In this podcast, Msgr. Fred Dolan shares a reflection on the standard of holiness which St. Josemaria characterizes by the following three points: holy intransigence, holy coercion, and holy shamelessness. He explains that we must form our heart and mind according to the gospel message so that we will have a firm foundation when confronted with opposition. We are encouraged to look to the example of the saints who were steadfast in seeking the truth despite facing opposing viewpoints. Inspired b...
Aug 29, 2022•27 min
In this podcast, Fr. Peter Armenio sheds light on the mystery of redemption and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. In the life of every saint—and here he draws upon personal encounters with John Paul II, Mother Teresa, and Alvaro del Portillo—there is an intimate connection with Christ and His Eucharistic sacrifice. “My professional work,” says Fr. Peter, “even if I make my bed out of love, could have an infinite value when I allow it to be absorbed by Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross.” As you meditat...
Aug 22, 2022•23 min
As the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on August 15, Msgr. Fred Dolan shares a reflection on the life of faith modeled by Our Lady and how we too can be filled with a trust and joy that is unable to be shaken by difficulties. Looking to her example, Msgr. Dolan explains that our life of faith can also prosper through contemplative prayer, docility to the Holy Spirit, and trust in the will of God as we seek to share the light of Christ in the world tod...
Aug 08, 2022•17 min
In this podcast, Fr. Javier del Castillo reflects on the spirit of detachment and the freedom from material goods as we seek to live more fully in the presence of God. As St. Josemaria explains: "The ordinary Christian has to reconcile two aspects in his life that may at first seem contradictory. There is on the one hand, true poverty, which is obvious and tangible and made up of definite things. This poverty should be an expression of faith in God and a sign that the heart is not satisfied with...
Aug 01, 2022•27 min
As we conclude our mini-series on St. Josemaria’s homily, Passionately Loving the World , Fr. Peter Armenio shares a reflection on the inestimable value of ordinary life and how it serves as a medium through which we encounter the presence of God. Drawing upon the hidden years of Christ’s life, Fr. Peter highlights the importance of being formed by the witness of our family and being nurtured by prayer so that we can lead a heroic life of faith, generosity, and service. Fr. Peter explains: “Don’...
Jul 25, 2022•29 min
Do you love your life and the world with passion? In this podcast, Fr. Donncha Ó hAodha continues our mini-series on St. Josemaria’s homily Passionately Loving the World with a reflection on our call to profoundly love and serve the Lord in and through our ordinary circumstances, especially our work. Fr. Donncha shares that, although worldliness can receive a negative connotation, we are called to give witness to the love of Christ in our daily actions as God became incarnate so that we can see ...
Jul 18, 2022•20 min
Continuing our mini-series, “Passionately Loving the World”: In this podcast, Fr. Eric Nicolai shares a reflection on the dangers of keeping our faith solely within the confines of our personal life rather than allowing it to permeate every aspect of our life–from the church, to the office, and among friends. Fr. Eric encourages us to cultivate authentic friendships through which we can carry out the work of evangelization, seeking to bring the light of Christ into every corner of our world. St....
Jul 11, 2022•26 min
In a homily given by St. Josemaria Escriva in the 1960’s, he called everyone gathered there to imitate Jesus’ love for humanity. But what does this call invite us to do today? As we begin a new four-part series on Passionately Loving the World , Fr. Peter Armenio enlightens us in this meditation by explaining that the call to passionately love the world invites us to leave our comfort zone, find new compassion for others, and to be present for those who do not know that they hunger for Christ, h...
Jul 04, 2022•21 min
Have you ever found yourself overwhelmed by the simple question, can I truly become a saint? In this week’s podcast, Fr. Peter Armenio shares practical tips to seek guidance in our spiritual life when access to a spiritual director may be limited or unavailable. Although it may sound impossible to us, the path to sainthood challenges us to persevere in our daily life as we seek to imitate the life of Christ and discover God’s will. Inspired by the lives of the saints who have gone before us, we ...
Jul 02, 2022•29 min
As we celebrate the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul on June 29, Fr. Peter Armenio shares a reflection on the heroic lives of these two great saints who accepted Christ’s invitation to repentance and fearlessly proclaimed the Kingdom of God. Their lives model for us a pathway of discipleship and illustrate the boundless love of God made known through the power of forgiveness. On this feast day, we pray for an increased trust in the Lord and the strength to fearlessly proclaim the faith in our da...
Jun 27, 2022•31 min
As the Church concludes the year “Amoris Laetitia Family” on June 26, Msgr. Fred Dolan shares a reflection that challenges us to “launch out into the deep” and discover the Lord’s vision of the human family. Focusing on the relationship between parents and children, Msgr. Dolan suggests four essential values that should be instilled in each child raised in a Christian family: prayer, identity in Christ, service, and vocational awareness. St. Josemaria explains: “[The family] is a home full of li...
Jun 20, 2022•15 min
In this week’s podcast, Fr. Leo Agustina shares a reflection on the treasure of Christ, present in the Eucharist, and how we can become a living tabernacle in the world today. Fr. Leo draws our attention to the moments prior to the Ascension as Christ shares with his disciples the Great Commission: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, … teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age” (Mt 28:19-20). This powerful me...
Jun 13, 2022•29 min
In this podcast, Fr. Donncha Ó hAodha shares a reflection on the Holy Trinity and how we are called to respond to God’s invitation of self-giving and love. He explains that “God, who is all perfect and self-sufficient, has no need of us. But, because he is love, he reaches out and draws us into his divine life, into the Trinity.” Our life, therefore, is transformed through the grace received in baptism which propels us forward to lead a life of love as we seek to be a reflection of Christ in the...
Jun 06, 2022•20 min
“Make friends with the Holy Spirit. Don’t speak to him; listen.” Drawing upon this simple direction given to St. Josemaria in regard to his devotion to the Holy Spirit, Msgr. Dolan prompts us in this week’s podcast to deepen our personal friendship with the Holy Spirit and encourages us to strengthen our conviction that the Holy Spirit is as active and as powerful as ever. We, therefore, must cultivate the virtue of docility to follow His lead and practice the virtue of hope as we seek to fulfil...
May 30, 2022•21 min
Are you attune to the work the Holy Spirit is doing in your life? Is it hard to tune in sometimes? In this podcast, Fr. Eric Nicolai shares a reflection on the Risen Christ and his time with the disciples between the Ascension and Pentecost. During these days together, the disciples were learning everything they needed to know for their profound mission on Earth. Christ was entrusting them to “go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). Following in the disci...
May 23, 2022•22 min
In this 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. As St. Josemaria Escriva explains: “I would recommend that, if you haven’t already done so, you find out for yourself by personal experie...
May 16, 2022•22 min
In this podcast, Fr. Javier del Castillo celebrates the Marian month of May and reflects on the importance of turning to Mary’s powerful intercession, especially through the Holy Rosary. He offers suggestions of how to honor Mary during this important month and reminds us to seek out the graces from Our Lord through the intercession of our Blessed Mother. Looking at the theology of intercessory prayer, Fr. Javier explains that we must “think bigger than favors just for [ourselves]; think of the ...
May 09, 2022•29 min
In this podcast, Msgr. Fred Dolan brings our attention to the days between the Ascension and Pentecost where we join Mary, the holy women, and the Apostles in the Upper Room as they eagerly await the coming of the Holy Spirit. As he explains, “Thinking of those in the Upper Room, there was nothing static about their daily life during those days between Easter and the Ascension. After all, they had spent three long years being constantly nourished by the Master. And so, during that time in the Up...
May 02, 2022•20 min
Is Christian life growing in and around you? Concluding our Easter Mini-Series: In this podcast, Fr. Peter Armenio shares a meditation on the relationship between contrition and our effectiveness as an evangelizer, in which both are dependent upon the other. Fr. Peter explains that contrition of our sinfulness propels us in a positive direction for we are admitting to the Lord we cannot go forward on our own but instead need his grace and love. By drawing closer to Christ through repentance and ...
Apr 25, 2022•24 min
Continuing our Easter Mini-Series: In this podcast, Fr. Peter Armenio turns our attention to the Apostles’ encounter with the Risen Lord along the shore of Galilee in which Peter jumps out of the boat and swims to shore out of his urgent desire to be with Christ. Peter’s actions surrounding the events of the Paschal Mystery show us that we all have the capacity to fall from the grace of God. However, Fr. Peter reminds us that the devil is always conquered if we freely turn to Christ through the ...
Apr 18, 2022•21 min
Are you eager to run to Jesus this Easter season? In this podcast, the first in a three-part series on St. Peter and the Resurrected Christ, Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on the life of St. Peter and the circumstances surrounding his selection as the first Vicar of Christ. Leading up to the events of Good Friday, we encounter Peter in a moment of temptation as he denies his association with Christ. As the events unfold, Peter realizes his offense and runs to the Lord seeking his love and mercy. Pet...
Apr 15, 2022•26 min
"Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such. What do you say about her?" (John 8:4-5). Join the St. Josemaria Institute each week of Lent as we open our hearts to Jesus and wonder at His love, especially as we listen to His word in Scripture and reflect upon and live the Lenten practices: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. View Resources: Lent 2022: Jesus is Passing By Meditation Transcript Support the show THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! L...
Apr 01, 2022•4 min
"Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours" (Luke 15:32). Join the St. Josemaria Institute each week of Lent as we open our hearts to Jesus and wonder at His love, especially as we listen to His word in Scripture and reflect upon and live the Lenten practices: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. View Resources: Lent 2022: Jesus is Passing By Meditation Transcript Support the show THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! Let us know that our podcast is important to you: Share your favorite episodes...
Mar 25, 2022•4 min
Hand in Hand with Mary: A Spiritual Retreat guides us in the season of Lent to prepare, “hand in hand with Mary”, for the glorious Resurrection of her Son, Jesus Christ. By her life and intercession, Mary brings us to an encounter with Jesus Christ to experience true sorrow and repentance of our sins, true abandonment to God’s will, and the humility and strength to accept His will always and in everything. “With immense love Mary looks at Jesus, and Jesus at his Mother. Their eyes meet, and each...
Mar 21, 2022•31 min
"The first step to conversion is recognizing our own sins. God, in his Mercy, is always ready to forgive our sins, but He needs to find a repentant heart" (Fr. George Boronat). Join the St. Josemaria Institute each week of Lent as we open our hearts to Jesus and wonder at His love, especially as we listen to His word in Scripture and reflect upon and live the Lenten practices: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. View Resources: Lent 2022: Jesus is Passing By Meditation Transcript Support the show T...
Mar 18, 2022•3 min
"Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his countenance was altered" (Luke 9:28-29). Join the St. Josemaria Institute each week of Lent as we open our hearts to Jesus and wonder at His love, especially as we listen to His word in Scripture and reflect upon and live the Lenten practices: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. View Resources: Lent 2022: Jesus is Passing By Meditation Transcript Support the show THANK YO...
Mar 11, 2022•4 min
“And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit for forty days in the wilderness, tempted by the devil” (Luke 4:1-2). Join the St. Josemaria Institute each week of Lent as we open our hearts to Jesus and wonder at His love, especially as we listen to His word in Scripture and reflect upon and live the Lenten practices: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. View Resources: Lent 2022: Jesus is Passing By Meditation Transcript Support the show THANK YOU FOR LISTE...
Mar 04, 2022•4 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. 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...
Feb 28, 2022•28 min
In this podcast, Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on the role of marriage and family as catalysts in revitalizing Christianity in the world today. Contemplating the gospel of the Wedding Feast at Cana (Jn 2:1-12), Fr. Peter explains the significance of the sacramentality of marriage which facilitates a bond of fidelity, love and self-giving between a husband and wife. Through this bond, the home is able to become a school of prayer, joy, contemplation, dialogue, and love. Mother and father are able to...
Feb 21, 2022•31 min
In this podcast, Fr. Leo Agustina reflects on the family as a school of love where we learn to use our freedom, and where we learn the meaning and value of life, sexuality, friendship, weakness, forgiveness and love. “Love is a powerful word,” says Fr. Leo, “and this is our legacy as Catholics… It is a treasure that we have received from Jesus Christ. Love is ultimately what brings people back to the truth.” Drawing upon the parable of the prodigal son (Lk 15:11-13), Fr. Leo reminds us that “we ...
Feb 14, 2022•29 min
