The following meditation was recorded in front of a live audience. In our meditation of the week : Fr. Peter Armenio underscores the relevance of St. Josemaria’s spirituality for our times, drawing a parallel between our world and the intensely pagan society of the early Christians. Fr. Peter explains that as modern apostles, Our Lord says that we must be "leaven" to the world, transforming it through our imitation of Christ. Our goal should be for our love to reach such a threshold that those a...
Jan 06, 2025•27 min
Do you have the desire to give yourself completely to God? What’s holding you back? In our meditation of the week: as we celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God (January 1), Fr. Donncha Ó hAodha reflects on our vocation as children of God and our calling to begin again as we give witness to the incarnate love of God the Father. Fr. Donncha explains: “The Lord wants to become incarnate in us, to live in and through us. You and I are called to live out our vocation as beloved daughters ...
Dec 30, 2024•30 min
In our meditation of the week: Msgr. Fred Dolan invites us to reflect more deeply on the Nativity of Our Lord. “In the Incarnation,” he says, “God has come not only to unleash our power of loving and adoring God but also to give us a model on how to become more fully human.” Recalling a famous short story from 1906, “The Gift of the Magi,” Msgr. Dolan gives us the “antidote” to that attitude of commercialization that often accompanies the Christmas season. He helps us ponder the fact that what m...
Dec 23, 2024•28 min
In this meditation for the Fourth Week of Advent , Fr. Peter Armenio guides us in deepening our preparation for Christmas, the celebration of our transcendent God entering our world in the fullness of time, by reflecting on Jesus Christ as the ultimate source of peace and joy. St. Paul preached not that Jesus is peaceful but that he is peace; Isaiah calls him the Prince of Peace; and Jesus tells us: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you” (Joh...
Dec 19, 2024•28 min
In our meditation of the week: Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on the readings for the Mass of the third Sunday of Advent also known as “Gaudete Sunday” or “Rejoice Sunday.” The very first description of Jesus in the Gospel is that he is “good news of great joy” (Luke 2:10). Great joy always surrounds him and there is always a joyous reaction in the presence of Our Lord. Therefore, one tell-tale sign that we are in the right disposition for him to come to us is the prominent fruit of the Holy Spirit:...
Dec 12, 2024•32 min
In our meditation for the Second Week of Advent , Fr. Peter Armenio directs our attention to the metaphors of conversion found in the Gospel description of St. John the Baptist: “A voice of one crying in the desert, ‘prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.'” We, too, want to be imitators of John the Baptist, “albeit in a flawed and imperfect way.” As Fr. Peter explains, “It’s not about my talents, my gifts, my skills; but it is about letting that Christ who lives in me through Bapt...
Dec 06, 2024•28 min
In our meditation of the week for the First Week of Advent, Msgr. Fred Dolan invites us to use this season as a time of true preparation, not just for Christmas but for our eventual encounter with Jesus Christ. Advent is a call to conversion, urging us to go beyond small, surface-level changes and instead embrace the profound transformation that the Holy Spirit desires to work within us, reshaping us entirely to reflect Christ. With the help of Our Lady, we can grow in a contemplative spirit, le...
Nov 28, 2024•27 min
In our meditation of the week: Msgr. Fred Dolan invites us to reflect on the Solemnity of Christ the King as a call to embrace our shared kingship with Christ. Drawing inspiration from St. Josemaria, Fr. Fred encourages us to rise above a limited "small-town outlook" and instead adopt a universal heart open to all. Furthermore, he emphasizes the importance of self-dominion, spiritual renewal, and preparing ourselves to enter the new liturgical year with a sense of purpose and readiness to grow i...
Nov 18, 2024•24 min
Are you seeking to draw near to Our Lord more each day? In our meditation of the week , Fr. Eric Nicolai reflects on the inspiring figure of Zacchaeus from the Gospel of St. Luke—a tax collector with a tarnished reputation among his Jewish peers, yet driven by a sincere desire to encounter Jesus. Despite his shame, Zacchaeus took bold steps to draw near to the Lord as he passed by. Fr. Eric highlights Zacchaeus’ promptness and initiative, which opened him to the transformative grace of conversio...
Nov 11, 2024•26 min
Do you live each day with the urgency and desire to bring the gospel message into your work, family, and social relations? In our meditation of the week, Fr. Peter Armenio shares a reflection on the value of living an ordinary Christian life in the middle of the world. He prompts us to reflect on the fading Catholic identity in the world today and challenges us to bear witness to the light of Christ in our everyday life. Fr. Peter explains that: “Catholics, laity especially, have to give people ...
Nov 04, 2024•32 min
Is the Communion of Saints just a comforting idea, or a true and deeply consoling reality? In our meditation of the week : as we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints (Nov. 1) and the Commemoration of All Souls (Nov. 2), Fr. Donncha Ó hAodha reflects on the importance of community in our life of faith as we pursue the goal of eternal life with Christ in Heaven. Through the sacrament of baptism, we are welcomed in to communion with the Church and united to one another through the mystical body of...
Oct 28, 2024•29 min
In our meditation of the week: Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on the spirituality of St. John Paul II, whose feast day is celebrated October 22nd. St. John Paul II rooted his papacy in the Eucharist and devotion to Mary, inspiring holiness in people of all backgrounds from across the globe. There are many aspects we can learn from the papacy of St. John Paul II, but most importantly he taught us: how to pray, how to love, and how to serve. As Pope Benedict XVI wrote: “Everyone knows John Paul II: hi...
Oct 21, 2024•27 min
In our meditation of the week: Fr. Javier del Castillo shares insight into the life of St. Teresa of Avila and reflects on an important lesson we can learn from her: the necessity of prayer. St. Teresa understood that people are not born saints but can achieve sainthood through cooperation in God’s divine plan. Her time of prayer was most frequently spent in quiet contemplation upon the suffering of Christ, which allowed her to become more aware of her own sinfulness and to rely more fully on Go...
Oct 14, 2024•37 min
In our meditation of the week: as we celebrate the month of the Holy Rosary, Fr. Leo Austin shares a reflection on deepening our devotion to Our Lady through the Rosary, in which we discover our role in God’s plan of salvation. Reflecting on the Annunciation, Fr. Leo reminds us that Mary’s fiat, her openness to the will of God, is a pivotal moment for humankind. As she freely accepts the will of God, Mary embraces her role as our spiritual mother and demonstrates for us the power in redeeming th...
Oct 07, 2024•27 min
In our meditation of the week : Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on how St. Josemaria Escriva was inspired by the light of God with the mission to bring Christ into the heart of the entire world in a way that he had never been before, especially into a world gripped by a culture of death and in need of healing through God’s mercy. St. Josemaria wrote: “God is the same as always. It is men of faith that are needed: and then, there will be a renewal of the wonders we read of in the Gospel” (The Way, no....
Sep 30, 2024•26 min
In our meditation of the week: Fr. Leo Austin reflects on how Our Lady opens our hearts to giving ourselves as a ransom for many, as we say in the Mass when we receive the Eucharist. To be a ransom for many, as she teaches us, means desiring to make ourselves humble instruments of God. Drawing on the scene of the ten lepers in St. Luke's Gospel, Fr. Leo reminds us that when we are confronted with the healing power of God's grace, whether we feel worthy or not, all of us have the possibility of g...
Sep 24, 2024•28 min
In our meditation of the week: Fr. Javier del Castillo reflects on the meaning of St. Josemaria’s teaching that, “An hour of study, for a modern apostle, is an hour of prayer” (The Way, no. 335). Approaching academic learning as a form of prayer is not a way of life designed solely for students. Rather, it is a way of life that all Christians should adopt as it helps us develop a stronger worldview. Fr. Javier discusses how we are to approach Scripture, the lives of the saints, and the writings ...
Sep 16, 2024•36 min
In our meditation of the week: Fr. Donncha Ó hAodha reflects on the significance of the Holy Cross in our lives and leads us to question: Have we become used to, or even indifferent, to Jesus on the Cross? Where’s the Cross in our lives? As we celebrate the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (September 14) and the memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows (September 15), we are called to contemplate Christ's humanity as he embraces his suffering with love, transforming it into a redemptive gift for...
Sep 09, 2024•30 min
In our meditation of the week, Fr. Peter Armenio guides us to reflect on Jesus' declaration, "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12), and how we are called to radiate his light in the world. Living out the Gospel and being a light in the world is not about moralizing or winning theological arguments, but about being a genuine reflection of Christ through our love, words, and deeds. Therefore, Fr. Peter encourages us to connect to Jesus, the power source of light, through prayer and a personal ...
Sep 02, 2024•28 min
In our meditation of the week: Fr. Leo Austin focuses on living the present moment with meaning and gratitude, recognizing our time and talents as gifts from God. Fr. Leo reflects on the parable of the talents, emphasizing that God entrusts each of us with unique gifts and opportunities, allowing us to participate in his creation. Our life and time are opportunities to give what we have received by transforming them and filtering them through our hearts into something better and greater. Therefo...
Aug 26, 2024•29 min
In our meditation of the week , Fr. Fred Dolan reflects on how some of the most remarkable moments in the New Testament are those moments when one person or another came up to Jesus and begged him for a favor. And how Our Lord also waits for us to ask him for the favors that we desire, by approaching him with the same boldness and passion. Drawing on the life of St. Josemaria, particularly the witness of piety given by his mother, Fr. Fred explains how great things happen when we focus on asking...
Aug 19, 2024•15 min
In our meditation of the week: Fr. Javier del Castillo reflects on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and how she helps us to rise up to Heaven in our daily lives. For St. Josemaria, the Assumption or the Dormition of Our Lady played a vital role in his life as a young boy in Barbastro, Spain. St. Josemaria’s devotion to Our Lady became so great that he wished to “rise up” to Heaven with Mary by clinging to the tassel of her cloak in an effort to bring a piece of Heaven to Earth. Fr. Javi...
Aug 12, 2024•26 min
In our meditation of the week: Fr. Peter Armenio leads us to listen and reflect on the meaning of the Transfiguration of the Lord and how it should transform us today. The Transfiguration of Jesus encourages us in our commitment to discipleship. When we commit to protracted prayer - deep, silent, concentrated prayer - we can see God through our eyes of faith and deeds of love. The mystery of Our Lord’s Transfiguration helps the apostles to trust in the Cross and to believe that there is no such ...
Aug 05, 2024•26 min
St. Josemaria Escriva wrote that, “A very important characteristic of the apostolic man is his love for the Mass” ( The Way , no. 528). In this meditation, we listen and reflect on the Sacrifice of the Mass, the True Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, and how it is the center and summit of our spiritual lives. Our belief in the Eucharistic Sacrifice comes from God. We don’t achieve that belief through technique but through God’s grace. Our task is to correspond to the faith that God gives us an...
Jul 29, 2024•23 min
In our meditation of the week, Fr. Leo Austin reflects on the gospel of St. Luke, particularly the scene of Jesus’ visit to Bethany. At Bethany, Our Lord was able to find refuge in his friends Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. Fr. Leo reminds us that similar to Bethany, Christ longs to take refuge in our heart, to find a place where he can rest as our friend. In this way, we are called to make our hearts a place of warmth and sincerity, inviting Our Lord into our lives as a dear friend. St. Josemaria r...
Jul 22, 2024•29 min
In our meditation of the week: 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. Through the Holy Mass, our work and sufferings can also take on an infinite value when we unite them to our Lord, because it allows us to say, along with St. Paul, “it is ...
Jul 08, 2024•23 min
In our meditation of the week: In this meditation, Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on the importance of detachment in our spiritual lives in order to make a generous gift of ourselves to our Lord and to others. He reminds us that while the comforts of this world can be good in themselves, they are ultimately fleeting. Drawing upon the story of the Rich Young Man, Fr. Peter urges us to give all that we have so that we obtain Jesus. In the words of St. Josemaria, “I want you to be completely convinced ...
Jul 01, 2024•28 min
In our meditation of the week: in light of the Feast of St. Josemaria on June 26th, Fr. Peter Armenio invites us to reflect on St. Josemaria's legacy and his role as an "evangelical sacramental." The canonization of a saint is an infallible declaration that the person is an actual sacramental, an outward sign of Jesus Christ. Through canonization, the Church acknowledges that person as a faithful reflection of the heart of Our Lord. St. Josemaria exemplified what it means to radiate Christ's pre...
Jun 24, 2024•21 min
In our meditation of the week, Fr. Donncha Ó hAodha reflects on how the saints are those who best radiate Jesus Christ in the world. It is through their humanity and personalities that we can see and touch the humanity and the personality of Jesus. The whole gamut of human experience-- health, work, rest, marriage, friendship, joy, sorrow, humor-- everything can be full of Christ, can radiate Christ, and make present the beauty of the person of Christ. Fr. Donncha reflects especially on St. Thom...
Jun 17, 2024•22 min
In our meditation of the week, in preparation for Father's Day, Msgr. Fred Dolan shares a reflection on the important and necessary role fathers have within the family unit and in society today. Drawing upon anecdotes and heartfelt memories from his relationship with his own father, Msgr. Dolan shares seven points that can help fathers renew and strengthen their relationship with their spouse and children. Msgr. Dolan explains that children have a need for authentic care, love, and affection in ...
Jun 10, 2024•30 min
