Meditations in Manhattan: Recent Episodes
Opus Dei NYC
Like other forms of meditation, Christian meditation starts with mindfulness. Unlike them, it is essentially a dialogue with the "Love that moves the sun and the other stars" (Dante), and leads to a deeper friendship with Jesus Christ. In these recordings, Opus Dei priests reflect and pray out loud to stir hearts to this dialogue. A new meditation is released each week.
In this mediation we look at some of the great saints we encounter in the liturgy in August, including the Cure of Ars, Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Saint Monica, Saint Augustine, Saint John the Baptist. We celebrate the Assumption of Mary, the mother of Jesus and the greatest of saints. Taking advantage of the example, lives, and words of these great saints, let us strive to grow in holiness and become saints ourselves.
Let us give thanks for our Lord’s presence in the Eucharist. Let us consider the depth of our Lord’s love for us, which has led him to stay with us, hidden under the appearance of bread in the Blessed Sacrament. How much love he has for us. A meditation by Father Tom Bohlin.
Being a child of God means listening to his voice. Let us have a listening heart, a heart that loves. Let us tell tell the Holy Spirit that we will listen more attentively to his voice. A meditation by Father John Agnew.
During this month of May, let us come closer to Jesus, through Mary. A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.
We all have troubles in life, but pain and failures are not final. Christ brings us true peace, not the kind the world gives, but deep and lasting peace. A meditation by Father Henry Bocala.
Our belief in the Resurrection of Jesus brings us joy. These days of Easter we are especially reminded of Christ’s presence among us. A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.
God has chosen us, in Christ, from the beginning of time. The Lord in his infinite mercy draws us closer and closer to Himself. Jesus knocks at the door of our hearts. Let us be generous in our response to that call. A meditation by Father Henry Bocala.
By entering into the Paschal Triduum, we can respond to Christ's invitation, "Love one another as I have loved you."
We are called to be saints in the middle of the world. And to become saints, we must begin again and again. During Lent, through our prayer, penance and almsgiving, we can follow Jesus closely. God loves us unconditionally. He calls us to live a life of commitment, and through that to live a life of joy.
This meditation is the final of seven meditations we are posting from a Lent retreat by Father Timothy Uhen. During Lent, we seek a deeper love of God and neighbor through prayer, self-denial, and charity. The aim of these Lenten meditations is to help us, through Jesus, to gaze upon the glory of God and to realize that his kindness is a greater joy than life itself.
In the Eucharist, Jesus offers himself to us as the Bread of Life. We draw our life from him, and we learn to be humble of heart.
This meditation is the sixth of seven meditations we are posting during Lent from a retreat by Father Timothy Uhen. During Lent, we seek a deeper love of God and neighbor through prayer, self-denial, and charity. The aim of these Lenten meditations is to help us, through Jesus, to gaze upon the glory of God and to realize that his kindness is a greater joy than life itself.
In the Sacred Humanity of Christ, we have the perfect model for our life hear on Earth. Jesus said, "Learn from me." That is what the saints have done. Like Saint Paul, we should strive to live so that "it is not I who live, but Christ who lives in me."
This meditation is the fifth of seven meditations we are posting during Lent from a retreat by Father Timothy Uhen. During Lent, we seek a deeper love of God and neighbor through prayer, self-denial, and charity. The aim of these Lenten meditations is to help us, through Jesus, to gaze upon the glory of God and to realize that his kindness is a greater joy than life itself.
While the prospect of death and judgment may bring a natural fear to our souls, our Lord is constantly reminding us that he is always with us, and that his mercy endures forever. Indeed, the reality of Last Things spurs us to use our time well and always be merciful to others.
This meditation is the third of seven meditations we are posting during Lent from a retreat by Father Timothy Uhen. During Lent, we seek a deeper love of God and neighbor through prayer, self-denial, and charity. The aim of these Lenten meditations is to help us, through Jesus, to gaze upon the glory of God and to realize that his kindness is a greater joy than life itself.
Jesus came to "cast fire upon the earth," yet the danger of lukewarmness is always lurking. We do well to heed the words of Our Blessed Mother at Cana, and do whatever Christ tells us.
This meditation is the third of seven meditations we are posting during Lent from a retreat by Father Timothy Uhen. During Lent, we seek a deeper love of God and neighbor through prayer, self-denial, and charity. The aim of these Lenten meditations is to help us, through Jesus, to gaze upon the glory of God and to realize that his kindness is a greater joy than life itself.
From the abundance of Love, God has created the world and given us a special place in it: We are made in his image and likeness. During a retreat, and during prayer, Jesus wants to “take me aside privately,” as he did with the deaf-mute, in order to heal me and bring me to a realization of my dignity as a son of God. Will I allow him to do so?
This meditation is the second of seven meditations we are posting during Lent from a retreat by Father Timothy Uhen. During Lent, we seek a deeper love of God and neighbor through prayer, self-denial, and charity. The aim of these Lenten meditations is to help us, through Jesus, to gaze upon the glory of God and to realize that his kindness is a greater joy than life itself.
This meditation is the first of seven meditations we are posting this Lent from a retreat by Father Timothy Uhen.
The theme of this first meditation is prayer and interior silence. "O God, you are my God .. My soul longs for you (Psalm 63)." In prayer we recognize our sinfulness. But we also can learn to experience God's mercy and unconditional love.
During Lent, we seek a deeper love of God and neighbor through prayer, self-denial, and charity. In these seven retreat meditations, Father Uhen will draw from Psalm 63, a "Psalm of Longing," as a guide for this yearning. The aim of these Lenten meditations is to help us, through Jesus, to gaze upon the glory of God and to realize that his kindness is a greater joy than life itself.
Blessed are the merciful. Blessed are the clean of heart. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Pope John Paul II called the beatitudes "a portrait of the heart of Christ." Especially during this time of Lent, let us learn through the beatitudes to follow Christ more closely. A meditation by Father Thomas Bohlin.
Let us discover Christ in our ordinary lives. Jesus is there waiting for us. A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.
Jesus has told us, “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life.” We wish to draw closer to Christ in our prayer. And the best way we can do this is through the Gospel, the inspired Word of God. For the Holy Spirit is the author of Scripture, and in Scripture the Holy Spirit will lead us to Jesus. A meditation by Father John Agnew.
During the Christmas season we place the Holy Family — Jesus, Mary and Joseph — in the center of our home. A meditation by Father Joe Keefe.
These days the Church invites us to ready ourselves for Christmas, the birth of the Son of God. It is a time of joy, but also a time of penance. The infant Jesus reminds us of the virtue of self-denial, because he is born in a manger. Let us look at him in that manger, and let us learn from him. A meditation by Father Henry Bocala.
Let us live Advent well. This is a time of grace, of preparation, of conversion, and of wonder, pondering a God who loves us so much. We have so many things to do, but the most important thing is that we pray, and ready ourselves for the coming of the Infant Jesus. A meditation by Father Thomas Bohlin.
“Hail, Full of Grace, the Lord is with Thee.” These are words that the Archangel Gabriel addressed to Mary at Nazareth. From these words we get an indication of God’s special gift to Mary. From the moment of her conception, she was full of grace: She is truly immaculate, without stain. Mary Immaculate is our advocate with her Son. Turn to her, and she will bring you closer to Christ. A meditation by Father Henry Bocala.
In this meditation, Father Henry Bocala reflects upon the virtue of hope – our hope to become saints, the hope we nurture in our hearts to see God face to face.
Let us have a heart that is grateful. Let us give thanks always, an attitude that makes us happy, pushes us to share, and makes us more attentive to God. A meditation by Father John Agnew.
Jesus is calling each of us to be a disciple. We have the opportunity to say, "Yes, Lord, I long to see your face." This is why we were created, to see God. And we should remember those who have gone before us: pray for them, if they are in purgatory, that they get to heaven; pray to them, if they are in heaven, that they intercede for us. We want to see God, to be in that communion of saints. A meditation by Father Thomas G. Bohlin.
Jesus Christ died for us that he might bring us into the freedom and liberty of the children of God. But we are free to follow Christ, or reject him. We need the Lord’s mercy, for without him, we are hopeless. With Christ’s help, we can achieve true freedom, by being obedient to the ways of God. A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.
In the month of November, we recall the deep bond we have – known as the communion of saints – with the three branches of the Church: the Church militant, the Church triumphant, and the Church suffering. Here on earth we are part of the Church militant, working out our salvation. We pray for the Church suffering, the souls in purgatory, undergoing final purification. And we enjoy the help and prayers of the Church triumphant, the souls in heaven. Let us deepen and foster these ties, supernatural bonds, rooted in our Lord Jesus Christ. A meditation by Father John Agnew.
Jesus was born in a stable, and warned his apostles how hard it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. To follow Christ, we must live a spirit of detachment from material things and even from our own likes and preferences. We must choose God above all things, allowing Christ to show us the way. A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.
In this meditation, Father Henry Bocala reflects upon the core message of the founder of Opus Dei: seeking holiness in the middle of the world through our ordinary work. In the Gospel of Matthew, we read, “Be you perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Despite our defects and limitations, with God’s help, we can be saints. We can truly love God with all our heart, all our mind, all our soul, and all our strength. And we can find Him in our work and daily activities.
On Oct. 2, 1928, Saint Josemaria “saw” Opus Dei – he saw that God was calling him to proclaim the universal call to holiness. Jesus says to each of us, “Come follow me.” We are called to seek Christ, to find Christ, to love Christ. There is no greater goal for our lives. If we have Christ, we have everything. A meditation by Father Thomas Bohlin.
Saint Josemaria Escriva founded Opus Dei on Oct. 2, 1928, to foster the universal call to holiness. In this meditation, Father Timothy Uhen explores this important truth, that all of us are called to be saints, and that we can find Christ in our work and everyday activities.
In this meditation we consider the importance of humility. Humility is offering ourselves to the Lord, walking in the truth. And Scripture tells us: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.
In the home of Bethany, Jesus was a true friend of Martha, Mary and Lazarus. There, in Bethany, Jesus loved and was loved. And when Lazarus died, Scripture reports, “Jesus wept.” Let us reflect on the meaning of the friendship lived by Jesus, and try to be good friends ourselves.
Let us live our lives so that, one day, God may say to us: “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over little things. I will set you over much.” A meditation by Father Tom Bohlin.
In our life, may we correspond to the mercy of God. Lord, help us to be wise. Help us to make good use of the talents you have given us. Help us to be charitable. A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.
In this meditation, we reflect on the extraordinary gift that Christ has given us in the papacy: that Christ has appointed Peter, and his successors, to guide the Church. Listening more attentively to the Holy Father can help us live more deeply the joy of the Gospel. A meditation by Father John Agnew.
Each of us are called to answer the question that Christ posed to his Disciples: “Who do you say that I am?” It is not enough to know Jesus abstractly. We need to consider: Do we deal with Jesus as a friend? What place does Christ occupy in our life? A meditation by Father Henry Bocala.
Amidst the storms of life, we, like the apostles, can turn to Jesus, saying “Save us Lord, for we are perishing.” We should have faith, a faith that strengthens us both in times of difficulty and also as we go about our daily lives. With faith, we shall remember at all times Christ’s promise, “I will be with you always, until the end of the age.” A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.
In this mediation we look at some of the great saints we encounter in the liturgy in August, including the Cure of Ars, Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Saint Monica, Saint Augustine, Saint John the Baptist. We celebrate the Assumption of Mary, the mother of Jesus and the greatest of saints. Taking advantage of the example, lives, and words of these great saints, let us strive to grow in holiness and become saints ourselves.
Following the example of Saint Mary Magdalene, each of us are called to begin, and begin again. Let us restore our life in Christ again and again, being made clean like Mary Magdalene, especially through confession. A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.
Each of us, one day, must render an account to God. We are free, and in this life we have the opportunity to turn to God, or to reject him. Let us do our part, and, with God’s help, choose life. A retreat meditation given by Father Timothy Uhen.
In the Old Testament, the patriarch Joseph, who prefigures Christ, revealed himself to his brothers who had betrayed him. In their fear, they remained at a distance, but Joseph said, "Come closer to me." Our Lord does the same with each one of us. A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.
Jesus, God, humbled himself upon the Cross. And He invites us, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart.” Let us strive to imitate the humility of Christ. A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.
Jesus invites all of us to answer his question: "Who do you say that I am?" Let us foster a deep friendship with Jesus, our Lord, encountering him in all the events of our life, keeping up a loving conversation with him. A meditation by Father Henry Bocala.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, explains three reasons to cherish the spiritual legacy of Saint Josemaria Escriva, the founder of Opus Dei. From the Cardinal's homily at the Mass for the Feast of Saint Josemaria, at Saint Patrick's Cathedral, June 26, 2023.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes “the heart” as our inner center, the place of truth and encounter, the place where we choose life or death. Do we fill our hearts with God? Considering the love of Jesus for us should be a spur for us to respond with a complete and total love for God. Create in me a clean heart, oh God. A meditation by Father John Agnew.
Pope Benedict XVI wrote that “the essential nucleus of Christianity is expressed in the Heart of Jesus.” May we come to know and love Christ through the warmth of his Sacred Heart. A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.
Saint Augustine said that the fullness of joy, in which there is no greater, is to rejoice in the Trinity of God. When we reach heaven, we will spend eternity adoring God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. We will never fully understand the Trinity, but we can ask God’s grace to reach a deeper understanding, that we better know and love each of the three Divine Persons. A mediation by Father John Agnew.
We have been made in the image and likeness of God. Our Lord has promised us that we are temples of the living God, temples of the HolySpirit. This is a goal worth fighting for, worth cleansing ourselves for. With Christ’s help, we will make the effort to follow Christ, to live the life of alover of God.
During her appearances at Fatima, the Blessed Virgin Mary encouraged the three shepherd children to pray for the conversion of souls. Christ wants to give us a new life. God has promised that he will wipe away our every tear. Let us live this in our daily lives, hoping in the peace that only Christ can give. A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.
Each of us can recognize ourselves as a sinner, but our sins should not beat us down. We can always have hope, for Jesus says to us, “Wake up, and follow me.” Jesus helps us and waits for us to reply with our “yes.” With the help of Christ, and our cooperation with God's grace, we can have that joyful, hopeful expectation that one day we shall enter the joy of heaven.
In the Gospels, Mary is shown to us as mother, first at the Annunciation, as she becomes the mother of Jesus, and ultimately, at the foot of the Cross, when she is given to us as our mother. Mary became the mother of God when she gave her “yes” to the angel Gabriel. She continues now as our own mother, helping us , from heaven, with her tender, motherly intercession. A meditation by Father John Agnew.
How is my presence of God? We need times of quiet, putting away digital devices and other distractions, so that we can listen to God. That way can foster an awareness of God, we can become lovers of God. A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.
In the Eucharistic discourse, in John’s Gospel, Jesus called upon us to eat his body and drink his blood: For his body is real food indeed, and his blood isreal drink indeed. In response, each of us can pray, “Lord increase my faith. I want to be a Eucharistic soul, and, with your help, I want to go out and try to be a saint.” A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.
In the Sermon on the Mount, in the Beatitudes, Christ comes to us with a new, radical teaching that points to us the ideals of Christian life. It is not enough to be good. Christ tells us what we need to do to be holy, to be perfect, to be a saint. A meditation by Father Henry Bocala.
Let us enter into Holy Week and Easter with openness to the love of God. See the love that Christ has shown us, with his Passion, Death andResurrection. Through prayer, we can allow the the Risen Christ to speak to us. A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.
Let us be like the two disciples on the road to Emmaus who recognize Christ in the breaking of the bread. In this meditation, Father Tom Bohlin leads us through the Mass, showing us how to live the Mass with greater love.
We need conversion, and acts of penance are essential aspect of the spiritual life. During Lent, let us intensify our spirit of penance. Look at Christ on the Cross. Jesus invites us to accompany him in lovingly embracing the Cross. A meditation by Father Henry Bocala.
Let us live a holy desire to correspond to all the graces we receive during Lent. May these be days of conversion for us. The sacrament of confession will bring to our soul the power of the passion, and help us to have true sorrow for our sins. A mediation by Father John Agnew.
Let us ask Saint Joseph to teach us to be the salt of the earth. Saint Joseph was a courageous soul, an ordinary man who went unnoticed, on whom God relied to do great things. With Joseph as our model, we too can enliven our surroundings with the savor of the peace and joy of Christ. A meditation by Father John Agnew.
We all have a mission as sons and daughters of God. That mission is to make Christ present in this world. Jesus asks each of us, are you willing to do it? Can you drink the cup that Jesus drank? Let us hear Christ’s words: “The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe.” A meditation given by Father Thomas Bohlin at a men’s evening of recollection at Murray Hill Place.
We are entering Lent, a time of self-denial and penance. It can be easy to see this period largely as a time of greater discipline, of sacrifice, of making myself the best version of myself that I can possibly be. But let us remember what Lent is really about: Looking to Christ crucified, Jesus on the Cross, so we come to understand better the love Christ has shown for us. A meditation by Father John Agnew.
Jesus has addressed this call to each one of us: Unless you take up your cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple. Let us respond to this call, giving thanks to God. There we will discover joy. A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.
Jesus told his disciples: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.” If we truly believe in Jesus, we will take to heart his command to make disciples of all the nations. A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.
The Christian faith is not an abstract idea but a personal encounter with Jesus as a friend. He is not a distant being far removed from our daily life, but talks to us and walks side by side with each person. Fr Henry Bocala invites us to reflect on our friendship with Jesus Christ. A meditation by Father Henry Bocala.
Even though the Christmas season has ended, Jesus remains with us. Every day can be a Christmas for us, because we can receive Christ in the Eucharist. Christ is our strength and consolation. We are invited, in Christ, to live as children of God. The Baptism of Jesus in the river Jordan is a demonstration of this reality. God wants to say of each of us those words heard at the Baptism of our Lord: “You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Christ Jesus, the Word, the second person of the Blessed Trinity, came to us as a helpless infant. If Jesus, being God, humbled himself to be with us, what does that say about how we should live? Imitating Jesus, we should die to ourselves a little every day, thinking of the needs of our neighbor. Everything we do each day can be done with God and in God. A meditation by Father Javier del Castillo, U.S. vicar of Opus Dei.
Scripture tell us: Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Let us ask God our Father for the ability to pray like our Lord Jesus did, with the same determination to persevere in prayer. May we acquire interior silence and pray with greater faith every day. A meditation by Father John Agnew.
We are beginning a new year. At this time, the Church invites us to celebrate the solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God. In the presence of God, and of Mary, we now look at how was our past year. As I formulate my new year’s resolutions, there is one thing that only I can do, and nobody else can give it to God: my love for God. This year, let me follow Mary’s example in loving God with all my heart. A meditation by Father Henry Bocala.
This Christmas podcast was first released Dec. 23, 2020. Let us celebrate these days of Christmas with all of its joy. Let us learn from the babe lying in a manger. God has lowered himself, he has made himself one of us, he has made himself small, defenseless. Let us follow Christ in the path of service and humility. A meditation by Father John Agnew.
Jesus Christ, Our Savior, is born for us. Come, let us adore him. Today the whole Christian world gathers around together where the baby Jesus lies in a manger. May Christmas be for us an encounter with the Lord that transforms our lives, an invitation to contemplate the face of the Infant Jesus. A meditation by Father Henry Bocala.
A meditation from Father Tim Uhen on preparing ourselves for Christmas by choosing to live joyfully now.
Jesus came to us to serve. We will not find Jesus, we will not share in his victory, unless we respond, saying "Serviam" (I will serve). Let us learn to serve in Christ's revolution of peace and love. A meditation by Father Thomas Bohlin.
Let us take advantage of this new time of Advent, this great time of hope, to listen to the Lord and to be faithful to God, in obedience and love. That is where we will find joy.
A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.
Let us have a heart that is grateful. Let us give thinks always, an attitude makes us happy, pushes us to share, and makes us more attentive to God. A meditation by Father John Agnew.
Life is a journey from birth to death. Beyond this world lies our permanent abode, eternal life which is the object of the Christian hope and the answer to the deepest longings of the human heart. A meditation by Father Henry Bocala.
At the end of November, we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King. Jesus is the one who will come at the end of the time to judge the living and the dead. We want Christ to reign in the world and in our hearts. Only this king can bring true peace to the world. We pray, Jesus, your kingdom come. A meditation by Father Thomas Bohlin.
Each of us is like the young man who approached Christ, asking, what must I do to obtain eternal life? And Jesus answers us, come follow me. To respond to his call, we need conversion. Jesus is waiting for our response. With him, we will have everything we need. A meditation by Father Henry Bocala.
Jesus told his disciples, “I have called you my friends.” May we learn to imitate Jesus in being a good friend. In this time of prayer, we consider, what are the attitudes, the virtues of a true friend? Do we turn to Christ when we find it difficult, do we ask him for the help to be a good friend? A meditation by Father John Agnew.
October, a month dedicated to the rosary, is an excellent time to consider: Does the rosary have a place in my life? The rosary is a powerful weapon. Through the rosary, let us enter into the school of Mary, accompanying Mary lovingly as she teaches us to contemplate the life of Jesus. A meditation by Father John Agnew.
All of us can become saints. But we need to re-focus our attention from ourselves to Christ, so we can follow in his footsteps. And we know that Mary, the mother of Jesus, will be a powerful ally in our effort to follow her son.
A meditation by Father Henry Bocala.
The angels are extremely powerful beings. They are just as real as the person sitting next to you, and they are sent to guide and protect us. Let us ask our guardian angels to help make us more aware of Christ's presence, to help us in our warfare of holiness, our struggle to bring the teaching of Christ Jesus into our daily lives.
A meditation by Father John Agnew.
Jesus told the woman at the well in Samaria, "If you only knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'give me to drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." Let us say to Jesus, "Lord, increase my faith," so that we recognize the gift of God, Jesus who has come into this world to save us, Jesus who comes to bring us eternal life.
A meditation by Father Thomas Bohlin.
Even at the foot of the Cross, we have the great joy of knowing that God loves us, that the gates of heaven have been opened to us. Let us respond, with the help of Mary, and Joseph, and all the saints, by putting our trust in the Lord, and doing the good that Christ asks of us.
A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.
At the last supper, Jesus gave to his disciples a new commandment: “Love one another as I have loved you.” This new commandment of Jesus represents a synthesis of all his teachings. May we obey Christ’s command, and follow his example, and let charity reign in our hearts. A meditation by Father Henry Bocala.
Christ died for us; what have we done for Christ? Let us return love for love, meeting him in the Eucharist. Let us ask Mary to help us rediscover Christ, making him our most dear friend. May this friendship guard my heart and guide my life. A meditation by Monsignor Thomas Bohlin.
As we prepare for the feast of Mary’s Assumption, with all Christians around the world, we gather around Mary, and call her “our Mother.” Let us contemplate the life of Jesus through Mary, asking her to help us to become another Christ in the world. A meditation by Monsignor Timothy Bohlin.
Like Mary, who said yes to God at the Annunciation, let us learn to use our time for God's glory and the salvation of souls. A meditation by Father Javier Garcia.
Jesus was a true friend to many people in the Gospels, including especially Martha, Lazarus and Mary. Jesus seeks out our friendship too. We can learn to foster a more intense friendship with Christ, both in the Eucharist and in our day-to-day lives. A meditation by Father Joe Keefe.
If we want to climb very high in our love of God and professional ambitions, we must have a deep foundation in humility. Humility opposes pride, which is the root of sin and complicates our lives; it helps us understand others, accept difficulties as opportunities to grow, and forget ourselves for the sake of God and others. A meditation by Father Henry Bocala.
In 1928, St Josemaría discovered a calling to spread a revolutionary new message: that ordinary men and women can become saints by discovering occasions to love God in everyday life. The starting point for this lifelong journey is the realization that God makes us His own children through Christ and that He stays very close to us. The beauty and wonder we find in contemplating these truths lead us to share the message with everyone around us, so that many more can discover the extraordinary in their ordinary circumstances. A meditation by Father Javier Garcia.
"Oh precious and wonderful banquet!..." The Eucharist is Christ remaining with us, giving us His Presence on earth and cleansing from sin through the reception of His Body in Holy Communion. If we prepare ourselves well to receive him each Sunday and other days we attend Mass, making use of Confession when we need it, we will act always in God's presence and develop a real need for the Eucharist.
The Christian life is demanding: carrying out Christ's sanctifying mission on earth requires sacrifice. However, a life of self-giving doesn't lead to sadness, but rather brings with it true joy. When we make time to pray to our Lord daily, lovingly fulfill our plan of life, and go out of our way to show care to others, we come closer to bringing the Kingdom of God to earth.
Christ is so humble that he waits for us, hidden, in the form of bread, in the Eucharist. Let us seek him, let us receive him. Let us ask him to help us to love him more and more. Christ made us for heaven, for glory. Why would we seek anything else? A meditation by Father Thomas Bohlin.
The words of Jesus, “Go out into the deep, and let down your nets for a catch,” are addressed to each one of us. Let us be open to the motions of the Holy Spirit, be attentive to the needs of others, be ready to leave everything we need to follow Christ. A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.
The martyrs of the Church teach us by example how obedience to Christ and His Church leads to freedom, a freedom that even the greatest sufferings and difficulties cannot take away. It is the freedom of living a life of consistency and joy, a life which all who call themselves Christian are called to embrace.
A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.
On the Feast of St Matthias, we reflect that living the fullness of the Christian faith does not require an extraordinary calling. All Christians, priests and lay faithful alike, have the duty, by virtue of their Baptism, to proclaim Christ, His Death and Resurrection through their words and actions. The ordinary greatness of this sweet burden requires us to make Christ truly central in our lives
A meditation by Father John Agnew.
God is not indifferent to our suffering. He becomes one of us to share in it, and he leads us as a shepherd leads his flock. To be led from the death of sin into life requires us to know Our Lord's life very well, by reading the Gospel daily, and by living a life of prayer and sacrifice.
A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.
The joy of our faith is based on our hope in the Resurrection, and the reality of what Christ has done. He is the Good Shepherd, and we shall fear no evil. Today and always, let us be overcome with the joy of Easter. A meditation by Father John Agnew.
"This is the day the Lord has made!" We are called to live each day with faith in our risen Lord, a faith which fills us with an active desire to share the joy of the Gospel with others, regardless of what they may think of us. To truly live this faith also means to amend our life and to not let our past sins weigh us down.
A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.
Without prayer, we are powerless. We are not able to develop a friendship with Christ. And without Christ, what good are all the things we do?
But Jesus lives! This the truth of the Resurrection.
From a retreat, given during Holy Week, by Father Joe Keefe.
During Lent and Holy Week, let us watch and wonder at the great love of God for us. Let us realize what a great friend we have in Christ. Let us follow Christ, and make Christ present, everywhere in this world. A meditation by Father Thomas Bohlin.
Although Christ does not condemn the woman caught in adultery, he finds himself condemned to death, a death he freely accepts for our sakes. We can meditate this Lent more frequently and more deeply on our Lord's Passion and Death, and in doing so find greater security and the means to be better every day.
The Annunciation is the moment when God revealed to Mary his plan for her life. Mary’s response, her “Yes,” changed the course of history: God became man, bridging the infinite distance between creature and Creator. May we too, like Mary, say "yes" to God, making his teaching come alive in the many events of our life. A meditation by Father John Agnew.
In a world where the superhero and the empowered individual are glorified, St. Joseph stands out as an ordinary man whose extraordinary influence lay in his fidelity to Jesus and Mary. We can learn from him how to live and work side-by-side with Our Lord, doing our tasks well and uniting them with Christ's redemptive sacrifice. A meditation by Father Joe Keefe.
A deeper conversion means a turning away from ourselves and towards God and others. Our struggle to turn outwards involves promoting peace among family, friends and colleagues; praying tirelessly for others; and seeking to do good for others in all circumstances. A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.
Lent invites us each year to obtain a deep conversion of heart, through prayer and self-denial. We are encouraged to open ourselves to God's action in renewing our hearts, and not to expect perfection in our Lenten observances, but rather to keep struggling, no matter how often we fall short. A meditation by Father John Agnew.
From Cain to Saul to the chief priests in Jesus' time, envy has brought about great evil, and we ourselves can fall prey to an unhealthy competitive spirit. When we realize what blessings God has bestowed upon us as children of God, our hearts expand, we trust in God's plan for our lives, and we find true happiness. A meditation by Father John Agnew.
Christ's Beatitudes make it clear that we obtain God-given joy through the mercy we show others, not only in action but in thought and disposition towards others. Forgiving others frees us from bitterness and petty annoyances and expands our hearts to love more.
A meditation given by Fr. John Agnew.
We can make our own the petition of the apostles: "Lord, teach us how to pray." We need to renew our prayer life, because prayer is the true basis of conversion. Meditation by Father Henry Bocala.
The Beatitudes are a portrait of the heart of Jesus, what God is like, and what our life could be.
A meditation by Monsignor Thomas G. Bohlin, U.S. vicar of Opus Dei
By entering into the scene of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, we can learn valuable lessons of humility and dedication from Mary, Simeon, and Anna.
"This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me." We do not want our Lord's reproach of the Pharisees in the words of Isaiah to be true of us, and so we want to live our Christian lives authentically. This entails a constant desire for conversion, honesty in our self-examination, and openness to the Holy Spirit's action in our soul.
A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.
Our anger in itself is not sinful, but we run the risk of offending God if we allow our anger to make us act out of selfish motives. As Christians, we are called to exercise prudence and meekness and to accept setbacks peacefully. A meditation given by Fr. Timothy Uhen.
On the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, we can recall how we are in need of purification and repentance, and Jesus shows us the way. Our own baptism results in death and a new life in Christ, one which we can live fully by seeking God in the midst of our ordinary lives. A meditation given by Father Timothy Uhen.
On the eve of the feast of St. Francis of Assissi, Fr. Henry Bocala reflects on the virtue of poverty, so essential in Christian life especially amidst a materialistic society.
In this meditation, Fr. Timothy Uhen reflects on Saint Josemaria's open secret to fix families, communities, and nations.
Fr. Joe Keefe reflects on how the Holy Spirit brings us together in the Unity of the Mystical Body of Christ.
Fr. Henry Bocala reflects on the reality of evil in our life and the need to struggle till the very end. We all have inner battles, but we fight with optimism because Jesus Christ is on our side. God is determined to make us saints.
In June 26, we celebrated the liturgical memorial of Saint Josemaria Escrivá. In this meditation, Fr. Timothy Uhen reflects on the core of Saint Josemaria's message: God's presence in our everyday activities.
"Blessed is the man who perseveres in temptation, for when he has been proved he will receive the crown of life that he promised to those who love him." (Jas 1:12) In this meditation, Fr. Timothy Uhen reminds us the hidden value of trials in our path to Heaven.
The Feast of Corpus Christi invites us to dwell on the mystery of a God who gives himself to us as food. Fr. Joe Keefe considers the Church’s understanding of the fractio panis (breaking of the bread) as the gesture of Jesus’ self-giving, which gives life to the world.
In this meditation, Fr. Joe Keefe reflects on the revolution Jesus began in the world with his approach to racial distinctions. How can we be yeast in society to bring about a true transformation, revealing the radical equality of each human being, made in the image and likeness of God, and worth all the blood of Jesus Christ on the Cross?
Fr. Timothy Uhen helps us to consider the interior freedom which a Christian can find through his Faith.
By baptism, each of us has been introduced into the inner life of God, into His family: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In this meditation, Fr. Joe Keefe helps us to appreciate more keenly this greatest of gifts.
"If anyone will come after me, let him take up his Cross and follow me." (Lk 9:23) The word martyr comes from Greek and it means witness. In this meditation, Fr Timothy Uhen helps us to reflect on the need to bear witness to Christ in our daily life.
Saint Josemaria Escrivá referred to the Holy Spirit as the Great Unknown because, for some, "He is merely a name that is mentioned, but not Someone, not one of the three persons in the one God, with whom we can talk and with whose life we can live". With the Feast of Pentecost fast approaching, Fr. Timothy Uhen helps us pray about ways we can grow in friendship with the Holy Spirit.
"Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness," says Jesus in the Gospel of Luke. In this meditation, Fr. John Agnew helps us see the importance of the virtue of temperance to keep our hearts free to love God and our friends.
In Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman, we are shown what it means to look at another person with a pure gaze. Father Joe Keefe reflects on the universal thirst and hunger for true happiness. Holy Purity is the virtue that allows us to feed and drink from the one Source that never fails, that never dries up.
On the Feast of the Ascension, we consider the mixed emotions of the Apostles as they rejoice in our Lord’s triumphal entry into Heaven, while feeling “orphaned” by his departure. Father Joe Keefe meditates on the fact that Jesus remains with us powerfully in the Sacraments, exercising his role as High Priest in the Heavenly Temple.
Saint Josemaria saw in the care for little things a way to respond to God's infinite love for us. For him, Holy Mary always stood out as a model of dedication to Jesus through the seemingly unimportant occurrences of everyday life. In this meditation, Father Timothy Uhen explores the evangelical roots of that intuition of Saint Josemaria.
"Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and the disciple whom he loved. Then Jesus said to the disciple, 'Behold, your mother'." (cf. Jn 19:25–27) The mystery of the Mother of God has been an inexhaustible source of Hope since the early days of the Church. Msgr. Thomas Bohlin reminds us that She wants to be a bulwark against sin in our lives today.
In this meditation, Father Joe Keefe reminds us that God tends to hide himself from the self-sufficient and proud, and reveal himself to mere children; for the simple and pure of heart mirror His nature. Our Lady of Fatima teaches us to have a simple outlook on life: fear Hell, desire Heaven.
Like You, Jesus, I want to serve. Father Timothy Uhen encourages us in this meditation to look out for the "other," to be attentive — "up to the brim" — and to discover that only in caring for the others will we find joy.
Jesus teaches us how to be good friends of our friends. In this meditation, Msgr. Thomas Bohlin reflects on the Gospel scene of the disciples of Emmaus to bring forth the beauty of friendship.
The Mother of Jesus accompanies us in our journey to her Son. In this meditation, Father Timothy Uhen invites us to consider Mary's role in the life of all Christians.
Every time is an opportune time for an encounter with God through work, service to others, and prayer. Father Timothy Uhen gives practical advice on how to take advantage of the current lockdown to grow in our relationship with Christ and our friends.
Jesus entrusted his Church to the care of Peter and his successors. In light of this truth, Father Joe Keefe addresses the question: how can we correspond to the gift of unity and manifest our love to Pope Francis in deeds?
In the aftermath of the crucifixion, Christ's friends and disciples were disoriented and downcast. In those hours, one heart was still burning with faith and love: the Mother of Jesus safeguarded all the hope of the nascent Church. Father Timothy Uhen invites us to look at Mary to learn how to discover God's merciful care in good and bad times.
The Resurrection of Christ is the most important event in history. Not just the history of humankind, but the personal history of every woman and man. Father Timothy Uhen reflects on the individual and social consequences of Christ's victory over death.