Fr. Eric Nicolai preaches on the feast of St. Andrew, Apostle, in Lyncroft Centre, Toronto. Saint Andrew is said to have preached the Gospel in Greece. There, in the city of Patras, he was martyred; he died nailed to a cross, like his divine Master. The priests of Achaia who witnessed his death write that his desire to be identified with Christ was so great that when he was being led toward the place of his martyrdom and saw the cross in the distance, he began to cry out what became a famous pra...
Nov 30, 2022•28 min
Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!. This is the very last word of the Bible, and it falls on the very last day of ordinary time. Tomorrow we will turn to advent, preparing ourselves for his coming at Christmas. What does it mean to be alert and ready for our death? Preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Ernescliff College, Toronto on November 26, 2022. Thumbnail: Tympanum from the Church of Ste-Foy, Conques, Paris, along the Way of Santiago. Romanesque. Music: Carlos Gardel, Soledad, arranged for guitar by ...
Nov 26, 2022•21 min
St. Josemaria had a sense of excitement about what the Christian family could be like in the modern world. It was like an oasis that was nourished by this powerful underground source of fresh water, a human and divine love coming from the sacramental grace of matrimony. Fr. Eric Nicolai preached this meditation on November 12, 2022 in Lancemore centre in Toronto. Music: Carlos Gardel, Soledad, arranged for guitar by Bert Alink. Thumbnail: Pieter de Hooch, The Courtyard of a House in Delft, 1658....
Nov 22, 2022•27 min
Preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Lyncroft Centre: St. Josemaria wrote in the The Way 301 about what he described as t hat little group of men or a handful of women in the midst of a world crisis. They had a readiness to fight, a deep desire to be saints, and a willingness to fight. He used military imagery. A secret, an open secret: these world crises are crises of saints. God wants a handful of men 'of his own' in every human activity. And then... 'pax Christi in regno Christi — the peace of Chr...
Nov 14, 2022•31 min
A meditation on the nature of freedom, preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai in Lyncroft Centre, November 2022. We have been called to freedom (Gal 5:13). By letting Christ reign in our heart we acquire true freedom and conquer the slavery of sin: If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free (Jn 8:31-32). What is this freedom that we are meant to have? We know that it is good, but what exactly is it? Let's reflect more deeply on thi...
Nov 10, 2022•31 min
Fr. Eric Nicolai preaches at Kintore College. Luke 16:1-8 : Jesus tells the parable of the shrewd steward: ‘There was a rich man and he had a steward denounced to him for being wasteful with his property. He called for the man and said, “What is this I hear about you? Draw me up an account of your stewardship because you are not to be my steward any longer.” (...) ‘The master praised the dishonest steward for his astuteness. For the children of this world are more astute in dealing with their ow...
Nov 07, 2022•29 min
Preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Lyncroft Centre on November 2, 2022. In the 19th century, Cardinal John Henry Newman loved the Anglican choral tradition. But he was especially enamoured by the Holy Mass. It was the point of connection with the past, with souls before us, and souls in purgatory. He felt so attracted to the Mass as this timeless ritual that would be the same reality during all ages. Indeed the Holy Mass is the Sacrifice of Christ on the Cross and for that reason it is efficacious....
Nov 03, 2022•28 min
A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Kintore College on the solemnity of All Saints, November 1st 2022. I read a book that dramatizes in first person the personality of the Good Thief. As he looked at me, I thought he was trying to smile, and then he said, “I promise you, today you will be with me in paradise.” He died that day, but we know he became St. Dismas. This is our dream. Saint Josemaria too had that dream: He would repeat that phrase: Dream and your dreams will fall short. Musi...
Nov 01, 2022•29 min
A meditation preached at Kintore College by Fr. Eric Nicolai on October 27, 2022. Today is the Father’s birthday, born in exile in France in 1944. So that makes him 78. Still young in spirit. Since 2016 he has been the Prelate, but known to all of us as the Father. Since Pope Francis’ motu propio, Ad charisma tuendum , on 14 July 2022, his elevation to the episcopacy is no longer an option. What does all this mean for us? Music: Tan Buen Ganadico, originally composed by Juan del Encina (1469-152...
Oct 27, 2022•32 min
A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai to High School boys at Ernescliff College in Toronto on Oct 22, 2022. On that day, Oct 22, 1978, facing the vast crowd in the square, and beyond, in the whole world, John Paul II said: Today the new Bishop of Rome solemnly begins his ministry and the mission of Peter. In this city, in fact, Peter completed and fulfilled the mission entrusted to him by the Lord. The Lord addressed him with these words: "...when you were young you put on your own belt and ...
Oct 26, 2022•24 min
A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Hawthorn School for Girls in Toronto, on October 19, 2022. Pope John XXIII made the prophetic decision to call an Ecumenical council in 1962. Paul VI brought it to completion. Pope John Paul II then figured out how to apply it all. During the Jubilee in 2000, he reiterated some of the essential teaching so of the council. One of these that he found particularly amazing was the universal call to sanctity, as seen in Lumen Gentium. Music: Carlos Gardel,...
Oct 24, 2022•25 min
Here are some excerpts of the solemn Pontifical Funeral for Father Jose Luis Soria, celebrated by His Grace, The Most Reverend J. Michael Miller, CSB, Archbishop of Vancouver accompanied by Msgr. de Rochebrune, Vicar of Opus Dei in Canada. The celebration took place in the Cathedral of Vancouver on October 14, 2022. May he Rest In Peace. The full video can be found here: https://youtu.be/kdPzxfp5wUs
Oct 17, 2022•17 min
A meditation on fear, preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai, at Kintore College, Oct 14, 2022. Luke 12:1-7: The people had gathered in their thousands so that they were treading on one another. And Jesus began to speak, first of all to his disciples. ‘Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees – that is, their hypocrisy. (...) ‘To you my friends I say: Do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. I will tell you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has t...
Oct 15, 2022•34 min
Lk 1, 11-20 "Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. (...) The angel said to him, “ I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God , and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you d...
Oct 12, 2022•32 min
" All who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God " (Rom 8,14). These words of the Apostle Paul, which we have just heard, help us understand better the significant message of today's canonization of Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer. With docility he allowed himself to be led by the Spirit, convinced that only in this way can one fully accomplish God's will. These are the opening words pronounced by Pope Joh Paul II at the canonization of Saint Josemaría Escrivá, founder of Opus Dei. It was a ...
Oct 06, 2022•29 min
Luke 10:25-37: ‘A man was once on his way down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of brigands; they took all he had, beat him and then made off, leaving him half dead. Now a priest happened to be travelling down the same road, but when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. In the same way a Levite who came to the place saw him, and passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan traveller who came upon him was moved with compassion when he saw him. He went up and bandaged h...
Oct 05, 2022•26 min
That explosion of grace came today in 1928, while he was on retreat with 6 other priests. He had prayed the breviary, read the Gospel, and was reviewing some notes. One note after another. Things were becoming clearer about what he was doing here in Madrid. Before he could formulate an answer, he heard sound of the bells of the church of Our Lady of the Angels drifting through the window, pealing to celebrate the feast of the Guardian Angels resounded. It was like the first tremors. And then the...
Oct 04, 2022•25 min
There are nine choirs of angels. One of those choirs, or groups, are the archangels. They are powerful allies in our spiritual battles, because God gave them great power to fight against those demons we have to face on a regular basis. They are spiritual beings that we can’t see, because they don’t have a body. But they really exist. Not just in our minds, or in our collective myths, or our symbols, or our culture. They are as real as your dog, or your sister, or electricity. We can't see electr...
Sep 29, 2022•31 min
Luke 16:19-31: One of the most striking parts of today’s parable of poor Lazarus and the Rich man, the dives, is the way the rich man, even in the afterlife, still speaks of the poor man as a servant who is supposed to do his bidding: “Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue.” He needs help, he has never really helped himself or helped overs. But when we step back, we see that both men are quite overwhelmed by life. Lazarus struggles to survive with his poverty and ...
Sep 25, 2022•30 min
In John 4, we have that wonderful encounter of Jesus with the Samaritan woman. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” She is transparent, and this is the first moment in her life in which her horizons are suddenly open. She wants more, she wants to speak and understand more deeply what her life is really all about, especially with 5 husbands in tow. Conversions are always possible, even if your life seems a mess. A meditation by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Hawthorn School for Girls in Toronto. Music: Car...
Sep 24, 2022•40 min
2 Cor 6, 1: As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says: “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. The reason of our life is that we exist for one single reason: to be the best version of ourselves. Not a low grade. High definition movie. This is the one were you can really see all the details, even on a large screen. This is the nature of sanctity. ...
Sep 21, 2022•29 min
Matt 14, 12: John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus. Jesus was deeply affected by the sad news of John the Baptist's death. So he wanted to be alone, to pray. But people came after him, so he cured them and taught them. Then came the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and the fish. At Herod’s banquet, we see false pride, arrogance, victimization of the righteous, the misuse of power, and murder. At Jesus’ banquet there is compassion, healing...
Sep 17, 2022•27 min
The prophet Ezekiel speaks about the merciless destruction of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, but then God says touch no-one with the mark on their foreheads. (Ezekiel 9). What is this mark? This is the letter TAU, the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The form of a cross. It is reminiscent of the mark of Cain (on his brow), which protected him from the punishment he deserved. Fr. Eric Nicolai speaks about the saving nature of the Cross of Christ, and how it has such meaning in our life. Preache...
Sep 14, 2022•29 min
Luke 6:39-42: "Why do you observe the splinter in your brother’s eye and never notice the plank in your own? How can you say to your brother, “Brother, let me take out the splinter that is in your eye,” when you cannot see the plank in your own? Hypocrite! Take the plank out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take out the splinter that is in your brother’s eye.’" This image of our Lord shows the importance of self knowledge. And that can't go anywhere if we are not hu...
Sep 10, 2022•28 min
Saint Josemaria liked the aspiration, Regnare Christum volumus, and it became the episcopal motto of don Alvaro de Portillo. What does it mean? We have to go back to the origin of kings in the Old Testament. The book of Judges ended with its haunting antiphon, “In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes. (Judges 21, 25)” This stark conclusion connected two realities: Israel’s kinglessness and the galloping relativism of God’s people. After the distres...
Sep 08, 2022•30 min
In Today's recollection at Lyncroft Centre in Toronto, Fr. Eric Nicolai reflects on how we can really pray properly, deeply, effectively, and piously, in a way that shows abandonment, and real love. It is our essential means of communication and union with the Blessed Trinity. The Gospel often speaks about the Lord withdrawing: "He withdrew to the wilderness and prayed" (Lk 5:16): it was prayer and recollection, both interior and exterior. This is our model. Music: Carlos Gardel, "Soledad" (1890...
Sep 03, 2022•30 min
A meditation for the staff at Hawthorn School for Girls in Toronto, preached at the start of the academic year on August 31, 2022 by Fr. Eric Nicolai, the chaplain. https://hawthornschool.com Music: excerpt from Eminem, Lose Yourself (2002) Recordações do passado (Souvenirs from the Past) a Valsa for piano (1885) by Ernesto Nazareth arranged for guitar by Bert Alink. For more meditations, check my channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/EricNicolai/videos www.ernescliff.ca www.opusdei.ca...
Aug 31, 2022•23 min
Readings from Tuesday in the 22nd week in Ordinary Time: 1 Corinthians 2, 10-16: After his failed attempts in Athens, Paul makes his way to Corinth, and he speaks about the spiritual person and the animal person: "An unspiritual person is one who does not accept anything of the Spirit of God" (1 Cor 2, 15). The Vulgate says: Animalis autem homo non percipit ea quæ sunt Spiritus Dei. St. Josemaria said: “We have no alternative, there are only two possible ways of living on this earth: either we l...
Aug 30, 2022•28 min
With his invectives against the way the scribes and Pharisees observed the Law, our Lord does not despise or reject the Law; he is simply telling people to get their priorities right: there is no point in attending to secondary details if one is neglecting what is really basic and important — justice, mercy and faith. Preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Camp Caribou near Barry's Bay, Ontario. Music: Charles Gounod, Ave Maria from MuseOpen.org Thumbnail: James Tissot (French, 1836-1902). Annas and Ca...
Aug 29, 2022•21 min
Luke 13, 22-30: Strive to enter by the narrow door, because, I tell you, many will try to enter and will not succeed. Who are these many? It seems limited to a certain type of people, even if many are called. The person has to adapt himself, he has to be a certain way in order to enter. It is a call to conversion. I want to pass through that door Lord. The narrow door of fidelity to my vocation. But maybe the focus should not be on whether the door is narrow, but that we ought to strive to enter...
Aug 21, 2022•32 min
