Msgr. Esseff recounts some of his experiences as he directed retreats for the Missionaries of Charity Sisters in Italy and Spain. He speaks of his time in Rome during the Synod for the New Evangelization and the Canonization of the Saints on October 21. Be he also shares his experience of hearing about Hurricane Sandy for the first time at the airport on the way home and the subsequent tragedy that has followed in its wake. Msgr. Esseff offers his insights on this moment and the hope that is found in the teachings of Christ. He guides us through a meditation that helps us to see deeply into the heart of the person next to us.
Msgr. Esseff shares some of his insights on an article he is preparing on St. Padre Pio and the Theology of the Body. There’s a fascinating connection that can be made. He begins by offering a detailed sharing of his first encounters with St. Pio and then discusses how his stigmata and gifts relate to our understanding of our relationship with Christ.
Msgr. Esseff remembers his encounters with St. Padre Pio. He also reflects on the Gospel for this particular Sunday, which places its focus on the suffering, death and rising of Jesus. That this world is not our “forever” destiny. We were created for Eternal Life. Now will it forever in Heaven or will it forever separation from God in Hell. The central act of Jesus Christ was to suffer, die and rise. It takes the deepest wounds that we and redeems it. In today’s world, we will suffer in the Paschal Mystery in order to witness the glory of God to the world. He shares the compelling story of a boy named Eddie Walsh who is a tremendous witness of the Gospel Truth.
Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee,
but he did not wish anyone to know about it.
He was teaching his disciples and telling them,
“The Son of Man is to be handed over to men
and they will kill him,
and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise.”
But they did not understand the saying,
and they were afraid to question him.
They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house,
he began to ask them,
“What were you arguing about on the way?”
But they remained silent.
They had been discussing among themselves on the way
who was the greatest.
Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them,
“If anyone wishes to be first,
he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.”
Taking a child, he placed it in the their midst,
and putting his arms around it, he said to them,
“Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me;
and whoever receives me,
receives not me but the One who sent me.”
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.
To obtain a copy of Msgr. Esseff’s book byvisiting here
Msgr. Esseff reflects on the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. He describes in detail the true horror of this means of execution and what it meant to be crucified in the time of Jesus. But he also talks about the great love that God has for us in embracing the Cross for our sake and what it means for us today. A very powerful reflection.
Msgr. Esseff reflects on the birth of the Virgin Mary. But even more than that, he ponders the importance of the Blessed Mother in our lives. The gift of her presence in the action of salvation history and role is the “Mother” of us all.
Msgr. Esseff reflects on the dangers of doing “good work” without having the depth of the contemplative prayer that unites us to Christ in doing the will of the Father. He offers insight primarily from the teachings found in the letter from St. James Chap 1:
Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you
and is able to save your souls.
Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves.
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this:
to care for orphans and widows in their affliction
and to keep oneself unstained by the world. – NAB
As well as the Gospel of Mark Chap 7:
He responded,
“Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts.
You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.”
He summoned the crowd again and said to them,
“Hear me, all of you, and understand.
Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person;
but the things that come out from within are what defile.
“From within people, from their hearts,
come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder,
adultery, greed, malice, deceit,
licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly.
All these evils come from within and they defile.” – NAB
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.
To obtain a copy of Msgr. Esseff’s book byvisiting here
Msgr. Esseff reflects on the interior movement of St. Augustine that led to his conversion and witness. He also shares a powerful story of a man in a prison and his conversion. The story takes a poignant twist at the end, one that exemplifies the power of conversion and forgiveness. When our hearts are united with the heart of Christ a death takes place…the old self dies so that Christ may live.
Msgr. Esseff shares some of the experience from the on-going seminarian retreat in Cleveland, OH. He reflects on the gospel reading which presents the teaching of Jesus about how it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. What are we to make of that? How attached are we to our “things” and money? What holds us bound? How do we obtain authentic freedom? What is the unique surrender of the priest? What is the gift?
Msgr. Esseff reflects on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and it’s meaning for our lives and destiny. He brings forth from the liturgy of the day the Sacred Scripture a teaching which begins with fall of man, but the redemption brought about by Jesus Christ. And because of His Resurrection, death has no power over us. He explains this by sharing the death of his own sister and the prayer of his mother. Msgr. Esseff explains Mary sinlessness as the Immaculate Conception and the purpose of the Assumption. He discusses Chap. 12 of the Book of Revelation, as well as Our Lady of Guadalupe and Fatima and the message for us today. Msgr. Esseff talks about our struggles with death, not only our own, but also those of our loved ones. How we hold on sometimes to tightly to those we should let go to the Father, because of our own fears and desires…and possibly our selfishness. We need to remember the joys of Eternal Life and the role of Mary, our Mother, who helps us with the transition. Be not afraid!
Show 12 ” Building a Kingdom of Love” – Why do those who trust in God sometimes suffer? Msgr. Esseff then addresses the issue of trust in the Lord as an expression in our faith…even when it’s hard
Are you not from eternity, O LORD,
my holy God, immortal?
O LORD, you have marked him for judgment,
O Rock, you have readied him punishment!
Too pure are your eyes to look upon evil,
and the sight of misery you cannot endure.
Why, then, do you gaze on the faithless in silence
while the wicked man devours
one more just than himself?
You have made man like the fish of the sea,
like creeping things without a ruler.
He brings them all up with his hook,
he hauls them away with his net,
He gathers them in his seine;
and so he rejoices and exults.
Therefore he sacrifices to his net,
and burns incense to his seine;
for thanks to them his portion is generous,
and his repast sumptuous.
Shall he, then, keep on brandishing his sword
to slay peoples without mercy? I will stand at my guard post,
and station myself upon the rampart,
And keep watch to see what he will say to me,
and what answer he will give to my complaint.
Then the LORD answered me and said:
Write down the vision
Clearly upon the tablets,
so that one can read it readily. For the vision still has its time, presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint; If it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not be late. The rash man has no integrity; but the just man, because of his faith, shall live. -NAB
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.
To obtain a copy of Msgr. Esseff’s book byvisiting here
Missionaries of Charity Sisters in Italy and Spain. He speaks of his time in Rome during the Synod for the New Evangelization and the Canonization of the Saints on October 21. Be he also shares his experience of hearing about Hurricane Sandy for the first time at the airport on the way home and the subsequent tragedy that has followed in its wake. Msgr. Esseff offers his insights on this moment and the hope that is found in the teachings of Christ. He guides us through a meditation that helps us to see deeply into the heart of the person next to us.
