Meditations
Meditations is a weekly podcast with Fr Gavan Jennings produced by Called to More. Each week you can expect a seed for prayer — on the life of Jesus, his Church and how we can attain sanctity.
New episodes every Saturday at 7pm Irish time (2pm Eastern / 11am Pacific).
Listen here or anywhere you usually find your podcasts.
Episodes
62 episodes
Ep. 61| Guided Evening Prayer (Entrusting the Night to God)
What does it mean to entrust our nights to God? In this meditation, Fr Gavan reflects on Deus Creator Omnium, the ancient hymn by St Ambrose written for Saturday evening prayer. Through its verses, we discover God’s providential care in creatio...
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Season 1
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Episode 61
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8:28
Ep. 60 | Christ the Rising Sun (Morning Meditation)
How does Christ bring light to the dark places of our hearts? In this meditation, Fr Gavan reflects on a beautiful ancient hymn from the Church’s morning prayer. Like the rising sun banishing night, Christ breaks through the clouds of sin and d...
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Season 1
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Episode 60
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9:01
Ep. 59 | The Birthday That Changed History
Why does the Church celebrate the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary? In this episode, Fr Gavan reflects on Mary’s birth — one of only three birthdays celebrated in the Church’s liturgical calendar. Discover why this day is called the dawn of ...
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Season 1
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Episode 59
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7:37
Ep. 58 | Late Have I Loved You
Why are we so drawn to beauty — and why does it never seem to fully satisfy us? In this reflection, Fr Gavan explores the restless heart of St. Augustine, a man who chased earthly beauty only to discover that his deepest desire was for God Hims...
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Season 1
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Episode 58
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7:42
Ep. 57 | God Makes a Way
When life feels like a trap, where do we turn? In this episode, Father Gavan explores the feeling of being spiritually stuck—when sin, fear, or despair seem to close in with no escape. Drawing from Scripture and the hope of Christ’s redemption,...
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Season 1
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Episode 57
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7:05
Ep. 56 | A Confession Worth Celebrating
What does true joy look like after confession? Fr. Gavan shares a remarkable story of a woman whose joy after being reconciled with God radiated to everyone around her. This episode reflects on how confession restores the soul, strengthens rela...
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Season 1
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Episode 56
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7:04
Ep. 55 | The Confession God Arranged
How far will God go to bring someone back to Him? In this episode, Father Gavan shares a remarkable story of providence: a tourist robbed in Dublin, a missed pilgrimage, and an unexpected confession after 25 years away. What looked like loss be...
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Season 1
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Episode 55
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6:49
Ep. 54 | A Great Sign in Heaven
How can we hold on to hope in the face of evil? This episode reflects on the Feast of the Assumption of Mary and her role as a sign of triumph over evil. Through vivid imagery from the Book of Revelation, Fr. Gavan reveals how Mary’s victory re...
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Season 1
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Episode 54
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7:49
Ep. 53 | Forgive Me, Father
What makes a truly good confession? Reflecting on the life of St. John Vianney, patron saint of parish priests, this episode explores the power and beauty of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Fr. Gavan highlights four qualities of a good confess...
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Season 1
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Episode 53
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7:57
Ep. 52 | Seek and You Will Find
Why does Jesus sometimes feel absent? This reflection draws from the story of Mary Magdalene at the tomb on Easter morning. Her persistence in seeking Christ, even in sorrow and confusion, becomes a model for our own prayer life. Fr. Gavan enco...
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Season 1
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Episode 52
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7:32
Ep. 51 | Come Away and Rest
Can rest be holy? In this episode, Fr. Gavan reflects on the value of rest, leisure, and recreation. Drawing from Genesis, Church tradition, and wisdom from Pope Benedict XVI, he reminds us that rest is not laziness but a sacred imitation of Go...
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Season 1
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Episode 51
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7:29
Ep. 50 | Do People Enjoy Being Around You?
This episode dives into the four key qualities that make someone lovable, drawing parallels between these traits and the features of a warm, inviting room. Father Gavan highlights the importance of appearance, a sunny disposition, affection, an...
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Season 1
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Episode 50
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7:28
Ep. 49 | Be a Friend Worth Having
This episode highlights the essence of true friendship as a mutual commitment, exploring how virtues like amiability, cheerfulness, and refinement make us more lovable and relationships more fulfilling. Drawing from the Bible and wisdom of sain...
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Season 1
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Episode 49
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6:30
Ep. 48 | Friendship is a Choice, Not a Feeling
This reflection explores the essence of true friendship as a decision of the will, not fleeting emotions. Father explains Aristotle’s view of virtuous friendship and draws parallels to marriage, highlighting the need for commitment, freedom, an...
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Season 1
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Episode 48
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7:13
Ep. 47 | Aristotle & True Friendship
In this episode, Father Gavan explores Aristotle’s profound reflections on friendship. Delving into pleasure, utility, and virtue-based relationships, he reveals the depth of true friendship: seeking the good of another. With references to marr...
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Season 1
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Episode 47
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7:34
Ep. 46 | The Mother Who Reigns with Grace
What does it mean to call Mary Queen? This reflection unpacks the Feast of the Queenship of Mary, showing how her humble “yes” brought her not only motherhood, but heavenly queenship. Her crown is not of domination but of love, and she reigns n...
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Season 1
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Episode 46
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7:18
Ep. 45 | Christ Didn’t Leave You Behind
How can Jesus leave and still be near? This reflection on the Ascension reveals that Christ’s departure wasn’t an absence but a deeper presence. Drawing from Scripture and the insights of Pope Benedict XVI, it explores how Jesus remains with us...
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Season 1
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Episode 45
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7:52
Ep. 44 | The Surprising Joy of St Philip Neri
What does holiness look like in hard times? This reflection explores the joyful humility of St Philip Neri—a saint who transformed the Church not with power but with laughter. In the midst of chaos and corruption, he offered Rome a radiant, hum...
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Season 1
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Episode 44
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8:49
Ep. 43 | Is Your Faith Just for Sundays?
This episode explores how integrating faith with daily life brings us closer to God’s holiness. Father Gavan warns against separating faith from work, family, or social life, and highlights our role as co-creators with God. Embracing this unity...
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Season 1
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Episode 43
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7:47
Ep. 42 | The (Deepest) Call of a Christian
The transformation into Christlikeness is the central theme of this meditation. Through the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, and the purification of our souls, we are called to participate in God’s holiness. By detaching from sin and imita...
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Season 1
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Episode 42
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7:35
Ep. 41 | Are You Really Free?
The gift of human freedom is unique and mysterious. Unlike creatures bound by nature, we choose our path, for good or ill. Fr. Gavan explains how law and virtue guide our freedom, showing us the way to true flourishing and union with God. Disco...
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Season 1
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Episode 41
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8:25
Ep. 40 | The Lies That Keep You Stuck
Truth guides us to God, yet ignorance blinds us. Father Gavan delves into how idolatry forms when truth is absent and how divine revelation not only informs but transforms us. Encounter the living God, the One who fulfills every heart’s desire....
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Season 1
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Episode 40
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7:42
Ep. 39 | Stop Searching, You’ve Already Found It
This reflection explores the insatiable human longing for fulfillment, often misdirected towards finite pleasures, as only God can satisfy our hearts. Through St. Augustine’s transformation, we learn that our restless hearts find peace only in ...
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Season 1
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Episode 39
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7:20
Ep. 38 | The Deepest Desire of Your Soul
How can humanity’s longing for beauty and fulfilment be satisfied? This reflection explores the “infinite hole” in our hearts, a yearning for God Himself. Material wealth and worldly pleasures fall short, yet God’s infinite love fulfils our dee...
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Season 1
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Episode 38
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7:31