St. Josemaria Institute Podcast
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679 afleveringen, van nieuw naar oud
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Christ is Alive
12 april 2020 · 25 min
As we celebrate Easter Sunday and rejoice in the Resurrection, Msgr. Fred Dolan reflects on the insurmountable joy we receive in awareness of the good news that Christ is alive. This message leads us to cultivate an interior conversion in which we can discover the presence of Christ in everyday life. Lees meer
Amidst the current challenge of social distancing, Msgr. Dolan encourages us to remain steadfast in prayer and to use this time as an opportunity to discover the plans God has for us so that we may continue to carry out his mission here on earth.
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Reflections on the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary
8 april 2020 · 25 min
In this podcast, Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on the five sorrowful mysteries to help us slow down and go deeper as we pray each decade of the Holy Rosary. St. Josemaria explains: "As we draw closer during this Holy Week to the suffering of Jesus Christ, let us ask the Blessed Virgin Mary to enable us, like her, to keep all these things in our minds and ponder over them in our hearts” (Friends of God, no. 126). Lees meer
Each mystery is time marked below:
0:00 First Mystery: The Agony in the Garden
5:10 Second Mystery: The Scourging at the Pillar
8:51 Third Mystery: The Crowning of Thorns
13:18 Fourth Mystery: The Carrying of the Cross
17:15 Fifth Mystery: The CrucifixionTHANK YOU FOR LISTENING!
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The Sentiments of the Suffering Christ
8 april 2020 · 28 min
In this podcast, Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on the mystery of Christ’s suffering as we approach the Sacred Triduum and look forward to celebrating the joy of the Resurrection. As we look at the final hours before his Crucifixion, we see Christ contemplate the sins of humanity and willingly embrace the Cross. He takes on our suffering and bears the weight of our sins so that we too may dwell with him in heaven. Lees meer
St. Josemaria explains: “Let us meditate on our Lord, wounded from head to foot out of love for us. At the sight of Christ bruised and broken – just a lifeless body taken down from the cross and given to his Mother – at the sight of Jesus destroyed in this way, we might have thought he had failed utterly. But this is victory, not defeat. We are nearer the resurrection than every before; we are going to see the triumph which he has won with his obedience” (Christ is Passing By, no. 95).
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Keep Watch & Pray (Rebroadcast)
5 april 2020 · 30 min
In this podcast, Fr. Peter Armenio shares a reflection on the Gospel passage of the Passion of Christ (Luke 22:14-23:56) which is read on Palm Sunday. During this time, the Church invites her people to focus directly on the suffering of our Savior, Jesus Christ. The longer Gospel readings help us to honor Christ’s request to “keep watch and pray” with him as he asked the Apostles in the Garden of Gethsemane. In this scene, we prayerfully rediscover God’s love for us expressed through his humanity and sacrifice on the cross. Through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, we see his love poured out for us and discover the meaning in the crosses that he invites us to bear. Lees meer
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Divine Filiation: A Joyful Truth
29 maart 2020 · 18 min
In today’s podcast, Msgr. Fred Dolan reflects on seeking the presence of God amidst the challenging reality we face today. Throughout Lent we have been journeying alongside Christ in the desert, looking inward to assess what we need to change to become a Christ-like image in the world today. During this period of social distancing, we are reminded to seek consolation in the Gospel message and to seek opportunities for spiritual growth. Lees meer
St. Josemaria explains: “I am happy…for I see that the Lord is seeking me again, that the Lord is still my Father. We are loved by God, and we will let the Holy Spirit act in us and purify us, so that we can embrace the Son of God on the cross, and rise with him, because the resurrection is rooted in the cross” (Christ is Passing By, no. 66).
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Returning to Our Father's House
22 maart 2020 · 34 min
As we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Lent, also referred to as Laetare Sunday, we are reminded to rejoice in the joy of the Lord as we approach the midway point of the Lenten season.In today’s podcast, Fr. Javier del Castillo draws inspiration from the parable of the prodigal son and reflects on the joy of returning to our Father’s house. During Lent, we are encouraged to look inward and reflect upon the everyday moments that provide opportunities for conversion. With the grace of God, we can turn these opportunities into moments of joy that lead us closer to the arms of our heavenly Father. Lees meer
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A Wake Up Call to Conversion
19 maart 2020 · 36 min
In today’s podcast, Fr. Javier del Castillo explains how this current world crisis and pandemic is a wake up call to conversion, helping us to realize that we need to put order back into our lives – an order in which God has to be first. It is an opportunity that makes us think and forces us to act. Lees meer
Fr. Javier also shares experiences from the life of St. Josemaria Escriva that can help us learn how to live through times of personal and world crises. During this challenging time for the world today, we see that it is possible to draw out the good from this natural evil and give hope to the world through our hope in Jesus Christ.
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St. Joseph: Our Vocational Template
19 maart 2020 · 28 min
In today’s podcast, Fr. Peter Armenio shares a reflection on the virtues lived out by St. Joseph in his role as a father, husband, and tradesman. St. Joseph exemplifies servant leadership and sacrificial love and models for us how to say yes to the will of God. By growing in our understanding of these virtues, we can resolve to grow in holiness in our daily life and seek sanctity in the world today. Lees meer
As St. Josemaria Escriva explains: “As you get to know [St. Joseph], you discover that the holy patriarch is also a master of the interior life – for he teaches us to know Jesus and share our life with him, and to realize that we are part of God’s family. St Joseph can teach us these lessons, because he is an ordinary man, a family man, a worker who earned his living by manual labor – all of which has great significance and is a source of happiness for us” (Christ is Passing By, no. 39).
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Maintaining a Spiritual Outlook in Challenging Times
18 maart 2020 · 28 min
In this podcast, Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on the challenging question: Where do we find the Lord in the midst of the uncertainty? Lees meer
Drawing inspiration from the parable of the vine and the branches (John 15:1-17), Fr. Peter offers encouragement as we continue through this challenging time. He reminds us that Christ not only meets us in our joys and triumphs, but accompanies us through our trials and sorrows.
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The Temptations of Christ
15 maart 2020 · 28 min
Jesus Christ came to earth not only to save us from sin and death but also to show us how to embrace suffering and persevere through temptation.In this podcast, Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on the three temptations Christ endured while in the desert and explains how we can follow his example when facing temptation in our daily life. Lees meer
Through his humanity, Christ gives witness to the intentional effort needed to turn away from sin and achieve growth in our spiritual life. As St. Josemaria Escriva writes: “The whole episode is a mystery which man cannot hope to understand: God submitting to temptation, letting the evil one have his way. But we can meditate upon it, asking our Lord to help us understand the teaching it contains” (Christ is Passing By, no. 61).
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A Humble & Contrite Heart
1 maart 2020 · 26 min
The Lenten season provides an opportunity for conversion and purification of the soul so that we may be more closely configured to the heart of Christ. In today’s podcast, Msgr. Fred Dolan shares a reflection on fostering a contrite heart to detach ourselves from the prideful areas of our life that inhibit our relationship with Christ. By removing these obstacles we can find interior peace and joy as we embrace the merciful arms of God. Lees meer
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A Time of Penance, Purification & Conversion
25 februari 2020 · 28 min
As we begin a new season of Lent, Fr. Peter Armenio shares a reflection on the importance of connecting with the Lord through prayer, fasting and almsgiving. It is a season to look inward and assess what the Lord is asking us to deny, offer up, so that we can share in his self-emptying and experience the joy of everlasting life. Lees meer
St. Josemaria Escriva reminds us that “conversion is the task of a moment; sanctification is the work of a lifetime” (Christ is Passing By, no. 58). The Lenten season is an opportunity to begin again, to continue laying the foundation of your spiritual journey, and to grow in holiness in your everyday life. By accompanying Christ in the desert, we can put into practice the spiritual tools needed to become a saint in the world today.
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On the Way to Damascus: The Journey of Our Vocation (Rebroadcast)
18 februari 2020 · 33 min
On the Way to Damascus: The Journey of Our Vocation (Acts 9:1-3) Lees meer
St Josemaria Escriva pointed out that all of the apostles somehow were called to follow Jesus in and through their work, including Saint Paul. Don't be surprised, therefore, to discover that God is also calling you in and through your work.
In this meditation, we will reflect on these questions: What is your Damascus? What have you chosen as that activity through which you serve society and that gives you meaning in how you live your life?
We all have a mission and it is most likely right where we are already. During this time of meditation and prayer, we will ask God to help us to keep doing what we are doing, but with a new light and with new meaning.
To listen to and download the eight meditations of "A Spiritual Retreat in the Footsteps of St. Paul" go to: https://stjosemaria.org/st-paul-retreat/
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Mary, My Mother
11 februari 2020 · 23 min
In today’s podcast, Fr. Peter Armenio shares a reflection on embracing Mary as our spiritual Mother. He illustrates the idea that Mary is a great miracle worker through whom we can identify with our Lord and conquer the struggle to become holy by drawing inspiration from the Marian devotions of St. Josemaria Escriva, St. John Paul II, and Bl. Alvaro del Portillo. Lees meer
As St. Josemaria Escriva explains: “I would recommend that, if you haven’t already done so, you find out for yourself by personal experience the meaning of Mary’s maternal love. It is not enough just to know she is our Mother and to think and to talk about her as such. She loves you as if you were her only child in this world.” (Friends of God, no. 293).
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Refueling for Charity
4 februari 2020 · 20 min
In today’s podcast, Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on the charity of God as “fuel” that enables us to seek holiness in the ordinary moments of everyday life. Our receptivity to God’s grace increases as we continue to strengthen our relationship with him through prayer and the sacraments. The grace we receive fills our life and will overflow into our relationships with one another, leading those we encounter closer to Christ. Lees meer
As St. Josemaria explains: “Charity is not something we ourselves build up. It invades us along with God’s grace, ‘because he has loved us first’. We would do well to fill, to saturate ourselves with this most beautiful truth: ‘If we are able to love God, it is because we have been loved by God.’ Ask God boldly for this treasure, for the supernatural virtue of charity, so that you may practice it even in the smallest details” (Friends of God, no. 229).
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Preaching the Good News to All | Part Three
28 januari 2020 · 35 min
In today’s podcast, we conclude our three-part series exploring the prominent themes in Towards Holiness – a homily by St. Josemaria Escriva on the universal call to holiness.St. Josemaria Escriva explains that “Our Lord Jesus Christ preached the good news to all, without distinction. He calls each and everyone to holiness; he asks each and every one to love him: young and old, single and married, healthy and sick, learned and unlearned, no matter where they work, or where they are” (Friends of God, no. 294). Lees meer
Reflecting on this passage in Towards Holiness, Fr. Javier del Castillo reminds us to foster our interior life and relationship with Christ so that we can draw others to the faith. There are no limits upon who is called to holiness. Our witness each day should be such that when people meet us, they are immediately drawn to the love of Christ and inspired to pursue holiness in everyday life.
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Genuine Peace | Part Two
21 januari 2020 · 33 min
In today’s podcast, we continue with the second installment of our three-part series exploring the prominent themes in Towards Holiness – a homily by St. Josemaria Escriva on the universal call to holiness. Lees meer
St. Josemaria explains that “in order to bring peace, genuine peace, to souls; in order to transform the earth and to seek God Our Lord in the world and through the things of the world, personal sanctity is indispensable. We must come to know him through prayer; we must speak to him and show him, through a heart-to-heart conversation, that we love him” (Friends of God, 294).
Reflecting upon the importance of genuine peace, Fr. Javier explains that we must seek peace with God through examining our conscience and going to confession regularly and getting to know God in prayer. We must also seek peace within ourselves so that we can fully embrace our identity as a child of God. As we obtain peace with God and within ourself, we are then motivated to go out and seek peace with others in order to build a culture rooted in the love and mercy of Christ.
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God's Will For Us, That We Be Saints | Part One
13 januari 2020 · 36 min
As most of us look forward to the New Year for a fresh start and the opportunity to begin again, especially our resolutions and goals, you have likely spent time time reflecting on resolutions for your spiritual life and the ultimate (lifelong) goal to become a saint. To inspire and motivate our spiritual goals, we are launching the New Year with a three-part podcast series from Fr. Javier del Castillo exploring the prominent themes in Towards Holiness— a homily by St. Josemaria Escriva on the universal call to holiness. Lees meer
In this podcast, the first of the series, Fr. Javier reflects upon two important questions set forth in "Towards Holiness": What does it mean to be holy? What does it mean that God’s will for us is to become saints? The writings and spirituality of St. Josemaria continually remind us that holiness can be found in each moment of everyday life. In seeking the grace of Christ in each moment, we increase our desire and capacity to love others and communicate God’s light to the world.
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The Gifts of the Magi
5 januari 2020 · 27 min
In this podcast, as we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord, Fr. Peter Armenio shares a reflection on the three gifts the Magi presented to the infant Jesus and the significance of those gifts in our spiritual life today. Lees meer
As St. Josemaria explains, “[The Lord] does not care for riches, nor for the fruits or the beasts of the earth, nor for the sea or the air, because they all belong to him. He wants something intimate, which we have to give him freely: ‘My son, give me your heart’. Do you see? God is not satisfied with sharing. He wants it all. It’s not our things he wants. It is ourselves. It is only when we give ourselves that we can offer other gifts to our Lord” (Christ is Passing By, no. 35).
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Becoming Bethlehem
22 december 2019 · 28 min
In this podcast, Fr. Peter Armenio shares a reflection on the three Advents we encounter in life and, as we come closer to Christmas, explains what it means to become Bethlehem–to get to know Jesus Christ, follow him, and bring him to others. Lees meer
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Gateway to Joy
16 december 2019 · 24 min
In this podcast, Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on joy as an essential characteristic to our participation in the new evangelization. Throughout the Advent season, we seek to remove the obstacles that separate us from God and prepare to receive the outpouring of joy so that we may become a witness to the love of God the Father. Lees meer
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The Joy of Encountering Christ
8 december 2019 · 29 min
In this podcast, Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on the connection between joy and our personal encounter with Jesus Christ, and how that connection overflows and influences our ability to bring Jesus Christ to others. He also emphasizes how our Lady, the first evangelizer, teaches us how to lead with joy when she visits her cousin, Elizabeth, and announces her Magnificat. Lees meer
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God Goes Ordinary
1 december 2019 · 32 min
In this podcast, Fr. Peter Armenio leads us through steps we can take to help prepare our hearts to welcome God Incarnate this Christmas season. These steps include: contact with Christ by making a commitment to speak with Him and seek Him in our daily prayer; contemplate the mystery of the birth of Our Savior, Jesus Christ; and conform our life to the way of Christ. Lees meer
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Thanksgiving Day & Acts of Gratitude
28 november 2019 · 28 min
As we celebrate Thanksgiving Day in the United States, Fr. Javier del Castillo reminds us in this mediation, as St Josemaria Escriva often did, that we ought to thank God always by habitually making frequent acts of thanksgiving, acts of gratitude. Lees meer
Fr. Javier explains: “We were never asked by God to come into existence. Everything we have–our talents, our virtues, even our defects–all have been foreseen by God, allowed by God, and given to us by God so that we can fulfill the single mission that we have received from before the foundation of the world.”
As we strive to maintain a constant spirit of gratitude in our lives we will realize that thanksgiving enlarges our hearts to receive even greater gifts from God.
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A Springboard of Love
21 november 2019 · 26 min
Drawing inspiration from the Feast of St Andrew celebrated on November 30, the first day of the Novena to the Immaculate Conception, Fr. Peter Armenio shares a reflection on our role as witnesses to the love of Christ and participants in the work of evangelization. Following in the example of Mary, who put Christ first and journeyed alongside Him throughout her life, we too must place Christ at the center of our lives. Once we surrender ourselves to the will of the Father, we allow for His grace to work through us and attract others to the Gospel message. Lees meer
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The Solemnity of Christ the King
19 november 2019 · 24 min
On Sunday, November 24, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Christ the King. It is a day to celebrate and remember that “Christ, true God and true man, lives and reigns. He is the Lord of the universe. Everything that lives is kept in existence only through him” (Christ Is Passing By, no. 180). On this feast we also end the liturgical year and begin to prepare for Advent and Christmas. Lees meer
In this podcast, Msgr. Fred Dolan reflects on St Josemaria’s approach to the spiritual life in which we must be open and willing to begin again. At the start of a new liturgical year, we are encouraged to look inward, assess our spiritual life, and identify the ways in which we can renew and strengthen our relationship with Christ.
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The Commemoration of All Souls
12 november 2019 · 27 min
Throughout the month of November, the Catholic Church commemorates all the faithful souls who have departed this life but have not yet attained the joy of heaven. The Church encourages us to pray for the souls in purgatory, so that they may be freed from the bondage of sin and admitted to their eternal reward in heaven.In this podcast, Msgr. Fred Dolan shares how we can approach our responsibility to intercede for the holy souls in purgatory. Keeping in mind those who have gone before us leads us to contemplate our own spiritual journey and encourages us to look inward and assess how our actions today will affect the demands of eternal life. Lees meer
As St Josemaria reminds us, “The Holy Souls in Purgatory. Out of charity, out of justice, and out of excusable selfishness – they have such power with God! – remember them often in your sacrifices and in your prayers. May you be able to say when you speak of them, ‘My good friends the souls in purgatory’” (The Way, no. 571).
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Called to Sainthood
5 november 2019 · 28 min
The Catholic Church in the United States is celebrating National Vocation Awareness Week from November 3-9, 2019. The celebration is dedicated to promoting vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and consecrated life through prayer and education, and to renewing our prayers and support for those who are considering one of these particular vocations. Lees meer
In this podcast, Fr. Peter Armenio shares a reflection on the call to live out our baptismal vocation to be a saint. The path to sainthood begins with our response to the grace we receive through Baptism and is nurtured by our participation in the Eucharistic liturgy, prayer, and Marian devotion. Our openness to the grace of God and the work of the Holy Spirit helps us to realize our mission as a disciple to live the Gospel, to bring the Gospel to others, and to attract others to Christ.
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Pursuing Holiness: A Reflection for the Solemnity of All Saints
29 oktober 2019 · 25 min
On November 1, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of All Saints and, in the Gospel for the day, we hear Jesus’ teaching on the beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12A). In this podcast, Msgr. Fred Dolan shares a reflection on how Christ gave us the beatitudes as an explanation of what it means to be holy and to help us navigate our personal journey towards holiness. We reflect on how striving for holiness is influenced by our correspondence to God’s grace as we see in the example of the saints. In contemplating the lives of the saints, we can be inspired to discover new ways of living out the beatitudes as we pursue holiness in everyday life. Lees meer
[Transcript]
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The Spirituality of Saint John Paul II
22 oktober 2019 · 27 min
In this podcast, Fr. Peter Armenio shares a reflection on the spirituality of St. John Paul II, whose feast day is celebrated October 22. 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 Emeritus 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
15 oktober 2019 · 37 min
St. Teresa of Avila, whose feast day is celebrated October 15, is a Doctor of the Church known for her work in the movement of spiritual and monastic renewal within Spain during the Counter-Reformation. Her written works are highly regarded among mystical literature in the Catholic Church and continue to inspire readers today. Lees meer
In this podcast, 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. Saint Teresa of Avila 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, allowing her to become more aware of her own sinfulness which led her to rely more fully on God. In following the example of Saint Teresa of Avila and turning away from sin, we too can walk the path toward sainthood.
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To Jesus Through Mary
8 oktober 2019 · 25 min
In celebrating the month of the Holy Rosary, we share a reflection from Msgr. Fred Dolan on the importance of Marian devotion. This reflection leads us to consider our own relationship with Mary, through whom we are led closer to the heart of Christ. Lees meer
As St. Josemaria Escriva wrote: “Today as in other times, the rosary must be a powerful weapon, to enable us to win in our interior struggle, and to help all souls. Exalt holy Mary with your tongue: God asks you for reparation, and for praise from your lips. May you always want to know how to spread peace and happiness throughout the world, through this beautiful devotion to our Lady, and through your watchful love” (Holy Rosary, Author’s Note).
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Opus Dei: A Pathway to Holiness
1 oktober 2019 · 32 min
October 2 marks the anniversary of the founding of Opus Dei by St. Josemaria Escriva in 1928. St. Josemaria saw and understood that the laity, not only priests and religious, are called by God to a life of holiness through their work, family, and personal interests, married or single. He set out to found Opus Dei as a means to offer a spirituality for the laity and the means to help them persevere in their calling to live and work as one more in the world. Lees meer
In this podcast, Fr. Javier del Castillo talks about Opus Dei—its beginnings and mission—and explains the essence of the vocation to holiness, specifically the vocation to Opus Dei. He also explains what it means to have a secular outlook—a characteristic of the lay faithful who are called to sanctify temporal affairs in the world by bringing Christ into that world.
Today Opus Dei has thousands of members around the world and many more who are just discovering it and want to know more about it. If you would like a brief introduction to Opus Dei, what is is and does, this talk is for you.
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"The Way": Challenging Readers to Holiness
24 september 2019 · 25 min
Throughout the month of September, the St. Josemaria Institute is celebrating the 80th anniversary of the first publication of The Way by St. Josemaria. For thousands of people today, The Way is a beloved guide to prayer that helps readers in their effort to get to know Jesus Christ and to strive for holiness in everyday life. Lees meer
We end our four-part podcast series on The Way with a talk by Fr. Javier del Castillo who reflects on the top four points shared and referenced across social media in the past year. Fr. Javier helps us to explore these points offering insights as to why they continue to challenge readers to holiness today.
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"The Way": Points for Consideration
17 september 2019 · 28 min
The Way is a practical guidebook for our spiritual life that offers insight into real life experiences. The points found in The Way came about from the fruit of St. Josemaria’s interior life paired with intense spiritual direction. He wrote frequently about what he was experiencing, and although the points touch on many facets of life, the core of St. Josemaria’s message is that we are all beloved children of God. Lees meer
In this podcast, Msgr. Fred Dolan offers a reflection on key points from The Way that are useful for consideration in prayer. He brings a deeper appreciation to these points by explaining the meaning behind each point and shares what St. Josemaria was experiencing during that particular period in his life.
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"The Way": A Resource for Prayer
10 september 2019 · 30 min
Continuing our celebration of the 80th Anniversary of the first publication of The Way by St. Josemaria Escriva, we share a new podcast on utilizing The Way as a spiritual resource during your time of prayer. Throughout his life, St. Josemaria stressed the importance of maintaining a strong prayer life and used it as the foundational element of his apostolate, Opus Dei. He explained that if we are to be holy and centered on Christ, we must first contemplate Him in prayerful recollection and silence. Lees meer
In this podcast, Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on the spirituality of St. Josemaria and shares practical tips for how to utilize The Way during your time of prayer. Acting as a compliment to Sacred Scripture, the 999 points in The Way serve as a stepping stone in starting a dialogue with the Lord and a practical tool in forming your spiritual life.
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"The Way": An Introduction
3 september 2019 · 33 min
Published in 1939, The Way by St. Josemaria Escriva has become a spiritual classic that has been translated to over 40 languages and sold millions of copies worldwide. In this podcast, Fr. Javier del Castillo introduces listeners to The Way: what inspired its content and how it continues to provide spiritual wisdom and counsel to readers today. Lees meer
Unlike most spiritual works, St. Josemaria compiled the book to be used as an aid in prayer and it is not intended to be read straight through from cover to cover. When using this book with its original intent in mind, readers can find it to be a useful resource in starting a dialogue with the Lord, making the Gospel relevant to our lives, and leading others to the Truth. As you listen to this podcast, you will learn the context in which The Way was written, gain insight into the spirituality of St. Josemaria, reflect on key points written in The Way, and make firm resolutions in responding to the work of the Holy Spirit.
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Part One | With Jesus At Bethany
27 augustus 2019 · 29 min
"Mary seated herself at the Lord's feet, and listened to his word." (Luke 10:39)
"Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; but only one thing is necessary." (Luke 10:41) Lees meerA Spiritual Retreat on the Raising of Lazarus walks you through the Gospel account in which Christ demonstrates his power over death by restoring Lazarus to life - a prefigurement of our own resurrection to new life with Christ. As you listen to this retreat, you will be able to journey with Christ as he experiences the death of his friend, consoles Mary and Martha, prays to the Father, and reacts to the people gathered at the tomb.
Taking time to quietly reflect with the meditations, we can pray and ask ourselves:
- What can we learn from this Gospel account today?
- What does this account tell us about the friendship of Christ?
- Are we aware that it is only our friendship with Christ that can truly raise us up from the challenges of daily life and from the heavy burdens of sin?
- Are we constantly seeking to reignite and deepen our friendship with him?A Spiritual Retreat on the Resurrection of Lazarus is a collection of eleven meditations preached by Rev. Javier del Castillo, priest of the Prelature of Opus Dei and Vice President of the St. Josemaria Institute. This retreat was recorded March 30 - April 2, 2017 at the Shellbourne Conference Center in Valparaiso, Indiana. [Download the Retreat]
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Study & Prayer
20 augustus 2019 · 37 min
In this podcast, Fr. Javier del Castillo shares a meditation inspired by the phrase, “an hour of study, for a modern apostle, is an hour of prayer” (St. Josemaria Escriva; The Way, no. 335). 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. Lees meer
Fr. Javier discusses how 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 Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
13 augustus 2019 · 18 min
On August 15, the Church celebrates the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Mother. She is the woman clothed with the sun, the moon is beneath her feet, and is crowned with twelve stars. We love her tenderly and through her actions she shows us what a life of faith looks like. What it means to become filled with trust and a joy that unable to be disturbed by difficulties.How does this life of Faith begin? Lees meer
Follow Mother Mary’s example:
- When the Blessed Virgin Mary was in contemplative prayer she listened and received the Angel Gabriel’s message from God.
- She was open to the Holy Spirit allowing herself to be totally abandoned to the truth of the word of the living God.
- She listened to the word of God and responded with complete trust, giving God her life to do with as He pleased.We ask our dear Mother Mary to help us to become souls of faith as we nourish our faith through daily prayer and meditating on the Gospels.
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The Transfiguration of the Lord
6 augustus 2019 · 27 min
On August 6th, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. On today's podcast, we listen and reflect on the “background” and meaning of the Transfiguration, and how contemplating the scene of the Transfiguration continues to transform us today:
— The Transfiguration of Jesus encourages us in our commitment to discipleship.
— When we commit to protracted prayer—deep, silent, concentrated—we can see God through the eyes of our soul and heart.
— The Transfiguration helped the apostles to trust in the Cross—the raw materials that make up our crosses—and to believe that there is no such thing as failure when we follow Christ.
— Contemplating this scene and Jesus’ words (Mk 9:2-10), 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. Lees meerTHANK YOU FOR LISTENING!
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Bright and Cheerful Homes
30 juli 2019 · 26 min
In this podcast, Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on the home of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph in Nazareth, their example of a "bright and cheerful home", and why building a strong family foundation rooted in love and joy is essential to the new evangelization. Like St. Josemaria Escriva, we can go to St. Joseph to learn the "secret" to knowing Jesus Christ and bringing him to our family and others: “Saint Joseph, our Father and Lord: most chaste, most pure. You were found worthy to carry the Child Jesus in your arms, to wash him, to hug him. Teach us to get to know God, and to be pure, worthy of being other Christs. And help us to do and to teach, as Christ did. Help us to open up the divine paths of the earth, which are both hidden and bright; and help us to show them to mankind, telling our fellow men that their lives on earth can have an extraordinary and constant supernatural effectiveness” (The Forge, no. 553). Lees meer
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Marriage as a Pathway to Holiness
23 juli 2019 · 29 min
Why is marriage important to society today? And, what distinguishes a healthy marriage from one that is in serious trouble? Lees meer
On this podcast, Msgr. Fred Dolan reflects on the Sacrament of Marriage and how it is the cornerstone to society and the image of the eternal love between Christ and his Church.Marriage is the pathway for spouses to lead one another to heaven. For a marriage to flourish, it must be grounded so that each spouse is able to see the other as God sees him or her. Spouses must seek out genuine admiration for the gifts of the other, realizing that two lives become one as they build the foundation upon which they can strive for sanctity.
Marriage is hard work. We marry imperfect people, yet are called to love them with their defects and limitations. Men and women are very different. We may not understand each other, but we are called to accept and love each other. Marriage is like a pearl of great price – it is worth fighting for it.
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Part Eight | The Wedding At Cana: Ask And You Shall Receive
16 juli 2019 · 31 min
Jesus’ mother said to him, ‘They have no more wine.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’” (Jn 2:3) Lees meer
A Spiritual Retreat in the Footsteps of Mary guides us through the life of Mary as we seek to renew and transform our own life of faith through prayer. Following in Mary’s example of responding to God’s call to love and serve unconditionally, we are each called to reach that same height of holiness. As you listen to this retreat, you will be able to reflect with Mary upon the key moments the Holy Spirit impacted her life, culminating with the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Mary, along with the apostles, were radically transformed by the Holy Spirit. Through spending time on retreat and allowing ourselves time to converse with God, we are allowing ourselves the opportunity to be transformed by the work of the Spirit so that we may faithfully continue on our journey toward heaven.
A Spiritual Retreat in the Footsteps of Mary is a collection of ten meditations preached by Rev. Javier del Castillo, priest of the Prelature of Opus Dei and Vice President of the St. Josemaria Institute.
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Humility and the Spiritual Life
9 juli 2019 · 26 min
In this podcast, Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on the importance of the virtue of humility in the spiritual life. The need for a spiritual life stems from a desire to reject our sinful nature; that is, our realization that we are sinners moves us to want to grow spiritually, to follow Christ. And, without humility, the biggest obstacle to following Christ is self-importance. Each one of us has certain gifts within the spiritual life but we are not the origin of these gifts – they have been given to us by God. As we become aware of our spiritual gifts, we are drawn deeper into a life of true discipleship with Jesus Christ. Lees meer
As St. Josemaria Escriva wrote: “Get rid of those proud thoughts! You are but the brush in the hand of the artist, and nothing more. Tell me, what is a brush good for if it doesn’t let the artist do his work?” (The Way, no. 612).
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Holy Purity: A Joyful Affirmation
2 juli 2019 · 31 min
On Saturday, July 6, the Church celebrates the Feast of Saint Maria Goretti, who is honored for her heroic resistance when a young man tried to seduce her when she was eleven years of age. After resisting the young man’s actions, Saint Maria Goretti was stabbed fourteen times and died four days later as a result of the wounds. She forgave her assailant multiple times and prayed for his repentance and conversion throughout her final days. Lees meer
In this podcast, Rev. Peter Armenio shares a reflection on the importance of holy purity, particularly at a time when this virtue clashes with the cultural norm. He shares five important resolutions that we can make when striving to live a life of purity: to make good confessions, to accept the guidance of the priest in living the virtue of purity, to pray three Hail Mary’s for purity each evening, to guard the senses to avoid looking at someone impurely, and to ask for the virtue of purity with humility as it increases our capacity to love.
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Toward Holiness
24 juni 2019 · 28 min
In this podcast, as we prepare to celebrate the feast day of St. Josemaria, Msgr. Fred Dolan shares a reflection on the life of St. Josemaria and the inspiration behind Opus Dei. Lees meer
In Scripture, Christ compares the Kingdom of God to a tiny mustard seed that will grow and flourish over time. On October 2, 1928, God led St. Josemaria to discover his own mustard seed - the work of Opus Dei. St. Josemaria showed the world that holiness is not something extraordinary, rather, something ordinary which can be found in our everyday work. God led St. Josemaria to see that the Church needs an institution that does nothing else but serve God through ordinary, daily realities. The life of St. Josemaria and the work of Opus Dei show us that the world is not an obstacle to holiness, but a place where holiness is found.
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A Living Monstrance
18 juni 2019 · 30 min
This Sunday the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) when “we come together to consider the depths of our Lord’s love for us, which has led him to stay with us, hidden under the appearances of the Blessed Sacrament” (St. Josemaria Escriva; Christ is Passing By, no. 150). Present under the property of bread and wine, the Church believes the Eucharist is fully the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ. Lees meer
In this podcast, Fr. Peter Armenio shares a reflection to help us pray and go deeper in our understanding of the Eucharist and our call to be living monstrances, the sacred vessels in which the Blessed Sacrament is exposed for veneration.On the Feast of 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. The Eucharist is a source of grace and love, through which we are brought together as one in the body of Christ. Like the saints, Eucharistic devotion should be a common trait in our pursuit of holiness.
On this solemnity, we can make the resolution to spend time regularly in front of the Blessed Sacrament— a powerful encounter with Christ through which we receive the grace to be a witness in the world.
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Working for God
11 juni 2019 · 34 min
In this podcast, Fr. Javier del Castillo shares a reflection on working for God, inspired by the homily given by Saint Josemaria on February 6, 1960. Fr. Javier poses three important questions for us to consider as we approach work each day: Lees meer
Do we work for Christ?
We see in the beginning passages of Scripture that God gave man and woman the vocation to work – to till the garden. We are each called to put our talents at the service of God. Work itself is not to be seen as the end, but rather, to be seen as the means to pray, sacrifice, and give glory to God.
Do we work in Christ?
Christ, the source of love, spent his hidden years working. He spent this time working out of love for his heavenly Father as well as out of love for each one of us. By his example, Christ shows that we are called to sanctify the task at hand through the grace given to us by God. If we work out of love, we will see the fruit of our labor in heaven. As we work closely with God, we are slowly transformed and begin to reflect the love of Christ to others.
Do we work through Christ?
As we are transformed by the love of Christ, our daily actions slowly move away from being a choice of habit to being a choice of free will. Working through Christ creates in us the awareness for whom we are working as well as the reason behind our work.
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The Power of Pentecost
4 juni 2019 · 28 min
This Sunday, the Church celebrates the Feast of Pentecost, recognized as the birthday of the Church, in which the apostles received an outpouring of the Holy Spirit and were inspired to go out and share the faith in a radical way. Lees meer
In this podcast, Fr. Peter Armenio shares a reflection on recognizing the importance of the Holy Spirit within our own life. The Holy Spirit helps us discern the personal message of Pentecost to all of us who want to follow Christ and live the Gospel to the full. We must take to heart the final words of Christ, “to go out and make disciples of all nations” (Mt 28:19). In the account of Pentecost, those gathered not only heard the Gospel message proclaimed in their own language, but they witnessed the love of Christ shown to them through the apostles.
As we seek to lead others to Christ, we must do so not just in words but also through our witness of the love of Christ. The Holy Spirit works through us to move the hearts of others and lead them into an encounter with Christ.
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