Play on Spotify to listen to the podcast: The 25 th topic of the A-Z of DiscipleSHIP, “Y”, is about the history of the Church. In 2018, Easter fell on April Fools’ day.  And the comic in me marveled at the timing.  And I started to imagine the following conversation among the Roman guards who were assigned the task of guarding Jesus’ tomb. (Matthew 28:1-15 [1] ) They do their duty. Its (Holy) Saturday. To pass the time, they crack jokes.  One of them says to the other. "The g

Play on Spotify to listen to the podcast: The Psalmist laments in Psalm 13, “ How long, O Lord? Will you forget me for ever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I bear pain in my soul, and have sorrow in my heart all the day? ” In our present times and in our personal situations, there are manifold examples of suffering, both physical and moral.  Let us ponder what the Bible, the Church and the Saints teach us about this crucial topic [1] . May our reflect

Play on Spotify to listen to the full podcast: St. Ignatius teaches that there are three “times” in which a sound and good choice may be made. The second “time” or mode involves the discernment of spirits , while the third mode’s last stage also implicates this process. What is discernment of spirits? What are spiritual “consolations” and “desolations”? And how can we be more aware of and to understand them, and to act , accepting what is of God and firmly rejecting what is