Podcast appearances and mentions of saint ignatius

In this episode, Metropolitan Neophytos of Morphou recounts the trials of Saint Polycarp and Saint Ignatius, creating parallels to today's world of pandemics, migration, and moral confusion. Through storytelling, he urges the faithful to reclaim authentic Christian compassion and duty—reminding both Cyprus and the world that the judgment of our era is already unfolding.This English translation of the sermon of Metropolitan of Morphou Neophytos during the Archieratic Divine Liturgy on the Sunday of Meatfare (23 February 2020) that took place in the Holy Church of Apostle Andrew in the Nikitario municipality under the Metropolis of Morphou was provided by the ‘Metropolitan Neophytos of Morphou Homilies' YouTube channel and was presented for otelders.org by Porphyrios from the ‘Orthodox Treasures YouTube Channel.'Read the full English transcript on our website otelders.org, like us on Facebook at facebook.com/otelders and subscribe to our YouTube channel: youtube.com/otelders

Read Online“I gave them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the Evil One.”  John 17:14–15Unfortunately, the evil one is real. He is the highest of the fallen angels who retain their natural spiritual power given them at their creation. God created all angelic creatures with the purpose of serving His holy will. The Scripture reveals that there are nine levels or “choirs” to which these angelic creatures belong. Among the fallen angels, the highest of them directs the others, and he is traditionally given the name Lucifer or “the devil.”One of the natural spiritual powers that these fallen angelic creatures retain is the power of influence and suggestive thought. They were created to be messengers of God's truth to us; but, in their fallen state, they seek to communicate confusion and lies instead. Therefore, it is very helpful to understand the way the evil one and the other fallen angels communicate to us so that we can reject their lies and listen only to the voice of God.In his rules for the discernment of spirits, Saint Ignatius of Loyola explains that when a person is going “from mortal sin to mortal sin,” the evil one and the other demons continually propose to their imagination the “apparent pleasures” and “sensual delights” that they obtain from their sin as a way of keeping them firmly controlled by that sin. However, when a person is “intensely cleansing their sins and rising from good to better,” the evil one and the other demons act in a contrary way. They will “bite, sadden and put obstacles, disquieting with false reasons, that one may not go on” in their pursuit of holiness. God and the good angels will act in the opposite way. For those immersed in sin, God and the good angels will use “the opposite method, pricking them and biting their consciences through the process of reason” so as to draw them away from sin. And when a person is, in fact, growing in holiness, God and the good angels will “give courage and strength, consolations, tears, inspirations and quiet, easing, and putting away all obstacles, that one may go on in well doing” (See mycatholic.life/ignatius).These spiritual lessons on the discernment of spirits are of great value and will assist you on your daily struggle with sin and your daily pursuit of holiness. Understanding the deceptions of the evil one and discerning the promptings of grace given by God bring clarity to our daily lives and direction to all of our actions. The good news that is revealed by the Scripture passage above is that our Lord is fully aware of the working of the evil one, has prayed for you and will assist you as you seek to combat these lies and deceptions in your life.Reflect, today, upon the importance of learning how to discern both the voice of God and the lies of the evil one. Work to discern the voice of God so that you may follow Him more faithfully. And seek to discern the lies of the evil one so that you will not be influenced by him and can directly reject him. Commit yourself to a more rigorous discernment of these spiritual experiences in your life and allow this prayer of Jesus to direct you into His holy will.My all-powerful Lord, You have conquered the evil one and provide all the grace I need to overcome his lies and deceptions. Open my mind to discern Your voice and give clarity to the voice of the evil one so that I may choose You with my whole heart and reject all that the evil one tries to say to me. Jesus, I trust in You.  Philips Augustijn Immenraet, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Delivered by Venessa from the Church of Saint Ignatius in the Archdiocese of Singapore. Acts of the Apostles 13: 44-52; Rs psalm 98: 1.2.3ab.3cd-4; John 14: 7-14.GOOD SHEPHERD PRESENTS THE FATHER TOUS The title for our meditation today is:The Good Shepherd Presents the Father to Us. Yesterday in the Gospel reading, inanswering the apostle Tomas' lack of understanding, Jesus answered by claimingHimself as our way to reach the Father. Today, the apostle Philip, whorepresents many of us, shows a lack of understanding and search to know whoreally the Father is. Jesus' answer is the most obvious and it'strully the key answer, because it shows the purpose of all our searches andwalks in this world. Jesus answered him by presenting the heavenly Father, soHe says: seeing Me, means seeing the Father, hearing Me, means hearing theFather, living with Me means living with the Father. The point is that theFather is in Me and I am in the Father. Father and I are one. The unity of the Father and the Sontakes place in a relationship of love, with communication between them, andthis relationship occurs in the Holy Spirit. Indeed, the answer given to Philipand all those who search the ultimate goal of life is the Trinity of God. Thereis no other answer more significant than this one. Meeting the Father in Jesusand in the untiy with the Holy Spirit had reinforced the commitment of theapostles, and they carried out this commitment till death. Jesus presents the Father to usmeaning the true reality of God. God looks on us with all kindness andcompassion, while we humans are taken up to His level that enables us to meetHim. At the moment of incarnation, the Trinity of God was present in the Sonconceived in the womb of the Virgin Mary, born and cared for in a humble familyof Nazareth. In all of Jesus' public ministry, the Trinity was also there towork for the redemption of mankind. At the end of our lives in the world, theTrinity in heaven welcomes us in eternal life as a sign of eternal salvationthat is available for all of us. For us as followers of Christ,questions like Philip and Tomas are naturally irrelevant. We are not in aposition to question whether we doubt about Jesus and the Father are one. Ourreal position is that we are Jesus' brothers and sisters. On that basis we aretaught the prayer of “Our Father” to be our fundamental prayer. This prayerreally makes us sons and daughters of the Father who is a very loving Father.Jesus is truly the good shepherd, because He knows what we need, namely to bethe beloved sons and daughters of the Father in Heaven.Let's pray. In the name of theFather ... O most loving Father, we thank you for our being your beloved sonsand daughters through our sharing in your Son Jesus Christ. May we continue tolive this gift of sonship and daughtership until the moment of our death. HailMary full of grace ... In the name of the Father ...

Delivered by Ariel from the Parish of Saint Albert the Great in the Archdiocese of Makassar, Indonesia. Acts of the Apostles 11: 19-26; Rs psalm 87: 1-3.4-5.6-7; John 10: 22-30.THE SHEEP SCATTER, BUT STILL WITH ONESHEPHERD         Our meditation today is entitled: Thesheep Scatter, But Still with One Shepherd. When the shepherd loves the smellof all sheep, there is a fact that the unity of God's people is made by thescattered individuals and communities of believers everywhere in the world, andall of these put their faith in Jesus Christ as the center of their lives. Heis the Shepherd for all. All children of God identify themselveswith Jesus Christ as the Lord who shepherds them day and night. This identification has its beginning, which was themoment for the first time the word "Christian" being used about thetime after Christ rose from the dead, or more precisely after the conversion ofSaint Paul. A prominent figure and disciple of the Lord named Barnabas whoworked in a team with the apostle Paul and the Church in Antioch were the firstones to use this identification. Along with the growth of the Church, thisChristian name spread from one place to another to reach the entire world.Throughout the world, all the followers of Christ with various backgroundsidentify themselves with this name "Christian". According to Saint Ignatius of Antioch,who was once the bishop of the city, where there is a Christian community,somewhere in or outside the city, and as this community is led by a bishop asits shepherd, this Christian community is called Catholic. The Catholics areeverywhere found on this earth both as individuals and as families orcommunities. When they meet somewhere  in any context of life, with or without external symbols such as crucifix orthe rosary used, there is always a sense of unity, togetherness, andconnectedness with one another that is felt and manifested. The hearts of thesame faith can connect easily and they feel the needfor unity. For example, a priest told his ownexperience about meeting a Catholic during one of his trips abroad. When he wasat the airpot of Dubai, the Middle East, waiting for the transit plane, he hada chance to meet someone from Russia who is a Catholic. Their conversationdeveloped into a friendship. The Russian man then humbly asked for confessionand blessing, saying that he badly needed some spiritual power at thatparticular moment of his life. When seeing an athlete makes the sign of thecross while playing on the field, viewers around the world spontaneously makesort of a Catholic connection with the player. These are just few examples tounderstand that the word "Catholic" indeed has a universal value anda unifying force . The spread of the followers of Christeverywhere in the world does not endanger the fact that people are different ormay harm unity in the community. Instead it strengthens relationand connection among the Catholics because Jesus Christ himself holds the unityof this community to His heart and He himself leads the community. There aretwo statements of Jesus today that signify His duty to protect and lead all thesheep. First is this: "I know them and they follow me". This iscertainly not just a matter of having knowledge of another person, but itspeaks about the dynamic of life between the Shepherd and the flock. Second isthis: "No one can take them from My hands". Jesus Christ indeed takescontrolls over all His sheep. His duty is to save all.  Let's pray. In the name of the Father... Lord Jesus Christ, we Your followers want to remain faithful and obedientto You, because this is the way that we remain united and strong. Stay and bewith us, Lord Jesus. Hail Mary full ofgrace ... In the name of the Father ...

Full Text of ReadingsFourth Sunday of Easter Lectionary: 51The Saint of the day is Saint Ignatius of LaconiSaint Ignatius of Laconi's Story Ignatius is another sainted begging brother. He was the second of seven children of peasant parents in Sardinia. His path to the Franciscans was unusual. During a serious illness, Ignatius vowed to become a Capuchin if he recovered. He regained his health but ignored the promise. When he was 20, a riding accident prompted Ignatius to renew the pledge, which he acted on the second time. Ignatius's reputation for self-denial and charity led to his appointment as the official beggar for the friars in Cagliari. He fulfilled that task for 40 years, despite being blind for the last two years. While on his rounds, Ignatius would instruct the children, visit the sick, and urge sinners to repent. The people of Cagliari were inspired by his kindness and his faithfulness to his work. Ignatius was canonized in 1951. Reflection Why did the people of Cagliari support the friars? These followers of Francis worked hard but rarely at jobs that paid enough to live on. The life of Ignatius reminds us that everything God considers worthwhile does not have a high-paying salary attached to it. Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Friends of the Rosary,Yesterday, Pope Leo XIV celebrated his first mass as successor of Peter with the Cardinals in Rome, in the Sistine Chapel, where he was elected as the 267th Pope on the fourth ballot Thursday afternoon.In his heartfelt homily, the new Pope called for always better cultivating a personal relationship with Christ and insisted that life lacks meaning without faith.“We are called to bear witness to our joyful faith in Christ the Saviour.”“My brother Cardinals, I invite you to reflect on the marvels the Lord has done, the blessings that the Lord continues to pour out on all of us through the Ministry of Peter.”“Our Saviour alone reveals the face of the Father.”“God, to make Himself close and accessible to men and women, revealed Himself to us in the trusting eyes of a child, in the lively mind of a young person, and in the mature features of a man, finally appearing to His disciples after the Resurrection with His glorious body.”“He showed us a model of human holiness that we can all imitate, together with the promise of an eternal destiny that transcends all our limits and abilities.”“He chose us before we were formed in our mothers' wombs, reborn in the waters of Baptism and, surpassing our limitations and with no merit of our own, brought here and sent forth from here, so that the Gospel might be proclaimed to every creature.”“Even today, there are many settings in which the Christian faith is considered absurd, meant for the weak and unintelligent. Settings where other securities are preferred, like technology, money, success, power, or pleasure.”“These are contexts where it is not easy to preach the Gospel and bear witness to its truth, where believers are mocked, opposed, despised, or at best tolerated and pitied.”“Yet, precisely for this reason, they are the places where our missionary outreach is desperately needed.”“A lack of faith is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family, and so many other wounds that afflict our society.”“There are many settings in which Jesus, although appreciated as a man, is reduced to a kind of charismatic leader or superman.”“Not only among non-believers but also among many baptized Christians end up living, at this level, in a state of practical atheism.”“This is the world entrusted to us, a world in which, as Pope Francis taught us so many times, we are called to bear witness to our joyful faith in Christ the Saviour.”“Therefore, it is essential that we repeat, with Peter: ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”“It is essential to do this, first of all, in our personal relationship with the Lord, in our commitment to a ‘daily journey of conversion.”“Then as a Church, we are to do the same, experiencing together our fidelity to the Lord and bringing the Good News to all.”“I say this first of all to myself, as the Successor of Peter, as I begin my mission as Bishop of Rome, according to the well-known expression of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, ‘to preside in charity over the universal Church.”“May God grant me this grace, today and always, through the loving intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church.”Ave Maria!Jesus, I Trust In You!Come, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary!Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will. Please give us the grace to respond with joy!+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New YorkEnhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play• May 10, 2025, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) was the founder of a religious Order that sent Priests to North America on missions to evangelize the Amerindians. Saint Ignatius was a Spanish Catholic theologian and Priest who dedicated his eventful life to being a soldier for God and leader of the Jesuits. Check out the YouTube version of this episode at https://youtu.be/m43e2AqzcgI which has accompanying visuals including maps, charts, timelines, photos, illustrations, and diagrams. Catholic Saints podcast at https://amzn.to/3IWjW2S Jesuit books available at https://amzn.to/3vttWgG Ignatius of Loyola books at https://amzn.to/3VvdwiD ENJOY Ad-Free content, Bonus episodes, and Extra materials when joining our growing community on https://patreon.com/markvinet SUPPORT this channel by purchasing any product on Amazon using this FREE entry LINK https://amzn.to/3POlrUD (Amazon gives us credit at NO extra charge to you). Mark Vinet's HISTORY OF NORTH AMERICA podcast: www.parthenonpodcast.com/history-of-north-america Mark's TIMELINE Video channel: https://youtube.com/c/TIMELINE_MarkVinet Website: https://markvinet.com/podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mark.vinet.9 Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoricalJesu Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denarynovels Mark's books: https://amzn.to/3k8qrGM Audio credit: Catholic Saints podcast by Augustine Institute (St. Ignatius of Loyola, 30nov2021) with Dr. Tim Gray & Dr. Ben Akers. Audio excerpts reproduced under the Fair Use (Fair Dealings) Legal Doctrine for purposes such as criticism, comment, teaching, education, scholarship, research and news reporting.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join me as I present a few special episodes to mark the death of Pope Francis (1936-25), the first Jesuit Pontiff. Founder of the Jesuit religious Order that sent Priests to North America on a mission to evangelize the natives, Saint Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) was a Spanish Catholic priest and theologian who dedicated his fascinating and adventurous life to being a soldier for Christ and leader of the Society of Jesus—better known as the Jesuits. Check out the YouTube version of this episode at https://youtu.be/ssEK4SwxHEw which has accompanying visuals including maps, charts, timelines, photos, illustrations, and diagrams. Catholic Saints podcast at https://amzn.to/3IWjW2S Pope Francis books available at https://amzn.to/4lEOqZ1 Jesuit books available at https://amzn.to/3vttWgG Ignatius of Loyola books at https://amzn.to/3VvdwiD ENJOY Ad-Free content, Bonus episodes, and Extra materials when joining our growing community on https://patreon.com/markvinet SUPPORT this channel by purchasing any product on Amazon using this FREE entry LINK https://amzn.to/3POlrUD (Amazon gives us credit at NO extra charge to you). Mark Vinet's HISTORY OF NORTH AMERICA podcast: www.parthenonpodcast.com/history-of-north-america Mark's TIMELINE Video channel: https://youtube.com/c/TIMELINE_MarkVinet Website: https://markvinet.com/podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mark.vinet.9 Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoricalJesu Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denarynovels Mark's books: https://amzn.to/3k8qrGM Audio credit: Catholic Saints podcast by Augustine Institute (St. Ignatius of Loyola, 30nov2021) with Dr. Tim Gray & Dr. Ben Akers. Audio excerpts reproduced under the Fair Use (Fair Dealings) Legal Doctrine for purposes such as criticism, comment, teaching, education, scholarship, research and news reporting.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Read OnlineThe Savior of the World died a cruel death upon the Cross. His broken body was laid in the tomb. His disciples scattered and were fearful that they would be next. But our Blessed Mother kept vigil in the perfect hope that her Son would soon rise.Traditionally, Saturdays within the Church year are dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. This ancient tradition developed in part due to the belief that, as others were filled with fear and confusion, Mother Mary kept vigil on Holy Saturday in prayerful anticipation of Jesus' resurrection. She knew her Son would rise. She had hope beyond hope. Her faith was certain. Her love kept her vigilant as she awaited the return of her Son.For many centuries, it has been suggested that the first person to whom Jesus appeared after His Resurrection was His own mother. Pope Saint John Paul II believed this. Saint Ignatius of Loyola believed it. And many others throughout the centuries shared this belief.For these reasons, Holy Saturday is an ideal day to ponder the pondering heart of our Blessed Mother. There are several times in Sacred Scripture where we are told that Mother Mary pondered the mysteries of her Son's life in her heart. She was one of the few who stood by Him in His agony and death. She stood before the Cross and prayerfully pondered His perfect sacrifice. The Blessed Mother held His dead body in her arms and pondered where His spirit had gone. And today she keeps vigil, pondering His imminent return to her.Ponder her pondering heart. Try to unite your own heart with hers. Try to understand what she was thinking and hoping. Try to feel what she felt this sorrowful day. Try to experience her faith, her trust and her joyful expectation. So many people in this world walk in despair and confusion.So many have lost hope in the new life that awaits them. So many have their own form of interior death without allowing God to draw them into His Resurrection. So many people today need the hope that was so alive in the heart of our Blessed Mother that first Holy Saturday. Ponder the reality of Holy Saturday in silence this day and allow the glorious heart of our Blessed Mother to inspire you and draw you more deeply into her life of faith, hope and love.Dearest Mother Mary, on that first Holy Saturday, you kept vigil for your Son. You allowed the divine gift of hope to grow within you, and you allowed that hope to be your strength in the midst of the horror of the Cross. Pray for me that I may ponder your beautiful heart this day so that I, too, may be filled with hope as I endure the challenges of this earthly life. Give me a heart of joyful anticipation as I await the grace of new life our Lord so deeply desires to bestow upon me. Mother Mary, pray for me.  Jesus, I do trust in You.  Guercino, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Sister Mary Michael joins us for a conversation on Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, 12 steps, and our Mission.Summary: In this episode, we welcome back Sister Mary Michael, a seasoned Dominican Sister from the Saint Cecilia community in Nashville, to Oklahoma for a heartfelt conversation. With over 35 years as a religious sister, she shares her passion for the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, her work with Franciscan University, and her unique ministry with men in recovery. At a recent men's conference, she introduced the power of the 12 Steps—rooted in Alcoholics Anonymous but universally applicable—as a practical path to freedom from destructive habits, paired with insights from Saint Ignatius of Loyola. Sister Mary Michael's warmth, humor, and wisdom shine as she encourages men to embrace their God-given mission and reorder their lives with grace.Key Topics: - Who She Is: A Dominican Sister with a doctorate in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Sister Mary Michael works with four-year-olds on Fridays, teaches at Franciscan University's Catechetical Institute, and speaks at men's conferences. - Catechesis of the Good Shepherd: A Montessori-inspired, Hebraic approach to children's faith formation, rooted in the pedagogy of God and the Church's heart. She's written a book on it and sees it as a growing movement (highlighted in the 2020 Directory for Catechesis). - Men in Recovery: Inspired by landscaping help from men in recovery, she's taken their stories on the road, blending the 12 Steps with Ignatian spirituality to address universal patterns of behavior—addictions big and small. - The 12 Steps: Sister explores their accessibility and power, starting with Step 1: admitting powerlessness over habits (e.g., anger, control, manipulation) and unmanageability in life. She connects this to grace and personal transformation. - Universal Application: From vanity to strong opinions, we're all “recovering sinners.” The 12 Steps offer a fearless moral inventory (Step 4) and accountability (Step 5), helping anyone break free from vices. - Grace and Nature: The steps align with the Church's heritage—practical like the 12 Steps or spiritual like Ignatius—showing how grace perfects our disordered nature. - Men's Mission: She challenges men to reject Satan's distortions, embrace their masculine genius, and take action to live out God's purpose.Quotable Moments:- “Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a Montessori Hebraic approach—it's how God brings people to Himself.” - “I'm powerless over this, and my life's unmanageable—that's a grace right there.” - “I'm not taking that drink of criticism or gossip—it's a shot of vodka to my soul.” - “God's got a beautiful mission for you, and Satan's not gonna leave you alone—so it's time to do something about it.” Resources Mentioned: - Catechesis of the Good Shepherd: Learn more about this movement online or through Sister's book. - The 12 Steps: Google them—read through and reflect on what challenges you. - Ignatian Spirituality: Explore how it aligns with the 12 Steps for deeper growth. Closing Thoughts: Sister Mary Michael's eclectic life—from teaching kids to guiding men—offers a fresh take on recovery and holiness. Her practical, grace-filled approach makes this episode a must-listen for anyone seeking freedom and purpose. Thanks for joining us, Sister—God bless!

Read OnlineThe guards answered, “Never before has anyone spoken like this man.” So the Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, which does not know the law, is accursed.” John 7:46–49Hopefully the Pharisees mentioned above went through a deep interior conversion before they died. If they did not, then their day of particular judgment would have been shocking and frightening to them. The greatest act of love ever known was God becoming one of us, being conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, growing up in the household of Saint Joseph, and eventually beginning His public ministry by which the saving truth of the Gospel was proclaimed so that all may come to know God and be saved. And it was of this act of perfect love given to us by God that the Pharisees attacked and called those who believed in it “deceived” and “accursed.”Though the Pharisees do not offer us much by way of inspiration, they do provide us with many lessons. In the passage above, the Pharisees model for us one of the most common tactics of the evil one. In his spiritual classic, The Spiritual Exercises, Saint Ignatius of Loyola explains that when a person is moving from a life of sin to a life of holiness, the evil one will attack in various ways. He will try to unsettle you and cause an undue anxiety about serving God, he will try to sadden you with an unexplained sorrow, put obstacles in your way of virtue causing you to feel overwhelmed and think you are too weak to live a good Christian life of virtue, and he will tempt you to lose your peace of heart by doubting God's love or His action in your life. It seems clear that this attack by the Pharisees also has these goals.Again, though this may not appear “inspiring,” it is very useful to understand. The Pharisees were vicious in their attacks, not only to Jesus but also upon anyone who began to believe in Jesus. They said to the guards who were impressed by Jesus, “Have you also been deceived?” This was clearly the evil one at work through them trying to intimidate the guards and anyone who dared believe in Jesus.But understanding the tactics of the evil one and his messengers is of great value, because it helps us reject the lies and deceptions spewed out at us. Sometimes these lies come from individuals and are directed directly at us, and sometimes the lies are more universal, coming through the media, the culture and even the government, at times. Reflect, today, upon the distasteful and bitter words of these Pharisees. But do so to help yourself understand the tactics the evil one often takes as you seek greater holiness in life. Be assured that the closer you get to God, the more you will be attacked. But do not be afraid. Identify any personal, social, cultural or even governmental attack for what it is. Have confidence and do not be deterred as you seek to follow Christ more completely every day. My divine Judge of all, at the end of time, You will establish Your permanent Kingdom of truth and justice. You will reign over all and will bestow Your mercy and justice on all. May I live fully in Your truth and never be deterred by the attacks and lies of the evil one. Give me courage and strength, dear Lord, as I always trust in You. Jesus, I do trust in You.  Image: James Tissot, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Drawing upon the teachings of Saint Augustine of Hippo and Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Father Mike and Father Jacob discuss the role of memory in the spiritual life, and also discuss some of the possible pitfalls of nostalgic escape.

Read OnlineJesus said to his disciples: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.”  Luke 6:36–37Saint Ignatius of Loyola, in his guide for a thirty-day retreat, has the retreatant spend the first week of the retreat focusing upon sin, judgment, death and hell. At first, this can seem very uninspiring. But the wisdom of this approach is that after a week of these meditations, retreatants come to a deep realization of just how much they need the mercy and forgiveness of God. They see their need more clearly, and a deep humility is fostered within their soul as they see their guilt and turn to God for His mercy.But mercy goes both ways. It is part of the very essence of mercy that it can only be received if it is also given. In the Gospel passage above, Jesus gives us a very clear command about judgment, condemnation, mercy and forgiveness. Essentially, if we want mercy and forgiveness, then we must offer mercy and forgiveness. If we are judgmental and condemning, then we will also be judged and condemned. These words are very clear.Perhaps one of the reasons that many people struggle with being judgmental and condemning of others is because they lack a true awareness of their own sin and their own need for forgiveness. We live in a world that often rationalizes sin and downplays the seriousness of it. That's why the teaching of Saint Ignatius is so important for us today. We need to rekindle a sense of the seriousness of our sin. This is not done simply to create guilt and shame. It's done to foster a desire for mercy and forgiveness.If you can grow in a deeper awareness of your own sin before God, one of the effects will be that it is then easier to be less judgmental and condemning of others. A person who sees his sin is more apt to be merciful to other sinners. But a person who struggles with self-righteousness will most certainly also struggle with being judgmental and condemning. Reflect, today, upon your own sin. Spend time trying to understand how ugly sin is and try to grow in a healthy disdain for it. As you do, and as you beg our Lord for His mercy, pray also that you will be able to offer that same mercy you receive from God to others. As mercy flows from Heaven to your own soul, it must then also be shared. Share the mercy of God with those all around you and you will discover the true value and power of this Gospel teaching of our Lord. My most merciful Jesus, I thank You for Your infinite mercy. Help me to see clearly my sin so that I, in turn, may see my need for Your mercy. As I do, dear Lord, I pray that my heart will be open to that mercy so that I can both receive it and share it with others. Make me a true instrument of Your divine grace. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Last Judgment by Michelangelo, via Web Gallery of ArtSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Read OnlineJesus said to his disciples: “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Matthew 6:7–8Recall that Jesus used to go off by Himself at times and spend the whole night in prayer. Thus, it's clear that Jesus is in favor of long and sincere times of prayer, since He gave us His own example as a lesson. But there is clearly a difference between that which our Lord did all night and that which He criticized the pagans for doing when they “babble” with many words. After this criticism of the prayer of the pagans, Jesus gives us the “Our Father” prayer as a model for our personal prayer.The Our Father prayer begins by addressing God in a deeply personal way. That is, God is not just an all-powerful cosmic being. He is personal, familial—He is our Father. Jesus continues the prayer by instructing us to honor our Father by proclaiming His holiness, His hallowedness. God and God alone is the Holy One from which all holiness of life derives. As we acknowledge the holiness of the Father, we must also acknowledge Him as King and seek His Kingship for our lives and for the world. This is accomplished only when His perfect will is done “on earth as it is in Heaven.” This perfect prayer concludes by acknowledging that God is the source of all of our daily needs, including the forgiveness of our sins and protection from all evil.Upon the completion of this prayer of perfection, Jesus provides a context in which this and every prayer must be prayed. He says, “If you forgive men their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.” Prayer will only be effective if we allow it to change us and make us more like the Father in Heaven. Therefore, if we want our prayer of forgiveness to be effective, then we must live what we pray for. We must also forgive others so that God will forgive us.Reflect, today, upon this perfect prayer, the Our Father. One temptation is that we can become so familiar with this prayer that we gloss over its true meaning. If that happens, then we will find that we are praying it more like the pagans who simply babble the words. But if we humbly and sincerely understand and mean every word, then we can be certain that our prayer will become more like that of our Lord's. Saint Ignatius of Loyola recommends pondering every word of that prayer very slowly, one word at a time. Try to pray this way, today, and allow the Our Father to move from babbling to authentic communication with the Father in Heaven. Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.  Jesus, I trust in You.  Image: Jm kaelin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Full Text of ReadingsSeventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 81The Saint of the day is Saint PolycarpSaint Polycarp's Story Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, disciple of Saint John the Apostle and friend of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, was a revered Christian leader during the first half of the second century. Saint Ignatius, on his way to Rome to be martyred, visited Polycarp at Smyrna, and later at Troas wrote him a personal letter. The Asia Minor Churches recognized Polycarp's leadership by choosing him as a representative to discuss with Pope Anicetus the date of the Easter celebration in Rome—a major controversy in the early Church. Only one of the many letters written by Polycarp has been preserved, the one he wrote to the Church of Philippi in Macedonia. At 86, Polycarp was led into the crowded Smyrna stadium to be burned alive. The flames did not harm him and he was finally killed by a dagger. The centurion ordered the saint's body burned. The “Acts” of Polycarp's martyrdom are the earliest preserved, fully reliable account of a Christian martyr's death. He died in 155. Reflection Polycarp was recognized as a Christian leader by all Asia Minor Christians—a strong fortress of faith and loyalty to Jesus Christ. His own strength emerged from his trust in God, even when events contradicted this trust. Living among pagans and under a government opposed to the new religion, he led and fed his flock. Like the Good Shepherd, he laid down his life for his sheep and kept them from more persecution in Smyrna. He summarized his trust in God just before he died: “Father… I bless Thee, for having made me worthy of the day and the hour…” (Acts of Martyrdom, Chapter 14). Saint Polycarp is the Patron Saint of: Relief from Earaches Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

On this episode of The Patrick Madrid Show, Patrick explores a topic that many Catholics might not even realize they’re accidentally messing up: how we talk about Catholics and Protestants. If you’ve ever said, “Oh, I’m Catholic, and they’re Christian,” Patrick is here to gently (but firmly) ask you to stop doing that. The Big Idea: Patrick reminds us that Catholics ARE Christians: the OG Christians, to be exact. When Jesus established His Church 2,000 years ago, it wasn’t some vague, do-it-yourself Christianity. Nope, it was the Catholic Church. So, when we use language that separates "Catholic" from "Christian," we’re actually misrepresenting the truth about who we are as followers of Christ. What About Protestants? Yes, Protestants are Christians, but their Christianity is different. It stems from the Protestant Reformation, which started as a protest against the Catholic Church about 500 years ago. Patrick explains how Protestantism branched into countless denominations because of the idea of Sola Scriptura (the belief in “Bible alone”): an idea that’s not biblical or part of historic Christianity. Patrick points out the endless debates among Protestant groups: “Does baptism save you or not?” “Can you lose your salvation or nah?” It’s like a theological Rubik’s Cube with no solution. The result? Protestants follow a fragmented version of Christianity that leans heavily on individual interpretations of the Bible. Patrick notes that some churches basically just pick a “mini-Pope” (a charismatic pastor) to tell them what the Bible means. Catholicism = Historic Christianity Patrick doesn’t hold back: the Catholic Church is the original Christianity. Full stop. When you open the Bible, especially the Book of Acts, you’re seeing the Catholic Church in her beginnings. By the early second century, Saint Ignatius of Antioch was already calling it the Catholic Church. The Eucharist, Apostolic succession, the sacraments, the teachings of Christ: they all come from the Catholic Church. It’s not just a Christian church; it’s THE Church Christ established. Why Words Matter Patrick’s key takeaway is this: how we talk shapes how we think. By casually separating "Catholic" and "Christian," we’re accidentally buying into the false idea that Catholicism is just one denomination among many. I’s not. It’s the Church that Jesus Himself founded. So Stop Saying... “Oh, I’m Catholic, but they’re Christian.” Start Saying... "I’m Catholic: part of the original Christian Church." Patrick isn’t here to bash Protestants; he just wants Catholics to stop selling themselves short. The next time someone asks you about your faith, remember: being Catholic is being Christian, and it’s time we talked like it.

Read OnlineAs he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed Jesus. Mark 2:14How do you know the will of God for your life? In his spiritual classic, The Spiritual Exercises, Saint Ignatius of Loyola presented three ways in which we come to know the will of God. (See mycatholic.life/ignatius for more.) The first way is the clearest and most definitive way. It is a time in which the person experiences a “clarity beyond doubting” as a result of a special grace of God. In describing this experience, Saint Ignatius mentions the passage quoted above as an illustration of this experience.There is little said about this call of Levi in the Gospel of Mark, which is also recorded in Matthew's Gospel (Matthew 9:9). Levi, who is also known as Matthew, was going about his occupation of collecting taxes at his customs post. It appears that Jesus spoke only these two simple words to Levi: “Follow me.” As a result of these two words, Levi abandons his former life and becomes a follower of Jesus. Why would Levi do such a thing? What was it that convinced him to follow Jesus? Clearly there was much more than just a two-word invitation from Jesus that convinced him to respond.That which convinced Levi was a special grace of God which produced within his soul a “clarity beyond doubting.” Somehow Levi just knew that God was calling him to abandon his former life and embrace this new life. There was no long discussion, no weighing of the pros and cons, no prolonged thinking about it. Levi just knew, and he responded.Though this form of clarity in life is rare, it's important to be aware of the fact that sometimes God does act this way. This is a great gift when it happens! And though this depth of instant clarity is not always the way God speaks to us, it's important to acknowledge that God does speak to us this way at times.Reflect, today, upon this call of Levi. Ponder this inner certitude he was given in that moment. Try to imagine what he experienced and what others may have thought of his choice to follow Jesus. Be open to this same grace; and if you ever feel as if God speaks to you with such clarity, be ready and willing to respond without hesitation.My dear Lord, thank You for calling us all to follow You without hesitation. Thank You for the joy of being Your disciple. Give me the grace to always know Your will for my life and help me to respond to You with total abandonment and trust. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.Featured image above: The Calling of Saint Matthew By Giovanni Paolo Panini

Read OnlineFrom that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17Now that our Christmas Octave and Epiphany celebrations are complete, we begin to turn our eyes to the public ministry of Christ. The above line from today's Gospel presents us with the most central summary of all of the teachings of Jesus: Repent. However, He doesn't say only to repent, He also says that “the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” And that second statement is the reason we must repent.In his spiritual classic, The Spiritual Exercises, Saint Ignatius of Loyola explains that the primary reason for our lives is to give to God the greatest glory we can. In other words, to bring forth the Kingdom of Heaven. But he also goes on to say that this can only be accomplished when we turn away from sin and all inordinate attachments in our lives so that the one and only focus of our lives is the Kingdom of Heaven. This is the goal of repentance.Soon we will celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, and then we return to Ordinary Time within the Liturgical Year. Throughout Ordinary Time, we will reflect upon the public ministry of Jesus and focus upon His many teachings. But all of His teachings, everything that He says and does, ultimately points us to repentance, a turning away from sin and a turning toward our glorious God.In your own life, it is essential that you place before your mind and heart the call to repentance. It is essential that you daily hear Jesus saying those words to you: “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Do not only think about Him saying this many years ago; rather, hear it said to you, today, tomorrow and every day of your life. There will never be a time in your life when you do not need to repent with all your heart. We will never reach perfection in this life, so repentance must be our daily mission. Reflect, today, upon this exhortation from our Lord to repent. Repent with your whole heart. Examining your actions every day is essential to this mission. See the ways that your actions keep you from God and reject those actions. And look for the ways that God is active in your life and embrace those acts of mercy. Repent and turn toward the Lord. This is Jesus' message to you this day.Lord, I repent of the sin in my life and pray that You give me the grace to become free from all that keeps me from You. May I not only turn from sin but also turn to You as the source of all mercy and fulfillment in my life. Help me to keep my eyes on the Kingdom of Heaven and to do all I can to share in that Kingdom here and now. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.Featured image above: Repentance of St Peter By Guido Reni, via Wikimedia Commons

Friday of the Twenty-Seventh Week in Ordinary Time. In his last homily of the Spain pilgrimage, Father Dave preaches about St. Ignatius of Loyola and the significance of the Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey. As St. Ignatius left behind his old ways, we are also to let God transform our lives. Preached at Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey, Montserrat, Spain on 10-11-24

Welcome to Episode #164 of Way of the Bible podcast. This is our fourth of eight episodes in our Twenty-First mini-series entitled, Sermon on the Mount Part 2. On today's episode we'll be hearing Jesus teaching his disciples how to pray. Now this is a big topic. Prayer.I have to admit, growing up as a Catholic I really didn't think I had a problem with prayer. Since my first communion and later Catechism classes I had a plethora of memorized prayers. Some for use in when in mass and other for use after confession. The in-mass prayers typically included a Hail Mary and an Our Father. The confessional prayers typically included an Act of Contrition an Apostles Creed and multiple Hail Mary's and Our Father's depending on the accuracy of my confession. I have to admit, I held back quite a lot. Eventually knowing I'd forgotten more than I remembered of my sinful past which hadn't been confessed, I realized I was too far gone for grace and accepted hell as my destiny. And that turned out to reemerge in my struggle to receive Christ at my spiritual rebirth by the Holy Spirt. I've shared this account before and will reshare this account on another episode but not right now.The skinny was I wrong about that. But in total honesty, that's how I felt at the soul level. I was unworthy of Jesus, so I had to find another way to God other than my Catholicism. Fortunately for me I married a Baptist and I discovered an entirely different kind of works based salvation than my former faith practices. “We don't drink, we don't smoke, we don't  dance, we don't chew, and we don't go with girls that do.” For me I felt right at home knowing I was breaking all these as well, but they didn't make me confess it so I didn't think about hell. I grew comfortable saying I believed in Jesus and if by chance after I died, I'd came to see him and/or Peter at the gate of heaven, I'd just deny ever remembering my sin. Believe me, I had gotten very good at forgetting sin as soon as I sinned it. No guilt or shame, that was my saving grace so I thought.It was in this new religion I discovered ad hoc prayers. Whatever rolled off my tongue in the moment. Little forethought. Uncomfortable of making a mistake at first, I soon mastered the craft of just talking at God in a measured tone.After a radical salvation by the Holy Spirit my prayer life changed to a more scripture-based content from passages I'd been memorizing. This lasted a good long time before I was awakened out of my prayer slumber. Up to this awakening I became a Methodist, then a none, then a charismatic, before finally settling in a non-denominational evangelical church where I got radically saved in the second service I attended. Once born again, I had questions about talking with God. Then I heard a pastor from the pulpit say his greatest struggle in ministry was his prayer life. That rocked me, how was that possible. I started to do some research and discovered prayer was one of the most written about topics out there. No one seemed to have a handle on it. Everyone had their own take, I guessed to sell more books. I certainly was struggling but I wasn't fully committed like a pastor. I went to seminary and got an MDIV and found no adequate answer there. I had several seminary professors confess struggling with prayer. This seemed to be shear madness. I limped along for over 25 years until last year when I discovered the secret of prayer in the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius. Others have four the same discovery in an area called Lectio Devina. In short, they both emphasize spiritual meditation and contemplation. Learning by doing that special emphasis has been a game changer. And why do I share all that before getting to today's lesson? Because, had I known then what I know now, I would have known the value of Jesus' teaching on prayer he gave to his disciples. Jesus in a very compact less

Read Online“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,' will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.”  Matthew 7:21It's frightening to think of those of whom Jesus is speaking. Imagine arriving before the throne of God upon your passing from this earthly life and you cry out to Him, “Lord, Lord!” And you expect Him to smile and welcome you, but instead you come face-to-face with the reality of your ongoing and obstinate disobedience to the will of God throughout your life. You suddenly realize that you acted as if you were a Christian, but it was only an act. And now, on the day of judgment, the truth is made manifest for you and for all to see. A truly frightening scenario.To whom will this happen? Of course, only our Lord knows. He is the one and only Just Judge. He and He alone knows a person's heart, and judgment is left only to Him. But the fact that Jesus told us that “Not everyone” who expects to enter Heaven will enter should grab our attention.Ideally, our lives are directed by a deep and pure love of God, and it is this love and this love alone that directs our lives. But when a pure love of God is not clearly present, then the next best thing may be a holy fear. The words spoken by Jesus should evoke this “holy fear” within each of us.By “holy,” we mean that there is a certain fear that can motivate us to change our lives in an authentic way. It's possible that we fool others, and maybe even fool ourselves, but we cannot fool God. God sees and knows all things, and He knows the answer to the one and only question that matters on the day of judgment: “Did I fulfill the will of the Father in Heaven?”A common practice, recommended over and over by Saint Ignatius of Loyola, is to consider all our current decisions and actions from the point of view of the day of judgment. What would I wish I had done in that moment? The answer to that question is of essential importance to the way we live our lives today.Reflect, today, upon that important question in your own life. “Am I fulfilling the will of the Father in Heaven?” What will I wish I had done, here and now, as I stand before the judgment seat of Christ? Whatever comes to mind, spend time with that and strive to deepen your resolve to whatever God reveals to you. Do not hesitate. Do not wait. Prepare now so that the day of Judgment will also be a day of exceeding joy and glory!My saving God, I pray for insight into my life. Help me to see my life and all of my actions in the light of Your will and Your Truth. My loving Father, I desire to live fully in accord with Your perfect will. Give me the grace I need to amend my life so that the day of judgment is a day of the greatest glory. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.Featured images above: Ascension of the Lord, via flickr

(2:03) Bible Study: PHMN 7-20 Why do we believe the bible is the word of God? (25:57) Break 1 (26:54) Letters: How did Saint Ignatius manage to send out letters while he was held captive? What is the meaning of the word “bound” in the bible? Father answer these and other questions from our listeners. (34:37) Break 2 (35:42) Word of the Day: Kingdom (40:54) Phones: Don - I'm teaching a confirmation class and they asked me How many saints are there and also, did saints commit sin while they were living? Marta - Comment: That refers to the part of the digestive system, where your blood goes after you eat, that's why no exercise or swim after eating. Ken - If I need confirmation, I'm an adult and in state of grace and did first communion? Paul - Comment:  Fr. was talking about the aborted babies a couple days ago; In my opinion they go to heaven, they're martyrs.

History Remembers His Greatness: Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr The Saint we honor today, Saint Ignatius of Antioch, is one of the most remarkable men that history has ever produced. Tradition holds that when the disciples were arguing among themselves about who was the greatest, Jesus sat down and placed a child on His lap. Unless you become one such as this little one, you cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Tradition says that child who received a kiss from Jesus sitting upon His lap was Ignatius. Ignatius grew in his faith. Hear more within the Homily! Bishop of Antioch Ignatius became the third Bishop of Antioch. The first was St. Peter. Antioch was where the word Christians was first used. He was martyred in approximately the year 110 A.D. He died about 15 or 20 years after the death of St. John, the Apostle. He is one of the earliest witnesses to the early Church. His witness comes down to us by the way he lived the words of today's scripture passages. Hear more in the Homily! I Am A Christian! When the Romans came upon Antioch, they offered the people . . . pain or pleasure. If you surrender to the Romans, life will be easy and there will be rewards. Ignatius stood before the Roman leaders. Ignatius was asked what type of man stands before the emperor? He said . . . I am a Christian! When asked what was so great about that, Ignatius continued. I have Christ alive in me . . . and you do not! These words led to his martyrdom. He was arrested immediately. Because he spoke in such a manner to the emperor, Ignatius was put to death in Rome . . . in the Coliseum . . . as an example to all. Understand what actually made Saint Ignatius of Antioch such a great man. Listen to: History Remembers His Greatness: Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr ----------------------------- Image: Saint Ignatius of Antioch: Austrian Artist: Leopold Kupelwieser:  1800s ----------------------------- Gospel Reading: Luke: 11: 47-54 First Reading: EPH 1: 1-10

The Examen exercise by Saint Ignatius offers those in spiritual care a means for reflection after a shift or at the end of the day.

Gospel Luke 11:47-54 The Lord said: “Woe to you who build the memorials of the prophets  whom your fathers killed. Consequently, you bear witness and give consent to the deeds of your ancestors, for they killed them and you do the building. Therefore, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send to them prophets and Apostles; some of them they will kill and persecute' in order that this generation might be charged with the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who died between the altar and the temple building. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood! Woe to you, scholars of the law! You have taken away the key of knowledge. You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter.” When Jesus left, the scribes and Pharisees began to act with hostility toward him and to interrogate him about many things, for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say. Reflection When you look at the evil there was in the system of the scribes and Pharisees, the loss of real truth, real purpose, we're given an insight into the way in which it works in human nature, that when you live in a system that's corrupt, it will always corrupt you. It was only with the coming of Jesus that this whole system was blown apart and healed by the love of God for everyone who seeks the truth. Closing prayer Father, your condemnation of the religious practices of the times underscores the importance of redemption that you have to enter into any system, any process has to be based in you before it can produce the abundance of goodness that is your will. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Full Text of ReadingsMemorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr Lectionary: 470The Saint of the day is Saint Ignatius of AntiochSaint Ignatius of Antioch's Story Born in Syria, Ignatius converted to Christianity and eventually became bishop of Antioch. In the year 107, Emperor Trajan visited Antioch and forced the Christians there to choose between death and apostasy. Ignatius would not deny Christ and thus was condemned to be put to death in Rome. Ignatius is well known for the seven letters he wrote on the long journey from Antioch to Rome. Five of these letters are to churches in Asia Minor; they urge the Christians there to remain faithful to God and to obey their superiors. He warns them against heretical doctrines, providing them with the solid truths of the Christian faith. The sixth letter was to Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, who was later martyred for the faith. The final letter begs the Christians in Rome not to try to stop his martyrdom. “The only thing I ask of you is to allow me to offer the libation of my blood to God. I am the wheat of the Lord; may I be ground by the teeth of the beasts to become the immaculate bread of Christ.” Ignatius bravely met the lions in the Circus Maximus. Reflection Ignatius' great concern was for the unity and order of the Church. Even greater was his willingness to suffer martyrdom rather than deny Christ. He did not draw attention to his own suffering, but to the love of God which strengthened him. He knew the price of commitment and would not deny Christ, even to save his own life. Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Join Father Kevin Drew as he preaches on this Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr. Today's readings First Reading: Philippians 3:17-4:1 Psalm: Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 Gospel: John 12:24-26 Catholic Radio Network

Father James Kubicki joins Patrick to discuss St. Ignatius of Antioch What is the connection between Saint Ignatius of Antioch and Saint Ignatius of Loyola? (6:20) How did Saint Ignatius live and die? What does Saint Ignatius teach us about the higher hierarchy of the Church? (20:03) Break 1 What is a Church father? (23:13) Why is it important to read from the Church Fathers? (38:28) Break 2 What is the relationship between St. Ignatius and St. John the Apostle? (44:09) Tom - What is the relationship of St. Ignatius of Antioch and St. Polycarp? How can we grow in friendship with the saints? Resources A Year of Daily Offerings by Father Kubicki https://ignatius.com/a-year-of-daily-offerings-ydop/

Today is the feast of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, a bishop of the early Church. He was martyred in the colosseum less than a hundred years after Jesus was crucified. Father shares some words from this great saint about love for Christ.

ROSARY - LUMINOUS MYSTERIES today.  DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET for Thursday.

True faith does not shrink from the cross!

Homily by Fr. Michael Renninger

For 17 October 2024, the Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop, Martyr, based on Ephesians 1:1-10 (Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash)

In this episode, we explore the power of surrender—how balancing effort and faith can bring peace to our lives. Inspired by Saint Ignatius of Loyola's wisdom and personal reflections on the Surrender Novena and Psalm 23, we discover how letting go can help us find calm amidst chaos. Key Takeaways: Balance effort with surrender. ✅Sometimes, letting go is the most powerful thing you can do. ✅

Read OnlineJesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. Luke 9:1–2This is the first time that Jesus sends His Apostles out on a mission. On this mission, He is preparing them for their ultimate mission, which will come at the time of Pentecost, after Jesus dies, rises and ascends to Heaven. But for now, Jesus commissions these Apostles to do three things: to cast out demons, heal the sick and proclaim the Kingdom of God.Just like the Apostles, we are called to combat the devil and his demons. They are fallen angels who retain their natural powers, and they use those natural powers to try to deceive us, oppress us and, in some cases, even possess us. But demons are powerless in the face of God, and God gives us spiritual authority over them. And though there are some who are given the unique ministry of exorcism within the Church, all of us do have spiritual authority over demons, especially over their natural spiritual attacks of temptations.We combat demons primarily by revealing their lies and bringing them to light. Saint Ignatius of Loyola, in his spiritual classic The Spiritual Exercises, explains to us some of the ordinary tactics these demons use and how we overcome them. He says that for those steeped in a life of serious sin, the demons continually place before their mind the lie that their sins are enjoyable and rewarding, so that they will continue to choose them. And for those who are striving for holiness, these demons try to discourage them in their deepening conversion. They “bite, sadden and put obstacles, disquieting with false reasons, that one may not go on” (Rule 2). The way to overcome these temptations is by turning to the truth. First, by realizing that the false “pleasures” of sin are just that: false, fleeting and ultimately demeaning. Furthermore, we overcome these temptations by receiving from God “courage and strength, consolations, tears, inspirations and quiet, easing, and putting away all obstacles.” In other words, we overcome the demons by allowing God to strengthen us, clear our thinking, dispel all false obstacles on the road to holiness and by receiving the abundant consolations that God bestows as help on the journey.Reflect, today, upon the fact that our Lord wants to minister to you in this threefold way. If you can work to overcome the obstacles put in your path by these demons, then you are in a good position to share in the other two missions given to the Apostles. You will be able to experience mental, emotional and spiritual healing in your life, and you will be able to allow the Kingdom of God to grow strong and powerful within your own soul. From there, you will be sent on a mission by our Lord to bring these graces to others in need.My all-powerful Lord, You have authority over evil, the power to heal and offer all the gifts of eternal salvation. Help me to be open to the ways that You desire to come to me. Please free me from the attacks of the evil one, bring healing and hope, and bring forth the abundance of Your glorious Kingdom in my life. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.Featured image above: A an etching by Jan Luyken from the Phillip Medhurst Collection of Bible illustrations housed at Belgrave Hall, Leicester, England, photo by Philip De Vere, Wikimedia Commons

Father Timothy Gallagher joins Patrick to discuss Desolation in Discernment (3:37) Where do Saint Ignatius rules of discernment come from? How to discern between natural and spiritual life that we live. (16:25) what is the secret of Rule 5 in the Spiritual Exercises? (25:20) Break 1 Bob - How does Ignatius' rules for discernment and specifically desolation apply to someone who is also dealing with depression or illness? (30:46) Mary - What's the best way to initiate this teaching to our kids besides us teaching it? (39:31) Break 2 What is the importance in having structure in the prayer life? (44:38) what I the importance of rule 6 in our lives? What are the 4 tools used in spiritual desolation? (48:45) What are some other resources to help against desolation? Resources: Fr. Timothy M. Gallagher, O.M.V. https://www.frtimothygallagher.org/ The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness https://www.amazon.com/Anxious-Generation-Rewiring-Childhood-Epidemic/dp/0593655036

Send us a textEver wondered how to truly discern God's will for your life? Join Janell as she sits down with Trevor Hudson, esteemed author and spiritual mentor, who offers an enlightening roadmap in his latest book, "In Search of God's Will: Discerning a Life of Faithfulness and Purpose." Trevor distills wisdom from spiritual giants like Dallas Willard and Saint Ignatius, helping us align our hearts with God and understand our spiritual identity. Trevor's journey to internalize God's love, especially amidst life-altering experiences like his shocking imprisonment during South Africa's apartheid, reveals the ongoing process of moving from intellectual understanding to heartfelt acceptance. This episode underscores the importance of faith-based counseling in overcoming the misconception that divine love must be earned. By sharing these pivotal life moments, Trevor illuminates how our picture of God reshapes our inner lives and spiritual journeys.Support the showBegin Your Heartlifter's Journey: Pre-order Trevor's newest book: In Search of God's Will Visit and subscribe to Heartlift Central on Substack. This is our new online coaching center and meeting place for Heartlifters worldwide. Meet me on Instagram: @janellrardon Leave a review and rate the podcast: WRITE A REVIEW Learn more about my books and work: Janell Rardon Make a tax-deductible donation through Heartlift International Learn more about Young Living Therapeutic-Grade Essential Oils and the Aroma Freedom Technique: HEALINGFROMTRAUMA

Father John Eckert joins Patrick to discuss Praying with Scripture. (7:21) What is the difference between reading scripture and praying with scripture? How can you enter into a prayerful disposition when reading scriptures? (20:39) Break 1 Jack - Mentor said, 'Lord reveal your word to me,' and that changed my life. (24:26) – What is Lectio Divina? (31:06) - The power of the Divine Office. (39:46) Break 2 (40:48) Mary Lou - The spiritual life of Saint Ignatius helped me connect with scripture. Christ came alive to me when I focused on him in the garden of Gethsemane. He has human feelings, and I started to cry. Resources: Jesus of Nazareth volume 1 by pope Benedict XVI https://www.lighthousecatholicmedia.org/store/title/jesus-of-nazareth-part-1-from-the-baptism-in-the-jordan-to-the-transfiguration

Father Reflects on the meaning of work since we are just coming off Labor Day. How does God view work? It is much different from how most of us view it. Fathers shares some insights from Saint Ignatius about this subject.

We welcome back Fr. Joseph Fessio, S.J. of Ignatius Press to discuss St. Ignatius of Loyola on this, his feast day. Who is Ignatius of Loyola, and how has his vision affected both the Church and the World?   Show Notes Ignatius Press A Pilgrim's Journey: The Autobiography of St. Ignatius of Loyola "Lord, I Want to See": How to Keep Your Spiritual Eyes Open The Examen Prayer: Ignatian Wisdom for Our Lives Today | Fr. Timothy Gallagher, O.M.V. Meditation and Contemplation: An Ignatian Guide to Praying with Scripture | Fr. Timothy Gallagher, O.M.V. An Ignatian Introduction to Prayer: Scriptural Reflections According to the Spiritual Exercises | Fr. Timothy Gallagher, O.M.V. Exposcit Debitum (1550) Nefarious: The Must-See Movie (Cary Solomon) 5/15/23 The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max 25 Year Anniversary Celebration | The Station of the Cross Catholic Media Network Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

Today's Topics: 1) Gospel - Mt 13:44-46 - Jesus said to His disciples: "The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it." Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Priest Saint Ignatius, pray for us! Bishop Sheen quote of the day 2) After mostly negative responses on synodality, Vatican deletes online poll https://www.thecatholicthing.org/2024/07/29/after-mostly-nline poll on ‘synodality'negative-responses-vatican-deletes-online-poll-on-synodality/ Virginia mom barred from son's public school library after complaining about pornographic books https://www.foxnews.com/us/virginia-mom-barred-son-public-school-library-books 3) Facebook and Instagram falsely mark iconic Trump "fight" photo as "altered" https://catholicvote.org/facebook-instagram-falsely-mark-iconic-trump-fight-photo-as-altered/ 4) CCC: 2493-2499: The Use of Social Community Media

Gospel Matthew 13:44-46 Jesus said to his disciples: "The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.” Reflection Jesus speaks of the kingdom of God. The kingdom of heaven. They're the same. And what's so interesting about it, he makes it clear that this is the image of what we are all called to do and to be, to be living in this kingdom. And sometimes we think we have to earn it or we have to work for it, or we have to make ourselves into something we're not.  No, the key is the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of God is already here. It is inside of you. And so what you have to do is find it, believe it's there, know it's there, and make it the prize that you put above every other thing in your life. I want to be fully alive. I want to live in a kingdom of peace, joy and love. I want it more than anything. Closing Prayer Father, open our hearts to your wisdom. You alone can reveal to us fully the mystery of what we are about in this world. The kingdom of God is mysterious. But the most important thing is that you come into the world to awaken us to what it is. And when we seek it, we will find it. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Full Text of ReadingsMemorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Priest Lectionary: 403The Saint of the day is Saint Ignatius of LoyolaSaint Ignatius of Loyola's Story The founder of the Jesuits was on his way to military fame and fortune when a cannon ball shattered his leg. Because there were no books of romance on hand during his convalescence, Ignatius whiled away the time reading a life of Christ and lives of the saints. His conscience was deeply touched, and a long, painful turning to Christ began. Having seen the Mother of God in a vision, he made a pilgrimage to her shrine at Montserrat near Barcelona. He remained for almost a year at nearby Manresa, sometimes with the Dominicans, sometimes in a pauper's hospice, often in a cave in the hills praying. After a period of great peace of mind, he went through a harrowing trial of scruples. There was no comfort in anything—prayer, fasting, sacraments, penance. At length, his peace of mind returned. It was during this year of conversion that Ignatius began to write down material that later became his greatest work, the Spiritual Exercises. He finally achieved his purpose of going to the Holy Land, but could not remain, as he planned, because of the hostility of the Turks. Ignatius spent the next 11 years in various European universities, studying with great difficulty, beginning almost as a child. Like many others, his orthodoxy was questioned; Ignatius was twice jailed for brief periods. In 1534, at the age of 43, he and six others—one of whom was Saint Francis Xavier—vowed to live in poverty and chastity and to go to the Holy Land. If this became impossible, they vowed to offer themselves to the apostolic service of the pope. The latter became the only choice. Four years later Ignatius made the association permanent. The new Society of Jesus was approved by Pope Paul III, and Ignatius was elected to serve as the first general. When companions were sent on various missions by the pope, Ignatius remained in Rome, consolidating the new venture, but still finding time to found homes for orphans, catechumens, and penitents. He founded the Roman College, intended to be the model of all other colleges of the Society. Ignatius was a true mystic. He centered his spiritual life on the essential foundations of Christianity—the Trinity, Christ, the Eucharist. His spirituality is expressed in the Jesuit motto, Ad majorem Dei gloriam—“for the greater glory of God.” In his concept, obedience was to be the prominent virtue, to assure the effectiveness and mobility of his men. All activity was to be guided by a true love of the Church and unconditional obedience to the Holy Father, for which reason all professed members took a fourth vow to go wherever the pope should send them for the salvation of souls. Reflection Luther nailed his theses to the church door at Wittenberg in 1517. Seventeen years later, Ignatius of Loyola founded the Society that was to play so prominent a part in the Catholic Reformation. He was an implacable foe of Protestantism. Yet the seeds of ecumenism may be found in his words: “Great care must be taken to show forth orthodox truth in such a way that if any heretics happen to be present they may have an example of charity and Christian moderation. No hard words should be used nor any sort of contempt for their errors be shown.” One of the greatest ecumenists was the 20th-century German Jesuit, Cardinal Augustin Bea. Saint Ignatius of Loyola is the Patron Saint of: Retreats Love the saints? Check out these six titles on Catholic saints! Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Join Father Kevin Drew as he preaches on this Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, priest. Today's readings First Reading: 1 Cor 10:31-11:1 Psalm: Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9, 10-11 Gospel: Lk 14:25-33 Catholic Radio Network

There is a list of Jesuit giants through history you hear over and over. That list starts with Saint Ignatius and his companions, of course, then includes to other Jesuit saints and blesseds to more modern Jesuits who are often called by just one name: Rahner. Hopkins. De Lubac. Teilhard. Arrupe. Dulles. Ellacuria. Bergoglio. And today's episode is about one more on this list: Lonergan. Bernard Lonergan was a Canadian Jesuit philosopher and theologian who lived from 1904 to 1984. And to be honest, his work is intimidating. He was pretty clearly a genius and wrote volumes on volumes of work on topics like epistemology, the philosophy of science, economic and political theory, and so much more. His most significant work is a 1957 book called “Insight: A Study of Human Understanding.” Whatever Lonergan was up to during his life was so important that there are scores of scholars who devote their careers today to studying and responding to his work. Today's guest is one of these scholars: Jonathan Heaps is the director of the Bernard J. Lonergan Institute at Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey, and the author of the recent book The Ambiguity of Being: Lonergan and the Problems of the Supernatural. Host Mike Jordan Laskey asked Jonathan to introduce Lonergan to us and explain why there is this whole cottage industry around Lonergan's thought and why he's still important today. Jon did a great job translating some of Lonergan's big ideas into language even Mike could understand. We think you'll enjoy the chance to get this accessible introduction to one of the most influential North American Jesuits ever. Jonathan Heaps: https://www.jonathanheaps.com/ Lonergan Institute: https://www.shu.edu/lonergan/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Media Lab, a project of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus www.jesuitmedialab.org/

“I gave them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the Evil One.” John 17:14–15Unfortunately, the evil one is real. He is the highest of the fallen angels who retain their natural spiritual power given them at their creation. God created all angelic creatures with the purpose of serving His holy will. The Scripture reveals that there are nine levels or “choirs” to which these angelic creatures belong. Among the fallen angels, the highest of them directs the others, and he is traditionally given the name Lucifer or “the devil.”One of the natural spiritual powers that these fallen angelic creatures retain is the power of influence and suggestive thought. They were created to be messengers of God's truth to us; but, in their fallen state, they seek to communicate confusion and lies instead. Therefore, it is very helpful to understand the way the evil one and the other fallen angels communicate to us so that we can reject their lies and listen only to the voice of God.In his rules for the discernment of spirits, Saint Ignatius of Loyola explains that when a person is going “from mortal sin to mortal sin,” the evil one and the other demons continually propose to their imagination the “apparent pleasures” and “sensual delights” that they obtain from their sin as a way of keeping them firmly controlled by that sin. However, when a person is “intensely cleansing their sins and rising from good to better,” the evil one and the other demons act in a contrary way. They will “bite, sadden and put obstacles, disquieting with false reasons, that one may not go on” in their pursuit of holiness. God and the good angels will act in the opposite way. For those immersed in sin, God and the good angels will use “the opposite method, pricking them and biting their consciences through the process of reason” so as to draw them away from sin. And when a person is, in fact, growing in holiness, God and the good angels will “give courage and strength, consolations, tears, inspirations and quiet, easing, and putting away all obstacles, that one may go on in well doing” (See mycatholic.life/ignatius).These spiritual lessons on the discernment of spirits are of great value and will assist you on your daily struggle with sin and your daily pursuit of holiness. Understanding the deceptions of the evil one and discerning the promptings of grace given by God bring clarity to our daily lives and direction to all of our actions. The good news that is revealed by the Scripture passage above is that our Lord is fully aware of the working of the evil one, has prayed for you and will assist you as you seek to combat these lies and deceptions in your life. Reflect, today, upon the importance of learning how to discern both the voice of God and the lies of the evil one. Work to discern the voice of God so that you may follow Him more faithfully. And seek to discern the lies of the evil one so that you will not be influenced by him and can directly reject him. Commit yourself to a more rigorous discernment of these spiritual experiences in your life and allow this prayer of Jesus to direct you into His holy will. My all-powerful Lord, You have conquered the evil one and provide all the grace I need to overcome his lies and deceptions. Open my mind to discern Your voice and give clarity to the voice of the evil one so that I may choose You with my whole heart and reject all that the evil one tries to say to me. Jesus, I trust in You. Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.Featured image above: Temptation of Christ By Philips Augustijn Immenraet, via Wikimedia Commons