Episodes

  • Day 6 – Allowing Christ to Reorder My Way – An Epiphany Novena for the Discerning Heart – Discerning Hearts Podcast

    Day 6 – Allowing Christ to Reorder My Way – An Epiphany Novena for the Discerning Heart – Discerning Hearts Podcast
    Dec 31 2025
    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.
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    3 mins
  • The Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas – A Christmas Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart

    The Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas – A Christmas Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart
    Dec 31 2025
    The Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas – A Christmas Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart 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 St. John 1:1-18 In the beginning was the Word: and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things came to be, not one thing had its being but through him. All that came to be had life in him and that life was the light of men, a light that shines in the dark, a light that darkness could not overpower. A man came, sent by God. His name was John. He came as a witness, as a witness to speak for the light, so that everyone might believe through him. He was not the light, only a witness to speak for the light. The Word was the true light that enlightens all men; and he was coming into the world. He was in the world that had its being through him, and the world did not know him. He came to his own domain and his own people did not accept him. But to all who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to all who believe in the name of him who was born not out of human stock or urge of the flesh or will of man but of God himself. The Word was made flesh, he lived among us, and we saw his glory, the glory that is his as the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth. John appears as his witness. He proclaims: ‘This is the one of whom I said: He who comes after me ranks before me because he existed before me.’ Indeed, from his fullness we have, all of us, received – yes, grace in return for grace, since, though the Law was given through Moses, grace and truth have come through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; it is the only Son, who is nearest to the Father’s heart, who has made him known. 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: In the beginning was the Word: and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things came to be, not one thing had its being but through him. All that came to be had life in him and that life was the light of men, a light that shines in the dark, a light that darkness could not overpower. A man came, sent by God. His name was John. He came as a witness, as a witness to speak for the light, so that everyone might believe through him. He was not the light, only a witness to speak for the light. The Word was the true light that enlightens all men; and he was coming into the world. He was in the world that had its being through him, and the world did not know him. He came to his own domain and his own people did not accept him. But to all who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to all who believe in the name of him who was born not out of human stock or urge of the flesh or will of man but of God himself. The Word was made flesh, he lived among us, and we saw his glory, the glory that is his as the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth. John appears as his witness. He proclaims: ‘This is the one of whom I said: He who comes after me ranks before me because he existed before me.’ Indeed, from his fullness we have, all of us, received – yes, grace in return for grace, since, though the Law was given through Moses, grace and truth have come through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; it is the only Son, who is nearest to the Father’s heart, who has made him known. 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: In the beginning was the Word: and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things came to be, not one thing had its being but through him. All that came to be had life in him and that life was the light of men, a light that shines in the dark, a light that darkness could not overpower. A man came, sent by God. His name was John. He came as a witness, as a witness to speak for the light, so that everyone might believe through him. He was not the light, only a witness to speak for the light. The Word was the true light that enlightens all men; and he was coming into the world. He was in the world that had its being through him, and the world did not know him. He came to his own domain and his own people did not accept him. But to all who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to all who believe in the name of him who was born not out of human stock or urge of the flesh or will of man but of God himself. The Word was made flesh, he lived among us, and we saw his glory, the glory that is his ...
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    13 mins
  • VEC10 – Arius – Villains of the Early Church with Mike Aquilina – Discerning Hearts Podcast

    VEC10 – Arius – Villains of the Early Church with Mike Aquilina – Discerning Hearts Podcast
    Dec 30 2025
    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 How does the story of Arius show that ideas which seem simple and logical can still distort the mystery of God?What does the Church’s teaching on the Trinity reveal about God as eternal love rather than solitary power?How does understanding Christ as fully God and fully man shape the way you pray and relate to Him?In what ways does baptism invite you into a living participation in God’s own life and love?How can reducing faith to what is easily understood limit spiritual growth and conversion of heart?What role do creeds, hymns, and shared worship play in guarding and handing on the faith across generations?How does the Trinitarian nature of God call you to live relationships marked by self-gift rather than self-interest? 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
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    27 mins
  • Day 5 – Receiving My Identity from the Father – An Epiphany Novena for the Discerning Heart – Discerning Hearts Podcast

    Day 5 – Receiving My Identity from the Father – An Epiphany Novena for the Discerning Heart – Discerning Hearts Podcast
    Dec 30 2025
    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.
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    3 mins
  • The Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas – A Christmas Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart

    The Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas – A Christmas Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart
    Dec 30 2025


    The Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas – A Christmas Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart

    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 Luke 2:36-40

    There was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well on in years. Her days of girlhood over, she had been married for seven years before becoming a widow. She was now eighty-four years old and never left the Temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayer. She came by just at that moment and began to praise God; and she spoke of the child to all who looked forward to the deliverance of Jerusalem.

    When they had done everything the Law of the Lord required, they went back to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. Meanwhile the child grew to maturity, and he was filled with wisdom; and God’s favour was with him.

    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:

    There was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well on in years. Her days of girlhood over, she had been married for seven years before becoming a widow. She was now eighty-four years old and never left the Temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayer. She came by just at that moment and began to praise God; and she spoke of the child to all who looked forward to the deliverance of Jerusalem.

    When they had done everything the Law of the Lord required, they went back to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. Meanwhile the child grew to maturity, and he was filled with wisdom; and God’s favour was with him.

    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:

    There was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well on in years. Her days of girlhood over, she had been married for seven years before becoming a widow. She was now eighty-four years old and never left the Temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayer. She came by just at that moment and began to praise God; and she spoke of the child to all who looked forward to the deliverance of Jerusalem.

    When they had done everything the Law of the Lord required, they went back to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. Meanwhile the child grew to maturity, and he was filled with wisdom; and God’s favour was with him.

    What did your heart feel as you prayed?

    What do you hope to carry with you from this time with the Lord?

    Our Father, who art in heaven,

    hallowed be thy name.

    Thy kingdom come.

    Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

    Give us this day our daily bread,

    and forgive us our trespasses,

    as we forgive those who trespass against us,

    and lead us not into temptation,

    but deliver us from evil.

    May the Lord bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.

    Amen

    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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    11 mins
  • The Sixth Day of Christmas – A Prayerful Meditation on the Twelve Days of Christmas – Discerning Hearts Podcast

    The Sixth Day of Christmas – A Prayerful Meditation on the Twelve Days of Christmas – Discerning Hearts Podcast
    Dec 29 2025


    “On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: Six Geese A Laying …”symbolizing the six days of the creation. Eggs are also a universal symbol of new life.

    Prayer: Heavenly Father, we are reminded this day that there is holiness in the ordinary. There is holiness in the birth of a new child, in the creation of life, and in the ordinary task of raising those children.We are blessed to all be Your children, brothers, and sisters in Christ. Help us to bear our unique responsibility to bring forth into the world the gifts we have received. Lord, let us see the holiness every day in the face of children. 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

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    1 min
  • DWG10 – Steps in Spiritual Guidance – The Discernment of God’s Will in Everyday Decisions with Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Discerning Hearts Podcast

    DWG10 – Steps in Spiritual Guidance – The Discernment of God’s Will in Everyday Decisions with Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Discerning Hearts Podcast
    Dec 29 2025
    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: Where in my recent prayer or daily life have I noticed a repeated interior attraction that points toward a particular choice before God?Do I approach discernment with true interior freedom, honestly able to say yes to whatever God may ask of me?How attentive am I to moments of spiritual consolation and desolation, and do I regularly reflect on them through the examen?What spiritual practices help me remain grounded in prayer, silence, and Scripture while seeking clarity about God’s will?Have I taken concrete steps to seek wise spiritual guidance, and am I open to asking for help without fear or hesitation?When clarity does not come quickly, do I allow sufficient time for patterns to emerge rather than rushing a decision?In a time of interior calm, am I willing to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of my options in light of God’s greater glory?Are there attachments or fears that may be clouding my judgment and preventing me from seeing God’s will clearly?How does my discernment invite deeper trust in God’s providence rather than reliance on my own control?After making a decision, do I seek confirmation in prayer that the choice aligns with God’s desire for my life? 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
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    29 mins
  • The Fifth Day of Christmas – A Prayerful Meditation on the Twelve Days of Christmas – Discerning Hearts Podcast

    The Fifth Day of Christmas – A Prayerful Meditation on the Twelve Days of Christmas – Discerning Hearts Podcast
    Dec 29 2025


    “On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: Five Golden Rings …” pointing to the first five books of the Old Testament, also known as the Torah or the Pentateuch: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. This is the history of humanity’s fall from grace and God’s response to make those people a light unto the world.

    Prayer: Heavenly Father, guide us through the wilderness of our lives, let us live as light unto the Earth by Your light radiating through us. As we light candles in our homes and trim them with lights, let us be mindful that salvation and reconciliation come through your Son, the living light Jesus Christ. 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

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    1 min