Episodios

  • BW42 – Compassion Rooted in Prayer – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

    BW42 – Compassion Rooted in Prayer – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts
    Mar 31 2026

    The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life: Learning to Listen to God with a Discerning Heart with Kris McGregor Episode 42 – St. Gregory the Great – The Pastoral Rule: Compassion Rooted in Prayer

    In this episode of The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life, Kris McGregor turns to St. Gregory the Great, monk, pope, and Doctor of the Church, whose Pastoral Rule speaks with unusual depth about the relationship between contemplation and responsibility. Gregory knew both the silence of monastic life and the heavy demands of pastoral office. Because of that, he writes with realism. He understands how easily caring for others can draw the heart outward, leaving the interior life thin, restless, or neglected.

    Gregory does not oppose compassion and contemplation. He insists they belong together. The shepherd must be close to others through sympathy, yet remain anchored in God through prayer. Without that rootedness, even sincere service can become anxious, reactive or subtly self-serving. Prayer does not remove a person from responsibility. It purifies responsibility and keeps it faithful.

    This teaching fits deeply within the Benedictine way. The Holy Rule does not force a choice between prayer and duty. It teaches the soul to remain rooted in God while carrying what has been entrusted to it. Stability guards against interior scattering. Obedience keeps responsibility under God rather than under ego or fear. Humility protects authority from distortion. This episode invites listeners to see that the safest place for responsibility is in the hands of a person who still knows how to pray.

    Citations

    St. Gregory the Great: The Pastoral Rule

    “The shepherd should be close to everyone through compassion
    and yet remain above all through contemplation,
    so that he may pour himself out in sympathy
    and still cling to the heights of prayer.”

    Mark 6:31, RSV–Catholic Edition

    “Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while.”

    Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
    1. Where in my life has responsibility begun to crowd out recollection and prayer?
    2. Do I tend to serve others from union with God, or mostly from urgency, reaction, or pressure?
    3. How does prayer purify my motives and steady my care for others?
    4. In what ways do stability, obedience, and humility help me carry responsibility more faithfully?
    5. How is Christ calling me to care for others from a deeper place rather than simply doing more?
    For other episodes in this series, visit The Rule Of St. Benedict For Daily Life: Learning To Listen To God With A Discerning Heart Pick up a copy of The Rule of St. Benedict here

    Copyright © 2026 Kris McGregor. All rights reserved. No portion of this content may be reproduced, distributed, published, or transmitted in any form, including audio, print, or digital media, without prior written permission from Discerning Hearts®.
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    9 m
  • SJ1 – St. Joseph’s World – St. Joseph and His World with Mike Aquilina – Discerning Hearts Podcast

    SJ1 – St. Joseph’s World – St. Joseph and His World with Mike Aquilina – Discerning Hearts Podcast
    Mar 31 2026
    St. Joseph’s World – St. Joseph and His World with Mike Aquilina Kris McGregor and Mike Aquilina explore St. Joseph by placing him within the sweeping history of Israel, especially the lineage of Abraham and King David as presented in the Gospel of Matthew. This genealogy is not incidental but central, revealing a family story rooted in concrete historical events, carefully preserved over centuries. The people of Israel maintained detailed ancestral records because they trusted that God’s promises—though sometimes appearing delayed—would be fulfilled. This long view of history reveals a pattern: divine promises unfolding across generations, culminating in the arrival of the Messiah through David’s line, with Joseph playing a unique role within God’s family as a reflection of fatherhood. Mike also reflects on the flawed yet significant figures of David and Solomon, whose sins contributed to the collapse and exile of the kingdom, demonstrating both human weakness and the need for repentance. Despite apparent defeat—exile, loss of kingship, and the seeming end of David’s line—God’s plan continued quietly through preserved genealogies and faithful communities living in dispersion. Over time, movements like the Maccabean revolt and the return to the land reignited hope, leading descendants of David back to places like Nazareth, where Joseph would be born. This historical journey reveals how divine purposes unfold through both triumph and failure, preparing the way for fulfillment in unexpected ways. You can find the book on which this series is based here. Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions How does seeing St. Joseph within the long history of God’s promises deepen your trust in God’s timing in your own life?What can Joseph’s place in the house of David teach you about accepting a mission that has been prepared by God long before you could see it?How does the faithfulness of those who preserved their family history challenge you to remember and give thanks for the ways God has acted in your life?What do the failures of David and Solomon reveal about the danger of power, pride, and forgetting dependence on God?How does David’s repentance after grave sin invite you to return to God with greater honesty and humility?In what ways do you find yourself measuring success by numbers, influence, or recognition instead of by fidelity to God?How does the history of exile and restoration show you that God can still bring hope out of situations that seem ruined or lost?What does this episode reveal about the importance of memory in the spiritual life, especially in remembering God’s faithfulness across time?How might St. Joseph’s hidden place in salvation history encourage you to value quiet obedience and trust over visible achievement?As God prepared the world for Christ through generations of waiting, how is He asking you to be patient with His work in your own heart today? About the Book fsdfsd About the Author 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. For more episodes in this series visit – St. Joseph and His World with Mike Aquilina page.
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    27 m
  • Day 42: A Table Prepared – Discerning Hearts Podcast

    Day 42: A Table Prepared – Discerning Hearts Podcast
    Mar 31 2026
    A Lenten Spiritual Journey with Discerning Hearts: From Ashes to Glory – Discerning Hearts Podcast Day 42: A Table Prepared Scripture Reading: (Jerusalem Bible) John 13:21–33, 36–38 Having said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and declared, “I tell you most solemnly, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, wondering which he meant. The disciple Jesus loved was reclining next to Jesus; Simon Peter signed to him and said, “Ask who it is he means,” so leaning back on Jesus’ breast he said, “Who is it, Lord?” “It is the one,” replied Jesus, “to whom I give the piece of bread that I dip in the dish.” He dipped the piece of bread and gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. At that instant, after Judas had taken the bread, Satan entered him. Jesus then said, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” None of the others at table understood the reason he said this. Since Judas had charge of the common fund, some thought Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival,” or, “Give something to the poor.” As soon as Judas had taken the piece of bread he went out. Night had fallen. When he had gone Jesus said: “Now has the Son of Man been glorified, and in him God has been glorified… My little children, I shall not be with you much longer.” Simon Peter said, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now; you will follow me later.” Peter said to him, “Why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” “Lay down your life for me?” answered Jesus. “I tell you most solemnly, before the cock crows you will have disowned me three times.” Reflection: Betrayal doesn’t come from enemies. It comes from those we’ve let in. Those we’ve trusted. Those we’ve loved. Judas has walked with Jesus. Eaten with Him. Slept under the same roof. Witnessed the miracles. Heard the parables. Felt the warmth of His friendship. And still… he turns. Jesus offers him bread. It is the sign of deepest communion, a gesture of peace and covenant. But Judas receives it not as a gift, but as a means to a hidden agenda. And then he leaves. The Gospel says simply: “Night had fallen.” And not just outside. The others don’t understand. Peter speaks with zeal. But Jesus knows what’s coming. Peter’s denials. Their scattering. His agony. He knows, and still He stays at the table. And this is where it gets personal. Because we’ve all known betrayal—not just from others, but sometimes within ourselves. We’ve betrayed our own integrity. We’ve said one thing and done another. We’ve made promises to God and failed to keep them. We’ve pulled away in fear. But Jesus stays. He does not retreat. He gives His heart, knowing it will be broken. He knows what’s in Judas. And He still offers him bread. He knows what’s in Peter. And He still looks him in the eye. He knows what’s in you. And He’s still sitting at the table. This is not sentimental love. This is covenantal love. The kind that stays even when it hurts. The kind that doesn’t withdraw even when we do. The kind that keeps reaching. Pope Benedict XVI said “God does not force us. He does not fence us in. He leaves us free, even to refuse Him…But it is in this freedom that love becomes real.” (Holy Week Homily, April 4, 2007) Judas gave his heart to silver. Peter gave his heart to his own strength. Only one returned. Evagrius Ponticus once said, “A man in chains cannot run. Nor can the soul enslaved to passions be free to follow Christ.” (On the Eight Thoughts) Judas was not free. Peter would not be free—until he wept. Until he was healed. Today, the question is not “Would I betray Him?” The real question is: When I do fail Him—will I return? Jesus already knows. And He’s still holding out the bread. Reflection Questions: 1. Where have I felt betrayal in my own life—and how has it shaped my heart? 2. When have I betrayed or abandoned my love for Christ, even subtly? 3. What keeps me from coming back to the table, to receive the Bread He still offers? Closing Prayer: Jesus, You were betrayed by a friend, denied by the one who swore to defend You, and abandoned by those closest to You. Still, You loved. Still, You offered Yourself. Let me not run from my own weakness. Let me not turn away in shame. You are still offering bread. And You are still offering Yourself. Amen. This reflection is written by Kris McGregor of Discerning Hearts®. The Scripture passage is taken from the Jerusalem Bible (1966 edition), used with permission. No unauthorized use or reproduction is permitted without prior written consent.
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    9 m
  • Tuesday of Holy Week – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast

    Tuesday of Holy Week – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast
    Mar 31 2026
    Tuesday of Holy Week – 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 of John 13:21-33,36-38 While at supper with his disciples, Jesus was troubled in spirit and declared, ‘I tell you most solemnly, one of you will betray me.’ The disciples looked at one another, wondering which he meant. The disciple Jesus loved was reclining next to Jesus; Simon Peter signed to him and said, ‘Ask who it is he means’, so leaning back on Jesus’ breast he said, ‘Who is it, Lord?’ ‘It is the one’ replied Jesus ‘to whom I give the piece of bread that I shall dip in the dish.’ He dipped the piece of bread and gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. At that instant, after Judas had taken the bread, Satan entered him. Jesus then said, ‘What you are going to do, do quickly.’ None of the others at table understood the reason he said this. Since Judas had charge of the common fund, some of them thought Jesus was telling him, ‘Buy what we need for the festival’, or telling him to give something to the poor. As soon as Judas had taken the piece of bread he went out. Night had fallen. When he had gone Jesus said: ‘Now has the Son of Man been glorified, and in him God has been glorified. If God has been glorified in him, God will in turn glorify him in himself, and will glorify him very soon. ‘My little children, I shall not be with you much longer. You will look for me, And, as I told the Jews, where I am going, you cannot come.’ Simon Peter said, ‘Lord, where are you going?’ Jesus replied, ‘Where I am going you cannot follow me now; you will follow me later.’ Peter said to him, ‘Why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.’ ‘Lay down your life for me?’ answered Jesus. ‘I tell you most solemnly, before the cock crows you will have disowned me three times.’ What word made this passage come alive for you? What did you sense the Lord saying to you? Once more give the Lord an opportunity to speak to you: While at supper with his disciples, Jesus was troubled in spirit and declared, ‘I tell you most solemnly, one of you will betray me.’ The disciples looked at one another, wondering which he meant. The disciple Jesus loved was reclining next to Jesus; Simon Peter signed to him and said, ‘Ask who it is he means’, so leaning back on Jesus’ breast he said, ‘Who is it, Lord?’ ‘It is the one’ replied Jesus ‘to whom I give the piece of bread that I shall dip in the dish.’ He dipped the piece of bread and gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. At that instant, after Judas had taken the bread, Satan entered him. Jesus then said, ‘What you are going to do, do quickly.’ None of the others at table understood the reason he said this. Since Judas had charge of the common fund, some of them thought Jesus was telling him, ‘Buy what we need for the festival’, or telling him to give something to the poor. As soon as Judas had taken the piece of bread he went out. Night had fallen. When he had gone Jesus said: ‘Now has the Son of Man been glorified, and in him God has been glorified. If God has been glorified in him, God will in turn glorify him in himself, and will glorify him very soon. ‘My little children, I shall not be with you much longer. You will look for me, And, as I told the Jews, where I am going, you cannot come.’ Simon Peter said, ‘Lord, where are you going?’ Jesus replied, ‘Where I am going you cannot follow me now; you will follow me later.’ Peter said to him, ‘Why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.’ ‘Lay down your life for me?’ answered Jesus. ‘I tell you most solemnly, before the cock crows you will have disowned me three times.’ What did your heart feel as you listened? What did you sense the Lord saying to you? Once more, through Him, with Him and in Him listen to the Word: While at supper with his disciples, Jesus was troubled in spirit and declared, ‘I tell you most solemnly, one of you will betray me.’ The disciples looked at one another, wondering which he meant. The disciple Jesus loved was reclining next to Jesus; Simon Peter signed to him and said, ‘Ask who it is he means’, so leaning back on Jesus’ breast he said, ‘Who is it, Lord?’ ‘It is the one’ replied Jesus ‘to whom I give the piece of bread that I shall dip in the dish.’ He dipped the piece of bread and gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. At that instant, after Judas had taken the bread, Satan entered him. Jesus then said, ‘What you are going to do, do quickly.’ None of the others at table understood the reason he said this. ...
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    14 m
  • PoC-42 Holy Tuesday: The Power of the Cross Lenten Meditation

    PoC-42 Holy Tuesday: The Power of the Cross Lenten Meditation
    Mar 31 2026


    Taking Up Our Cross. . .To Follow the Lord

    Steps to Take as You Follow Christ

    Ask—How often do I trust my own instincts, and how often do I entrust myself to Jesus?

    Seek—Try to live each day with a resignation to God’s will, accepting each moment with the expectation that God might be breaking through to you.

    Knock—Meditate on 1 Peter 5:6–9.

    Bow down, then, before the power of God now, and he will raise you up on the appointed day; unload all your worries onto him, since he is looking after you. Be calm but vigilant, because your enemy the devil is prowling round like a roaring lion, looking for someone to eat. Stand up to him, strong in faith and in the knowledge that your brothers all over the world are suffering the same things.

    Think about the experiences of Peter in the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles and the words that he writes here. What lesson do they convey? How might the devil be seeking to devour you in your attempts to follow Christ?

    Transform Your Life—Make an amendment to live humbly. Cast all of your hopes and anxieties on the Lord. Realize that following Jesus means living a life of trust not in your way but in God’s way, the way of the cross.

    Michael Dubruiel’s book The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life is currently available in Kindle format.

    You can find the book here:
    https://amzn.to/4rTMBK9

    To explore more of Amy Welborn’s books and writing, visit:
    https://amywelborn.wordpress.com/books-by-amy-welborn/

    Check out more at the Discerning Hearts’ Michael Dubruiel page

    Excerpt from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE, copyright (c) 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd. and Doubleday, a division of Penguin Random House, Inc. Reprinted by Permission.
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    2 m
  • BW41 – Seeking the Face of God – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

    BW41 – Seeking the Face of God – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts
    Mar 30 2026

    The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life: Learning to Listen to God with a Discerning Heart with Kris McGregor Episode 41 – St. Anslem of Canterbury – Proslogion: Seeking the Face of God

    In this episode of The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life, Kris McGregor continues with St. Anselm of Canterbury and turns from faith seeking understanding to the deeper patience of seeking God’s face. Anselm helps us see that the spiritual life is not sustained by insight alone. There are times when truth seems near and luminous, and times when it feels hidden. What matters then is not whether the soul can grasp God, but whether it will remain turned toward Him.

    This episode explores Anselm’s prayer as the language of holy desire. “Your face, Lord, I seek” is not the cry of someone who has solved the mystery of God, but of someone who knows that seeking is itself part of loving. Anselm teaches that prayer does not fail when understanding is incomplete. It becomes more reverent, more faithful, and more rooted in the continual turning of the heart toward God. In that sense, this episode also opens a deeper understanding of conversion, not as a single event left behind, but as an ongoing turning toward the One who is Love.

    This teaching fits deeply within the Benedictine way. Stability teaches the soul not to flee when prayer feels hidden. Humility teaches it not to demand mastery. Obedience keeps the heart anchored in what has already been given. Christ remains at the center, for in Him the face of God is made known, even though the mystery is never exhausted. This episode invites listeners to remain before God with patience, reverence, and holy longing, trusting that to seek His face and not turn away is already a form of love.

    Citations

    St. Anslem of Canterbury, The Proslogion

    “I seek your face, Lord.
    Your face, Lord, I seek.
    Do not turn your face away from me.”

    Psalm 27:8, RSV–Catholic Edition

    “You have said, ‘Seek my face.’
    My heart says to you,
    ‘Your face, Lord, do I seek.’”

    Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
    1. How do I respond when prayer feels hidden, quiet, or without clear consolation?
    2. Am I tempted to abandon seeking when understanding or clarity doesn’t come quickly?
    3. Do I think of conversion as something in the past, or as a continual turning of the heart toward God?
    4. What helps me remain before the Lord with patience when I can’t yet see clearly?
    5. How is Christ inviting me to seek His face today with greater reverence, desire, and fidelity?
    For other episodes in this series, visit The Rule Of St. Benedict For Daily Life: Learning To Listen To God With A Discerning Heart Pick up a copy of The Rule of St. Benedict here

    Copyright © 2026 Kris McGregor. All rights reserved. No portion of this content may be reproduced, distributed, published, or transmitted in any form, including audio, print, or digital media, without prior written permission from Discerning Hearts®.
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    10 m
  • SISL11 – I Don’t Have the Energy – Struggles in the Spiritual Life with Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

    SISL11 – I Don’t Have the Energy – Struggles in the Spiritual Life with Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Discerning Hearts Podcasts
    Mar 30 2026
    I Don’t Have the Energy – Struggles in the Spiritual Life with Fr. Timothy Gallagher O.M.V. Fr. Timothy Gallagher and Kris McGregor discuss spiritual desolation and St. Ignatius of Loyola’s guidance on overcoming it. Desolation often manifests as a lack of energy or motivation in one’s spiritual life, as illustrated by Bob’s story—a faithful man suddenly feeling weary in his spiritual commitments and tempted to give up leading a church group. It’s important to recognize and reject these feelings without making changes during desolation, using St. Ignatius’ principles: “Be aware, identify, reject,” and “in desolation, make no change,” alongside the wisdom of staying connected with others for support. This approach mirrors St. Benedict’s teaching on dismissing negative thoughts quickly to prevent them from taking root. We’re meant to face spiritual struggles with others. This unity in faith is essential for spiritual resilience in a challenging cultural environment. Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions When have you experienced a lack of motivation or heaviness in your spiritual practices?Do you notice any recurring situations where you feel drawn away from prayer or other commitments?Who in your life acts as a spiritual companion, helping you recognize and resist spiritual desolation?Have you ever made changes to your spiritual life during times of spiritual dryness, and what were the outcomes?How can you strengthen connections with others in faith to support your journey and resist isolation?Which Ignatian principles, such as “Be aware, identify, reject,” could help you face future spiritual challenges?How does the reminder to “make no change in desolation” encourage you to trust God’s timing over impulsive decisions?In what areas of your life could you open the door more fully to Christ, allowing him to be the “divine physician”? An excerpt from the chapter, “I Don’t Have the Energy”: In this form of desolation, we feel spiritually sluggish, indolent, lazy, lackadaisical. The adverb “totally” is powerful: in time of spiritual desolation, we may feel totally sluggish, lazy, and slothful as regards various aspects of our spiritual lives. We feel no energy for prayer, for God’s service, for involvement in our parish, for holiness in our vocations, and the like. The feeling of slothfulness in spiritual desolation may contrast sharply with the energy we more habitually feel for these same things when not in desolation. There is no shame in experiencing this form of spiritual desolation. We all do at times. What is important — Julie is on target with this — is to be aware of it, understand it for the tactic of the enemy that it is, and firmly reject it. For Bob, this means that he should not renounce leadership of the group until he has greater clarity about his spiritual situation (rule 5: in time of desolation, never make a change). That change will not resolve his lack of energy; identifying and rejecting the desolation will. Bob may further apply the means Ignatius offers to resist and overcome the desolation: prayer of petition, meditation, examination, suitable penance, and the rest. Gallagher O.M.V, Fr. Timothy ; Gallagher O.M.V, Fr. Timothy. Struggles in the Spiritual Life: Their Nature and Their Remedies (pp. 72-73). Sophia Institute Press. Kindle Edition. To find more episodes from this series, visit the Struggles in the Spiritual Life Podcast From the book’s description: “Here is a powerful, life-changing book that will help you understand and conquer the struggles you face in your spiritual life. It’s a book for those who love the Lord and desire holiness yet often feel adrift or stagnant in their search for spiritual growth. All of us encounter valleys on our journey with the Lord — those periods of spiritual desolation that are a painful yet unavoidable feature of our prayer life. Spiritual desolation is as complex as we are, so understanding what is happening and responding to it properly are critical to reaching the heights of holiness. With warmth and understanding, Fr. Gallagher carefully identifies in this book the various forms of spiritual and nonspiritual desolation and supplies the remedy for each. You’ll learn how to discern whether your struggles derive from medical or psychological conditions or whether those struggles are spiritual and permitted by the Lord for reasons of growth. In each case, you’ll be given the remedy for the struggle. You’ll also learn the forms of spiritual dryness and of the Dark Night — and how to respond to them. In chapter after chapter, Fr. Gallagher presents a particular struggle as experienced by fictional characters and then provides the advice he gives to those who come to him for spiritual direction about that struggle. You’ll gain confidence as you journey through desolation, and you’ll learn to reject the enemy’s ploys to infect you with a sense of hopelessness.“...
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    27 m
  • CTD6 – The Oasis of Lent – Crossing the Desert: Lent and Conversion with Deacon James Keating – Discerning Hearts Podcast

    CTD6 – The Oasis of Lent – Crossing the Desert: Lent and Conversion with Deacon James Keating – Discerning Hearts Podcast
    Mar 30 2026


    The Oasis of Lent – Crossing the Desert: Lent and Conversion with Deacon James Keating

    Deacon James Keating and Kris McGregor discuss various aspects of marriage, spirituality, and the role of Christ in relationships. Life is a continuous response to God’s love, with the ultimate fulfillment found in heaven.

    While perfection may not be attainable, continual growth in yielding to Christ leads to spiritual improvement over time.

    Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
    1. Understanding Continuous Growth: How does Deacon Keating describe the concept of life as a continual response to God’s love? What does he emphasize regarding the attainment of perfection?
    2. Perfectionism in Relationships: What are the dangers associated with perfectionism in relationships, according to Deacon Keating? How does he suggest overcoming these challenges through spirituality and prayer?
    3. Importance of Intercessory Prayer: Why does Deacon Keating underscore the significance of intercessory prayer within marriage? How does he envision spouses supporting each other’s spiritual development?
    4. Sacramental Marriage as a Vocation: What parallels does Deacon Keating draw between sacramental marriage and Christ’s sacrificial love on the cross? How does he advocate for thorough spiritual preparation for marriage?
    5. Prioritizing Relationship with God: According to Deacon Keating, why is it essential for couples to prioritize their relationship with God in marriage? How does he emphasize the transformative potential of Christ’s love in relationships?

    An excerpt from “Crossing the Desert: Lent and Conversion”:

    “Moral conversion occurs in ordinary experience when we hit a wall or break through one. In other words, moral conversion can be ignited when we reach our limits and experience failure or finitude, or it can be ushered in when we transcend our limits and go beyond the self. We transcend the self by falling in love and/ or following the prompting of conscience at the cost of our own ego.

    The traditional disciplines of Lent— prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, as well as communal worship— aim at fostering or preparing a person to welcome such limiting or breakthrough experiences. Most importantly, we are prepared to receive the truths known in these experiences, since we can rarely, if ever, orchestrate them. More than likely, we are taken up into such experiences, and our preparation beforehand can enhance our acceptance of the truths they carry.

    (In regards to communal worship) …We usually imagine worship as a break in our secular lives, or sometimes even an obstacle to achieving other goals. With this attitude, worship is sometimes simply seen as “time out” from what is really important. Without denying the importance of secular realities for the laity, could we look at worship in another way? Worship is not an obstacle to daily living; it is not time off from more vital realities. Worship is, in fact, the great doorway into all that is both secular and holy. It is our way into real living. In worship, we find the great integration of the simple, ordinary, and plain (people, bread, wine, words) with the holy and transcendent (paschal mystery, incarnation, grace, transformation, salvation). The call of the laity is to carry into each day of work and domestic commitment the truth that the ordinary and the holy are not opposed. Only sin and the holy are opposed. Lenten worship services help us bring this truth to the world.

    The more we come to see the presence of Christ in worship as a presence that permeates our being in the world, the more we will hunger to participate in worship as the source of our moral witness in everyday life. The Eucharist primarily is our participation in Christ’s Paschal Mystery, which is his self-offering to the Father, both in his life and upon the cross, and is also the Father’s response in raising him from the dead. Christ came to us; he came to dwell upon Earth and take on created goodness so that all in creation that is not good (sin) may be transformed by his presence, by grace. We too, in communion with him through the grace of the sacramental life, fill the ordinary world with his presence and become witnesses to this salvation through virtue and grace cooperating in moral activity.”

    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
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    32 m