Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts » Current Novena(s)

Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day Nine Begin be reciting the following prayer… O Holy Spirit, Divine Consoler! I adore you as my True God. I offer You my whole heart, and I render You heartfelt thanks for all the benefits You have bestowed upon the world. You are the author of all supernatural gifts and ... Read more The post Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day Nine – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day Eight Begin be reciting the following prayer… O Holy Spirit, Divine Consoler! I adore you as my True God. I offer You my whole heart, and I render You heartfelt thanks for all the benefits You have bestowed upon the world. You are the author of all supernatural gifts and ... Read more The post Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day Eight – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day Seven Begin be reciting the following prayer… O Holy Spirit, Divine Consoler! I adore you as my True God. I offer You my whole heart, and I render You heartfelt thanks for all the benefits You have bestowed upon the world. You are the author of all supernatural gifts and ... Read more The post Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day Seven – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day Six Begin be reciting the following prayer… O Holy Spirit, Divine Consoler! I adore you as my True God. I offer You my whole heart, and I render You heartfelt thanks for all the benefits You have bestowed upon the world. You are the author of all supernatural gifts and ... Read more The post Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day Six – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day Five Begin be reciting the following prayer… O Holy Spirit, Divine Consoler! I adore you as my True God. I offer You my whole heart, and I render You heartfelt thanks for all the benefits You have bestowed upon the world. You are the author of all supernatural gifts and ... Read more The post Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day Five – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day Four Begin be reciting the following prayer… O Holy Spirit, Divine Consoler! I adore you as my True God. I offer You my whole heart, and I render You heartfelt thanks for all the benefits You have bestowed upon the world. You are the author of all supernatural gifts and ... Read more The post Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day Four – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day Three O Holy Spirit, Divine Consoler! I adore you as my True God. I offer You my whole heart, and I render You heartfelt thanks for all the benefits You have bestowed upon the world. You are the author of all supernatural gifts and enriched the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of ... Read more The post Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day Three – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day Two Begin be reciting the following prayer… O Holy Spirit, Divine Consoler! I adore you as my True God. I offer You my whole heart, and I render You heartfelt thanks for all the benefits You have bestowed upon the world. You are the author of all supernatural gifts ... Read more The post Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day Two – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

“Today bring to Me those who do not believe in God and those who do not know Me; I was thinking also of them during My bitter Passion, and their future zeal comforted My Heart. Immerse them in the ocean of My mercy.” The post A Novena to the Divine Mercy – Day Four appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Ninth Day – Holiness is Jesus Living and Acting in Me Thought for the day: “Charity for each other is the surest way to great holiness.” Ask for the grace to become a saint. The post Novena to St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta Day 9 appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Eighth Day – Jesus Made Himself the Bread of Life and the Hungry One Thought for the day: “Believe that He, Jesus, is in the appearance of Bread and that He, Jesus, is in the hungry, naked, sick, lonely, unloved, homeless, helpless and hopeless.” Ask for the grace of a deep faith to see Jesus in the Bread of Life and to serve Him in the distressing disguise of the poor. St. Teresa of Calcutta, you allowed the thirsting love of Jesus on the Cross to become a living flame within you, and so became the light of His love to all. The post Novena to St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta Day 8 appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Seventh Day – God Loves a Cheerful Giver Thought for the day: “Joy is the sign of union with God, of God’s presence.  Joy is love, the normal result of a heart burning with love.” Ask for the grace to find joy in loving and to share this joy with all you meet. St. Teresa of Calcutta, you allowed the thirsting love of Jesus on the Cross to become a living flame within you, and so became the light of His love to all. The post Novena to St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta Day 7 appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Sixth Day – True Love is Surrender Thought for the day: “Allow God to use you without consulting you.” Ask for the grace to surrender your whole life to God. St. Teresa of Calcutta, you allowed the thirsting love of Jesus on the Cross to become a living flame within you, and so became the light of His love to all. The post Novena to St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta Day 6 appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Fifth Day – Trust Jesus Blindly Thought for the day: “Confidence in God can do all things. It is our emptiness and lowliness that God needs and not our plenitude’” Ask for the grace to have an unshakeable trust in  God’s power and love for you and for all. St. Teresa of Calcutta, you allowed the thirsting love of Jesus on the Cross to become a living flame within you, and so became the light of His love to all. The post Novena to St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta – Day 5 appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Fourth Day – Our Lady Will Help You Thought for the day: “How close we must keep to Our Lady who understood what depth of Divine Love was being revealed as she stood at the foot of the Cross and heard Jesus cry out: ‘I thirst.’” Ask for the grace to learn from Our Lady to quench Jesus’ thirst as she did. St. Teresa of Calcutta, you allowed the thirsting love of Jesus on the Cross to become a living flame within you, and so became the light of His love to all. The post Novena to St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta – Day 4 appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Third Day – Hear Him Say to You: “I Thirst” Thought for the day: “Just think! God is thirsting for you and me to come forward to satiate His thirst.” Ask for the grace to understand Jesus’ cry of thirst. The post Novena to St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta – Day 3 appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Second Day – Jesus Loves You Thought for the day: “Do not be afraid - you are precious to Jesus. He loves you.” Ask for the grace to be convinced of Jesus’ unconditional and personal love for you. St. Teresa of Calcutta, you allowed the thirsting love of Jesus on the Cross to become a living flame within you, and so became the light of His love to all. The post Novena to St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta – Day 2 appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

First Day – Know the Living Jesus Thought for the day: “Don’t search for Jesus in far lands; He is not there. He is close to you; He is in you.” Ask for the grace of an intimate knowledge of Jesus. The post Novena to St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta – Day 1 appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Day 9 – Opening to the Supreme Joy: Friendship with Jesus “[The heart of the human person] finds itself in great distress without a close union with God, because only the fullness of being, of intelligence and of love, the infinite Unity and ineffable Trinity of God, can fill and satisfy its immense capacity.” “The Church sings the solemn chant: Nobis datus, nobis natus--For us he has been given, for us he is born! Who would ever doubt this truth after so many testimonies? Jesus Christ is all for us. His Father gave him to us. He gave himself to us. There is no other acquisition better than this gift. He is therefore mine. Yes, he is mine and belongs to me. Oh Love! Oh Goodness! What is necessary on my part to gain this gift, greater than any gift, that contains in itself every other gift? Three things are necessary: faith, confidence and offering.” “They are always in Jesus’ company; they are always conversing with Jesus. They strive to keep their memory gently fixed on Jesus, to accustom their intellect to always see and judge everything according to Jesus, to keep their will always tranquil and united to that of Jesus.” The post A Novena in Honor of Ven. Bruno Lanteri Day 9 – Mp3 audio and Text appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

A Novena to St. Dominic for the Discerning Heart Day 6– Mastering Passions A teaching from St. Dominic: “A man who governs his passions is master of the world. We must either rule them, or be ruled by them. It is better to be the hammer than the anvil.” St. Dominic practiced a disciplined lifestyle, ... Read more The post Day 6 – A St. Dominic Novena for the Discerning Heart – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Day 8 – Overcoming Excuses for being Sad “It is necessary to notice that many times these sufferings are products of our imagination, and a joyful spirit dispels them easily. In fact, many times they are trifles, or even without any foundation whatsoever. For example: a person forgets to greet someone because of a distraction, causing that person to presume it is out of malice or scorn. Or again, a word comes from the mouth of someone--perhaps in simplicity or jest--and it is immediately interpreted as an offense. Many times the disgust is disgust because we want to be disgusted, like spooked horses who jump backwards not because there may be an occasion for fear, but because they themselves create the fear. ...As for true and real tribulations and adversities, notice that if they are not taken with a joyful abandonment to God, they will become much heavier! They will damage the spirit and lead to impatience, lack of charity, murmuring against God, and even against one’s own body. Drive sadness far away from you, for sadness brought death to many (Sirach 30:23). Thus, afflictions of soul, desolations, desperation--see how they foster more sadness! ...Yes, these things impede joy if one looks upon them with a worldly eye, if one seeks their causes in the earth, or in creatures, and does not look upon them with the eye of faith, or does not believe that all comes from God... nothing happens contrary to His will. And it is from God our father--he is a father like no other father--who permits all things for our good, so may we reflect on the grace attached to it and the reward prepared for us.” The post A Novena in Honor of Ven. Bruno Lanteri Day 8 – Mp3 audio and Text appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

A Novena to St. Dominic for the Discerning Heart Day 5– Spiritual Defense A teaching from St. Dominic: “Arm yourself with prayer rather than a sword; wear humility rather than fine clothes.” St. Dominic, renowned for his humility and dedication to a simple life, advised using spiritual tools over physical ones. He promoted prayer and ... Read more The post Day 5 – A St. Dominic Novena for the Discerning Heart – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

A Novena in honor of Ven. Bruno Lanteri, founder of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary Day 7 – Acquiring Spiritual Joy “Means for acquiring Joyfulness: 1. Ask the Lord for joyfulness. Joy or cheerfulness is the second fruit of the Holy Spirit [Galatians 5:22]. Blessed [John] Berchmans [1599-1621] was always so joyful that many ... Read more The post A Novena in Honor of Ven. Bruno Lanteri Day 7 – Mp3 audio and Text appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

A Novena to St. Dominic for the Discerning Heart Day 4– Guiding Charity A teaching from St. Dominic: “Charity, above all things, must guide our actions.” St. Dominic, known for his compassionate approach, founded the Dominican Order with a focus on preaching and charitable works. This highlights charity as the highest guiding principle, aligning with ... Read more The post Day 4 – A St. Dominic Novena for the Discerning Heart – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

A Novena in honor of Ven. Bruno Lanteri, founder of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary Day 6 – Protecting against Sin and Vice “Through joyfulness one avoids sins and easily triumphs over temptation. It is proper to temptations to begin to instill despondency and sadness. And in these troubled waters the devil begins to ... Read more The post A Novena in Honor of Ven. Bruno Lanteri – Day 6 – Mp3 audio and Text appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

A Novena to St. Dominic for the Discerning Heart Day 3– Spiritual Vigilance A teaching from St. Dominic: “The enemy never sleeps, yet you seem to sleep.” St. Dominic was known for his dedication to a life of prayer and vigilance, often spending nights in prayer and seeking God’s guidance. This calls us to be ... Read more The post Day 3 – A St. Dominic Novena for the Discerning Heart – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

A Novena to St. Dominic for the Discerning Heart Day 2– The Power of Prayer A teaching from St. Dominic: “I would be of more use to you if I prayed for you than if I preached to you.” St. Dominic was renowned for his deep devotion to prayer, often spending entire nights in prayerful ... Read more The post Day 2 – A St. Dominic Novena for the Discerning Heart – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

A Novena to St. Dominic for the Discerning Heart Day 1– Sharing Faith A teaching from St. Dominic: “We must sow the seed, not hoard it.” St. Dominic devoted his life to preaching the Gospel and spreading the Christian faith. He traveled extensively, establishing the Dominican Order to continue this mission of evangelization. His approach ... Read more The post Day 1 – A St. Dominic Novena for the Discerning Heart – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

A Novena in honor of Ven. Bruno Lanteri, founder of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary Day 4 – Strengthening the Reasons to be Joyful 1. Our gratitude requires it. We have an obligation to be thankful for the spiritual goods we possess. How will we ever show enough appreciation for them unless we really ... Read more The post A Novena in Honor of Ven. Bruno Lanteri – Day 4 – Mp3 audio and Text appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Day 9 From the writings of St. Ignatius of Loyola: I recommend that virtue to you which includes all others, and which our Lord so greatly praised by calling it His great commandment: "This is My commandment that you love one another" (John 15:12). You are not only to maintain a union of love among yourselves, but you must extend it to every one and set your hearts on fire with the desire for your neighbor's salvation, realizing that each soul is the price of our Lord's life and blood [Ep. 1:507]. Prefer the glory of God above everything else . . . .Let your thoughts, words, and actions be in Him. . .and let God's commandments take first place over everything else that is good. This is what He desires, and this is what He commands [Ep. 1:72]. The post St. Ignatius of Loyola Novena Day 9 – Discerning Hearts podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Day 3 – Turning toward Spiritual Joy “Spiritual joy is experienced when one ponders the spiritual goods it possesses. What are these goods? Participation in the divine nature (as children of God), union with Jesus Christ, being in the bosom of the Church as her children, God's special protection, the gifts of the theological virtues, the Sacraments, the communion of saints, grace, friendship with God, the merits of our actions, the glory of heaven that is already almost ours by the firm hope we have (as a son already almost possesses the inheritance that awaits him from his father). This is the joy that we must seek. Few possess it, because they fail to call these goods to mind and fail to understand how valuable they are. They are like people who never stop to look at a beautiful painting, or to listen to beautiful music, and really enjoy them. They are like children who possess precious things but do not realize how valuable they are. Such people fail to ponder and take delight in the state of grace. Unlike worldly joy, spiritual joy is true joy; it is not based on anything false or illusory. It is to be preferred to all else, because it is good, holy, and superior to anything temporal. Spiritual joy is angelic, because the angels themselves experience it. It is real, and it strengthens.” The post A Novena in Honor of Ven. Bruno Lanteri – Day 3 – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Day 7: SURRENDER St. Teresa you have said Myself surrendered and given, The exchange is this: My Beloved is for me, And I am for my Beloved. When the gentle Hunter Wounded and subdued me, In love’s arms, My soul fallen; New life receiving, Thus did I exchange My Beloved is for me, And I am for my Beloved. The arrow he drew Full of love, My soul was made one With her Creator. Other love I want not, Surrendered now to my God, That my Beloved is for me, And I am for my Beloved. —On Those Words “Dilectus Meus Mihi” The post A Novena to St. Teresa of Avila Day 7 – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

St. Teresa you have said “A long time after the Lord had already granted me many of the favors I’ve mentioned and other very lofty ones, while I was in prayer one day, I suddenly found that, without knowing how, I had seemingly been put in hell...The fact is that I don’t know how to give a sufficiently powerful description of that interior fire and that despair, coming in addition to such extreme torments and pains.  I didn’t see who inflicted them on me, but, as it seemed to me, I felt myself burning and crumbling; and I repeat the worst was that interior fire and despair.” —Autobiography XXXII.1,2 The post A Novena to St. Teresa of Avila Day 6 – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Day 5: HUMILITY  St. Teresa you have said “O Eternal Father!  How much this humility deserves.  What treasure do we have that could buy Your Son?  The sale of Him, we already know, was for thirty pieces of silver.  But to buy Him, no price is sufficient.  Since by sharing in our nature He has become one with us here below—and as Lord of His own will—He reminds the Father that because He belongs to Him the Father in turn can give Him to us.  And so He says, “our bread.”  He doesn’t make any difference between Himself and us, but we make one by not giving ourselves up each day for His Majesty.” —Way of Perfection XXXIII.5 The post A Novena to St. Teresa of Avila Day 5 – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Day 4: THE SOUL  St. Teresa you have said “It is that we consider our soul to be like a castle made entirely out of a diamond or of very clear crystal, in which there are many rooms, just as in heaven there are many dwelling places.  For in reflecting upon it carefully, Sisters, we realize that the soul of the just person is nothing else but a paradise where the Lord says He finds His delight...I don’t find anything comparable to the magnificent beauty of a soul and its marvelous capacity.  Indeed, our intellects, however keen, can hardly comprehend it, just as they cannot comprehend God’ but He Himself says that He created us in His own image and likeness.” —Interior Castle I:1.1 The post A Novena to St. Teresa of Avila Day 4 – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Day 3:  THE CENTRALITY OF THE HUMANITY OF CHRIST   St. Teresa you have said “The thought comes to me now that our good Jesus showed us the weakness of His humanity previous to the trials, and when He was in the abyss of His sufferings showed such great fortitude that He not only did not complain but did nothing that would make it appear He was suffering with weakness. When He went to the garden, He said: My soul is sorrowful even to death. Yet, while on the cross, for He was already suffering death, He did not complain.” —Meditations on the Song of Songs III.11. The post A Novena to St. Teresa of Avila Day 3 – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Day 2  INTIMATE AND TRANSFORMATIVE PRAYER   St. Teresa you have said  “Whoever has not begun the practice of prayer, I beg for the love of the Lord not to go without so great a good.  There is nothing here to fear but only something to desire…And if one perseveres, I trust then in the ... Read more The post A Novena to St. Teresa of Avila Day 2 – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Day 4: THE SOUL  St. Teresa you have said “It is that we consider our soul to be like a castle made entirely out of a diamond or of very clear crystal, in which there are many rooms, just as in heaven there are many dwelling places.  For in reflecting upon it carefully, Sisters, we realize that the soul of the just person is nothing else but a paradise where the Lord says He finds His delight...I don’t find anything comparable to the magnificent beauty of a soul and its marvelous capacity.  Indeed, our intellects, however keen, can hardly comprehend it, just as they cannot comprehend God’ but He Himself says that He created us in His own image and likeness.” —Interior Castle I:1.1 The post A Novena to St. Teresa of Avila Day 4 – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Day 5 – Honoring God by Joy “Sometimes it may seem as though God does not react to evil, as if he is silent. And yet God has spoken. He has replied, and his answer is the cross of Christ: a word that is love, mercy, forgiveness.” With spiritual joy, one gives greater honor and glory to God, manifesting with deeds that he thinks well of God and is content in His service and with His treatment. With persistent unhappiness, by contrast, one dishonors God, slights God by one's deeds and manifests that he thinks poorly of God. …If it is such a horrible thing to demean one’s neighbor, what then will it be to demean God? A sad servant dishonors his master, but a joyful and content servant honors him. For that reason we want to give to others a great idea of God our Father in order to give Him the glory that is His due. We want to serve Him with joy and delight, and not with sadness and against our will. We esteem, we appreciate, we magnify His gifts. We pray by hoping in Him, and we glorify Him again, as a God absolutely good, merciful, generous, and faithful. Let those be sad who serve tyrants, such as the world, the flesh, and the devil. ”Speak about God with all, however, in a way that is worthy of Him. It is in accordance with the counsel of the Holy Spirit: Think of God in a spirit of goodness (Wisdom 1:1).” The post A Novena in Honor of Ven. Bruno Lanteri Day 5 – Mp3 audio and Text appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Day 4 From a letter to Ermentrude of Bruges This labour of ours is brief, but the reward is eternal; let the noises of the fleeting world and its shadow not confound you; let the empty spectres of the deceiving world not drive you mad; shut your ears to the whispers of hell and, strong, break down its attempts [against you]; willingly bear adverse evils and let provident goods not puff you up; for the one requires faith, the other demands it; what you promised God, faithfully render, and he will repay you. Dear St. Clare, As a young girl you imitated your mother's love for the poor of your native Assisi. Inspired by the preaching of St. Francis, who sang enthusiastically of His Lord Jesus and Lady Poverty, you gave your life to Jesus at nineteen years of age, allowing St. Francis to cut off your beautiful hair and invest you with the Franciscan habit. All through your life you offered your great suffering for your Sisters, the Poor Clares, and the conversion of souls. You greatly aided St. Francis with his new order, carrying on his spirit in the Franciscans after his death. Most of all you had a deep love of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament, which fueled your vocation to love and care for the poor. Please pray for me (mention your request) that I will seek to keep Jesus as my first love, as you did. Help me to grow in love of the Blessed Sacrament, to care for the poor, and to offer my whole life to God. Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of St. Clare. Through her intercession, please hear and answer my prayer, in the name of Jesus Your Son. Amen. The post Day 4 St. Clare of Assisi Novena – Discerning Hearts podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.