cathollc spirituality Archives

BG19 Mark Hart the Bible Geek “Answers from the Word” – St. Paul’s letter to Timothy

Mark breaks open St. Paul’s letter to the Timothy–

Exactly who was St. Paul writing to in his letter to Timothy? What was the purpose of the letter? What was the message? How does it apply to our lives today?

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Mark Hart is an author, speaker, director and teacher, Mark’s work both written and spoken, is known across the country and world. While he serves as the Vice President of LIFE TEEN, he is known to tens of thousands simply as the “Bible Geek ®” Mark passionately echoes the gospel to all he encounters. He is as deep as he is funny, and his love for his wife and daughters is second only to his immense love for Jesus Christ.

Visit Mark at www.lifeteen.com

SP#8 The School of Prayer: Foundations for the New Evangelization

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Fr. Scott Traynor talks about the relationship between our personal prayer and the sacramental life of prayer of the Church. There is so much to encounter when we open up our hearts and minds to the experience of prayer found in the public worship of the Church. Using the “ARRRR” method (Acknowledge, Relate, Recieve, and Respond) to enhance our prayer during the liturgy.

In Father Scott Traynor’s book, Blessed John Paul II’s memorable call to make of the parish a school of prayer takes on flesh and becomes concretely attainable. Those you read these faith-filled pages will find renewed desire to create such parishes and a clear road-map toward this goal.

–Father Timothy Gallagher, OMV

Father Scott Traynor received his STB from the Pontifical Gregorian University and his JCL from Catholic University of America. He has been an instructor and spiritual director for many of the programs at the Institute for Priestly Formation.

Father Traynor is a retreat master and spiritual director who has travelled the country as a speaker at various conferences, diocesan gatherings and national conferences.. He is especially sought after to present on the topics of prayer, discernment and priestly identity and mission.

He serves the Rector of the St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver Colorado.

SP#9 The Keys to Good Discernment – The School of Prayer: Foundations for the New Evangelization w/Fr. Scott Traynor

SP#9 The School of Prayer: Foundations for the New Evangelization:

The Keys to Good Discernment

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Fr. Scott Traynor talks about the hallmarks of encounter with the Holy Spirit and what can be a deception. How can the keys to good discernment effect my service to the Church and to the World. What is the difference between “managing and/or deciding” and authentic “discernment”? What is wrong with the phrase “What Would Jesus Do?”. The better question is “Jesus, What ARE you doing?”. Listening is the key for not only the one discerning. How does the “school of prayer”, the parish, becomes an aid to the seeker. How is the pastor a part of the process?

–Father Timothy Gallagher, OMV

He serves the Rector of the St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver Colorado.

WOM#13 – Purgative and Illuminative Way – The Way of Mystery w/ Deacon James Keating – Discerning Hearts

Episode 13-The Way of Mystery: The Eucharist and Moral Living

The spiritual life and moral living… understanding the journey through the Purgative and Illuminative Way and their role in the moral life.

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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

DPD8 – 5 Dimensions of the Examen -The Daily Prayer of Discernment: The Examen Prayer w/ Fr. Timothy Gallagher

Episode 8 The Daily Prayer of Discernment: The Ignatian Wisdom of the Examen Prayer with Fr. Timothy Gallagher.

Fr. Gallagher, in this concluding episode, reviews the different dimensions of the Examen prayer and applications for our lives.

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As outlined from the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola
(translated from the autograph by Fr. E. Mullan, S.J. 1909 in the public domain)

METHOD FOR MAKING THE GENERAL EXAMEN
It contains in it five Points.

First Point. The first Point is to give thanks to God our Lord for the benefits received.
Second Point. The second, to ask grace to know our sins and cast them out.
Third Point. The third, to ask account of our soul from the hour that we rose up to the present Examen, hour by hour, or period by period: and first as to thoughts, and then as to words, and then as to acts, in the same order as was mentioned in the Particular Examen.
Fourth Point. The fourth, to ask pardon of God our Lord for the faults.
Fifth Point. The fifth, to purpose amendment with His grace.

OUR FATHER.

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 books and audio available for purchase from Fr. Timothy Gallagher check out his website: www.frtimothygallagher.org

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

IP#253 Fr. Robert Cormier – Better Than We Believed on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor

It was rich blessing to have the opportunity to talk Fr. Robert Cormier about his book “Better Than We Believed: How to Apply the Vision That Is Faith to the Struggle That Is Life”. With an incredible witness in ministry Fr. Bob, as he prefers to be called, has served a parish priest for many years, as well as prison chaplain and a rehab counselor. For the last eighteen years he has been president of Project Live—a leading institution for the care of the mentally ill. He also spent summers in mission work in Guatemala and other areas of Central America. This varied background serves him well as he addresses many of the the areas which challenge many people when it comes to “faith”. What is faith? And how do I live it out? Especially when afraid or challenged, how can I draw on faith for strength to live the life that we were meant for? This books is an excellent resource and wonderful source of inspiration.

(Special note:; On May 13, Fr. Bob died in a climbing accident on Mount Hood in Oregon, after reaching the summit. He was 57 years old. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May the soul of Fr. Bob, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.)

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You can find the book here

Here is a link to Faith Kit, the website Fr. Bob mentions during our conversation www.faithkit.org

From the book description:

Presuming nothing that both traditional believers and critical-thinking searchers will not find in their hearts, Better Than We Believed presents a strikingly clear concept of faith that answers the unhappiness of people you will recognize:

MARK, who struggles with anger

IRENE, who battles stress

HENRY, who is consumed by hatred

GLORIA, who has been betrayed

BRIAN, who suffers depression

MARY, who feels trapped by her duty to a loved one

JOY, who can’t get over a loved one’s death, and

JAMES, who knows that he is dying

As we witness this faith applied to these and other serious struggles, we will see how it can transform our own experience, and offer us peace, purpose, and joy.

WOL5 – The “Declaration of Independence” – Reflections on the teachings of St. John Paul II w/ Dr. Carson Holloway – Discerning Hearts

WOL5 – Episode 5- The “Declaration of Independence” and American political philosophy and what it involves. What is the “natural law” and how it applies to political thought. There are principals of political “rights and wrongs” and these are the foundations for political practice (which are not always followed by the human person). What are the “self-evident” truths? What are “natural rights”? Why did this system of thought survive given the American experience compared to the results of the French revolution and its theories? Both might be “children” of the Enlightenment, but one was hostile to Christianity, the other embraced it.

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The Way of Life, Carson Holloway examines the fundamental philosophers of modernity-from Hobbes to Toqueville-to suggest that St. John Paul II’s critique of modernity is intended not to reject, but to improve. Thus, claims Holloway, it is appropriate for liberal modernity to attend to the Pope’s thought, receiving it not as the attack of an enemy but as the criticism of a candid friend.

For other episodes in the series visit Dr. Holloway’s Discerning Hearts page

This series is based on Dr. Holloway’s book “The Way of Life”

IP#252 Dr. Joseph Capizzi – A Catechism for Business on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor

A delight to discuss Catholic Social Teaching with Dr. Joseph Capizzi, Associate Professor of Moral Theology at the Catholic University of America. He is co-editor of a phenomenal new resource entitled “A Catechism for Business: Tough Ethical Questions and Insights from Catholic Teaching”. A rare work which makes the complex issues of ethics, found in our society, simple and accessible for lay faithful reflection and deeper study. Truly, a must have, not only for thebusiness office, but for every Catholic home and parish.

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You can find the book here

This is a brilliantly conceived and executed handbook. I imagine that it will be translated into many languages around the world. A Catechism for Business is the most practical handbook of Christian social teaching in relation to the vocation of persons in business ever produced.
Michael Novak, 1994 Templeton Laureate

The Church’s social teachings are a “best-kept secret” because they are often presented as answers without questions. Dr. Capizzi and Dean Abela have provided the questions, from the heart of the business enterprise, along with accurate but succinct responses from Catholic social doctrine. In their expert hands, the teaching has a chance to be heard.
Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., Archbishop of Chicago

Work is not only a necessary activity but a beautiful expression of our creative nature, and this book is a vital resource for anyone who wishes to align work–and the workplace–according to God’s love and vision of the human person. Authors Abela and Capizzi do a great service to Christians in providing the most relevant Catholic teachings on the matters of labor, business, employment, wages, economic systems, and a myriad of related issues so relevant and so contentious in today’s world.
Carl Anderson, Supreme Knight, Knights of Columbus, and author, A Civilization of Love: What Every Catholic Can Do to Transform the World

WOM#12 – The Communion Rite – The Way of Mystery w/ Deacon James Keating – Discerning Hearts

Episode 12-The Way of Mystery: The Eucharist and Moral Living

The Liturgy of the Eucharist part 4 : the Communion Rite…The moment of radical surrender…can we do it? We when come forward to communion, what are doing…what are we saying? Will we allow ourselves to be transformed? The moment of silence…will we allow ourselves to be transformed within so we can go out to transform the culture for Christ?

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

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

DPD7 – RENEWAL – The Daily Prayer of Discernment: The Examen Prayer with Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Discerning Hearts

Episode 7 The Daily Prayer of Discernment: The Ignatian Wisdom of the Examen Prayer with Fr. Timothy Gallagher.
Fr. Gallagher continues to discuss the the fifth step – RENEWAL – which is how we move forward after our encounter with God in our prayer.

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As outlined from the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola
(translated from the autograph by Fr. E. Mullan, S.J. 1909 in the public domain)

METHOD FOR MAKING THE GENERAL EXAMEN
It contains in it five Points.

First Point. The first Point is to give thanks to God our Lord for the benefits received.
Second Point. The second, to ask grace to know our sins and cast them out.
Third Point. The third, to ask account of our soul from the hour that we rose up to the present Examen, hour by hour, or period by period: and first as to thoughts, and then as to words, and then as to acts, in the same order as was mentioned in the Particular Examen.
Fourth Point. The fourth, to ask pardon of God our Lord for the faults.
Fifth Point. The fifth, to purpose amendment with His grace.

OUR FATHER.