Heart to Heart, A Catholic Media Ministry
“Go into all the world and proclaim the
Good News to all creation.” Mark 16:15
Fr. Michael enacts the story of creation as written by James Weldon Johnson and shares a message from Pope Francis that we are all called to do our part in caring for this planet Earth, our common home. The Creation by James Weldon Johnson And God stepped out on space, And he looked around and…
“Blest are they who hunger and thirst for holiness; they shall have their fill.” Matthew 5:6 A daughter came home from school, mumbling and complaining about how hard her day was. The other students were mean. The teachers were tough. Her walk home was too hot. On and on she went with her troubles. She…
“The patient man shows much good sense, but the quick-tempered man shows folly at its height.” Proverbs 14:29 There are a lot of angry people in the world. We can see that within a few moments of going on social media. Sadly, people often write or speak words that hurt others. This was the case…
“Shake off the dust, rise up, ascend to the throne, Jerusalem; Loose the bonds from your neck, O captive daughter Zion!” Isaiah 52:2 You’ve most likely heard that an elephant never forgets. We usually think having a good memory is a good thing. But there’s a story about an elephant that reminds us some of…
“Seek first his kingship over you, his way of holiness, and all these things will be given you besides.” Mark 6:33 Steven Covey tells a story that shines a light on our life’s priorities. He explains that one day a college professor brought out a gallon-size glass jar. He took a bag of large rocks…
“He began to teach them that the Son of Man had to suffer much, be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, be put to death, and rise three days later.” Mark 8:31 When Glenn Cunningham was just a boy, he was in a devastating fire at his school. Doctors told his…
Fr. Michael guides us through two meditations based on the The Two Standards of St. Ignatius contrasting the standard of the world versus the standard of Christ. We are called to stand with Jesus. Yesterday’s Video Homily – Reaching Out With Acts of Love Friday’s Seeds of Joy story – Divine Transformation
Coming to us from the Fogarty Chapel at Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House, Fr. Michael enacts the Gospel of John chapter 21 and teaches that even in the midst of our sin—and just like he did with Peter—Jesus reaches out and calls us to do his work. John chapter 21 Jesus revealed himself again to…
“For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare, not for woe, plans to give you a future full of hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 Three trees grew side by side on a mountaintop. One day they shared what they dreamed of becoming as the first little…
The official title for today’s story is “The Donkey in the Pit” but the actual story is about so much more than just the donkey; it is about the donkey’s triumph in rising up and our own triumph in rising to be who God is calling us to be. “Trust in the Lord with all…
“…We know that affliction makes for endurance, and endurance for tested virtue, and tested virtue for hope.” Romans 5:3 Henry Louis Gehrig, better known as Lou Gehrig, played baseball for an amazing 17 seasons with the New York Yankees. His strength and success on the baseball field earned him the nickname “The Iron Man” –…
“Jesus told Martha: ‘I am the resurrection and the life: whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live…’” John 11:25 During the French Revolution, the townspeople in a village in Austria found themselves surrounded by eighteen thousand soldiers led by Andre Massena, one of Napoleon’s generals. Having no defense, they prepared to do…
Fr. Michael introduces and teaches the daily Examen in the context of the current pandemic. For those already familiar with the Examen, you may not need the middle teaching section, if so, skip ahead with the time notations in the YouTube description, or listen through and learn something new! Click here or the thumbnail below…
One of the most painful side effects of the pandemic is that we are, in many cases, not able to visit our loved ones who are sick and suffering. Our hearts go out to them, but we’re not able to be there in person to hug them or whisper words of comfort. Today’s Practices for…
Recorded this week at Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House, Fr. Michael offers some history lessons about our Lenten practices and how this time of “doing less” while staying home is actually not a new idea. John 8:21-30 Jesus said to the Pharisees: “I am going away and you will look for me, but you will die…
Matthew 27:11-54 Jesus stood before the governor, Pontius Pilate, who questioned him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You say so.” And when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he made no answer. Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they are testifying against…
https://youtu.be/jq0bxmQ8aAs
This is another homily Fr. Michael gave several weeks ago. We could have titled it many things, Fear Threatens to Overwhelm Us, Unite Your Suffering to Jesus, Fear is a Liar, Despair Knocks at All of Our Hearts, Beware What You Ask For, and on. There is a spiritual depth to the hope offered by…
What is Practices for Pandemic? Practices for Pandemic is a collaboration between Fr. Michael Sparough, SJ, Heart to Heart and Aaron Niequist. Audio meditations will be released each Sunday during the coronavirus mandatory shelter at home order in Illinois. These meditations are available on our YouTube channel or as an album on our Bandcamp page.…
Originally preached on March 4th before stricter measures were put in place to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, Fr. Michael reminds us that the word “repent” means literally to turn around. As our social and spiritual lives are tested these last few weeks of Lent, examine those places where you can turn around…