Embracing Hope and Presence – Advent Reflections with Dr. Anthony Lilles
Dr. Anthony Lilles reflects on Pope Benedict XVI’s teachings about waiting with hope, using the Christian understanding of time and history. Advent is a season of hopeful anticipation, where Christ’s presence infuses every moment with meaning. Using examples from parables and everyday life, he contrasts two forms of waiting: one empty and burdensome due to a lack of present fulfillment, and the other rich with purpose, grounded in Christ’s enduring presence. Through Scripture, sacraments, and creation, believers encounter a God who communicates love and purpose in every circumstance, transforming even suffering into a grace-filled opportunity to grow in trust and gratitude.
There’s futility of secular ideologies, which chase fleeting satisfaction or utopian futures, with the Christian hope rooted in God’s promises. Modern attitudes that seek fulfillment solely through material gains or political outcomes, leading to despair or compromise of integrity. In contrast, Christian hope recognizes the present as a gift where God is actively present and pouring out love. This hope enriches life with meaning and prepares hearts for the ultimate joy of heaven, where God’s infinite love will be fully revealed.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
What does waiting mean in your life? Reflect on how you approach periods of waiting—whether with hope, anxiety, or indifference—and how Christ’s presence might transform these moments.
How do you experience God’s presence in the present moment? Consider ways in which you notice God’s love and grace in daily life, even amidst challenges or suffering.
How do you respond to the world’s emptiness or misplaced hopes? Examine your reaction to the despair or misguided hopes around you and how your faith calls you to bring light and meaning.
What role does gratitude play in your spiritual journey? Ponder how cultivating thanksgiving for God’s gifts enhances your awareness of His love and strengthens your hope.
How does Advent shape your understanding of Christian hope? Reflect on how this season deepens your anticipation for Christ’s coming and prepares your heart to embrace His promises.
Anthony Lilles, S.T.D. is an associate professor and the academic dean of Saint John’s Seminary in Camarillo as well as the academic advisor for Juan Diego House of Priestly Formation for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. For over twenty years he served the Church in Northern Colorado where he joined and eventually served as dean of the founding faculty of Saint John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver. Through the years, clergy, seminarians, religious and lay faithful have benefited from his lectures and retreat conferences on the Carmelite Doctors of the Church and the writings of St. Elisabeth of the Trinity.
The Gift of Holiness – Advent Retreat Reflection by Deacon James Keating Ph.D.
Deacon James Keating reflects on the spiritual journey of focusing on “the one thing necessary,” inspired by the story of the Magi in Matthew 2, and the human tendency to be attracted to many distractions and how the saints exemplify unwavering commitment to God despite their struggles.
The sacrament of reconciliation, spiritual direction, and the liturgical seasons of Advent and Lent help us to purify our hearts and draw us closer to God. Holiness brings interior quiet, freedom, and simplicity, which are cultivated through deep participation in the Eucharist and attentiveness to God’s presence in daily life. With the pervasive “spirit of distraction” in modern culture we must resist despair by embracing the ideals of faith.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
What Attracts Your Heart? Reflect on the things that draw your attention and whether they lead you closer to God or distract you from Him.
Are You Focused on the One Thing Necessary? Examine how well you prioritize your relationship with Christ amidst the chaos and distractions of life.
How Do You Respond to Spiritual Restlessness? Consider whether you seek peace through deeper communion with God or turn to worldly solutions that fail to satisfy.
Do You Allow the Eucharist to Transform You? Evaluate the depth of your participation in the Eucharist and its ability to bring quiet, freedom, and simplicity to your soul.
How Do You Handle Distractions and Temptations? Reflect on your willingness to notice distracting thoughts and redirect them to Christ through prayer and trust.
Are You Embracing the Ideals of Faith? Ask yourself whether you welcome the challenging yet uplifting ideals of the Gospel or allow discouragement to pull you away.
What Treasure Are You Offering to Christ? Consider how you can, like the magi, pour out your life as a gift to Christ in gratitude and surrender.
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 8 – Walking the Little Way Together – St. Thérèse and Marie: The Story of Two Cousins with Fr. Timothy Gallagher
St. Thérèse of Lisieux
Fr. Timothy Gallagher continues his look at the lives of St. Thérèse of Lisieux and her cousin, Marie Guérin, who joined the Carmel as Sister Marie of the Eucharist in 1895.
St.Thérèse, as assistant novice mistress, lovingly guided Marie during her formative years in religious life. Through letters, poetry, and spiritual counsel, Thérèse helped Marie navigate struggles with scrupulosity and emotional exuberance, fostering a deeper understanding of virtue and selflessness. Thérèse’s guidance combined firmness, tenderness, and profound spiritual wisdom, reflecting her personal sanctity and commitment to the “Little Way.” Her letters and poems, such as “Jesus Alone” and “My Weapons,” offer a glimpse into her profound love for Jesus and her deep reliance on divine grace.
This includes the spiritual milestones during these last two years of her life, including her discovery of the “Little Way,” her act of offering herself to God’s merciful love, and her experience of spiritual darkness amidst her illness. Despite her physical suffering, Thérèse remained fully devoted to uplifting and forming her novices, including her cousin Celine, and fostering joy and unity in the community.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
Role of Spiritual Friendship: How can we cultivate spiritual friendships that guide others toward holiness while respecting their individuality and unique journey?
Guidance with Firmness and Tenderness: In what ways can we balance firmness and tenderness when offering guidance to those we mentor or love?
Finding Jesus in Daily Life: How can Thérèse’s “Little Way” inspire us to love God fully through the ordinary events of our daily lives?
Offering Our Suffering: How can we, like Thérèse, unite our personal suffering with Christ for the spiritual benefit of others?
Sacrifices for Vocations: What sacrifices are we willing to make, as individuals or families, to support vocations to religious life or priesthood?
Deepening Trust in God’s Love: How does reflecting on Jesus’ maternal and paternal love help us overcome fear and scruples in our relationship with Him?
Scripture as a Source of Strength: How can the example of Thérèse’s immersion in scripture inspire us to deepen our own prayer life and spiritual understanding?
Living Joyfully in Community: How can we contribute to a spirit of joy and virtue within our own families, parishes, or communities?
Embracing the Eternal Perspective: How does keeping heaven in mind shape the way we approach our struggles and relationships on earth?
Legacy of Holiness: In what ways can we leave a lasting spiritual impact on those we love, as St. Thérèse did for her novices and the Church?
Marie Guérin
About this Series
Fr. Timothy Gallagher reflects upon the enduring legacy of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, exploring how her life and spirituality, deeply influenced by her family and how it offers profound insights into everyday holiness. He examines the role of family and spiritual friendships in nurturing faith, the importance of compassionate care for others, and how Thérèse’s example can inspire listeners to seek sanctity in their daily lives. He also brings forth more details of the spiritual bond between the Martin and Guérin families, offering a model for fostering deeper connections within one’s own family and community.
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
Did you know that Fr. Timothy Gallagher has 14 different podcast series on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts?
Visit here to discover more!
Mystery of Believing – St. John of the Cross: Master of Contemplation with Fr. Donald Haggerty
Using the teachings of St. John of the Cross, Fr. Donald Haggerty and Kris McGregor discuss how the goal of prayer is union with God, not the pursuit of mystical experiences. St. John cautions against seeking extraordinary spiritual phenomena, such as visions or locutions, as these can lead to spiritual pride or self-deception. True spiritual growth often occurs in dryness and trials, where one learns to surrender completely to God in faith and trust, mirroring the Marian disposition of “Let it be done unto me according to Your word.” Holiness lies in seeking God Himself and embracing His will, not in clinging to consolations or perceived gifts.
Discernment in prayer is necessary, as our imagination, desires, and emotions can cloud what we perceive as divine communication. We shouldn’t become attached to spiritual gifts rather than the Giver, a temptation that can stall one’s progress toward deeper union with God. According to St. John of the Cross, authentic prayer leads to humility, self-surrender, and greater love for God and others, whether in joy or aridity. True holiness is not measured by extraordinary experiences but by a life fully offered to God in trust and love.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
Seeking Union with God: How can I focus on desiring God alone in my prayer life, rather than seeking spiritual consolations or extraordinary experiences?
Avoiding Spiritual Pride: Do I ever take pride in perceived spiritual gifts or experiences, and how can I cultivate humility in my relationship with God?
Persevering in Dryness: How do I respond when prayer feels dry or difficult, and can I trust that God is still working in those moments?
Discernment in Prayer: Am I carefully discerning my inspirations in prayer to ensure they align with God’s will and not my own desires or imagination?
Surrendering to God’s Will: How can I adopt a Marian disposition of surrender, echoing “Let it be done unto me according to Your word” in my daily life and prayer?
Embracing Trials as Gifts: Do I recognize that challenges and trials can be God’s way of leading me to greater spiritual maturity and trust in Him?
Loving the Giver, Not the Gifts: In what ways can I shift my focus from God’s gifts to loving and seeking the Giver Himself more deeply?
An excerpt from St. John of the Cross: Master of Contemplation
The urgent need of the soul in prayer must be, as such, to adopt a radical exercise of pure faith in its approach to God. At the point in the spiritual life when contemplative graces are beginning to stir, it is time to lift anchor, as it were, and plunge into deeper waters of faith: “Those who want to reach union with God should advance neither by understanding, nor by the support of their own experience, nor by feeling or imagination, but by belief in God’s being” (AMC 2.4.4). The last phrase “belief in God’s being” may seem ordinary enough. Is that not simply what faith is—to believe in God? But quickly we should recall the real demand in the deeper act of faith—a pure faith—that must take place in contemplative prayer. We must believe in God precisely as One who is beyond our measure or grasp or comprehension. We must adhere to him, search and seek for him, as infinite mystery and as a personal presence of love immediately engaged with us in the current hour of silent prayer. In short, we must enter into faith itself, into the mystery of believing, to approach the personal mystery of God. We believe in him in the prayer of contemplation as we surrender our being into him. We give way to him and allow him to abide in us: “For God’s being cannot be grasped by the intellect, appetite, imagination, or any other sense; nor can it be known in this life. The most that can be felt and tasted of God in this life is infinitely distant from God and the pure possession of him” (AMC 2.4.4).
Haggerty, Donald. Saint John of the Cross: Master of Contemplation (p. 76). Ignatius Press. Kindle Edition.
A Need to Share – Struggles in the Spiritual Life with Fr. Timothy Gallagher O.M.V.
Fr. Timothy Gallagher explores the experience of spiritual dryness in prayer, highlighting it as a potential sign of growth rather than failure. Using the story of a father and son, Fr. Gallagher illustrates how unresolved burdens, such as past sins or secrets, can hinder intimacy with God. God desires us to bring everything—our pain, shame, and struggles—into prayer, where healing and growth can occur.
Spiritual dryness, rather than being discouraging, can be an invitation to deepen trust and intimacy with God. Fr. Gallagher advises seeking guidance from a spiritual director for navigating such struggles and reminds us hat God is infinitely patient, always ready to walk with us in our burdens. This message is one of hope: through honesty and trust, even the most challenging seasons of the spiritual life can lead to profound freedom and renewed connection with God.
Identifying Dryness in Prayer: What areas of your prayer life feel dry or disconnected, and could this indicate an invitation to deeper intimacy with God?
Facing Unspoken Burdens: Are there unresolved struggles or hidden parts of your heart that you have not yet shared with God in prayer?
Seeking Spiritual Guidance: Who in your life could serve as a trusted spiritual director to help you navigate moments of spiritual dryness or doubt?
Embracing Vulnerability: How might greater openness in your relationships with loved ones mirror the vulnerability God invites in prayer?
Reframing Spiritual Struggles: Can you view spiritual dryness not as failure but as a sign of God’s loving call for growth and healing in your life?
Experiencing God’s Patience: How does reflecting on God’s tenderness and patience encourage you to approach Him with your deepest fears and struggles?
Walking in Hope: In what ways can this episode inspire you to see your spiritual challenges as pathways to greater freedom and connection with God?
An excerpt from the chapter, “A Need to Share”:
“Most fundamentally, prayer is a relationship: the human person and the Divine together, in communication. Dryness may arise in prayer when we need to share something with the Lord but have not done so. We may feel ashamed, too angry, too hurt. And so we do not speak of it. Then our prayer feels superficial, dry. We have little to say. Little! The contrary is true: prayer is dry because we have so much to say and have not said it. Father Reed’s question is the right one: “Have you spoken about this with the Lord?”
The Jesus who speaks so sensitively with the Samaritan woman (John 4:4–42), who meets with the nervous Nicodemus by night (John 3:1–2), who invites the two saddened disciples to tell him their burdens (Luke 24:13–35), who approaches the weeping Mary Magdalene and pronounces her name (John 20:16), who heals Peter’s threefold denial with the threefold question about love (John 21:15–17): this Jesus never “bulldozes” into human hearts. He is patient (Matt. 12:20) and gentle (Matt. 11:29). But he loves us too much to leave us alone with our fear and shame. He invites us to share the burden with him, to tell him about it, to allow him to accompany us in it. When we do, this form of dryness will pass, and prayer will flow.”
Gallagher O.M.V, Fr. Timothy ; Gallagher O.M.V, Fr. Timothy. Struggles in the Spiritual Life: Their Nature and Their Remedies (p. 118). Sophia Institute Press. Kindle Edition.
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!
The Third Sunday of Advent – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff
Msgr. Esseff reflects on the Advent season as a time of joy, repentance, and renewal, urging listeners to recognize Christ’s presence not just in history or the future but in their lives today. Drawing from scripture, he describes baptized Christians as the “New Jerusalem,” living temples of God called to reflect Christ’s love in the world. We should rejoice in God’s nearness and respond to the call of John the Baptist by repenting of sins such as judgment, greed, envy, and unforgiveness. Through prayer, fasting, and acts of mercy, believers can prepare their hearts for Christ’s transformative work.
Priests, deacons, and lay leaders ought to foster communal spiritual renewal during Advent through prayer and reflection. Msgr. Esseff shares personal stories, such as a family gathering for confession, as examples of responding to God’s call; and how Christ’s mission, bringing salvation and peace to all nations, should inspire us to embrace Advent as a time to joyfully ask, “What should I do?” and live as witnesses of Christ’s presence in a broken world.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
Rejoicing in God’s Presence: How can I better recognize and celebrate Christ’s presence in my daily life as the “New Jerusalem”?
Examining My Heart: What sins or habits, such as judgment, greed, or unforgiveness, is God calling me to repent of during this Advent season?
Living the Gospel: How can I practically reflect Christ’s love and mercy in my family, workplace, and community today?
Preparing for Christ’s Coming: What steps can I take, like prayer, fasting, or acts of charity, to spiritually prepare for the birth of Christ this Christmas?
Hearing the Call to Renewal: In what ways can I encourage others, such as family or parish members, to deepen their faith and renew their relationship with God?
Seeking Forgiveness: Are there relationships in my life that require reconciliation, and how can I offer or seek forgiveness from the heart?
Responding to God’s Voice: When I ask, “What should I do?” in prayer, how am I open to hearing and acting on Christ’s guidance for my spiritual growth?
Proclaiming Joy to the World: How can I bring the joy of Christ to others, especially to those who are suffering or feel distant from God?
The crowds asked John the Baptist,
“What should we do?”
He said to them in reply,
“Whoever has two cloaks
should share with the person who has none.
And whoever has food should do likewise.”
Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him,
“Teacher, what should we do?”
He answered them,
“Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.”
Soldiers also asked him,
“And what is it that we should do?”
He told them,
“Do not practice extortion,
do not falsely accuse anyone,
and be satisfied with your wages.”Now the people were filled with expectation,
and all were asking in their hearts
whether John might be the Christ.
John answered them all, saying,
“I am baptizing you with water,
but one mightier than I is coming.
I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor
and to gather the wheat into his barn,
but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
Exhorting them in many other ways,
he preached good news to the people.
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.
St. John of the Cross with Dr. Anthony Lilles – Beginning to Pray Special
Dr. Anthony Lilles and Kris McGregor discuss the lives and spiritual collaboration of St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila. St. John initially felt called to the contemplative Carthusian life but was profoundly influenced by St. Teresa, who encouraged him to join her in reforming the Carmelite Order. This reform emphasized mental prayer and community-focused contemplation as essential for personal holiness and the renewal of the Church. Despite their contrasting personalities—St. Teresa being a dynamic and joyful leader, and St. John a contemplative theologian—they shared a deep spiritual connection. Their collaboration enriched the Carmelite charism, providing a model of complementarity and mutual respect in the pursuit of holiness.
There were many challenges St. John of the Cross faced, including misunderstandings and exile, yet his writings, such as The Living Flame of Love, reveal his profound hope and love for God, even in suffering and death. There is an enduring relevance of their spiritual teachings, which encourage intimacy with Christ and fidelity to one’s vocation.
t. Teresa and St. John’s legacy, rooted in prayer and theological depth, continues to inspire those seeking a deeper union with God.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
The Role of Community in Spiritual Growth: How does the emphasis on community life in the Carmelite reform challenge or deepen your understanding of supporting others in their spiritual journey?
Balancing Contemplation and Action: How can you integrate the Carmelite focus on mental prayer with the Jesuit call to active service in your daily life?
Responding to Misunderstanding and Suffering: What can St. John of the Cross teach you about trusting God amid misunderstandings, rejection, or personal struggles?
Spiritual Direction and Obedience: How does the relationship between St. Teresa and St. John of the Cross inspire your approach to spiritual mentorship or being mentored?
The Complementarity of Vocations: In what ways can you appreciate and support the diversity of vocations and spiritual charisms within the Church?
The Gift of Hope in Prayer: How does St. John of the Cross’s hope and longing for God in his final days encourage you to remain steadfast in your faith journey?
Relevance of Mental Prayer Today: How can the Carmelite emphasis on deep intimacy with God through prayer be incorporated into the modern challenges of your life?
Anthony Lilles, S.T.D. is an associate professor and the academic dean of Saint John’s Seminary in Camarillo as well as the academic advisor for Juan Diego House of Priestly Formation for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. For over twenty years he served the Church in Northern Colorado where he joined and eventually served as dean of the founding faculty of Saint John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver. Through the years, clergy, seminarians, religious and lay faithful have benefited from his lectures and retreat conferences on the Carmelite Doctors of the Church and the writings of St. Elisabeth of the Trinity.
St. Therese of Lisieux said the following: “If I did not simply live from one moment to another, it would be impossible for me to be patient. But I only look at the present. I forget the past, and I take good care not to forestall the future.” In these remarks, St. Therese is trying to point to the truth that is buried deep within the Christian revelation. God only lives in the present moment. He holds all time together in the present. For ourselves, we get lost many times in the past, which could breed nostalgia and grief. Or we anxiously and fearfully try to make the present come quicker. This Advent, ask the Lord for the grace to live in the present so that our gratitude towards all that He is giving us now will deepen. And in our deepening gratitude, will be born a new fervor for worship. For worship is the fruit of the grateful heart.
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.
Growth – Struggles in the Spiritual Life with Fr. Timothy Gallagher O.M.V.
Fr. Timothy Gallagher and Kris McGregor explore the spiritual challenges faced during prayer, using Cathy’s journey as a case study to illustrate how prayer evolves over time.
Cathy initially experiences deep spiritual consolation and healing by using reflective and imaginative methods of Ignatian prayer. However, as her prayer life matures, she finds these approaches less fulfilling and even distracting. This shift leads her to wonder if she’s praying incorrectly. Cathy’s transition to a simpler, quieter form of prayer reflects spiritual growth rather than failure. Drawing an analogy to the deepening intimacy in a long marriage, he emphasizes that prayer, at its core, is a relationship with God, and Cathy’s increasing desire for silent communion signifies a deeper, richer connection with Him.
This simplification of prayer is a natural progression for those who persevere in their spiritual journey. Whether through contemplative silence, liturgical prayer like the Liturgy of the Hours, or cherished devotions like the Rosary, the key is fidelity to daily prayer and attentiveness to the heart’s movement toward God. Changes in prayer experiences are opportunities for growth and invites them to seek guidance, such as through spiritual direction, to navigate transitions. Perseverance remains the essential virtue that ensures continued progress toward a closer relationship with God.
What is the Role of Consolation and Desolation in Prayer? How can experiences of consolation and desolation guide your spiritual growth and reliance on God?
How Does Perseverance Shape Your Prayer Life? In what ways can remaining faithful to prayer, even during dryness or struggle, deepen your relationship with God?
Is Your Prayer Adapting to Your Spiritual Growth? How might God be inviting you to simplify or change the way you pray as your relationship with Him matures?
How Do You Experience God’s Presence in Silence? What can moments of quiet communion with God teach you about trust and intimacy in your spiritual life?
What Role Does Spiritual Direction Play in Your Journey? How could seeking guidance from a spiritual director help you navigate challenges or transitions in your prayer life?
How Does Group Prayer Complement Personal Prayer? In what ways do communal practices like the Rosary or Liturgy of the Hours support and enrich your individual prayer experiences?
Are You Open to Grace in Unexpected Forms? How can you recognize and embrace God’s work in your life, even in moments of dryness or change in prayer?
An excerpt from the chapter, “Growth”:
“Yes, this situation can be confusing. What is happening in Cathy’s prayer? It has become dry. Is this because she lacks formation (chapter 15), has grown negligent (chapter 16), or has permitted an inconsistency between her life and prayer (chapter 17)? None of this appears to be present: Cathy has received formation in prayer, is faithful to it, and shows no sign of inconsistency between her life and prayer. Yet her prayer is dry. Something else, then, is at work, and in this case, something blessed. Cathy finds herself less drawn than before to reflect on or imagine a scriptural text. She esteems this way of praying and has found it fruitful in the past.
Now, however, when she reflects or imagines, she says that “it felt like work, ‘busier’ than I wanted to be in prayer.” On the other hand, at one point “I let the imagining go and just sat with the Lord. That felt better.” Very likely, Cathy’s prayer is simplifying. At times, her heart desires to relinquish the “busyness” of reflecting and imagining and simply be with the Lord, her heart with his heart, with little activity, simply together in a blessed and loving communion. She fears that when she gives her heart this freedom, she is not really praying — not thinking about the meaning of a text or participating imaginatively as it unfolds.
On the contrary! Cathy, and anyone in her situation, needs to know that this silent, loving communion is genuine prayer.”
Gallagher O.M.V, Fr. Timothy ; Gallagher O.M.V, Fr. Timothy. Struggles in the Spiritual Life: Their Nature and Their Remedies (p. 111). Sophia Institute Press. Kindle Edition.
“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!
Our Lady of Guadalupe – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff
Msgr. Esseff reflects on the profound significance of Our Lady of Guadalupe and her universal message of love and protection, using the historical and spiritual context of her apparition to St. Juan Diego in 1531.
At a time when the Church in Europe was losing members, her presence in the Americas brought millions into the faith, symbolizing renewal and hope. The miraculous image imprinted on Juan Diego’s tilma continues to inspire devotion and is seen as a unifying force for the Church in the Americas.
There is a simplicity and power in Our Lady’s message to Juan Diego: trust in her as a loving mother who intercedes for all her children. He encourages listeners to see themselves in Juan Diego’s humility and to recognize their own unique role in sharing her love. She is the epicenter of unity for North and South America, calling Catholics to foster greater solidarity with one another. U
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
Recognizing Mary’s Maternal Love: How do you experience Mary’s love and protection in your own life, especially during times of difficulty?
Trusting in Humility: Like St. Juan Diego, how can you embrace humility and trust in God’s plans, even when you feel unworthy or insignificant?
Unity Across the Americas: How does Our Lady of Guadalupe inspire you to foster solidarity and connection with Catholics across North and South America?
Embracing Simplicity in Faith: What simple but powerful ways can you live out Mary’s message of love and care in your daily life?
Preparing for Christmas: How can Mary’s presence and example guide you in drawing closer to Christ during this Advent season?
“God’s temple in heaven was opened,
and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple.
A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun,
with the moon under her feet,
and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth.
Then another sign appeared in the sky;
it was a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns,
and on its heads were seven diadems.
Its tail swept away a third of the stars in the sky
and hurled them down to the earth.
Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth,
to devour her child when she gave birth.
She gave birth to a son, a male child,
destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod.
Her child was caught up to God and his throne.
The woman herself fled into the desert
where she had a place prepared by God.
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
“Now have salvation and power come,
and the Kingdom of our God
and the authority of his Anointed.”
From the Office of Readings:
From a report by Don Antonio Valeriano, a Native American author of the sixteenth century
(Nicon Mopohua, 12th ed., 3-9, 21)
The Voice of the Turtledove has been heard in our land
At daybreak one Saturday morning in 1531, on the very first days of the month of December, an Indian named Juan Diego was going from the village where he lived to Tlatelolco in order to take part in divine worship and listen to God’s commandments. When he came near the hill called Tepeyac, dawn had already come, and Juan Diego heard someone calling him from the very top of the hill: “Juanito, Juan Dieguito.”
He went up the hill and caught sight of a lady of unearthly grandeur whose clothing was as radiant as the sun. She said to him in words both gentle and courteous: “Juanito, the humblest of my children, know and understand that I am the ever virgin Mary, Mother of the true God through whom all things live. It is my ardent desire that a church be erected here so that in it I can show and bestow my love, compassion, help, and protection to all who inhabit this land and to those others who love me, that they might call upon and confide in me. Go to the Bishop of Mexico to make known to him what I greatly desire. Go and put all your efforts into this.”
When Juan Diego arrived in the presence of the Bishop, Fray Juan de Zumarraga, a Franciscan, the latter did not seem to believe Juan Diego and answered: “Come another time, and I will listen at leisure.”
Juan Diego returned to the hilltop where the Heavenly Lady was waiting, and he said to her: “My Lady, my maiden, I presented your message to the Bishop, but it seemed that he did not think it was the truth. For this reason I beg you to entrust your message to someone more illustrious who might convey it in order that they may believe it, for I am only an insignificant man.”
She answered him: “Humblest of my sons, I ask that tomorrow you again go to see the Bishop and tell him that I, the ever virgin holy Mary, Mother of God, am the one who personally sent you.”
But on the following day, Sunday, the Bishop again did not believe Juan Diego and told him that some sign was necessary so that he could believe that it was the Heavenly Lady herself who sent him. And then he dismissed Juan Diego.
On Monday Juan Diego did not return. His uncle, Juan Bernardino, became very ill, and at night asked Juan to go to Tlatelolco at daybreak to call a priest to hear his confession.
Juan Diego set out on Tuesday, but he went around the hill and passed on the other side, toward the east, so as to arrive quickly in Mexico City and to avoid being detained by the Heavenly Lady. But she came out to meet him on that side of the hill and said to him: “Listen and understand, my humblest son. There is nothing to frighten and distress you. Do not let your heart be troubled, and let nothing upset you. Is it not I, your Mother, who is here? Are you not under my protection? Are you not, fortunately, in my care? Do not let your uncle’s illness distress you. It is certain that he has already been cured. Go up to the hilltop, my son, where you will find flowers of various kinds. Cut them, and bring them into my presence.”
When Juan Diego reached the peak, he was astonished that so many Castilian roses had burst forth at a time when the frost was severe. He carried the roses in the folds of his tilma (mantle) to the Heavenly Lady. She said to him: “My son, this is the proof and the sign which you will bring to the Bishop so that he will see my will in it. You are my ambassador, very worthy of trust.”
Juan Diego set out on his way, now content and sure of succeeding. On arriving in the Bishop’s presence, he told him: “My lord, I did what you asked. The Heavenly Lady complied with your request and fulfilled it. She sent me to the hilltop to cut some Castilian roses and told me to bring them to you in person. And this I am doing, so that you can see in them the sign you seek in order to carry out her will. Here they are; receive them.”
He immediately opened up his white mantle, and as all the different Castilian roses scattered to the ground, there was drawn on the cloak and suddenly appeared the precious image of the ever virgin Mary, Mother of God, in the same manner as it is today and is kept in her shrine of Tepeyac.
The whole city was stirred and came to see and admire her venerable image and to offer prayers to her; and following the command which the same Heavenly Lady gave to Juan Bernardino when she restored him to health, they called her by the name that she herself had used: “the ever virgin holy Mary of Guadalupe.”
