St. Josemaria Institute Podcast
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Be Still: A Christmas Reflection (Rebroadcast)
23 december 2024 · 28 min
In our meditation of the week: Msgr. Fred Dolan invites us to reflect more deeply on the Nativity of Our Lord. “In the Incarnation,” he says, “God has come not only to unleash our power of loving and adoring God but also to give us a model on how to become more fully human.” Lees meer
Recalling a famous short story from 1906, “The Gift of the Magi,” Msgr. Dolan gives us the “antidote” to that attitude of commercialization that often accompanies the Christmas season. He helps us ponder the fact that what matters most is “the amount, the extent to which we love each other.” We are reminded that the greater our love, the greater our freedom. And so we want our love to remain open to absolutely everyone; we want the willingness to befriend others in imitation of Christ, who made friends with “tax collectors and sinners.”
We pray and ask the Holy Family: “Do whatever it takes to give me that same degree of love [you have]. Help me to contemplate. Help me to develop the capacity to be still, to see that you, Jesus, are God. Help me to grow in love so that I can grow in freedom. Help me to grow in detachment so that I can be happy regardless of the circumstances. And help me to become a better and more understanding friend of all those around me.”
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Fourth Week of Advent: Always Be Ready
19 december 2024 · 28 min
In this meditation for the Fourth Week of Advent, Fr. Peter Armenio guides us in deepening our preparation for Christmas, the celebration of our transcendent God entering our world in the fullness of time, by reflecting on Jesus Christ as the ultimate source of peace and joy. Lees meer
St. Paul preached not that Jesus is peaceful but that he is peace; Isaiah calls him the Prince of Peace; and Jesus tells us: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you” (John 14:27). God wants everyone to be recipients of this description of Jesus. This great joy is for all people and it fills all people with hope.
Fr. Peter directs us, therefore, to ask God’s help to penetrate this definition of peace so that we can “always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope” (1 Peter 3:15).
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Third Week of Advent: Rejoice in the Lord
12 december 2024 · 32 min
In our meditation of the week: Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on the readings for the Mass of the third Sunday of Advent also known as “Gaudete Sunday” or “Rejoice Sunday.” Lees meer
The very first description of Jesus in the Gospel is that he is “good news of great joy” (Luke 2:10). Great joy always surrounds him and there is always a joyous reaction in the presence of Our Lord. Therefore, one tell-tale sign that we are in the right disposition for him to come to us is the prominent fruit of the Holy Spirit: joy.
Fr. Peter explains that permanent, deep joy exclusively comes from Christ and is the fruit of a close relationship with him. Joy outside of Christ is just a good mood, a thrill, or a momentary pleasure. Our true joy comes from being that good soil where we habitually seek Our Lord with our whole heart.
And, if we are lacking joy, this is the time to examine ourselves: Am I looking for Jesus with all my heart? Is he number one in my life? Do I want him to be number one?
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Second Week of Advent: Prepare the Way of the Lord
6 december 2024 · 28 min
In our meditation for the Second Week of Advent, Fr. Peter Armenio directs our attention to the metaphors of conversion found in the Gospel description of St. John the Baptist: “A voice of one crying in the desert, ‘prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.'” Lees meer
We, too, want to be imitators of John the Baptist, “albeit in a flawed and imperfect way.” As Fr. Peter explains, “It’s not about my talents, my gifts, my skills; but it is about letting that Christ who lives in me through Baptism, to let him grow so he reveals himself […] through myself, being an imperfect vessel, but a vessel of Jesus Christ, nevertheless.”
During these days of Advent, our calling is to “put on Jesus Christ” more intentionally so as to let his life and his love be revealed through us. Only in this way can we make Christ “real” to those who earnestly seek him. And, as St. Josemaria wrote, we have two points of entry available to us: “the Bread and the Word.” By constantly nourishing ourselves with Scripture and the Eucharist, we will be better equipped to abide in Him amid the busyness of our daily lives.
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First Week of Advent: Conversion and Contrition
28 november 2024 · 28 min
In our meditation of the week for the First Week of Advent, Msgr. Fred Dolan invites us to use this season as a time of true preparation, not just for Christmas but for our eventual encounter with Jesus Christ. Lees meer
Advent is a call to conversion, urging us to go beyond small, surface-level changes and instead embrace the profound transformation that the Holy Spirit desires to work within us, reshaping us entirely to reflect Christ.
With the help of Our Lady, we can grow in a contemplative spirit, learning to freely and lovingly seek God in all things and to see our lives through his eyes.
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Solemnity of Christ the King: Overcoming the Small-Town Outlook
18 november 2024 · 24 min
In our meditation of the week: Msgr. Fred Dolan invites us to reflect on the Solemnity of Christ the King as a call to embrace our shared kingship with Christ. Drawing inspiration from St. Josemaria, Fr. Fred encourages us to rise above a limited "small-town outlook" and instead adopt a universal heart open to all. Furthermore, he emphasizes the importance of self-dominion, spiritual renewal, and preparing ourselves to enter the new liturgical year with a sense of purpose and readiness to grow in Christ’s image. Lees meer
As we approach Advent, we’re reminded that true kingship, modeled by Christ, is rooted in self-mastery and service. Through prayer, reflection, and a willingness to let go of rigid habits, we can embody this royal calling and approach each liturgical season with a fresh spirit and openness to God’s transformative grace.
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Beginning Again & Again
11 november 2024 · 28 min
Are you seeking to draw near to Our Lord more each day? Lees meer
In our meditation of the week, Fr. Eric Nicolai reflects on the inspiring figure of Zacchaeus from the Gospel of St. Luke—a tax collector with a tarnished reputation among his Jewish peers, yet driven by a sincere desire to encounter Jesus. Despite his shame, Zacchaeus took bold steps to draw near to the Lord as he passed by.
Fr. Eric highlights Zacchaeus’ promptness and initiative, which opened him to the transformative grace of conversion—a grace he received through his own generosity of heart. Fr. Eric challenges us to adopt this same initiative in our interior life, emphasizing the importance of humble self-examination and a willingness to begin again.
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Genuine Christians (Rebroadcast)
4 november 2024 · 32 min
Do you live each day with the urgency and desire to bring the gospel message into your work, family, and social relations? Lees meer
In our meditation of the week, Fr. Peter Armenio shares a reflection on the value of living an ordinary Christian life in the middle of the world. He prompts us to reflect on the fading Catholic identity in the world today and challenges us to bear witness to the light of Christ in our everyday life.
Fr. Peter explains that: “Catholics, laity especially, have to give people an experience of Christianity, of Catholicism. The Church has to be brought to the workplace and to the family, to the party and to the sports field” because “the ordinary Christian in the middle of the world is, in fact, the true hope of the Church.”
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Surrounded by Witnesses: All Saints & All Souls
28 oktober 2024 · 30 min
Is the Communion of Saints just a comforting idea, or a true and deeply consoling reality? Lees meer
In our meditation of the week: as we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints (Nov. 1) and the Commemoration of All Souls (Nov. 2), Fr. Donncha Ó hAodha reflects on the importance of community in our life of faith as we pursue the goal of eternal life with Christ in Heaven.
Through the sacrament of baptism, we are welcomed in to communion with the Church and united to one another through the mystical body of Christ. We are never alone. Fr. Donncha explains: “The saints are cheering us on. They bear witness to the fact that holiness is indeed possible and that we too are called to that holiness, and that they help us by praying and interceding for us.”
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The Spirituality of Saint John Paul II (Rebroadcast)
21 oktober 2024 · 27 min
In our meditation of the week: Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on the spirituality of St. John Paul II, whose feast day is celebrated October 22nd. St. John Paul II rooted his papacy in the Eucharist and devotion to Mary, inspiring holiness in people of all backgrounds from across the globe. There are many aspects we can learn from the papacy of St. John Paul II, but most importantly he taught us: how to pray, how to love, and how to serve. Lees meer
As Pope Benedict XVI wrote: “Everyone knows John Paul II: his face, his characteristic way of moving and speaking; his immersion in prayer and his spontaneous cheerfulness. Many of his words have become indelibly engraved in our memories, starting with the passionate cry with which he introduced himself to the people at the beginning of his pontificate: ‘Open wide the doors to Christ, and be not afraid of him!’ An entire pontificate is condensed in words like these. It is as though he would like to open the doors for Christ everywhere and wishes to open up to people the gate that leads to true life, to true love.”
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The Necessity of Prayer: A Reflection on the Feast of St. Teresa of Avila
14 oktober 2024 · 37 min
In our meditation of the week: Fr. Javier del Castillo shares insight into the life of St. Teresa of Avila and reflects on an important lesson we can learn from her: the necessity of prayer. Lees meer
St. Teresa understood that people are not born saints but can achieve sainthood through cooperation in God’s divine plan. Her time of prayer was most frequently spent in quiet contemplation upon the suffering of Christ, which allowed her to become more aware of her own sinfulness and to rely more fully on God.
St. Teresa of Avila, whose feast day is celebrated October 15, is a Doctor of the Church known for her renewal of the spiritual and monastic life of Spain during the Counter-Reformation. Her written works are highly regarded among mystical literature in the Catholic Church and continue to inspire readers today.
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The Holy Rosary: A Doorway to Redemption
7 oktober 2024 · 28 min
In our meditation of the week: as we celebrate the month of the Holy Rosary, Fr. Leo Austin shares a reflection on deepening our devotion to Our Lady through the Rosary, in which we discover our role in God’s plan of salvation. Reflecting on the Annunciation, Fr. Leo reminds us that Mary’s fiat, her openness to the will of God, is a pivotal moment for humankind. As she freely accepts the will of God, Mary embraces her role as our spiritual mother and demonstrates for us the power in redeeming the ordinary moments of everyday life. Lees meer
St. Josemaria wrote: “Develop a lively devotion for Our Mother. She knows how to respond in a most sensitive way to the present we give her. What is more, if you say the Holy Rosary every day, with a spirit of faith and love, Our Lady will make sure she leads you very far along her Son’s path” (Furrow, no. 691).
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No Ordinary Light: The Founding of Opus Dei
30 september 2024 · 26 min
In our meditation of the week: Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on how St. Josemaria Escriva was inspired by the light of God with the mission to bring Christ into the heart of the entire world in a way that he had never been before, especially into a world gripped by a culture of death and in need of healing through God’s mercy. Lees meer
St. Josemaria wrote: “God is the same as always. It is men of faith that are needed: and then, there will be a renewal of the wonders we read of in the Gospel” (The Way, no. 586). Therefore, as Fr. Peter explains, St. Josemaria understood that all of God’s children are needed and called to participate in this beautiful mission! And our mission is to replicate both the joy and the affection of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, which can be cultivated through a well-formed interior life of prayer. It is our prayer life that exudes the joy and light of Christ in the world.
“[God] wants you to become a living force for all mankind, lights shining in the world” (St. Gregory Nazianzen; Oration, no. 39). We are called to be light, but this is no ordinary light; it is a light in which we are bathed in the glory of God. Our Blessed Mother, Mary, helps us to enter into the light, the light of her son, which is nothing more and nothing less than the mercy of God.
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The Diamonds in Our Lady's Crown:The Beauty of Our Prayers and Sacrifices
24 september 2024 · 29 min
In our meditation of the week: Fr. Leo Austin reflects on how Our Lady opens our hearts to giving ourselves as a ransom for many, as we say in the Mass when we receive the Eucharist. To be a ransom for many, as she teaches us, means desiring to make ourselves humble instruments of God. Lees meer
Drawing on the scene of the ten lepers in St. Luke's Gospel, Fr. Leo reminds us that when we are confronted with the healing power of God's grace, whether we feel worthy or not, all of us have the possibility of giving ourselves to make an encounter between people and God possible. Our Lord takes everything we offer him and exchanges our life and our pain for the needs and sufferings of others. And only in Heaven we will see the results of our actions and prayers.
Through entrusting our prayer, our sacrifices, and the desires of our heart to Our Lady, we can be sure of them having a positive impact on those around us and create a beautiful crown of the Church adorned with our prayers and sacrifices.
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Study and Prayer
16 september 2024 · 37 min
In our meditation of the week: Fr. Javier del Castillo reflects on the meaning of St. Josemaria’s teaching that, “An hour of study, for a modern apostle, is an hour of prayer” (The Way, no. 335). Lees meer
Approaching academic learning as a form of prayer is not a way of life designed solely for students. Rather, it is a way of life that all Christians should adopt as it helps us develop a stronger worldview. Fr. Javier discusses how we are to approach Scripture, the lives of the saints, and the writings of the Church Fathers as a form of prayer. He also explains how to overcome three common obstacles – lust, curiosity, and falsehood – that inhibit our desire to study.
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The Triumph of the Cross
9 september 2024 · 30 min
In our meditation of the week: Fr. Donncha Ó hAodha reflects on the significance of the Holy Cross in our lives and leads us to question: Have we become used to, or even indifferent, to Jesus on the Cross? Where’s the Cross in our lives? Lees meer
As we celebrate the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (September 14) and the memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows (September 15), we are called to contemplate Christ's humanity as he embraces his suffering with love, transforming it into a redemptive gift for humanity. In doing so, as Fr. Donncha explains, we can find meaning in our own trials, suffering, and disappointments. And we can turn to Our Lady, who faithfully accompanies Christ to Golgotha, showing us how to unite our pain with his and embodying steadfast faith and hope in the triumph of the Cross.
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Connected to Jesus, Light of the World
2 september 2024 · 28 min
In our meditation of the week, Fr. Peter Armenio guides us to reflect on Jesus' declaration, "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12), and how we are called to radiate his light in the world. Lees meer
Living out the Gospel and being a light in the world is not about moralizing or winning theological arguments, but about being a genuine reflection of Christ through our love, words, and deeds. Therefore, Fr. Peter encourages us to connect to Jesus, the power source of light, through prayer and a personal relationship, through which he can shine light in our darkness and give joy and meaning to our lives.
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VISIT SHOW PAGE(Please note: This meditation was recorded live during a spiritual retreat for women.)
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Time and Talents: Giving Meaning to Our Existence
26 augustus 2024 · 30 min
In our meditation of the week: Fr. Leo Austin focuses on living the present moment with meaning and gratitude, recognizing our time and talents as gifts from God. Fr. Leo reflects on the parable of the talents, emphasizing that God entrusts each of us with unique gifts and opportunities, allowing us to participate in his creation. Lees meer
Our life and time are opportunities to give what we have received by transforming them and filtering them through our hearts into something better and greater. Therefore, it is important for us to use our talents or vocation for the good of others, co-creating with love and freedom, and transforming ordinary moments into encounters with God.
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Petitioning God with Passion
19 augustus 2024 · 16 min
In our meditation of the week, Fr. Fred Dolan reflects on how some of the most remarkable moments in the New Testament are those moments when one person or another came up to Jesus and begged him for a favor. And how Our Lord also waits for us to ask him for the favors that we desire, by approaching him with the same boldness and passion. Lees meer
Drawing on the life of St. Josemaria, particularly the witness of piety given by his mother, Fr. Fred explains how great things happen when we focus on asking for God's help. In doing so, we are identifying our will to the will of God and we are admitting that he is the one who truly knows the depths of our need.
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Rising with Mary: The Assumption of Our Blessed Mother (Rebroadcast)
12 augustus 2024 · 26 min
In our meditation of the week: Fr. Javier del Castillo reflects on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and how she helps us to rise up to Heaven in our daily lives. For St. Josemaria, the Assumption or the Dormition of Our Lady played a vital role in his life as a young boy in Barbastro, Spain. St. Josemaria’s devotion to Our Lady became so great that he wished to “rise up” to Heaven with Mary by clinging to the tassel of her cloak in an effort to bring a piece of Heaven to Earth. Lees meer
Fr. Javier invites us to look to Mary who teaches us that the essence of bringing Heaven to Earth lies in our ability to rise above challenges and adversities. By following her example, we can forgive even the unforgivable, serve others selflessly, and rise above our own tiredness and hardships. Mary's life exemplifies humility and the power of faith, showing us how to bring Christ's presence into our daily actions. As we emulate Mary's virtues and focus on the needs of others, we can transform our lives and actions, creating a piece of Heaven on Earth.
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Listen to Him: The Transfiguration of the Lord (Rebroadcast)
5 augustus 2024 · 27 min
In our meditation of the week: Fr. Peter Armenio leads us to listen and reflect on the meaning of the Transfiguration of the Lord and how it should transform us today. Lees meer
The Transfiguration of Jesus encourages us in our commitment to discipleship. When we commit to protracted prayer - deep, silent, concentrated prayer - we can see God through our eyes of faith and deeds of love. The mystery of Our Lord’s Transfiguration helps the apostles to trust in the Cross and to believe that there is no such thing as a failure when we follow Christ. By deeply meditating on the scene of Transfiguration, we begin to see him, to take on his capacity for self-giving love, and we become more empowered to give of ourselves with the heart of Jesus.
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The Summit of Our Spiritual Life (Rebroadcast)
29 juli 2024 · 23 min
St. Josemaria Escriva wrote that, “A very important characteristic of the apostolic man is his love for the Mass” (The Way, no. 528). In this meditation, we listen and reflect on the Sacrifice of the Mass, the True Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, and how it is the center and summit of our spiritual lives. Lees meer
Our belief in the Eucharistic Sacrifice comes from God. We don’t achieve that belief through technique but through God’s grace. Our task is to correspond to the faith that God gives us and to ask him to intensify it so that in our heart and in our gut we believe that the Eucharist is our center.
As Fr. Peter Armenio explains, we also want to tap into the spirit and fervor of the saints. We can learn from their reverent examples and love for the True Presence. Every saint is valuable for our own edification and for helping us labor in our “yes” to God.
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Jesus as a Guest
22 juli 2024 · 29 min
In our meditation of the week, Fr. Leo Austin reflects on the gospel of St. Luke, particularly the scene of Jesus’ visit to Bethany. At Bethany, Our Lord was able to find refuge in his friends Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. Fr. Leo reminds us that similar to Bethany, Christ longs to take refuge in our heart, to find a place where he can rest as our friend. In this way, we are called to make our hearts a place of warmth and sincerity, inviting Our Lord into our lives as a dear friend. Lees meer
St. Josemaria reminds us, “For me the tabernacle has always been a Bethany, a quiet and pleasant place where Christ resides. A place where we can tell him about our worries, our sufferings, our desires, our joys, with the same sort of simplicity and naturalness as Martha, Mary and Lazarus” (Christ is Passing By, no. 154).
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The Mass and Evangelization (Rebroadcast)
8 juli 2024 · 23 min
In our meditation of the week: Fr. Peter Armenio sheds light on the mystery of redemption and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. In the life of every saint—and here he draws upon personal encounters with John Paul II, Mother Teresa, and Alvaro del Portillo—there is an intimate connection with Christ and his Eucharistic sacrifice. Lees meer
Through the Holy Mass, our work and sufferings can also take on an infinite value when we unite them to our Lord, because it allows us to say, along with St. Paul, “it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me” (Galatians 2:20).
Therefore, as St. Josemaria encourages us: “Keep struggling, so that the Holy Sacrifice of the Altar really becomes the center and root of your interior life, and so your whole day will turn into an act of worship — an extension of the Mass you have attended and a preparation for the next. Your whole day will then be an act of worship that overflows in aspirations, visits to the Blessed Sacrament and the offering up of your professional work and your family life…” (The Forge, no. 69).
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Making Christ Our Center (Rebroadcast)
1 juli 2024 · 28 min
In our meditation of the week: In this meditation, Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on the importance of detachment in our spiritual lives in order to make a generous gift of ourselves to our Lord and to others. He reminds us that while the comforts of this world can be good in themselves, they are ultimately fleeting. Lees meer
Drawing upon the story of the Rich Young Man, Fr. Peter urges us to give all that we have so that we obtain Jesus. In the words of St. Josemaria, “I want you to be completely convinced that, if we really want to follow our Lord closely and be of real service to God and the whole of mankind, then we must be thoroughly detached from ourselves, our intellectual talents, our health, our good name, our noble ambitions, our triumphs and successes” (Friends of God, no. 144).
As you pray and reflect upon this message, what attachments can you begin to “hack away” at today that will make the joy of Christ shine through your life more clearly?
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Destined In Love: The Legacy of St. Josemaria Escriva
24 juni 2024 · 28 min
In our meditation of the week: in light of the Feast of St. Josemaria on June 26th, Fr. Peter Armenio invites us to reflect on St. Josemaria's legacy and his role as an "evangelical sacramental." The canonization of a saint is an infallible declaration that the person is an actual sacramental, an outward sign of Jesus Christ. Through canonization, the Church acknowledges that person as a faithful reflection of the heart of Our Lord. Lees meer
St. Josemaria exemplified what it means to radiate Christ's presence in everyday life. Fr. Peter references St. Paul's words to the Ephesians, emphasizing that to be like Christ, we must strive for perfection in love, as Christ has destined us all for Heaven.
By cultivating our devotion to St. Josemaria, we learn that sanctity works. It is through our personal pursuit of holiness that we can change the world, bringing Christ to its center. We are all destined by God in love to be saints. This month, through the intercession of Our Lady and St. Josemaria, let us commit ourselves to more fervently radiate Christ's presence, remembering: "I am called to do what I can to witness the gospel and to contribute to witnessing it to the very ends of the earth."
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The Humanity of Holiness
17 juni 2024 · 22 min
In our meditation of the week, Fr. Donncha Ó hAodha reflects on how the saints are those who best radiate Jesus Christ in the world. It is through their humanity and personalities that we can see and touch the humanity and the personality of Jesus. Lees meer
The whole gamut of human experience-- health, work, rest, marriage, friendship, joy, sorrow, humor-- everything can be full of Christ, can radiate Christ, and make present the beauty of the person of Christ.
Fr. Donncha reflects especially on St. Thomas More, the great saint, patron of politicians and lawmakers. He explains that when we think about St. Thomas More, we celebrate especially the humanity of holiness. He was a person who achieved great holiness in and through ordinary everyday things, which is what St. Josemaria particularly enjoyed and savored in St. Thomas More, his secularity.
From St. Thomas More we learn that it is not necessary to isolate ourselves from the world or from professional or family or married life, or our country. We must be totally immersed in all those realities. And, in and through those realities, we find Jesus Christ. We love Christ. We speak with Christ. And we bring Christ to those around us.
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The Responsibility of Fatherhood (Rebroadcast)
10 juni 2024 · 30 min
In our meditation of the week, in preparation for Father's Day, Msgr. Fred Dolan shares a reflection on the important and necessary role fathers have within the family unit and in society today. Drawing upon anecdotes and heartfelt memories from his relationship with his own father, Msgr. Dolan shares seven points that can help fathers renew and strengthen their relationship with their spouse and children. Lees meer
Msgr. Dolan explains that children have a need for authentic care, love, and affection in order to develop into responsible, morally and religiously mature, and psychologically stable persons. He encourages fathers to treat their children in the same way that God treats each one of us: with high standards, loving protection, great hopes for the future, affectionate understanding, a readiness to forgive, and never failing love. In doing so, children will be drawn into a deeper relationship and will seek to imitate this love among their friends and family for generations to come.
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A Revelation of God's Immense Love for Us
3 juni 2024 · 21 min
In our meditation of the week: Fr. Donncha Ó hAodha helps us to understand how God's immense love is revealed to us in the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Lees meer
As we celebrate the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart each year, we are reminded that the Sacred Heart is not just a profound symbol, but an invitation to experience the immense, tender, and life-giving love of Christ.
Therefore, Fr. Donncha invites us to allow the Sacred Heart to renew and strengthen our hearts so that we might embrace the love of Jesus by seeking Christ, loving him, and sharing his love with the world through our daily lives.
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A Living Monstrance (Rebroadcast)
27 mei 2024 · 30 min
In this meditation, Fr. Peter Armenio helps us to pray and go deeper in our understanding and love for the Eucharist as we prepare for the feast of Corpus Christi. Lees meer
On Corpus Christi, it is a common practice in many Catholic churches to hold a Eucharistic procession following Mass. This procession is symbolic of our work as modern day apostles. We are each called to be a living monstrance, bringing the light of Christ into every aspect of our life: our family, our work place, our social gatherings, etc.
Like the saints, Eucharistic devotion should be a common trait in our personal witness of Christ and our personal ability to spread the Gospel. Fr. Peter, therefore, encourages us to make the resolution to spend time regularly in front of the Blessed Sacrament— our oasis where we are nourished and fueled by love.
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A War of Love and Peace
20 mei 2024 · 27 min
In our meditation of the week, Fr. Peter Armenio explores the profound significance of the Blessed Virgin Mary's role in bringing Christ to others. Fr. Peter emphasizes how Mary, our mother and queen, is the shortcut to Jesus Christ. She's not just for comfort, but also a force against evil and for evangelization. In Scripture, she's our hope, revealed from Genesis to Revelation as the one who crushes evil. Just as she appeared to humble shepherds at Fatima, she calls us to spread her son's kingdom, no matter our size or influence. Lees meer
Fr. Peter reflects on how our apostolate is a war of love and peace, fought with prayer as our primary weapon. Mary's intercession has led to victories over communism and countless conversions. With faith and humility, let's join her in changing the world through prayer and action.
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Me? Change the World?
13 mei 2024 · 30 min
In our meditation of the week, Fr. Leo Austin contemplates the transformative experience of the Holy Spirit beginning at Pentecost and the command to go out into the world and transform it with the fire and love of our faith. Lees meer
Fr. Leo asks us to imagine the emotional and spiritual journey of the apostles, placing ourselves in their shoes, grappling with the profound implications of Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension. Like the apostles, we will discover that anything that is spiritually relevant in our lives is seen only through prayer. It is through prayer, acquired by recollection, patience and perseverance, that we can transform and enjoy the world way better--that's the grace of our sanctification.
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With Mary, Praying as a Single Family (Rebroadcast)
6 mei 2024 · 21 min
In our meditation of the week: Fr. Fred Dolan beautifully reflects on the period between Easter and the Ascension, transporting us to the Upper Room where Mary, the holy women, and the Apostles awaited the promised coming of the Paraclete. Lees meer
Through his insightful words, we envision their emotional journey from the despair of the Lord's apparent defeat to the elation of Easter Sunday and the miraculous moments of Jesus' appearances. Their unwavering faith and hope in the Resurrection serve as an inspiration for us today.
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A Brand-New Commandment
29 april 2024 · 23 min
In our meditation of the week: Fr. Peter Armenio delves into Christ’s new commandment to love one another as he has loved us emphasizing the “vertical” and “horizontal” aspects of this commandment, likening it to the shape of a Cross. Lees meer
Fr. Peter also explains how strengthening our prayer life empowers us to live out this commandment and how embracing a life of piety serves as the foundation for our spiritual journey.
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The Consoling Meaning of the Resurrection
22 april 2024 · 30 min
In our meditation of the week: Fr. Peter Armenio delves into the profound significance of the Resurrection challenging the notion that the Christian’s life is one defined by suffering alone. Lees meer
Instead, Fr. Peter emphasizes how Jesus’ Resurrection offers us a beacon of hope, turning our focus from pain to the promise of transformation when we unite ourselves to the Cross.
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Making the Resurrection Credible
15 april 2024 · 22 min
In our meditation of the week: Fr. Peter Armenio inspires our prayer this Easter season reminding us that the heart of our calling as Christians is to always be credible witnesses to the Resurrection by making the living Jesus real in the world. Lees meer
But how do make the Resurrection of Jesus credible today?
If we're going to announce the Resurrection, like our early Christian brothers and sisters, we have to aim for intimate union with Christ. As Fr. Peter explains, we have to "constrain Jesus to stay with us" like the disciples on the way to Emmaus. And, as St. Josemaria said, "Christ is passing by, don't let him go. Be attentive to him when he's coming by."
We must constrain Jesus, therefore, with our desire to be with him, to speak with him, and to implement his words. We must recognize him in the breaking of the bread and be centered on the Eucharistic table; we must learn to listen and talk to Jesus through Scripture; and we must be faithful to our designated time of prayer. Prayer is very much in the first place to making the Resurrection credible.
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The Dynamics of the Cross and Resurrection (Rebroadcast)
8 april 2024 · 25 min
In our meditation of the week: Fr. Peter Armenio offers a reflection on Easter-- the highest celebration of Our Lord's life and victory. But, we must never forget that we wouldn't have that victory without the Cross. To believe in the Resurrection, we have to believe in the power of the Cross. Lees meer
As Fr. Peter explains, every day is a good day to bring the Cross to our prayer and to meditate on the dynamic of the Cross. Our union with Christ through our contradictions and sufferings--the little crosses that we have to bear--produce a Resurrection of Christ in our own hearts and souls.
Fr. Peter also reflects on the feast of the Annunciation, explaining how everything is a spinoff from Our Lady's "yes." By work of the Holy Spirit, her "yes" allowed us to enjoy the gift of God's humanity and the dynamics of the Cross and Resurrection.
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Easter: True Witnesses of Christ (Rebroadcast)
1 april 2024 · 35 min
In this meditation for Easter Sunday: Fr. Javier del Castillo invites us to contemplate the Resurrection of Christ and how the Resurrection is an event that can only be accessed by people of faith who have had a personal encounter with Jesus Christ. Lees meer
Why is the Resurrection such a mysterious event that is not public, but is only accessed through a personal encounter with Our Lord? Because, as Fr. Javier explains, God preordained that the news of his Resurrection be spread through witnesses that had the credentials of having seen, heard, and touched Our Lord. This is the nature of a witness. Jesus appeared to the apostles, so that they could spread the great news of the Resurrection.
Our personal encounter with Jesus today comes from meeting him in our baptism, in holy communion, and in confession. The sacraments make him present here and now. Thanks to the priesthood, we have Jesus Christ present in the Church so that every generation can have the same encounter that the Apostles had. Therefore, as Christians, we are sharers in the great light of the Resurrection, which is the love of Christ that is alive today and that can enlighten all of humanity.
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Why Do We Have To Die?
16 maart 2024 · 32 min
In our meditation of the week: Fr. Javier del Castillo explains the great lesson Jesus teaches us in the gospel for the Fifth Sunday of Lent (John 12:20-33), which is that we have to die -- to self and in this world-- in order to really see who he is. Lees meer
From a Christian outlook, death is a passageway to eternal life where we get to see God, face to face, if we have lived according to the faith. Because of Jesus, we can no longer think that our death in this world is the end or something to be feared, it is actually now a new beginning.
Therefore, as Fr. Javier explains, the consideration of death is needed to help us to precisely put our heart in the right place. Not knowing when we're going to die is actually something that has has to help us be more faithful every day and to always be prepared for whenever God calls us to himself. And Jesus came to also teach us that all we need to prepare for eternity is love, everything else is superfluous.
Today is is what we have; we don't have tomorrow yet. We need to love today, so that we can love for eternity. In the presence of Our Lord, Fr. Javier encourages us to ask ourselves: What is it that I am attached to? Am I placing God above all that and placing him first?
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A God Who Forgives
9 maart 2024 · 34 min
In our meditation of the week: Fr. Javier del Castillo reflects on the revolutionary teaching of St. Paul who preached that Our Lord who is rich in mercy will always forgive us (Ephesians 2:4-10). It is a message that is intended to make our hearts rejoice on this Fourth Sunday of Lent or Laetare Sunday. Lees meer
Salvation is a gift. God became man for this purpose, to have mercy on us. We don't forgive our own sins. It is not a conquest of our own. We can't take our spiritual life in our own hands. Where our struggle lies is in opening up our soul to God and having the humility to recognize our sins.
Even if we live good lives, as Fr. Javier explains, we must never assume that we are without sin. Our lives will find peace and joy only when we continue to ask for forgiveness:
"Lord, I want to hold on tighter to your hand, because I see myself in danger all the time, as long as I am in this world. And I want to be very close to you, really change, try to change my lifestyle, that's what I want to do."
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The Temple and the Virtue of Holy Purity
2 maart 2024 · 30 min
In our meditation of the week: Fr. Javier del Castillo helps us to contemplate the Gospel of the Mass for the Third Sunday of Lent— Jesus cleansing the Temple (John 2:13-25). This is a rare moment in the Gospel when Jesus gets angry because the worship that was due to his Father was being mingled with human motives and was not worthy of his Father God. Lees meer
As Fr. Javier explains, when it comes to the sacred, Our Lord makes no allowances for competition. The same is true for us as the temples of the Holy Spirit. "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?" (1 Corinthians 6:19) The virtue which allows us to love God and to worship God rightly with an undivided heart is holy purity.
Purity is not simply a virtue for the single person but for everyone—married, single, priest, and religious. It is a virtue that allows us to see God behind everyone and every situation in our lives. And it allows us to be a contemplative, to carry that temple, to carry God with us wherever we go.
Our heart is something great, something valuable, and we have to keep it pure for God. There's many manifestations of this virtue and they are all beautiful, but they do require sacrifice. And that is where we need to really make a commitment to living these sacrifices so that the valuable gift of holy purity can be safeguarded.
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The Tabors Behind the Calvaries
24 februari 2024 · 31 min
In our meditation of the week: Fr. Javier del Castillo helps us to contemplate the scene of the Transfiguration of Jesus on Mount Tabor, which we read in the Gospel of the Mass for the Second Sunday of Lent (Mark 9:2-10). Lees meer
Fr. Javier explains how Jesus took the Apostles up Mount Tabor to show them the full truth about himself, about his divinity, so that they could have hope in eternal life and remember this experience of bliss and eternity, especially when it comes time to suffer through the Passion. That is, Jesus took them aside to show them the glory that is a consequence of the Cross and that can only come after the Cross: the Tabor behind the Calvary.
In considering this scene at Tabor, we also try to go to Jesus, to look at him, so that we may be enlightened and have our hopes placed correctly in that which is eternal. When we try to discover the Tabors behind the Calvaries, we are freed up of any worry and from thinking about ourselves, and that allows us to recover our peace and our inner joy in order to serve others and shine a new light around us.
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Becoming a Good Repenter
17 februari 2024 · 25 min
In our meditation of the week: Fr. Peter Armenio helps us to enter into the season of the Lent with a desire for becoming good repenters. And he shares the easy steps for coming back to Christ and beginning again. Lees meer
Although we might believe that God must be sick of us for doing the same sinful things all the time, Fr. Peter reminds us that Our Lord never gets sick of us because he loves us infinitely. That is why his favorite penance is a humble and contrite heart, not to shame us but to get us back. Therefore, a spirit of self-knowledge--sincerity and self-honesty--is the raw material for repentance, not to wallow in our defects and sins, but as a springboard to begin again. A humble and contrite heart releases those barriers between ourselves and Jesus Christ.
Fr. Peter also highlights numerous examples of good repenters in Scripture, from King David to Peter, from Matthew to the Samaritan Woman and Dismas (the Good Thief). Their stories remind us that all saints begin as very good repenters, and Our Lord is asking us to be good repenters too.
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Everything Hinges on the Mass
13 februari 2024 · 22 min
In our meditation of the week: Fr. Peter Armenio helps us to pray about the sacrificial and redemptive true presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, and how we should make the greatest treasure of the universe the center of our life. Lees meer
The source and summit of the Christian life is the Eucharist. Therefore, as Fr. Peter explains, "everything hinges on the Mass. In a certain sense, every devotion is an extension of the Mass and must lead to the Mass." And, how much we get out of Mass depends on our presence of God throughout the day, and how well we embrace the Cross.
Jesus' crucifixion and death were a culmination of his life of self-giving through his work and through his public life. We have to join Jesus in his death and resurrection, through the cross, expressed in our work and expressed in our suffering.
St. Josemaria Escriva referred to the workbench as our altar, not sacramentally or liturgically, but that everybody's altar is in whatever they do. And he says that what really counts is how much self-giving love we put into our work, because that's how much we're going to get to be part of the Mass.
"While you are at Mass, think that you are sharing in a divine Sacrifice. For that is how it is: on the altar, Christ is offering himself again for you" (St. Josemaria Escriva; The Forge, no. 831).
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Conversion: A Work in Progress
29 januari 2024 · 24 min
In this meditation: Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on how holiness is like the seeds that Jesus speaks about in the Gospel. Holiness grows in each one of us, but it grows by being in a constant state of converting; that is, we are all a work in progress. Lees meer
Conversion requires an overhaul of our lives and a complete change of heart. And, as Fr. Peter explains, step number one is to speak with Our Lord and ask him to enlighten us, so that we see ourselves with the idea of changing, repenting, and becoming more like Christ. Our Lord desires a humble and contrite heart.
Step number two, we need faith. We must take to heart every word Jesus enunciated—his example, his witness, his sentiments, and his teachings. Our faith is not where it should be until we embrace everything the Lord says. When we look to Our Lord and ask for his grace, we will discover the tiny ways (or seeds) that allow the natural growth of our Christian life and our progress in holiness.
As St. Josemaria Escriva said, "Conversion is the matter of a moment. Sanctification is the work of a lifetime" (The Way, no. 285).
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Heroic Holiness: A Gift from God (Rebroadcast)
23 januari 2024 · 34 min
In our meditation of the week: Fr. Javier del Castillo reflects on the lives of the early Christians and martyrs and the way they gave witness to their faith through the simple actions of everyday life. He explains how we should also foster an awareness of our personal sanctification and strive to be heroic in and through our ordinary circumstances. Lees meer
The call to holiness is a real gift from God, there's nothing we have done to deserve it. As Fr. Javier says, "it's not about us doing anything as much as us getting out of the way so that God can do everything. Every ordinary thing that we do, if we look at it with supernatural colored glasses, can be a little step on our path to holiness." Therefore, as we respond to the gift of holiness with the same faith of the martyrs, we become cooperators in God’s divine plan and witnesses to the love of Christ.
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God Has Dreams for Our Life
15 januari 2024 · 29 min
In our meditation of the week: Msgr. Fred Dolan speaks to us about our love for a good vocation story-- that amazing moment when someone's life is changed radically. There is something very special about people who have discovered what it is that God has in store for them. Lees meer
Msgr. Dolan explains that the mission that Jesus offers us can change our life and fill it with light. It all comes down to that conviction that we were created, each one of us, in the Lord's image. We were called personally into existence and given a personal name. And, very compellingly, God has dreams for our life.
Therefore, during this time of prayer, Msgr. Dolan helps us make the resolution to maintain a vocational sense of life every day. Our prayer can help us to see how much depends on our response, day after day, hour after hour, to the realization that God is there, following us always with his tender love and with his tremendous interest in our lives.
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Charity: Being Known By Your Love
8 januari 2024 · 26 min
In our meditation of the week: Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on the greatest gift that we have from God-- the supernatural virtue of charity. Lees meer
Many of the Mass readings during Christmas, Epiphany and the following days, remind us that God really wants us to think about charity. We are especially reminded of Jesus's desire that we, his disciples, should be known by the love we have for one another.
Fr. Peter explains that through our baptism, all of us have charity, together with faith and hope, written in our supernatural genetic code or DNA. God gives us what it takes to love with the heart of Christ.
As his disciples, no matter what the culture is like, we know that charity is more powerful than resentment, hatred, and coldness. The light of charity always dissipates darkness, just as life overcomes death and grace overcomes sin.
So, as we listen to this meditation, Fr. Peter guides us to pray and ask ourselves: When I'm with my family, my friends and my colleagues, how do they detect that I'm a disciple of the Lord? What are the characteristics of my charity?
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“They Had Each Other”: A Meditation on Christmas
24 december 2023 · 26 min
In this meditation for Christmas Day: Fr. Leo Austin helps us to contemplate the first nativity scene. Entering into Bethlehem and the stable, he invites us to look first of all to Mary and Joseph and to learn from them. All they had were each other (unity), poverty and happiness. Lees meer
In their simplicity, Mary and Joseph are telling us that we don't need anything but each other. We don’t need anything else but to look at the baby Jesus and focus on him. Look at Jesus-- this is what all the saints have done throughout history. He will clean our eyes and our hearts. He will make us simple in a good way. This also makes it possible for us to just stop and look at each other as human beings.
Bethlehem, the city of bread. Bethlehem, the place where Jesus was born. The Eucharist is Jesus coming to us, the person of Jesus Christ taking possession of our hearts and the Blessed Trinity dwelling in our souls. And then, after realizing the love that we have received, looking at each other and at every single human being throughout history, with different eyes, with the eyes that are cleansed and purified by contemplating Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.
In Jesus, we have a brother. In the Holy Family, we have a family. In Bethlehem, we have a home and we are always welcome.
As Fr. Leo says, "Mary, Joseph, Jesus, I want to be always with the three of you. I don't want to leave Bethlehem. I don't want to get complicated. I don't want to grow up in a bad way. I want to just take advantage of my family, of my home in Bethlehem, to be more simple, to be more poor, in order to bring the simplicity of a heart made clean to the rest of the world."
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“The Big Picture”: Fourth Sunday of Advent
22 december 2023 · 27 min
In this podcast for the Fourth Sunday of Advent: Fr. Leo Austin guides us in our prayer as we near the end of the Advent journey that is bringing us closer and closer to the day of Jesus's nativity and to the day that changed history forever. Lees meer
Our Lord, in his providence, has been leading us towards the destination that is the encounter with him. There are 7 billion people on the planet right now, more or less, and God is actually coming to us personally. He knows our past and our limitations. The good news is that he is coming to change us and not to inform us about your limitations. He is coming to tell us that we can change and that's what vocation means: a calling to a better situation and happiness in life.
Jesus invites us to be open to divinity and to divine intervention in our history. In her humility and purity, the Blessed Virgin Mary did not understand such an honor. But we learn from Mary her readiness to use all her talents, with freedom, to adapt herself to the plans that God has for her and to see things in the big picture.
As Fr. Leo says, like Mary, Jesus is asking us: "Are you accepting my visitation? Are you open to that?” And with all our hearts, we want to say yes, obviously, because we are the sons and daughters of the handmaid of the Lord. Mary will always give herself to God, not in an obedience that is blind and absurd, but in an obedience that is both hearts connecting at the same time. And that's what we can learn and imitate from Mary, our Mother, this Advent and Christmas.
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Visit Show PageMissed the podcasts for the first - third Sundays of Advent? It's not too late to tune in! Explore "A Time for Hope: Advent with St. Josemaria Escriva" - a collection of devotions, readings, and meditations from the St. Josemaria Institute to help you prepare for the Nativity of Our Lord and the season of Christmas.
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