St. Josemaria Institute Podcast

In this meditation, Fr. Eric Nicolai leads our imaginations from Sacred Scripture to the lakeside of eastern Ontario to the university campus where St. Josemaria famously proclaimed: "[God] waits for us every day, in the laboratory, in the operating theatre, in the army barracks, in the university chair, in the factory, in the workshop, in the fields, in the home and in all the immense panorama of work. Understand this well: there is something holy, something divine, hidden in the most ordinary situations, and it is up to each one of you to discover it." ( Passionately Loving the World , no. 114) Although St. Josemaria delivered that homily in 1967, the words ring just as true for us today, at the start of this new academic year. In this timely meditation, Fr. Eric prompts us to take on our apostolic mission with as much enthusiasm as St. Josemaria. He explains: "Let us feel ourselves now to be on a mission this year, to truly be protagonists in bringing the love of God wherever we are. And the university campus, the university buildings, they certainly need the love of God, the joy of being servants of God. The world needs all that love that we put into our studies... The apostolate that we will engage in as we meet people that maybe are distant from God and that maybe haven't had the grace to receive the formation, the knowledge of the faith that we have." PAUSE & REFLECT: What repeated tasks, such as turning on a computer or making my bed, can remind me to say short little prayers to God? Do I see my desk as an altar upon which to offer my work to God, in union with the redemptive sacrifice of Jesus? What might help me to maintain–or regain–my enthusiasm for my studies and work? Am I entrusting myself to the Holy Spirit, so that God can reach others through my friendships this year? THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! If you enjoy our weekly meditations, please consider helping us keep the St. Josemaria Institute Podcast ad-free and accessible for all our listeners: Give today! Support the show

In this podcast, Msgr. Fred Dolan examines three critical players in our spiritual life: the intellect, will, and heart. He offers a view of our life as a “journey back home,” relating the perilous journey in Homer’s Odyssey as a way of understanding the dangers confronting the Christian life in the modern world. “What a shame it would be,” he says, “to allow our day, our life, to be shipwrecked by the sirens of YouTube, a Netflix series, or Tik Tok.” Ultimately, Odysseus and his crew made it home because they knew the sirens were a “deadly menace,” and they did everything in their power to overcome them. If we form our intellect, will, and heart, giving each faculty its proper place, we too will overcome the obstacles that assail us on our journey Home. And we must totally commit to our destination: with all the power of our intellect, the strength of our will, and the passion of our heart. View Transcript Visit Show Page THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! If you enjoy our weekly meditations, please consider helping us keep the St. Josemaria Institute Podcast ad-free and accessible for all our listeners: Give today! Support the show

In this podcast, Fr. Eric Nicolai leads us in a time of reflection and prayer to check up on our spiritual health. He explains that when we are spiritually healthy, we are grateful and cheerful. But when we are not, even the smallest thing drives us crazy. All those times when we're kind of irritable, restless, disconcerted, really worried about how things are going to turn out, what people might say, that's a sign we need a checkup and we need to get more spiritually healthy. Our spiritual health will come, he explains, if we are men and women of prayer; if we are men and women who turn prayer into a real dialogue with God. Prayer puts us in contact with God, with our purpose and meaning, and therefore has the profound effect of giving us hope. There is nothing more essential for us than hope, to live by hope. We can't really live without hope. We can't even pray without hope. The hope that comes from our prayer is also a reminder that we're never alone-- that's how some of the great saints survived. Prayer doesn't have to be a super perfect, forceful, or calm concentration. Prayer is a correspondence and dialogue with Our Lord. As St. Josemaria Escriva says, “Prayer is the most powerful weapon a Christian has. Prayer must make us effective. Prayer must make us happy. Prayer gives us all the strength we need to fulfill God's commands" ( The Forge , no. 439). View Transcript Visit Show Page THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! If you enjoy our weekly meditations, please consider helping us keep the St. Josemaria Institute Podcast ad-free and accessible for all our listeners: Give today! Support the show

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. Javier invites us to look to Mary who teaches us that the essence of bringing Heaven to Earth lies in our ability to rise above challenges and adversities. By following her example, we can forgive even the unforgivable, serve others selflessly, and rise above our own tiredness and hardships. Mary's life exemplifies humility and the power of faith, showing us how to bring Christ's presence into our daily actions. As we emulate Mary's virtues and focus on the needs of others, we can transform our lives and actions, creating a piece of Heaven on Earth. VIEW SHOW PAGE VIEW TRANSCRIPT THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! If you enjoy our weekly meditations, please consider helping us keep the St. Josemaria Institute Podcast ad-free and accessible for all our listeners: Give today! Support the show

In today’s podcast, Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on the charity of God as “fuel” that enables us to seek holiness in the ordinary moments of everyday life. Our receptivity to God’s grace increases as we continue to strengthen our relationship with him through prayer and the sacraments. The grace we receive fills our life and will overflow into our relationships with one another, leading those we encounter closer to Christ. As St. Josemaria explains: “Charity is not something we ourselves build up. It invades us along with God’s grace, ‘because he has loved us first’. We would do well to fill, to saturate ourselves with this most beautiful truth: ‘If we are able to love God, it is because we have been loved by God.’ Ask God boldly for this treasure, for the supernatural virtue of charity, so that you may practice it even in the smallest details” ( Friends of God , no. 229). Visit Show Page THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! If you enjoy our weekly meditations, please consider helping us keep the St. Josemaria Institute Podcast ad-free and accessible for all our listeners: Give today! Support the show

In this final meditation of our 3-part series on St. Josemaria's homily, Getting to Know God, Msgr. Martin Schlag reminds us that to truly know God is to love him more deeply. As we grow in friendship with Christ and recognize ourselves as beloved children of the Father, we are invited to become contemplatives in the midst of our daily lives, allowing God's love to transform every thought, action, and relationship. Msgr. Schlag encourages us to establish a spiritual plan of life to deepen our prayer and to respond generously to the Father by loving him above all things. Listen and reflect on: Growing in friendship with God Loving God with an undivided heart Holiness through daily fidelity Responding to the Father's love Establishing a spiritual plan of life Read the full text of St. Josemaria’s homily, “Getting to Know God”, online here . View Transcript Visit Show Page THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! If you enjoy our weekly meditations, please consider helping us keep the St. Josemaria Institute Podcast ad-free and accessible for all our listeners: Give today! Support the show

In this second meditation of our series on St. Josemaria's homily, Getting to Know God, Fr. Eric Nicolai reflects on St. Josemaria's invitation to move beyond simply knowing about God to truly knowing him through prayer, recollection, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. As our relationship with God deepens, we begin to see the world, and ourselves, through his eyes. Fr. Eric encourages us to cultivate a faithful interior life, remain attentive to God's presence throughout the day, and grow in the loving friendship that is at the heart of the Christian life. Listen and reflect on: Growing in friendship with God The gift of prayer The Holy Spirit's guidance Living in God's presence Deepening the interior life Read the full text of St. Josemaria’s homily, “Getting to Know God”, online here . View Transcript Visit Show Page THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! If you enjoy our weekly meditations, please consider helping us keep the St. Josemaria Institute Podcast ad-free and accessible for all our listeners: Give today! Support the show

In this first meditation of our three-part series on St. Josemaria's homily Getting to Know God , Msgr. Fred Dolan invites us to rediscover the foundational truth of the Christian life, that we are beloved children of God. As St. Josemaria reminds us, “We are children of God and we can talk things over with him and spend time with him, just as trustingly as a son does with his father” ( Friends of God , no. 145). Msgr. Dolan invites us to pray with the simplicity of spiritual childhood, entrust our worries to the Father, and rediscover the peace that comes from living as his beloved sons and daughters. Listen and reflect on: Becoming like little children before God The Father's faithful love Trust over anxiety Prayer rooted in confidence Remembering who we are in Christ Read the full text of St. Josemaria’s homily, “Getting to Know God”, online here . View Transcript Visit Show Page THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! If you enjoy our weekly meditations, please consider helping us keep the St. Josemaria Institute Podcast ad-free and accessible for all our listeners: Give today! Support the show

In this meditation, Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on God's plan for human love and the vocation of marriage as a reflection of Christ's love for his Church. Drawing from Scripture and the example of the Holy Family, we are reminded that authentic love is rooted in self-giving, sustained by grace, and centered on Jesus Christ. Fr. Peter invites us to renew our commitment to loving others out of love for Christ, to cultivate friendships and family life rooted in prayer, and to seek the spirit of Nazareth in our daily lives. Listen and reflect on: God's plan for human love Marriage as a reflection of Christ's love The Holy Family as our model Self-giving and sacrificial love Keeping Christ at the center of every vocation View Transcript Visit Show Page THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! If you enjoy our weekly meditations, please consider helping us keep the St. Josemaria Institute Podcast ad-free and accessible for all our listeners: Give today! Support the show

In this meditation, Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on the witness of the early Christian martyrs, whose courage and fidelity helped spread the faith throughout the world. While most Christians today are not called to shed their blood for Christ, we are all called to be martyrs in the original sense of the word: witnesses who make Jesus Christ present through our lives. Drawing from the teachings of St. Josemaría Escriva, Fr. Peter invites us to embrace the "martyrdom of the ordinary" through daily self-giving, fidelity in prayer, and love for those around us. Listen and reflect on: The witness of the early Christian martyrs The meaning of martyrdom today Daily self-giving and sacrifice Making Christ present through ordinary life Love as the mark of a disciple View Transcript Visit Show Page THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! If you enjoy our weekly meditations, please consider helping us keep the St. Josemaria Institute Podcast ad-free and accessible for all our listeners: Give today! Support the show

In this meditation for the feast of St. Josemaria Escriva, Fr. Donncha Ó hAodha reflects personal freedom as the capacity to love. Drawing upon a simple aspiration St. Josemaria learned as a child— “Yours am I, I was born for thee. What is it, O Jesus, you want of me?”—Fr. Donncha explains how St. Josemaria’s spirituality was shaped by a docility to the Holy Spirit which allowed him to see that ordinary Christians can become saints through their daily work, relationships, and responsibilities. Through prayer and reflection, we are encouraged to deepen our awareness of our identity as children of God and to discover new ways of loving and serving him in the ordinary circumstances of life. Listen and reflect on: Our identity as beloved children of God Holiness in ordinary life The sanctification of work Freedom fulfilled through love Sharing the spirit of St. Josemaría with others View Transcript Visit Show Page THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! If you enjoy our weekly meditations, please consider helping us keep the St. Josemaria Institute Podcast ad-free and accessible for all our listeners: Give today! Support the show

In this meditation, Msgr. Fred Dolan reflects on the anxieties and distractions that often disturb our peace. Through the Gospel account of Jesus calming the storm, we are reminded that true security comes not from controlling our circumstances, but from trusting in Our Lord who remains with us in every trial. Msgr. Dolan invites us to slow down, focus on what is truly important, and develop habits of prayer and recollection that help us remain calm in the midst of life's challenges. Listen and reflect on: Facing anxiety with faith The importance of a Plan of Life Remaining present in daily life Finding peace amid distractions Trusting Christ in difficult moments View Transcript Visit Show Page THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! If you enjoy our weekly meditations, please consider helping us keep the St. Josemaria Institute Podcast ad-free and accessible for all our listeners: Give today! Support the show

In preparation for the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on the Sacred Heart as an infinite treasure of love and mercy through which we come to know how much we are loved by God. We are invited to bring the truths of the Sacred Heart into our daily life for it is through this devotion which we can find the strength to withstand temptation and bear our cross, find hope amid discouragement, and find courage to evangelize no matter the circumstances. As we participate in the treasures of Jesus’ heart, we are able to draw upon the grace of Christ and in turn become transmitters of the love of Christ to those hearts that are empty of meaning, of hope, and of consolation. View Transcript Visit Show Page THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! If you enjoy our weekly meditations, please consider helping us keep the St. Josemaria Institute Podcast ad-free and accessible for all our listeners: Give today! Support the show

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 message is an invitation from Christ to participate in his salvific work, drawing all men and women toward Heaven. Christ humbles himself to become bread so that he may dwell fully within us, as a living tabernacle, and gives us the opportunity to participate more fully in his mission to share the gift of faith with future generations to come. As you pause and reflect today, how will you continue to mold your life of faith and prayer to draw closer to our Eucharistic Lord? View Transcript Visit Show Page THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! If you enjoy our weekly meditations, please consider helping us keep the St. Josemaria Institute Podcast ad-free and accessible for all our listeners: Give today! Support the show

In this meditation, Msgr. Martin Schlag reflects on the relationship between Our Lady and the Holy Trinity, reminding us that she is a path to deeper union with God. Drawing upon the teachings of St. Josemaria, Msgr. Schlag encourages us in our prayer and conversation with God to be open to the transforming presence of the Trinity is all aspects of our life. Listen and reflect on: The example of the earthly trinity: the Holy Family Mary as a guide to deeper prayer Trusting God with simplicity The Trinity present in daily life Beginning again with peace and confidence View Transcript Visit Show Page THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! If you enjoy our weekly meditations, please consider helping us keep the St. Josemaria Institute Podcast ad-free and accessible for all our listeners: Give today! Support the show

In this meditation for the Solemnity of Pentecost, Fr. Leo Austin reflects on the transforming power of the Holy Spirit and the call to deeper interior conversion. Like the Apostles, we are invited to open our hearts to God and allow his grace to shape our desires, choices, and way of life. Listen and reflect on: Examining the deeper motives of the heart Recognizing unhealthy attachments and desires The role of grace in personal transformation Growing in emotional and spiritual maturity Trusting God’s patience and mercy View Transcript Visit Show Page THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! If you enjoy our weekly meditations, please consider helping us keep the St. Josemaria Institute Podcast ad-free and accessible for all our listeners: Give today! Support the show

St. Josemaria made many Marian pilgrimages throughout his lifetime, seeking Our Lady’s intercession for his continual conversion and of the whole world. Today’s meditation commemorates in a special way St. Josemaria’s pilgrimages to Fatima and his personal friendship with Sister Lucia, one of the visionaries of the apparition. Fr. Marty Miller offers a brief historical account of St. Josemaria at Fatima and reflects on the message of Our Lady calling us to deeper prayer, conversion, and love for God. Listen and reflect on: The message of Our Lady of Fatima The call to prayer and daily conversion Offering sacrifice in reparation Trusting in God through Mary Living the message of Fatima today View Transcript Visit Show Page THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! If you enjoy our weekly meditations, please consider helping us keep the St. Josemaria Institute Podcast ad-free and accessible for all our listeners: Give today! Support the show

In this meditation, Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on the spirit of filial trust he witnessed in Blessed Alvaro del Portillo, shaped in large part by his closeness to St. Josemaría. Through that relationship, Blessed Alvaro learned to see God truly as Father and to entrust everything to him with serenity and faith. Fr. Peter encourages us to deepen our own trust in God, learning from the example of the saints to live with greater confidence and interior peace. Listen and reflect on: Lessons from Blessed Álvaro His unity with St. Josemaría Living with peace amid uncertainty Developing a simple and confident prayer life Imitating the virtues of the saints View Transcript Visit Show Page THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! If you enjoy our weekly meditations, please consider helping us keep the St. Josemaria Institute Podcast ad-free and accessible for all our listeners: Give today! Support the show

In this meditation, Fr. Eric Nicolai reflects on the life and witness of St. Catherine of Siena, whose courageous love for the Church and the Holy Father helped restore unity in a time of division. Her example, deeply admired by St. Josemaria, reminds us that fidelity to Christ is lived through a sincere love for His Church. Fr. Eric invites us to follow this path, growing in unity, praying for the Pope, and responding with faith and trust in our own time. Listen and reflect on: The witness of St. Catherine of Siena Her influence on St. Josemaría’s love for the Church Fidelity to the Pope as a sign of love for Christ Praying for unity in the Church Living our faith with courage and trust View Transcript Visit Show Page THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! If you enjoy our weekly meditations, please consider helping us keep the St. Josemaria Institute Podcast ad-free and accessible for all our listeners: Give today! Support the show

In this meditation, Fr. Leo Austin reflects on St. Josemaria’s Easter homily, Christ’s Presence in Christians , emphasizing that every true encounter with Christ leads to mission. Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, we are filled with hope from encountering the Risen Lord which transforms our life and prompts us to share this joy with others. Listen and reflect on: Encountering Christ in a personal and meaningful way The desire to share Christ with others Seeing daily life as a place of apostolate Bringing others to Christ through friendship Living with purpose and mission View Transcript Visit Show Page THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! If you enjoy our weekly meditations, please consider helping us keep the St. Josemaria Institute Podcast ad-free and accessible for all our listeners: Give today! Support the show