St. Catherine of Siena Novena – Day Six

To Brother Raimondo of Capua at Avignon:

I do not want you to fall into weariness or confusion through any vexations that you might feel in your mind; but I want you to keep that good and holy and true faithful will which I know that God in His mercy has given you … Yes, I want that out of the shadows should issue knowledge of yourself, free from confusion…Reflect that through love He keeps your will good, and does not let it run by its...

Feast of St. Mark the Evangelist – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast

As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly.  For at least the next few moments, surrender all the cares and concerns of this day to the Lord.

Say slowly from your heart “Jesus, I Trust In You…You Take Over”

Become aware that He is with you, looking upon you with love, wanting to be heard deep within in your heart…

From the Holy Gospel According to St. Mark 16:15-20

Jesus showed hims...

Episode 3 – Temptation – Put on The Armor – A Manual for Spiritual Warfare with Dr. Paul Thigpen, Ph.D

In this episode of Put on the Armor: A Manual for Spiritual Warfare, Dr. Paul Thigpen and Kris McGregor continue their reflection on the Christian’s ongoing struggle with temptation. Even though Satan has already been decisively defeated through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the spiritual battle continues in this present age as a time of testing, purification, and growth in holiness. Dr. Thigpen explains that temptation, in its most common form, is often subtle, ordinary, and pers...

St. Catherine of Siena Novena – Day Five

To Monna Agnese wife of Francesco, a tailor of Florence

I desire to see thee clothed in true and perfect humility–for that is a little virtue which makes us great in the sight of God. This is the virtue which constrained and inclined God to make His most sweet Son incarnate in the Womb of Mary. It is as exalted as the proud are humbled; it shines in the sight of God and men; it binds the hands of the wicked, it unit...



Friday of the Third Week of Eastertide – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast

As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly.  For at least the next few moments, surrender all the cares and concerns of this day to the Lord.

Say slowly from your heart “Jesus, I Trust In You…You Take Over”

Become aware that He is with you, looking upon you with love, wanting to be heard deep within in your heart…

From the Holy Gospel According to St. John 6:52-59

Th...

C.S. Lewis – The Pilgrim’s Regress: An Allegorical Apology for Christianity, Reason, and Romanticism – Great Works in Western Literature with Joseph Pearce

In this episode of The Great Works in Western Literature, Joseph Pearce and Kris McGregor explore C.S. Lewis’s often-overlooked work The Pilgrim’s Regress, a rich allegorical journey that reflects Lewis’s own path from atheism to Christian faith. Written shortly after his conversion, the story follows a young man named John as he leaves behind a distorted understanding of God and embarks on a quest to discover truth, meaning, and the sourc...

St. Catherine of Siena Novena – Day Four

To Nanna, daughter of Benincasa, a little maid, her niece, in Florence:

 Now, then, we must have light–otherwise it would not be enough. This light has to be the light of most holy faith. But the saints say that faith without works is dead. Therefore we need to exert ourselves virtuously all the time, and leave our childishness and vanities, and not behave any longer like worldly girls, but like faithful brides consecrated to Christ crucified; in this way we shall have a lamp, and oil...



Thursday of the Third Week of Eastertide – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast

As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly.  For at least the next few moments, surrender all the cares and concerns of this day to the Lord.

Say slowly from your heart “Jesus, I Trust In You…You Take Over”

Become aware that He is with you, looking upon you with love, wanting to be heard deep within in your heart…

From the Holy Gospel According to St. John 6:44-51

Je...

Instead of leaning on others, standing on one’s own feet – The Holy Rule of St. Benedict with Fr. Mauritius Wilde O.S.B

In this episode of The Holy Rule of St. Benedict: A Spiritual Path for Today’s World, Fr. Mauritius Wilde, OSB, and Kris McGregor explore the wisdom behind Chapter 69 of the Rule, which cautions against defending another within the monastic community. At first glance, this teaching may seem surprising, even counterintuitive. Yet St. Benedict’s insight reveals a deeper spiritual purpose: fostering maturity, responsibility, and trust. By encouraging each monk to speak fo...

St. Catherine of Siena Novena – Day Three

The Eternal Father speaks to Catherine:

Dearest daughter, contemplate the marvelous state of the soul who receives this bread of life, this food of angels, as she ought. When she receives this sacrament she lives in me and I in her. Just as the fish is in the sea and the sea in the fish, so am I in the soul and the soul in me, the sea of peace. Grace lives in such a soul because, having received this bread of life in...



Wednesday of the Third Week of Eastertide – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast

As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly.  For at least the next few moments, surrender all the cares and concerns of this day to the Lord.

Say slowly from your heart “Jesus, I Trust In You…You Take Over”

Become aware that He is with you, looking upon you with love, wanting to be heard deep within in your heart…

From the Holy Gospel According to St. John 6:35-40

Je...



Marriage Amid The Madness – St. Joseph and His World with Mike Aquilina

Mike Aquilina and Kris McGregor explore how the Holy Family reveals a deeply relational understanding of Christian life, where Jesus, Mary, and Joseph form a true spiritual household into which all are drawn. They reflect on the contrast between Herod’s corrupt, collapsing life and the quiet faithfulness of Mary and Joseph, whose marriage followed the customs of their small Nazareth community, including Mary’s journey to Elizabeth, likely accompanied by others, possibly Joseph, and the cultural realities of travel and hospital...

St. Anselm, Part 2 – The Doctors of the Church with Dr. Matthew Bunson

Dr. Matthew Bunson and Kris McGregor continue their look into the life and teachings of St. Anselm. They explore his background, his time as Archbishop of Canterbury, and his significant contributions to theology.

St. Anselm’s understanding of faith seeking understanding and his integration of faith and reason are highlighted, particularly through his ontological argument for the existence of God.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

St. Anselm, Part 1 – The Doctors of the Church with Dr. Matthew Bunson

Dr. Matthew Bunson and Kris McGregor delve into the life and significance of St. Anselm of Canterbury, a pivotal figure in the Middle Ages and a doctor of the church. They explore St. Anselm’s diverse titles and his impactful contributions to theology, including his formulation of the ontological argument for God’s existence and his examination of the atonement.

St. Anselm’s profound spirituality and humility ar...

St. Catherine of Siena Novena – Day Two

The Eternal Father speaks to Catherine:

My Truth invited you to call out thus when He said: “Call and you will be answered; knock and it shall be opened to you; ask and it shall be given to you.” So I am telling you what I want you to do. Never relax your desire to ask for My help. Never lower you voice in crying out to Me to be merciful to the world. Never stop knocking at the door of my Truth by following in His fo...

Tuesday of the Third Week of Eastertide – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast

As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly.  For at least the next few moments, surrender all the cares and concerns of this day to the Lord.

Say slowly from your heart “Jesus, I Trust In You…You Take Over”

Become aware that He is with you, looking upon you with love, wanting to be heard deep within in your heart…

From the Holy Gospel According to St. John 6:30-35

The people...

Forms of Dryness – Struggles in the Spiritual Life with Fr. Timothy Gallagher O.M.V.

Fr. Timothy Gallagher and Kris McGregor examine the struggles and remedies in the spiritual life, focusing on dryness in prayer. Through stories like Paul’s father, who struggles with confusion and distraction as he begins praying with scripture. Learning how to meditate effectively, preparing in advance, and using resources like Bible studies or guided reflections can help deepen one’s prayer life.

Spiritual dryness is natural, especially for beginners, and persistence is key. We must embrace the idea of “pr...



St. Catherine of Siena Novena – Day One

From a letter to Frate Giusto di Giovanni da Volterra:

“He gave His blood out of love and it is with this love that He asks us for a drink. I mean that Jesus, who loves, is asking to be loved and served. It is only right that the one who loves ought to be loved. This is how we give our Creator a drink: when we give Him love for love. But we cannot give it to Him through any service we can render...

Monday of the Third Week of Eastertide – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast

As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly.  For at least the next few moments, surrender all the cares and concerns of this day to the Lord.

Say slowly from your heart “Jesus, I Trust In You…You Take Over”

Become aware that He is with you, looking upon you with love, wanting to be heard deep within in your heart…

From the Holy Gospel According to St. John 6:22-29

...

Sunday of the Third Week of Easter – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast

As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly.  For at least the next few moments, surrender all the cares and concerns of this day to the Lord.

Say slowly from your heart “Jesus, I Trust In You…You Take Over”

Become aware that He is with you, looking upon you with love, wanting to be heard deep within in your heart…

From the Holy Gospel According to St. Luke 24:13-35

Two of the...

Living the Resurrection and Becoming Christ’s Witness – Building a Kingdom with Msgr. John Esseff

In this Third Sunday of Easter reflection, Msgr. John Esseff focuses on the Church’s journey from Easter to Pentecost, highlighting how the Acts of the Apostles and the Gospel readings reveal a community transformed by the resurrection. The early Church becomes a living witness to Christ, moving from fear and confusion to bold proclamation through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Msgr. Esseff connects this transformation to the lived experience of every baptized person. The suffering, confusion, and st...



Saturday of the Second Week of Eastertide – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast

As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly.  For at least the next few moments, surrender all the cares and concerns of this day to the Lord.

Say slowly from your heart “Jesus, I Trust In You…You Take Over”

Become aware that He is with you, looking upon you with love, wanting to be heard deep within in your heart…

From the Holy Gospel According to St. John 6:16-21

In...

Herman Melville – Moby Dick – Great Works in Western Literature with Joseph Pearce

In this episode of The Great Works in Western Literature, Kris McGregor and Joseph Pearce explore Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick, a towering work of American literature that moves far beyond a simple sea adventure into a profound meditation on the human soul. Pearce reflects on Melville’s life, noting how the author sacrificed popularity and financial success to pursue deeper truths about existence, suffering, and the mystery of good and evil. Through the contrasting figures of Ishmael and Captain Ahab, the novel presents a powerfu...

Episode 1 – “Why does God allow evil” – Put on The Armor – A Manual for Spiritual Warfare with Dr. Paul Thigpen, Ph.D

In this episode of Put on the Armor: A Manual for Spiritual Warfare, Dr. Paul Thigpen and Kris McGregor deepen the conversation by reflecting on St. Paul’s call in Ephesians to “put on the armor of God.” Dr. Thigpen explains that spiritual warfare is not reduced to a few prayers or techniques, but is bound up with the whole Christian life. Growth in holiness, communion with God, and the cultivation of virtue form the true armor o...



Friday of the Second Week of Eastertide – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast

As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly.  For at least the next few moments, surrender all the cares and concerns of this day to the Lord.

Say slowly from your heart “Jesus, I Trust In You…You Take Over”

Become aware that He is with you, looking upon you with love, wanting to be heard deep within in your heart…

From the Holy Gospel According to St. John 6:1-15

Je...

In place of idleness, work – The Holy Rule of St. Benedict with Fr. Mauritius Wilde O.S.B

In this episode of The Holy Rule of St. Benedict: A Spiritual Path for Today’s World, Fr. Mauritius Wilde, OSB, and Kris McGregor reflect on Chapter 48 of the Rule and the teaching that “idleness is the enemy of the soul.” While modern culture often leans toward constant activity, St. Benedict offers a deeper understanding of work, not as mere productivity, but as a means of spiritual formation. He establishes a rhythm of manual labor, prayer, and sacred r...

St. Bernadette, A Holy Life – In Conversation with Patricia McEachern

Patricia McEachern, an associate professor of French at Drew University in Missouri, discusses her book “A Holy Life: The Writings of St. Bernadette of Lourdes” with Bruce and Kris McGregor. Patricia shares her fascination with St. Bernadette and her journey from being introduced to St. Bernadette through a movie to translating her letters and spiritual notebook. She shares personal experiences, including her visit to Lourdes, which ultimately led to her conversion to Catholicism.

“St. Bernadette, A Holy Life” shows readers St. Bernadette’s remarkable character be...



Thursday of the Second Week of Eastertide – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast

As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly.  For at least the next few moments, surrender all the cares and concerns of this day to the Lord.

Say slowly from your heart “Jesus, I Trust In You…You Take Over”

Become aware that He is with you, looking upon you with love, wanting to be heard deep within in your heart…

From the Holy Gospel According to St. John 3:31-36

Jo...

Fr. Thomas Morrow on “Straight to Heaven: A Practical Guide for Growing in Holiness”

Kris McGregor talks with Fr. Thomas Morrow about his book Straight to Heaven: A Practical Guide for Growing in Holiness. Fr. Morrow explains the significance of understanding heaven, hell, and purgatory as motivators for spiritual growth. Heaven is a deep union with God, similar to a divine marriage. While God’s mercy is abundant, rejecting Him leads to hell, which Christ frequently spoke about in Scripture; and purgatory as a place of purification for those who die in God’s grace but stil...



Wednesday of the Second Week of Eastertide – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast

As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly.  For at least the next few moments, surrender all the cares and concerns of this day to the Lord.

Say slowly from your heart “Jesus, I Trust In You…You Take Over”

Become aware that He is with you, looking upon you with love, wanting to be heard deep within in your heart…

From the Holy Gospel According to St. John 3:16-21

Je...

Prosperity and It’s Price – St. Joseph and His World with Mike Aquilina

Mike Aquilina explores the broader world Joseph lived in, including the complex figure of Herod the Great—an accomplished but deeply troubled ruler whose achievements brought prosperity while his paranoia and cruelty alienated his people.

He also explains the challenge of reconstructing Joseph’s life due to limited direct records, unlike more documented figures like Herod to bring his character into clearer view. This episode examines questions about Joseph’s lineage, age, and vocation, presenting historically plausible explanations and pushing ba...

Tuesday of the Second Week of Eastertide – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast

As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly.  For at least the next few moments, surrender all the cares and concerns of this day to the Lord.

Say slowly from your heart “Jesus, I Trust In You…You Take Over”

Become aware that He is with you, looking upon you with love, wanting to be heard deep within in your heart…

From the Holy Gospel According to St. John 3:7-15

Jesus said...

I Feel Alone – Struggles in the Spiritual Life with Fr. Timothy Gallagher O.M.V.

Fr. Timothy Gallagher illustrates the struggles in the process of discernment with Kathy’s story, a woman who, after experiencing spiritual closeness with God, is confronted by a deeply buried pain triggered during prayer. Kathy feels abandoned by God, prompting her to stop praying and isolate herself emotionally. Guided by her spiritual director, Fr. Reed, Kathy learns that she can openly share her pain and anger with God, drawing on examples from the Psalms and the Book of Job, where peop...



Monday of the Second Week of Eastertide – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast

As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly.  For at least the next few moments, surrender all the cares and concerns of this day to the Lord.

Say slowly from your heart “Jesus, I Trust In You…You Take Over”

Become aware that He is with you, looking upon you with love, wanting to be heard deep within in your heart…

From the Holy Gospel According to St. John 3:1-8

The...

The Divine Mercy Chaplet

1. Begin with the Sign of the Cross, 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary and The Apostles Creed.

2. Then on the Our Father Beads say the following:
Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

3. On the 10 Hail Mary Beads say the following:
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

(Repeat...

Who Are You? Your Catholic Identity on Divine Mercy Sunday – Building a Kingdom with Msgr. John Esseff

Msgr. Esseff reflects on the readings for Divine Mercy Sunday and its meanings for our lives.  He discusses the identity of the Christian, and in particular, what it means to be a “Catholic”.

From the NAB

Reading 1 ACTS 5:12-16



Divine Mercy Sunday – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast

As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly.  For at least the next few moments, surrender all the cares and concerns of this day to the Lord.

Say slowly from your heart “Jesus, I Trust In You…You Take Over”

Become aware that He is with you, looking upon you with love, wanting to be heard deep within in your heart…

From the Holy Gospel According to St. John 20:19-31

In the evening o...



Divine Mercy Novena – Day Nine

Ninth Day – “The souls who have become lukewarm.“

“Today bring to Me the Souls who have become lukewarm, and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. These souls wound My Heart most painfully. My soul suffered the most dreadful loathing in the Garden of Olives because of lukewarm souls. They were the reason I cried out: ‘Father, take this cup away from Me, if it be Your will.’ For them, the last hope of salvation is to run to My mercy.”

Most compassionate Jesus, You are Compassion...



Easter Saturday – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast

As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly.  For at least the next few moments, surrender all the cares and concerns of this day to the Lord.

Say slowly from your heart “Jesus, I Trust In You…You Take Over”

Become aware that He is with you, looking upon you with love, wanting to be heard deep within in your heart…

From the Holy Gospel According to St. Mark 16:9-15

Having risen in the mornin...

Mike Pacer – Mercy and Hope on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcast

In this episode of Inside the Pages, Kris McGregor speaks with Mike Pacer, author of Mercy and Hope, about the transforming power of God’s mercy and the deep Christian call to live in hope. Drawing from his own spiritual journey, Mike reflects on how many Catholics grow up with a sense of guilt, shame, and the feeling that God’s love must somehow be earned. In response, he offers a deeply biblical and sacramental vision of mercy, showing that God...