Series Archives - Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

The 14 Rules for the Discernment of Spirits – The First Week Rules as formulated by St. Ignatius of Loyola, Fr. Timothy Gallagher with Kris McGregor

Episode Eleven: Rule Nine – Why God Allows Spiritual Desolation

The Ninth Rule:

There are three principal reasons why we find ourselves desolate.

The first is, because of our being tepid, lazy or negligent in our spiritual exercises; and so through our faults, spiritual consolation withdraws from us.

The second, to try us and see how much we are and how much we let ourselves out in Hi...

The Sacred Heart and the Contemplative Life – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff

In this reflection, Msgr. John Esseff explores the Sacred Heart through the lens of the contemplative life, asking why so many people fail to recognize God’s immense love. He explains that God continually calls every person into a deeper relationship with Him, yet the noise of self-centeredness often prevents us from hearing His voice. The contemplative, whether living in a monastery or in the ordinary circumstances of daily life, becomes a living bridge between heaven and earth by l...

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

Dr. Matthew Bunson and Kris McGregor discuss St. Peter Chrysologus, a Doctor of the Church known as the “Doctor of Homilies” due to his exceptional preaching skills. Chrysologus, who lived from around 380 to 450 AD, was noted for his brief, clear, and impactful homilies that conveyed deep theological truths concisely to avoid boring his congregation. His teachings emphasized prayer, fasting, and mercy, which he believed were interdependent and vital for a steadfast faith a...

Episode 2: A Living Witness to Christ – St. Francis of Assisi: His Life and Spirituality with Dr. Anthony Lilles

In this second episode of St. Francis of Assisi: His Life and Spirituality, Dr. Anthony Lilles and Kris McGregor continue their exploration of St. Bonaventure’s Prologue to The Life of St. Francis. Bonaventure reveals St. Francis not simply as an extraordinary saint, but as a living witness who reflects the mystery of Jesus Christ. Through rich biblical imagery drawn from John the Baptist, the Prophet Elijah, the angels, and the Book of Revelation, Bonaventure presents Francis as G...



Episode 2 of 4 of And Mary’s ‘Yes’ Continues Afresh with Sr. Joseph Andrew Bogdanowicz one of the founders and the vocation director of the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist

Join Sr. Joseph Andrew Bogdanowicz and Kris McGregor as they discuss:
1. The Maternal Nurturer
2. Where Are The Women?
3. The Call to Teach
4. The Presence of a Sister
5. The Importance of Grandparents

Visit here to pick up a copy of the book

From the book description:

Our world is constantly changing and each gen...

The 14 Rules for the Discernment of Spirits – The First Week Rules as formulated by St. Ignatius of Loyola, Fr. Timothy Gallagher with Kris McGregor

Episode Ten: Rule Eight – Patience in Time of Spiritual Desolation

Episode 10 -The Eighth Rule:

Let him who is in desolation labor to be in patience, which is contrary to the vexations which come to him: and let him think that he will soon be consoled, employing against the desolation the devices, as is said in the sixth Rule.

Episode Ten of The Discernment of Spirits: Setti...

The Sacred Heart and Selfless Love – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff

Msgr. John Esseff reflects on the deep and transformative love of Jesus’ Sacred Heart. The invitation Jesus extends to unite our hearts with His, embracing love and its consequences, including suffering for the sake of others. Esseff explains that Jesus withholds certain material blessings if they hinder spiritual growth, aiming to cure self-centeredness and foster divine love.

True love involves giving selflessly, reflecting God’s eternal love, using examples like St. Francis of Assisi and the Virgin...

The Legacy of St. Charbel Makhluf and St. Nimatullah Kassab – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff

Msgr. John Esseff shares a personal and profound connection with Saint Charbel Makhlouf, a Maronite saint from Lebanon, whose feast day is being celebrated. Msgr. Esseff recounts his experience in Lebanon as the Pontifical Mission Director, where he visited Saint Charbel’s shrine and learned about his life and influence.

Saint Charbel was a Maronite monk known for his deep spirituality and ascetic life, who eventually chose a hermit’s life for 27 years of prayer and fastin...

Fighting the Demons – 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 spiritual battle described in the opening chapter of the Rule and the Benedictine understanding of fighting the demons. Drawing on the wisdom of the Desert Fathers, Fr. Mauritius explains that these “demons” are often the destructive thoughts, temptations, and inner movements that draw us away from Christ. Rather than becoming preoccupied with evil itself...

Episode 1 of 4 of And Mary’s ‘Yes’ Continues Afresh with Sr. Joseph Andrew Bogdanowicz one of the founders and the vocation director of the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist

Join Sr. Joseph Andrew Bogdanowicz and Kris McGregor as they discuss the founding and charism of the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist.  We discuss:

The 14 Rules of the Discernment of Spirits with Fr. Timothy Gallagher with Kris McGregor

Episode Nine: Rule Seven – Trusting God’s Grace in Spiritual Desolation

Episode 9 -The Seventh Rule:

Let him who is in desolation consider how the Lord has left him in trial in his natural powers, in order to resist the different agitations and temptations of the enemy; since he can with the Divine help, which always remains to him, though he does not clearly perceive it: because the Lord has taken from him his great fervor, great love and intense grace...