You, therefore, must be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matt 5:48). Fr. Eric Nicolai preaches at Lyncroft Centre in Toronto, on April 26 2023. The message “Be perfect...” might cause us to wilt. How can I be perfect even as a human being, much less “as the Father is perfect” – the Infinite, Omnipotent God whom I cannot see, whom (it seems) I know only from a distance? This is an impossible vocation! Indeed it is... if I am relying only on my own efforts. This is why a Gospel reduced ...
Apr 28, 2023•29 min
A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai to a group of High School students at Ernescliff College on April 24, 2023. Today's Gospel is about Jesus walking on the water: as the apostles imagined he was a ghost, he said do not be afraid. Jn 6:16-21: When it was evening, the disciples of Jesus went down to the sea, embarked in a boat, and went across the sea to Capernaum. It had already grown dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea was stirred up because a strong wind was blowing. When t...
Apr 25, 2023•16 min
Preceding the account of the washing of the feet, St. John says: John introduces this gesture. It is not present in the other synoptics: “Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.” (Jn 13:1). He loved them to the end. We should reflect on the meaning of such a phrase, whether in my life, in your marriage, it can be said I have loved, and served to th...
Apr 13, 2023•33 min
We are in a dark world, but the light of heaven streams in like a beam of luminosity, and hope, represented by that Easter pillar of light. Fr. Eric Nicolai preaches at Lyncroft Centre in Toronto about the meaning of the Easter Candle and the words of St. Paul to the Corinthians: Death, where is thy Sting? (1 Cor 15, 55). Thumbnail: The Harrowing of Hell, Russian 15th century icon, St. Petersburg. Music: A heart that knows its Jesus is living, BWV 134 - II Aria: Auf Gläubige, singet die lieblich...
Apr 09, 2023•30 min
Holy Thursday includes two important celebrations. The Chrism Mass where all the priests renew their priestly vows, and the bishop blesses the holy oils. It commemorates the Lord’s institution of the priesthood. That's in the morning. But tonight is the commemoration of the commandment of charity, the mandatum novum, and the institution of the Eucharist, where he ask to do this in memory of me. The power of a memory that can actually bring him back alive. Thumbnail: Pope Francis washing the feet...
Apr 07, 2023•29 min
Fr. Eric Nicolai preaches at Ernescliff College about the beginning of Holy Week and the mysterious figure mentioned in the prophesies of Isaiah: the Man of Sorrows. In Isaiah he was a mystery, now he will take on a face, and a name, Jesus of Nazareth. Music: Prelude -Cello Suite 3- J.S. Bach. BWV 1009. For guitar. Thumbnail: Roberto Oderisi Italian, The Man of Sorrows with Instruments of the Passion, c. 1354 Cambridge (MA), Harvard Art Museums. For more meditations, check my channel: https://ww...
Apr 03, 2023•30 min
The passage in today’s first reading from the book of Daniel is the account of Suzanna who is falsely accused by two corrupt elders (Daniel 13:1-9,15-17,19-30,33-62). The drawn out account of Suzanna who was spied upon by two elders taken over by their lust for her. The reading uses a fascinating turn of phrase about the temptation of these two men: it says “they suppressed their consciences and would not allow their eyes to look to heaven”. To suppress one’s conscience is a serious thing to do....
Mar 28, 2023•27 min
Today is the solemnity of the Annunciation, an important feast that the church celebrates during Lent. At Mary’s obedient Fiat, humanity is wedded to divinity. It can be thought of as a precursor to Pentecost. The Holy Spirit comes upon Mary and imparts to her the gift of all gifts, a divine son. She is the new Eve that restores those lost gifts. We too can obey the divine invitation. But how do we do it? A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Lyncroft centre in Toronto on the solemnity of...
Mar 26, 2023•29 min
Fr. Eric Nicolai comments on the effects of the gospel account of Jesus and the young rich man (Mark 10, 17-22). He had potential, that's why Jesus chose him. When you see someone with qualities, that works well, and seems to be a good person, you and I think of their potential. The power to become something more. You think of something still unrealized. Its latent within them. Undeveloped. Embryonic. There is a hidden future that gives you hope. What about our apostolic potential? Preached in t...
Mar 25, 2023•31 min
Today, the fourth Sunday of Lent, the church offers the passage from St. John about the man born blind. It is here that the Lord begins to speak about himself as being the Light of the World, and that the apostles too are the light of the world when united to him. The apostles tell Jesus about this man, stumbling around, not able to advance, and thinking it was a generational problem. His father or grandfather must have been pretty bad, so he inherited this moral evil now in form of blindness. J...
Mar 19, 2023•29 min
The Greek word "apostoloi" means “sent.” It refers to Christ's call to the disciples to continue his own mission: proclaiming the kingdom of God throughout the world. But what are these apostles proclaiming? Are they giving an instruction about what Jesus spoke about? Were they giving classes, where people sat down and took notes? What was the essential idea that people took away with them after Peter spoke in Jerusalem? One simple idea articulated by Pope Francis: The name of God is mercy. Have...
Mar 16, 2023•28 min
Groucho Marx in the early silent films would say that to have a happy life, we must have good humour have a bad memory. Of course we have good humour, but I don’t agree that we should have a bad memory. We have to have good humour and good memory, but selective memory for all the good in life. This was the purpose of the transfiguration, in which Jesus showed the apostle the luminosity of the good. It was so that they should remember the good, when things were bad and dark. A meditation preached...
Mar 09, 2023•30 min
Fr. Eric Nicolai preached this meditation at Lyncroft Centre in Toronto, on March 4, 2023. During Lent our goal is that of St. Paul: "I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me." (Gal 2, 20). This identification with Christ has 4 steps in a staircase towards Christ Jesus. The first step in this staircase is the most superficial one: Corporal mortification. The next step in the staircase is the care of little things. The third step is interi...
Mar 06, 2023•32 min
A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai to priests at the Manoir de Beaujeu, February 4, 2023. In the death and burial of Lazarus Jesus watched the long procession of mourners from the first to the last, and the reason of it all. He understood the very reason for all those mourners. He knew deeply, in its essence how death came into the world with the sin of Adam. He wept for Lazarus, but he weeps for you and me too, because we too will die. John 11, 38: "Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to...
Mar 03, 2023•34 min
Fr. Eric Nicolai preached this meditation at Ernescliff College, on February 28, 2023. Today’s first reading is from a chapter of Isaiah, an oracle that the prophet made, calling back the exiles in Babylon. Isaiah 55, 10: "And as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and return no more thither, but soak the earth, and water it, and make it to spring, and give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be, which shall go forth from my mouth: it shall not return to me void,...
Feb 28, 2023•26 min
Fr. Eric Nicolai preached this meditation at Kintore College, Toronto, on February 20, 2023. It was in preparation for Lent. Fulton Sheen defines dirt as matter in the wrong place. If clay is in the garden it is clay, if it is in the house it is dirt. The church then blesses this dirt to show that all things created are good and can be holy. She then smears this dirt on our foreheads saying at the same time the profound spiritual message… Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return ...
Feb 21, 2023•20 min
A meditation at the Manoir de Beaujeu, preached to a group of priests on January 30, 2023, by Fr. Eric Nicolai So many Catholics have been baptized, but not transformed. We lament this as due to secularization of society, lack of formation. Bad example, etc. We too must be conquered. What is our soft underbelly? That most vulnerable part of our perseverance. It is the lack of total surrender to Christ in our vocation. The lack of real rectitude of intention in everything. Music: Bert Alink, Tear...
Feb 07, 2023•31 min
This meditation was preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at the end of a retreat for priests to the Manoir de Beaujeu, near Montreal, on February 3, 2023. Easter Vigil Gospel: Mark 16, 1-7 The women: Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, Salome, had an important task. When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tom...
Feb 04, 2023•35 min
A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at a retreat for priests at the Manoir de Beaujeu, near Montreal. Matt 13:1-9:: That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky ...
Feb 02, 2023•32 min
A meditation by Fr. Eric Nicolai on the conversion of St. Paul. Preached at Lyncroft Centre, January 25, 2023. Acts 3, 5-10: ‘I was on that journey and nearly at Damascus when about midday a bright light from heaven suddenly shone round me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” I answered: Who are you, Lord? and he said to me, “I am Jesus the Nazarene, and you are persecuting me.” The people with me saw the light but did not hear his voice as he...
Jan 26, 2023•29 min
Today, January 18 to January 25 is the Octave of Christian Unity. It finishes with the feast of the conversion of St. Paul on January 25. This Octave was first conceived by Father Paul Watson a Franciscan friar of the Atonement, of Graymoor abbey in 1907. This leads us naturally to pray about the Church in her essence. CCC 760: all that vast array of creation had really one basic purpose: to have a place of communion, brought about by a convocation. Ecclesia means call, vocation, convocation. Th...
Jan 20, 2023•30 min
This is a meditation originally posted on Youtube in August 2021. Here it is re-broadcast in audio form. It was preached at the Manoir de Beaujeu, near Coteau-du-Lac, near Montreal, Quebec. The original with video clips of the Manoir, its surroundings and Rembrandt's painting, can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/tFdA8gPxBtE Music: Handel Rinaldo opera Aria "Lascia che io pianga" arranged for guitar by Bert Alink. Thumbnail: Rembrandt, The Storm of the Sea of Galilee, 1633, whereabouts unknown s...
Jan 14, 2023•29 min
This is the introductory meditation for a retreat at the Manoir de Beaujeu, near Montreal, on January 2, 2023, preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai. Psalm 127: Nisi Dominus, Unless the Lord build the house: their labour is but lost that build it. Unless the Lord keep the city: the watchman waketh but in vain. Music: Carlos Gardel, Soledad, arranged for guitar by Bert Alink. Thumbnail: Rembrandt, Peter Denying Christ, 1660 Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. For more meditations, check my channel: https://www.youtub...
Jan 12, 2023•28 min
A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai in Kintore College on December 31, 2022 to inaugurate the New Year. Today's first reading is from the book of Numbers 6 , when Moses is told exactly how the priests are to bless. The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: “‘“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’ “So they will put ...
Jan 01, 2023•21 min
A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai, December 21, 2022 at Lyncroft Centre, Toronto. Phil 4, 4: “ Rejoice in the Lord always ”. Joy is at the heart of Christian experience. Pope Benedict XVI said that one of the great attraction of WYD was the joy that people saw. It is seen in young people, in the smiles of Pope Francis. Pope Benedict XVI said “ In a world of sorrow and anxiety, joy is an important witness to the beauty and reliability of the Christian faith .” In a school you learn stuff....
Dec 31, 2022•28 min
A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Lyncroft Centre in Toronto, on December 18, 2022. Matthew relates it exclusively from the perspective of Saint Joseph, who as a descendant of David represents the link between the figure of Jesus and the Davidic promise. The angel appears to him in a dream, and he was able to discern God's will. Music: O Holy Night by Christmas choir. Thumbnail: The Dream of Saint Joseph by Anton Raphael Mengs (1728-1779) Vienna Museum. For more meditations, check my ...
Dec 23, 2022•30 min
A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Ernescliff College on December 16, 2022. In the first of his Infancy Narratives, Pope Benedict XVI places us at the very end of Jesus’ life as he stands in front of his accuser, Pontius Pilate. Jesus has already been beaten, one eye is swollen, he is bruised all over, and already has a crown of thorns. It's a sad sight for a king. While he was interrogating Jesus, Pilate unexpectedly put this question to the accused: “Where are you from?”. That was th...
Dec 19, 2022•30 min
Fr. Eric Nicolai preached this meditation on December 13, 2022 in a recollection for priests at St. Aidan's parish Toronto. After the annunciation, Mary went with haste, 80 km away to Ain Karim. Not slowly, uninterested. The hill country of Judah, would have been understood as the land of David. Where he grew up. She went with meaning and a sense of purpose. This too is how we must see our vocation. Go with haste. It is the opposite of any form of procrastination in our duties. St. Josemaria say...
Dec 16, 2022•29 min
Today’s proper preface for the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is a synthesis of this mystery: For you preserved the most Blessed Virgin Mary from all stain of original sin, so that in her, endowed with the rich fullness of your grace, you might prepare a worthy Mother for your Son and signify the beginning of the Church, his beautiful Bride without spot or wrinkle. She, the most pure Virgin, was to bring forth a Son, the innocent Lamb who would wipe away our offenses; you placed her abov...
Dec 08, 2022•27 min
St. Matthew 17:9a, 10-13 in which the disciples asked Jesus if he was Elijah. I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him but did to him whatever they pleased. So also will the Son of Man suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist. John the Baptist came to prepare the way for the Lord. It meant to create a favourable environment, a place that made easy to operate your life. Fr. Eric Nicolai preaches at Lyncro...
Dec 04, 2022•28 min
