Taylor Kemp and Dr. Scott Hefelfinger, joined by guest producer Madison Frank, talk about how to fend off discouragement, one of the devil's favorite tools. Taylor shares the sting of being sent down after his first-round draft and a missed penalty kick in the Final Four. Scott shares the steps he takes to climb out of a funk and the prayers and saint quotes that help.

They close with a challenge for the week: name what's discouraging you, and bring it to God.

Have a question or topic idea for future episodes? Submit them here: http://practicingcatholicpodcast.com/

Pray the Litany of Humility here: https://amenapp.org/prayer/jw5hyw

Pray the Litany of Trust here: https://sistersoflife.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Mobile-Litany-of-Trust.pdf

To learn more about Welcome to Hope Springs go to www.hopesprings.org and listen everywhere you get your podcasts.

Learn more about Saint Josephine Bakhita here: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-josephine-bakhita/

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Taylor Kemp and Dr. Scott Heffelfinger begin praying through the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, not as experts but as novices just starting out. They share how each of them came to Ignatius, and the episode also includes a send-off for their producer, Emily LeGrand.

They look at Ignatius's own story: the cannonball injury, the lives of the saints that set his heart on fire, and the humility of studying Latin with schoolchildren before earning his theology degree at 43. Then they open the Exercises themselves. They discuss his definition of "spiritual exercises" as preparing the soul to rid itself of inordinate attachments and to seek God's will. They also cover praying for the exact opposite of the temptation you're fighting, focusing the Examen on one main struggle, and his simple weekly chart for tracking progress. Along the way they talk about why sin is the starting point, why the basics matter in prayer, and which saints have surprised them as mentors.

Both hosts end with a personal challenge: Scott will discern a specific intention for the Exercises, and Taylor will pray against his main temptation each morning and review it in the nightly Examen. A part two is planned, so if you have experience with the Spiritual Exercises, send it in. Please keep Emily in your prayers, too.

Learn more about the Augustine Institute Graduate School's Distance Education Program: https://augustine.edu

Find more content about St. Ignatius of Loyola on Formed: https://app.formed.org/app/collections/902590

Have a question or topic idea for future episodes? Submit them here: http://practicingcatholicpodcast.com

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Taylor Kemp and Dr. Scott Hefelfinger talk with guest Eileen Spinner, a hospice counselor and author, about the guided Catholic journals she co-created with Sister Gianna Casino.

Eileen shares family stories that came out of the journal (a mix-up over her mother's confirmation name, her father's answer to "how do you want to be remembered"), previews an Archdiocesan grandparents' workshop this October on passing on the faith, and unpacks her idea of "actual death" — the day people stop talking about you — as the reason writing your story down matters so much.

The episode ends with Taylor's challenge: using the journal for a literal "stroll down memory lane" through Forest Park.

Have a question or topic idea for future episodes? Submit them here: http://practicingcatholicpodcast.com

Purchase a copy of Eileen’s journals here: https://books.catecases.com
Sign up for the St. Louis Evangelization Workshop for Grandparents: https://www.archstl.org/event/tell-me-why-youre-catholic/
Check out the Lumina Life Review Program and volunteer for BJC Hospice: https://www.bjchospice.org/Services/Specialty-Programs/Lumina-life-Review
Learn more about Eileen Spinner and her work here: https://tabella.me/EileenSpinner

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