Intimacy Radio show with his wife, Stephanie, which is broadcast weekly on EWTN Radio. Past episodes can be found, along with thousands of articles on the interior life, at SpiritualDirection.com.

In his deep commitment to the advancement of faithful Catholic spirituality, he is also the founder of Apostoli Viae, a world-wide, private association of the faithful dedicated to living and advancing the authentic spiritual patrimony of the Church.

Most importantly, Dan is a blessed husband, father of four, grandfather of one—and grateful to be Catholic.

SISL11 – I Don’t Have the Energy – Struggles in the Spiritual Life with Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

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I Don’t Have the Energy – Struggles in the Spiritual Life with Fr. Timothy Gallagher O.M.V.

Fr. Timothy Gallagher and Kris McGregor discuss spiritual desolation and St. Ignatius of Loyola’s guidance on overcoming it. Desolation often manifests as a lack of energy or motivation in one’s spiritual life, as illustrated by Bob’s story—a faithful man suddenly feeling weary in his spiritual commitments and tempted to give up leading a church group.

It’s important to recognize and reject these feelings without making changes during desolation, using St. Ignatius’ principles: “Be aware, identify, reject,” and “in desolation, make no change,” alongside the wisdom of staying connected with others for support. This approach mirrors St. Benedict’s teaching on dismissing negative thoughts quickly to prevent them from taking root.

We’re meant to face spiritual struggles with others. This unity in faith is essential for spiritual resilience in a challenging cultural environment.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

Identify Your Desolations: When have you experienced a lack of motivation or heaviness in your spiritual practices?
Recognize Patterns of Resistance: Do you notice any recurring situations where you feel drawn away from prayer or other commitments?
Acknowledge External Support: Who in your life acts as a spiritual companion, helping you recognize and resist spiritual desolation?
Discern in Desolation: Have you ever made changes to your spiritual life during times of spiritual dryness, and what were the outcomes?
Rely on the Community of Faith: How can you strengthen connections with others in faith to support your journey and resist isolation?
Trust in Spiritual Tools: Which Ignatian principles, such as “Be aware, identify, reject,” could help you face future spiritual challenges?
Embrace God’s Timing: How does the reminder to “make no change in desolation” encourage you to trust God’s timing over impulsive decisions?
Invite Jesus into Struggle: In what areas of your life could you open the door more fully to Christ, allowing him to be the “divine physician”?

An excerpt from the chapter, “I Don’t Have the Energy”:

In this form of desolation, we feel spiritually sluggish, indolent, lazy, lackadaisical. The adverb “totally” is powerful: in time of spiritual desolation, we may feel totally sluggish, lazy, and slothful as regards various aspects of our spiritual lives. We feel no energy for prayer, for God’s service, for involvement in our parish, for holiness in our vocations, and the like. The feeling of slothfulness in spiritual desolation may contrast sharply with the energy we more habitually feel for these same things when not in desolation.

There is no shame in experiencing this form of spiritual desolation. We all do at times. What is important — Julie is on target with this — is to be aware of it, understand it for the tactic of the enemy that it is, and firmly reject it. For Bob, this means that he should not renounce leadership of the group until he has greater clarity about his spiritual situation (rule 5: in time of desolation, never make a change). That change will not resolve his lack of energy; identifying and rejecting the desolation will. Bob may further apply the means Ignatius offers to resist and overcome the desolation: prayer of petition, meditation, examination, suitable penance, and the rest.

Gallagher O.M.V, Fr. Timothy ; Gallagher O.M.V, Fr. Timothy. Struggles in the Spiritual Life: Their Nature and Their Remedies (pp. 72-73). Sophia Institute Press. Kindle Edition.

To find more episodes from this series, visit the Struggles in the Spiritual Life Podcast

From the book’s description:

“Here is a powerful, life-changing book that will help you understand and conquer the struggles you face in your spiritual life. It’s a book for those who love the Lord and desire holiness yet often feel adrift or stagnant in their search for spiritual growth.

All of us encounter valleys on our journey with the Lord — those periods of spiritual desolation that are a painful yet unavoidable feature of our prayer life. Spiritual desolation is as complex as we are, so understanding what is happening and responding to it properly are critical to reaching the heights of holiness.

With warmth and understanding, Fr. Gallagher carefully identifies in this book the various forms of spiritual and nonspiritual desolation and supplies the remedy for each. You’ll learn how to discern whether your struggles derive from medical or psychological conditions or whether those struggles are spiritual and permitted by the Lord for reasons of growth. In each case, you’ll be given the remedy for the struggle. You’ll also learn the forms of spiritual dryness and of the Dark Night — and how to respond to them.

In chapter after chapter, Fr. Gallagher presents a particular struggle as experienced by fictional characters and then provides the advice he gives to those who come to him for spiritual direction about that struggle. You’ll gain confidence as you journey through desolation, and you’ll learn to reject the enemy’s ploys to infect you with a sense of hopelessness.“

Did you know that Fr. Timothy Gallagher has 14 different podcast series on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts?
Visit here to discover more!

TSP8 – The Danger of Self-Righteousness – St. Teresa of Avila, Spiritual Warfare, and the Progress of the Soul with Dan Burke – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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Episode 8 – The Danger of Self-Righteousness – St. Teresa, Spiritual Warfare, and the Progress of the Soul with Dan Burke

Dan Burke and Kris McGregor discuss spiritual discernment through the lens of St. Teresa of Ávila’s Fifth Mansion and St. Ignatius of Loyola’s spiritual exercises. Temptations can be disguised as goods and the importance of testing spiritual experiences to ensure they are truly from God. Drawing on the teachings of St. Ignatius and the need to recognize the “serpent’s tail” in spiritual phenomena, St. Teresa’s guidance helps discern supernatural events with caution. Love and charity, rather than judgment, are the true measures of spiritual growth.

Community is important in fostering growth, with corrections from others helping to develop self-knowledge and humility. Joy is a natural result of loving God and others, even in the face of trials, and that spiritual progress is reflected in a person’s capacity to love, serve, and embrace suffering with trust in God’s plan.

Discerning Hearts Discussion Questions

Discernment of Spiritual Experiences: How do you distinguish between a true spiritual consolation from God and a temptation disguised as a good?
Role of Humility in Spiritual Growth: In what ways does humility guide you in responding to spiritual experiences or feedback from others?
Testing of Supernatural Phenomena: How do you apply caution and discernment when encountering experiences that seem supernatural or beyond human origin?
Love as the Measure of Spiritual Maturity: How do you ensure that love, rather than judgment, is the foundation of your interactions with others, especially in challenging situations?
Embracing Suffering in Love: How do you respond to the call to embrace suffering as a form of love and sacrifice, following the example of Christ on the cross?
Importance of Community and Correction: How do you remain open to correction and guidance from your spiritual community to help foster your growth in humility and self-knowledge?
Joy in the Midst of Trials: How can you maintain a sense of joy and trust in God, even during moments of suffering or spiritual trial?

You can find the book here.

An excerpt from the book:

“Have you ever considered that the devil is active in your prayer life? In the parish church where you attend Mass? In the lives and actions of people of goodwill all around you? The saints remind us of a key aspect of living the spiritual life that we are wont to forget simply because we can’t see it and because we have been conditioned by the media and popular culture to think the devil works visibly only in “bad” people or in extraordinary ways, as in the movies. And although demons are certainly capable of extravagant or extraordinary manifestations, their ordinary work flies under our radar because it just isn’t that spectacular, though it is deadly.

In fact, subtlety, illusion, and deceit are their preferred methods of attack. An invisible battle for souls is being waged in and around us without reprieve, and we remain ignorant of it to our peril. St. Teresa of Avila, great mystic and Doctor of the Church, is best known for her writings on the way God leads souls along the path to union with Him through prayer. What many do not know about St. Teresa is that she also observed the actions of demons working with militant force to lead even good souls astray in ways that might surprise you. She shares these experiences freely in her autobiography, which she was commanded to write under obedience to her spiritual director.“

Burke, Dan; Burke, Dan. The Devil in the Castle: St. Teresa of Avila, Spiritual Warfare, and the Progress of the Soul (p. 12). Sophia Institute Press. Kindle Edition.

For more episodes in this series visit Dan Burke’s Discerning Hearts page here:

Most importantly, Dan is a blessed husband, father of four, grandfather of one—and grateful to be Catholic.

The Prayer of St. John Paul II – Beginning to Pray with Dr. Anthony Lilles – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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The Prayer of St. John Paul II – Beginning to Pray with Dr. Anthony Lilles

Dr. Anthony Lilles and Kris McGregor reflect on the spiritual legacy of St. John Paul II. St. John Paul II’s profound theology of love, which he articulated during a 1976 retreat, tells us that love is the essence of creation and theology. Dr. Lilles recounts a personal encounter with John Paul II, noting his remarkable ability to connect deeply with individuals, even in a crowd. The pope’s openness and vulnerability, which manifested in his global travels and personal interactions, demonstrated his commitment to love and encounter.

His mysticism was not just theoretical but rooted in lived experience, shaping his understanding of the cosmos as centered on divine love.

St. John Paul II’s example for modern times offers hope and encouragement amidst struggles. His life serves as a reminder that God’s mercy is greater than any evil, and his continued intercession from heaven inspires believers to persevere in faith and love.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

Reflecting on Love as the Core of Creation: How do I see the structure of love manifesting in my relationship with God and others?
Encountering Christ Through Vulnerability: In what ways can I make myself more open and vulnerable in my relationships to better reflect Christ’s love?
The Importance of Daily Prayer: How can I incorporate more intentional moments of prayer in my daily routine, following the example of St. John Paul II?
Living a Life of Hope: What are the sources of discouragement in my life, and how can I cultivate greater confidence in God’s love and mercy to overcome them?
The Communion of Saints in My Life: How can I deepen my relationship with the saints, especially St. John Paul II and St. John XXIII, to guide and inspire my spiritual journey?
Responding to God’s Love Through Action: How am I called to actively share God’s love with others, ensuring that it is not only felt but expressed in my life?
Learning from the Vulnerability of John Paul II: How can I embody the same vulnerability that St. John Paul II showed, particularly in my encounters with those in need of hope and love?

For other episodes in the series visit the Discerning Hearts page for Dr. Anthony Lilles

Anthony Lilles, S.T.D., has served the Church and assisted in the formation of clergy and seminarians since 1994. Before coming to St. Patrick’s, he served at seminaries and houses of formation in the Archdiocese of Denver and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The son of a California farmer, married with young adult children, holds a B.A. in theology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville with both the ecclesiastical licentiate and doctorate in spiritual theology from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome (the Angelicum). An expert in the writings of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity and the Carmelite Doctors of the Church, he co-founded the Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation and the High Calling Program for priestly vocations. He also founded the John Paul II Center for Contemplative Culture, which hosts symposiums, retreats, and conferences. In addition to his publications, he blogs at www.beginningtopray.com .

SISL10 – I Don’t Feel God’s Love – Struggles in the Spiritual Life with Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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I Don’t Feel God’s Love – Struggles in the Spiritual Life with Fr. Timothy Gallagher O.M.V.

Fr. Timothy Gallagher and Kris McGregor discuss the spiritual journey, focusing on the experience of spiritual consolation and desolation using the story of Kathy, a participant in a six-week parish prayer program, as an example of how these experiences manifest in the life of prayer.

Kathy begins her prayer journey with moments of spiritual consolation, feeling God’s presence and love. As she engages deeply with scripture, she experiences a growing intimacy with God. However, as time progresses, she faces spiritual desolation, feeling abandoned and struggling with past pain, specifically related to her experience of cancer and the loss of the ability to have children. This leads to feelings of anger toward God, and she questions why she should continue praying.

Such desolation is a normal part of spiritual growth and not a sign that something is going wrong. Rather, it is often an invitation to deeper healing, as God touches painful areas of the soul that need to be addressed. In times of desolation, one should seek guidance from a spiritual director or a trusted companion in the faith to help make sense of the experience.

Spiritual desolation, while difficult, can lead to significant spiritual growth, helping individuals become more rooted in their relationship with God and opening them to new forms of healing and grace.

You can pick up a copy of the book here.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

How do you handle spiritual desolation?
Reflect on how you respond when you feel distant from God, and whether you seek guidance or attempt to push through on your own.
Are you open to spiritual growth through challenges?
Consider if you view spiritual desolation as an opportunity for growth and healing, even when it feels painful.
Do you seek spiritual support when needed?
Think about whether you reach out to spiritual directors, friends, or companions during times of desolation to help understand what God may be doing in your life.
Can you recognize God’s presence in both consolation and desolation?
Reflect on whether you are able to see God’s hand at work during moments of consolation and desolation, understanding that both are part of the spiritual journey.
Do you maintain faith during difficult spiritual moments?
Consider if you hold on to trust in God’s love and purpose even when you feel abandoned, and how you might cultivate resilience in your prayer life.

An excerpt from the chapter, “I Don’t Feel God’s Love”:

“This is yet another form of spiritual desolation: times when we feel no sense of God’s love, of His closeness, of warm love for others in God, but rather, we feel a kind of spiritual distance and coldness. As we’ve said so often, there is no shame in experiencing this. To feel this form of spiritual desolation does not mean that God does not love us, that we do not love Him, or that we do not desire to love others.

It simply means that God is permitting us to undergo a time of spiritual desolation because of the growth we gain when we go through it well (see the final paragraph of chapter 8). Cathy’s spiritual desolation as she prays with the calming of the storm is actually a sign that her prayer is progressing richly. For ten years, a wound in her heart has remained unhealed. God loves her too much to allow this to continue unaddressed. Almost inevitably, as she grows closer to God in prayer, this wound is touched. When it is, spiritual desolation results: pain, anger, a sense of distance from God, and an absence of all warmth. If Cathy finds wise counsel to help her understand this and if she does not stop praying, then, for the first time in ten years, deep spiritual healing can occur. Like the disciples in the boat and like Lazarus’s sisters, she will find that if Jesus slept and if he delayed two days, it was because he loved them and had a greater gift to give.”

Gallagher O.M.V, Fr. Timothy ; Gallagher O.M.V, Fr. Timothy. Struggles in the Spiritual Life: Their Nature and Their Remedies (pp. 66-67). Sophia Institute Press. Kindle Edition.

To find more episodes from this series, visit the Struggles in the Spiritual Life Podcast

From the book’s description:

“Here is a powerful, life-changing book that will help you understand and conquer the struggles you face in your spiritual life. It’s a book for those who love the Lord and desire holiness yet often feel adrift or stagnant in their search for spiritual growth.

All of us encounter valleys on our journey with the Lord — those periods of spiritual desolation that are a painful yet unavoidable feature of our prayer life. Spiritual desolation is as complex as we are, so understanding what is happening and responding to it properly are critical to reaching the heights of holiness.

With warmth and understanding, Fr. Gallagher carefully identifies in this book the various forms of spiritual and nonspiritual desolation and supplies the remedy for each. You’ll learn how to discern whether your struggles derive from medical or psychological conditions or whether those struggles are spiritual and permitted by the Lord for reasons of growth. In each case, you’ll be given the remedy for the struggle. You’ll also learn the forms of spiritual dryness and of the Dark Night — and how to respond to them.

In chapter after chapter, Fr. Gallagher presents a particular struggle as experienced by fictional characters and then provides the advice he gives to those who come to him for spiritual direction about that struggle. You’ll gain confidence as you journey through desolation, and you’ll learn to reject the enemy’s ploys to infect you with a sense of hopelessness.“

Did you know that Fr. Timothy Gallagher has 14 different podcast series on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts?
Visit here to discover more!

Living in the Sacred Heart of Jesus – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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Living in the Sacred Heart of Jesus – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff

Msgr. John Esseff and Kris McGregor discuss the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a spiritual tradition stemming from revelations to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in Paray-le-Monial, France. Jesus revealed His Sacred Heart to St. Margaret Mary, describing it as a symbol of His immense love for humanity, a heart aflame with love yet surrounded by thorns, symbolizing human sin and ingratitude. He instructed her to spread devotion to His Sacred Heart and introduced practices like the First Fridays and the Holy Hour, promising blessings for those who honor His Sacred Heart.

Tthe “enthronement” of the Sacred Heart as an invitation for individuals and families to welcome Jesus as the king of their hearts. By enthroning Jesus in our hearts, we allow Him to dethrone ego and sin, creating a space for His love, peace, and truth to reign. This devotion encourages Christians to emulate the first-century apostles who recognized Jesus as the Messiah, not in earthly terms but as a king of hearts, leading through love and sacrifice.

This kingship is not limited by geography; it’s a universal calling to every individual, regardless of faith or nationality, to invite Jesus into their hearts and experience His transformative love. He shares that this enthronement reflects an interior act of faith, symbolized by displaying an image of the Sacred Heart at home. Through this devotion, families are encouraged to embody and spread Christ’s love, establishing His kingdom in their homes and communities.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

Encounter with the Sacred Heart: How do I personally experience and understand the love that Jesus expresses through His Sacred Heart?
Embracing Enthronement: Am I willing to invite Jesus to reign as the king of my heart, dethroning my own ego and desires?
Living the Promises: In what ways can I incorporate the Sacred Heart devotions, such as First Fridays and Holy Hours, into my spiritual life?
Spreading the Devotion: How can I encourage my family and community to honor the Sacred Heart, creating a space for His love and peace?
Recognizing True Kingship: Do I fully grasp Jesus’ kingship as a spiritual reality rather than an earthly one, and how does this impact my faith?
Witnessing in the World: How am I called to share the love of the Sacred Heart with others, extending its influence beyond my personal devotion?
Responding to the Call: How can I deepen my relationship with Jesus by inviting Him into my heart daily, and what changes might this bring to my life?

In 2011, Paray le Monial, France, I had the chance to speak with Msgr. John Esseff at the First Sacred Heart World Congress. Msgr. Esseff is one of the founders of the Sacred Heart Apostolate, sponsor of this event which brought laity, religious, and priests from around the world. Talks were given by Cardinal Raymond Burke, Bishop Robert Herman, Christendom College President Timothy O’Donnell, and EWTN show host and author Fr. Mitch Pacwa, as well as many others Why did they come to this small French community nestled in Eastern France? Because our Lord choice this place and two very remarkably humble saints to communicate the message of his Sacred Heart.

He said to St. Margaret Mary:

“My Divine Heart is so inflamed with love for mankind … that it can no longer contain within itself the flames of its burning charity and must spread them abroad by your means.” She described that His Heart was on fire and surrounded by a crown of thorns. Our Lord told her that the flames represented His love for humanity, and the thorns represented man’s sinfulness and ingratitude. Jesus informed her that her mission was to establish the devotion to His Most Sacred Heart, and He revealed twelve promises that He would bestow upon all those who practice the devotion.

She had three more visions over the next year and a half in which Jesus instructed her in a devotion that was to become known as the Nine Fridays. Christ also inspired Margaret Mary to establish the Holy Hour and to receive Holy Communion on the first Friday of every month. In the final revelation, the Lord asked that a feast of reparation be instituted for the Friday after the octave of Corpus Christi.

Blessed Claude de la Colombiere, a holy and experienced Jesuit, arrived as confessor to the nuns, and in him Margaret Mary recognized the understanding guide that had been promised to her in the visions. He became convinced that her experiences were genuine and adopted the teaching of the Sacred Heart that the visions had communicated to her.”

Msgr. Esseff talks about that message, what it means for us today, and how we can live it out.

Msgr. John A. Esseff is a Roman Catholic priest in the Diocese of Scranton. He was ordained on May 30th 1953, by the late Bishop William J. Hafey, D.D. at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Scranton, PA. Msgr. Esseff served a retreat director and confessor to Blessed Mother Teresa. 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 Bl. Pope John Paul II to bring the Good News to the world especially to the poor. Msgr. Esseff assisted the founders of the Institute for Priestly Formation and 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.

TSP7 – Entering the Fifth Mansion – St. Teresa of Avila, Spiritual Warfare, and the Progress of the Soul with Dan Burke – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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Episode 7 – Entering the Fifth Mansion – St. Teresa, Spiritual Warfare, and the Progress of the Soul with Dan Burke

Dan Burke and Kris McGregor discuss spiritual progress and the challenges faced in St. Teresa of Avila’s Interior Castle, particularly through the fifth mansion and the spiritual journey as one of growth toward union with God; this path is neither solitary nor self-sufficient. They discuss the necessity of spiritual guidance and community, even for hermits, to maintain spiritual health and avoid isolation’s pitfalls.

There’s also critical virtues of humility and self-awareness. These act as shields against the enemy, especially at higher levels of spiritual development, where temptation becomes subtler and more insidious. Burke highlights the importance of a spiritual director who genuinely listens, able to discern God’s unique work in each soul, rather than adhering strictly to systematic approaches. He warns against overly programmatic spiritual direction, suggesting that the Holy Spirit should be the primary guide, with spiritual directors acting as humble servants to aid the soul’s unique journey.

We can have experiences of spiritual desolation and consolation, particularly the disorientation that can come with transitioning between the purgative and illuminative stages. Through these transitions, having a spiritual director to offer support and interpret the soul’s experiences is invaluable. Burke and McGregor conclude by stressing the importance of daily practices, such as examination of conscience, which keep one grounded and attuned to God’s direction, helping to avoid the small attachments that can subtly lead one away from God.

Discerning Hearts Discussion Questions

Union with God as Life’s Purpose – How does recognizing our purpose as union with God shape the way you approach daily decisions and relationships?
Spiritual Companionship – Who are the spiritual companions or guides in your life, and how do they help you stay grounded in your faith journey?
Humility and Self-Awareness – In what ways do you cultivate humility and self-awareness in your spiritual practices, and how do these virtues protect you against temptation?
Role of Spiritual Direction – How do you discern the right spiritual guide, and how open are you to letting the Holy Spirit work through that relationship?
Daily Examination of Conscience – What role does examining your day play in your spiritual life, and how does it help you grow closer to God?
Detachment from Worldly Comforts – Are there small attachments in your life that might be subtly distancing you from God, and how can you work towards releasing them?
Understanding Stages of Spiritual Growth – How well do you recognize the transitions between spiritual stages in your own life, and what resources do you use to navigate them?
Sustaining Faith During Spiritual Dryness – How do you maintain faith and commitment to God during periods of spiritual dryness or desolation?

You can find the book here.

An excerpt from the book:

“Have you ever considered that the devil is active in your prayer life? In the parish church where you attend Mass? In the lives and actions of people of goodwill all around you? The saints remind us of a key aspect of living the spiritual life that we are wont to forget simply because we can’t see it and because we have been conditioned by the media and popular culture to think the devil works visibly only in “bad” people or in extraordinary ways, as in the movies. And although demons are certainly capable of extravagant or extraordinary manifestations, their ordinary work flies under our radar because it just isn’t that spectacular, though it is deadly.

In fact, subtlety, illusion, and deceit are their preferred methods of attack. An invisible battle for souls is being waged in and around us without reprieve, and we remain ignorant of it to our peril. St. Teresa of Avila, great mystic and Doctor of the Church, is best known for her writings on the way God leads souls along the path to union with Him through prayer. What many do not know about St. Teresa is that she also observed the actions of demons working with militant force to lead even good souls astray in ways that might surprise you. She shares these experiences freely in her autobiography, which she was commanded to write under obedience to her spiritual director.“

Burke, Dan; Burke, Dan. The Devil in the Castle: St. Teresa of Avila, Spiritual Warfare, and the Progress of the Soul (p. 12). Sophia Institute Press. Kindle Edition.

For more episodes in this series visit Dan Burke’s Discerning Hearts page here:

Most importantly, Dan is a blessed husband, father of four, grandfather of one—and grateful to be Catholic.

St. Teresa of Avila, Part 2 – The Doctors of the Church: The Charism of Wisdom with Dr. Matthew Bunson – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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St. Teresa of Avila, Part 2 – The Doctors of the Church: The Charism of Wisdom with Dr. Matthew Bunson

Born: March 28, 1515, Gotarrendura, Spain
Died: October 4, 1582, Alba de Tormes, Spain
Nationality: Spanish

Dr. Matthew Bunson and Kris McGregor continue their look into the life, spirituality, and teachings of St. Teresa of Avila; her profound insights on prayer and the Christian journey towards holiness, and her view of prayer as an “exercise of love,” wherein true prayer entails a deep, loving relationship with God. Dr. Bunson points out that Teresa, often misunderstood as simply mystical, rooted her spirituality in the Church and its sacraments. She sought not only personal sanctity but also communal guidance, sharing her wisdom with family, laypeople, and her Carmelite sisters.

Teresa’s progression from the “four waters” in her early work, The Life, to the “interior castle” in her later years reflects an evolving understanding of the spiritual life. This journey, as she outlines, requires humility, persistence, and a deep commitment to the sacraments. Teresa’s experiences, particularly her “interior castle” model, demonstrate that as one grows in prayer, there’s a structured journey with different stages of spiritual development, each needing discipline and grace.

For more on St. Teresa of Avila and her teachings, visit her Discerning Hearts page

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

Understanding Prayer as Love: How can you approach prayer as an exercise of love and deepen your relationship with God in your daily life?
Love in the Trinity: Reflect on the Trinitarian nature of God’s love; how does this inspire you to share love with others?
Role of the Sacraments: In what ways do the sacraments of the Church support your spiritual journey and deepen your prayer life?
Humility in Spiritual Growth: How can you cultivate humility as you strive to grow closer to God, avoiding pride in your prayer life?
Following Teresa’s Path of Prayer: What steps can you take to begin or deepen your practice of prayer using St. Teresa’s guidance?
Spiritual Progression: As you reflect on Teresa’s stages of spiritual growth, where do you feel you are in your journey, and how can you continue to grow?
Active Participation in God’s Will: How can you surrender your desires to align more closely with God’s will for you?
Lessons in the Interior Castle: What insights from Teresa’s “Interior Castle” can help you recognize and appreciate the stages of your own spiritual life?
Avoiding Spiritual Pride: How do you protect yourself from spiritual pride, especially when experiencing deeper moments in prayer?
Finding Strength in Service: How can you use the strength you gain from prayer to serve others, as Teresa encourages?

From Vatican.va, an excerpt from the teachings of Pope Benedict XVI

From the General Audience on St. Teresa of Avila

“It is far from easy to sum up in a few words Teresa’s profound and articulate spirituality. I would like to mention a few essential points. In the first place St Teresa proposes the evangelical virtues as the basis of all Christian and human life and in particular, detachment from possessions, that is, evangelical poverty, and this concerns all of us; love for one another as an essential element of community and social life; humility as love for the truth; determination as a fruit of Christian daring; theological hope, which she describes as the thirst for living water. Then we should not forget the human virtues: affability, truthfulness, modesty, courtesy, cheerfulness, culture.

Secondly, St Teresa proposes a profound harmony with the great biblical figures and eager listening to the word of God. She feels above all closely in tune with the Bride in the Song of Songs and with the Apostle Paul, as well as with Christ in the Passion and with Jesus in the Eucharist. The Saint then stresses how essential prayer is. Praying, she says, “means being on terms of friendship with God frequently conversing in secret with him who, we know, loves us” (Vida 8, 5). St Teresa’s idea coincides with Thomas Aquinas’ definition of theological charity as “amicitia quaedam hominis ad Deum”, a type of human friendship with God, who offered humanity his friendship first; it is from God that the initiative comes (cf. Summa Theologiae II-II, 23, 1).

Prayer is life and develops gradually, in pace with the growth of Christian life: it begins with vocal prayer, passes through interiorization by means of meditation and recollection, until it attains the union of love with Christ and with the Holy Trinity. Obviously, in the development of prayer climbing to the highest steps does not mean abandoning the previous type of prayer. Rather, it is a gradual deepening of the relationship with God that envelops the whole of life.

Rather than a pedagogy Teresa’s is a true “mystagogy” of prayer: she teaches those who read her works how to pray by praying with them. Indeed, she often interrupts her account or exposition with a prayerful outburst.

Another subject dear to the Saint is the centrality of Christ’s humanity. For Teresa, in fact, Christian life is the personal relationship with Jesus that culminates in union with him through grace, love and imitation. Hence the importance she attaches to meditation on the Passion and on the Eucharist as the presence of Christ in the Church for the life of every believer, and as the heart of the Liturgy. St Teresa lives out unconditional love for the Church: she shows a lively “sensus Ecclesiae”, in the face of the episodes of division and conflict in the Church of her time.

She reformed the Carmelite Order with the intention of serving and defending the “Holy Roman Catholic Church”, and was willing to give her life for the Church (cf. Vida, 33,5).

A final essential aspect of Teresian doctrine which I would like to emphasize is perfection, as the aspiration of the whole of Christian life and as its ultimate goal. The Saint has a very clear idea of the “fullness” of Christ, relived by the Christian. At the end of the route through The Interior Castle, in the last “room”, Teresa describes this fullness, achieved in the indwelling of the Trinity, in union with Christ through the mystery of his humanity.”

For more visit Vatican.va

For more from Dr. Matthew Bunson, check out his Discerning Hearts page.

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.

St. Teresa of Avila, Part 1 – The Doctors of the Church: The Charism of Wisdom with Dr. Matthew Bunson – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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St. Teresa of Avila, Part 1– The Doctors of the Church: The Charism of Wisdom with Dr. Matthew Bunson

Born: March 28, 1515, Gotarrendura, Spain
Died: October 4, 1582, Alba de Tormes, Spain
Nationality: Spanish

Dr. Matthew Bunson and Kris McGregor discuss the life and legacy of St. Teresa of Ávila, a Spanish Carmelite nun and one of the first female Doctors of the Church. Teresa was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Paul VI in 1970, recognizing her profound teachings on prayer and the mystical life. Her autobiography reveals her early influences, like her father’s piety and her desire to become a martyr, as well as her struggles with pride and materialism. Despite these challenges, she entered the Carmelite convent and later reformed the Carmelite order, emphasizing a return to simplicity, prayer, and devotion.

They discuss her encounter with the Inquisition due to her family’s Jewish heritage and how, like many saints of her time, she submitted to Church authority, deepening her commitment rather than rebelling. Teresa’s relationship with other saints, including St. John of the Cross, was instrumental in establishing the Discalced Carmelites, a reformed branch of the Carmelites devoted to austerity and contemplative prayer. Her death in 1582 marked the culmination of a life dedicated to mystical union with Christ, evident in her final words expressing her readiness to meet her Lord.

For more on St. Teresa of Avila and her teachings, visit her Discerning Hearts page

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

The Universality of Holiness – How does St. Teresa’s teaching that holiness and deep prayer are accessible to everyone challenge your view of your own spiritual life?
Value of Spiritual Autobiography – In what ways could reflecting on your own life’s journey, including your struggles and triumphs, bring you closer to God?
Role of the Mystical Life – How might you open yourself to a deeper understanding of mystical prayer and contemplation, as modeled by St. Teresa?
Embracing Church Authority – What does Teresa’s respect for the Church’s authority, even amid the Inquisition, teach you about obedience and trust in your own faith?
The Call to Reform – Where do you see a need for personal or communal reform in your life, and how can you bring about positive change with humility and dedication?
Encounter with Christ in Prayer – How can you foster a prayer life that allows you to experience God’s presence more deeply, as Teresa did through her devotions?
Living for God’s Glory, Not Your Own – In what areas of your life might you be called to abandon personal pride and embrace a deeper, self-giving humility?
Legacy of Spiritual Writing – How can you draw inspiration from Teresa’s writings to enrich your own journey toward spiritual growth and understanding?

From Vatican.va, an excerpt from the teachings of Pope Benedict XVI

From the General Audience on St. Teresa of Avila

”St. Teresa, whose name was Teresa de Cepeda y Ahumada, was born in Avila, Spain, in 1515. In her autobiography she mentions some details of her childhood: she was born into a large family, her “father and mother, who were devout and feared God”, into a large family. She had three sisters and nine brothers.

While she was still a child and not yet nine years old she had the opportunity to read the lives of several Martyrs which inspired in her such a longing for martyrdom that she briefly ran away from home in order to die a Martyr’s death and to go to Heaven (cf. Vida, [Life], 1, 4); “I want to see God”, the little girl told her parents.

A few years later Teresa was to speak of her childhood reading and to state that she had discovered in it the way of truth which she sums up in two fundamental principles.

On the one hand was the fact that “all things of this world will pass away” while on the other God alone is “for ever, ever, ever”, a topic that recurs in her best known poem: “Let nothing disturb you, Let nothing frighten you, All things are passing away: God never changes. Patience obtains all things. Whoever has God lacks nothing; God alone suffices”. She was about 12 years old when her mother died and she implored the Virgin Most Holy to be her mother (cf. Vida, I, 7).

If in her adolescence the reading of profane books had led to the distractions of a worldly life, her experience as a pupil of the Augustinian nuns of Santa María de las Gracias de Avila and her reading of spiritual books, especially the classics of Franciscan spirituality, introduced her to recollection and prayer.

When she was 20 she entered the Carmelite Monastery of the Incarnation, also in Avila. In her religious life she took the name “Teresa of Jesus”. Three years later she fell seriously ill, so ill that she remained in a coma for four days, looking as if she were dead (cf. Vida, 5, 9).

In the fight against her own illnesses too the Saint saw the combat against weaknesses and the resistance to God’s call: “I wished to live”, she wrote, “but I saw clearly that I was not living, but rather wrestling with the shadow of death; there was no one to give me life, and I was not able to take it. He who could have given it to me had good reasons for not coming to my aid, seeing that he had brought me back to himself so many times, and I as often had left him” (Vida, 7, 8).

In 1543 she lost the closeness of her relatives; her father died and all her siblings, one after another, emigrated to America. In Lent 1554, when she was 39 years old, Teresa reached the climax of her struggle against her own weaknesses. The fortuitous discovery of the statue of “a Christ most grievously wounded”, left a deep mark on her life (cf. Vida, 9).

The Saint, who in that period felt deeply in tune with the St Augustine of the Confessions, thus describes the decisive day of her mystical experience: “and… a feeling of the presence of God would come over me unexpectedly, so that I could in no wise doubt either that he was within me, or that I was wholly absorbed in him” (Vida, 10, 1).

Parallel to her inner development, the Saint began in practice to realize her ideal of the reform of the Carmelite Order: in 1562 she founded the first reformed Carmel in Avila, with the support of the city’s Bishop, Don Alvaro de Mendoza, and shortly afterwards also received the approval of John Baptist Rossi, the Order’s Superior General.

In the years that followed, she continued her foundations of new Carmelite convents, 17 in all. Her meeting with St John of the Cross was fundamental. With him, in 1568, she set up the first convent of Discalced Carmelites in Duruelo, not far from Avila.

In 1580 she obtained from Rome the authorization for her reformed Carmels as a separate, autonomous Province. This was the starting point for the Discalced Carmelite Order.

Indeed, Teresa’s earthly life ended while she was in the middle of her founding activities. She died on the night of 15 October 1582 in Alba de Tormes, after setting up the Carmelite Convent in Burgos, while on her way back to Avila. Her last humble words were: “After all I die as a child of the Church”, and “O my Lord and my Spouse, the hour that I have longed for has come. It is time to meet one another”.

Teresa spent her entire life for the whole Church although she spent it in Spain. She was beatified by Pope Paul V in 1614 and canonized by Gregory XV in 1622. The Servant of God Paul VI proclaimed her a “Doctor of the Church” in 1970.

Teresa of Jesus had no academic education but always set great store by the teachings of theologians, men of letters and spiritual teachers. As a writer, she always adhered to what she had lived personally through or had seen in the experience of others (cf. Prologue to The Way of Perfection), in other words basing herself on her own first-hand knowledge.

Teresa had the opportunity to build up relations of spiritual friendship with many Saints and with St John of the Cross in particular. At the same time she nourished herself by reading the Fathers of the Church, St Jerome, St Gregory the Great and St Augustine.

Among her most important works we should mention first of all her autobiography, El libro de la vida (the book of life), which she called Libro de las misericordias del Señor [book of the Lord’s mercies].”

Episode 1: Introduction – Salvation Begins Now: Last Things First

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

Episode 9 – Entering the Sixth Mansion – St. Teresa, Spiritual Warfare, and the Progress of the Soul with Dan Burke

Discerning Hearts Discussion Questions

You can find the book here.

An excerpt from the book:

For more episodes in this series visit Dan Burke’s Discerning Hearts page here:

I Don’t Have the Energy – Struggles in the Spiritual Life with Fr. Timothy Gallagher O.M.V.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

An excerpt from the chapter, “I Don’t Have the Energy”:

To find more episodes from this series, visit the Struggles in the Spiritual Life Podcast

From the book’s description:

Did you know that Fr. Timothy Gallagher has 14 different podcast series on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts? Visit here to discover more!

Episode 8 – The Danger of Self-Righteousness – St. Teresa, Spiritual Warfare, and the Progress of the Soul with Dan Burke

Discerning Hearts Discussion Questions

You can find the book here.

An excerpt from the book:

For more episodes in this series visit Dan Burke’s Discerning Hearts page here:

The Prayer of St. John Paul II – Beginning to Pray with Dr. Anthony Lilles

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

I Don’t Feel God’s Love – Struggles in the Spiritual Life with Fr. Timothy Gallagher O.M.V.

You can pick up a copy of the book here.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

An excerpt from the chapter, “I Don’t Feel God’s Love”:

To find more episodes from this series, visit the Struggles in the Spiritual Life Podcast

From the book’s description:

Did you know that Fr. Timothy Gallagher has 14 different podcast series on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts? Visit here to discover more!

Living in the Sacred Heart of Jesus – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

He said to St. Margaret Mary:

Episode 7 – Entering the Fifth Mansion – St. Teresa, Spiritual Warfare, and the Progress of the Soul with Dan Burke

Discerning Hearts Discussion Questions

You can find the book here.

An excerpt from the book:

For more episodes in this series visit Dan Burke’s Discerning Hearts page here:

St. Teresa of Avila, Part 2 – The Doctors of the Church: The Charism of Wisdom with Dr. Matthew Bunson

For more on St. Teresa of Avila and her teachings, visit her Discerning Hearts page

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

From the General Audience on St. Teresa of Avila

For more visit Vatican.va

St. Teresa of Avila, Part 1– The Doctors of the Church: The Charism of Wisdom with Dr. Matthew Bunson

For more on St. Teresa of Avila and her teachings, visit her Discerning Hearts page

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

From Vatican.va, an excerpt from the teachings of Pope Benedict XVI

From the General Audience on St. Teresa of Avila

For more visit Vatican.va

Did you know that Fr. Timothy Gallagher has 14 different podcast series on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts?
Visit here to discover more!

Did you know that Fr. Timothy Gallagher has 14 different podcast series on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts?
Visit here to discover more!