“Who Are the Wise Virgins?” – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Podcasts
11/13/23 • 28 min
“Who Are the Wise Virgins?” – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff
Join Msgr. John Esseff as he answers the question: “Who are the wise virgins?” in this exploration of the Gospel of Matthew 25:1-13.
Gospel MT 25:1-13 Jesus told his disciples this parable:“The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins
who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
Five of them were foolish and five were wise.
The foolish ones, when taking their lamps,
brought no oil with them,
but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps.
Since the bridegroom was long delayed,
they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight, there was a cry,
‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.
The foolish ones said to the wise,
‘Give us some of your oil,
for our lamps are going out.’
But the wise ones replied,
‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you.
Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’
While they went off to buy it,
the bridegroom came
and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him.
Then the door was locked.
Afterwards the other virgins came and said,
‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’
But he said in reply,
‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’
Therefore, stay awake,
for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
Msgr. John A. Esseff is a Roman Catholic priest in the Diocese of Scranton. He was ordained on May 30, 1953, by the late Bishop William J. Hafey, D.D. at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Scranton, PA. Msgr. Esseff served as a retreat director and confessor to St. Mother Teresa. He continues to offer direction and retreats for the Sisters of the Missionaries of Charity. Msgr. Esseff encountered St. Padre Pio, who would become a spiritual father to him. He has lived in areas around the world, serving in the Pontifical Missions, a Catholic organization established by St. Pope John Paul II to bring the Good News to the world especially to the poor. Msgr. Esseff assisted the founders of the Institute for Priestly Formation. He continues to serve as a retreat leader and director to bishops, priests and sisters and seminarians, and other religious leaders around the world.
The post “Who Are the Wise Virgins?” – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.
“Who Are the Wise Virgins?” – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff
Join Msgr. John Esseff as he answers the question: “Who are the wise virgins?” in this exploration of the Gospel of Matthew 25:1-13.
Gospel MT 25:1-13 Jesus told his disciples this parable:“The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins
who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
Five of them were foolish and five were wise.
The foolish ones, when taking their lamps,
brought no oil with them,
but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps.
Since the bridegroom was long delayed,
they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight, there was a cry,
‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.
The foolish ones said to the wise,
‘Give us some of your oil,
for our lamps are going out.’
But the wise ones replied,
‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you.
Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’
While they went off to buy it,
the bridegroom came
and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him.
Then the door was locked.
Afterwards the other virgins came and said,
‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’
But he said in reply,
‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’
Therefore, stay awake,
for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
Msgr. John A. Esseff is a Roman Catholic priest in the Diocese of Scranton. He was ordained on May 30, 1953, by the late Bishop William J. Hafey, D.D. at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Scranton, PA. Msgr. Esseff served as a retreat director and confessor to St. Mother Teresa. He continues to offer direction and retreats for the Sisters of the Missionaries of Charity. Msgr. Esseff encountered St. Padre Pio, who would become a spiritual father to him. He has lived in areas around the world, serving in the Pontifical Missions, a Catholic organization established by St. Pope John Paul II to bring the Good News to the world especially to the poor. Msgr. Esseff assisted the founders of the Institute for Priestly Formation. He continues to serve as a retreat leader and director to bishops, priests and sisters and seminarians, and other religious leaders around the world.
The post “Who Are the Wise Virgins?” – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.
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Day 7 – St. Gertrude the Great Novena – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts
St. Gertrude the Great Novena – Day 7 – For the Grace of a Greater Love of the Holy Eucharist
St. Gertrude embraced the Mass as a profound encounter with Christ’s redemptive suffering. Let us reflect on this prayer that she composed,
‘Through this Mass, I offer You in reparation, loving Father, all the sufferings of Your Son from His first cry in the manger to His last breath on the Cross. In my humble state, I praise and adore Your mercy,’ Amen.
Let us ask St. Gertrude to intercede for us as we seek to unite our own joys and sorrows with the Eucharistic sacrifice. May this act of communion inspire us to live out each day in accordance with God’s loving plan for our lives. May she also intercede in the intention we bring to this novena.
We join St. Gertrude in a prayer she composed for the Holy Souls in Purgatory:
Eternal Father,
I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son,
Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today,
for all the holy Souls in Purgatory,
for sinners everywhere,
for sinners in the Universal Church,
those in my own home and within my family.
Amen.
St. Gertrude the Great, pray for us
For the entire novena visit: A Novena to St. Gertrude the Great – Discerning Hearts Podcast
The post Day 7 – St. Gertrude the Great Novena – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.
Next Episode
Day 8 – St. Gertrude the Great Novena – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts
St. Gertrude the Great Novena – Day 8 – For the Grace of a Greater Devotion to the Sacred Heart
St. Gertrude had a great devotion to her beloved patron, St. John the Evangelist. With aid of his Gospel and the action of the Holy Spirit, she deeply perceived the unceasing love of Jesus Christ for us, particularly through His Sacred Heart, which is an enduring symbol of His divine love and mercy. St. Gertrude’s insights laid the groundwork for the devotion that St. Margaret Mary Alacoque would later be known for. In the spirit of St. Gertrude, may we present our heartfelt intentions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, embracing His unfailing love. May she also intercede in the intention we bring to this novena.
We join St. Gertrude in a prayer she composed for the Holy Souls in Purgatory:
Eternal Father,
I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son,
Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today,
for all the holy Souls in Purgatory,
for sinners everywhere,
for sinners in the Universal Church,
those in my own home and within my family.
Amen.
St. Gertrude the Great, pray for us
For the entire novena visit: A Novena to St. Gertrude the Great – Discerning Hearts Podcast
The post Day 8 – St. Gertrude the Great Novena – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.
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