A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Kintore College in Toronto on August 10, 2024. Yesterday was the feast of St. Edith Stein, Theresa Benedicta of the Cross. Beatified in 1987 then canonized in 1998 by Pope John Paul II. She is one of the 6 patrons of Europe. Both she and St. Lawrence (today's feast) were martyrs for the faith. She was a Jew that converted after reading Theresa of Avila, and studying with Edmund Husserl. Then she went on to become a Carmelite nun. She was killed at Aus...
Aug 10, 2024•30 min
Fr. Eric Nicolai preached this mediation at Cedarcrest Centre in Belfountain, Ontario, August 2, 2024. Eph 4, 17, 20-24 : I want to urge you in the name of the Lord, not to go on living the aimless kind of life that pagans live. Now that is hardly the way you have learnt from Christ, unless you failed to hear him properly when you were taught what the truth is in Jesus. You must give up your old way of life; you must put aside your old self, which gets corrupted by following illusory desires. Yo...
Aug 07, 2024•30 min
A meditation preached at Ernescliff College on the feast of the Transfiguration, August 6, 2024. In the Old testament the prophet Daniel had a vision that foreshadowed the transfiguration: Thrones were set in place and one of great age took his seat. His robe was white as snow, the hair of his head as pure as wool. (Daniel 7, 9-10). The Transfiguration scene can help us consider what Heaven will be like. In it, some men - Peter, John and James - have an anticipated vision of the glory of God. Mu...
Aug 06, 2024•26 min
A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Cedarcrest Conference Centre in Belfountain, Ontario on August 3, 2024. Matt 14, 1: Herod made a rash decision under the pressure of his passions and his human respect. We must be contemplatives. What does it mean to be a contemplative in the middle of the world? Music: Recordações do passado (Souvenirs from the Past) a Valsa for piano (1885) by Ernesto Nazareth arranged Bert Alink. Thumbnail: detail of the face of Christ by Rembrandt, 17th century....
Aug 03, 2024•32 min
A meditation preached to Lyncroft centre in Toronto, July 28, 2024. It is the 17th Sunday of Ordinary time, year B. It is the account of multiplication of loaves and fish in John 6 in which the Lord asks the apostles to give the people bread, but then he does the miracle himself. It is an image of the apostolic mandate that we have received. We are apostles. Saint Josemaria said: you are not people who do good apostolic things, you do not do apostolate, you are apostles ....
Jul 28, 2024•29 min
A recollection for priests at Saint Aidan's parish in Toronto, preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai on July 16, 2024. Based on the parable of the pharisee and the publican (Luke 18:9-14). Two men in a temple, praying, doing a good thing, but with different results. A security camera might have made them appear as two men praying with their own style, or culture. But Jesus sees below the surface, and wants us to recognize ourselves in these men. Only one went home justified. Music: Original track by Mich...
Jul 19, 2024•28 min
Fr. Eric Nicolai preached this meditation on July 16, 2024 at Ernescliff College in Toronto. Mary appeared to St. Simon Stock, a Carmelite, on July 16, 1251, and promised a special protection to those who would wear the habit, later the scapulary. All you had to do was wear this garment. Like a protective clothing, and stay faithful. This promise of our Lady boosted the Carmelites street cred. Our Lady became associated with one protecting. They’d emphasize Marian protection, her intercession, t...
Jul 16, 2024•29 min
A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Chipnee camp for girls in the Durham region north of Toronto on July 11, 2024, the Feast of St. Benedict of Nursia. Music: Original track by Michael Lee of Toronto.
Jul 11, 2024•26 min
A meditation preached on July 8, 2024 by Fr. Eric Nicolai at a camp for girls in the Collingwood area, Ontario. Matthew 9, 18-26 : While Jesus was speaking, up came one of the officials, who bowed low in front of him and said, ‘My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her and her life will be saved.’ Jesus rose and, with his disciples, followed him. Then from behind him came a woman, who had suffered from a haemorrhage for twelve years, and she touched the fringe of his cloak, fo...
Jul 08, 2024•20 min
A meditation preached on July 1, 2024, Canada Day, at Tour des Pins Centre in Montreal. The Gospel of the day is from Matthew 8: “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” This is after the centurions faith, several amazing cures, people possessed by demons, healed of terrible illnesses. Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head. What is Jesus asking us about our availability and our project of life? Thumbnail: Domenico Ghirlandaio, ...
Jul 01, 2024•31 min
This meditation was preached in Ernescliff College by Fr. Eric Nicolai on the feast of Saint John the Baptist, June 24, 2024. He was a voice crying in the desert, the prophecy of Isaiah 40, 3: Vox clamantis in deserto: Parate viam Domini, rectas facite in solitudine semitas Dei nostri. A voice of one calling in the wilderness, prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Byzantine icons show him with a thinner cross, symbolizing his role as the Forerunner of C...
Jun 24, 2024•30 min
This meditation was preached on June 19, 2024 at Hawthorn School for Girls in Toronto. Josemaria opened his homily saying " we must realize all the richness hidden in the words, “the Sacred Heart of Jesus.” Let’s not lose sight of these riches. Like all the feasts and solemnities, there is something here to enrich us. There are many layers we must tap into in order to discover the love of Jesus. Music: Original soundtrack by Michael Lee of Toronto, with birds from pixabay.com, SSPsurvival. Thumb...
Jun 19, 2024•34 min
This meditation was preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai to a group of priests at St. Paul the Apostle parish in Toronto on June 11, 2024. Today is the feast of the apostle St. Barnabas. Who was Barnabas? Acts says he spoke boldly, and effectively, and defended St. Paul. We imagine them both speaking with lots of self-confidence. Saint Josemaria dreamt about the responsibility of ordinary Christians in the world playing their role of being salt and light. Matt 5, 13-16: “You are the salt of the earth. Y...
Jun 12, 2024•28 min
A meditation preached at Kintore College in Toronto, by Fr. Eric Nicolai, on May 30, 2024. Msgr. Fernando Ocáriz was elected Prelate of Opus Dei in 2016. In the Old Testament book of Samuel there is a text that foreshadows the priesthood in the church and the role of the priest: 1 Sam 2, 35: "I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his priestly house, and they will minister before my anointed one always." Music:...
Jun 06, 2024•16 min
A meditation preached on June 1, 2024 at Lyncroft Centre in Toronto by Fr. Eric Nicolai. John 6 has this powerful discourse. Words of our Lord, speaking slow, articulating each word, speaking clearly, enunciating, people listening as the warm wind blew and the birds chirped. He probably said something that underlined that this was not all symbolism. This was real. The Jews asked "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" (John 6:52), and his disciples said "This is a hard saying; who can liste...
Jun 03, 2024•30 min
Fr. Eric Nicolai preached this meditation on May 24, 2024 at Cedarcrest conference Centre in Belfountain, Ontario. Luke 10, 5: “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. Music: Original music on guitar by Michale Lee, of Toronto Museum: Jean-Francois M...
May 24, 2024•32 min
Fr. Eric Nicolai preached this meditation at Cedarcrest Conference centre north of Toronto, on May 21, 2024. We read in the prayer of consecration to the Holy Spirit, there was a description of the nature of the Paraclete himself, the consoler, the spirit of truth. It talks about the gifts he leaves in us, and then all the fruits that are left behind, that are noticeable in a person who has truly been touched by the Holy Spirit: charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, longanimity, mee...
May 21, 2024•31 min
A meditation preached on April 1, 2024 by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Serra House in Toronto. Serra House accommodates seminarians for the Archdiocese of Toronto in the initial stage of formation. Music: A. Vivaldi_ Nisi Dominus, RV 608 - IV. Cum dederit (128 kbps)
May 18, 2024•32 min
Fr. Eric Nicolai preached the meditation at Lyncroft Centre in Toronto on May 4th, 2024. Our lady will teach us, she will nudge us, because she is teacher of prayer. When we pray, we ask her ut loquaris pro nobis bona , to speak well on our behalf before the Lord. She speaks well of us. Intercedes while we pray, while we work, while we keep our minds occupied. Original music intro by Michael Lee of Toronto. Thumbnail: Sassoferrato Virgin in Prayer, 1640-50 National Gallery, London....
May 12, 2024•29 min
Domina ut sit . Mary, may it be. Fix it. Fr. Eric Nicolai begins with a pastoral letter by Archbishop Leo of Toronto: "When faced with uncertainty and perplexing events in her own life, Myriam of Nazareth did not “wonder” but “pondered,” not fully understanding, yet always remaining faithful (Lk 2:19). A meditation by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Lyncroft Centre in Toronto, preached on May 5, 2024. Thumbnail: Our Lady of El Pilar, Zaragoza, Spain. Music: Guitar by Bert Alink, from Handel's Opera Rinaldo,...
May 06, 2024•29 min
And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him; and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. ” (Matt 3, 16) Fr. Eric Nicolai preached this meditation on May 2, 2024 at Kintore College in Toronto about divine filiation. Music: Adrift among the infinite stars by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com...
May 02, 2024•30 min
Fr. Eric Nicolai preached this meditation in a retreat at Kintore College on May 1, 2024, Feast of St. Joseph the Worker. The feast of St. Joseph the Worker was established by Pope Pius XII in 1955 in order to Christianize the concept of labor and give to all workmen a model and a protector. But it was meant to be a way for all to see work through a different lens. Not one of class struggle, but in the light of God’s plans for us in Work, in our study, our human formation. Imagine, this could be...
May 01, 2024•31 min
Fr. Eric Nicolai preached this meditation on April 28, 2024, the fifth Sunday of Easter at Lyncroft Centre in Toronto. Acts 9:26-31: Barnabas explained how the Lord had appeared to Saul on his journey. Barnabas convinces the apostles about the newly converted Paul. Why are they convinced? Because Paul had spoken boldly in defence of the Lord. What does it mean for us to be bold, to be daring in defence of the faith? Music: 'Undertow' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley....
Apr 29, 2024•30 min
This is a meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai on March 15th 2024 at Ernescliff College. It is based on Wisdom 2, 12-20 : Let us lie in wait for the righteous man, because he is inconvenient to us and opposes our actions; he reproaches us for sins against the law, and accuses us of sins against our training. He professes to have knowledge of God, and calls himself a child of the Lord . He became to us a reproof of our thoughts; the very sight of him is a burden to us, because his manner of li...
Apr 21, 2024•31 min
Fr. Eric Nicolai peached this meditation at Lyncroft centre in Toronto on April 6, 2024. What is God’s will? Before the Lord was arrested, the apostles were with him, ostensibly to protect him, but they couldn’t stop the soldiers from arresting the Lord. Judas came with the chief priests. But the Lord was praying, and abandoned entirely to the Lord. Jesus is kneeling, he is sweating blood of anguish. But he said yes to God's will. When I work, I must be acting out of love and confidence on God’s...
Apr 19, 2024•28 min
A meditation preached on April 3 by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Kintore College, Toronto. Today we get one of the most famous appearances of Jesus: His appearance suddenly walking next to the disciples of Emmaus. They were looking down, maybe hoping for someone to give them a lift, but no cars were passing. He managed to explain everything to them, and they recognized him. Thumbnail: Robert Zund, On the Road to Emmaus, 1877, Kunstmuseum St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Apr 18, 2024•30 min
The Victimae Paschali is an ancient sequence dating to the 11th century. It is an option to sing it or recite it during the Easter Octave. Fr. Eric Nicolai dives into this profound and ancient sonnet about the discovery of the empty tomb. Preached at Lyncroft Centre in Toronto, on April 1, 2024. Music: Chant of the Easter Sequence by Sisters of Aquinas Victimae Paschali Laudes . Thumbnail: Convento di San Marco, Resurrection and Women at the Tomb, fresco, Fra Angelico (ca 1400-1455). Photo taken...
Apr 02, 2024•29 min
Fr. Eric Nicolai preached this meditation in Kintore College, Toronto, on March 27, 2024. What a contrast between the gratitude and generosity of Mary of Bethany and the painful betrayal of Judas, one who was from his inner circle (Matthew 26:14-25). The searing and painful treachery of Judas' infidelity is a danger we must be aware of. Thumbnail: Kiss of Judas, fresco by Giotto, Scrovegni Chapel, Padua, 1304. Music: VOCES8 'Ave Verum' by William Byrd....
Mar 30, 2024•32 min
A meditation preached at Lyncroft Centre in Toronto on Palm Sunday, 2024. All the witnesses of the events that occurred at the Passover of that year in Jerusalem preserved the searing memory of the most significant events suffered by the one whom they confessed as the promised Messiah. They recorded all this that was suffered by the Lord with the specific intention of extracting the salvific power, the sheer redemptive content and redemptive message of every word, every gesture, even the very br...
Mar 24, 2024•29 min
A meditation preached on March 20, 2024 at Hawthorn School for Girls. We are closing into the end of Lent. Yesterday we celebrated the solemnity of St. Joseph. We have been meditating on this figure during Lent. Sometimes seen as the silent type in the corner, who doesn’t say much. He may have taught Jesus the art of carpentry, yes. But that does not mean he was silently stepping back in the background all the time. Jesus did know how to speak quite eloquently in public. He captivated people wit...
Mar 22, 2024•30 min
