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VEC3 – Pontius Pilate – Villains of the Early Church with Mike Aquilina – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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Episode 3 – Pontius Pilate – Villains of the Early Church with Mike Aquilina

Mike Aquilina and Kris McGregor explore the complex figure of Pontius Pilate. Although remembered as a villain and named in the Creed alongside the Virgin Mary, Pilate emerges in the Gospels as a conflicted Roman governor caught between political pressure, personal misgivings, and the volatility of Judea. Aquilina explains how both Jewish and Roman sources portray Pilate as insensitive, often provocative, and capable of harsh actions that destabilized the region. Yet the Gospel narratives show layers—his wife’s troubling dream, his hesitation, and his uneasy awareness that Jesus is innocent—revealing a man far from a simple caricature. Early Christian imagination even produced traditions depicting Pilate’s household as eventually turning toward Christ, reflecting the Church’s instinct to look for the possibility of redemption in every story.

We turn from Pilate’s historical role to the spiritual lessons his failures reveal. Pilate’s most haunting question, “What is truth?”, becomes a mirror the listener must face. Jesus—Truth in person—stood before him, yet fear and self-interest led Pilate to walk away. This invites Cus to consider how often we do the same in our own spheres of influence, whether in public life, family leadership, or ordinary daily encounters. Instead of repeating Pilate’s pattern of avoidance, we are called to face reality with courage, lean on prayer and the sacraments, and let our lives present Christ clearly to others.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

How does Pilate’s struggle between fear and conscience mirror the moments when I avoid doing what I know is right?
When have I, like Pilate, chosen comfort or self-protection over fidelity to Christ’s truth?
What areas of my life require deeper courage, especially when my choices affect those entrusted to me?
How do I respond when Christ stands before me in Scripture, the sacraments, or other people—do I recognize Him or turn away?
In what ways do I “wash my hands” of responsibility instead of acting with clarity and integrity?
How does the witness of the women at the Passion challenge my own consistency and steadfastness in faith?
What practices of prayer or sacramental life can strengthen me against moral hesitation or cowardice?
How might I allow Christ’s presence in me to become more visible to others in ordinary daily situations?

An excerpt from Villains of the Early Church

“Jesus was crucified under Pontius Pilate. Countless millions of Christians recite that simple historical fact when they profess their faith. It reminds us that this is real history we’re dealing with. The death and Resurrection of Jesus are not just metaphors or allegories: they really happened at a particular moment in history.

Pilate is our anchor to that historical moment. He is our grounding in historical fact.

But he’s also one of the most fascinating characters in the Gospels. His doubt and dithering in the face of an unpredictable mob make him more than just a villain. They make him human, and we feel real sympathy for him. He’s doing a bad job, but in his position it was nearly impossible to do a good job.”

You can find the book on which this series is based here.

**For more episodes in the Villians of the Early Church podcast visit here – Villains of the Early Church – Discerning Hearts Podcast**

Mike Aquilina is a popular author working in the area of Church history, especially patristics, the study of the early Church Fathers.^[1] He is the executive vice-president and trustee of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, a Roman Catholic research center based in Steubenville, Ohio. He is a contributing editor of Angelus (magazine) and general editor of the Reclaiming Catholic History Series from Ave Maria Press. He is the author or editor of more than fifty books, including The Fathers of the Church (2006); The Mass of the Early Christians (2007); Living the Mysteries (2003); and What Catholics Believe(1999). He has hosted eleven television series on the Eternal Word Television Network and is a frequent guest commentator on Catholic radio.

Mike Aquilina’s website is found at fathersofthechurch.com

WOM13 – The Purgative and Illuminative Way – The Way of Mystery with Deacon James Keating – Discerning Hearts

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The Purgative and Illuminative Way – The Way of Mystery with Deacon James Keating

Deacon James Keating explains that moral life without a spiritual foundation quickly collapses into mere willpower and rule-keeping. True virtue begins when Christ’s own life and breath animate the soul so that goodness becomes joyful rather than forced. Drawing on the story of the rich young man, it contrasts external obedience with the interior transformation that comes from detachment and union with Christ. It outlines the classic stages of spiritual growth—purgation, illumination, and union—showing how conversion involves cooperating with grace to turn from sin, endure the pain of detachment, and gradually discover the delight of living virtuously.

In the illuminative stage, the moral teachings of the Church are seen not as burdens but as divine gifts that reveal humanity’s true fulfillment. We should not separate Jesus from the Church’s authority, as it’s a deception that isolates Christians and leaves them prey to self-deception and cultural ideologies. Moral relativism is a modern illusion that truth cannot be known, but the Catholic vision holds both mind and heart capable of grasping objective truth through Christ.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

How do I personally experience the presence of Christ during the Mass and in receiving the Eucharist?
In what ways can I slow down and truly “savor” the mystery of the Eucharist as the saints did?
How might I deepen my faith in the real presence of Jesus through prayer and meditation on Scripture?
Do I recognize that at every Mass, I am united not only with Christ but also with all of heaven and my loved ones who have gone before me?
How can the example and writings of the saints inspire me to approach the Eucharist with greater love and reverence?
What steps can I take to participate in Mass more frequently or spend more time in Eucharistic adoration?
How does understanding the Eucharist as a “sacrament of love” call me to greater self-giving in my daily relationships?
What does it mean for me to rest on the heart of Christ as St. John did at the Last Supper?
How do the teachings of the Church Fathers strengthen my understanding and devotion to the Eucharist?
In what ways is the Mass a foretaste of heaven that prepares my soul for eternal communion with God?

Deacon James Keating, Ph.D., is a professor of Spiritual Theology and serves as a spiritual director at Kenrick Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, MO.

Check out Deacon Keating’s “Discerning Heart” page

St. Leo the Great – The Doctors of the Church: The Charism of Wisdom with Dr. Matthew Bunson – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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St. Leo the Great – The Doctors of the Church: The Charism of Wisdom with Dr. Matthew Bunson

Born: Tuscany, Italy
Died: November 10, 461 AD, Rome, Italy

Dr. Matthew Bunson and Kris McGregor explore the life, teachings, and contributions of Pope St. Leo the Great. They discuss Leo’s background, his significant influence on the papacy, and his role in defending orthodox Christian doctrine amid turbulent times.

Pope St. Leo lived during a period of upheaval within both the Church and the Roman Empire. Notably, he confronted heresies that questioned Christ’s divinity and humanity, such as Arianism and Nestorianism, which led to ongoing debates over Christ’s nature. Leo’s “Tome,” a key theological document, clarified the Church’s stance on Christ’s dual nature as both fully human and divine, shaping the Council of Chalcedon’s doctrine in 451 AD. This affirmation became central to Christian Christology and reinforced the Virgin Mary’s title as Theotokos, or “Mother of God,” which had been confirmed in earlier councils.

Pope Leo’s theological insights and firm defense of the faith earned him the title “Doctor of the Church” and established his legacy as a “Great” saint. His contributions, particularly regarding the papal primacy and the nature of Christ, continue to influence Catholic teaching and underscore the importance of spiritual and doctrinal leadership within the Church.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

How does Pope Leo’s boldness in confronting both Attila the Hun and the Vandals inspire us to act courageously in defending our faith and values?
In what ways can we, like Pope Leo, respond to theological and cultural challenges to our faith with clarity and conviction?
How does Pope Leo’s affirmation of Christ’s full humanity and divinity shape our understanding of who Jesus is and our relationship with Him?
What does Pope Leo’s role in affirming the primacy of the Pope teach us about the importance of Church unity and obedience to spiritual authority?
How might Pope Leo’s deep personal holiness and spiritual influence inspire us to cultivate our own sanctity and positively impact those around us?
How can we follow Pope Leo’s example of striving for peace and reconciliation in our communities and personal lives?
In what ways does Pope Leo’s theological clarity at the Council of Chalcedon encourage us to seek and proclaim truth, even when it requires perseverance and effort?
How does the Council’s affirmation of Mary as Theotokos (Mother of God) deepen our devotion to her and understanding of her role in the mystery of Christ?

For more on St. Leo the Great and his teachings

From Vatican.va, an excerpt from the teachings of Pope Benedict XVI General Audience 2008

“Aware of the historical period in which he lived and of the change that was taking place – from pagan Rome to Christian Rome – in a period of profound crisis, Leo the Great knew how to make himself close to the people and the faithful with his pastoral action and his preaching. He enlivened charity in a Rome tried by famines, an influx of refugees, injustice and poverty. He opposed pagan superstitions and the actions of Manichaean groups. He associated the liturgy with the daily life of Christians: for example, by combining the practice of fasting with charity and almsgiving above all on the occasion of the Quattro tempora, which in the course of the year marked the change of seasons. In particular, Leo the Great taught his faithful – and his words still apply for us today – that the Christian liturgy is not the memory of past events, but the actualization of invisible realities which act in the lives of each one of us. This is what he stressed in a sermon (cf. 64, 1-2) on Easter, to be celebrated in every season of the year “not so much as something of the past as rather an event of the present”. All this fits into a precise project, the Holy Pontiff insisted: just as, in fact, the Creator enlivened with the breath of rational life man formed from the dust of the ground, after the original sin he sent his Son into the world to restore to man his lost dignity and to destroy the dominion of the devil through the new life of grace.

This is the Christological mystery to which St Leo the Great, with his Letter to the Council of Ephesus, made an effective and essential contribution, confirming for all time – through this Council – what St Peter said at Caesarea Philippi. With Peter and as Peter, he professed: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”. And so it is that God and man together “are not foreign to the human race but alien to sin” (cf. Serm. 64). Through the force of this Christological faith he was a great messenger of peace and love. He thus shows us the way: in faith we learn charity. Let us therefore learn with St Leo the Great to believe in Christ, true God and true Man, and to implement this faith every day in action for peace and love of neighbour.”

For more visit Vatican.va

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

Dr. Matthew E. Bunson is a Register senior editor and a senior contributor to EWTN News. For the past 20 years, he has been active in the area of Catholic social communications and education, including writing, editing, and teaching on a variety of topics related to Church history, the papacy, the saints and Catholic culture. He is faculty chair at Catholic Distance University, a senior fellow of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, and the author or co-author of over 50 books including The Encyclopedia of Catholic History, The Pope Encyclopedia, We Have a Pope! Benedict XVI, The Saints Encyclopedia and best-selling biographies of St. Damien of Molokai and St. Kateri Tekakwitha.

DWG3 – Foundation of Discernment – The Discernment of God’s Will in Everyday Decisions with Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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Foundation of Discernment – “What am I to do?” The Discernment of God’s Will in Everyday Decisions with Fr. Timothy Gallagher

Fr. Timothy Gallagher explains that true discernment begins not with decision-making techniques, but with a spiritual foundation rooted in knowing God’s love. Drawing from St. Ignatius of Loyola’s teachings, he reflects on 1 John 4:19: “We love because He first loved us.” Fr. Gallagher shares two conversion stories—Michael, a college student who encounters God’s mercy and love in a desperate moment, and Catherine, a young woman whose experience of God’s tender presence awakens a desire to respond in love. These encounters reveal that the ability to seek God’s will arises naturally from the awareness of being loved by Him.

Fr. Gallagher explores how this love forms the heart of discernment: it is a relationship of trust and communion of wills between God and the person. Referencing John Henry Newman, each person has an irreplaceable mission in God’s plan—“God has created me to do Him some definite service.” Like Jeremiah and Mary, every person is uniquely called from eternity. When one grows in prayer and faith, that love deepens into readiness to say, “Whatever You want, Lord.” This openness marks the true disposition needed for discernment, where love and freedom unite to follow God’s personal call.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions:

How have I personally experienced the truth that “we love because He first loved us”?
When have I most deeply recognized that I am loved by God without condition?
How does knowing God’s love affect the way I approach important decisions in my life?
In what ways might fear or self-reliance hinder me from trusting God’s loving will?
What helps me grow in awareness of God’s presence and affection in daily prayer?
Can I identify a time when I, like Michael or Catherine, sensed God inviting me into deeper relationship?
How does the idea that God has created me for “some definite service” shape my sense of purpose?
What unique gifts or circumstances in my life reveal my irreplaceable place in God’s plan?
Am I willing to say to God, “Whatever You want, Lord,” with a free and peaceful heart?
How can I nurture greater openness and love so that my discernment becomes a true response to God’s invitation?

From The Discernment of God’s Will in Everyday Decisions:

“Three Times in which a Sound and Good Choice May Be Made

The first time is when God Our Lord so moves and attracts the will that, without doubting or being able to doubt, the devout soul follows what is shown to it, as St. Paul and St. Matthew did in following Christ our Lord.

The second time is when sufficient clarity and understanding is received through experience of consolations and desolations, and through experience of discernment of different spirits.

The third time is one of tranquility, when one considers first for what purpose man is born, that is, to praise God our Lord and save his soul, and, desiring this, chooses as a means to this end some life or state within the bounds of the Church, so that he may be helped in the service of his Lord and the salvation of his soul. I said a tranquil time, that is, when the soul is not agitated by different spirits, and uses its natural powers freely and tranquilly.

If the choice is not made in the first or second time, two ways of making it in this third time are given below.”

Father Timothy M. Gallagher, O.M.V., was ordained in 1979 as a member of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary, a religious community dedicated to retreats and spiritual formation according to the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. Fr. Gallagher is featured on the EWTN series “Living the Discerning Life: The Spiritual Teachings of St. Ignatius of Loyola”. For more information on how to obtain copies of Fr. Gallaghers’s various books and audio which are available for purchase, please visit his website: frtimothygallagher.org

For the other episodes in this series check out Fr. Timothy Gallagher’s “Discerning Hearts” page

The Feast of St. John Lateran – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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The Feast of St. John Lateran – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff

Msgr. John Esseff reflects on the Feast of the Dedication of St. John Lateran, calling it a reminder that the Church is not a building but the living Body of Christ. He traces the biblical understanding of the temple from the Old Testament to Jesus, whose pierced side poured forth blood and water—the sacraments of baptism and Eucharist—through which the faithful are united to Him. Each baptized person becomes a living stone in the spiritual temple founded on Christ. Msgr. Esseff recalls a mystical encounter in St. John Lateran where Christ revealed the power of divine love flowing from His Sacred Heart, urging him to teach this love to the world. Thus, we shouldn’t be relying on worldly powers or comfort: such dependence is a spiritual decay.

There is a need for authentic witness, especially for younger generations. Many youth long for challenge and genuine examples of holiness, not comfort or compromise. Renewal begins in families through sacrificial love between husband and wife, parents and children. Every Christian, he says, is called to manifest Christ’s love daily through charity and courage, becoming a light amid cultural darkness.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

How do I understand my identity as a living temple of God rather than just a member of an institution?
In what ways can I let the love flowing from Christ’s Sacred Heart transform my daily actions?
What “marketplaces” in my own heart need cleansing so that God may dwell more fully within me?
How does my participation in the Eucharist unite me more deeply to Christ and His Church?
When faced with cultural opposition, how can I draw strength from the witness of the early martyrs?
Do I rely more on worldly comfort and security or on God’s providence and grace?
How am I nurturing sacrificial love within my family or community?
What example of faith and courage am I offering to younger generations seeking authenticity?
How can I live each day as part of Christ’s mission to bring light into the world’s darkness?
What concrete step can I take this week to let Christ’s love flow through me to someone in need?

Msgr. John A. Esseff is a Roman Catholic priest in the Diocese of Scranton. Msgr. Esseff served as a retreat director and confessor to St. Teresa of Calcutta. He continues to offer direction and retreats for the sisters of the Missionaries of Charity around the world. Msgr. Esseff encountered St. Padre Pio, who would become a spiritual father to him. He has lived in areas around the world, serving in the Pontifical missions, a Catholic organization established by Pope St. John Paul II to bring the Good News to the world, especially to the poor. Msgr. Esseff assisted the founders of the Institute for Priestly Formation and continues to serve as a spiritual director for the Institute. He continues to serve as a retreat leader and director to bishops, priests and sisters and seminarians, and other religious leaders around the world.

WOM12 – The Communion Rite – The Way of Mystery with Deacon James Keating – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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The Communion Rite – The Way of Mystery with Deacon James Keating

Deacon James Keating reflects on the sacred reality of receiving Holy Communion as an act of faith and new life. Rising from the pew mirrors Christ’s call to Lazarus — a movement from death to life. Communion is not a casual act but an encounter with the living Christ who dwells within us to bring us through death into eternal life. Deacon Keating invites us to approach the Eucharist attentively, using reverence, focus, and prayer to center the heart on the mystery being received. Even distractions during the procession can become moments of intercession. Saying “Amen” boldly affirms one’s desire for salvation, while gestures like bowing unite body and soul in readiness for divine encounter. After receiving the Eucharist, silence allows the soul to interiorize grace — a sacred “epiclesis” within the communicant, like Mary’s silent fiat at the Annunciation.

This encounter leads to transformation and mission. The silence after Communion is where conversion deepens, forming the faithful to bring Christ into the world. The Mass is not complete until we allow the Lord to change us, sending us forth as witnesses in daily life. Fear often stifles this transformation — fear of rejection, ignorance, or standing alone in truth — yet authentic community and deeper knowledge of Christ dispel such fear. Participation in daily Mass, Eucharistic adoration, and acts of charity sustain this conversion. Each small offering or self-denial extends the mystery of the Mass into everyday life. The Eucharist thus unites worship and mission, healing the divide between faith and ordinary living so that the lay vocation can renew culture through Christ’s abiding presence.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

When I rise to receive Holy Communion, do I truly recognize it as a movement from death to life in Christ?
How mindful am I of Christ’s presence as I process toward the altar, and how can I gently refocus when distractions arise?
Do I proclaim my “Amen” at Communion with conviction, aware that I am affirming my desire for salvation?
How does my bodily reverence—such as bowing—reflect my inner readiness to receive the Lord?
In what ways can I allow silence after Communion to deepen my encounter with Christ rather than rush through it?
Do I permit the Eucharist to transform me into a person who brings Christ’s presence into the world?
What fears hold me back from witnessing to my faith, and how can I bring those fears to the Lord in the Mass?
How do I support others in my community who strive to live and speak the truth of the Gospel?
Am I nurturing my relationship with Christ beyond Sunday through daily Mass, adoration, or personal prayer?
How can I carry the grace of the Eucharist into my daily life by acts of charity, sacrifice, and love?

Deacon James Keating, Ph.D., is a professor of Spiritual Theology and serves as a spiritual director at Kenrick Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, MO.

Check out Deacon Keating’s “Discerning Heart” page

VEC2 – Caiaphas – Villains of the Early Church with Mike Aquilina – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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Episode 2 – Caiaphas – Villains of the Early Church with Mike Aquilina

Mike Aquilina and Kris McGregor discuss Caiaphas, the high priest who played a crucial role in the trial and death of Jesus. Caiaphas lived in a time when religion and politics were inseparable—his role required balancing faith and diplomacy under Roman rule. Though the office of high priest was meant to be lifelong, Caiaphas’s father-in-law, Annas, was deposed by the Romans, showing their interference in Jewish religious life. Caiaphas maintained power by cooperating with Rome, seeking stability in a politically charged environment. He viewed Jesus as a potential threat to national peace, preferring compromise with foreign rulers over potential conflict, even at the cost of condemning an innocent man.

Mike Aquilina explores how Caiaphas’s story reveals the dangers of valuing worldly peace over divine truth. Though he believed he acted for the good of his people, Caiaphas allowed fear and convenience to guide his judgment. Every Christian faces the same temptation—to protect comfort or reputation rather than stand for what is right before God.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

How do I, like Caiaphas, sometimes prioritize comfort or stability over faithfulness to God’s will?
In what ways might I compromise spiritual truth to maintain peace with others or avoid conflict?
What “temples” in my life need cleansing of attitudes or habits that dishonor God?
How can I deepen my trust in God’s providence instead of relying on human control or compromise?
Do I examine my conscience regularly to recognize where fear influences my moral choices?
How does Caiaphas’s story challenge me to place divine truth above social or political convenience?
Where in my life am I called to speak truth boldly, even if it disrupts the status quo?
How can I grow in detachment from worldly success or approval to seek only God’s glory?
In what ways does the hope of Caiaphas’s possible redemption inspire me to pray for my own conversion?
How does reflecting on my complicity in sin deepen my gratitude for Christ’s mercy on the cross?

An excerpt from Villains of the Early Church

“Caiaphas IS mentioned everywhere in the Church Fathers, but almost as furniture—“ and Jesus was brought before Caiaphas.” If the early Christian writers are interested in anything about him, it’s that he could prophesy truly because of his office. Otherwise, they don’t seem to find much remarkable in him. He’s the banality of evil. A bureaucrat.

Yet, Caiaphas, like many of the characters caught up in the Passion story, was in a complicated position—more complicated than we may realize when we hear the story in the Gospels.”

Aquilina, Mike. Villains of the Early Church: And How They Made Us Better Christians (Kindle Locations 304). Emmaus Road Publishing. Kindle Edition.

You can find the book on which this series is based here.

**For more episodes in the Villians of the Early Church podcast visit here – Villains of the Early Church – Discerning Hearts Podcast**

Mike Aquilina’s website is found at fathersofthechurch.com

DWG2 – God’s Guidance in Everyday Decisions – The Discernment of God’s Will in Everyday Decisions with Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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God’s Guidance in Everyday Decisions – “What am I to do?” The Discernment of God’s Will in Everyday Decisions with Fr. Timothy Gallagher

Fr. Timothy Gallagher discusses how Christians can seek God’s direction not only in major life choices but also in the ordinary moments of each day. Discerning God’s will begins with prayer and openness — asking God for light, reviewing the factors involved in a decision, acting with peace, and later reflecting on the outcome to learn from it. Drawing on St. Thomas Aquinas, this process cultivates the virtue of prudence — the habit of seeing what best leads to good ends. Through this daily attentiveness, our capacity to recognize divine guidance grows, especially when paired with a life of prayerful self-examination.

God’s love is intimately present in both great and small matters — even the most ordinary decisions can be part of a life offered to God. Living this way transforms daily actions into a continual offering, as described in Romans 12:1, making one’s life a “living sacrifice.” Fr. Gallagher shares from his own experience that prayerful discernment brings real clarity and peace — a partnership between human reason and divine wisdom. Over time, such faithfulness leads to serenity, as Dante wrote: “In your will is our peace.”

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions:

How do I invite God into my small, everyday choices rather than only my major life decisions?
When I face uncertainty, do I take time to pray before deciding, or do I act on impulse?
In what ways can I grow in the virtue of prudence through reflection on past experiences?
How might I let Jesus truly be “Lord” of my ordinary routines and interactions?
Do I view daily decisions as opportunities to offer my life as a “living sacrifice” to God?
How do I practice trust that God cares about the details of my life as deeply as the larger events?
What keeps me from turning first to prayer when discerning what to do?
How can I make my nightly examen a time to learn from the day’s choices and notice God’s guidance?
When have I experienced peace after following what I sensed to be God’s direction?
How does Jesus’ example of always doing the Father’s will challenge or inspire my own decision-making?

From The Discernment of God’s Will in Everyday Decisions:

“Three Times in which a Sound and Good Choice May Be Made

The first time is when God Our Lord so moves and attracts the will that, without doubting or being able to doubt, the devout soul follows what is shown to it, as St. Paul and St. Matthew did in following Christ our Lord.

The second time is when sufficient clarity and understanding is received through experience of consolations and desolations, and through experience of discernment of different spirits.

The third time is one of tranquility, when one considers first for what purpose man is born, that is, to praise God our Lord and save his soul, and, desiring this, chooses as a means to this end some life or state within the bounds of the Church, so that he may be helped in the service of his Lord and the salvation of his soul. I said a tranquil time, that is, when the soul is not agitated by different spirits, and uses its natural powers freely and tranquilly.

If the choice is not made in the first or second time, two ways of making it in this third time are given below.”

For the other episodes in this series check out Fr. Timothy Gallagher’s “Discerning Hearts” page

The Poor/Holy Souls and Purgatory – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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The Poor/Holy Souls and Purgatory – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff

Msgr. John Esseff and Kris McGregor discuss the significance of All Souls’ Day and the theology of purgatory. The deep connection Catholics share with the souls in purgatory, who are part of the larger body of Christ. He describes his personal practice of praying for those he’s known who have passed, recalling their names and lifting them in prayer during Mass. The Church provides special graces on All Souls’ Day to pray for these “holy souls,” who yearn to be with God but require purification.

The process of purgation as a cleansing fire, likening it to the Sacred Heart’s fire that purifies the soul’s imperfections, drawing it closer to God’s perfect love. This fire is not only for the souls in purgatory but is present throughout the Christian life, in trials and sufferings that refine believers. He reflects on Jesus as an anchor for the souls, grounding them in hope and drawing them closer to heaven. Msgr. Esseff invites listeners to pray for the dead, encouraging them to recall and “remember” those they love, trusting in God’s mercy and the promise of eternal life.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

Union with the Holy Souls: How can I deepen my relationship with the souls in purgatory through prayer and remembrance?
Understanding Purgation as Divine Love: In what ways do I see God’s purifying love working in my own life?
Embracing the Fire of the Sacred Heart: How can I open myself more fully to God’s love that refines and transforms?
Contemplating Life after Death: What beliefs do I hold about purgatory, and how do they shape my prayers for the deceased?
Reflecting on Baptism and Eternal Life: How does my baptismal identity anchor my hope in the resurrection and eternal life?
Offering Prayers and Sacrifices: What specific actions can I take today to pray for the souls in purgatory and support their journey to heaven?
Facing Death without Fear: How can I grow in trust and confidence in God’s love, freeing myself from fear of death?
Interceding for Family and Friends: Who in my life, living or deceased, needs my prayers, and how can I actively remember them today?
Living the Paschal Mystery: How am I experiencing the cycles of suffering, death, and resurrection in my spiritual journey?
Recognizing God’s Mercy for All Souls: How does God’s desire for everyone’s salvation influence the way I pray and hope for others, even those who struggled in life?

Reading 1 Wis 3:1-9

“The souls of the just are in the hand of God,
and no torment shall touch them.
They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead;
and their passing away was thought an affliction
and their going forth from us, utter destruction.
But they are in peace.
For if before men, indeed, they be punished,
yet is their hope full of immortality;
chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed,
because God tried them
and found them worthy of himself.
As gold in the furnace, he proved them,
and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself.
In the time of their visitation they shall shine,
and shall dart about as sparks through stubble;
they shall judge nations and rule over peoples,
and the LORD shall be their King forever.
Those who trust in him shall understand truth,
and the faithful shall abide with him in love:
because grace and mercy are with his holy ones,
and his care is with his elect.”

VEC1 – Judas – Villains of the Early Church with Mike Aquilina – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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Episode 1 – Judas – “Villains of the Early Church: And How They Made Us Better Christians“

Mike Aquilina and Kris McGregor reflect on Judas Iscariot and how his story reveals both the mystery of sin and the depth of divine mercy. Aquilina discusses how Judas, once chosen and loved by Christ, distorted his God-given gifts through betrayal. Rather than seeing Judas as a simple caricature of evil, we should take a more reflective approach—considering what Jesus might have seen in Judas and recognizing that his fall mirrors the ways all people can misuse their calling. They touch on Judas’ possible motives—greed, disappointment, or confusion—and his tragic despair that led to suicide. Despite this, the early Church maintained hope for God’s mercy, recalling stories such as St. John Vianney’s counsel that even in one’s final moments, God’s grace can reach a soul.

Anger toward those who have hurt us can imprison the heart and how offering such people to God—especially in the Mass—can bring deep spiritual peace. Mike Aquilina also examines the Gospel of Judas, a second-century Gnostic text that recasts Judas as a hero, which was rejected by the Church for lacking authentic human and divine truth.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

How does seeing Judas as someone once loved and chosen by Christ change the way you view those who have betrayed you?
In what ways might you, like Judas, misuse the gifts or responsibilities God has entrusted to you?
How do you respond when you feel disillusioned with God’s plans not aligning with your own?
What does Judas’ despair teach you about the importance of trusting in God’s mercy, even after grave sin?
How can you bring those who have hurt you to the altar in prayer, as an offering for healing and reconciliation?
When have you struggled to forgive, and what spiritual practices help you release anger or resentment?
How does reflecting on the mystery of Judas’ repentance deepen your understanding of divine mercy?
What does the Church’s refusal to declare anyone definitively in hell reveal about God’s justice and love?
How can you imitate Jesus’ response to betrayal in your own relationships and community life?
In what ways can the story of Judas move you to greater humility, compassion, and hope in your spiritual journey?

An excerpt from Villains of the Early Church

“What happened to Judas? Was it simple greed that snapped him? That seems unlikely. Thirty pieces of silver was a good bit of money, but Judas was doing all right with his embezzling racket. The Gospels don’t tell us his motivation most likely because their writers just didn’t know. It was a mystery to them as it is to us. And a lot of the Christian legends that later grew up about Judas seem like popular attempts to psychoanalyze him.

Judas was also present for the Last Supper, having a miserable time as Jesus told the disciples that one of them would betray him: “The Son of man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born” (Matthew 26:24).

John tells us that the disciple whom Jesus loved—John himself—asked Jesus who the betrayer would be. “It is he to whom I shall give this morsel when I have dipped it,” Jesus responded, and then dipped the morsel and handed it to Judas. Yet the others still didn’t understand what Jesus meant when he said to Judas, “What you are going to do, do quickly” (John 13:26–27). Was he sending Judas out to buy more food? Or to make a donation to the poor from the money box?

“So, after receiving the morsel, he immediately went out,” John says, adding the significant detail “and it was night.” Judas walked out of the Last Supper and into the very symbolic darkness (John 13:30).

But he knew where to look for Jesus when he came with the police. Judas and the rest of the disciples had often been with Jesus in that pleasant park across the Kidron Valley, the garden of Gethsemane (see John 18:2; Mark 14:32). That was where Judas led the soldiers to arrest Jesus.”

Aquilina, Mike. Villains of the Early Church: And How They Made Us Better Christians (Kindle Locations 190-203). Emmaus Road Publishing. Kindle Edition.