St. Ambrose of Milan, Part 1 – The Doctors of the Church with Dr. Matthew Bunson
Born: 340 AD
Died: January 1, 397 AD
Dr. Matthew Bunson and Kris McGregor delve into the life and legacy of St. Ambrose of Milan, one of the first four Doctors of the Church. St. Ambrose, born in 340 AD to a prominent Christian Roman family, was shaped by a devout household and a comprehensive education in literature, rhetoric, and law. Despite initially serving as a governor in the Roman Empire, his unexpected appointment as Bishop of Milan arose during a contentious period marked by the Arian heresy. Despite his reluctance, Ambrose accepted the role, undergoing baptism and theological study, and embracing his mission to defend and shepherd the Christian community. His dedication to scripture, particularly the Old Testament, influenced his homiletic style and laid the foundation for practices like Lectio Divina.
St. Ambrose’s ability to bridge secular leadership and ecclesial authority brought stability to Milan and served as an inspiration for future saints like Augustine of Hippo. His profound faith and intellectual contributions include his role in opposing Arianism and shaping the Christian theological tradition. St. Ambrose’s life exemplifies the hallmark of a Doctor of the Church: profound teaching intertwined with sanctity, humility, and obedience to God’s will.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
The Role of Divine Providence: How can we recognize and embrace God’s unexpected plans for our lives, as St. Ambrose did when called to be a bishop?
Faith and Family Influence: In what ways does your family or community shape your faith journey, similar to how St. Ambrose’s upbringing prepared him for his vocation?
The Witness of Integrity: How does living a life of integrity and faithfulness to Christ impact those around you, as it did for St. Ambrose with his community?
Preparation for Mission: What steps can you take to deepen your knowledge of Scripture and Church teachings, following St. Ambrose’s example of relentless study?
Defending the Faith: How can you actively defend the truths of the Catholic faith in the face of modern challenges, inspired by St. Ambrose’s opposition to heresies?
Surrendering to God’s Will: What areas of your life require greater surrender to God’s will, mirroring St. Ambrose’s total dedication to his calling?
The Influence of Prayer: How can practices like Lectio Divina and prayerful reflection on Scripture strengthen your spiritual life and guide your actions?
For more on St. Ambrose of Milan and his teachings
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.
Adam English – The Saint Who Would Be Santa on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor
In this episode of Inside the Pages, Kris McGregor talks to Dr. Adam English about his book, The Saint Who Would Be Santa Claus: The True Life and Trials of Nicholas of Myra.
Exploring the historical figure of St. Nicholas, distinguishing him from the popularized Santa Claus; Dr. English explains that Nicholas was a Christian bishop in Asia Minor during the 3rd and 4th centuries, a time when Christianity transformed from a persecuted faith to the favored religion of the Roman Empire. Known for his generosity, justice, and pastoral care, Nicholas inspired stories like helping impoverished families with dowries, which later became the foundation for his association with gift-giving.
The book also talks about Nicholas’s role in combating paganism, supporting marriage, and advocating for orthodoxy at the Council of Nicaea.
The True Identity of St. Nicholas
How does understanding the historical St. Nicholas deepen your appreciation for his example of Christian virtue and service?
Generosity Beyond Our Walls
How can you emulate St. Nicholas’s generosity by serving those outside your immediate family or community?
Celebrating St. Nicholas in Advent
What traditions could you adopt or adapt to honor St. Nicholas’s feast day as part of your Advent and Christmas preparations?
Faith Amid Persecution
How does St. Nicholas’s perseverance during intense persecution inspire you to remain faithful in challenging circumstances?
The Value of Marriage
What lessons can you draw from St. Nicholas’s support for marriage as a good and noble estate in your own life or in guiding others?
Advocating for Orthodoxy
How can St. Nicholas’s participation in the Council of Nicaea encourage you to defend and articulate your Catholic faith today?
Distinguishing Cultural Traditions
What steps can you take to reconcile secular Christmas traditions with a deeper focus on Christ and St. Nicholas’s Christian legacy?
Integrating Faith and Action
How can St. Nicholas’s life inspire you to integrate acts of charity with your spiritual growth and faith journey?
About the Book
“With his rosy cheeks and matching red suit–and ever-present elf and reindeer companions–Santa Claus may be the most identifiable of fantastical characters. But what do we really know of jolly old Saint Nicholas, “patron saint” of Christmastime? Ask about the human behind the suit, and the tale we know so well quickly fades into myth and folklore.
In The Saint Who Would Be Santa Claus, religious historian Adam English tells the true and compelling tale of Saint Nicholas, bishop of Myra. Around the fourth century in what is now Turkey, a boy of humble circumstance became a man revered for his many virtues. Chief among them was dealing generously with his possessions, once lifting an entire family out of poverty with a single–and secret–gift of gold, so legend tells. Yet he was much more than virtuous. As English reveals, Saint Nicholas was of integral influence in events that would significantly impact the history and development of the Christian church, including the Council of Nicaea, the destruction of the temple to Artemis in Myra, and a miraculous rescue of three falsely accused military officers. And Nicholas became the patron saint of children and sailors, merchants and thieves, as well as France, Russia, Greece, and myriad others.
Weaving together the best historical and archaeological evidence available with the folklore and legends handed down through generations, English creates a stunning image of this much venerated Christian saint. With prose as enjoyable as it is informative, he shows why the life–and death–of Nicholas of Myra so radically influenced the formation of Western history and Christian thought, and did so in ways many have never realized.”
About the Author
Adam C. English is Associate Professor of Religion at Campbell University where he teaches on the philosophy of religion, constructive theology, and the history of Christian thought. He lives near Raleigh, North Carolina.
Contemplative Faith: Certitude in Darkness – St. John of the Cross: Master of Contemplation with Fr. Donald Haggerty
Fr. Haggerty and Kris McGregor discuss the interconnectedness of saints, using examples like St. Thérèse of Lisieux, who embraced St. John’s teachings, influencing others like St. Teresa of Calcutta. Pope St. John Paul II’s deep engagement with St. John’s work, particularly his doctoral dissertation on the experiential impact of faith, which explores how deeper prayer transforms our understanding of God’s presence and our relationship with Him.
Contemplative prayer leads to greater certitude in faith, even as it brings “darkness” to the intellect, requiring trust in God’s unseen presence. This shift often involves a loss of emotional consolations or insights but marks an entry into the mystery of God’s indwelling presence. He encourages integrating scripture into prayer to listen to God’s timeless word personally. As prayer life matures, it becomes simpler yet more profound, as seen in devotions like the Rosary.
The journey of contemplation, marked by silence, trust, and receptivity, deepens our love and union with God, transforming both prayer and life itself.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
1. The Influence of Saints: How do the lives and teachings of saints inspire and shape your own spiritual journey?
2. Trust in God’s Presence: In moments of silence or spiritual “darkness,” how do you deepen your trust in God’s unseen presence?
3. Scripture as Living Word: How can you integrate scripture into your prayer life to hear God speaking personally to you?
4. Simplicity in Prayer: As you grow in faith, how can you embrace simplicity and childlike trust in your prayer practices?
5. Transition in Spiritual Life: How do you respond to changes in your prayer experience, such as the loss of emotional consolations or vivid insights?
6. Certitude vs. Clarity: How does your faith sustain you when certainty in God’s presence doesn’t bring intellectual or emotional clarity?
7. Role of Contemplative Prayer: How does contemplative prayer deepen your awareness of God’s indwelling presence in your life?
An excerpt from St. John of the Cross: Master of Contemplation
“What can be the reason for this experience in prayer? Saint John of the Cross affirms that supernatural faith, inasmuch as it places us in an immediate contact with God, affects the intellect in a strangely painful way with the onset of contemplative graces. The truths of revelation that the intellect embraces in faith now seem to surpass comprehension in a manner unlike any previous experience in prayer. A deeper understanding of theological faith can explain why this occurs. It is inadequate to conceive of our faith as simply an assent by our mind to truths that are then held securely with personal conviction. This is not at all the full picture. On a very personal level, in our relations with God himself, faith is a kind of real conduit into the actual mystery of God. As a theological virtue, it unites the intellect quite directly and immediately to the mystery of God. The effect of this union, depending on a soul’s closeness to God, is to stretch the intellect beyond what it can assimilate in its natural capacity. The result in the time of interior prayer is a painful experience of obscurity within the intellect toward the God of ultimate mystery known personally in faith. This is not an experience of dark doubts about God. Rather, it is as though a light has begun to shine too brightly, preventing our eyes from seeing what is there in front of us. The closer we approach the light of God, the more his presence blinds us. The ordinary act of comprehension in regard to natural objects of knowledge does not function in this way. But when the knowledge is of God himself in his immediate personal presence to the soul, the consequence is vastly different.”
Haggerty, Donald. Saint John of the Cross: Master of Contemplation (pp. 67-68). Ignatius Press. Kindle Edition.
St. John Damascene, Pt. 2 – The Doctors of the Church: The Charism of Wisdom with Dr. Matthew Bunson
Born: 676 AD, Damascus, Syria
Died: December 4, 749 AD, Mar Saba, Jordan
Dr. Matthew Bunson and Kris McGregor continue exploring the life and contributions of St. John Damascene and his role in the defense of sacred icons during the Byzantine Empire’s iconoclastic controversies. St. John’s theological insights on the veneration of images, emphasizing the distinction between worship (latria) due to God alone and veneration (dulia) offered to saints and holy images as reminders of divine truths. St. John defended the sacredness of matter, rooted in the Incarnation, and argued that icons served as tangible connections to the divine, much like family photographs evoke deep personal memories. His work helped preserve the Church’s understanding of creation’s goodness and the role of art in theological expression.
The episode also delves into St. John’s influence on Marian doctrine, notably his title as the “Doctor of the Assumption.” His writings laid the foundation for the dogma of the Assumption defined in 1950, emphasizing Mary’s unique role as Theotokos (God-bearer) and her assumption as a reflection of her purity and divine mission. St. John’s broader legacy as a poet, theologian, and champion of Christian art, whose insights remain relevant for understanding the interplay between faith, art, and devotion. His contributions, translated into various languages, continue to resonate universally, reflecting the timeless and inclusive nature of the Church’s teachings.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
The Role of Sacred Art in Faith: How do icons and sacred images deepen your understanding and experience of God’s presence in creation?
Veneration vs. Worship: How can you better explain the distinction between veneration of saints and worship of God to those unfamiliar with Catholic teaching?
Theology of Creation and Incarnation: In what ways does recognizing the goodness of matter enhance your appreciation of Christ’s Incarnation and the sacraments?
Marian Devotion and Christology: How does reflecting on Mary’s role as Theotokos help you grow closer to Jesus and understand His divine mission?
Memory and Holiness: How can sacred art or practices of remembrance inspire you to follow the example of saints in your daily life?
Faith Amid Controversy: How can the courage of figures like St. John Damascene inspire you to stand firm in defending your faith traditions in the face of challenges?
Unity of Truth and Beauty: How does the universality of sacred art and theology affirm your belief in the Church’s mission to reach all cultures and generations?
“St. John Damascene extends these fundamental ideas to the veneration of the relics of Saints, on the basis of the conviction that the Christian Saints, having become partakers of the Resurrection of Christ, cannot be considered simply “dead”. Numbering, for example, those whose relics or images are worthy of veneration, John states in his third discourse in defence of images: “First of all (let us venerate) those among whom God reposed, he alone Holy, who reposes among the Saints (cf. Is 57: 15), such as the Mother of God and all the Saints. These are those who, as far as possible, have made themselves similar to God by their own will; and by God’s presence in them, and his help, they are really called gods (cf. Ps 82[81]: 6), not by their nature, but by contingency, just as the red-hot iron is called fire, not by its nature, but by contingency and its participation in the fire. He says in fact : you shall be holy, because I am Holy (cf. Lv 19: 2)” (III, 33, col. 1352 a). After a series of references of this kind, John Damascene was able serenely to deduce: “God, who is good, and greater than any goodness, was not content with the contemplation of himself, but desired that there should be beings benefited by him, who might share in his goodness: therefore he created from nothing all things, visible and invisible, including man, a reality visible and invisible. And he created him envisaging him and creating him as a being capable of thought (ennoema ergon), enriched with the word (logo[i] sympleroumenon), and orientated towards the spirit (pneumati teleioumenon)” (II, 2, pg 94, col. 865a). And to clarify this thought further, he adds: “We must allow ourselves to be filled with wonder (thaumazein) at all the works of Providence (tes pronoias erga), to accept and praise them all, overcoming any temptation to identify in them aspects which to many may seem unjust or iniquitous, (adika), and admitting instead that the project of God (pronoia) goes beyond man’s capacity to know or to understand (agnoston kai akatalepton), while on the contrary only he may know our thoughts, our actions, and even our future” (ii, 29, pg 94, col. 964c). Plato had in fact already said that all philosophy begins with wonder. Our faith, too, begins with wonder at the very fact of the Creation, and at the beauty of God who makes himself visible.The optimism of the contemplation of nature (physike theoria), of seeing in the visible creation the good, the beautiful, the true, this Christian optimism, is not ingenuous: it takes account of the wound inflicted on human nature by the freedom of choice desired by God and misused by man, with all the consequences of widespread discord which have derived from it. From this derives the need, clearly perceived by John Damascene, that nature, in which the goodness and beauty of God are reflected, wounded by our fault, “should be strengthened and renewed” by the descent of the Son of God in the flesh, after God had tried in many ways and on many occasions, to show that he had created man so that he might exist not only in “being”, but also in “well-being” (cf. The Orthodox Faith, II, 1, pg 94, col. 981). With passionate eagerness John explains: “It was necessary for nature to be strengthened and renewed, and for the path of virtue to be indicated and effectively taught (didachthenai aretes hodòn), the path that leads away from corruption and towards eternal life…. So there appeared on the horizon of history the great sea of love that God bears towards man (philanthropias pelagos)”…. It is a fine expression. We see on one side the beauty of Creation, and on the other the destruction wrought by the fault of man. But we see in the Son of God, who descends to renew nature, the sea of love that God has for man. John Damascene continues: “he himself, the Creator and the Lord, fought for his Creation, transmitting to it his teaching by example…. And so the Son of God, while still remaining in the form of God, lowered the skies and descended… to his servants… achieving the newest thing of all, the only thing really new under the sun, through which he manifested the infinite power of God” (III, 1, pg 94, col. 981c-984b).
We may imagine the comfort and joy which these words, so rich in fascinating images, poured into the hearts of the faithful. We listen to them today, sharing the same feelings with the Christians of those far-off days: God desires to repose in us, he wishes to renew nature through our conversion, he wants to allow us to share in his divinity. May the Lord help us to make these words the substance of our lives.”
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. John Damascene, Pt. 1 – The Doctors of the Church: The Charism of Wisdom with Dr. Matthew Bunson
Born: 676 AD, Damascus, Syria
Died: December 4, 749 AD, Mar Saba, Jordan
Dr. Matthew Bunson and Kris McGregor explore the life and legacy of St. John Damascene, an influential figure in the Eastern Church and one of the last Fathers of the Church. St. John is celebrated for his theological contributions, particularly his defense of the veneration of icons amid the iconoclast controversy. Living in a time when Islamic rule dominated the East and imposed restrictions on Christians, John navigated complex socio-political and religious challenges to articulate the theological significance of sacred images. His defense, rooted in the Incarnation, made the proper distinction between worship, owed only to God, and veneration, directed to holy representations that lift the mind and heart to the divine. This nuanced understanding helped preserve the Church’s appreciation of material creation as a vehicle for encountering God.
Dr. Bunson also discusses John’s life as a scholar, monk, and theologian, shaped by his education under a former Christian slave named Cosmas. St. John’s writings on icons defend their use as a reflection of God’s beauty in creation and as tools for prayer and contemplation. He framed his arguments against the iconoclasts with clarity, illustrating that icons, like other sacred objects, serve to deepen faith without violating the prohibition against idolatry. Dr. Bunson ties John’s teachings to contemporary challenges, providing Catholics with a foundation to respond to criticisms of the use of sacred images, whether in churches or homes, while underlining the optimism of the Christian view of creation as good, true, and beautiful.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
Understanding the Incarnation Through Icons: How does St. John of Damascus’s defense of icons deepen your appreciation of the Incarnation and God’s presence in creation?
Veneration vs. Worship: How can you explain the difference between veneration and worship to someone who challenges the use of sacred images in Catholic practice?
Role of Beauty in Faith: In what ways do you see the beauty of creation leading you closer to God, as St. John emphasized?
Faith Amid Persecution: How can the example of St. John remaining faithful under Islamic rule inspire your response to challenges to your faith?
Sacred Art as Prayer: How do you experience icons or other forms of sacred art as a means of encountering the divine in your personal prayer life?
Optimism in Creation: How does the Christian optimism about creation, as discussed by St. John and Pope Benedict XVI, challenge or affirm your worldview?
Learning from Tradition: What aspect of St. John’s teachings on icons or theology most inspires you to engage with the Church’s tradition in your spiritual growth?
“Today I should like to speak about John Damascene, a personage of prime importance in the history of Byzantine Theology, a great Doctor in the history of the Universal Church. Above all he was an eyewitness of the passage from the Greek and Syrian Christian cultures shared by the Eastern part of the Byzantine Empire, to the Islamic culture, which spread through its military conquests in the territory commonly known as the Middle or Near East. John, born into a wealthy Christian family, at an early age assumed the role, perhaps already held by his father, of Treasurer of the Caliphate. Very soon, however, dissatisfied with life at court, he decided on a monastic life, and entered the monastery of Mar Saba, near Jerusalem. This was around the year 700. He never again left the monastery, but dedicated all his energy to ascesis and literary work, not disdaining a certain amount of pastoral activity, as is shown by his numerous homilies. His liturgical commemoration is on the 4 December. Pope Leo XIII proclaimed him Doctor of the Universal Church in 1890.
In the East, his best remembered works are the three Discourses against those who calumniatewhich were condemned after his death by the iconoclastic Council of Hieria (754). These discourses, however, were also the fundamental grounds for his rehabilitation and canonization on the part of the Orthodox Fathers summoned to the Council of Nicaea (787), the Seventh Ecumenical Council. In these texts it is possible to trace the first important theological attempts to legitimise the veneration of sacred images, relating them to the mystery of the Incarnation of the Son of God in the womb of the Virgin Mary.
John Damascene was also among the first to distinguish, in the cult, both public and private, of the Christians, between worship (latreia), and veneration (proskynesis): the first can only be offered to God, spiritual above all else, the second, on the other hand, can make use of an image to address the one whom the image represents. Obviously the Saint can in no way be identified with the material of which the icon is composed. This distinction was immediately seen to be very important in finding an answer in Christian terms to those who considered universal and eternal the strict Old Testament prohibition against the use of cult images. This was also a matter of great debate in the Islamic world, which accepts the Jewish tradition of the total exclusion of cult images. Christians, on the other hand, in this context, have discussed the problem and found a justification for the veneration of images. John Damascene writes, “In other ages God had not been represented in images, being incorporate and faceless. But since God has now been seen in the flesh, and lived among men, I represent that part of God which is visible. I do not venerate matter, but the Creator of matter, who became matter for my sake and deigned to live in matter and bring about my salvation through matter. I will not cease therefore to venerate that matter through which my salvation was achieved. But I do not venerate it in absolute terms as God! How could that which, from non-existence, has been given existence, be God?… But I also venerate and respect all the rest of matter which has brought me salvation, since it is full of energy and Holy graces. Is not the wood of the Cross, three times blessed, matter?… And the ink, and the most Holy Book of the Gospels, are they not matter? The redeeming altar which dispenses the Bread of life, is it not matter?… And, before all else, are not the flesh and blood of Our Lord matter? Either we must suppress the sacred nature of all these things, or we must concede to the tradition of the Church the veneration of the images of God and that of the friends of God who are sanctified by the name they bear, and for this reason are possessed by the grace of the Holy Spirit. Do not, therefore, offend matter: it is not contemptible, because nothing that God has made is contemptible” (cf. Contra imaginum calumniatores, I, 16, ed. Kotter, pp. 89-90). We see that as a result of the Incarnation, matter is seen to have become divine, is seen as the habitation of God. It is a new vision of the world and of material reality. God became flesh and flesh became truly the habitation of God, whose glory shines in the human Face of Christ. Thus the arguments of the Doctor of the East are still extremely relevant today, considering the very great dignity that matter has acquired through the Incarnation, capable of becoming, through faith, a sign and a sacrament, efficacious in the meeting of man with God. John Damascene remains, therefore, a privileged witness of the cult of icons, which would come to be one of the most distinctive aspects of Eastern spirituality up to the present day. It is, however, a form of cult which belongs simply to the Christian faith, to the faith in that God who became flesh and was made visible. The teaching of Saint John Damascene thus finds its place in the tradition of the universal Church, whose sacramental doctrine foresees that material elements taken from nature can become vehicles of grace by virtue of the invocation (epiclesis) of the Holy Spirit, accompanied by the confession of the true faith.”
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.
Episode 7 – The Poetry of Saint Thérèse – St. Thérèse and Marie: The Story of Two Cousins with Fr. Timothy Gallagher
St. Thérèse of Lisieux
Fr. Timothy Gallagher explores the poetic expressions of St. Thérèse of Lisieux and her profound ability to convey spiritual truths through poetry despite her young age, lack of formal training, and challenging circumstances.
St. Thérèse’s poetry, much of which was written between the ages of 21 and 24, often loses some of its beauty in translation. Her poems were not just literary creations but deeply personal and spiritual reflections meant to uplift, console, and inspire those around her, such as her cousin Marie on the day she entered Carmel. Thérèse’s works reflect her deep love for Christ and the Eucharist, her longing for heaven, and her ability to connect with others’ experiences, expressing sentiments that resonate deeply despite their simplicity.
Fr. Gallagher delves into specific examples of Thérèse’s poetry, such as a canticle she composed for Marie, setting it to a popular aria to highlight Marie’s beautiful soprano voice. He also reflects on Thérèse’s family dynamic and their shared longing for heaven as a reunion with God and with each other. Thérèse’s gestures, such as leaving a copy of her poem “Living on Love” adorned with flowers in Marie’s cell, illustrate her thoughtful love and understanding of others’ needs. Her unique perspective of life as a journey toward eternal rest with God is a perspective deeply rooted in her family’s spirituality and reflected in her writings and actions.
Through her poetry and life, Thérèse invites others to live with a similar heavenly perspective, finding purpose in sacrifices and hope in eternal reunion.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
The Role of Poetry in Expressing Faith: How does Thérèse’s use of poetry reveal the depth of her spirituality and her ability to connect with others through creative expression?
Living with a Heavenly Perspective: In what ways can Thérèse’s longing for heaven inspire us to view our earthly struggles as part of a greater journey toward eternal life with God?
The Impact of Translation on Spiritual Texts: How does the challenge of translating Thérèse’s poetry into other languages affect our understanding of her spiritual insights and personal expressions?
Small Gestures of Love: How can Thérèse’s thoughtful acts, like composing personalized poems or leaving flowers for her sister, teach us to show love and encouragement in simple, meaningful ways?
Community and Eternal Reunion: How does Thérèse’s deep love for her family and her vision of an eternal reunion in heaven influence our own understanding of the communion of saints?
Apostolic Value of Sacrifice: How does Thérèse’s belief in the power of small sacrifices to bring souls to Christ challenge our approach to daily acts of love and service?
The Ordinary Mystic: What does Thérèse’s life teach us about finding profound spirituality in the simplicity of ordinary life and relationships?
Christ-Centered Creativity: How can Thérèse’s integration of her artistic talents with her faith encourage us to use our own creative abilities for spiritual purposes?
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!
Thanksgiving: Cultivating a Spirit of Gratitude – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff
Msgr. Esseff reflects on the centrality of gratitude in the spiritual life on Thanksgiving (in the United States), using the Gospel of Luke’s story of the ten lepers and the one Samaritan leper who returned to thank Jesus. This act of gratitude not only healed him physically but also brought him into a saving relationship with Christ. True Thanksgiving is not just about material blessings or familial gatherings but about cultivating a relationship with God that transforms our relationships with others, even amidst family tensions or personal wounds.
Gratitude can resolve brokenness within families and communities, especially during the Thanksgiving holiday. There are challenges that arise in family gatherings but a heart centered on Christ allows us to love and forgive, despite past grievances. Gratitude is foundational to building a life of joy and love, as it leads to a deeper awareness of God’s presence in all circumstances.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
Gratitude as a Foundation: How does recognizing all you have as gifts from God influence your approach to prayer and service?
Healing Through Thanksgiving: In what ways can gratitude deepen your relationship with Jesus, as seen in the Samaritan leper’s story?
Relationships and Brokenness: How can a spirit of gratitude help you address tensions or unresolved conflicts within your family during gatherings?
Joy and Peace in Christ: How does gratitude lead to joy and peace, even in challenging circumstances or strained relationships?
Faith and Awareness: How does faith help you become more aware of God’s gifts, and how can this awareness shape your daily actions?
Unity in Diversity: How does the Gospel call to gratitude challenge you to embrace love and unity across differences in faith, culture, or relationships?
Thanksgiving and Mission: How can you extend the spirit of Thanksgiving to include those outside your family or community, reflecting Christ’s love?
Gratitude in Worship: How does participating in the Eucharist deepen your sense of gratitude and your relationship with God and others?
Challenges to Gratitude: What attitudes or vices might be obstacles to gratitude in your life, and how can you overcome them with God’s grace?
Living the Spirit of Thanksgiving: How can you carry the spirit of Thanksgiving into your everyday life, cultivating joy, peace, and love in all that you do?
“And now, bless the God of all,
who has done wondrous things on earth;
Who fosters people’s growth from their mother’s womb,
and fashions them according to his will!
May he grant you joy of heart
and may peace abide among you;
May his goodness toward us endure in Israel
to deliver us in our days
As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem,
he traveled through Samaria and Galilee.
As he was entering a village, ten persons with leprosy met him.
They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying,
“Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!”
And when he saw them, he said,
“Go show yourselves to the priests.”
As they were going they were cleansed.
And one of them, realizing he had been healed,
returned, glorifying God in a loud voice;
and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.
He was a Samaritan.
Jesus said in reply,
“Ten were cleansed, were they not?
Where are the other nine?
Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?”
Then he said to him, “Stand up and go;
your faith has saved you.”
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.
Caverns of Longing within the Soul – St. John of the Cross: Master of Contemplation with Fr. Donald Haggerty
Fr. Donald Haggerty and Kris McGregor discuss how St. John of the Cross’ writings arose in response to requests for guidance and making his teachings accessible not only to Carmelites but to all who seek a deeper union with God. St. John’s works, including his aphorisms and treatises, provide a roadmap for spiritual growth, focusing on self-denial, the theological virtues, and contemplative prayer.
St. John’s insights on faith, hope, and charity transcend academic theology, revealing how these virtues open “caverns” within the soul for God’s indwelling presence. This process leads to a transformation where one’s love for God becomes the central axis of their life. There is a universal nature to St. John’s spirituality, which addresses modern challenges of distraction and misplaced desires.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
St. John’s Universal Call to Holiness
How can you apply St. John of the Cross’s teachings on the universal call to holiness in your own daily life and prayer?
Theological Virtues and Union with God
In what ways can you nurture faith, hope, and charity to deepen your union with God?
Caverns of Longing in the Soul
What steps can you take to empty yourself of attachments that hinder God’s presence in your life?
God’s Initiative in Prayer
How can you become more receptive to God’s action and presence in your prayer life instead of relying solely on your own efforts?
Love and Detachment
How does loving God as your primary relationship transform your other affections and priorities?
Scriptural Reflection
How do the Last Supper discourses in the Gospel of John inspire you to trust in Jesus’ promise of indwelling love and presence?
Poetry and Mysticism
How might reading St. John’s poetry or aphorisms inspire you to explore the mystery of God’s love more deeply?
Spiritual Direction and Guidance
What role does spiritual direction or the writings of the saints play in helping you navigate challenges in your spiritual journey?
Courage in Faith
What aspects of Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea’s faith journey resonate with your own struggles to trust God in new ways?
Contemplative Prayer for Modern Life
How can you create space in your life for contemplative prayer amid the distractions and demands of the modern world?
“We encounter the importance of seeking a contentment with nothing other than God in many places in Saint John of the Cross’ writings. Shortly after introducing the image of the faculties as “deep caverns of feeling” in The Living Flame of Love, for instance, he affirms that a primary impediment to contemplation occurs when attachments cling to us and are repeatedly sought instead of our seeking God himself. These attachments are always contrary to accepting a contentment with having nothing: “Any little thing that adheres to them in this life is sufficient to so burden and bewitch them that they do not perceive the harm or note the lack of their immense goods, or know their own capacity” (LF 3.18). The words are a strong admonition. It takes very little to upset and block the proper dynamism of a holy pursuit of God in or out of the life of prayer. We can end up living unaware of the harm inflicted by very common tendencies that, in effect, keep us from being content with having nothing, that is, nothing but God. We have a capacity for greatness, for being filled with the love of God in our prayer. Yet we may live our hours of prayer like restless marauders in a search for prizes or enjoyments worth very little, seeking for delights that satisfy us only in negligible and fleeting ways. Without an awakening by which God becomes a passionate pursuit engaging our life’s entire intensity, our soul can descend easily to a dull caricature of its actual potency. As Saint John of the Cross writes:
It is an amazing thing that the least of these goods is enough so to encumber these faculties, capable of infinite goods, that they cannot receive these infinite goods until they are completely empty, as we shall see. Yet when these caverns are empty and pure, the thirst, hunger, and yearning of the spiritual feeling is intolerable. Since these caverns have deep stomachs, they suffer profoundly; for the food they lack, which as I say is God, is also profound. (LF 3.18)”
Haggerty, Donald. Saint John of the Cross: Master of Contemplation (pp. 48-49). Ignatius Press. Kindle Edition.
Episode 5: Hell – Salvation Begins Now: Last Things First
Deacon James Keating discusses the theology of hell, emphasizing it as a reality shaped by human freedom. Hell is the consequence of dying in a state of unrepented mortal sin, where individuals knowingly and freely reject God’s love. This eternal separation from God is marked by isolation and the inability to reciprocate divine love, resulting in profound suffering. Despite cultural and theological trends that have diminished focus on hell, the Church’s teaching remains clear: mortal sin leads to eternal separation unless repented before death.
Dcn. Keating highlights the urgency of evangelization and intercession, urging Christians to pray, fast, and offer Masses for loved ones, especially those who have passed away. While sobering, he offers hope, reminding us that Christ provides all the grace necessary for salvation. By embracing purification and aligning with God’s will, individuals can live in eternal communion with Him. Hell need not be feared if one turns to Christ, whose infinite love and mercy are always extended.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
Understanding Hell as a Choice
How do I perceive my own freedom and responsibility in choosing to accept or reject God’s love in my daily life?
The Reality of Mortal Sin
Do I take time to examine my conscience and recognize grave sins that could separate me from God’s grace?
The Finality of Death
How does the understanding that death solidifies my eternal relationship with God influence my choices and priorities?
Evangelizing Loved Ones
Am I actively praying, fasting, and seeking opportunities to bring my family and friends closer to Christ?
The Role of Mass in Intercession
Do I regularly offer Mass intentions for the souls of my loved ones, both living and deceased?
Hope in Christ’s Redemption
How can I more deeply embrace and trust in the saving grace and mercy of Christ to overcome sin in my life?
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
1057 “Hell’s principal punishment consists of eternal separation from God in whom alone man can have the life and happiness for which he was created and for which he longs.”
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.
Inconsistency – Struggles in the Spiritual Life with Fr. Timothy Gallagher O.M.V.
Fr. Timothy Gallagher continues the story of John and how prayer can reveal inconsistencies in life, such as unresolved relationships or temptations, and how addressing these struggles leads to spiritual growth. Fr. Gallagher highlights the importance of honest self-reflection in prayer, even during periods of dryness or desolation, and encourages seeking guidance from trusted spiritual directors. Through John’s journey, the podcast demonstrates how aligning actions with faith, maintaining consistency in prayer, and trusting in God’s grace foster healing and deeper intimacy with God.
Struggles like temptation or desolation are common in the spiritual life but must not be kept secret. We can use the examples of saints like St. Teresa of Ávila and St. Thérèse of Lisieux, who overcame similar challenges through prayer and spiritual direction. By vulnerably sharing burdens with wise companions and taking concrete steps to address spiritual misalignments, individuals can restore peace and joy in their relationship with God.
Prayer and Self-Awareness: How does your prayer life help you recognize areas of inconsistency or struggle in your relationship with God and others?
Seeking Spiritual Guidance: Do you have a trusted spiritual director or confidant to whom you can turn for support and accountability in your spiritual journey?
Perseverance in Dryness: How can you remain faithful in prayer during times of spiritual dryness or desolation, trusting that God is still at work?
Aligning Life and Faith: Are there actions or habits in your life that conflict with your spiritual commitments, and what steps can you take to resolve them?
Temptation and Grace: When faced with temptation, how do you invite God’s grace and guidance into your struggles to choose a path of holiness?
Transparency and Freedom: What fears or barriers might prevent you from openly sharing your burdens with God or a spiritual guide, and how can you overcome them?
Growth Through Struggles: How might God be using your spiritual challenges as opportunities for deeper intimacy and growth in faith?
An excerpt from the chapter, “Inconsistency”:
“Inconsistencies between our prayer and our lives will cause dryness in prayer: a refusal to forgive, firmly guarded anger, all-encompassing pursuit of material goals, self-centeredness, harmful relationships, and so forth. As these areas of our lives are brought to Christ and healed, dryness in prayer lifts.
Of the time before her profound conversion, Saint Teresa of Avila writes, “I began to return to prayer without, however, removing the occasions of sin. . . . My life was very hard, because in prayer I understood my faults more clearly.”When that conversion occurred, the dryness passed, and her prayer blossomed in a way that continues to bless the Church. The dryness caused by inconsistency between prayer and life is, at root, a loving call from God to healing and to new life.”
Gallagher O.M.V, Fr. Timothy ; Gallagher O.M.V, Fr. Timothy. Struggles in the Spiritual Life: Their Nature and Their Remedies (pp. 105-106). 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?
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