Before most phones had caller ID, you couldn’t know who was calling until you heard the caller’s voice. If the caller was your mother, you only needed a few seconds to be certain she was the person speaking to you; that recognition came from the relationship you had with her. You learned the sound of her voice by spending time with her.

Similarly, you must spend time listening to Jesus to be able to “recognize His voice” (Jn 10:4). How do you do this?

• Repent of all sin. Sin blocks our hearing. Repentance, and especially the Sacrament of Confession, opens up our ears.
• Turn off the voices of the world, many of which are “a stranger’s voice” (Jn 10:5). Practice regular silence. God speaks in the silence (see 1 Kgs 19:12ff). Each day, pray: “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening” (see 1 Sm 3:10).
• Read the Bible daily, especially the Gospels. “Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 133).
• Go to Mass as often as possible, even daily. At every Mass, a reading from the Gospel is proclaimed. This is a prime way to learn Jesus’ voice.
• Stay in the sheepfold, the Church. In that safety, you’ll hear His voice better (see Jn 10:3).
• Set aside a regular time and place to intentionally listen to the Lord. For many, morning is a primary time to listen for the voice of the Shepherd (see Is 50:4). Be quiet and listen (see Ps 46:10, RSV-CE). Persevere. He’ll do the rest.

Rescript:  "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from April 1, 2026, through May 31, 2026. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio October 22, 2025"

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.