Hearing With The Heart: Conversations Over Coffee

Janet and Bridgett finish up the Glorious Mysteries with the crowning of the Blessed Mother as Queen of Heaven and Earth!  Mary's whole earthly life was a series of "Yeses" to the Father and the Son.  As they explore this final Glorious Mystery, there are so many ties to the Old Testament and Mary's role as our Mother, our intercessor, and our defender.  Baby Step:  Read and pray with Revelation 12Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

Ascension, Assumption.....what does it all mean?  In this episode, Bridgett and Janet explore the difference between the Ascension of Jesus into Heaven and the Assumption of Mary.  They discuss how Mary is viewed in Janet's previous faith and just how the dogma of the Assumption came to be.Baby Step:  Watch the Chosen episode:  The Wedding Feast of Cana to see how Mary leads us to Jesus!!!Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

Bridgett and Janet discuss the important role of the Holy Spirit and what a profound effect it had on the Church.  We need to say "YES" to the leadings of the Holy Spirit so we can become all that God calls us to do!BABY STEPS: Read the Acts of the Apostles, Chapters 1-4, to see the Holy Spirit at work in the early Church, and/or Google to find all the Scriptures related to the Holy Spirit, and pray with the one that speaks to you!   Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

Janet and Bridgett explore the Second Glorious Mystery: The Ascension of the Lord.  This mystery has a special place in our hearts, as we both have strong connections to the Church of the Ascension!  This station sets the stage for how Jesus continued to transform the lives of the Apostles and our lives today!!!BABY STEP:  Read one or all the Gospel accounts of the Ascension and take a sneak peek at the Acts of the Apostles, Chapters 1 and 2!!!Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

He is Risen!!!!  Janet and Bridgett talk about the Resurrection and how, without it, our lives as Christians have no meaning.  Baby Step:  Practicing living the Resurrection by small acts of kindness, generosity, compassion, and/or the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy.  Chris Stefanik:  The Shroud of TurinSend us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

Oh, what a difference a few weeks can make.  From the recording of the Fourth Station to the recording of the Fifth Station, both Janet and Bridgett have had significant changes in their lives.  This Fifth Station:  Jesus Dies on the Cross carries new meaning and insights for both of them.  Join them as they share their insights into what this final Sorrowful Mystery holds.  NOTE:  Bridgett and Janet will be taking a small break and will return during the Easter Season.Baby Step:  Take time to contemplate the Cross and how your journey through the Sorrowful Mysteries has impacted your approach to Good Friday this year.Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

The journey of the Sorrowful Mysteries continues with the Carrying of the Cross.  This Fourth Station is Jesus carrying His Cross.  We are told by Jesus, "...whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me" (Matthew 10:38).  OUCH, but, Janet and Bridgett will share how we can use our crosses for God's honor and glory.  Baby Step:  READ from Everyone’s Way of the Cross by Clarence Enzler (Ave Maria Press)Reflection:I told you at the start, my other self, my life was not complete until I crowned it by my death.  Your "way" is not complete unless you crown it by your life.Accept each moment as it comes to you, with faith and trust that all that happens has my mark on it.  A simple fiat, this is all it takes; a breathing in your heart, "I will it, Lord."So seek me not in far-off places. I am close at hand. Your workbench, office, kitchen, these are altars where you offer love.  And I am with you there.Go now! Take up your cross and with your life complete your way.Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

Janet and Bridgett share the ironies associated with Jesus' being hailed as a king by the Roman soldiers.  The Crown of Thorns that most of us recognize may not have been what was actually placed on Jesus' head.  Jesus is confident in these moments because He knows who He is.  Can we draw strength from this when others may mock us or someone we love?  This type of behavior is in no way justified.  As beloved sons and daughters of God, we are loved unconditionally by our Father.  Our identity is in God!!!Baby Step:  Look in the mirror each day and say to yourself, "I am a Beloved Son or a Beloved Daughter of the Father!  I am loved unconditionally!!"Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

This was a challenging episode to research and record.  The world has, in many ways, desensitized itself to violence.  We watch movies, play video games, take a momentary pause when we hear about another mass shooting, and, when we think about the Passion and death of our Savior Jesus Christ.  Janet and Bridgett discuss some of this, as well as finding ways for each of us to draw strength from Jesus willingly enduring this customary step before a Roman crucifixion.  Jesus was scourged.  How can that help us live this Lenten season differently?Baby Step:  Pray with Isaiah 52: 13—53: 12Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

Janet and Bridgett begin the journey through the Sorrowful Mysteries with the realization that, in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus truly had a choice.  We sometimes lose sight of His humanity and the real struggle and anguish He experienced, and how that can strengthen us when we too face the challenges in our own lives. Baby Step:  Pray with the Agony in the Garden. Surrender our own trials and need for self-reliance so we, like Jesus, can trust the will of the Father.What is the Rosary?  (Glossary of the CCC) A prayer in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which repeats the privileged Marian prayer Ave Maria or Hail Mary in “decades” of ten prayers, each preceded by the Pater Noster (“Our Father”) and concluded by the Gloria Patri (Glory Be to the Father), accompanied by meditation on the mysteries of Christ’s life.  The rosary was developed by medieval piety in the Latin church as a popular substitute for the liturgical prayer of the Hours (2678, 2708; cf. 1674).QUOTE FROM SAINT JPII “The Rosary, though clearly Marian in character, is at heart a Christocentric prayer.  In the sobriety of its elements, it has all the depth of the Gospel message in its entirety, of which it can be said to be a compendium.”  “One thing is clear: although the repeated Hail Mary is addressed directly to Mary, it is to Jesus that the act of love is ultimately directed, with her and through her.  The repetition is nourished by the desire to be conformed ever more completely to Christ, the true program of the Christian life.”Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

Bridgett and Janet introduce the 2026 Lenten series Living our Sorrowful Mysteries.  As our Lenten journey has prayer, almsgiving, and fasting as a traditional part of the Catholic/Christian experience, the Sorrowful Mysteries become more and more a part of our daily lives.  Janet and Bridgett lay the groundwork for how we can learn from the Sorrowful Mysteries to strengthen our own lives.Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

Janet and Bridgett finish the final five letters of The Practice of the Presence of God.  What Brother Lawrence emphasizes is that offering our suffering to God and, even praising Him for it, makes the suffering we face more bearable.  We cannot avoid suffering in this world, but we can learn how it is an opportunity to deepen our relationship with the Lord.Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

This week, Bridgett and Janet share their reactions and insights to letters 5-10 of The Practice of the Presence of God.   The relationships in our lives deepen and become more lasting when we choose to spend time together and truly learn to listen and share thoughts, struggles, joys, and sorrows.  Why do we think our loving Father desires anything less from us, His beloved sons and daughters?  Baby Step:  When you find your mind wandering during prayer, STOP, ask God to help you stay focused, and then return to prayer.  Do not beat yourself up.  You are taking the first steps towards breaking the habit.  Give yourself the grace God, your loving Father gives you!Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

Janet and Bridgett begin exploring the first four of the fourteen letters included in The Practice of the Presence of God.  Brother Lawrence's life, like ours many times, was not easy.  For him, journeying with the Lord at all times was not an overnight process.  It had to become a habit, just like it can for us.  Let's discover what we can learn from Brother Lawrence so that we too can Practice the Presence of God.Baby Step:  Pray for the Lord to reveal any obstacles that keep you from a deeper relationship with Him.Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

The Practice of the Presence of God is a short but powerful book that tells of how Brother Lawrence (c. 1614 - 1691) lived a life in the presence of God.  Janet and Bridgett begin to unpack what this really meant for Brother Lawrence, but, more importantly, what it can mean for us today.  Brother Lawrence has found a way to live out 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18 "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."  We can too!Baby Step:  Take a step towards practicing the presence of God and pray this prayer from Brother Lawrence, "O my God, since Thou are with me, and I must now, in obedience to Thy commands, apply my mind to these outward things, I beseech Thee, grant me the grace to continue in They Presence; and to this end do Thou prosper me with Thy assistance, receive all my works and pssess all my affections." (The Practice of the Presence of God, Conversation 4).Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

Life changes, and so does how we need to look at it.  This week, Bridgett and Janet explore how the changes in their lives have allowed them to reexamine what it means to Slow Down to the Speed of Joy.  Using Matthew Kelly's book, Slowing Down to the Speed of Joy, they share how their experiences in the past six months have caused them to change how they try to live the lessons shared in the book.  Baby Step:  Be intentional about examining your own day, week, month,...and you you can Slow Down to the Speed of Joy and live the life God has planned for you!Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

Bridgett and Janet welcome in 2026 by exploring their words from last year, Open and Enough, respectively.  They also share what their words will be for this year.  Join them and ask the Lord to reveal what your word should be for 2026 and see how God uses that word throughout this coming year!Baby Step:  Choice a Word for 2026Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

As a Christmas bonus, Janet and Bridgett explore which of the Nativity "characters" they each relate to the most.  It's a fun practice Janet started in her journey with those seeking initiation into the Catholic Church.  Enjoy listening to who they each selected and why; then try it with your own family and friends.  Janet and Bridgett thank you for being a gift that they receive every day of the year!!!  MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!Baby Step:  Try the Nativity Character Game with family and friends!Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

Janet and Bridgett explore the Catechism of the Catholic Church's explanation of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ.  Knowing why Jesus came into the world helps all of us understand what Christmas is all about.  God's love for us is the gift we each receive through the Incarnation.  What a beautiful gift!!!Baby Step:  Read and Pray with one or all of the four reasons for the Incarnation.CCC References:  457 - 460Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

Have you ever really taken the time to think about what our world would be like if Jesus had never been born?  Janet and Bridgett take some time this week to ponder that very thought and then ask you to do the same as the Baby Step for this week.  Try to imagine a world where Jesus was never born....Baby Step: Ponder and pray about where your life would be if Jesus was never born?Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

Janet and Bridgett start this Advent season by discussing how we may or may not be keeping Christ in Christmas.  With all the secular attractions and busyness of the season, we can lose sight of the real reason for the season.  Join them as they explore this reality and how to slow down and recognize Christ in this season of preparation.Baby Step:  The Litany of Letting Go by Father Josh JohnsonSend us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

Janet and Bridgett take a look at what all those numbers in the Bible actually symbolize.  From the number one to the number one thousand, certain numbers carry different Biblical meanings than you might think.  Enjoy this informative but light-hearted episode!  BABY STEP: Prepare your heart for Advent Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

Janet and Bridgett finish their discussion on the Beatitudes by talking about the 'Woes' mentioned in Luke and Matthew's Gospels.  The Beatitudes have shown us that we are called to do more than live by the letter of the law.  We are called into a relationship with the Lord.  Jesus wanted to tell us that there are certain 'woes' for us to avoid when living in union with Him.  Bridgett and Janet explore those while sharing some personal insights of their own struggles.Baby Step:  An Examination of Consciousness Using the BeatitudesSend us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

Jesus saved a very challenging one for last.  Janet and Bridgett explore how Jesus demonstrated for us how we can fully live our faith, which may lead to persecution.  We may have some tough choices to make as believers in God.  We are given the grace to face those challenges.  We must each ask ourselves, "What are we willing to do to live out our belief in God?" We will face challenges!  Let's prepare to face them with the love and grace God provides!Baby Step:  Observe where God may be calling you to defend your faith.  Thank Him for the opportunity, especially if it comes with resistance.Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

Bridgett and Janet discuss what it means to be a peacemaker in our world today.  Jesus, as with all the Beautitudes, is the ultimate example of what a peacemaker is.  They share how synodality is a way to approach being a peacemaker by speaking without fear, listening without judgment, and then asking the Holy Spirit what he is trying to tell you.  We are given the grace of peace at our Baptism but we must ask to receive that peace when needed.  God's grace will be provided!Baby Step:  Think of moments that may be coming up where you can truly be a peacemaker and ask God to show you how to do so.Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

Janet and Bridgett continue their deep dive into the Beatitudes.  As with all the Beatitudes, Jesus is our perfect example.  Being pure in heart is "simply" doing the will of the Father.  Easier said than done!  We are faced with so many things that can distract us from the Father's will.  Join Bridgett and Janet as they share their thoughts on being pure in heart.Baby Step:  Ask God in prayer to reveal ways you may be overindulging in things that are clouding your relationship with Him.How to Discern God's Will by Bishop Robert Barron Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

Bridgett and Janet explore the bond between mercy and forgiveness.  Mercy is so interwoven with forgiveness that one cannot really have one without the other.  Jesus Christ is mercy, and He seeks us out to offer us mercy and forgiveness, while filling us with grace!  The mercy we receive from God is an expression of His love and humility!  BABY STEP:  Look in the mirror and see that you are forgiven, so you can then forgive others!  Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

In today's world, so many of us don't really know what it means to hunger or thirst in the physical sense, yet too many of us don't know what it is like to hunger or thirst for righteousness.  Jesus, our model for all the Beatitudes, He thirsts for a relationship with us and longs for us to hunger and thirst to know God better.  Join Janet and Bridgett as they explore this often overlooked Beatitude.Baby Step:  Pray Psalm 63Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

Meek is NOT weak!  Janet and Bridgett try to break down the Biblical meaning of the word 'meek' and how Jesus exemplified what being meek really looks like.  The truth is, meekness requires more strength than simply allowing your reactions to go unchecked.  Learn how you can find your inner meekness!Baby Step:  Spend time in prayer to ask God to show you how to live a life of meekness.Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

Bridgett and Janet share some of the discoveries they made about what this Beatitude really means.  We often think it is mourning for those we have lost, which is true, but it is so much more than that.  The Beatitudes really do reveal how we should live and follow in Christ's example.  Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

This Beatitude is the foundation upon which all the others are built.  Janet and Bridgett begin with this first Beatitude and share how Jesus is the ultimate example of how to live our lives through the lens of the Beatitudes.  Being poor in Spirit goes beyond what we normally think.  Join them as they dig deeper into the first of eight Beatitudes.Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

Before beginning the deep dive into the eight Beatitudes from Matthew's Gospel, Janet and Bridgett lay the foundation for the series.  They discuss the terms, their initial thoughts, and, surprise, go on a slight tangent.  You don't want to miss it!!Baby Step:  Read Matthew 6: 1-12Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

Janet and Bridgett share time catching up, laughing, and just in amazement of the fact that they are starting Season 3 of Hearing with the Heart, Conversations Over Coffee!  They also introduce the first topic for this season, The Beatitudes.BABY STEP:  Reflect on your relationship with the Beatitudes (Matthew 6: 1-12)Eight Promises of God: Discovering Hope Through the Beatitudes by Father Mark-Mary Ames, CFR.Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

Bridgett and Janet finish up Dr. John Bergsma's book , Psalm Basics for Catholics: Seeing Salvation History in a New Way.  Together, they explore the three different ways to pray with the Psalms as shared by Dr. Bergsma.  One of the recommendations is to identify the emotion you are currently feeling and find a Psalm that can help with that.  Below is a list of emotions and the corresponding Psalms. Thank you for the blessing of journeying with you this season! We look forward to starting a new season in September!!!  EMOTION | PSALMSHappy | 92, 93, 96, 97, 100, 136, 150Pensive, Downcast | 42, 43Fearful | 16, 23, 27, 46Sorry, Repentant | 25, 32, 51, 79Perplexed | 73, 90, 119Sleepy | 3, 4, 127Indignant | 7, 17, 82, 94, 129Sick | 6, 30, 41, 103Romantic | 45Scared | 55, 56, 91Tearful, Brokenhearted | 6, 88, 137Greedy | 49, 52, 73Weary | 6, 22, 31, 63, 90Bergsma, John. Psalm Basics for Catholics pg. 140-140Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

In this episode Janet and Bridgett finish the final Book of Psalms, Book 5.  These psalms provide us with a happy ending, almost.  They share the psalms that foreshadow Jesus, as well as, the praise that this final book provide.  Like these psalms show us, we should always praise God!Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

Janet and Bridgett explore Psalms 90 - 106.  These Psalms explore the time when the Israelites were in exile, realized it really wasn't God's fault, and found ways to praise Him.  We can find ourselves in situations where we are blaming God for things we did, decisions we made.  Reading some of the Psalms from this section could help guide us to ways of praising God, despite our circumstances.Baby Step: Pray with Psalm 90, 91, 95, 100, and/or 104Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

We are encountering the Psalms that are moving away from joy and descending into grief.  Bridgett and Janet explore Psalms 73, 81, 84, 88, and 89, sharing insights into how they relate to Christ's Passion, the journey of the Apostles, and other connections to the New Testament and our lives today.  Baby Step:  Pray Psalm 88 and even look up the "Where was Jesus held prisoner at Caiaphas's house on Holy Thursday?"Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

We forgot to mention there is no episode this week.  We look forward to sharing Summer with the pSalms next week!!!  PEACE!Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

Today's episode focuses on Psalms 42-72 and introduces two new authors.  Bridgett and Janet spend time talking about how our lives can be centered on thanking God for all He has done, is doing, and will do in our lives.  We have so much to be grateful for, and these Psalms give us examples of how that can be done.Baby Step:  Pray Psalm(s) 50 and/or 51Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

Janet and Bridgett begin discussing the first section of the Psalms 1-41.  They begin by sharing the five ways David handled the hardships in his life.  The focus in on three Psalms but with a new twist to Psalm 23 that neither of them noticed before!  Baby Step:  Pray Psalm 23 Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

This week, Bridgett and Janet continue the introduction of the Psalms, exploring how the various covenants from the Old Testament lead us to the final covenant made with Jesus through His life, death, and Resurrection.  They dive into Psalms 1 and 2 to set the tone for future episodes.Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

Summer with the pSalms begins this week.  Janet and Bridgett share some introductory information and some stories about the types of Psalms.  This is just the beginning of a summer filled with praising, laments, wisdom, and so much more!Psalm Basics for Catholics by John BergsmaBaby Step:  Read the shortest Psalm 131 or Janet's favorite 139.Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

Janet and Bridgett break open a poem by Marianne Williamson that speaks about how we tend to fear how powerful we are.  We are beloved children of God, which makes us pretty amazing, yet we sometimes fear being who God sees us as, because we place more emphasis on who others see us as.  Baby Step:  Pray with Marianne Williamson's PoemBack with you on June 5th!!!Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

Bridgett and Janet let the Holy Spirit inspire their conversation today about how much God loves us!  Inspired by a conversation, a video by Father Mark Toups, and their life journeys, they share how God wants to lavish us with His love, not for what we do for Him but simply because He loves us unconditionally!Baby Step:   The Litany of Trust Pray the Litany of Trust and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you.  Stop if something resonates with you and pray for wisdom and insight.Additional ResourcesAsk Boldly, Receive Fully — Week 3 of Easter with Ascension (feat. Fr. Mark Toups) John 15: 9-17Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

Janet is back! Janet and Bridgett explore what the Easter season is about and how we can celebrate it! There is a joy to the Easter season that sometimes gets missed.  Baby Step: Ask the Holy Spirit to point out how to live with the hope and joy that comes from knowing death is not the end, but a transition to new life!Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

Bridgett is again joined by Paul Flanagan for a continuing discussion of the Holy Spirit. In this episode, they explore how encountering the Holy Spirit and trusting the Holy Spirit's presence in your own life can be transforming. Paul shares his personal understanding of the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) and how the Holy Spirit has transformed his life.  Baby Steps:  Continue to pray for God to open your heart to the Holy Spirit, and then seek people out who can guide you on your journey to a deeper encounter with the Spirit.RESOURCES: •A Faith Journey, Paul Flanagan, 2020ohttps://www.amazon.com/Faith-Journey-Paul-Flanagan/dp/B089D3SBJ7 (Book –144 pages)•Introduction to the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, John and Therese Boucher, Servant Books, 2004ohttps://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Catholic-Charismatic-Renewal/dp/0867166150 (Pamphlet – 22 pages)ohttps://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Catholic-Charismatic-Renewal-ebook/dp/B0BSP1LMN9 (Book – 80 pages)•Clothed With Power From On High, Bishop Scott McCaig, Word Among Us Press, 2023ohttps://www.amazon.com/Clothed-Power-High-Catechesis-Charisms/dp/1593257139 (Book – 74 pages) Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

Bridgett is joined by guest Paul Flanagan for Part 1 of a discussion about the Holy Spirit. In this episode, Paul guides us through both the Old and New Testaments and explains how the Holy Spirit has been instrumental in the life of the Church. The Holy Spirit is an integral part of our faith journey, and our Scripture provides a beautiful look into how the Spirit has been part of our world since the beginning.Baby Step:  During your prayer time, ask God to open your heart to the Holy Spirit.Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

Janet and Bridgett walk through the Passion from the Gospel of Luke using Lectio Divina.  Janet puts herself in the place of Peter, whereas Bridgett puts herself in the place of Mary, the Mother of Jesus.  They share what their journeys with Peter and Mary revealed to them and encourage you to do something similar.  Baby Step:  Pick someone in the Passion of Luke, read through it through that person's eyes, and allow the Holy Spirit to Spirit to you.Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

Bridgett and Janet explore the thought of being lost. Janet explains how she had a dream that led her to ask the question, "Are we lost?" Together they talk about what it means to be lost, how God is with us always, and why being willing to explore those areas of our lives can draw us deeper into our relationship with Christ.Baby Step:  Sit with the Lord and allow Him to show you areas of your life where you may be lost.  Concord Pastor Blog (Janet Referenced)Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!

Am I failing Lent? Janet and Bridgett share a conversation about Bridgett's thoughts on failing Lent. What is Lent supposed to look like? We need to receive God's unconditional love and have time just to be with Jesus.Baby Step:  Spend some quality time just being with God and receiving His love.Send us Fan MailThanks for joining us. Have a blessed day!