Conference 8 – Hope in Difficult Times: with Sts. Therese, Louis, and Zelie and Their Family with Fr. Timothy Gallagher O.M.V. Fr. Timothy Gallagher recounts St. Thérèse of Lisieux’s compassionate outreach to Sister Maria of St. Joseph, a troubled nun often avoided by her community due to severe mood swings and emotional instability. Instead of joining in the avoidance, Thérèse intentionally sought her out, offering to assist in the linen room and patiently enduring her anger, all as a way of li...
Aug 11, 2025•30 min
Conference 7 – Hope in Difficult Times: with Sts. Therese, Louis, and Zelie and Their Family with Fr. Timothy Gallagher O.M.V. Fr. Timothy Gallagher reflects on the pivotal transformation in Léonie Martin’s life, one of St. Thérèse’s sisters. He recounts the painful history between Léonie and the family maid, Louise, who secretly mistreated her for years under the guise of discipline. Despite outward appearances of affection, Marie, Léonie’s older sister, discerned something amiss. After the ...
Aug 04, 2025•33 min
A Novena in honor of Ven. Bruno Lanteri, founder of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary Day 5 – Honoring God by Joy “Sometimes it may seem as though God does not react to evil, as if he is silent. And yet God has spoken. He has replied, and his answer is the cross of Christ: a word that is love, mercy, forgiveness.” With spiritual joy, one gives greater honor and glory to God, manifesting with deeds that he thinks well of God and is content in His service and with His treatment. With persistent unhap...
Jul 31, 2025•4 min
Conference 6 – Hope in Difficult Times: with Sts. Therese, Louis, and Zelie and Their Family with Fr. Timothy Gallagher O.M.V. Fr. Timothy Gallagher explores the profound faith, resilience, and sacrificial love embodied by St. Zélie Martin, the mother of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. Through excerpts from her letters, Fr. Gallagher illustrates St. Zélie’s trials in marriage, business, motherhood, and terminal illness. Her writings reveal a woman deeply devoted to her family, tirelessly caring for her ...
Jul 28, 2025•58 min
Conference 4 – Hope in Difficult Times: with Sts. Therese, Louis, and Zelie and Their Family with Fr. Timothy Gallagher O.M.V. In this fourth conference, Fr. Timothy Gallagher takes a look into a series of letters written by St. Zélie Martin, mother of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, highlighting the family’s profound trust in God amid suffering. Zélie writes about the devastating fire that destroyed her brother’s business and the severe illnesses afflicting her children, particularly Thérèse and Marie....
Jul 14, 2025•52 min
Conference 3 – Hope in Difficult Times: with Sts. Therese, Louis, and Zelie and Their Family with Fr. Timothy Gallagher O.M.V. Fr. Timothy Gallagher and Kris McGregor explore the trials endured by the Martin family, especially through the personal letters of Zélie Martin during the years leading up to and during the Franco-Prussian War. Zélie’s heartbreaking experiences include the loss of multiple children, financial hardship, and the terror of war as German soldiers occupy their home. Through ...
Jul 07, 2025•38 min
Conference 2 – Hope in Difficult Times: with Sts. Therese, Louis, and Zelie and Their Family with Fr. Timothy Gallagher O.M.V. Fr. Timothy Gallagher continues a reflection on the life and letters of Zélie Martin, mother of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, and her deeply personal letters to her brother during the years when she was raising her growing family amid intense physical, emotional, and spiritual trials. Fr. Gallagher narrates Zélie’s account of caring for her elderly, dying father-in-law while m...
Jun 30, 2025•1 hr
Conference 1 – Hope in Difficult Times: with Sts. Therese, Louis, and Zelie and Their Family with Fr. Timothy Gallagher O.M.V. In this first conference of Hope in Difficult Times with St. Thérèse and Her Family, Fr. Timothy Gallagher introduces the deeply faith-filled and resilient lives of St. Thérèse’s parents, Saints Louis and Zélie Martin. Setting the historical and geographical stage of 19th-century Normandy, he describes how the Martins’ lives were shaped by a deep devotion to God, persona...
Jun 23, 2025•1 hr 1 min
The Death of Marie and Reflections – St. Thérèse and Marie: The Story of Two Cousins with Fr. Timothy Gallagher Fr. Timothy Gallagher takes a look at the final years of Marie of the Eucharist, cousin of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. As Marie suffered from tuberculosis, she experienced physical decline but also a deepening spiritual life. Through correspondence with her friend Céline Poitier, Marie gradually became a source of spiritual support, drawing from the wisdom of Thérèse and her own painful jo...
Jun 03, 2025•48 min
The Death of St. Thérèse – St. Thérèse and Marie: The Story of Two Cousins with Fr. Timothy Gallagher St. Thérèse of Lisieux Fr. Timothy Gallagher and Kris McGregor discuss the final moments of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, drawing from the detailed account written by her sister Pauline, also known as Mother Agnes of Jesus. As Thérèse approached death at the age of 24, she endured immense physical suffering from tuberculosis, compounded by deep spiritual desolation. Despite this, she remained centered...
Feb 26, 2025•32 min
Practical Steps for Prayer – Meditation and Contemplation with Fr. Timothy Gallagher Fr. Timothy Gallagher explores how to integrate Ignatian meditation and contemplation into daily life by offering practical methods for selecting scripture passages. He highlights two primary approaches: using the daily Mass readings for a structured connection to the liturgical year or systematically working through a Gospel with flexibility to revisit passages that resonate deeply. Using simple spiritual comme...
Feb 17, 2025•28 min
Using Colloquy in Prayer – Meditation and Contemplation with Fr. Timothy Gallagher Fr. Timothy Gallagher discusses the significance of the colloquy in Ignatian prayer, describing it as the culminating moment when meditation or contemplation transitions into direct, heartfelt conversation with God. Using examples such as the Beatitudes and the storm at sea, he illustrates how scripture reflection leads naturally into personal dialogue with the Lord. This moment of prayer arises spontaneously when...
Feb 10, 2025•28 min
God’s Presence in Silence – Meditation and Contemplation with Fr. Timothy Gallagher Fr. Timothy Gallagher explores the distinction between meditation and contemplation in the Ignatian tradition, and how both forms of prayer deepen one’s relationship with God. Meditation involves reflecting on Scripture’s meaning, while contemplation uses the imagination to place oneself within a Gospel scene. Imaginative prayer is not mere fantasy but a method deeply rooted in Catholic tradition, practiced by sa...
Feb 03, 2025•28 min
Encountering Christ in Scripture – Meditation and Contemplation with Fr. Timothy Gallagher Fr. Timothy Gallagher delves into the practical and spiritual steps for engaging in Ignatian meditation and contemplation. Preparation is a vital stage, encouraging a moment of stillness to recognize God’s loving presence before beginning prayer. It’s important to read the scripture passage attentively, allowing the text to become “fresh in our consciousness.” We should imaginatively “compose” ourselves wi...
Jan 27, 2025•29 min
Walking with Christ in Prayer – Meditation and Contemplation with Fr. Timothy Gallagher Fr. Timothy Gallagher explores Ignatian meditation and contemplation, illustrating these practices through the story of Catherine, a woman who experienced profound spiritual healing during her retreat. Catherine engaged deeply with the Passion of Christ using Ignatian imaginative prayer, placing herself in the Gospel scenes and encountering Jesus’ love and trust in the Father. This prayer journey led her to i...
Jan 20, 2025•28 min
Power of Imaginative Prayer – Meditation and Contemplation with Fr. Timothy Gallagher Fr. Timothy Gallagher explores the distinctions and interplay between meditation and contemplation in the Ignatian tradition, with Fr. Timothy Gallagher providing insights into how these methods deepen engagement with Scripture. Meditation involves reflecting on the meaning of words in Scripture (e.g., pondering “Blessed are the poor in spirit”), while contemplation is an imaginative engagement with biblical ev...
Jan 13, 2025•28 min
Episode 11 – Spiritual Fruits of Small Acts – St. Thérèse and Marie: The Story of Two Cousins with Fr. Timothy Gallagher St. Thérèse of Lisieux Fr. Timothy Gallagher and Kris McGregor take a look at the spiritual development of Marie, cousin of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, through her letters to Celine, and Thérèse’s teachings. After Thérèse’s death, Marie grew into a spiritual guide for Celine, who faced challenges in her married life. The letters reveal Marie’s assimilation of Thérèse’s “Little Way...
Jan 10, 2025•25 min
Introduction – Meditation and Contemplation with Fr. Timothy Gallagher Fr. Timothy Gallagher explains the practice of praying with Scripture through meditation and contemplation in the Ignatian tradition. Rooted in St. Ignatius of Loyola’s teachings, meditation uses reason to reflect on the meaning of Scripture, drawing personal insights and applying them to daily life. Contemplation, on the other hand, engages the imagination to enter a Gospel scene, allowing one to “be present” in the event an...
Jan 06, 2025•28 min
Episode 10 – A Heart Set on Holiness – St. Thérèse and Marie: The Story of Two Cousins with Fr. Timothy Gallagher St. Thérèse of Lisieux Fr. Timothy Gallagher and Kris McGregor explore the final months of St. Thérèse of Lisieux and her profound spiritual journey amidst extreme physical suffering. They delve into her ability to remain joyful and other-centered despite her struggles, as highlighted through the letters of her cousin Marie. These letters vividly portray Thérèse’s perseverance in lov...
Dec 31, 2024•32 min
Episode 9 – The Passion of Saint Thérèse – St. Thérèse and Marie: The Story of Two Cousins with Fr. Timothy Gallagher St. Thérèse of Lisieux ** The last 30 minutes of this episode contains graphic descriptions that some might find disturbing. Listener discretion is advised. ** Fr. Timothy Gallagher and Kris McGregor examine the profound and often overlooked suffering of St. Thérèse of Lisieux during the final months of her life in 1897. The narrative begins with the context of her perpetual prof...
Dec 26, 2024•1 hr 2 min
Episode 8 – Walking the Little Way Together – St. Thérèse and Marie: The Story of Two Cousins with Fr. Timothy Gallagher St. Thérèse of Lisieux Fr. Timothy Gallagher continues his look at the lives of St. Thérèse of Lisieux and her cousin, Marie Guérin, who joined the Carmel as Sister Marie of the Eucharist in 1895. St.Thérèse, as assistant novice mistress, lovingly guided Marie during her formative years in religious life. Through letters, poetry, and spiritual counsel, Thérèse helped Marie nav...
Dec 18, 2024•43 min
Episode 7 – The Poetry of Saint Thérèse – St. Thérèse and Marie: The Story of Two Cousins with Fr. Timothy Gallagher St. Thérèse of Lisieux Fr. Timothy Gallagher explores the poetic expressions of St. Thérèse of Lisieux and her profound ability to convey spiritual truths through poetry despite her young age, lack of formal training, and challenging circumstances. St. Thérèse’s poetry, much of which was written between the ages of 21 and 24, often loses some of its beauty in translation. Her poem...
Dec 02, 2024•26 min
Episode 6 – Holiness Through Sacrifice – St. Thérèse and Marie: The Story of Two Cousins with Fr. Timothy Gallagher St. Thérèse of Lisieux Fr. Timothy Gallagher and Kris McGregor discuss St. Thérèse of Lisieux’s spiritual guidance and her role in her cousin Marie’s journey to Carmel. Marie’s long-awaited entrance into religious life in 1895 was marked by emotional struggles and familial sacrifices, but Thérèse’s compassionate yet firm support helped her embrace detachment and trust in God. Throu...
Nov 22, 2024•26 min
Episode 5 – Path of Grace and Weakness – St. Thérèse and Marie: The Story of Two Cousins with Fr. Timothy Gallagher St. Thérèse of Lisieux Fr. Timothy Gallagher and Kris McGregor explore the depth of spiritual encouragement on the correspondence between St. Thérèse of Lisieux and her cousin Marie during the summer of 1890; during a period when Marie was grappling with spiritual desolation and doubt. At the heart of the letters is St. Thérèse’s response to Marie’s feelings of inadequacy, spiritua...
Nov 14, 2024•50 min
Episode 4 – Overcoming Scruples – St. Thérèse and Marie: The Story of Two Cousins with Fr. Timothy Gallagher St. Thérèse of Lisieux Fr. Timothy Gallagher and Kris McGregor continue their discussion on St. Thérèse of Lisieux and her close relationship with her cousin, Marie, through their letters. They explore a particular letter from Marie to St. Thérèse, written during a challenging period in Marie’s life wherein she is debating whether or not to join the Carmelite order. Marie confides in St. ...
Oct 11, 2024•58 min
Episode 3 – Facing Temptations with Grace – St. Thérèse and Marie: A Story of Two Cousins with Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Discerning Hearts Podcast Fr. Timothy Gallagher and Kris McGregor explore the depth and relatability of St. Thérèse of Lisieux through her family dynamics and her correspondence with her cousin, Marie Guérin. These correspondences exhibit Thérèse’s profound spiritual wisdom, even at a young age, and how she comforted Marie during a period of spiritual struggle, particularly with...
Oct 01, 2024•41 min
Episode 2 – An Audience with the Pope – St. Thérèse and Marie: A Story of Two Cousins with Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Discerning Hearts Podcast Fr. Timothy Gallagher and Kris McGregor continue their look at the childhood and family life of St. Thérèse of Lisieux and her cousin Marie. Exploring the close relationship between Thérèse and Marie through their letters, including key moments in their early years and the significant influence they had on each other’s lives. St. Thérèse of Lisieux Starting...
Sep 20, 2024•50 min
Episode 1 – Introduction – St. Thérèse and Marie: A Story of Two Cousins with Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Discerning Hearts Podcast Fr. Timothy Gallagher and Kris McGregor begin a discussion on the often overlooked relationships that shaped the life and spirituality of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. Reflecting on the profound and enduring influence of Thérèse’s extended family, Fr. Gallagher takes a special focus on her cousin Marie Guérin, who was both a close friend and spiritual companion to Thérèse. St...
Aug 30, 2024•31 min
Episodio 11 – La Novena Regla – Resistir a la desolación espiritual con la Regla 9 La Novena Regla: Hay tres causas principales por las que nos encontramos desolados. La primera, porque somos tibios, perezosos o negligentes en nuestros ejercicios espirituales, y así por nuestras faltas se aleja de nosotros el consuelo espiritual. La segunda, para probarnos y ver cuánto somos y cuánto nos extendemos en su servicio y alabanza sin tanto pago de consuelos y gracias aumentadas. La tercera, darnos ver...
Aug 24, 2024•31 min
Episodio 10 – La Octava Regla – Confianza y paciencia con la Regla 8 La Octava Regla: Que quien esté en desolación se esfuerce por ser paciente, lo cual es contrario a las vejaciones que le sobrevienen. Que piense que pronto será consolado, usando diligentemente los medios contra tal desolación, como se dice en la sexta regla. El P. Timothy Gallagher y Kris McGregor se centran en la octava regla de discernimiento de San Ignacio de Loyola: la importancia de la paciencia en tiempos de desolación e...
Aug 19, 2024•33 min
