Episodes

  • VEC12 – Nestorius – Villains of the Early Church with Mike Aquilina – Discerning Hearts Podcast

    VEC12 – Nestorius – Villains of the Early Church with Mike Aquilina – Discerning Hearts Podcast
    Jan 14 2026
    Episode 12 – Nestorius – Villains of the Early Church with Mike Aquilina Mike Aquilina discusses Nestorius as a tragic and almost darkly comic figure whose early success as a learned monk did not prepare him for leadership in Constantinople. His rigid personality, discomfort with women, and obsession with linguistic precision shaped his rejection of the title Theotokos (“Mother of God”) for Mary. What he considered logical correction instead unsettled ordinary Christian practice, clashed with long-standing prayer and devotion, and provoked resistance from both the people and influential figures in the imperial court. His attempts to curb women’s visibility in church life further alienated the city and deepened opposition from other bishops, who began to recognize that his teaching raised serious concerns about the identity of Christ himself. The conflict culminated in the Council of Ephesus, where the issue of Mary’s title revealed a deeper question about whether Jesus is fully God. St. Cyril of Alexandria successfully argued that denying Mary as Mother of God undermined Christ’s divinity, and the council affirmed the traditional language rooted in centuries of worship. The decision was celebrated publicly with hymns and processions, while Nestorius was deposed, exiled, and eventually formed a separate community beyond the empire. Such crises unfold over long periods and flawed individuals can still prompt doctrinal clarity. Holiness, perseverance, and lived witness remain the most powerful responses to error and division in every age. Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions How do Nestorius’s personality traits and formation as a monk reveal the importance of humility and self-awareness in leadership within the Church?What does the controversy over the title Mother of God teach about the connection between devotion, doctrine, and daily prayer?How can resistance from ordinary Christians help safeguard the faith handed down through generations?In what ways does Marian teaching shape a deeper understanding of who Jesus is?How does the Council of Ephesus show the Church discerning truth through conflict rather than avoiding it?What lessons can be drawn from how pride and rigidity can distort good intentions?How does the public celebration of the council’s decision reflect the unity between worship and belief?What does this episode suggest about enduring long periods of confusion or trial within the Church?How does the call to holiness in everyday life serve as a response to error and division?In what ways can personal example either strengthen or weaken the Church’s witness in the world today? An excerpt from Villains of the Early Church “We’ve been having an argument with these other people, the monks explained. We say that Mary is rightly called Mother of God—in Greek, Theotokos. But these other people say it’s not right to call her anything but Mother of the Man—Anthropotokos. Which of us is right? Nestorius was delighted with the opportunity to show off his erudition. His answer probably struck him as very clever and evenhanded. In a way, he said, you’re both right. Each of those names can be used for Mary in a loose and imprecise way. But technically the proper term would be Mother of the Christ—Christotokos. If you want to be accurate, you’ll avoid calling her anything else.3 Thus, Constantinople was first introduced to that little word “technically”—in Greek, akribos—which the world would soon learn was one of Nestorius’ very favorite terms when he was arguing with people. It revealed a lot about the way he thought. The problem with most people, Nestorius seemed to believe, was that they didn’t choose their terms carefully enough. When you’re talking about important issues of theology, you need to be very precise in your language. The problem with Nestorius, thought practically everybody else in Constantinople, was that he had just said Mary wasn’t Mother of God. The people of the city instantly latched onto that little word “technically” as representing everything they hated about Nestorius. “If Mary is not technically the Mother of God,” they said, “then her Son is not technically God.”4 Mary had always been called Mother of God, as long as anybody could remember. The city—the whole Empire—was devoted to the Blessed Virgin. What was wrong with this new archbishop? “He seemed afraid of the word Theotokos,” Socrates recalled, “as if it were some frightful ghost.”5 In the opinion of Socrates and many others, the problem wasn’t loose language on the part of the great majority of Christians. The problem was that Nestorius didn’t know what he was talking about. “The baseless fear he showed on this subject merely demonstrated how very ignorant he was. He was naturally a fluent speaker, so people thought he must be well educated. But actually he was disgracefully illiterate.” Socrates thought that Nestorius not only didn...
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    23 mins
  • St. Anthony of the Desert Novena – Day 7 – Discerning Hearts Podcast

    St. Anthony of the Desert Novena – Day 7 – Discerning Hearts Podcast
    Jan 14 2026
    St. Anthony of the Desert Novena – Day 7

    Day 7

    From the Sayings of St. Anthony of the Desert:

    The brothers praised a monk before Abba Anthony. When the monk came to see him, Anthony wanted to know how he would bear insults, and seeing that he could not bear them at all, he said to him, “You are like a village magnificently decorated on the outside, but destroyed from within by robbers.”

    A brother said to Abba Anthony, “Pray for me.” The old man said to him, “I will have no mercy on you, nor will God have any, if you yourself do not make an effort and if you do not pray to God.”

    Dear God,

    St Anthony of the Desert accepted your call to renounce the world and to love you above all things.
    He faithfully served you in the solitude of the desert by fasting, prayer, humility and good works.
    In the Sign of the Cross, he triumphed over the devil.
    Through his intercession, may we learn to love you better; with all our hearts, all our souls, all our minds, all our strength and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.
    St Anthony, great and powerful saint, intercede for us also for this special request (mention your request).
    We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

    Amen
    St. Anthony of the Desert, pray for us.

    For the entire 9-Day St. Anthony of the Desert Novena Mp3 audio and Text Page

    The sayings of St. Anthony us, as translated by the late Sr Benedicta Ward SLG , are taken from her The Sayings of the Desert Fathers:
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    2 mins
  • Wednesday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast

    Wednesday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast
    Jan 14 2026
    Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time – 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 St. Mark 1:29-39 On leaving the synagogue, Jesus went with James and John straight to the house of Simon and Andrew. Now Simon’s mother-in-law had gone to bed with fever, and they told him about her straightaway. He went to her, took her by the hand and helped her up. And the fever left her and she began to wait on them. That evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were sick and those who were possessed by devils. The whole town came crowding round the door, and he cured many who were suffering from diseases of one kind or another; he also cast out many devils, but he would not allow them to speak, because they knew who he was. In the morning, long before dawn, he got up and left the house, and went off to a lonely place and prayed there. Simon and his companions set out in search of him, and when they found him they said, ‘Everybody is looking for you.’ He answered, ‘Let us go elsewhere, to the neighbouring country towns, so that I can preach there too, because that is why I came.’ And he went all through Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out devils. 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: On leaving the synagogue, Jesus went with James and John straight to the house of Simon and Andrew. Now Simon’s mother-in-law had gone to bed with fever, and they told him about her straightaway. He went to her, took her by the hand and helped her up. And the fever left her and she began to wait on them. That evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were sick and those who were possessed by devils. The whole town came crowding round the door, and he cured many who were suffering from diseases of one kind or another; he also cast out many devils, but he would not allow them to speak, because they knew who he was. In the morning, long before dawn, he got up and left the house, and went off to a lonely place and prayed there. Simon and his companions set out in search of him, and when they found him they said, ‘Everybody is looking for you.’ He answered, ‘Let us go elsewhere, to the neighbouring country towns, so that I can preach there too, because that is why I came.’ And he went all through Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out devils. What did your heart feel as you listened? What did you sense the Lord saying to you? On leaving the synagogue, Jesus went with James and John straight to the house of Simon and Andrew. Now Simon’s mother-in-law had gone to bed with fever, and they told him about her straightaway. He went to her, took her by the hand and helped her up. And the fever left her and she began to wait on them. That evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were sick and those who were possessed by devils. The whole town came crowding round the door, and he cured many who were suffering from diseases of one kind or another; he also cast out many devils, but he would not allow them to speak, because they knew who he was. In the morning, long before dawn, he got up and left the house, and went off to a lonely place and prayed there. Simon and his companions set out in search of him, and when they found him they said, ‘Everybody is looking for you.’ He answered, ‘Let us go elsewhere, to the neighbouring country towns, so that I can preach there too, because that is why I came.’ And he went all through Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out devils. 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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    10 mins
  • HH3 – What is Redemptive Suffering – The Heart of Hope with Deacon James Keating – Discerning Hearts Podcast

    HH3 – What is Redemptive Suffering – The Heart of Hope with Deacon James Keating – Discerning Hearts Podcast
    Jan 13 2026


    What is Redemptive Suffering – The Heart of Hope with Deacon James Keating

    Deacon James Keating explains redemptive suffering as the practice of freely offering one’s physical, emotional, or spiritual pain in love for the good of another, uniting that suffering to Christ’s own prayer on the cross. Rather than becoming trapped in self-pity or displaced anger, suffering can be transformed into intercessory prayer through a faith-filled imagination that connects real pain, real love for others, and God’s will for human flourishing. In this way, suffering is no longer isolated or absurd but becomes meaningful participation in Christ’s saving work, not because the cross is lacking, but because Christ draws his whole body into it through freely given love.

    The conversation then turns to emotional suffering, which Keating describes as especially common and often misunderstood in contemporary culture. While affirming the proper place of psychotherapy and medication, he presents prayer and spiritual direction as paths of deep honesty before God, where fears, anger, grief, and temptation are brought into divine intimacy rather than hidden. Drawing on saints such as Thérèse of Lisieux and figures like Mother Teresa, he shows how small, daily acts of self-offering prepare the soul for greater trials and guard against bitterness. The path forward is not dramatic heroics but beginning “the little way,” surrendering pain to God step by step, trusting that resurrection follows surrender, and allowing Christ to carry the soul where it cannot go on its own.

    Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
    1. How can I intentionally unite my physical, emotional, or spiritual pain with Christ as a prayer for the good of another person?
    2. In what ways do I tend to turn inward when I suffer, and how might God be inviting me to redirect that pain into love?
    3. How can practicing small acts of self-offering in daily annoyances prepare my heart for greater trials in the future?
    4. What emotions or wounds do I hesitate to bring honestly into prayer, and what might change if I shared them openly with Christ?
    5. How does my understanding of the cross shape the way I respond to suffering rather than trying to avoid or escape it?
    6. When pain makes God feel distant or absent, how can I continue choosing trust and surrender in faith?
    7. How might my experience of suffering become a path of purification that leads me toward deeper holiness and love?

    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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    31 mins
  • St. Anthony of the Desert Novena – Day 6 – Discerning Hearts Podcast

    St. Anthony of the Desert Novena – Day 6 – Discerning Hearts Podcast
    Jan 13 2026

    St. Anthony of the Desert Novena Day 6

    Day 6

    From the Sayings of St. Anthony of the Desert:

    A hunter in the desert saw Abba Anthony enjoying himself with the brethren and he was shocked. Wanting to show him that it was necessary sometimes to meet the needs of the brethren, the old man said to him, “Put an arrow in your bow and shoot it.” So, he did. The old man said, “Shoot another,” and he did so. Then the old man said, “Shoot yet again,” and the hunter replied “If I bend my bow so much I will break it.” Then the old man said to him, “It is the same with the work of God. If we stretch the brethren beyond measure they will soon break. Sometimes it is necessary to come down to meet their needs.” When he heard these words the hunter was pierced by compunction and, greatly edified by the old man, he went away. As for the brethren, they went home strengthened.

    Dear God,

    St Anthony of the Desert accepted your call to renounce the world and to love you above all things.
    He faithfully served you in the solitude of the desert by fasting, prayer, humility and good works.
    In the Sign of the Cross, he triumphed over the devil.
    Through his intercession, may we learn to love you better; with all our hearts, all our souls, all our minds, all our strength and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.
    St Anthony, great and powerful saint, intercede for us also for this special request (mention your request).
    We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

    Amen
    St. Anthony of the Desert, pray for us.

    For the entire 9-Day St. Anthony of the Desert Novena Mp3 audio and Text Page

    The sayings of St. Anthony us, as translated by the late Sr Benedicta Ward SLG , are taken from her The Sayings of the Desert Fathers:
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    2 mins
  • Tuesday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast

    Tuesday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast
    Jan 13 2026
    Tuesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time – 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 St. Mark 1:21-28

    Jesus and his disciples went as far as Capernaum, and as soon as the sabbath came he went to the synagogue and began to teach. And his teaching made a deep impression on them because, unlike the scribes, he taught them with authority.
    In their synagogue just then there was a man possessed by an unclean spirit and it shouted, ‘What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus said sharply, ‘Be quiet! Come out of him!’ And the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and with a loud cry went out of him. The people were so astonished that they started asking each other what it all meant. ‘Here is a teaching that is new’ they said ‘and with authority behind it: he gives orders even to unclean spirits and they obey him.’ And his reputation rapidly spread everywhere, through all the surrounding Galilean countryside.

    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:

    Jesus and his disciples went as far as Capernaum, and as soon as the sabbath came he went to the synagogue and began to teach. And his teaching made a deep impression on them because, unlike the scribes, he taught them with authority.
    In their synagogue just then there was a man possessed by an unclean spirit and it shouted, ‘What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus said sharply, ‘Be quiet! Come out of him!’ And the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and with a loud cry went out of him. The people were so astonished that they started asking each other what it all meant. ‘Here is a teaching that is new’ they said ‘and with authority behind it: he gives orders even to unclean spirits and they obey him.’ And his reputation rapidly spread everywhere, through all the surrounding Galilean countryside.

    What did your heart feel as you listened?

    What did you sense the Lord saying to you?

    Jesus and his disciples went as far as Capernaum, and as soon as the sabbath came he went to the synagogue and began to teach. And his teaching made a deep impression on them because, unlike the scribes, he taught them with authority.
    In their synagogue just then there was a man possessed by an unclean spirit and it shouted, ‘What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus said sharply, ‘Be quiet! Come out of him!’ And the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and with a loud cry went out of him. The people were so astonished that they started asking each other what it all meant. ‘Here is a teaching that is new’ they said ‘and with authority behind it: he gives orders even to unclean spirits and they obey him.’ And his reputation rapidly spread everywhere, through all the surrounding Galilean countryside.

    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