Walking with Christ in Prayer – Meditation and Contemplation with Fr. Timothy Gallagher
Fr. Timothy Gallagher explores Ignatian meditation and contemplation, illustrating these practices through the story of Catherine, a woman who experienced profound spiritual healing during her retreat. Catherine engaged deeply with the Passion of Christ using Ignatian imaginative prayer, placing herself in the Gospel scenes and encountering Jesus’ love and trust in the Father. This prayer journey led her to integrate her own suffering from a life-altering stroke with Christ’s Passion, ultimately experiencing God’s healing grace, renewal, and intimate presence in her struggles.
With the transformative power of daily prayer, whether reflective or imaginative, it can be used as a means to deepen one’s relationship with Go, using St. Ignatius’ advice on beginning prayer with a moment of stillness, lifting one’s heart to God and recognizing His loving gaze. This intentional practice shifts prayer from routine to profound relational encounter, opening the heart to God’s healing and grace. This episode highlights the accessibility and depth of Ignatian prayer as a path to intimacy with God and spiritual growth.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
Encountering Jesus in Prayer: Reflect on how imaginative or reflective prayer can deepen your relationship with Jesus by bringing His experiences into your own life.
Trusting in God’s Providence: Consider moments in your life where suffering might be transformed by trusting in God’s love and plan, as shown in Catherine’s story.
God’s Loving Gaze: Contemplate what it means to see God’s infinite love and mercy in His gaze as you begin your time of prayer.
Joining in Christ’s Passion: Meditate on how entering the Passion of Christ through scripture can reveal the connection between His suffering and your own.
Healing Through Prayer: Ponder areas in your life where prayer could open your heart to healing and reconciliation with God.
Daily Faithfulness to Prayer: Reflect on how incorporating Ignatian prayer practices daily can enrich your spiritual journey and bring about transformation.
Receiving God’s Grace: Think about how prayer, even in small increments, creates space for God’s grace and blessings to flow into your life.
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 15 different podcast series on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts?
Visit here to discover more!
“God Himself is the rule and mode of virtue. Our faith is measured by divine truth, our hope by the greatness of His power and faithful affection, our charity by His goodness. His truth, power and goodness outreach any measure of reason. We can certainly never believe, trust or love God more than, or even as much as, we should. Extravagance is impossible. Here is no virtuous moderation, no measurable mean; the more extreme our activity, the better we are.”
― Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, 5 Vols
Through the intercession of St. Thomas Aquinas,
Grant me grace, O merciful God,
to desire ardently all that is pleasing to Thee,
to examine it prudently,
to acknowledge it truthfully,
and to accomplish it perfectly,
for the praise and glory of Thy name.
In particular, please obtain the favor I ask during this novena.
[Make your request here…]
Grant me, O Lord my God,
a mind to know you,
a heart to seek you,
wisdom to find you,
conduct pleasing to you,
faithful perseverance in waiting for you,
and a hope of finally embracing you.
This poor life is only a journey to the happy life to come. We must not be angry with one another on the way, but rather we must march on as a band of brothers and sisters united in meekness, peace and love. I state absolutely and make no exception: do not be angry at all if that is possible. Do no accept any pretext whatever for opening your heart’s door to anger. Saint James tells us positively and without reservation,” … a man’s anger does not fulfill God’s justice.” [Jas 1:20] (INT. Part III, Ch. 8; O. III, p. 162)
O blessed Francis de Sales, who on earth did excel in a life of virtue,
especially in the love of God and neighbor,
I earnestly ask you to take me under your compassionate care and protection.
Obtain for me conversion of mind and heart.
Grant that all people,
especially (names of those whom you wish to include) may experience
the depth of God’s redeeming and healing love.
Teach me to fix my eyes on the things of heaven
even as I walk each day with my feet planted firmly on the earth.
Help me, through the practice of virtue and the pursuit of devotion,
to avoid anything that would otherwise cause me to stumble
in my attempt to follow Christ
and to be an instrument of the Holy Spirit.
Encouraged by your prayers and example,
help me to live fully my sacred dignity
with the hope of experiencing my sacred destiny:
eternal life with God.
Receive also this particular need or concern
that I now lift up in prayer. (mention your particular need).
O God, for the salvation of all,
you desired that St. Francis de Sales—
preacher, missionary, confessor, bishop and founder—
should befriend many long the road to salvation.
Mercifully grant that we,
infused with the humility and gentleness of his charity,
guided by his wisdom and sharing in his spirit
may experience eternal life.
Power of Imaginative Prayer – Meditation and Contemplation with Fr. Timothy Gallagher
Fr. Timothy Gallagher explores the distinctions and interplay between meditation and contemplation in the Ignatian tradition, with Fr. Timothy Gallagher providing insights into how these methods deepen engagement with Scripture. Meditation involves reflecting on the meaning of words in Scripture (e.g., pondering “Blessed are the poor in spirit”), while contemplation is an imaginative engagement with biblical events, such as entering the scene of Jesus calming the storm. Fr. Gallagher illustrates these practices through examples from St. John Chrysostom, Jesuit Bishop Alban Goodier, and others, showing how meditation leads to reflection and heart transformation, while contemplation evokes vivid spiritual experiences.
Scripture has a transformative power where both meditation and contemplation awaken a deeper relationship with God. A good way to begin practicing these methods can start simply by setting aside daily time for prayer. Through examples like imaginative contemplation of Jesus’ calmness before Pilate and Mark’s meditation on the Good Shepherd, prayer opens the heart to spiritual consolation, hope, and personal insight.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
Facing the Storms of Life Reflect on how you respond to challenges and where you see Jesus accompanying you during difficult times.
Meditating with Scripture Consider the depth of your reflection on the meaning of God’s Word and how it speaks to your heart.
Engaging the Imagination in Prayer Explore how immersing yourself in Gospel scenes can bring new insights and intimacy with Christ.
Recognizing God’s Presence in Silence Reflect on moments when God seemed distant and how these experiences have shaped your trust in Him.
Commitment to Daily Prayer Assess your dedication to praying with Scripture regularly and the spiritual growth it fosters.
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 15 different podcast series on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts?
Visit here to discover more!
Introduction – Meditation and Contemplation with Fr. Timothy Gallagher
Fr. Timothy Gallagher explains the practice of praying with Scripture through meditation and contemplation in the Ignatian tradition. Rooted in St. Ignatius of Loyola’s teachings, meditation uses reason to reflect on the meaning of Scripture, drawing personal insights and applying them to daily life. Contemplation, on the other hand, engages the imagination to enter a Gospel scene, allowing one to “be present” in the event and encounter Jesus personally. Ignatian contemplation is distinct from the mystical prayer described by St. John of the Cross and is accessible to everyone, regardless of spiritual experience.
Prayer, as defined by Vatican II, is the foundation of the spiritual life, and engaging with Scripture provides strength for faith, nourishment for the soul, and a deep well of spiritual growth. It encourages freedom and personalization in choosing meditation, contemplation, or a blend of both to encounter God in a meaningful way. By reflecting on passages like the Beatitudes or imagining Gospel events like the calming of the storm, believers can engage their hearts in a transformative dialogue with God.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
The Role of Scripture in Prayer: How can you integrate daily Scripture reading into your prayer life as encouraged by Vatican II?
Understanding Meditation and Contemplation: Which approach—meditation (reason) or contemplation (imagination)—feels most natural for your prayer, and why?
Personal Connection to Scripture: How has reflecting on or imagining a specific Gospel passage deepened your understanding of God’s presence in your life?
Engaging the Heart in Prayer: In what ways can you allow your heart to respond more deeply to the insights and feelings stirred during your prayer with Scripture?
Freedom and Personalization in Prayer: How can you adapt Ignatian methods of prayer to suit your current spiritual needs and journey?
Transformative Power of Scripture: Reflect on a time when Scripture provided you with strength, nourishment, or spiritual growth—how did it change you?
Starting from Prayer: How does this episode’s emphasis on “everything starts from prayer” inspire you to prioritize prayer in your daily life?
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 15 different podcast series on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts?
Visit here to discover more!
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.
Episode 4: Heaven – Salvation Begins Now: Last Things First
Deacon James Keating explores the nature of heaven as a relationship with Christ rather than a physical place. Heaven begins now, insofar as we are “in Christ.” This communion, nurtured through prayer, sacraments, and repentance, is the essence of heaven. Sin disrupts this union, leading to unhappiness, but God works continuously through His grace, the Holy Spirit, and the sacraments to heal and restore us. Evangelization, therefore, is not about institutional growth but sharing God’s urgent desire for all to enter this eternal communion.
Each person will experience God’s particular love in a unique and fulfilling way, retaining their identity in the resurrection. Mystical experiences, accessible through deeper participation in the sacraments and prayer, provide a foretaste of heaven and shift our desires toward eternal values over earthly ones.
Trust in Jesus’ promises and attachment to Him through the Eucharist prepare us for the fulfillment of all desires in the eternal communion of love between God and His people. Heaven is not just a future hope but a present reality we are called to live now.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
What Is Heaven to You? Reflect on how you understand heaven as a relationship with Christ rather than a physical place.
Are You Living Heaven Now? Consider whether your current prayer and sacramental life reflect the call to begin living in communion with Christ today.
How Does Sin Affect Your Happiness? Examine how venial and mortal sins may disrupt your union with God and your pursuit of authentic happiness.
Do You Trust in God’s Promises? Reflect on your trust in Jesus’ promise of eternal life and how it inspires hope in your daily actions.
Are You Growing in Mysticism? Contemplate whether you are deepening your prayer life and sacramental participation to experience God more intimately.
How Do You Proclaim Heaven to Others? Evaluate how your life and actions evangelize the urgency of living in Christ to those around you.
Do You Recognize God’s Particular Love for You? Meditate on the personal and unique way God loves you, even now, as a foretaste of heaven.
What Earthly Attachments Do You Need to Relinquish? Identify areas of your life where earthly values may overshadow your desire for eternal communion with God.
How Do You Prepare for Heaven? Reflect on how your choices, virtues, and faith practices align with your journey toward full union with Christ.
What Does “Heaven Begins Now” Mean to You? Contemplate the ways you can live heaven today by embracing God’s love and sharing it with others.
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
1024 “This perfect life with the Most Holy Trinity—this communion of life and love with the Trinity, with the Virgin Mary, the angels and all the blessed—is called “heaven.” Heaven is the ultimate end and fulfillment of the deepest human longings, the state of supreme, definitive happiness.”
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.
St. Albert the Great – The Doctors of the Church: The Charism of Wisdom with Dr. Matthew Bunson
Born: 1193, Lauingen, Germany
Died: November 15, 1280, Cologne, Germany
Education: University of Padua
Dr. Matthew Bunson and Kris McGregor take a look at the life and legacy of St. Albert the Great, a Dominican theologian, philosopher, scientist, and mentor to St. Thomas Aquinas. Known for harmonizing faith, reason, and science, Albert saw the study of nature as a way to deepen understanding of God. He was instrumental in reintroducing Aristotle’s philosophy to the West and demonstrated how pagan thought could be reconciled with Christian theology; the compatibility of reason and faith. His vast contributions to natural sciences, including botany, zoology, and mineralogy, reflected his belief that studying creation reveals the Creator’s glory.
Albert’s life was marked by both intellectual brilliance and profound spiritual devotion, rooted in a mystical encounter with the Blessed Virgin Mary. Renouncing his noble background to join the Dominicans, he embraced poverty and the pursuit of knowledge in service to God. His influence shaped scholasticism, the integration of philosophy into theological studies, and the education of future Church leaders like Aquinas. A trusted advisor to popes and a mediator within the Church, Albert’s legacy is one of wisdom, joy, and the unyielding pursuit of truth, making him a timeless model of harmony between faith and reason.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
The Harmony of Faith and Reason: How can you apply St. Albert’s example of harmonizing faith and reason in your own pursuit of knowledge and daily life?
The Call to Radical Discipleship: What aspects of your life might you need to surrender, as Albert did, to follow God’s will more fully?
Awe in Creation: How do you cultivate a sense of wonder and gratitude for God’s presence in the natural world around you?
The Role of Philosophy in Faith: How does studying philosophy or other intellectual disciplines deepen your understanding and practice of the Catholic faith?
Mentorship and Influence: Who has played a role in mentoring your spiritual growth, and how can you mentor others in their journey of faith?
Prayer as the Foundation of Knowledge: In what ways can you strengthen your prayer life to ensure that your intellectual pursuits remain rooted in your relationship with God?
Faith and Science in Evangelization: How can Albert’s approach to integrating science with faith inspire you to share the Gospel in modern contexts?
Joy in the Pursuit of Truth: How can you reflect the joy and enthusiasm of St. Albert in your efforts to share and live out the truths of the Catholic faith?
“One of the great masters of medieval theology is St Albert the Great.
The title “Great”, (Magnus), with which he has passed into history indicates the vastness and depth of his teaching, which he combined with holiness of life. However, his contemporaries did not hesitate to attribute to him titles of excellence even then. One of his disciples, Ulric of Strasbourg, called him the “wonder and miracle of our epoch”.
He was born in Germany at the beginning of the 13th century. When he was still young he went to Italy, to Padua, the seat of one of the most famous medieval universities. He devoted himself to the study of the so-called “liberal arts”: grammar, rhetoric, dialectics, arithmetic, geometry, astronomy and music, that is, to culture in general, demonstrating that characteristic interest in the natural sciences which was soon to become the favourite field for his specialization. During his stay in Padua he attended the Church of the Dominicans, whom he then joined with the profession of the religious vows. Hagiographic sources suggest that Albert came to this decision gradually. His intense relationship with God, the Dominican Friars’ example of holiness, hearing the sermons of Blessed Jordan of Saxony, St Dominic’s successor at the Master General of the Order of Preachers, were the decisive factors that helped him to overcome every doubt and even to surmount his family’s resistence. God often speaks to us in the years of our youth and points out to us the project of our life. As it was for Albert, so also for all of us, personal prayer, nourished by the Lord’s word, frequent reception of the Sacraments and the spiritual guidance of enlightened people are the means to discover and follow God’s voice. He received the religious habit from Bl. Jordan of Saxony.
After his ordination to the priesthood, his superiors sent him to teach at various theological study centres annexed to the convents of the Dominican Fathers. His brilliant intellectual qualities enabled him to perfect his theological studies at the most famous university in that period, the University of Paris. From that time on St Albert began his extraordinary activity as a writer that he was to pursue throughout his life.
Prestigious tasks were assigned to him. In 1248 he was charged with opening a theological studium at Cologne, one of the most important regional capitals of Germany, where he lived at different times and which became his adopted city. He brought with him from Paris an exceptional student, Thomas Aquinas. The sole merit of having been St Thomas’ teacher would suffice to elicit profound admiration for St Albert. A relationship of mutual esteem and friendship developed between these two great theologians, human attitudes that were very helpful in the development of this branch of knowlege. In 1254, Albert was elected Provincial of the Dominican Fathers’ “Provincia Teutoniae” Teutonic Province which included communities scattered over a vast territory in Central and Northern Europe.
He distinguished himself for the zeal with which he exercised this ministry, visiting the communities and constantly recalling his confreres to fidelity, to the teaching and example of St Dominic.
His gifts did not escape the attention of the Pope of that time, Alexander iv, who wanted Albert with him for a certain time at Anagni where the Popes went frequently in Rome itself and at Viterbo, in order to avail himself of Albert’s theological advice. The same Supreme Pontiff appointed Albert Bishop of Regensburg, a large and celebrated diocese, but which was going through a difficult period. From 1260 to 1262, Albert exercised this ministry with unflagging dedication, succeeding in restoring peace and harmony to the city, in reorganizing parishes and convents and in giving a new impetus to charitable activities.
In the year 1263-1264, Albert preached in Germany and in Bohemia, at the request of Pope Urban iv. He later returned to Cologne and took up his role as lecturer, scholar and writer. As a man of prayer, science and charity, his authoritative intervention in various events of the Church and of the society of the time were acclaimed: above all, he was a man of reconciliation and peace in Cologne, where the Archbishop had run seriously foul of the city’s institutions; he did his utmost during the Second Council of Lyons, in 1274, summoned by Pope Gregory X, to encourage union between the Latin and Greek Churches after the separation of the great schism with the East in 1054. He also explained the thought of Thomas Aquinas which had been the subject of objections and even quite unjustified condemnations.
He died in his cell at the convent of the Holy Cross, Cologne, in 1280, and was very soon venerated by his confreres. The Church proposed him for the worship of the faithful with his beatification in 1622 and with his canonization in 1931, when Pope Pius XI proclaimed him Doctor of the Church. This was certainly an appropriate recognition of this great man of God and outstanding scholar, not only of the truths of the faith but of a great many other branches of knowledge; indeed, with a glance at the titles of his very numerous works, we realize that there was something miraculous about his culture and that his encyclopedic interests led him not only to concern himself with philosophy and theology, like other contemporaries of his, but also with every other discipline then known, from physics to chemistry, from astronomy to minerology, from botany to zoology.
For this reason Pope Pius XII named him Patron of enthusiasts of the natural sciences and also called him “Doctor universalis” precisely because of the vastness of his interests and knowledge.”
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 3: Purgatory – Salvation Begins Now: Last Things First
Deacon James Keating and Kris McGregor discuss the nature of purgatory, referencing saints’ mystical experiences to explore purification, suffering, and holiness. Saints like St. Catherine of Genoa offer images of purgatory that allow us to meditate on sin’s disruptive nature to the Body of Christ. This purification isn’t bound by time as we know it; rather, it’s a timeless encounter with Jesus’ love that cleanses us from the effects of sin.
There are common misconceptions, such as contrasting physical suffering with the profound, and that relational pain causes isolation from God and others. This relational suffering, which stems from choices that cut us off from communion, parallels the purgatorial experience, calling us toward God for healing. Purgatory is less about physical torment and more about the agony of purification needed to restore our identity in God’s love.
The sacrament of reconciliation is a profound opportunity to undergo purification on earth, preparing us for communion with God. True confession requires courage, as it involves confronting our sins and vulnerabilities openly with God, who meets us with unconditional mercy.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
Understanding Purgatory’s Purpose – How does viewing purgatory as a relational purification rather than a physical torment change your understanding of its purpose?
Contemplating the Impact of Sin – Reflect on how even “small” sins disrupt the harmony of the Body of Christ and affect your own spiritual health.
Identifying Relational Pain – In what ways have feelings of isolation or confusion about your identity impacted your relationship with God and others?
Embracing the Sacrament of Reconciliation – How might regularly participating in the sacrament of reconciliation deepen your experience of God’s mercy and freedom?
Confronting Fear of Truth – What specific fears or rationalizations have kept you from fully admitting your sins to God in the sacrament of confession?
Learning from the Saints – Who in your life exemplifies holiness, and how can you look to them as a guide toward surrender and abandonment to God?
Trusting in God Through Suffering – How can embracing Christ’s Sacred Heart help you surrender fears about suffering or death and experience God’s peace?
Striving for Earthly Holiness – What steps can you take to start your purification process on earth, inspired by the examples of saints like Mother Teresa and St. John Paul II?
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
“1030 All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.”
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.
“Holy Trinity, Whom I Adore” a prayer of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity (translated by Dr. Anthony Lilles and offered by Miriam Gutierrez)
Holy Trinity, Whom I Adore
O My God, Trinity whom I adore, help me to forget myself entirely so as to be established in you as still and as peaceful as if my soul were already in eternity. May nothing be able to disturb my peace, nor make me depart from you, o my Unchanging One, but may each moment carry me further into the depths of your Mystery. Pacify my soul: make it your heaven, your beloved abode, your resting place. May I never leave you there alone, but may I be entirely present, my faith completely ready, wholly adoring, fully surrendered to your creative action.
O my beloved Christ, crucified by love, I would like to be a bride for your heart. I would like to cover you with glory, I would like to love you… unto death. I feel my powerlessness, however, and I ask you to clothe me with yourself, to identify my soul with all the movements of your soul, to overwhelm me, to invade me, to substitute yourself for me, that my life might be but the radiation of your Life. Come into me as Adorer, as Healer, as Savior.
O Eternal Word, Word of my God, I want to spend my life listening to you. I want to be completely docile, ready to learn all from you. Then, through all nights, all voids, all weakness, I want always to fixate on you and to remain under your great light. O My beloved Star, fascinate me to the point that I could not forsake your shining light.
O Consuming Flame, Spirit of love, come over me until my soul is rendered into an incarnation of the Word; may I be for Him another humanity in which he renews His whole Mystery.
And you, O Father, bend over your little creature, cover her with your shadow, and in her only the Beloved in whom You are well-pleased.
O my Three, my All, my Beatitude, Infinite Solitude, Immensity in which I lose myself, I surrender myself as prey. Bury yourself in me in order that I might bury myself in you while waiting to contemplate in your light the immeasurable depths of your grandeur
Walking with Christ in Prayer – Meditation and Contemplation with Fr. Timothy Gallagher
St. Francis de Sales Novena – Day 5
From the General Audience on St. Albert the Great
“Holy Trinity, Whom I Adore” a prayer of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity (translated by Dr. Anthony Lilles and offered by Miriam Gutierrez)
