Spiritual Formation Library Archives

WOM#5 – The Penitential Rite – The Way of Mystery w/ Deacon James Keating – Discerning Hearts

Episode 5 -The Way of Mystery: The Eucharist and Moral Living

The penitential rite of the mass, while not the pivotal point, it is one of the most important points of the mass, and key in our moral conversion…it’s about the crucifixion to sin, meeting evil with love.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:57 — 25.6MB) | Embed

For more episodes in “The Way of Mystery” Series click here

Deacon James Keating, PhD, the director of Theological Formation for the Institute for Priestly Formation, located at Creighton University, in Omaha, is making available to ”Discerning Hearts” and all who listen, his series of programs entitled “The Way of Mystery”.

The Vatican II documents remind us that the spiritual journey is not made in a vacuum, that God has chosen to save us, not individually, but as The People of God. The Eucharist must help Christians to make their choices by discerning out of Christ’s paschal mystery. For this process to take place, however, Christians must first understand how the Eucharist puts them in touch with Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection, and what concrete implications being in touch with this mystery has for their daily lives.

For more information on the “Institute of Priestly Formation” and for oth er material available by Deacon Keating, just click here

Don’t forget to pickup a copy of “Communion with Christ” , it is on e of the best audio sets on prayer…ever!

Check out Deacon Keating’s “Discerning Heart” page

“Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” a reflection from Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 34:37 — 31.7MB) | Embed

How are you tempted? What is your weakness? What is the remedy?

Reading 1 JAS 1:12-18

Blessed is he who perseveres in temptation,
for when he has been proven he will receive the crown of life
that he promised to those who love him.
No one experiencing temptation should say,
“I am being tempted by God”;
for God is not subject to temptation to evil,
and he himself tempts no one.
Rather, each person is tempted when lured and enticed by his desire.
Then desire conceives and brings forth sin,
and when sin reaches maturity it gives birth to death.Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers and sisters:
all good giving and every perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of lights,
with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change.
He willed to give us birth by the word of truth
that we may be a kind of first fruits of his creatures

IP#210 Deacon James Keating – Spousal Prayer on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor

It was wonderful to talk with Deacon Keating about his book “Spousal Prayer: A Way to Marital Happiness”. Filled with practical suggestions, it never “dumbs” the importance of the message by presenting to us yet another “self-help” book, but rather it elevates our understanding and experience of true martial intimacy. A small book, filled with tremendous potential for couples in any stage of their relationship, if they are willing to enter into the union Christ has waiting for them. Don’t miss this gem.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:50 — 25.5MB) | Embed

You can find the book here

From the description:

Deacon James Keating’s newest book, Spousal Prayer: A Way to Marital Happiness affirms that the sharing of hearts is a necessary commitment in both marriage and prayer. If we can learn what the key elements to sharing the heart are and equally what the key elements to receiving the heart of another are, then we will know the greatest of intimacy in both prayer and marriage. The mingling of the love of spouse with and in the love of God is and has always been the foundation for a life of peace, creativity, and vibrancy, not to mention sanctity. In fact, we cannot even understand what marriage is unless we look at how Christ loved His Bride, the Church, till the end (Jn 13:1). For the baptized, Christ has joined His love for the Church to the Sacrament of Marriage and Marriage, to His love for the Church. Each couple is called to allow Jesus to bring them into this great love of His. The couple is not supposed to do all the work of love; they are called to let Jesus gift them with His own spousal love. In other words, couples should let Jesus live His spousal love for the Church over again in their own love for one another. They do this by simply asking Him in prayer to do so and by sharing their needs and desires with Him. Marriage is not a self-help relationship; it is a deep partnership with Christ.

Faith Check 14 – Born Again in Baptism

Born Again in Baptism

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:02 — 971.1KB) | Embed

Are you born again? It’s a question that Catholics aren’t quite sure how to respond to, but those who are living out their faith should answer with a whole-hearted Yes.

The term “born again” comes from John 3 when our Lord tells Nicodemus, “Amen, Amen, I say to you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above,”1 or “born again,” as some translations put it. Nicodemus is confused, thinking that Jesus is referring to a 2nd physical birth, so Jesus clarifies that “no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.”2 The early Church unanimously interpreted this as a reference to the sacrament of baptism, 3 which is no mere symbolic ritual, but the normative instrument that Christ instituted for our spiritual rebirth.
Romans 6 says that in baptism our old natures are buried and we are raised to new life in Christ. 4 And 1 Peter 3:21 puts it plainly, “baptism now saves you.”
Salvation is a lifelong process, a race to the finish line. But baptism is where it all begins, where we are born again, if you will.
1 – Jn. 3:3
2 – Jn. 3:5
3 – See Catholic Answers website on subject: http://www.catholic.com/library/Born_Again_in_Baptism.asp
4 – Rom. 6:3-4

IP#241 Emily Stimpson – These Beautiful Bones on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor

“These Beautiful Bones: An Everyday Theology of the Body” is the book I’ve been waiting for, thank you Emily Stimpson! A book about the Theology of the Body, the great teachings from Bl. Pope John Paul II, that isn’t all about SEX! What Emily has done is truly remarkable….she has presented to us just how practical this great teaching is and how it can be applied to the varied aspects of our everyday lives. Emily has an engaging writing style which is filled with humor and insight. A wonderful work and a must have for the Catholic library.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:41 — 25.3MB) | Embed

You can find the book here

“As a writer, Emily Stimpson always brings to her readers a unique combination of deep wisdom, practical insight and personal experience. In These Beautiful Bones, she uses the sacramental lens of the liturgy to explore a wide range of activities in daily life. Whether it’s your eating habits or clothing styles, the dignity of hard work or the pitfalls of pop culture, you will find in this book lots of graceful guidance in living out the physical side of being spiritual. ” — Dr. Scott Hahn, Internationally renowned author and biblical theologian

IP#237 Fr. Joseph Fessio S.J. – The Transforming Power of Faith on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor

What a delight to speak once again to Fr. Joseph Fessio, this time about “The Transforming Power of Faith” by Pope Benedict XVI. Ignatius Press has once again brought to us a wonderful compilation of the final sixteen talks given at his weekly audience from October 2012 to the end of his papacy in February 2013. These talks explore how and why faith is relevant in the contemporary world.

In this discussion, Fr. Fessio offers his insights on the pontificate of Pope Francis, a brother in the Jesuit order. He also addresses an issue concerning the work of Fr. Hans Urs von Balthasar as found in his book “Dare We Hope That All May Be Saved”, which has, in some cases recently, been mistakenly understood and represented to others. He breaks open a bit Fr. von Balthasar’s teachings on hell, the mercy of God, and the proper understanding of “hope”. Another engaging conversation with the ever fascinating Fr. Fessio.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (24.9MB) | Embed

You can find the book here

From the book description:

“Having faith in the Lord is not something that involves solely our intelligence, the area of intellectual knowledge; rather, it is a change that involves our life, our whole self: feelings, heart, intelligence, will, corporeity, emotions, and human relationships. With faith everything truly changes.”

So Pope Benedict XVI introduced his catecheses for the Year of Faith, a series of sixteen talks given at his weekly audience from October 2012 to the end of his papacy in February 2013. These talks explore how and why faith is relevant in the contemporary world. How can we come to certainty about things that cannot be calculated or scientifically confirmed? What does God’s revelation mean for our daily lives? How can the hunger of the human heart be fulfilled? Offering the guidance of biblical exegesis, pastoral exhortation, and brotherly encouragement, Pope Benedict seeks to answer these questions and many others.

IP#235 Fr. R. Scott Hurd – When Faith Feels Fragile on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor

It’s a rare believer that doesn’t feel challenged at times in the area of faith. For those occasions, Fr. R. Scott Hurd provides wise counsel and encouragement in “When Faith Feels Fragile: Help for the Wary, Weak, and Wandering.” Fr. Scott has an engaging and pastorally sensitive approach to many of the common issues that cause us to stumble on the journey of faith. A great book even if you feel your faith is strong, and to passed on to those you may know who are struggling.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:07 — 12.0MB) | Embed

You can find the book here

“At some point in our life, our faith is tested. It can feel like God is hidden and out of reach. We wonder if we can we count on God’s presence. When Faith Feels Fragile teaches us how to recognize the many ways that God touches us in the course of our daily routine. Drawing on the practical wisdom of life’s experience, Father Scott Hurd explores the deeper spiritual meaning by finding parallels in Scripture and Christian spirituality. We learn how to “open ourselves up to the gift of faith and hold it close to our hearts.”

-His Eminence Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington

IP#227 Dr. Matthew Bunson – Lumen Fidei on Inside the Pages

Dr. Matthew Bunson joins us to discuss the recent encyclical issued by Pope Francis, “Lumen Fidei”

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:00 — 25.6MB) | Embed

ENCYCLICAL LETTER
LUMEN FIDEI
OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF
FRANCIS
TO THE BISHOPS PRIESTS AND DEACONS
CONSECRATED PERSONS
AND THE LAY FAITHFUL
ON FAITH

1. The light of Faith: this is how the Church’s tradition speaks of the great gift brought by Jesus. In John’s Gospel, Christ says of himself: “I have come as light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness” (Jn 12:46). Saint Paul uses the same image: “God who said ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts” (2 Cor 4:6). The pagan world, which hungered for light, had seen the growth of the cult of the sun god, Sol Invictus, invoked each day at sunrise. Yet though the sun was born anew each morning, it was clearly incapable of casting its light on all of human existence. The sun does not illumine all reality; its rays cannot penetrate to the shadow of death, the place where men’s eyes are closed to its light. “No one — Saint Justin Martyr writes — has ever been ready to die for his faith in the sun”.[1] Conscious of the immense horizon which their faith opened before them, Christians invoked Jesus as the true sun “whose rays bestow life”.[2] To Martha, weeping for the death of her brother Lazarus, Jesus said: “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” (Jn 11:40). Those who believe, see; they see with a light that illumines their entire journey, for it comes from the risen Christ, the morning star which never sets.

Come, Holy Spirit – Discerning Hearts

Come, Holy Spirit,
Veni, Sancte Spiritus,

fill the hearts of Thy faithful
reple tuorum corda fidelium

and enkindle in them the fire of Thy love
et tui amoris in eis ignem accende

Send forth Thy Spirit
Emitte Spiritum tuum,

and they shall be created.
Emitte Spiritum tuum, et creabuntur.

And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
Et renovabis faciem terrae.

Let us pray.
Oremus.

O God, Who didst instruct the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit:
Deus, qui corda fidelium Sancti Spiritus illustratione docuisti:

grant us in the same Spirit to be truly wise;
da nobis in eodem Spiritu recta sapere;

and ever to rejoice in His consolation.
et de eius semper consolatione gaudere.

Through Christ our Lord.
Per Christum Dominum nostrum.

Amen.

Come, Holy Spirit

Come, Holy Spirit,
Veni, Sancte Spiritus,

fill the hearts of Thy faithful
reple tuorum corda fidelium

and enkindle in them the fire of Thy love
et tui amoris in eis ignem accende

Send forth Thy Spirit
Emitte Spiritum tuum,

and they shall be created.
Emitte Spiritum tuum, et creabuntur.

And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
Et renovabis faciem terrae.

Let us pray.
Oremus.

O God, Who didst instruct the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit:
Deus, qui corda fidelium Sancti Spiritus illustratione docuisti:

grant us in the same Spirit to be truly wise;
da nobis in eodem Spiritu recta sapere;

and ever to rejoice in His consolation.
et de eius semper consolatione gaudere.

Through Christ our Lord.
Per Christum Dominum nostrum.

Amen.