St. Josemaria Institute Podcast

In this reflection we are called to consider Jesus Christ as the High Priest and how all of us are called to participate in that priesthood according to our vocation in life. We are each called to a specific way of life and those who have chosen the priesthood as their vocation have additional responsibilities regarding the care of God’s people.  There are acts that the priest must do on behalf of the people as they work on guiding them towards the right path.  And yet, every priest needs and relies on the help of God’s people too, as they fulfill their vocation to the priesthood.  It is further explained that it is through the graces of our baptism that we receive the freedom to walk in Christ’s footsteps doing the works that are particular to our state in life.  Whatever our vocation may be, our life’s goal is to become saints through uniting with Our Lord in His Redemptive Sacrifice.Support the showTHANK YOU FOR LISTENING!Let us know that our podcast is important to you: Share your favorite episodes with

In this reflection on The Visitation of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth, we encounter the realization that Mary offers us much in the way of teaching us about self-giving. Especially in the way she puts others first, always availing herself to acts of serving others for the love of God. There is an experience of true joy in all she does.Support the showTHANK YOU FOR LISTENING!Let us know that our podcast is important to you: Share your favorite episodes with others and leave us a rating or review. Stay connected with us on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: www.stjosemaria.org Also, if you enjoy the podcast, please consider helping us keep our episodes free and accessible for all our listeners: Give today!

In this podcast, Fr. Peter Armenio invites us to reflect and pray about: What is the ordinary and how can it help us to be extraordinary?Jesus’ life growing up was not written down. There is no account of his activities after Joseph and Mary found him in the Temple until his baptism in the River Jordan. Jesus was so ordinary that there is nothing written about what a typical day might have been like for him; only a summary by Luke mentioning that Jesus grew in stature and grace before God and man.Out of his ordinary life came the revelation of the words of Jesus, “Eat my flesh and drink my blood” and “I am the Bread of Life.” These statements were utterly new to the thoughts of man. They are an insight into the extraordinary gift that God has given us. The Eucharist is the True Presence of the Resurrected Christ hidden in the appearance of bread -- ordinary bread.Love God with your whole heart, soul, mind, and strength, while you carry out your daily activities, however small they may seem.  Like St. Therese

On today's podcast we are reminded, for our contemplation, of the words Pope Benedict XVI offered on the meaning of freedom: “Who is freer than the One who is the Almighty? He did not, however, live his freedom as an arbitrary power or as domination. He lived it as a service. In this way he ‘filled’ freedom with content, which would otherwise have remained an ‘empty’ possibility of doing or not doing something. . .freedom draws its meaning from love . . .”If it is true happiness that we are looking for when seeking freedom, then we should observe the actions of Jesus Christ.  He himself showed us how to be obedient to God the Father no matter the cost. And, in return, God the Father nourishes Jesus’ strength to carry out his act of love for the Father.  This is the model the saints chose to follow and it would be wise for us to do the same.Support the showTHANK YOU FOR LISTENING!Let us know that our podcast is important to you: Share your favorite episodes with others and leave us a rating or review. St

Thank you for listening to the 10-Day Devotion to the Holy Spirit on the St. Josemaria Institute Podcast!10-Day Devotion to the Holy Spirit - Day 4 | Our faith in the Holy Spirit: necessarily completeFor the complete text of today’s reflection and for additional spiritual resources visit: stjosemaria.org/ten-day-devotion-holy-spirit/10-DAY DEVOTION TO THE HOLY SPIRIT IN PREPARATION FOR PENTECOST: The prayers and reflections for this devotion are taken from the “Handbook of Prayers,” published by Midwest Theological Forum. This long standing custom of the Church in preparation for Pentecost is an opportunity to ask the Holy Spirit to strengthen our hearts and make firm resolutions for our interior lives.Support the showTHANK YOU FOR LISTENING!Let us know that our podcast is important to you: Share your favorite episodes with others and leave us a rating or review. Stay connected with us on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: www.stjosemaria.org Also, if you enjoy the podcast, please

Today on the podcast… “When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, 'Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?' (Lk 24:30-32).”As we journey with those whom the Lord chooses to place in our lives, we can be apostles of today evangelizing simply through how we live our daily lives. Then will not our companions also exclaim, “Were not our hearts burning?” In today’s podcast we reflect upon and are reminded that our companions in life must see the truth in our convictions of how to live holy, joyful, saintly lives in the midst of the worldSupport the showTHANK YOU FOR LISTENING!Let us know that our podcast is important to you: Share your favorite episodes with others and leave us a rating or review. Stay connected with us on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to our weekly news

Today on the podcast… On May 1st, the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker.“…Behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him'” (Matt. 2:13).In this reflection, Msgr. Fred Dolan invites us to bring to our prayer the great example of St. Joseph, especially his obedience and immediate response to the will of God– even if it meant he would find himself without a home and without established work.Support the showTHANK YOU FOR LISTENING!Let us know that our podcast is important to you: Share your favorite episodes with others and leave us a rating or review. Stay connected with us on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: www.stjosemaria.org Also, if you enjoy the podcast, please consider helping us keep our episodes free and accessible for all our listeners: Give today!

Reflection… Easter is the highest celebration of the Church because it is the culmination of the Paschal Mystery with Jesus as victor over sin and death. The properties of his suffering on the Cross and his Resurrection stimulate change. Not only a visible change in our behavior but also a spiritual change in direct correlation with our relationship in prayer with the Lord.All of this is made possible through a young Jewish girl’s "yes" to an Angel sent By God. Mary’s Fiat! As this young girl recites her Magnificat to the angel, her heartfelt  knowledge of the old testament is very evident for her words are drawn from all over the old testament.Support the showTHANK YOU FOR LISTENING!Let us know that our podcast is important to you: Share your favorite episodes with others and leave us a rating or review. Stay connected with us on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: www.stjosemaria.org Also, if you enjoy the podcast, please consider helping us keep our episodes free and a

The Church celebrates Divine Mercy Sunday at the conclusion of the Easter Octave during which we are reminded to “be merciful, just as [our] Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36).In this podcast, Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on the mercy of God by sharing a deeper understanding of the Eucharist. He explains that Christ is the incarnation of mercy itself which is revealed to us through the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist. As we receive the Eucharist and allow Christ to dwell within us, we also receive the grace of the Holy Spirit which empowers us to show mercy toward those we encounter each day and inspires us to love with the heart of Christ.St. Josemaria explains: “Mercy is more than simply being compassionate. Mercy is the overflow of charity, which brings with it also an overflow of justice. Mercy means keeping one’s heart totally alive, throbbing in a way that is both human and divine, with a love that is strong, self-sacrificing and generous” (Friends of God, no. 232).[ Transcript ]Support the showTHAN

Reflection… “My wounds stink and fester because of my foolishness, I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all the day I go about mourning. For my sides are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh. I am feeble and crushed; I groan because of the tumult of my heart” (Psalm 38:5-8).In the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus tells Peter, James, and John to watch and pray, he is also calling us to watch and pray.  In our prayer we contemplate who Jesus really is, what he did for us out of love and what this means for us today.  How can we make this time of prayer personal and allow what we learn to overflow into our daily lives.Support the showTHANK YOU FOR LISTENING!Let us know that our podcast is important to you: Share your favorite episodes with others and leave us a rating or review. Stay connected with us on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: www.stjosemaria.org Also, if you enjoy the podcast, please consider helping us keep our episodes free and accessible for all

Reflection… Lent is a season of conversion of the mind, heart, and soul through the acts of prayer, penance, and deeds of charity/alms giving. Though its exact time of origin is unknown, the practice of fasting and the offering of a penance during the 40 days prior to Easter was more widely visible in the church sometime soon after The First Council of Nicaea, AD 325. The councils’ program of liturgical and theological alignment may have been the springboard that aided in the formation of the structure of Lent as we practice it today.May the graces we receive this lent through our prayers of self-giving love, acceptance of our crosses of penance, and deeds of charity toward the least of our brethren, propel us to continue to perfect these newfound works in our daily lives.Jesus gently calls us to an improved relationship with Him, “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; even as I have loved you, that ye also love one another” (John 13:34).Support the showTHANK YOU FOR LISTENING!Let us kn

Jesus prepared the disciples to bear fruit as they began to evangelize.  We too must prepare for evangelizing as well. During the season of lent let us practice being in the presence Jesus, to be in constant prayer.  In the early church St. Paul taught, to "Put on Christ".  To evangelize well our faith must grow and for our faith to grow one must pursue holiness.The Second Vatican Council has brought to the forefront that the laity are called to bring the modern world back to Christ.  Through obedience, let us begin in the silence of our meditation to commence with contemplative hearts to change the world.Support the showTHANK YOU FOR LISTENING!Let us know that our podcast is important to you: Share your favorite episodes with others and leave us a rating or review. Stay connected with us on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: www.stjosemaria.org Also, if you enjoy the podcast, please consider helping us keep our episodes free and accessible for all our listeners: Give to

During this season of lent we are called by the Church to repent of our sins and turn back to the gospels. The Gospel of Luke makes it clear that all are being addressed when Jesus gives instructions on how to be his disciples, “Then Jesus said to all of them, “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:23).Therefore, to be Jesus’ disciples, to put him first, we must practice temperance from our own desires, passions, and all that does not bring us closer to Jesus. As we reach detachment from those actions that pull us away from Jesus, we will begin to see the greater joy promised in the Beatific Vision.Support the showTHANK YOU FOR LISTENING!Let us know that our podcast is important to you: Share your favorite episodes with others and leave us a rating or review. Stay connected with us on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: www.stjosemaria.org Also, if you enjoy the podcast, please consider helping us keep our episodes fr

When we attend Mass, do we really envision the joining of heaven and earth, which is about to become visible to us? Do we work on realizing how precious a gift Our Father has given us, our Daily Bread, given for our spiritual sustenance?We need to learn from the saints how precious a gift the Liturgy is for our spiritual growth. When it comes to praying at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass it can be helpful to keep in mind the words of St. Augustine, “The desire is thy prayers; and if thy desire is without ceasing, thy prayer will also be without ceasing. The continuance of your longing is the continuance of your prayer.”In the example of St. Augustine, let us prayerfully desire to become closer with Our Lord Jesus Christ during the Mass. And let's also keep in mind to call on Our Blessed Mother for help so that we may improve. This meditation will continue to give you other tools and examples for learning to truly pray the Mass.Visit Show PageSupport the showTHANK YOU FOR LISTENING!Let us know that our pod

Today in the podcast….. "Do not be afraid or terrified with fear of them, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear..." (1 Peter 3:14-16).This is the courage that the Apostles of Jesus Christ are calling us to embrace when approaching the ever approachable Godhead in His Divine Infancy.  Jesus Christ wants us to be free from all anxiety as we build our relationship with Him. Just as one would feel free to interact with a newborn baby, unafraid of what others think while lavishing a Baby with affection.This meditation will enlighten the faithful in how to, as St. Josemaria Escriva has stated many times, evangelize with great charity as one improves their pious relationship with the Lord.Support the showTHANK YOU FOR LISTENING!Let us know that our podcast is important to you: Share your favorite episodes with others and leave us a rating or

In a homily given by St. Josemaria Escriva in the 1960’s he calls all to imitate Jesus’ love for Humanity. What does this call invite us to do today? Fr. Peter Armenio, an Opus Dei priest, enlightens us by mentioning that the call to “Passionately Love The World,” invites us to leave our comfort zone, find new compassion for others, be present for those who do not know that they hunger for Christ, His consolation, and His peace. In turn, our efforts of imitating Christ will ultimately give our lives meaning and we will have found true love.Jesus summoned his disciples and said, "My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, for they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, for fear they may collapse on the way." . . . Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?" "Seven," . . . "and a few fish. . . . Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, gave thanks, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in

Fr. Peter Armenio, an Opus Dei priest, is quoted in this podcast saying, “We are disciples of Christ marked with this unity of life that we give an experience of Christ through joy.”   He challenges us to evaluate our daily lives and see if we can find Christ there in the midst.He stresses that, as Disciples of Christ there should be a common thread that runs through our lives. This Common thread is the manner in which we interact with others through which they can see the presence of Jesus Christ in our very person. Just like the vessels of clay St. Paul refers to when telling the Corinthians that they must hold God within their being in order to be able to give Him to others.We must let others experience Christ through our very actions of love, kindness, affection, and joy then they can recognize the life of Christ alive in us. The receiver of these actions should feel loved through our being present to them.Support the showTHANK YOU FOR LISTENING!Let us know that our podcast is important to you: Share you

Fr. Peter Armenio, an Opus Dei priest, reminds us that St. Josemaria 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. Into a world that is gripped by a culture of death; to be healed by the intervention of God’s Mercy. “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” (St. Josemaria; The Way, no. 586).Faith filled children of God are called to participate in this beautiful mission. We are to replicate both the joy and the affection of Our Lord Jesus Christ. This can be done if first a well formed interior life of prayer is established, for it is our prayer life that exudes this joy, the light of Christ. Fr. Peter refers to what St. Gregory Nazianzen wrote in his Oration #39 that, “[God] wants you to become a living force for all mankind, lights shinning in the world.” This is no ordinary light he speaks of; it is a light in which w

Jesus spoke these words, “For I tell you, that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20).In this passage, Fr. Peter Armenio, an Opus Dei priest, points out that we must not lack repentance, love for God, and affection and compassion for others, especially those alienated from God. Our Lord calls us to love our neighbor, for when we are loving our neighbor; we are loving God. In the spirit of St. Josemaria Escriva’s charism of living daily life, we can look at this quote from Archbishop Nguyen Van Thuan (1928-2002), when addressing the Lord, “I will no longer look back but do willingly, simply, humbly, and bravely the duties which come from the circumstances in which I find myself, as your will.” Then again, “ I want to turn every minute that remains in my life into an act of love.” These words can become our daily mantra when we are faced with our daily crosses and are struggling interiorly for the strength to carry them.Sup

“My Father — talk to him like that, confidently — who art in heaven, look upon me with compassionate Love, and make me respond to thy love.—Melt and enkindle my heart of bronze, burn and purify my unmortified flesh, fill my mind with supernatural light, make my tongue proclaim the Love and Glory of Christ” (St. Josemaria, The Forge, no. 3).Fr. Peter Armenio, priest of Opus Dei, reflects upon the idea of divine filiation, that we have been made children of God through our Lord’s redemption. By being reborn in Jesus Christ through baptism, we become like Christ the Son, through whom God the Father loves us. By growing deeper in our relationship with Jesus, we can grow in our sense of divine filiation and benefit more from the love of God the Father.Divine filiation should serve as a reference point for our lives. Especially through our difficulties and anxieties, we can draw perspective by remembering that we are nothing less than children of God and that our Father is infinite, all-powerful love. This outlook