The Bridegroom Speaks...Living Water for your desert heart.

"Souls that make an appeal to My mercy delight Me. To such souls I grant even more graces than they ask. I cannot punish even the greatest sinner if he makes an appeal to My compassion." Diary of St. Faustina, 1146Mercy is not just a characteristic of God, it is an essential part of Who He is. Mercy is a core attribute of God. Jesus reveals the infinite depths of God's mercy and compassion to us - in His life and ministry, in His revelations to saints such as St. Faustina, in our own lives, and in the Song of Songs. Join Father Michael Stalla and Laura Ercolino in a conversation about the merciful love of Christ the Bridegroom.

In this special Good Friday episode, Laura reflects on her experience in the Pit where Jesus was held on Holy Thursday. During her pilgrimage to the Holy Land, she spent time in the Pit as well as the site of the Bridegroom's scourging and Crucifixion. Walking in His footsteps through his Passion gave her a deeper understanding of His nearness to us in our suffering. May her meditation comfort your heart and help you to come to believe in Christ the Bridegroom's faithful love for you.Hopesgarden.com

I was honored to have Father Allen Hoffa on The Bridegroom Speaks podcast to talk about St. Joseph. Father Hoffa shares with us, his insight as to St. Joseph's role in teaching Christ what it means to be a gentleman. This conversation led to a discussion of the ways in which St. Joseph can be a powerful intercessor for both men and women, in particular, under the title Terror of Demons.Encounter the love of Christ the Bridegroom and learn more about God's divine love song, the Song of Songs, at Hopesgarden.comHope's Garden | Instagram, Facebook | Linktree

The Bridegroom calls for us to meet him on the "mountain of myrrh", Golgotha. Will we let him draw us in His footsteps? He has already climbed this mountain. There is no suffering, no trial or tribulation we endure alone. He Who has already conquered sin and death is with us; He has gone before us.Encounter the love of Christ the Bridegroom and learn more about God's divine love song, the Song of Songs, at Hopesgarden.comHope's Garden | Instagram, Facebook | Linktree

Father Allen Hoffa of Integrity Restored and Laura have a heart to heart conversation about the Gospel story of the woman caught in adultery. The message that echoes throughout their conversation is that the Bridegroom desires to meet us all in our misery, our sin, and our suffering. He does not come to condemn us but to pour His mercy and healing upon us, just as He did for the woman caught in adultery.You can learn more about Father Hoffa's work with Integrity Restored here: https://integrityrestored.com/Encounter the love of Christ the Bridegroom and learn more about God's divine love song, the Song of Songs, at Hopesgarden.comHope's Garden | Instagram, Facebook | Linktree

Laura welcomes Dr. Clare Ten Eyck to the podcast. Dr. Clare shares the story of her journey through the trials of marriage and motherhood while working with the Lord on the healing of her memories.Encounter the love of Christ the Bridegroom and learn more about God's divine love song, the Song of Songs, at Hopesgarden.comHope's Garden | Instagram, Facebook | Linktree

I was honored to have Dr. Christopher West as my guest on the Bridegroom Speaks podcast. Our conversation was so inspiring. If you are unfamiliar with the work of Christopher West, you can learn more at the following links:YouTube Channel - @TheologyoftheBodyInstitute | https://tobinstitute.org/Encounter the love of Christ the Bridegroom and learn more about God's divine love song, the Song of Songs, at Hopesgarden.comHope's Garden | Instagram, Facebook | Linktree

Dr. Christopher West of the Theology of the Body Institute joins Laura in this special episode of The Bridegroom Speaks podcast. Christopher and Laura discuss the nuptial mystery veiled in the liturgy of the Holy Mass. Join us for this Holy Spirit inspired conversation! Learn more about St. John Paul II's Theology of the Body at https://tobinstitute.org/And encounter the healing love of Christ the Bridegroom at https://hopesgarden.com/

Father Michael Stalla and Laura share the story of how Christ the Bridegroom freed her from exile in an abusive marriage to the freedom of being His bride.Encounter the love of Christ the Bridegroom and learn more about God's divine love song, the Song of Songs, at Hopesgarden.comHope's Garden | Instagram, Facebook | Linktree

Part two of Laura's conversation with Bernhard Streisselberger, host of the Men of Hope podcast. Laura and Bernhard continue their conversation on the life-changing teachings of St. John Paul II's "Theology of the Body". In this episode, they focus on the intermingling of suffering and joy as we learn to make a gift of ourselves to others.Listen to part 1, "St. John Paul II's Gift to the World", here: https://rss.com/podcasts/menofhope/1836279

Laura and Father Allen Hoffa take a look at the Gospel story of the woman at the well through the lens of Christ the Bridegroom, and talk about how we can apply the lessons in this story to our own lives.Encounter the love of Christ the Bridegroom and learn more about God's divine love song, the Song of Songs, at Hopesgarden.comHope's Garden | Instagram, Facebook | Linktree

The Bridegroom is coming to bring His eternal springtime to our hearts. In this Jubilee Year of Hope, more than ever, people need to see, not just hear about the hope we have in Christ. In this video, I share how I try to bring a little of the springtime hope of the Bridegroom to the people in my life.Encounter the love of Christ the Bridegroom and learn more about God's divine love song, the Song of Songs, at Hopesgarden.comHope's Garden | Instagram, Facebook | Linktree

This special episode is an excerpt from a virtual retreat with young adult women in Vijayawada, India. Father Michael Stalla, Laura Ercolino, and Hope's Garden member Remyl Teny facilitated a 5 day Spirituality of Christ the Bridegroom retreat for members of the Talitha Cumma Unnita ministry.Encounter the love of Christ the Bridegroom and learn more about God's divine love song, the Song of Songs, at Hopesgarden.comHope's Garden | Instagram, Facebook | Linktree

Laura welcomes Bernhard Streisselberger, host of the Men of Hope podcast, to share a short summary of St. John Paul II's "Theology of the Body" and teachings on "Givenness". This conversation is only the beginning of this very important and life-changing discussion.Encounter the love of Christ the Bridegroom and learn more about God's divine love song, the Song of Songs, at Hopesgarden.comHope's Garden | Instagram, Facebook | Linktree

In this excerpt from a session of the Hope's Garden study of the Song of Songs, I ponder the verse, “Ah, why are you not my brother nursed at my mother's breast!” (8:1) This verse often causes discomfort and confusion when first encountering the Song but reading the exegesis of writers such as St. Bernard of Clairvaux unveils the beautiful truth of the Bride's words. Her heart is longing for the fulfillment of God's promise to send a savior, a messiah who would be one with His people.My passion is the Song of Songs and uncovering, through prayer and research, what it reveals about God, His love for us, and His desire for us to respond to His love. I share my love of Christ the Bridegroom and His divine love song on the Hope's Garden YouTube Channel, The Bridegroom Speaks podcast, Instagram, and Facebook. Jesus is singing to you! Listen…

Laura explains the layers of Christmas meaning found in the Song of Songs in an interview with Father Bachir.Check out Father's full video on his YouTube channel here: Live with Jesus- Theology of Christmas

Laura reads St. John of the Cross' poem "The Romances".

Father Michael Stalla joins Laura to discuss healing and spiritual direction.

In verses 6:8-6:10 of the Song of Songs, the Bridegroom praises the beauty of His Bride's spiritual strength. These verses so fittingly describe the Blessed Virgin Mary. But they also describe the spiritual strength Jesus desires to help us achieve.

Ponder with Laura the self-gift Jesus the Divine Bridegroom offered to His apostles at the Last Supper and continues to offer to each of us in the Holy Mass.

Laura explains how verses 4:6 to 5:1 of The Song of Songs can be read as Jesus' praise of His Bride, the Church.

Join Laura and the women of the Sisterhood of Mary, Mystical Rose of God on retreat. Journey with them into the depths of your heart where the Bridegroom dwells.

Our journey with Christ is an ascent up the mountain of God. At the summit is the entrance to the eternal wedding feast. Along the way, Jesus offers us healing and deepening relationship with Him. And, of course, there are trials, obstacles, and dangers on the path.In this talk taken from a Brides of Christ Scripture study of The Song of Songs, Laura Ercolino, shares insights on applying this analogy to our daily life.Learn more about the Hope's Garden study of the Song of Songs here: https://hopesgarden.com/song-of-songs-scripture-study/ Learn more about the Ignatius Press book, The Cantata of Love: A Verse by Verse Reading of the Song of Songs here: https://ignatius.com/the-cantata-of-love-colp/ Enthrone Christ the Bridegroom as the King and Spouse of your heart with the Hope's Garden Consecration to Christ the Bridegroom. https://hopesgarden.com/product/consecration-to-christ-the-bridegroom/

"I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete." John 15:11

Jesus and Mary wait for you in Cana. Bring them the water of your tears and experience the healing love of Jesus as He transforms the water of your tears into the wine of divine joy.

When we pray, the Lord listens and responds. As I have been praying the Hope's Garden, "Womb of My Heart Rosary", I have been meditating on the power of prayer and what it is that I am asking of God when I pray. What does it truly mean to ask for a heart that is like Mary's womb? In this excerpt from a Hope's Garden gathering, I share my reflection on these questions and more.You can pray the "Womb of My Heart Rosary" too. It is available in the Hope's Garden Prayer Book on Amazon.

Laura talks about the actions of the Holy Spirit in our garden hearts and shares prayers to the Holy Spirit inspired by verses 4:12-16 of The Song of Songs.Come to Hope's Garden and encounter the love of Chris the Bridegroom is our blossoming community of Catholic women from all around the world.Hopesgarden.com

Jesus and Mary wait for you in Cana. Bring them the water of your tears and experience the healing love of Jesus as He transforms the water of your tears into the wine of divine joy.Learn more about Christ the Bridegroom and the Song of Songs at hopesgarden.com

When we pray, the Lord listens and responds. As I have been praying the Hope's Garden, "Womb of My Heart Rosary", I have been meditating on the power of prayer and what it is that I am asking of God when I pray. What does it truly mean to ask for a heart that is like Mary's womb? In this excerpt from a Hope's Garden gathering, I share my reflection on these questions and more.You can pray the "Womb of My Heart Rosary" too. It is available in the Hope's Garden Prayer Book on Amazon.

Most Sacred and Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us and make our hearts like unto Yours.Learn more about Christ the Bridegroom and the Song of Songs with our heart-led study, Brides of Christ. ⁠⁠Song of Songs Scripture Study.hopesgarden.com

Have you ever thought of salvation history and your own story has a love story in which the divine King and Bridegroom relentlessly pursues His Beloved? In this episode, Laura does just that.Learn more about the Hope's Garden studies of the Song of Songs at hopesgarden.com

Scripture refers to the heart as the place of prayer more than 100 times but what is the heart, really? Laura begins this episode with the Catholic Catechism's beautiful explanation of the heart and then helps us ponder the landscape of our hearts in relation to the Heart of the Bridegroom.

This episode is an excerpt from the Hope's Garden study of the Song of Songs. Laura speaks about the traditional interpretation that says Mary is the Bride of the Song of Songs and how we can allow God to transform us into living icons of the Bride. Learn more about our Song of Songs study, Brides at Christ here: https://hopesgarden.com/song-of-songs-scripture-study/

There is a longing in every human heart that we sense but often cannot name. I believe it is the longing to return home to Eden, to friendship and communion with God. In my prayer, I began asking the Holy Spirit to help me name this ache and envision Eden. This episode is the fruit of my prayer and meditation on the Prologue of the Song of Songs.May our Divine Bridegroom, Jesus, lead us to the true fulfillment of our hearts' desire… union with Him for all eternity in Heaven. Amen.Learn more about Christ the Bridegroom and the Song of Songs at Hopesgarden.com.

Every Christian, men and women, are created to receive the love of Christ just a bride receives the love of her bridegroom. The bridal posture in prayer is one of openness and humility at the feet of Christ so that we might first receive His perfect love and then share it with all those whom we encounter. Learn more about the love of Christ the Bridegroom at hopesgarden.com.

In this episode, I am joined by Abby Kyle, Director of Evangelization from South Bend Indiana. Abby and I talk about what it means to be free in Christ and to receive His love. We dive into the question of what enslaves us and how do we surrender our attachments to Christ. It was a powerful conversation!Learn more about Christ the Bridegroom and how He heals our hearts at Hopesgarden.com.

God has prepared our perfect home for us in Heaven and He wants us to experience the safety and peace of that home here during our pilgrimage. We can always find a foretaste of "home" in the Heart of Jesus. In this episode, Laura is joined by her sister, De Yarrison, for a conversation about home. They discuss the ways in which many earthly homes fall short of the vision God has and the healing to be found in the Heart of Jesus.God desires your safety. If you are not safe in your home, you can find resources and support at:https://hopesgarden.com/domestic-violence-resources/

Take a break from the stress and busyness of your day and rest under the apple tree with Jesus. In the Song of Songs, the Bride compares the Beloved to an apple tree and praises his shade and sweet fruit. You too can find peace and restoration with Jesus Christ the Apple Tree.This episode is an excerpt from the Hope's Garden Brides of Christ heart-led study of the Song of Songs. Learn more about this transformative Scripture study: https://hopesgarden.com/song-of-songs-scripture-study/

In this episode, taken from our Brides of Christ Scripture study, Laura unpacks the beautiful duet between the Bridegroom and the Bride in verses 1:4-5 of the Song of Songs. This is the duet Jesus desires for each one of us to enter into with Him. Learn more about our Song of Songs studies at Hopesgarden.com.

Christ is the fulfillment of all our desires, yet like the Bride of the Song of Songs, we allow our desires to go seeking the One we love in all the wrong places. For many of us, just naming the desires of our hearts is a difficult task. Laura takes us on a journey from our heads to our hearts to discover our hearts' desires.Learn more about Christ the Bridegroom and the Song of Songs at Hopesgarden.com.

You are gift! This is the truth of who we are yet we so often forget. Laura leads us in pondering how we are gift of God, first for our own sake, and then to be given to one another.Learn more about Christ the Bridegroom and Hope's Garden at Hopesgarden.com.

Father Michael Stalla helps us to understand Jesus's teaching on the sacredness of the human person and why we must not tolerate the desecration of our bodies.For more spiritual reflections by Father Michael, the spiritual advisor of Hope's Garden, join our virtual community for Catholic men or women. Father Michael offers free live spiritual direction events for members throughout the year.https://hopesgarden.com/

Scripture refers to the heart as the place of prayer more than 100 times but what is the heart, really? Laura begins this episode with the Catholic Catechism's beautiful explanation of the heart and then helps us ponder the landscape of our hearts in relation to the Heart of the Bridegroom.Learn more about Christ the Bridegroom at Hopesgarden.com.

What was God's intention for marriage "in the beginning"? What did Jesus mean when He said, “For your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so."?Father Michael Stalla gives us a brief introduction to St. John Paul II's teachings known as the Theology of the Body and then answers the above questions through this lens.Learn more about the Catholic faith from Father Michael Stalla at hopesgarden.com.

Laura reads the Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition of the Song of Solomon to us. You are invited to be still and rest on the Heart of the Bridegroom as you listen to His divine love song.Learn more about the Song of Songs and Christ the Bridegroom at Hopesgarden.com.

Jesus desires for us to open our hearts to hear the sound of His voice. So often we get stuck in our minds but with the Bridegroom it is all about the heart.Learn more about Christ the Bridegroom and His Song of Songs at hopesgarden.com.

The Holy Scriptures are God's love letter to you. Father Michael Stalla describes how we come to know God's love language as well as the language of our own hearts through prayerful reading and meditation on God's Word. Learn more about Christ the Bridegroom and His love for you at hopesgarden.com. Hope's Garden is the sanctuary where the love of Christ the Bridegroom heals hearts, marriages, and families.

Do you recognize the voice of the Bridegroom? He knows the language of your heart and delights in heart to heart conversation with you. In this episode, Father Michael Stalla speaks from his experience as a spiritual director and teaches us how to recognize the quiet tender voice of God. Father Michael offers monthly Live Spiritual Direction events at Hope's Garden. You can learn about upcoming topics and dates at hopesgarden.com.

The Holy Eucharist is the Bridegroom, Body and Blood, soul and Divinity. And the Bridegroom is the remedy for all that ails us in this fallen world. The gift of the Holy Eucharist is God's remedy, divine medicine, for the sickness of sin and the redemption of Adam and Eve's disobedience. Learn more about the Song of Songs and how it applies to our life with Christ today at Hopesgarden.com.

Have you ever thought of salvation history and your own story has a love story in which the divine King and Bridegroom relentlessly pursues His Beloved? In this episode, Laura does just that. Learn more about the Hope's Garden studies of the Song of Songs at hopesgarden.com.

Dive deeply into the varying interpretations of the first verse of the Song of Songs, "Let Him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth." Learn more about Christ the Bridegroom and the Song of Songs at hopesgarden.com. Follow us on Instagram at @hopesgardeninbloom