The Avignon and Rome Years – St. Catherine of Siena with Fr. Thomas McDermott O.P. Fr. Thomas McDermott and Kris McGregor discuss the life of St. Catherine of Siena and her role in persuading the Pope to return to Rome from Avignon after a 70-year absence. They shine a light on St. Catherine’s remarkable transformation from a seemingly shy recluse to a prominent figure advising the Pope. Her directness and authority, rooted in her divine revelations and visions, were instrumental in influencing the Pope’s decision. Fr. McDermott also shares his personal connection to St. Catherine, describing ..read more

Spiritual Masters: Living and Praying in the Catholic Tradition by Archbishop Emeritus Alfred Hughes on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor Kris McGregor discusses with Archbishop Hughes his recently published book, “Spiritual Masters: Living and Praying in the Catholic Tradition.” Archbishop Hughes explains that the book was inspired by a widespread desire for deeper spiritual engagement and a lack of knowledge on how to pursue it more meaningfully, in addition to the importance of moving beyond mere factual knowledge to gaining wisdom through reflection and divine guidance, advocating for ..read more

St. Bernadette, A Holy Life- In Conversation with Patricia McEachern Patricia McEachern, an associate professor of French at Drew University in Missouri, discusses her book “A Holy Life: The Writings of St. Bernadette of Lourdes” with Bruce and Kris McGregor. Patricia shares her fascination with St. Bernadette and her journey from being introduced to St. Bernadette through a movie to translating her letters and spiritual notebook. She shares personal experiences, including her visit to Lourdes, which ultimately led to her conversion to Catholicism. “St. Bernadette, A Holy Life” shows readers ..read more

The Mystical Experiences – St. Catherine of Siena with Fr. Thomas McDermott O.P. Fr. Thomas McDermott and Kris McGregor discuss the life of St. Catherine of Siena, focusing on her mystical experiences and their significance: he mystical spousals with Christ, her understanding of virtues and their role in Christian life, and her practical approach to serving others, exemplified by her care for the sick and difficult; her willingness to endure suffering for the salvation of others, culminating in her experience of the stigmata. Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions: Mystical Spousals and Div ..read more

Tuesday of the Third Week of Eastertide – 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 According to St. John 6:30-35 The people said to Jesus, ‘What sign will you give to show us that we should believe in you? What work will you do? Our ..read more

Listening for God’s Voice – “What am I to do?” The Discernment of God’s Will in Everyday Decisions with Fr. Timothy Gallagher Fr. Timothy Gallagher and Kris McGregor discuss the importance of praying with Scripture and embracing silence as spiritual means to aid in discernment and the transformative power of engaging with the Word of God daily, allowing individuals to develop an intimate knowledge of Christ and grow in love for Him. Through prayerful reflection on Scripture, one becomes attuned to the voice of God and gains clarity in discerning His will. Creating space for silence in one’s li ..read more

Sunday of the Third Week of Easter – 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 According to St. Luke 24:35-48 The disciples told their story of what had happened on the road and how they had recognised Jesus at the breaking of bread ..read more

The Nature of Spiritual Direction – The Life of St. Teresa of Avila – Beginning to Pray with Dr. Anthony Lilles Dr. Anthony Lilles and Kris McGregor delve into the topic of spiritual direction, using insights from the experiences of St. Teresa of Avila. The significance of spiritual guidance and the challenges that can arise when seeking direction for one’s spiritual life, the importance of deep listening and discernment in spiritual direction, all highlighting the need for directors to recognize the work of the Holy Spirit in individuals’ lives. Through the example of St. Teresa of Avila, th ..read more

A Sister of St. Thérèse: Servant of God, Léonie Martin – Bearer of Hope with Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Episode 6 In this episode, Zélie’s battle with cancer ends with her death.  Now a great time of transition begins for the entire Martin family, especially for Léonie.  The family moves from Alcon to Lisieux to be closer to Zélie’s brother, Isidore, and his wife, Celine.  Per one of Zélie’s dying wishes, Celine lovingly becomes like a second mother to the girls. Something remarkable is beginning to occur at this time.  Léonie, over the course of severa ..read more

Introduction & Childhood – St. Catherine of Siena with Fr. Thomas McDermott O.P. In this introductory episode, Fr. Thomas McDermott and Kris McGregor discuss the life and teachings of St. Catherine of Sienna. Fr. McDermott shares his personal journey of discovering and studying St. Catherine, highlighting her significant impact despite initial challenges in understanding her work, particularly her major work, “The Dialogue” and how St. Catherine’s reputation spread through Raymond of Capua’s biography of her, despite some differences due to historical context. Delving into St. Catherine’s ..read more