Discerning Hearts - Catholic Podcasts

The 14 Rules for the Discernment of Spirits – The First Week Rules as formulated by St. Ignatius of Loyola Fr. Timothy Gallagher with Kris McGregor Episode Three: Rule One – When the Heart Is Moving Away from God Episode 3 -The First Rule: In the persons who go from mortal sin to mortal sin, the enemy is commonly used to propose to them apparent pleasures, making them imagine sensual delights and pleasures in order to hold them more and make them grow in their vices and sins. In these persons the good spirit uses the opposite method, pricking them and biting their consciences through the process of reason. Episode Three of The Discernment of Spirits: Setting the Captives Free turns to Rule One of the Discernment of Spirits. Fr. Timothy Gallagher explains how this rule applies when a person’s life is moving away from God and toward serious sin. To illuminate the rule, Fr. Gallagher draws from the conversion story of St. Augustine. Augustine’s early life was marked by powerful desires and imagined pleasures. These thoughts were engaging and compelling. They promised satisfaction and fulfillment. Yet over time, they left his heart restless, empty, and unable to find peace. Fr. Gallagher explains that this pattern reveals the action described in Rule One. When a person is moving away from God, the enemy works primarily through the imagination. Apparent pleasures are proposed and entertained. They hold the heart in patterns of sin and keep it from turning toward what brings lasting joy. At the same time, the good spirit acts in a contrary way. God works through conscience and reason. He allows discomfort, restlessness, and unease to surface. This is not punishment. It is mercy. It is the loving refusal of God to abandon the heart to a path that cannot satisfy. Through contemporary examples, Fr. Gallagher shows how this rule applies in ordinary life today. This is especially true in a culture shaped by constant images and distraction. The good spirit works patiently through conscience, relationships, and grace. The purpose is to awaken the heart to the need for change. The restlessness and dissatisfaction that feel like distance from God may actually be signs of His nearness. They may be the quiet action of love calling the heart back. Episode Three offers a clear and compassionate understanding of Rule One. It helps listeners recognize both the tactics that lead the heart away from God and the grace that draws it home. Discerning Hearts Questions for Reflection and Study Personal Reflection Have you noticed times when imagined pleasures promised satisfaction but left your heart unsettled afterward? When have feelings of restlessness or dissatisfaction led you to deeper reflection about your life? How do images and media influence your imagination and spiritual focus? Can you recognize moments when discomfort or unease in conscience may have been an invitation to change? Where might God be gently calling you back through experiences that feel like an interior struggle? Group Reflection or Study How does St. Augustine’s experience help clarify the meaning of Rule One? Why does Ignatius describe the action of the good spirit as “stinging and biting” the conscience? How can restlessness serve as a form of mercy rather than condemnation? In what ways does modern culture intensify the dynamics described in Rule One? How can understanding this rule foster hope for personal and communal conversion?  The 14 Rules for Discerning Spirits – "The Different Movements Which Are Caused In The Soul" as outlined by St. Ignatius of Loyola click here For the other episodes in this series visit Fr. Timothy Gallagher's “Discerning Hearts”click here  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". 

 Sacred Heart Novena – Day 6 O Jesus, my divine model and teacher, what can I do when I see you the Son of the Eternal Father, full of glory and honor, laden with the cross, walking the awful road to death, especially when thereby you show me the way to salvation without selfishness but only for my benefit? O Jesus, what can I do but have faith in you and return your love by at least bearing my trials in patience and humility. And this, particularly, my God, because I have so often experienced the great power that my passions have over me, and how seldom I can withstand the temptations of the world. How hard do I not find it to deny myself the pleasure to mortify my desires and to renounce the false splendor of the world although I know full well that all these things so easily lead me into sin. O give me strength to resist my passions and close my eyes to the allurements and charms of the world, help me to imitate your poverty, purity and humility, and send me trials. Therefore, if it be the Father’s holy will, permit me to drink all of your chalice of suffering. Heart of Jesus, burning for love of me, inflame my heart with love for you.   O Divine Jesus who has said, “Ask and you shall receive; seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you,” behold me prostrate at your feet. Animated with a lively faith and confidence in the promises dictated by your Sacred Heart and pronounced by your adorable lips. I come to ask your aid. (mention your request) From whom shall I ask, O sweet Jesus, if not from you whose heart is an inexhaustible source of all graces and merits? Where shall I seek if not from the treasure which contains all the riches of your clemency and bounty? Where shall I knock if it be not at the door of your Sacred Heart through which God himself comes to us and through which we go to God? To you then, O Heart of Jesus, I have recourse. In you I find consolation when afflicted, protection when persecuted, strength when overwhelmed with trials and light in doubt and darkness. I firmly believe you can bestow on me the grace I implore even though it should require a miracle. You have only to will it and my prayer will be granted. I know I am most unworthy of your favors, O Jesus, but this is not a reason for me to be discouraged. You are the God of mercies and you will not refuse a contrite and humble heart. Cast upon me a look of pity, I conjure you, and your compassionate Heart will find in my miseries and weakness a pressing motive for granting my petition. But, O Sacred Heart, whatever may be your decision with regard to my request I will never cease to adore, love, praise and serve you. Deign, O Jesus, to accept my act of perfect submission to the decrees of your adorable Heart which I sincerely desire may be fulfilled in and by me and all your creatures forever and ever. Amen. Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Most sweet Jesus, redeemer of the human race look down upon us humbly prostrate before your altar. We are yours and yours we wish to be but to be more surely united with you behold each one of us freely consecrates himself today to your most Sacred Heart. Many indeed have never known you, many too, despising your precepts have rejected you. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to your Sacred Heart. Be you king, O Lord, not only of the faithful who have never forsaken you but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned you. Grant that they may quickly return to their Father’s house lest they die of wretchedness and hunger. Be you King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions or whom discord keeps aloof and call them back to the harbor of truth and the unity of faith so that soon there may be but one flock and one shepherd. Grant O Lord, to your Church assurance of freedom and immunity from harm. Give peace and order to all nations and make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry: Praise to the Divine Heart that wrought our salvation; to it be glory and honor forever. Amen.