The Gospel for the Solemnity of All Saints is Jesus’s sermon on the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12). This Gospel communicates to us that the individual has to be the message that speaks about Christ to others. And, to be able to speak about Christ, our conviction and desire for holiness needs to be sustained by savoring Christ’s friendship and His message.“It is impossible to persevere in a fervent evangelization unless we are convinced from personal experience that it is not the same thing to have ...
Oct 30, 2018•24 min
Today on the podcast... We reflect on the virtue of faith and the power of fidelity--habitual/ongoing faith--to help us be fruitful imitators of the Apostles who worked miracles and attracted people to Jesus Christ. Like the Apostles, we need to exercise a certain kind of faith that can be attained by entering into the Heart of Christ through three entranceways: the Eucharist, the Cross, and the Word (meditating on the Word of God and mental prayer).“Stir up that fire of faith. Christ is not a f...
Oct 21, 2018•25 min
Ninety years ago, on October 2nd, God showed Opus Dei to the young St. Josemaria Escriva. It happened in an instant, he fell to his knees dazzled by all that God had just showed him. On this anniversary, our desire is not simply to celebrate this milestone in the history of Opus Dei but also to learn from the operating system of this faithful instrument of God’s providence. To relive the path taken by St. Josemaria will help us to desire the virtue of magnanimity—greatness of spirit and largenes...
Oct 01, 2018•27 min
Today on the podcast… We contemplate how, the renewal of the church many years ago, began in the monasteries with intense prayer of loving Christ and living a life of penance. Now, St. Josemaria Escriva says to bring that contemplative prayer into our daily lives, in the thick of things, at the party, on the soccer field, at the library, in the court of law, and at home. In our personal relationship with Christ let us ask him: To transmit His light through us in the form of joy, affection, kindn...
Sep 30, 2018•26 min
Today on the podcast... In celebration of the anniversary of the founding of Opus Dei (October 2, 1928), we reflect on the early life of St. Josemaria Escriva and the historical circumstances that led him to receive the special light from God to found Opus Dei. This light from God helped St. Josemaria to see:It is possible to create a civilization of love—to bring Jesus Christ in a new way into the very heart of the world amid a culture that is antithetical to the Gospel.God was giving St. Josem...
Sep 27, 2018•26 min
In September the Church celebrates the feasts of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (14th) and Our Lady of Sorrows (15th). On today's podcast we prepare ourselves for the celebration of these feasts with the help of Our Lady by observing her example during the Passion of her Son and contemplating her at the foot of the Cross. Our Lady of Sorrows places us at her side, before Jesus on the Cross, to help us mature in our share in the mission of her Son. Bringing us to the Cross means helping us to f...
Sep 13, 2018•22 min
On today's podcast, Fr. Javier del Castillo, Vicar of Opus Dei in the Midwest (USA), offers a timely reflection on the current crisis in the Church and how we can respond to all of it by turning our sadness and anger into prayer. Like the disciples who were fearful that they would perish in the great storm (ref. Mark 4:38-41), we too should instinctively look to Jesus for help as we face the waves of scandal that leave us profoundly perplexed. Within the silence of our hearts, the Holy Spirit wi...
Sep 11, 2018•31 min
On September 12th the Church celebrates the feast of the Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary.On today’s podcast we reflect on Mary's role and mission as a mother to give us the very best: To help us in all of our needs- physical, emotional, and spiritual. To unite us with her Son, Jesus Christ.To win for us the grace to desire to be saints.Mary shows us that we can have confidence in her intercessory prayers when she spoke to the servants at the wedding in Cana, “Do whatever he tells you” ...
Sep 10, 2018•24 min
Today on the podcast… Faced with the present crisis of the Church, we are guided in this reflection to look to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Truth, for light and hope. Today we find ourselves in a similar situation as the Disciples of Jesus when he unveiled his teachings on the Eucharist in the Gospel of John (Jn 6:60-71). Many of the disciples felt that what Jesus was teaching was a hard saying and they turned away from him. What we see going on in the Church today is in a certain sense a ver...
Sep 06, 2018•30 min
Today on the podcast… The Lord asks that our holiness exceed that of the Pharisees (Matthew 23:1-36). We recall that the Pharisees were a virtuous people who lived the moral law, prayed many times throughout the day along with fasting and almsgiving. But the Lord wants us also to love as He has loved—a love that reveals through our actions that we are His disciples. Desiring union with the love of Christ requires that we prioritize the formation of our heart's mission: to be humble, charitable, ...
Aug 25, 2018•27 min
On August 22nd the Church celebrates the Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On today’s podcast, we reflect on the coronation of our Mother as Queen of the Universe. And, how as children of this Heavenly Queen we can learn to follow her example of reigning: Mary our Queen trusted all that the Lord spoke to her, and her answer remained a constant yes. Teach us to respond to the Lord with complete trust. Mary our Queen serves-- for to reign one must serve. Teach us to be faithful...
Aug 18, 2018•24 min
Today on the podcast… How does God want us to view the virtue of faith?If we look to the Gospels, our Lord shows us many examples that will help us to see, like the Apostles (Lk 15:5-10), that the virtue of faith is connected to miracle working. Our Lord wants us to see that He needs our faith—our life of fidelity and self-giving—to work miracles: Our faith and correspondence to God allow us to become instruments in the ultimate miracle, which is conversion-- personal transformation through repe...
Aug 14, 2018•26 min
In a few days, on the 15th of August, 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? Follow Mother Mary’s example: When the Blessed Virgin Mary ...
Aug 11, 2018•17 min
Today on the podcast...How can we achieve a constant dialogue with God to help us live our Christian vocation to discipleship? Our Christian vocation by virtue of baptism is to spread the Kingdom of God--to attract people to Christ. This work of discipleship and evangelization is a work of a lifetime. To carry out this work, we need a daily plan to help us keep in constant dialogue with God--praying without ceasing--pushing ourselves realistically, expanding our hearts, to live a life in Christ:...
Aug 04, 2018•24 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 ...
Aug 01, 2018•26 min
Today on the podcast… We explore the characteristics of having true contrition for our sins:When we are truly sorry for our sins and receive forgiveness we have an interior peace; a serene joy. We are supple, joyful, and approachable.We not longer give excuses for our improper behavior. Support the show THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! Let us know that our podcast is important to you: Share your favorite episodes with others and leave us a rating or review. Stay connected with us on Facebook and Instagr...
Jul 26, 2018•20 min
Today on the podcast…We look to St. Josemaria Escriva to contemplate what it truly means to bring the Gospel to the ends of the earth: Devotion to the Holy Spirit to strengthens our love, joy, prayer, and our desire to be close to Christ. Personally give witness to the Gospel and bring it to others no matter what the cost. Desire that the Gospel be heard everywhere so that Jesus will be known by everyone. Support the show THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! Let us know that our podcast is important to you:...
Jul 20, 2018•29 min
Today on the podcast… We look to St. Josemaria Escriva and consider what he learned from the divine inspiration he received on October 2, 1928: As a priest he would bring the Gospel to the world in much the same way the Apostles were commissioned at the Ascension.That Jesus desires to be with us; that is why he is in the Eucharist today. The importance of dialogue with Christ all of the time helps us stay united with Christ. Support the show THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! Let us know that our podcast ...
Jul 12, 2018•26 min
Today on the podcast… We are invited to listen and contemplate:How eternal happiness begins here on earth and is brought to its fullness in Heaven. Why it is a good idea to study the lives of the saints. The meaning of the “revolutionary message” revealed to St. Josemaria Escriva: to bring Christ into the heart of the modern world. At the end of our reflection and prayer, we ask Our Lady to help us learn to live each day imitating the saints. Support the show THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! Let us know...
Jul 06, 2018•21 min
Today on the podcast… We are asked to evaluate our appreciation for the precious gift that God gives to us so generously; our freedom. Msgr. Frederick Dolan helps us to understand which actions of ours make us free and which ones will hold us back from being free. And as we consider our actions to remember that we are not self-created; that we are creatures of a loving God. He ends with encouraging us to call on our Mother Mary to obtain many graces for our country. Support the show THANK YOU FO...
Jun 29, 2018•24 min
Reflection…“Holiness is the most attractive face of the Church.” Pope Francis, Apostolic Exhortation: The keys of holiness are Grace and Freedom. The freedom to choose the vocation in which we desire to make the presence of Jesus come alive in our hearts and in the heart of the world. And the grace to aid us in living the Beatitudes where the heart of Jesus opens up to us the many ways we can imitate him in our desire to become saints. Let us invoke Our Blessed Mother and the Holy Spirit asking ...
Jun 22, 2018•23 min
In today’s podcast we ask the Lord to help us to not be satisfied with being a bystander, that we allow his words to enter deep into our hearts and change us. In the words of St. Josemaria Escriva: “We only love what we know well.” Therefore, let us look to the lives of the saints and the life of Jesus himself in an effort to come to know God well; imitating daily, through our actions, a genuine love of neighbor. Support the show THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! Let us know that our podcast is important...
Jun 18, 2018•23 min
In this reflection we are called to consider Jesus Christ as the High Priest and how all of us are called to participate in that priesthood according to our vocation in life. We are each called to a specific way of life and those who have chosen the priesthood as their vocation have additional responsibilities regarding the care of God’s people. There are acts that the priest must do on behalf of the people as they work on guiding them towards the right path. And yet, every priest needs and reli...
Jun 09, 2018•27 min
In this reflection on The Visitation of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth, we encounter the realization that Mary offers us much in the way of teaching us about self-giving. Especially in the way she puts others first, always availing herself to acts of serving others for the love of God. There is an experience of true joy in all she does. Support the show THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! Let us know that our podcast is important to you: Share your favorite episodes with others and leave us a rating or revie...
May 29, 2018•15 min
In this podcast, Fr. Peter Armenio invites us to reflect and pray about: What is the ordinary and how can it help us to be extraordinary? Jesus’ life growing up was not written down. There is no account of his activities after Joseph and Mary found him in the Temple until his baptism in the River Jordan. Jesus was so ordinary that there is nothing written about what a typical day might have been like for him; only a summary by Luke mentioning that Jesus grew in stature and grace before God and m...
May 29, 2018•24 min
On today's podcast we are reminded, for our contemplation, of the words Pope Benedict XVI offered on the meaning of freedom: “Who is freer than the One who is the Almighty? He did not, however, live his freedom as an arbitrary power or as domination. He lived it as a service. In this way he ‘filled’ freedom with content, which would otherwise have remained an ‘empty’ possibility of doing or not doing something. . .freedom draws its meaning from love . . .” If it is true happiness that we are loo...
May 18, 2018•19 min
Thank you for listening to the 10-Day Devotion to the Holy Spirit on the St. Josemaria Institute Podcast! 10-Day Devotion to the Holy Spirit - Day 4 | Our faith in the Holy Spirit: necessarily complete For the complete text of today’s reflection and for additional spiritual resources visit: stjosemaria.org/ten-day-devotion-holy-spirit/ 10-DAY DEVOTION TO THE HOLY SPIRIT IN PREPARATION FOR PENTECOST: The prayers and reflections for this devotion are taken from the “Handbook of Prayers,” published...
May 13, 2018•5 min
Today on the podcast… “When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, 'Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?' (Lk 24:30-32).”As we journey with those whom the Lord chooses to place in our lives, we can be apostles of today evangelizing simply through how we live our dai...
May 08, 2018•20 min
Today on the podcast… On May 1st, the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker. “…Behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him'” (Matt. 2:13). In this reflection, Msgr. Fred Dolan invites us to bring to our prayer the great example of St. Joseph, especially his obedience and immediate response to the will of God–...
Apr 29, 2018•20 min
Reflection… Easter is the highest celebration of the Church because it is the culmination of the Paschal Mystery with Jesus as victor over sin and death. The properties of his suffering on the Cross and his Resurrection stimulate change. Not only a visible change in our behavior but also a spiritual change in direct correlation with our relationship in prayer with the Lord. All of this is made possible through a young Jewish girl’s "yes" to an Angel sent By God. Mary’s Fiat! As this young girl r...
Apr 16, 2018•24 min
