Discerning Hearts - Catholic Podcasts

The Agony of Emotional Suffering – The Heart of Hope with Deacon James Keating Deacon James Keating reflects on the deep reality of emotional suffering, especially loneliness, rejection, and isolation that cannot always be relieved by therapy or circumstance. He speaks of how such pain mirrors Christ’s own experiences of misunderstanding and abandonment, making it a place where intimacy with Jesus can grow. At the same time, he acknowledges the real human need for friendship, community, and belonging. Because suffering becomes crushing when endured alone, the Christian community has a serious responsibility to notice those who are quietly hurting and to bring Christ’s presence to them through real, embodied relationships rather than words alone. One cannot truly accompany the suffering without first allowing Christ to enter one’s own wounds. Authentic ministry flows from having faced personal brokenness in the light of God’s love, not from unmet needs or abstract knowledge about God. Deacon Keating connects this to a meditation on the Passion of Christ, where God freely enters human pain out of love. By placing personal sorrow within Christ’s wounds and contemplating the Cross daily, suffering is transformed into communion, gratitude, and hope, revealing that no one is abandoned in their pain and that love, by its very nature, always involves the surrender of the self. Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions 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. Check out Deacon Keating’s “Discerning Heart” page

Three Modes of Discernment – “What am I to do?” The Discernment of God’s Will in Everyday Decisions with Fr. Timothy Gallagher Father Timothy Gallagher continues his explanation of St. Ignatius of Loyola’s three modes of discernment by focusing on the third mode, used when neither immediate certainty nor a clear pattern of spiritual attraction has emerged. This approach relies on a calm, prayerful use of reason to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each good option from the standpoint of God’s greater glory. The person discerning must first understand the decision clearly, gather all relevant information, and cultivate interior freedom so the heart is not already fixed on an outcome. Prayer for light and guidance prepares the mind to evaluate the options honestly, often using a structured comparison that looks not only at the number of reasons but also their depth and significance. The process is illustrated through extended examples, showing how discernment unfolds over time with patience, prayer, and spiritual direction. In the story of Patrick, a man invited into full-time prison ministry, the third mode gradually leads to interior clarity while also reshaping his motivations and desires. As Patrick reflects, prays with Scripture, and reviews his reasons, resistance gives way to readiness, culminating in a moment of unmistakable insight confirmed through prayer and peace. All three modes of discernment lead to the same end: a firm clarity that allows a person to move forward with confidence and trust in God’s guidance, supported by ongoing spiritual accompaniment. Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions: From The Discernment of God’s Will in Everyday Decisions: “Three Times in which a Sound and Good Choice May Be Made The first time is when God Our Lord so moves and attracts the will that, without doubting or being able to doubt, the devout soul follows what is shown to it, as St. Paul and St. Matthew did in following Christ our Lord. The second time is when sufficient clarity and understanding is received through experience of consolations and desolations, and through experience of discernment of different spirits. The third time is one of tranquility, when one considers first for what purpose man is born, that is, to praise God our Lord and save his soul, and, desiring this, chooses as a means to this end some life or state within the bounds of the Church, so that he may be helped in the service of his Lord and the salvation of his soul. I said a tranquil time, that is, when the soul is not agitated by different spirits, and uses its natural powers freely and tranquilly. If the choice is not made in the first or second time, two ways of making it in this third time are given below.” 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 For the other episodes in this series check out Fr. Timothy Gallagher’s “Discerning Hearts” page

How Can You Be the Light of Christ? -The Epiphany – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff Msgr. John Esseff reflects on the significance of the Epiphany, a Christian feast day that celebrates the revelation of God incarnate as Jesus Christ. He begins by reflecting on the beauty of the stars and their symbolism as a guide. The Epiphany commemorates the manifestation of Jesus to the Gentiles, represented by the three kings who followed a star to find Jesus and offer gifts, fulfilling ancient prophecies. Jesus’ birth was not only for the Jews but for all nations. This universal aspect of Jesus’ mission is highlighted by the fact that the Magi were from different nations. Msgr. Esseff relates this story to the present, asking listeners to consider how Jesus is manifested in today’s world. He suggests that each individual has the potential to reveal Christ to others through their actions and words. Msgr. Esseff includes personal anecdotes and reflections on how various individuals, including saints and ordinary people, have radiated the light of Christ in their lives. He encourages us to be a “star” in our communities, radiating the light and love of Jesus through their actions and interactions. It’s a call for all of us to manifest Christ in their daily lives, shining as lights to the nations and continuing the work of the Epiphany in the modern world. Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions: Reading 1 IS 60:1-6 Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you. See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples; but upon you the LORD shines, and over you appears his glory. Nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance. Raise your eyes and look about; they all gather and come to you: your sons come from afar, and your daughters in the arms of their nurses. Then you shall be radiant at what you see, your heart shall throb and overflow, for the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you, the wealth of nations shall be brought to you. Caravans of camels shall fill you, dromedaries from Midian and Ephah; all from Sheba shall come bearing gold and frankincense, and proclaiming the praises of the LORD. Msgr. John A. Esseff is a Roman Catholic priest in the Diocese of Scranton. Msgr. Esseff served as a retreat director and confessor to St. Teresa of Calcutta. He continues to offer direction and retreats for the sisters of the Missionaries of Charity around the world. Msgr. Esseff encountered St. Padre Pio, who would become a spiritual father to him. He has lived in areas around the world, serving in the Pontifical missions, a Catholic organization established by Pope St. John Paul II to bring the Good News to the world, especially to the poor. He continues to serve as a retreat leader and director to bishops, priests, sisters, seminarians, and other religious leaders around the world.

An Epiphany Novena for the Discerning Heart Day Nine Living by the Light That Has Been Given Scripture “Rise, take the child and his mother, and go.” Matthew 2:13 Reflection Epiphany reveals Christ to the world. Over these days of prayer, we have seen that God makes Himself known freely and clearly. The Light is given. The Son is revealed. The Father’s saving work is made visible in history. The Magi do not remain where they are. Having encountered Christ, they depart by another way. Their journey does not end at the place of revelation. It continues, shaped by what they have seen. This is how Epiphany comes to completion. God’s self-giving calls forth a response that carries into life beyond the moment of encounter. Those who have received the Light do not possess it for themselves. They live by it. Over these days of prayer, Epiphany has unfolded as the Church herself proclaims it. Christ is revealed to the nations, acknowledged by those who seek Him, and declared by the Father as His beloved Son at the Jordan. The Baptism of the Lord belongs within this mystery because it is there that Christ is made known openly as the Son sent for the salvation of the world. Together, these moments form one saving revelation. The Son is given. The Father speaks. The Light is offered to all. This revelation meets the world we inhabit now. Christ, the Light given by the Father, does not remain distant from our lives. Through grace, He shines within us, calling us to bear His light into the world we actually live in. Wherever we are placed, in our homes, our work, our vocations, and our daily encounters, Christ desires to make Himself known through those who belong to Him. The Light revealed in Christ is not meant to be hidden. It is given so that it may reach all we meet, in every place and circumstance. Epiphany reminds us that Christ’s manifestation is not an event to be admired and set aside. It is a gift that reorients the heart and shapes the path ahead. The Light that has been revealed now calls to be lived. Grace Intention Today I ask for the grace to live faithfully by the light Christ has given me. Prayer O Lord Jesus Christ, You have made Yourself known for the salvation of the world. Receive my life as I place it again in Your care. Send forth Your Holy Spirit into my heart, that I may live according to the light You have revealed. Guide my steps, strengthen my faith, and keep me faithful to what I have received. May my life give glory to the Father, now and always. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. © 2026 Discerning Hearts ®. All rights reserved. This reflection may not be reproduced or distributed without permission, except for personal prayer and noncommercial use with attribution.

 “On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: Nine Ladies Dancing …” symbolizing the fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Prayer: Holy Spirit abide in me, let my life be abundant with Your fruit that I may bring peace and love to a hurting world. I pray that during this season of excess that the greatest of all will be the harvest of Your fruits in my life, for without an abundant harvest of Your fruits, I have nothing to give. Amen. Text gratefully found at Via Rosa Rosaries, Devotional Chaplets, Rosary Beads, and Catholic Gifts entitled A Christian meditation on the Twelve Days of Christmas Copyright © 2005-2006

An Epiphany Novena for the Discerning Heart Day Eight Receiving the Light That Is Given Scripture “And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5 Reflection Epiphany shows us that God does not hide Himself. He gives light freely. Christ is made known in the world, not cautiously or selectively, but generously. Yet Epiphany also reveals something sobering. The same light that draws some hearts leaves others unchanged. God gives Himself fully, but He does not force the response. Throughout the Epiphany accounts, Christ is present, visible, and active. Some rejoice. Some worship. Others are disturbed, hesitant, or resistant. The difference does not lie in how God reveals Himself, but in how the light is received. This is not a failure of revelation. It is the mystery of freedom. God makes Himself known, and the heart must decide whether to receive what has been given. Today, Epiphany invites us to recognize that Christ continues to give light through His presence in the Church, in His Word, in the sacraments, in creation, and in the events of the world. The question is not whether God has acted, but whether we are willing to receive the light He gives. Grace Intention Today I ask for the grace to receive the light Christ gives me. Prayer O Lord Jesus Christ, You are the Light given to the world by the Father’s love. Remove whatever closes my heart to what You reveal. Send forth Your Holy Spirit into my heart, that I may receive Your light with humility and faith. May I not resist Your presence, but welcome the grace You give for the salvation You desire to accomplish. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. © 2026 Discerning Hearts ®. All rights reserved. This reflection may not be reproduced or distributed without permission, except for personal prayer and noncommercial use with attribution.

An Epiphany Novena for the Discerning Heart Day Seven When the Light Confronts the World Scripture “Herod was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.” Matthew 2:3 Reflection Epiphany reveals Christ as Light for the world. Yet the Gospel shows that this Light does not bring peace to every place it enters. When news of the Child reaches Jerusalem, the city is disturbed. Herod hears that a king has been born. Herod seeks the Child, but his seeking is driven by fear and the desire to retain power, not by faith or reverence. The same revelation that leads the Magi to worship provokes resistance and violence from those who feel threatened. This reaction is not accidental. Epiphany reveals that the coming of Christ does not confirm existing power or secure the arrangements of the world. His presence exposes what is built on fear, control, and false peace. The Light does not create opposition, but it reveals it. Jerusalem’s unrest also carries a warning. Proximity to the promises does not guarantee welcome. Knowledge of Scripture alone does not ensure recognition. Epiphany shows that when Christ is made known, the world must decide whether to receive Him or resist Him. This mystery remains present today. Christ continues to be revealed in the world, and His truth continues to disturb what rests on fear or self-preservation. Where His light shines, false security is challenged, and the desire to control is unmasked. Epiphany reminds us that faithfulness to Christ may place us at odds with the world’s desire for comfort without truth. The Light still shines. The response it draws still matters. Grace Intention Today I ask for the grace to remain faithful to Christ when His truth confronts the world. Prayer O Lord Jesus Christ, Light revealed for the salvation of the world, You entered history not to claim power, but to accomplish the will of the Father. When Your presence exposes false peace and unsettles the world, keep me faithful to You. Send forth Your Holy Spirit into my heart, that I may not turn away from Your Light, but stand firm in the truth You reveal. May my life give glory to the Father through fidelity to You. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. © 2026 Discerning Hearts ®. All rights reserved. This reflection may not be reproduced or distributed without permission, except for personal prayer and noncommercial use with attribution.

The Cross Conquers Evil – The Heart of Hope with Deacon James Keating Deacon James Keating reflects on the cross as the sign of radical self-giving love that both attracts and frightens the human heart. The cross reveals humanity’s fear of surrender, rooted in the risk of love and the pain that often accompanies it. Jesus freely enters this place of fear and suffering, not to remove the human condition, but to dwell fully within it. By undergoing betrayal, abandonment, emotional anguish, physical pain, and death itself, Christ makes clear that no form of suffering is foreign to God. His suffering flows directly from love, showing that divine compassion is not distant or theoretical, but personally present in the darkest experiences of human life. Prayer and communion emerge as the way the cross reshapes identity. Prayer forms a person to remain connected—to God, to others, and to love itself—when evil or suffering threatens isolation. Rather than allowing pain to fracture relationships or identity, the cross becomes the place where love enters suffering and transforms it from within. Keating describes suffering as rooted in the brokenness of the human condition, yet continually met by healing, reconciliation, and hope through Christ’s presence. Trusting God amid darkness, especially by surrendering one’s spirit as Christ did, allows suffering to become a passage toward deeper intimacy and resurrection rather than a final defeat. Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions 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. Check out Deacon Keating’s “Discerning Heart” page

An Epiphany Novena for the Discerning Heart Day Six Allowing Christ to Reorder My Way Scripture “And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.” Matthew 2:12 Reflection After their encounter with Christ, the Magi do not simply return to their former path. Scripture tells us that they leave by another way. This detail is not incidental. It reveals what happens when Christ is truly received. The Magi are not given a speech or instructions. They are warned, and they obey. Their response is quiet and decisive. Encounter with Christ brings a change in direction, not because they have been commanded publicly, but because they have been inwardly guided. Epiphany teaches us that when Christ is revealed, life cannot remain ordered in the same way. This does not always mean dramatic changes or visible upheaval. Often it means a reordering of priorities, attachments, and choices. What once seemed necessary may no longer hold the same place. What once guided us may quietly fall away. Christ does not force this change. He invites cooperation. The Magi consent to God’s guidance and allow their path to be altered for the sake of fidelity. This day of prayer invites us to reflect on how Christ may be reordering our own lives. Not by removing us from the world, but by shaping our decisions from within, according to truth and grace. Grace Intention Today I ask for the grace to allow Christ to reorder my choices and direction according to His will. Prayer O Lord Jesus Christ, You guided the Magi with wisdom and care after they had encountered You. Send forth Your Holy Spirit into my heart, that I may discern what no longer leads me in truth and consent to the path You place before me. Free me from attachment to old ways of thinking and acting, and grant me the courage to follow Your guidance with trust and humility. May my life be quietly reordered by Your presence, and may my choices reflect fidelity to the Father’s will. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. © 2026 Discerning Hearts ®. All rights reserved. This reflection may not be reproduced or distributed without permission, except for personal prayer and noncommercial use with attribution.

Episode 10 – Arius – Villains of the Early Church with Mike Aquilina Mike Aquilina explains how Arius, a priest from Alexandria, proposed a view of Christ that treated the Son as a created being rather than fully divine. This teaching spread rapidly because it sounded logical, was easy to repeat, and was promoted through memorable songs and slogans. Its success forced church leaders such as Alexander of Alexandria and Athanasius to respond clearly, leading to decisive moments like the Council of Nicaea and the formulation of language such as “consubstantial” to safeguard the confession of the Trinity. In this way, a serious doctrinal crisis helped clarify what Christians confess about God’s inner life and about Christ’s true identity. The conversation also explores why this teaching was ultimately destructive: by reducing God to something easily grasped, it stripped Christianity of its relational depth. Aquilina contrasts this with the orthodox vision of God as eternal Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, whose very nature is self-giving love. From this understanding flows the meaning of baptism, participation in divine life, and a call to love others in a way that mirrors God’s own life. The long struggle against Arianism shaped worship, theology, and spirituality, leaving a lasting imprint on hymns, creeds, and the lived faith of the Church today. Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions An excerpt from Villains of the Early Church “Arius was an obscure Egyptian priest who probably had more influence on the history of Christian theology than any Christian thinker since St. Paul. It was all negative influence, but no one can deny the influence. Because of Arius, the Catholic Church had to define the relationship of the Son to the Father in clear and unambiguous terms. Because of Arius, we ended up with the Nicene Creed. But no one would have guessed for most of his life that this Arius was going to set the world on fire.” Aquilina, Mike. Villains of the Early Church: And How They Made Us Better Christians. Emmaus Road Publishing. Kindle Edition. You can find the book on which this series is based here. For more episodes in the Villians of the Early Church podcast visit here – Villains of the Early Church – Discerning Hearts Podcast Mike Aquilina is a popular author working in the area of Church history, especially patristics, the study of the early Church Fathers.[1] He is the executive vice-president and trustee of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, a Roman Catholic research center based in Steubenville, Ohio. He is a contributing editor of Angelus (magazine) and general editor of the Reclaiming Catholic History Series from Ave Maria Press. He is the author or editor of more than fifty books, including The Fathers of the Church (2006); The Mass of the Early Christians (2007); Living the Mysteries (2003); and What Catholics Believe(1999). He has hosted eleven television series on the Eternal Word Television Network and is a frequent guest commentator on Catholic radio. Mike Aquilina’s website is found at fathersofthechurch.com

An Epiphany Novena for the Discerning Heart Day Five Receiving My Identity from the Father Scripture “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17 Reflection Epiphany continues beyond Bethlehem. The child who was revealed to the nations now steps into public life. At the Jordan River, Christ stands among the people who have come seeking repentance and renewal. Jesus does not enter the water because He needs purification. He enters freely, choosing to stand with those He has come to save. In this act, He reveals a God who does not remain distant from human life, but enters it fully. As Jesus rises from the water, the Father speaks. This moment is not hidden. The voice is spoken aloud so that all who are present may hear and know who Jesus is. “This is my beloved Son.” The Father names Him before He teaches, before He heals, before He suffers. This declaration is not a reward. It is a revelation. Christ’s mission begins in being loved, not in proving Himself. Identity comes before action. Belonging precedes obedience. The Spirit descends, and what was quietly revealed in Bethlehem is now made public. The Son is manifested, the Father speaks, and the Spirit confirms. Epiphany here becomes fully Trinitarian. This day of prayer invites us to reflect on where we receive our own identity. In Christ, we are not defined first by what we do, but by whom we belong to. The Father’s voice grounds all faithful response. Grace Intention Today I ask for the grace to receive my identity from the Father and to rest in His love. Prayer O Lord Jesus Christ, Beloved Son of the Father, You entered the waters in humility and were named by the Father in love. Send forth Your Spirit into my heart, that I may receive the truth that my life is held by the Father before it is measured by action or success. Free me from striving for worth and from fear of failure, and root my life in the knowledge that I am loved and claimed by God. May all that I do flow from this gift, and may my life give glory to the Father through faithful obedience and trust. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. © 2026 Discerning Hearts ®. All rights reserved. This reflection may not be reproduced or distributed without permission, except for personal prayer and noncommercial use with attribution.

Steps in Spiritual Guidance – “What am I to do?” The Discernment of God’s Will in Everyday Decisions with Fr. Timothy Gallagher Fr. Timothy Gallagher continues his teaching on St. Ignatius of Loyola’s discernment by explaining the second mode, illustrated through real-life vocational examples. In this mode, God’s will becomes known gradually through a repeated inner attraction experienced during times of spiritual consolation. Gallagher describes how this attraction appears consistently across prayer, daily life, and reflection, eventually leading to moral certainty. For this process to unfold well, a person must cultivate interior freedom, a readiness to accept either outcome, and a steady prayer life that includes Scripture, silence, examen, and reflection on moments of consolation and desolation. Learning discernment of spirits is essential, since recognizing these movements allows one to interpret patterns rather than isolated experiences. Attention then turns to the role of spiritual direction and ongoing formation. Gallagher explains practical ways to find a competent guide, such as diocesan offices, parish priests, retreats, and faith formation settings, while reassuring listeners that asking for guidance is never a burden. He also introduces the third mode of discernment, used when clarity does not arise through direct certainty or sustained attraction. In this approach, discernment occurs during a time of interior calm and involves prayerfully weighing advantages and disadvantages of each option in light of God’s greater glory. Drawing on Ignatius’s own practice, Gallagher describes how peace of heart, detachment, and final confirmation in prayer allow the right choice to emerge with clarity and confidence. Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions: From The Discernment of God’s Will in Everyday Decisions: “Three Times in which a Sound and Good Choice May Be Made The first time is when God Our Lord so moves and attracts the will that, without doubting or being able to doubt, the devout soul follows what is shown to it, as St. Paul and St. Matthew did in following Christ our Lord. The second time is when sufficient clarity and understanding is received through experience of consolations and desolations, and through experience of discernment of different spirits. The third time is one of tranquility, when one considers first for what purpose man is born, that is, to praise God our Lord and save his soul, and, desiring this, chooses as a means to this end some life or state within the bounds of the Church, so that he may be helped in the service of his Lord and the salvation of his soul. I said a tranquil time, that is, when the soul is not agitated by different spirits, and uses its natural powers freely and tranquilly. If the choice is not made in the first or second time, two ways of making it in this third time are given below.” 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 For the other episodes in this series check out Fr. Timothy Gallagher’s “Discerning Hearts” page

An Epiphany Novena for the Discerning Heart Day Four Placing My Life Before Christ Scripture “They offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Matthew 2:11 Reflection After the Magi kneel before the child, the Gospel tells us that they open what they have brought and place it before Him. Their response to Christ is not only interior. It becomes an offering. Gold, frankincense, and myrrh are not casual gifts. They are costly and intentional. They represent what the Magi considered valuable and worth protecting. These gifts were chosen before the journey began and carried with care until the moment of encounter. The Gospel does not describe Jesus speaking or responding. He receives what is placed before Him. The moment is quiet and reverent. Nothing is explained, yet something real is given. This scene teaches us that a willing heart naturally moves toward offering. Encounter with Christ leads to placing our lives before Him, not because He demands it, but because grace draws the heart to give what it holds. Epiphany invites us to reflect on what we place before Christ. Not what we wish we could offer, but what we actually carry. Our time. Our choices. Our desires. Our willingness to entrust them to Him. This day of prayer asks for the grace to place our lives before Christ honestly, trusting that what is given into His hands is received with love. Grace Intention Today I ask for the grace to place my life before Christ with trust and sincerity. Prayer O Lord Jesus Christ, You received the gifts placed before You with silence and love. I place before You what I carry this day, not holding back what is costly or difficult to entrust. Send forth Your Holy Spirit upon my heart, that I may offer myself freely and without fear. Receive what I place before You, and shape my life according to Your will, that all I give may bear fruit for the glory of the Father. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. © 2026 Discerning Hearts ®. All rights reserved. This reflection may not be reproduced or distributed without permission, except for personal prayer and noncommercial use with attribution.

An Epiphany Novena for the Discerning Heart Day Three A Willing Heart Before Christ Scripture “When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.” Matthew 2:3 Reflection As Epiphany continues, the Gospel shows that people respond to Christ in different ways. The Magi hear of His birth and rejoice. Others hear the same news and are unsettled. Some are disturbed. Some remain closed. Herod feels threatened. Jerusalem is troubled. The chief priests and scribes know the Scriptures well enough to identify Bethlehem as the place where the Messiah is to be born, yet they do not go there. Knowledge is present, but the heart does not yield. The Magi respond differently. They listen. They ask. They consent to the light that has been given to them. Their response is not based on control or certainty, but on willingness. They allow God’s work to continue within them. This contrast reveals an important truth about the spiritual life. Familiarity with sacred things does not guarantee openness of heart. Christ does not need to draw closer to us. He is already present. The question is how the heart responds to His presence. Epiphany invites us to look honestly at our interior posture. When Christ is revealed and calls us to respond, do our hearts remain guarded, or do we consent to the work He is already doing within us? This day of prayer asks for a heart that is willing, attentive, and open to God’s grace at work. Grace Intention Today I ask for the grace to stand before Christ with a willing and responsive heart. Prayer O Lord Jesus Christ, You are present and at work within me by Your grace. Send forth Your Holy Spirit upon my heart, that I may freely consent to the work You have begun within me. Free me from fear, self-reliance, and resistance, and form within me a heart that is open, receptive, and obedient. May I stand before You with humility and trust, allowing Your grace to bear fruit in my life, according to the will of the Father. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. © 2026 Discerning Hearts ®. All rights reserved. This reflection may not be reproduced or distributed without permission, except for personal prayer and noncommercial use with attribution.

An Epiphany Novena for the Discerning Heart Day Two Receiving Christ in His Humility Scripture “When they saw the child with Mary his mother, they fell down and worshiped him.” Matthew 2:11 Reflection Epiphany now shows us not only that Christ is revealed, but how He chooses to be revealed. The Magi have followed the light given to them, and their journey leads them to Bethlehem. They do not find a palace or a throne. They find a child with His mother. Nothing in this scene resembles power as the world expects it. There is no display of authority or strength. The Magi do not find a king on a throne. They find a child. Yet they do not turn away. They kneel. This moment teaches us something essential about how God makes Himself known. Christ does not overwhelm the heart. He comes quietly. He allows Himself to be received in humility. Recognition is not forced. It is invited. The Magi worship not because everything is clear, but because they accept the manner of Christ’s coming. They receive Him as He is revealed, not as they might have expected Him to be. This day of prayer invites us to consider our own readiness to receive Christ in this same way. God often comes without display or certainty. Epiphany teaches us to remain attentive when Christ is present in simplicity, asking for a heart willing to bow before what God reveals. Grace Intention Today I ask for the grace to receive Christ as He comes to me, in humility and simplicity. Prayer O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, You chose to make Yourself known in humility and quietness of heart. As the Magi knelt before You, grant me the grace to receive You without resistance or expectation. Send forth Your Holy Spirit upon my heart, that I may welcome Your presence with reverence and trust. Free me from pride and false images of power, and teach me to worship You as You reveal Yourself, according to the will of the Father. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. © 2026 Discerning Hearts ®. All rights reserved. This reflection may not be reproduced or distributed without permission, except for personal prayer and noncommercial use with attribution.

Day One Receive the Light of Christ Scripture “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” Isaiah 60:1 Reflection Epiphany comes from the Greek word meaning manifestation or appearing. It proclaims the making known of who Jesus Christ is for the salvation of the world. From the beginning, Christ is known within Israel by those who receive God’s revelation. Mary receives the word of the angel. Joseph obeys the message entrusted to him. Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, names the child as her Lord. Simeon and Anna recognize Him in the Temple. Epiphany does not replace these moments. It extends them. In Epiphany, Christ is manifested beyond Israel to the nations. The Magi come from afar. They do not belong to the people who received the promises, yet God draws them by a light placed before them. They follow that light without yet knowing where it will lead. Their journey reveals something essential about the spiritual life. God does not wait for complete understanding before drawing a soul forward. Grace moves first. Understanding follows later. To seek sincerely is already to respond to God’s invitation. This day of prayer invites us to receive the light of Christ as it is given, trusting that God is already at work and will lead each step in His time. Grace Intention Today I ask for the grace to receive the light of Christ with trust and openness, even when the way forward is not yet clear. Prayer O Lord Jesus Christ, Light revealed for all nations, You were first made known within Your own people and then manifested to the nations. Send forth Your Holy Spirit upon my heart, that I may receive the light You place before me with faith and humility. Free me from fear and the need for certainty, and strengthen my desire to seek You faithfully. Lead me in the truth You reveal, that my life may be shaped by Your presence and ordered toward the will of the Father. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. © 2026 Discerning Hearts ®. All rights reserved. This reflection may not be reproduced or distributed without permission, except for personal prayer and noncommercial use with attribution.

In this Christmas Day reflection, Msgr. John Esseff contemplates the mystery of the Incarnation as the defining act of God’s love for the entire human family. Drawing from Isaiah, the Letter to the Hebrews, and the Prologue of the Gospel of John, he proclaims that the Creator of the universe has entered human history as a child, born of the Virgin Mary, to bring salvation to all people. Msgr. Esseff reflects on the eternal identity of Jesus Christ as the Word through whom all things were made, now dwelling among us in human flesh. He invites listeners to gaze upon the infant Jesus and recognize that this child is the radiance of the Father, the light that shines in darkness, and the source of grace poured out upon the world. Christmas is presented not simply as a remembrance of a past event, but as a present encounter with divine love made visible. Throughout the episode, Msgr. Esseff speaks to the universality of Christ’s coming. He proclaims that Jesus has entered the world for every person, regardless of background, belief, or past failures. He encourages listeners to approach the crib with honesty, humility, and trust, allowing the love revealed in the Child of Bethlehem to cleanse, heal, and renew the heart. The reflection concludes with a gentle invitation to prayerful self-examination before the manger, inspired by the teachings of Pope Leo the Great and Pope Francis. Msgr. Esseff calls listeners to rest in the mercy of God made flesh, to receive grace upon grace, and to carry the joy of Christmas into the world by living in union with Christ, who has come and remains with us. Reflection Questions How does the Incarnation change the way I understand God’s closeness to humanity? What part of my life needs to be brought honestly before Christ at the manger? Where do I struggle to believe that God’s mercy reaches even the darkest places? How am I called to carry the light of Christ into my relationships this Christmas? What does it mean for me personally that God chose to become flesh for my salvation? Gospel Jn 1:1-18. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him.But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God. And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth. John testified to him and cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’” From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace, because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The only Son, God, who is at the Father’s side, has revealed him.

An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart: Prepare your heart for Christ through Scripture, the saints, and the gentle practice of daily listening. Part Four: Welcoming Christ with a Heart Fully Awake DAY 26 – Christ Dwelling Within “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” John 1.14 RSV Christmas reveals something astonishing: God not only comes into the world — He desires to dwell within the human heart. The Incarnation is not simply a moment in history. It is the beginning of a relationship in which Christ shares His very life with us. The God who took flesh in Bethlehem does not remain at a distance. He comes in humility so we may draw near without fear. He comes in silence so we may learn to listen. He comes in littleness so the smallest heart may welcome Him. The same Jesus who rested in Mary’s arms desires to rest in every soul open to His presence. The listening heart, shaped through these days of Advent, becomes the very place where Christ is received. He does not wait for perfection. He looks for willingness, humility, and love. Wherever a soul says “Yes” to Him, the grace of His indwelling is renewed and strengthened. To say that Christ dwells within us is not poetry. It is the central mystery of the Christian life. Through Baptism, through grace, through the Eucharist, Christ lives in us and draws us into the very life of the Trinity. Christmas is the revelation of divine nearness. It is the mystery of God entering time so that we may enter His life. It is the beginning of Christ dwelling in us and living His life through us. Journey with the Saints – St. Bernard of Clairvaux “What value is it to me that the Son of Mary was born once in Bethlehem, if He is not born also in my soul?” St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Sermon on the Nativity St. Bernard understood Christmas as an interior reality. He taught that Christ’s coming in history is meant to lead to His coming in the heart — not as a new Incarnation, but as the soul’s awakened reception of the One who already dwells within by grace. For Bernard, the Nativity bears fruit when the believer welcomes Christ more consciously, more lovingly, and more completely. The Savior who came in humility desires to enter the hidden places of the heart, to strengthen what is weak, to heal what is wounded, and to draw the person into the fullness of divine love. Bernard reminds us that Bethlehem is renewed whenever a heart opens itself without resistance to the presence of Christ. Reflection for the Listening Heart Today invites you to enter the quiet place within you where God is already present. Adoration begins in that interior space where the heart stops striving, stops explaining, stops filling the silence, and simply becomes aware of Christ’s nearness. Ask yourself: Where is God approaching me quietly today? Where do I sense a gentle invitation to pause, to notice, to receive? Adoration grows when the heart learns to remain with Christ without demanding words or feelings. It is choosing to be present to the One who is present. In this stillness, the soul discovers that love deepens not through effort, but through attention. Let your heart rest beside Him. Let your love become simple. Let the presence of Christ be enough. A Simple Practice for Today Find a moment of quiet before the manger, before a crucifix, or wherever you can be still. Pray slowly: “Lord Jesus, deepen Your life within me. Make me more aware of Your presence. Live Your life fully in my heart.” Remain for a moment in silence, allowing His indwelling presence to settle more deeply into your awareness. Prayer Lord Jesus Christ, You who came in the fullness of time to dwell among us, increase within me the grace of Your indwelling presence. Open my heart to Your voice, my soul to Your peace, and my life to Your love. Let Your light guide my thoughts, Your strength steady my weakness, and Your Spirit shape my desires. You live in me by...

An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart: Prepare your heart for Christ through Scripture, the saints, and the gentle practice of daily listening. Part Four: Welcoming Christ with a Heart Fully Awake DAY 25 – Adoration “O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker.” Psalm 95.6 RSV Adoration is the stillness of a heart that has recognized the nearness of God. It is not an emotion or a technique. It is the quiet interior posture that rises when the soul realizes: He is here. The more the heart listens, the more it becomes sensitive to the hidden presence of Christ. He comes quietly. He comes in humility. He enters the ordinary and fills it with Himself. Adoration begins when the soul becomes aware of His presence and rests in it with love. To adore is to turn toward Him with the whole heart and let everything else fall back into its proper place. It is the soul lifting its gaze to the One who has already set His gaze upon us. The saints remind us that adoration is always God’s initiative. He approaches first. He reveals Himself. He stirs the heart. Our part is to notice and respond. True adoration is not dramatic. It is the soul kneeling interiorly before the Mystery of Emmanuel — God-with-us — who makes Himself small so that we may draw near without fear. Bethlehem teaches this posture. The God who fills the heavens lies in a manger so nothing will keep us from Him. Adoration prepares the heart for Christmas. It is the inner stillness out of which welcome becomes possible. Journey with the Saints – Servant of God Catherine Doherty “We must learn to adore God, not only during moments of prayer but in all the circumstances of life.” Servant of God Catherine de Hueck Doherty, Poustinia Servant of God Catherine de Hueck Doherty understood adoration as a continual openness to God in every circumstance. In her spirituality of the poustinia, she taught that the heart’s silent attention to God does not end when formal prayer ends. It continues in daily tasks, interruptions, silence, work, and encounters with others. For Catherine, adoration was a disposition: the soul turned toward God with readiness and love. She believed that if the heart learns to adore in the small moments, it will recognize Christ when He comes in the great ones. Adoration becomes the atmosphere in which the Christian lives, breathes, and moves. Her life reminds us that holiness is not found by escaping the world, but by discovering God at its center — in the hidden places where He waits to be noticed. Reflection for the Listening Heart Today invites you to enter the quiet place within you where God is already present. Adoration begins in that interior space where the heart stops striving, stops explaining, stops filling the silence, and simply becomes aware of Christ’s nearness. Ask yourself: Where is God approaching me quietly today? Where do I sense a gentle invitation to pause, to notice, to receive? Adoration grows when the heart learns to remain with Christ without demanding words or feelings. It is choosing to be present to the One who is present. In this stillness, the soul discovers that love deepens not through effort, but through attention. Let your heart rest beside Him. Let your love become simple. Let the presence of Christ be enough. A Simple Practice for Today Choose one ordinary moment — washing dishes, sitting in the car, stepping outside, pausing between tasks — and turn your heart toward Christ with the quiet prayer: “Lord, I know You are here.” Stay for a few seconds in that awareness. Let adoration arise gently on its own. Prayer Lord Jesus, draw my heart into the stillness where You dwell. Teach me to adore You in simplicity and truth. Open my inner silence so that I may recognize Your nearness, not only in prayer, but in the everyday places where You wait for me. Make my heart a quiet Bethlehem, a place where You are welcomed, loved, and...

Episode 9 – Diocletian – Villains of the Early Church with Mike Aquilina Mike Aquilina discusses the Roman emperor Diocletian, whose name became permanently linked to one of the most prolonged and systematic persecutions in Christian history. Unlike earlier rulers driven by instability or rage, Diocletian was a capable administrator who sought to stabilize an overextended empire through careful political restructuring. His hostility toward Christians emerged gradually, shaped by the belief that refusal to participate in state religion threatened divine favor and imperial unity. The persecution unfolded methodically—through loss of property, status, and life itself—and endured for many years, producing countless martyrs, including figures still venerated today. What makes Diocletian tragic is that his administrative successes might have defined his legacy had this campaign not overshadowed everything else. There is a deeper issue behind such violence: the absence of freedom of conscience in the ancient world. Early Christian thinkers like Tertullian and Lactantius articulated principles of religious liberty that later shaped Western thought. Diocletian’s actions became a template for later regimes in which the state claimed authority over worship and conscience, with devastating results across history. Drawing from the witness of the martyrs, the enduring lesson is steady faithfulness formed in daily prayer and discipline, so that when hardship arrives, one is not caught unprepared but grounded in habits formed during times of peace. Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions An excerpt from Villains of the Early Church “In the 200s, the Roman Empire fell apart. For decades, disaster after disaster rolled across the Mediterranean world. Civil war was the normal state of political affairs. The economy fell to pieces. Plagues ravaged the cities and countryside. Emperors lasted for a few months and then were assassinated by their own guards, who knew that the next emperor would pay them a hefty bonus to get on their good side and that they could repeat the whole process again in a few months’ time and get another hefty bonus. And then came Diocletian, and suddenly the world worked again. He came very close to being remembered as one of history’s greatest heroes, the man who saved civilization when it was on the brink of collapse. Instead, he found himself backed into a corner he couldn’t get out of, and the world of the future would remember him as a monster.” Aquilina, Mike. Villains of the Early Church: And How They Made Us Better Christians. Emmaus Road Publishing. Kindle Edition. You can find the book on which this series is based here. For more episodes in the Villians of the Early Church podcast visit here – Villains of the Early Church – Discerning Hearts Podcast Mike Aquilina is a popular author working in the area of Church history, especially patristics, the study of the early Church Fathers.[1] He is the executive vice-president and trustee of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, a Roman Catholic research center based in Steubenville, Ohio. He is a contributing editor of Angelus (magazine) and general editor of the Reclaiming Catholic History Series from Ave Maria Press. He is the author or editor of more than fifty books, including The Fathers of the Church (2006); The Mass of the Early Christians (2007); Living the Mysteries (2003); and What Catholics Believe(1999). He has hosted eleven television series on the Eternal Word Television Network and is a frequent guest commentator on Catholic radio. Mike Aquilina’s website is found at fathersofthechurch.com