Episodit
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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 matters most is “the amount, the extent to which we love each other.” We are reminded that the greater our love, the greater our freedom. And so we want our love to remain open to absolutely everyone; we want the willingness to befriend others in imitation of Christ, who made friends with “tax collectors and sinners.”
We pray and ask the Holy Family: “Do whatever it takes to give me that same degree of love [you have]. Help me to contemplate. Help me to develop the capacity to be still, to see that you, Jesus, are God. Help me to grow in love so that I can grow in freedom. Help me to grow in detachment so that I can be happy regardless of the circumstances. And help me to become a better and more understanding friend of all those around me.”
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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” (John 14:27). God wants everyone to be recipients of this description of Jesus. This great joy is for all people and it fills all people with hope.
Fr. Peter directs us, therefore, to ask God’s help to penetrate this definition of peace so that we can “always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope” (1 Peter 3:15).
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Puuttuva jakso?
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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: joy.
Fr. Peter explains that permanent, deep joy exclusively comes from Christ and is the fruit of a close relationship with him. Joy outside of Christ is just a good mood, a thrill, or a momentary pleasure. Our true joy comes from being that good soil where we habitually seek Our Lord with our whole heart.
And, if we are lacking joy, this is the time to examine ourselves: Am I looking for Jesus with all my heart? Is he number one in my life? Do I want him to be number one?
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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 Baptism, to let him grow so he reveals himself […] through myself, being an imperfect vessel, but a vessel of Jesus Christ, nevertheless.”
During these days of Advent, our calling is to “put on Jesus Christ” more intentionally so as to let his life and his love be revealed through us. Only in this way can we make Christ “real” to those who earnestly seek him. And, as St. Josemaria wrote, we have two points of entry available to us: “the Bread and the Word.” By constantly nourishing ourselves with Scripture and the Eucharist, we will be better equipped to abide in Him amid the busyness of our daily lives.
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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, learning to freely and lovingly seek God in all things and to see our lives through his eyes.
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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 in Christ’s image.
As we approach Advent, we’re reminded that true kingship, modeled by Christ, is rooted in self-mastery and service. Through prayer, reflection, and a willingness to let go of rigid habits, we can embody this royal calling and approach each liturgical season with a fresh spirit and openness to God’s transformative grace.
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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 conversion—a grace he received through his own generosity of heart. Fr. Eric challenges us to adopt this same initiative in our interior life, emphasizing the importance of humble self-examination and a willingness to begin again.
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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 an experience of Christianity, of Catholicism. The Church has to be brought to the workplace and to the family, to the party and to the sports field” because “the ordinary Christian in the middle of the world is, in fact, the true hope of the Church.”
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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 Christ. We are never alone. Fr. Donncha explains: “The saints are cheering us on. They bear witness to the fact that holiness is indeed possible and that we too are called to that holiness, and that they help us by praying and interceding for us.”
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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: his face, his characteristic way of moving and speaking; his immersion in prayer and his spontaneous cheerfulness. Many of his words have become indelibly engraved in our memories, starting with the passionate cry with which he introduced himself to the people at the beginning of his pontificate: ‘Open wide the doors to Christ, and be not afraid of him!’ An entire pontificate is condensed in words like these. It is as though he would like to open the doors for Christ everywhere and wishes to open up to people the gate that leads to true life, to true love.”
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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 God.
St. Teresa of Avila, whose feast day is celebrated October 15, is a Doctor of the Church known for her renewal of the spiritual and monastic life of Spain during the Counter-Reformation. Her written works are highly regarded among mystical literature in the Catholic Church and continue to inspire readers today.
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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 the ordinary moments of everyday life.
St. Josemaria wrote: “Develop a lively devotion for Our Mother. She knows how to respond in a most sensitive way to the present we give her. What is more, if you say the Holy Rosary every day, with a spirit of faith and love, Our Lady will make sure she leads you very far along her Son’s path” (Furrow, no. 691).
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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. 586). Therefore, as Fr. Peter explains, St. Josemaria understood that all of God’s children are needed and called to participate in this beautiful mission! And our mission is to replicate both the joy and the affection of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, which can be cultivated through a well-formed interior life of prayer. It is our prayer life that exudes the joy and light of Christ in the world.
“[God] wants you to become a living force for all mankind, lights shining in the world” (St. Gregory Nazianzen; Oration, no. 39). We are called to be light, but this is no ordinary light; it is a light in which we are bathed in the glory of God. Our Blessed Mother, Mary, helps us to enter into the light, the light of her son, which is nothing more and nothing less than the mercy of God.
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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 giving ourselves to make an encounter between people and God possible. Our Lord takes everything we offer him and exchanges our life and our pain for the needs and sufferings of others. And only in Heaven we will see the results of our actions and prayers.
Through entrusting our prayer, our sacrifices, and the desires of our heart to Our Lady, we can be sure of them having a positive impact on those around us and create a beautiful crown of the Church adorned with our prayers and sacrifices.
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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 of the Church Fathers as a form of prayer. He also explains how to overcome three common obstacles – lust, curiosity, and falsehood – that inhibit our desire to study.
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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 humanity. In doing so, as Fr. Donncha explains, we can find meaning in our own trials, suffering, and disappointments. And we can turn to Our Lady, who faithfully accompanies Christ to Golgotha, showing us how to unite our pain with his and embodying steadfast faith and hope in the triumph of the Cross.
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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 relationship, through which he can shine light in our darkness and give joy and meaning to our lives.
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VISIT SHOW PAGE(Please note: This meditation was recorded live during a spiritual retreat for women.)
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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. Therefore, it is important for us to use our talents or vocation for the good of others, co-creating with love and freedom, and transforming ordinary moments into encounters with God.
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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 for God's help. In doing so, we are identifying our will to the will of God and we are admitting that he is the one who truly knows the depths of our need.
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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.
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- Näytä enemmän
