Ven. Lanteri Retreat Archives - 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 – Discerning Hearts podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

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 called him Saint Leto [joy] and Saint IIario [laughter]. Joy was a grace he daily prayed for at Mass. 2. Think frequently of the Lord and thank Him for the goods that we possess and hope to possess. For example, thank him for the grace of God that we possess, and for the Paradise that we hope for. Let us go often to take from the Angels and Blessed above, an air of joyfulness, thinking that from now on we are citizens of Heaven and fortifying ourselves in Christian hope. 3. Perform good deeds with holy readiness and simplicity. Do things with good intention. Do them immediately, without reasoning too much on them, becoming over-reflective. Rather, cut off all ruminations, saying to oneself: ‘I should not dwell on this, one needs only to do what is good.’ Likewise, it is helpful to act with holy freedom of spirit, despising every fear that is not founded on offending God, not waiting for tomorrow that which you can do today.” The post A Novena in Honor of Ven. Bruno Lanteri Day 7 – Seminar/Retreat Novena appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

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 fish. The joyful man has great regard for and always enjoys the spiritual goods he hopes for and possesses. When these are compared to the apparent goods temptations offer, he quickly decides the question with the exclamation of St. Philip, "Paradise, Paradise." Therefore, he sins less and gains much more merit... With joyfulness, one drives out the sloth which impedes the practice of virtue. With joyfulness one easily acquires holiness and perfects oneself through virtuous actions. "God loves a joyful giver" (2 Corinthians 9: 7). Joyful giving is done not as a burden, but by good grace, with love. If one thinks too much about a good action that is to be performed [and thus hesitates], the merit of that action will be diminished... So act promptly... The one who gives promptly, gives double. Compare a sad person with a joyful one in their daily activities. The despondent one behaves like an old lazy man, who is sleepy, cold, frozen.... The joyful one behaves like a young man who carries himself well, is graceful, robust, and energetic. In fact, if one prays, if one meditates with joy, if one approaches the sacraments joyfully, if one converses with his neighbor with joy, how many sins against God and neighbor will be avoided! With joyfulness one's perseverance in good is more easily assured, because doing things with sadness and against one's will constitutes a violent state that cannot last. In such a case, if great difficulties are encountered, how much more easily is everything abandoned. The joyful man, on the other hand, is resolute, generous, energetic, and so he easily overcomes the difficulty of perseverance.” The post A Novena in Honor of Ven. Bruno Lanteri Day 6 – Seminar/Retreat Novena appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

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 enjoy them and celebrate them? 2. Our honor demands it. How can we rejoice and show gratitude [for spiritual goods] if we are sad and melancholy? One would enjoy, most certainly, being favored by a prince, receiving worldly riches and the hope for even more. Do we have any excuse for not enjoying being favored by God, receiving spiritual riches and the well-founded hope of eternal riches yet to come? 3. Sacred Scripture testifies that God’s manifest desire is our joy. Here are some of the Lord’s invitations: • “Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4) • “Rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:20) • “I recognized that there is nothing better than to rejoice and to do well during life.” (Ecclesiastes 3:12) • “Nothing is more delightful than joy of the heart.” (Sirach 30:16) • “Go, eat your bread with joy and drink your wine with a merry heart, because your works are pleasing to God.” (Ecclesiastes 9:7) • “Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; exult, all you upright of heart.” (Psalm 32:11)” The post A Novena in Honor of Ven. Bruno Lanteri Day 4 – In Preparation for the Seminar/Retreat 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 – In Preparation for the Seminar/Retreat appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

In this episode, Fr. Gallagher offers that a clear understanding of one’s state of life and of one’s specific path toward holiness—one’s vocation—forms a basic point of the spiritual direction which Lanteri offers to the laity. It is in “this state…and not in another” that God “wills that I serve Him and gain my salvation.” ... Read more The post BA-V15 – The Quality and Aim of Our Actions – Begin Again with Fr. Timothy Gallagher appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

In this episode, Fr. Timothy Gallagher discusses the actual spiritual direction Ven. Bruno Lanteri offered to a laywoman, Gabriella Solaro della Margarita, mother of Clemente Solara della Margarita, well known in Italian history as a political figure and faithful Catholic. The mother of six children, she is described as a woman “of faithful heart… with ... Read more The post BA-V12 Spiritual Accompaniment and its Fruits Pt 1 – Begin Again with Fr. Timothy Gallagher appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

In this episode, In this episode, Fr. Timothy Gallagher discusses the actual spiritual direction Ven. Bruno Lanteri offered to a laywoman, Gabriella Solaro della Margarita. You can obtain just the audio podcast if you would prefer For the other episodes in this series check out Fr. Timothy Gallagher’s “Discerning Hearts” page     The post BA-V13 Spiritual Accompaniment and its Fruits Pt 2 – Begin Again with Fr. Timothy Gallagher appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

In this episode, Fr. Timothy Gallagher discusses the time of the “Restoration” in the life of Ven. Bruno Lanteri. This is a period where there is now freedom in Europe to practice the faith, but a time of increasing secular hostility directed at the Church. Though limited by his health, Ven. Lanteri, inspired and supplied the formation to those who would go out and mission to the world. Deeply rooted in the Lord, with incredible zeal, he would awaken the “daring to want to be saints” in those he would touch through his efforts. Fr. Gallagher discusses the importance of the “Spiritual Exercises” and the daily practice of prayer and study. The post BA-V9 The Daring To Want To Be Saints – Begin Again with Fr. Timothy Gallagher appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

In this episode, Fr. Timothy Gallagher discusses the importance of spiritual direction in the life of Ven. Lanteri and in his instruction to his spiritual directees. Fr. Gallagher addresses what is it to be a “spiritual director”? What are the characteristics of the director-directee relationship? He will emphasize the importance of the “continuity of contact” which is vitally important in that relationship. Also, Fr. Gallagher discusses how that relationship should be a “good fit” for both individuals. He will stress the importance of “not traveling alone on the spiritual journey”. The post BA-V7 Suffering and Growth in the Spiritual Life – Begin Again with Fr. Timothy Gallagher appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

In this episode, Fr. Timothy Gallagher discusses the difficult times that was experienced by Ven. Bruno Lanteri, not only as a result of the political and cultural movements of the day, but also from physical and emotional persecutions in his own life. After being stripped of almost everything, Ven. Lanteri’s spiritual practice sustained and strengthened ... Read more The post BA-V8 Suffering and Growth in the Spiritual Life – Begin Again with Fr. Timothy Gallagher appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

In this episode, Fr. Timothy Gallagher discusses the importance of the “spiritual struggles” in the life Ven. Lanteri. Outwardly, he was faced with a hostile secular climate. He also experienced tremendous physical struggles, as well as an inner resistance to certain virtues. Prayer, meditation, reflection and study became a remedy for Ven. Lanteri. Fr. Gallagher ... Read more The post BA-V5 The Spiritual Struggle and the Remedy Begin Again with Fr. Timothy Gallagher appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

In this episode, Fr. Timothy Gallagher discusses the importance of the virtues of prudence, humility, and perseverance in the life of Ven. Lanteri and in his instruction to his spiritual directees. He speaks of what is at the heart of what turns discouragement into hope – that it is vital to have a deep sense of the goodness of God. Ven. Lanteri encourages all of us even today to recall God’s mercy, faithfulness, and love in the circumstances and challenges found in the context of our vocation, whether in the married, single, or religious life. Order in our spiritual practice, used in a flexible manner, is essential to living out our vocation. The post BA-V6 Refuse to Accept Discouragement – Begin Again with Fr. Timothy Gallagher appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

A Novena in honor of Ven. Bruno Lanteri, founder of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary Day 2 – Letting Go of Worldly Joy “Such [worldly] joy is too shallow; it is as shallow as the thing enjoyed. This kind of childish joy, shared by the animals, soon passes away. Even if this joy lasts ... Read more The post A Novena in Honor of Ven. Bruno Lanteri Day 2 – In Preparation for the Seminar/Retreat appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

In this episode, Fr. Timothy Gallagher discusses the influence of Fr. Nikolaus Joseph Albert von Diesbach on the young Bruno Lanteri. An encounter with a good spiritual book facilitates the conversion of Fr. Diesbach at a critical time in his life. Spiritual reading and the use of “media” of the time is a precursor to ... Read more The post BA-V2 – The Value of Spiritual Reading – Begin Again with Fr. Timothy Gallagher appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

A Novena in honor of Ven. Bruno Lanteri, founder of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary Day 1 Beginning in Hope  Whatever my failings may be, I will never lose heart, aware that I will commit many such failings; but I will always ask God’s forgiveness immediately, and strive to do better. And I will ... Read more The post A Novena in Honor of Ven. Bruno Lanteri Day 1 – In Preparation for the Seminar/Retreat appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.