No stranger to Discerning Hearts, Deacon James Keating once again takes us all into the depths of our interiority with “A Deacon’s Retreat”. Yes, written primarily for deacons of the Church, as usual, this work is a wonderful spiritual work that can touch us all.  Deacon Keating uses the setting of our great prayer, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, to lead us on a retreat to encounter Christ.  We can reflect on this “retreat” every time we participate in the Eucharist.  Deacon Keating truly is one of best contemporary spiritual leaders of our present age.

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Check out Deacon Keating’s book here

Also don’t miss Deacon Keating’s Discerning Hearts page

I love the movies as much as a good book; unfortunately there are fewer “good” movies than there are “good” books.  So it was great to talk the history of film and what makes for a good movie, as well as, what are some of the best of the old and new in cinema today with Gary Giddins. This interview was a blast for me.  If you love the movies, or even if you don’t but you want to have a fun and enjoyable movie going experience, home alone or in the theater, check out “Warning Shadows”

 

For more on “Warning Shadows:  Home Alone with Classic Cinema”

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St. Clare of Assisi…how I love her so.  Cofoundress of the Order of Poor Ladies, or Clares, and first Abbess of San Damiano; born at Assisi, 16 July, 1194; died there 11 August, 1253.  I can’t even begin to describe the effect St. Clare has had on my life.  My relationship with her goes so deep that any words I could come up with would not honor her as I wish I could.

Instead, why not enter into her life’s story by listening to one of the best storytellers I know…Sr. Joan Mueller.  She is enthralling!!! 

The best DVD I have ever seen on the life of Clare and Francis is (and I’ve seen them all) the newest distributed by Ignatius Press. Clare is protrayed as a woman in love with Christ, not a starry-eyed hippy pining over Francis.  And she gets equal time…finally. This film is perfect!

If you ‘d like to see her life summed up in a quick read try here.
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I should share this little story of my own.  In 2007, I had a chance to visit Assisi…I just wanted to be near St. Clare.  I didn’t plan it, but my hotel ended up being right across the street from St. Clare’s Basilica (it seems wrong to call it a street, it’s width is so small).  Really early one morning, I just couldn’t sleep so I got up and began walking around outside of the Basilica.  No one was out, all the shops closed, the sun was just coming up.  On a whim I thought I would see if the doors of the church were open (thinking to myself  of course they wouldn’t be), but to my surprise they opened.  So I entered.  No one was around.  I saw steps leading down to a lower level.  I stepped over the rope blocking the entrance (boorish American that I am) and walked down.  The path led down to an area that had a display of relics, like clothing and other items (I assumed they were Clare’s) and then I turned around and saw something incredible…the crypt of St. Clare.  It stopped me in my tracks, so much so that I had to remind myself to breath again.  I quietly walked over to the enclosure grates that blocked off getting any closer.  I knelt down, and I just started to weep…I just couldn’t help it.  It was so quiet, it was such a gift.  I began to pray. I brought to St. Clare all the petitions I held so deeply in my heart.  And when that was done, silence filled the space. After about 10 minutes, out of nowhere, I could here the sound of the Poor Clare Sisters in the distance chanting their morning prayers.  I knelt at that spot, for a good 30 minutes or so, all alone with St. Clare.  I then got up, praised God for this special moment and left the basilica.  She’s been with me, in a special way, ever since.  St. Clare, pray for us.

     

My Podcast Alley feed! {pca-85bcd1c5436fc3a55270338c05b0fbf4}

Many, Many, MANY of you have asked for these, so here are just some of them….have fun

Just click the shiny faces below

 

My Podcast Alley feed!

Show 6 – Cerebrocentric vs. Genitocentric Sexuality

“Your Fertility Care Consult”
with Dr. Thomas Hilgers, founder of the Pope Paul VI Institute
for The Study of Human Reproduction
hosted by Kris McGregor

http://www.popepaulvi.com/

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