He Leadeth Me

St. Jose Maria Escriva once said, "The rosary is a powerful weapon. Use it with confidence and you will be amazed at the results." In this episode, Jess and Fr. James Brent talk about the power of the holy rosary as a weapon in spiritual warfare.Fr. James recommends praying the rosary for anyone who believes they are experiencing spiritual warfare. He also recommends the practice of praying all the mysteries of the rosary daily. You can find a YouTube video about this practice here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dfyk53nrDzc&t=509sFr. James Brent, O.P., is a priest in the St. Joseph Province Dominican Friars. He is a professor at the Dominican House of Studies and a popular retreat master and preacher.You can listen to Fr. Brent's homilies on his soundcloud site at: https://soundcloud.com/james-dominic-brent-o-p

In this episode, Jess sits down with Fr. Mark McCormick to hear his riveting testimony. Fr. Mark started out as a devout young priest, but after years in ministry he gradually stopped praying and reached a low point in his relationship with the Lord. Listen to the inspiring story of how the Blessed Mother intervened in Fr. Mark's life to renew his relationship with Jesus and save his priesthood!Fr. Mark McCormick serves the Diocese of Rapid City, South Dakota, as Director of Vocations and Chaplain at the Newman Center of South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and St. Thomas More Middle and High School. Fr. Mark participates in several prayer groups, fostering to live a life of generous hospitality, a lively faith and a dedicated discipleship, modeling the "yes" of the Blessed Mother Mary and seeking to respond to the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Each year on June 13th and December 12th, FOCUS renews its Consecration to Mary. In this episode, Jessica sits down with Curtis Martin, Founder and CEO of FOCUS, to talk about the transforming power of Marian Consecration.Jessica and Curtis discuss:The history of the Marian Consecration in FOCUSWhy FOCUS renews its consecration on the feast of Our Lady of Fatima on June 13th and the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12thThe life-changing power of making a Marian ConsecrationCurtis is the Founder and CEO of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students. He is the author of the best-selling book "Made for More" and co-author of "The Real Story: Understanding the Big Picture of the Bible" with Dr. Edward Sri. Curtis and his wife, Michaelann, were awarded the Benemerenti Medal by Pope St. John Paul II for their outstanding service to the Church. Curtis and Michaelann live in Colorado. They are blessed with nine children and six grandchildren.

How can we be better disposed to receive Holy Communion?Fr. James Brent returns to talk about the dispositions we need to have to receive Holy Communion more fruitfully. These dispositions include:Being free from grave sinFasting before receiving Holy CommunionFaithHumilityConfidenceLove and desireFr. James also gives advice for those who receive Holy Communion frequently and struggle with the Sacrament feeling routine.Fr. James Brent, O.P. is a priest in the St. Joseph Province Dominican Friars. He is a professor at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington D.C. and a popular retreat master and preacher. You can listen to Fr. Brent's homilies on his soundcloud site: https://soundcloud.com/james-dominic-brent-o-p

What does Christ do in your soul when you receive Holy Communion? In this episode, Fr. James Brent explains the powerful effects of Holy Communion by walking line by line through St. Basil the Great's Prayer After Receiving Holy Communion. Fr. James notes that the effects of Holy Communion include:HealingPurificationEnlightenmentProtectionSanctificationExpulsion of evilAnd more!Fr. James Brent, O.P., is a priest in the St. Joseph Province Dominican Friars. He is a professor at the Dominican House of Studies and a popular retreat master and preacher.You can listen to Fr. Brent’s homilies at his soundcloud site: https://soundcloud.com/james-dominic-brent-o-p

In this episode, Fr. James Brent joins Jessica to talk about the Sacrifice of the Mass. Jess and Fr. James discuss:How Christ has entered into the Eternal Sanctuary of Heaven and offers Himself to the Father by showing the Father His glorified woundsFr. James explains that the essence of sacrifice is to say, "I'm Yours." Fr. James encourages lay people "play their PART" in the Sacrifice of the Mass by offering God:PetitionAdorationReparationThanksgivingFr. James Brent, O.P., is a priest in the St. Joseph Province Dominican Friars. He is a professor at the Dominican House of Studies and a popular retreat master and preacher. You can listen to Fr. Brent's homilies at his soundcloud site: https://soundcloud.com/james-dominic-brent-o-p 

In this episode, Fr. Matt Book joins Jessica to take a walk through the Mass and explain its different rites and prayers. Fr. Matt and Jess discussThe introductory rites, Liturgy of the Word, Liturgy of the Eucharist, and concluding rites of the MassHow the different rites of the Mass mirror the purgative, illuminative, and unitive stages of the interior lifeThe beauty of the structure of MassFr. Matt Book is the pastor of Light of the World Parish in Littleton, Colorado. In 2017, he completed a license in Sacred Theology with a focus on the sacraments at the Liturgical Institute of Mundelein Seminary in Chicago. Fr. Book is a founding member of the Companions of Christ, an archdiocesan association dedicated to promoting the fraternal life and mission of diocesan priests. Fr. Book has taught part-time at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary since 2017.

With the parable of the Persistent Widow (Luke 18:1-8), Jesus encourages us to be persistent in prayer. Yet, there can be times when we wonder, “Should I continue to ask for what I want, or should I pray ‘not my will be Yours be done’?'” In this episode, we will discussWhy God wants us to be persistent in prayerHow the Father answered Jesus’ prayer in the Agony of the GardenHow we should pray with faithJessica Navin is a FOCUS missionary serving on the Formation Team as Manager of Spiritual Formation. She is in her 11th year with FOCUS and resides in Denver, Colorado.

The Gospel of St. John teaches us that Jesus gave us "power to become children of God." The churches teaches us that we are God's beloved children, yet sometimes it can be difficult to take this teaching from head to heart.Fr. James Brent, O.P., joins Jessica to talk about divine adoption and how we can learn to live out of this grace. Fr. James and Jess discuss:The early Church Fathers teaching on Divine Filiation, and their metaphor of an orphan being adopted by a kingWhy the faithful can struggle with believing that they are loved by God, and how internalizing this truth transforms someone's spiritual lifeFr. James offers advice for how listeners can claim their divine adoption and live out of itFr. James Brent, O.P., is a priest in the St. Joseph Province Dominican Friars. He is a professor at the Dominican House of Studies and a popular retreat master and preacher. You can listen to Fr. Brent's homilies at his soundcloud site: https://soundcloud.com/james-dominic-brent-o-p 

How can I grow in my spiritual life and become a saint? Fr. John Ignatius gives us one of his top recommendations: get a spiritual director.In this episode, Fr. John Ignatius and Jessica discuss:How a spiritual director can help you overcome your spiritual blind spotsHow a spiritual director can help you discern God's will for your lifeThe difference between spiritual direction and counselingFr. John Ignatius' answer to the question, "Does everyone need a spiritual director?"Fr. John Ignatius is a priest of the Miles Christi religious order and a FOCUS National Chaplain.