Episode 9 – Know Your Weapons pt. 4 – A Manual for Spiritual Warfare with Dr. Paul Thigpen, Ph.D

In this episode of Put on the Armor: A Manual for Spiritual Warfare, Kris McGregor and Dr. Paul Thigpen turn to the virtues as the Christian’s interior armor. Dr. Thigpen begins by distinguishing virtue from vice: virtue is a habit of doing good, while vice is a habit of wrongdoing. Using the image of ruts worn into a road, he explains how repeated choices gradually shape the soul, making it easier either to choose what is good or to fal...

The Prayer of St. John Paul II – Beginning to Pray with Dr. Anthony Lilles

Dr. Anthony Lilles and Kris McGregor reflect on the spiritual legacy of St. John Paul II. St. John Paul II’s profound theology of love, which he articulated during a 1976 retreat, tells us that love is the essence of creation and theology. Dr. Lilles recounts a personal encounter with John Paul II, noting his remarkable ability to connect deeply with individuals, even in a crowd. The pope’s openness and vulnerability, which manifested in his global travels and personal interactions, demons...

Episode 1: God Calls Man First -Communion with Christ: Practical Prayer with Deacon James Keating

Deacon James Keating joins Kris McGregor to explore the Church’s teaching on prayer through the Catechism of the Catholic Church, beginning with the profound truth that God desires communion with each person. Prayer is not simply a human search for meaning but a response to God’s loving presence and His continual invitation to relationship. Drawing from the Old Testament and the experiences of Abraham, Moses, Elijah, and the prophets, Deacon Keating reveals how salvation history unfolds through God’s initia...

St. Teresa of Avila, Part 2 – The Doctors of the Church: The Charism of Wisdom with Dr. Matthew Bunson

Dr. Matthew Bunson and Kris McGregor continue their look into the life, spirituality, and teachings of St. Teresa of Avila; her profound insights on prayer and the Christian journey towards holiness, and her view of prayer as an “exercise of love,” wherein true prayer entails a deep, loving relationship with God. St. Teresa, often misunderstood as simply mystical, rooted her spirituality in the Church and it...



St. Teresa of Avila, Part 1– The Doctors of the Church: The Charism of Wisdom with Dr. Matthew Bunson

Dr. Matthew Bunson and Kris McGregor discuss the life and legacy of St. Teresa of Ávila, a Spanish Carmelite nun and one of the first female Doctors of the Church. St. Teresa was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Paul VI in 1970, recognizing her profound teachings on prayer and the mystical life. Her autobiography reveals her early influences, like her father’...

Episode 5 – The Second Rule – The Second Week Rules for the Discernment of Spirits: An Ignatian Guide to a Greater Discernment of Spirits with Fr. Timothy Gallagher

Fr. Gallagher continues to break open the Second Rule by using examples of different types of Spiritual Consolation.  He also delves into the proper understanding of “preceding cause.”

Second Rule

The second: it is of God our Lord alone to give consolation to the soul without preceding cause; because it is proper to the Creator to enter, go out, to move it interiorly, drawing it...

Joseph Pearce – St. John Henry Newman on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor

***A Note for Listeners

This conversation was recorded before the canonization of John Henry Newman. At the time, he was known as Blessed John Henry Newman. Today, we gratefully honor him as St. John Henry Newman, whose witness continues to guide the Church.

In this episode of Inside the Pages, Kris McGregor speaks with Joseph Pearce about two Ignatius Press books released in honor of the beatification of John Henry Newman: Blessed John Henry Newman: Theologian and Sp...

The Guardian Angels – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr John Esseff

Msgr. Esseff discusses the important role of guardian angels in the life of every person. He shares personal reflections on his childhood experiences and how angels have been part of his spiritual life. Guardian angels are assigned to individuals from the moment of conception and remain with them throughout life, even after death, working to inspire prayers for those in purgatory.

There is an an importance in developing a personal relationship with one’s guardian angel, and Msgr. Esseff suggests that...

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

Dr. Matthew Bunson and Kris McGregor explore the life and contributions of St. Jerome, a Doctor of the Church best known for his translation of the Bible into Latin, creating the Vulgate. His fiery personality, shaped by his intellectual brilliance and sensitivity, often lead to conflict with others.

St. Jerome, born in 342 AD, had a profound love for scripture, classical literature, and the Christian faith, which led him to Rome and eventually the...

Which Son Are You? The Call to Conversion – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff

In this episode of Building a Kingdom of Love, Msgr. John Esseff reflects on Jesus’ parable of the two sons and the uncomfortable truth that both sons can be found within each of us. One son refuses his father and later changes his mind. The other says yes but fails to act. Jesus directs the parable toward the chief priests and elders, yet Msgr. Esseff reminds us that its challenge reaches every Christian. We are all sinners in need of conv...

St. Padre Pio and the Healing of the Church – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff

Msgr. John Esseff reflects on his encounters with Padre Pio, especially the suffering and rejection that marked the saint’s life. He recalls visiting him during the years when Padre Pio was silenced and confined to a remote monastery, accused of falsifying his wounds. In spite of this, Padre Pio remained obedient, serving tirelessly in the confessional and carrying both the visible stigmata and the hidden wounds of abandonment. He shares personal experiences—such as being looked at deeply by Pad...

The Laborers in the Vineyard – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff

In this episode of Building a Kingdom of Love, Msgr. John Esseff reflects on Jesus’ parable of the laborers in the vineyard and asks us to look again at what the workers actually receive. The landowner promises each laborer a day’s wage, whether he begins at dawn or arrives near the end of the day. Msgr. Esseff sees the heart of the parable in the landowner’s generosity: the wage is heaven, and ultimately the gift is Jesus Himself. Through Baptism...

St. Robert Bellarmine – The Doctors of the Church: The Charism of Wisdom with Dr. Matthew Bunson

Dr. Matthew Bunson and Kris McGregor discussing St. Robert Bellarmine, a lesser-known but pivotal figure in the Catholic Church, especially during the Counter-Reformation. Known for his gentle demeanor, he was also a fierce defender of Catholic doctrine. Born in 1542 in Tuscany, he demonstrated early intellectual brilliance, master...

St. Hildegard von Bingen, Part 2 – The Doctors of the Church: The Charism of Wisdom with Dr. Matthew Bunson

Dr. Matthew Bunson and Kris McGregor continue their discussion on St. Hildegard of Bingen, one of the great Doctors of the Church. They look at her contributions to the Church through her mystical visions, writings, and spiritual reforms. Dr. Bunson explains St. Hildegard’s deep intellectual curiosity, her commitment to the Church’s authority, and her role as a Benedictine nun in shaping her spi...

St. Hildegard von Bingen, Part 1 – The Doctors of the Church: The Charism of Wisdom with Dr. Matthew Bunson

Dr. Matthew Bunson and Kris McGregor discuss St. Hildegard of Bingen, one of the newer Doctors of the Church, declared so by Pope Benedict XVI. They explore her remarkable life, her profound mysticism, obedience to the Church, and contributions to theology, medicine, and music.

St. Hildegard, often called the “Sybil of the Rhine,” was misunderstood by some as a proto-feminist, but she was...