Hearing With The Heart: Conversations Over Coffee

If Jesus is the Bridegroom, when is his wedding? Janet and Bridgett discuss Chapter 4 of Jesus the Bridegroom: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told by Brant Pitre.

Resources:

• Jesus the Bridegroom: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told by Brant Pitre
• Jesus’ Crucifixion from the Gospel of John

Baby Steps:

• Remember a wedding you've attended. Now look at your crucifix and consider the crucifixion as Jesus' wed...

If Jesus is the Bridegroom, then who is the Bride? Listen in as Janet and Bridgett discuss Chapter 3 in Jesus the Bridegroom: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told.

Resources:

• Jesus the Bridegroom: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told by Brant Pitre
• The Woman at the Well John 4: 4-30

Baby Steps:

• Re-read The Woman at the Well. Put yourself into the scene and have that conversation with Jesus. 
• Remember that Jesus wants to ...

Have you ever thought of the Last Supper as Jesus' wedding banquet? Listen in as Bridgett and Janet discuss John the Baptist, Jesus' role at the Wedding at Cana, and the Last Supper as they discover Chapter 2 of Jesus the Bridegroom: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told.

Resources:

• Jesus the Bridegroom: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told by Brant Pitre
• Song of Songs
•  DEFINITION from the CCC
  • Covenant:  
    1. A sole...

Bridgett and Janet introduce the book Jesus the Bridegroom: The Greatest Love Story Every Told  by Brant Pitre and the covenant relationship God has with us.

Resources:

• Jesus the Bridegroom: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told by Brant Pitre
• Catechism – definition of covenant
• Song of Songs

Baby Steps:

• Consider your image of God from the Old Testament. Sit with this image a bit, and have an open dialogue with him...

Have you attended an Easter Vigil Mass? Walk with Janet and Bridgett through the symbolism of "the mother of all holy vigils" (St Augustine) and the joy and celebration of Easter.

Resources:

• Hallow Easter Vigil Guide
• Ignatius Catholic Study Bible New Testament
• Easter Vigil Readings 
• Easter Sunday Readings
• Jesus the Bridegroom: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told by Brant Pitre

 
Baby Steps:

• Live in the jo...

The journey we take with Jesus during Holy Week leads us to the pinnacle moment of our Catholic faith. Janet and Bridgett walk with us through the scriptures from Jesus' jubilant (but humble) entrance in Jerusalem to his death on the cross.

Resources:

• Catechism of the Catholic Church #1168
• Triduum
• The Significance of Holy Thursday
• Ignatius Catholic Study Bible New Testament
• Kreeft, Peter. Food for the Soul: Reflection...

Our Catholic faith teaches us to deny ourselves - a counter-cultural idea for our modern world. Janet & Bridgett discuss how the concept of dying to self can lead to spiritual fulfillment and make space for all that God has in store for our lives.

Resources:

• Fifth Sunday of Lent Gospel
• Ignatius Catholic Study Bible New Testament
• Kreeft, Peter. Food for the Soul: Reflections on the Mass Readings Cycle B.  Word on Fire,...

Janet & Bridgett discuss the Gospel from the Fourth Sunday, which includes the most often quoted verse (John 3:16), and the depth of love God has for each one of us.

Resources:

• Ignatius Catholic Study Bible New Testament
• Kreeft, Peter. Food for the Soul: Reflections on the Mass Readings Cycle B.  Word on Fire, 2023.
• Marquette University Gospel Reflection
• Fourth Sunday of Lent Gospel Reading Cycle B
• Moses Lifts Up the Se...

Bridgett and Janet discuss Jesus' righteous anger when he finds his Father's house, the temple, being defiled. How can we use this lesson in our lives - this Lent, and beyond?

Resources:

•  Ignatius Catholic Study Bible New Testament
• Kreeft, Peter. Food for the Soul: Reflections on the Mass Readings Cycle B.  Word on Fire, 2023.
• Third Sunday of Lent: Jesus Cleanses the Temple
• In Jesus' cleansing of the Temple,...

For the second week of Lent, Janet and Bridgett discuss the Transfiguration, a reading we hear every Lenten season, and how mountaintop experiences bring us closer to God.

Resources:

• Ignatius Catholic Study Bible New Testament
• Kreeft, Peter. Food for the Soul: Reflections on the Mass Readings Cycle B.  Word on Fire, 2023.
• Second Sunday of Lent: The Transfiguration
• 2 Peter 1: 17-21

Baby Steps:

• When you find yourself ...

During this first week of Lent, Bridgett and Janet discuss the desert - from the journey of the Israelites fleeing Egypt to Jesus' temptation in the desert, and what we can learn for our own faith journeys.

Resources:

• Ignatius Catholic Study Bible New Testament
• First Sunday of Lent: The Temptation in the Desert
• The Three Temptations of Christ by Deacon R. Christoph Sandoval
• Lessons on the Temptations of Christ
• Kreeft, ...

As we prepare for Ash Wednesday, Janet discusses her favorite liturgical season, Lent, with Bridgett. Together, they share both the #funfacts and the reverent aspects of the season and remind us to just breathe!

Resources:

• CCC 2849  Such a battle and such a victory become possible only through prayer. It is by his prayer that Jesus vanquishes the tempter, both at the outset of his public mission and in the ultimate stru...

What does it mean to be Sent? Janet and Bridgett consider how they have been Sent out into the world on what Janet calls God's greatest adventure, and discuss how we are all called to share the love of Christ with others.

Resources:

• Living as Missionary Disciples: A Resource for Evangelization
• Discipleship Book
• Joy of the Gospel  
• Living as Intentional Disciples of Jesus
• Am I a Disciple of Christ?

Baby Steps:

• In...

In the third of a 4-part series on Missionary Disciples, Janet and Bridgett reveal the history behind the need for community, and its importance today, especially for our faith journeys.

Resources:

• Living as Missionary Disciples: A Resource for Evangelization
• Discipleship Book
• Joy of the Gospel  
• Community in the Catholic Church
• The Messy Necessity of Authentic Catholic Community - Catholic Missionary Disciples 

Baby St...

In the second of a 4-part series on Missionary Disciples, Bridgett and Janet discuss what Janet describes as a beautiful word: accompaniment. But what does it mean for a Missionary Disciple?

Resources:

• Living as Missionary Disciples: A Resource for Evangelization
• Joy of the Gospel  
• The Reed of God: A Spiritual Classic 

Hearing with the Heart Coffee Mug:   https://bit.ly/HWTHmug

Baby Steps:

• Pray and ask Go...

You may heave heard the term Missionary Disciple but what does it really mean? Let Janet and Bridgett break it down for you in their latest podcast episode

Resources:

• Living as Missionary Disciples: A Resource for Evangelization
• Discipleship Book
• Toups, Fr. Mark. Rejoice! An Advent Pilgrimage into the Heart of Scripture. Ascension Press, 2023. 
• Edward Sri “Into His Likeness”
• Joy of the Gospel paragraph 120:
  • "In virt...

Janet & Bridgett discuss Epiphany, including some surprises, historical references, and thoughts about what it means for us today.

References:

• The Epiphany of the Lord
• The history behind the Feast of the Epiphany
• The Origins and Spirituality of the Epiphany
• Ignatius Catholic Study Bible New Testament
• USCCB Readings for Epiphany

Baby Steps:

• Reflect upon the journey of the Wise Men
  • What journey have you taken? 
  • W...

Merry Christmas! Join Bridgett and Janet as they discuss Christmas memories and favorite Christmas carols.
 
Resources:

• The Surprising Origins of Christmas Carols: Explained
• Christmas Carols: The History Behind 9 Festive Favorites
• The Stories Behind Our Most Beloved Christmas Carols 
• O Holy Night
  • https://www.americamagazine.org/arts-culture/2023/11/26/o-holy-night-history-slavery-246556
  • https://www.classicfm.com/discover-...

Bridgett and Janet discuss their Advent traditions and explore what Advent means to them (and to our Church).

Resources:

• Advent resources: https://www.ascensionvb.org/advent
• Readings for 1st Sunday in Advent: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120323.cfm
• Readings for 2nd Sunday in Advent: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121023.cfm
• Ascension Press Ten Family Advent Traditions
• What is Advent?  USCCB
• Catholic Activit...