Greg Shutte joins Doug to discuss the blame game. How does the blame game affect your marriage? How can mercy and forgiveness fix the problem and what are practical ways to practice these virtues? Plus: Stump a therapist!

Stump the Therapist

Monica Hinderer joins Doug to discuss tips for dealing with a grumpy teenager. &nbsp; Listener questions and comments: <ul> <li>Clara - How do you handle balancing your emotions and venting while dealing with teens? (22:38)</li> <li>Sarah - You both are super helpful. How do we speak to teens about helping around the house and being attentive to the needs of people and the household? (32:29)</li> <li>Len - There is a great story. Teens are aware of the growth they have experienced after the end of their teen years. (38:34)</li> </ul>

Advice for dealing with grumpy teenagers

Get a sneak peek at the new book by Fr. John Henry Hanson, Coached by St. Josemaria Escriva. Today's reading is the 1st chapter of the book.

Is it All About Work? - Coached by St. Josemaria

The St. Josemaria Institute is pleased to present a new seven-part podcast series by Fr. Peter Armenio on the road to Emmaus as a complement to your time of prayer as we celebrate the resurrection of Our Lord this Easter season. In this week’s podcast, the first of the series, Fr. Peter introduces us to the circumstances surrounding the disciples’ journey to Emmaus – what events are they leaving behind and what are they seeking as they walk ahead? The events that occur on the road to Emmaus serve as an allegory to the circumstances of our personal discipleship with Christ, illustrating that we can overcome our defeats with interior strength and spiritual victory. As we reflect with Fr. Peter on this spiritual journey over the next seven weeks, we are challenged to look inward and place ourselves within the experiences of the disciples and apply these events to our daily lives. In doing so, we will come away with a renewed desire to walk with and imitate Christ through the joys and sorrows of everyday life. [ <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Part-One-Walking-with-Christ.pdf'>Transcript</a> ] Subscribe to our NEW Devotions channel where we share audio recordings of our popular novenas and devotions available at www.stjosemaria.org to accompany you in your time of prayer, whether at home or on the go. Click here to subscribe on <a href='https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/devotions-on-the-st-josemaria-institute-podcast/id1895870885'>Apple Podcasts</a> and <a href='https://open.spotify.com/show/1rpuXHM94Y06ouU37iIMHH?si=6508be06971e4324'>Spotify.</a> <a rel="payment" href="https://stjosemaria.org/give/">Support the show</a>THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! Let us know that our podcast is important to you:<ul><li>Share your favorite episodes with others and leave us a rating or review.</li><li>Stay connected with us on <a href='https://www.facebook.com/stjosemariainst/'>Facebook</a> and <a href='https://www.instagram.com/stjosemariainst/'>Instagram</a>. </li><li>Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/subscribe/'>www.stjosemaria.org</a></li></ul>Also, if you enjoy the podcast, please consider helping us keep our episodes free and accessible for all our listeners: <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/give/'>Give today!</a> <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/subscribe/'> </a>

Walking with Christ | Part One

In this talk, &quot;On Faith and Reason&quot;, Very Rev. Peter Armenio stresses the urgency with which today’s burning issues (marriage, children, life, evolution, suffering, death, etc.) require not only an appeal to supernatural authority but also to science and nature. Fr Armenio addresses specific issues and situations confronting everyday life and how lay people in the middle of the world are often looked to by those around them (at home, work, school, etc.) “to be able to articulate these burning issues…” and “to point out with humility, with understanding, with mercy, that faith seeks understanding and that moral truth gives joy and gives fulfillment, gives freedom, makes for happier families, better society, and greater meaning in life.”  Subscribe to our NEW Devotions channel where we share audio recordings of our popular novenas and devotions available at www.stjosemaria.org to accompany you in your time of prayer, whether at home or on the go. Click here to subscribe on <a href='https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/devotions-on-the-st-josemaria-institute-podcast/id1895870885'>Apple Podcasts</a> and <a href='https://open.spotify.com/show/1rpuXHM94Y06ouU37iIMHH?si=6508be06971e4324'>Spotify.</a> <a rel="payment" href="https://stjosemaria.org/give/">Support the show</a>THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! Let us know that our podcast is important to you:<ul><li>Share your favorite episodes with others and leave us a rating or review.</li><li>Stay connected with us on <a href='https://www.facebook.com/stjosemariainst/'>Facebook</a> and <a href='https://www.instagram.com/stjosemariainst/'>Instagram</a>. </li><li>Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/subscribe/'>www.stjosemaria.org</a></li></ul>Also, if you enjoy the podcast, please consider helping us keep our episodes free and accessible for all our listeners: <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/give/'>Give today!</a> <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/subscribe/'> </a>

On Faith and Reason

Fr. Eric Nicolai preached this meditation at Lyncroft Centre on Ascension Sunday, May 21 2023.
Ascension is traditionally celebrated 40 days after after Easter Sunday. So he was with them for 40 days, in and out, instructing. That’s why it falls on Thursday after the 7th Sunday of Easter. Early Fathers of the church celebrated it on Thursday. It was know to be a great feast.
 
This now is the hour that the lord spoke about. All four Gospels, presuppose that the period of the risen Lord’s appearances was limited. Paul was conscious of being the last to whom an encounter with the risen Christ was granted. In 1 Cor 15 we have these endearing words of our Lord’s appearances. &quot;For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,  that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,  and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.  Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,  and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
 
Music: Waltz Op 121 No 1 Ferdinando Carulli Played by Cristian Garcia.
Thumbnail: The Ascension, in Passion Book by Albrecht Dürer ca. 1510, Metropolitan Museum, NY.

Why Hide Behind a Cloud in the Ascension?

“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 will continue to fortify us through life’s struggles and help us to maintain our interior peace. Subscribe to our NEW Devotions channel where we share audio recordings of our popular novenas and devotions available at www.stjosemaria.org to accompany you in your time of prayer, whether at home or on the go. Click here to subscribe on <a href='https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/devotions-on-the-st-josemaria-institute-podcast/id1895870885'>Apple Podcasts</a> and <a href='https://open.spotify.com/show/1rpuXHM94Y06ouU37iIMHH?si=6508be06971e4324'>Spotify.</a> <a rel="payment" href="https://stjosemaria.org/give/">Support the show</a>THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! Let us know that our podcast is important to you:<ul><li>Share your favorite episodes with others and leave us a rating or review.</li><li>Stay connected with us on <a href='https://www.facebook.com/stjosemariainst/'>Facebook</a> and <a href='https://www.instagram.com/stjosemariainst/'>Instagram</a>. </li><li>Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/subscribe/'>www.stjosemaria.org</a></li></ul>Also, if you enjoy the podcast, please consider helping us keep our episodes free and accessible for all our listeners: <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/give/'>Give today!</a> <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/subscribe/'> </a>

God Is My Father

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Kintore College, Toronto, on March 1, 2025.Convertímini ad me in toto corde vestro, in ieiunio et fletu, et in planctu, dicit Dóminus. Turn to me with all your heart, in fasting, and in weeping, and in mourning, says the Lord.

Ash Wednesday: Time to Convert

Doug reviews ways to reconnect with your spouse. Today he shares the value of exploring various forms of intimacy. He unpacks the 5 forms of intimacy in marriage which are physical, emotional, intellectual, experiential and spiritual. Doug reads an email from a listener whose ex-boyfriend struggled with an alcohol addiction. After some time of sobriety, he wants to get back together. Doug shares the importance of boundaries and how friendship can be a good alternative to a committed relationship. &nbsp; Listener questions and comments: <ul> <li>Joe - My bad past came to light recently. My wife wants divorce and annulment after many years of marriage. What's the Christ-like response?</li> <li>Stephanie &ndash; My idea of kitchen intimacy is to help with the dishes, prepare meals, and to help with grocery shopping.</li> </ul> &nbsp; Resources: Marriage Unhindered <a href="https://www.marriageunhindered.com/">https://www.marriageunhindered.com/</a> &nbsp; Happy Marriage for Life <a href="https://www.happymarriageforlife.com/">https://www.happymarriageforlife.com/</a>

Reconnecting with intimacy

Whose responsibility is it that you are in a good marriage? Doug continues to share common phrases that can help each spouse take responsibility in strengthening their marriage. &nbsp; Listener questions and comments: <ul> <li>Michelle - My husband is in recovery for drug and alcohol addiction right now and he has taken on the addiction of working and I want to navigate through this while he can&rsquo;t fulfill my needs emotionally. (19:00)</li> <li>Chris - I struggle with telling my wife that I trust her. She will have an outburst and threaten me. How can I get better at trusting her? (32:38)</li> <li>Matt - What do I do if I&rsquo;m in a marriage that makes me want to satisfy my wife and her children but will force me to turn away from God? (38:19)</li> <li>Sylvia - I&rsquo;m a recovering alcoholic. There is hope and your family will come around. (46:38)</li> </ul> &nbsp; Resources: Marriage Unhindered <a href="https://www.marriageunhindered.com/">https://www.marriageunhindered.com/</a> &nbsp; Happy Marriage for Life <a href="https://www.happymarriageforlife.com/">https://www.happymarriageforlife.com/</a> &nbsp; Phrases to instantly strengthen your marriage <ol> <li>I appreciate you.</li> <li>I am sorry.</li> <li>I believe in you.</li> <li>How can I help?</li> <li>You make me happy!</li> <li>I trust you.</li> <li>I&rsquo;m proud of you.</li> <li>Let&rsquo;s talk about it.</li> <li>I&rsquo;m grateful for us.</li> <li>What do you think?</li> <li>I love you.</li> <li>I&rsquo;m here for you.</li> <li>I admire you.</li> <li>Thank you for being you.</li> <li>We can do this.</li> </ol>

Responsibility for a good marriage

Happiness is possible for everyone no matter their circumstances, but how do we achieve it? Doug shares 7 habits that lead to a happy life. Plus: The Friday Rant! &nbsp; Listener questions and comments: <ul> <li>Pete - I think what would keep anyone happy is to keep God in mind. (19:18)</li> <li>Philip - A grateful heart is needed for happiness. (20:28)</li> <li>Gerard - Before we got married we learned how our marriage could be great by keeping God at the center. (38:15)</li> <li>Darren - When is a long distant relationship too much? (42:22)</li> </ul> &nbsp; Resources: &nbsp; How Christ Saves Souls―with Us: The Mystery of Co-Redemption <a href="https://www.amazon.com/How-Christ-Saves-Souls_with-Co-Redemption-ebook/dp/B09XFPBZW4">https://www.amazon.com/How-Christ-Saves-Souls_with-Co-Redemption-ebook/dp/B09XFPBZW4</a> &nbsp; Marriage Unhindered <a href="https://www.marriageunhindered.com/">https://www.marriageunhindered.com/</a> &nbsp; Rekindled Hearts Marriage Bundle <a href="https://relevantradio.store/collections/books/products/marriage-bundle">https://relevantradio.store/collections/books/products/marriage-bundle</a> &nbsp; Happy Marriage for Life <a href="https://www.happymarriageforlife.com/">https://www.happymarriageforlife.com/</a> &nbsp; 7 habits that lead to a happy life <ol> <li>Don&rsquo;t smoke</li> <li>Watch your drinking</li> <li>Watch you weight</li> <li>Prioritize daily exercise</li> <li>Practice your coping mechanisms now</li> <li>Keep learning</li> <li>Do the work to cultivate long term relationships now</li> </ol>

How to be Happy

Doug shares advice with a listener who just found out his wife is having an affair. He talks about how difficult the first conversation will be, but that through prayer and professional help, the marriage can still be saved. Doug shares a story by Alice Von Hildebrand from her book By Love Refined. In this letter, Alice discusses table manners with her friend who is distraught over her husband&rsquo;s eating habits. Alice talks about the differences between men and women and how these differences give us the opportunity for compromise. Happiness depends on recognizing the differences and adapting to show our love for one another. Listener questions and comments: <ul> <li>Joe - I just found out my wife has been having affair for the last three years. I haven't talked to her about it and she doesn't know that I know. What is your advice? (5:47)</li> </ul> Resources: By Love Refined <a href="https://sophiainstitute.com/product/by-love-refined/?srsltid=AfmBOor1NPi20B5Dg7_UNa1usDV3UApRUyhnPlK1-lzCJ18DjtdwwCa6">https://sophiainstitute.com/product/by-love-refined/?srsltid=AfmBOor1NPi20B5Dg7_UNa1usDV3UApRUyhnPlK1-lzCJ18DjtdwwCa6</a> &nbsp; Rekindled Hearts <a href="https://relevantradio.store/products/rekindled-hearts-book">https://relevantradio.store/products/rekindled-hearts-book</a>

Approaching a spouse about an affair

We've all been exhorted to cultivate self-esteem and nurture a positive self-image. That sounds appealing. But we also know that God calls us to humility. And many well-intentioned Christians have it in the back of their minds that being humble means living their lives in a haze of discouragement, anxiety, and preoccupation with their own sinfulness. After all, the only alternative our culture seems to offer is a vacuous "I'm OK, you're OK" relativism: the false peace that this world gives. We know that can't be right.¬† 
 So how can we attain the peace God wants for us if we're mired in self-contempt? How can we spread Christian joy if we don't have any ourselves? 
In Self-Esteem Without Selfishness, Fr. Michel Esparza leads the way out of this conundrum. A lively sense of a Father who looks on us with delight and unconditional love, together with a fearless acceptance of our own wretchedness, is the key. Fr. Esparza teaches us how to cultivate that "humble self-esteem" which neither strays from the truth about the person nor fosters discouragement at our failures. Bringing together the best of classic spiritual wisdom and the insights of contemporary psychology, he distinguishes between self-esteem in the shallow, pop-psychology sense and the rightly ordered self-love that is anything but self-centered.

Self-Esteem Without Selfishness: Increasing Our Capacity for Love

Doug shares a case study from&nbsp;Impossible Marriages Redeemed&nbsp;by Leila Miller. When getting married, the wife&rsquo;s backup plan was divorce. After years of arguing and the husband&rsquo;s alcohol abuse, hope seemed grim. &nbsp; Listener questions and comments: <ul> <li>Ted - My wife filed for divorce about a month ago and I am wondering how to keep her here or if I need to let her go. (35:11)</li> <li>Angel - I was a military wife and my husband had a cheating and drug problem. He kept it from my children until right before he died. They are angry and hurt even though he&rsquo;s dead. I want them to love their father after his death. (43:23)</li> </ul> &nbsp; Resources: Impossible Marriages Redeemed <a href="https://www.leilamiller.net/impossiblemarriagesredeemedpdf">https://www.leilamiller.net/impossiblemarriagesredeemedpdf</a> &nbsp; The Forgiveness Institute <a href="https://internationalforgiveness.com/">https://internationalforgiveness.com/</a>

With God All Things Are Possible

Monica Hinderer joins Doug to share ways to pass the faith on to your children. They discuss challenges of passing on the faith including a lack of love and lack of follow through. Doug and Monica discuss the spiritual joy that Pope Francis encourages to build a strong Catholic family life.   Resources:   Held in Hope <a href="https://www.heldinhope.org/">https://www.heldinhope.org/</a>   Marriage Unhindered <a href="https://www.marriageunhindered.com/">https://www.marriageunhindered.com/</a>   Catholic Therapists <a href="https://www.catholictherapists.com/">https://www.catholictherapists.com/</a>   Dark Night of the Soul <a href="https://tanbooks.com/products/books/dark-night-of-the-soul/?gc_id=17487855346&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQiA57G5BhDUARIsACgCYnw_bKH5HfULXFB_qbA81hh3XJxifajzvtp6Ixt8426MdlF0JbGq37UaAq_2EALw_wcB">https://tanbooks.com/products/books/dark-night-of-the-soul/?gc_id=17487855346&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQiA57G5BhDUARIsACgCYnw_bKH5HfULXFB_qbA81hh3XJxifajzvtp6Ixt8426MdlF0JbGq37UaAq_2EALw_wcB</a>

Spiritual Joy

This Sunday the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) when “we come together to consider the depths of our Lord’s love for us, which has led him to stay with us, hidden under the appearances of the Blessed Sacrament” (St. Josemaria Escriva; Christ is Passing By, no. 150). Present under the property of bread and wine, the Church believes the Eucharist is fully the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ. In this podcast, Fr. Peter Armenio shares a reflection to help us pray and go deeper in our understanding of the Eucharist and our call to be living monstrances, the sacred vessels in which the Blessed Sacrament is exposed for veneration.On the Feast of Corpus Christi, it is a common practice in many Catholic churches to hold a Eucharistic procession following Mass. This procession is symbolic of our work as modern day apostles. We are each called to be a living monstrance, bringing the light of Christ into every aspect of our life: our family, our work place, our social gatherings, etc. The Eucharist is a source of grace and love, through which we are brought together as one in the body of Christ. Like the saints, Eucharistic devotion should be a common trait in our pursuit of holiness. On this solemnity, we can make the resolution to spend time regularly in front of the Blessed Sacrament— a powerful encounter with Christ through which we receive the grace to be a witness in the world. Subscribe to our NEW Devotions channel where we share audio recordings of our popular novenas and devotions available at www.stjosemaria.org to accompany you in your time of prayer, whether at home or on the go. Click here to subscribe on <a href='https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/devotions-on-the-st-josemaria-institute-podcast/id1895870885'>Apple Podcasts</a> and <a href='https://open.spotify.com/show/1rpuXHM94Y06ouU37iIMHH?si=6508be06971e4324'>Spotify.</a> <a rel="payment" href="https://stjosemaria.org/give/">Support the show</a>THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! Let us know that our podcast is important to you:<ul><li>Share your favorite episodes with others and leave us a rating or review.</li><li>Stay connected with us on <a href='https://www.facebook.com/stjosemariainst/'>Facebook</a> and <a href='https://www.instagram.com/stjosemariainst/'>Instagram</a>. </li><li>Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/subscribe/'>www.stjosemaria.org</a></li></ul>Also, if you enjoy the podcast, please consider helping us keep our episodes free and accessible for all our listeners: <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/give/'>Give today!</a> <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/subscribe/'> </a>

A Living Monstrance

Probably the last word most people would think of when they see the word "progress" is "prayer." Progress as a forward movement toward a destination has far more importance for prayer than it does for its usual connection with travel or development in the material world. Father Edward Leen applied his masterful knowledge of theology to show how anyone can progress in prayer because everyone is called to holiness to be able to progress toward their final destination ‚Äîheaven itself. Leen covers prayer from every aspect, showing how it can become deeper, richer, and more fruitful, so that it assists a person in the changes to their life that are necessary to draw closer to God and in the end, to be as much like him as is possible on this earth. His summary of this progress comes as follows: "Mental prayer is how the soul grows into the spirit of Jesus."

Progress Through Mental Prayer

In this meditation, Fr. Peter Armenio, priest of Opus Dei, invites us to reflect upon Mary, especially in light of her Assumption, as God’s great gift to us and as our great hope. ‘Mary has been taken up to heaven by God in body and soul, and the angels rejoice.’ Joy overtakes both angels and men. Why is it that we feel today this intimate delight, with our heart brimming over, with our soul full of peace? Because we are celebrating the glorification of our mother, and it is only natural that we her children rejoice in a special way upon seeing how the most Blessed Trinity honors her” (St. Josemaria Escriva, Christ is Passing By, no. 171). As Fr. Peter explains, the Feast of the Assumption is in one sense a celebration of ourselves. God has brought Mary into heaven and her glorification emphasizes her relationship with the Blessed Trinity. But as she occupies a place of honor and gazes at God face to face, she intercedes for us and serves us as our mother. In the Assumption, we receive an invitation to optimism, as Mary’s intercession from heaven is our own victory. Fr. Peter encourages us that we must become more “Marian”; relying on Mary as our hope, especially in our works of apostolate and evangelization. In facing the formidable obstacles of today’s culture, we can follow the example of the great saints and evangelists, such as St. Josemaria Escriva, Blessed Alvaro Portillo, and St. John Paul II, in loving Mary and relying on her for all the help that we need. Subscribe to our NEW Devotions channel where we share audio recordings of our popular novenas and devotions available at www.stjosemaria.org to accompany you in your time of prayer, whether at home or on the go. Click here to subscribe on <a href='https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/devotions-on-the-st-josemaria-institute-podcast/id1895870885'>Apple Podcasts</a> and <a href='https://open.spotify.com/show/1rpuXHM94Y06ouU37iIMHH?si=6508be06971e4324'>Spotify.</a> <a rel="payment" href="https://stjosemaria.org/give/">Support the show</a>THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! Let us know that our podcast is important to you:<ul><li>Share your favorite episodes with others and leave us a rating or review.</li><li>Stay connected with us on <a href='https://www.facebook.com/stjosemariainst/'>Facebook</a> and <a href='https://www.instagram.com/stjosemariainst/'>Instagram</a>. </li><li>Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/subscribe/'>www.stjosemaria.org</a></li></ul>Also, if you enjoy the podcast, please consider helping us keep our episodes free and accessible for all our listeners: <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/give/'>Give today!</a> <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/subscribe/'> </a>

Mary, Our Hope

How do we truly surrender our will to God without losing our sense of self? Fr. Leo Austin explores the virtue of docility and obedience through biblical scenes, especially when Mary and Joseph lose the twelve-year-old Jesus in the temple - on how Jesus’ awareness of His mission to sacrifice Himself embodies mature faith and total trust in God’s plan. Drawing parallels to modern struggles with independence and control, Fr. Leo encourages listeners to embrace patience, humility, and openness to divine guidance so that we can find true peace, which comes not from asserting control, but from aligning our choices with God’s will.

God's Will, My Choice

Lazarus and his sisters Martha and Mary are the only figures in the New Testament described as friends of Jesus. He enters the Gospel of St. John as mysteriously as he exits. After receiving word of Lazarus' illness, Jesus delays his departure, taking time which we imagine could have been cut short to save his friend's life.
In this book on Lazarus' death and resurrection, we delve into the various circumstances of time and place to ponder why. 
What did the Lord want to tell us about death? Was Lazarus truly dead? Why did Jesus announce his death, only to proclaim that he would awaken him? How does this event point to Jesus' own death and Resurrection? 
For those who believe in Jesus Christ, no death is final. Jesus shows us that, through him, the kingdom of death is broken in two. He prefigures the glory of his own resurrection, following his tragic death on a cross, taking place only days after the raising of Lazarus.

Looking for Lazarus: A Preview of the Resurrection

In this podcast, Fr. Fred Dolan leads us to reflect on freedom. Rightly understood, freedom is a gift from God, Our Creator and Father. If we do not recognize that fact, we run the risk of becoming existentially orphaned and homeless. “Do you love me?”, Jesus asks Peter. We hear the Lord looking at each one of us and asking the same thing. The Christian life is a free response, imbued with initiative and availability to this question of the Lord. We are not self-created, but rather, we are creatures of a loving Creator. We do not dare to attribute to ourselves the so called right to define our own concept of existence, because God has given that to us. God has given to each one of us very specific, unique qualities. Along with those qualities, come our own limitations. Therefore, Fr. Dolan reminds us that we need to remove the chief obstacles that hinder us from achieving it; for example, self-centeredness, egotism, grudges, arrogance, deceit, and resentment. God loves each one of us, as we are, and he loves to see us struggling to become better and to be free. <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Freedom-A-Gift-from-God.pdf'>View Transcript</a> <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/podcasts/freedom-a-gift-from-god/'>Visit Show Page</a> Subscribe to our NEW Devotions channel where we share audio recordings of our popular novenas and devotions available at www.stjosemaria.org to accompany you in your time of prayer, whether at home or on the go. Click here to subscribe on <a href='https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/devotions-on-the-st-josemaria-institute-podcast/id1895870885'>Apple Podcasts</a> and <a href='https://open.spotify.com/show/1rpuXHM94Y06ouU37iIMHH?si=6508be06971e4324'>Spotify.</a> <a rel="payment" href="https://stjosemaria.org/give/">Support the show</a>THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! Let us know that our podcast is important to you:<ul><li>Share your favorite episodes with others and leave us a rating or review.</li><li>Stay connected with us on <a href='https://www.facebook.com/stjosemariainst/'>Facebook</a> and <a href='https://www.instagram.com/stjosemariainst/'>Instagram</a>. </li><li>Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/subscribe/'>www.stjosemaria.org</a></li></ul>Also, if you enjoy the podcast, please consider helping us keep our episodes free and accessible for all our listeners: <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/give/'>Give today!</a> <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/subscribe/'> </a>

Freedom: A Gift from God

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai on October 15th at Lyncroft Centre in Toronto. 
Lk 1, 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. 
Since Zacharia doubted, unsure perhaps of his authenticity, needed more proof, as though seeing an angel were not enough, Gabriel had the power to silence him. To give him time to reflect. In quiet.
Saint Josemaria invoqued Saint Gabriel as the patron with the work with Supernumeraries, married people in general.
Music: Michael Lee, from Toronto
 Thumbnail: Duccio di Buoninsegna (1255–1319), Annonciation, circa 1307.

The Saint Gabriel Work in Opus Dei

"Let us break their bonds asunder and let us cast away their yoke from us." Psalm 2: 3Get ready for an awesome continuation into Verse 3 this week! Jake, Louis, and Pat are back at it, digging into the spiritual significance of the yoke—what it really means when Christ calls His yoke "light". They'll be chatting about divine authority and what our relationship with God looks like in everyday life. Expect some biblical imagery, deep thoughts on the meaning of faith, and the amazing invitation of Christ's love and mercy. It’s going to be a great discussion, so don’t miss out!And if you're really enjoying this podcast, be sure to like, subscribe, and share!

Verse 3, Part 2 - The Light Yoke

An intimate, day-by-day portrait of Pope St. John Paul II by his spokesman who spent 22 years at his side. It reveals how the pope viewed all the significant events in the life of the Church and in European and world events of the last two decades of the twentieth century. 
 Joaqu√≠n Navarro-Valls (1936‚Äì2017) spent 22 years at the side of Pope John Paul II from 1984 until the pontiff 's death in 2005. As the first head of the Vatican Press Office and one of the top laymen in the Church, he was chosen by the pope after years as the elected head of the Vatican press corp and following a career change from psychiatry to journalism. 
 During his time at the Pope's side, he had regular access to the Pope. He accompanied him not only on his official papal trips all over the world, but also on the pope's frequent weekend and summer vacations to the Italian mountains. He participated in the preparation work for historic events such as the Vatican's opening to both the Soviet Union under Mikhail Gorbachev, as well as meeting with Fidel Castro to pave the way for the Pope's visit to Cuba. 
 Written in the form of a personal diary and published at the author's request over six years after his death, these pages offer not only a glimpse of the behind-the-scenes work of the Holy See. They also display the Pope's deep concern for helping to resolve the great problems of modern life.

My Years with John Paul II

From the New Year and New Beginnings to building up the family culture and protecting your time, we’ve striven to find experts and guests that have been able to help you navigate the challenges you face in raising your families in today’s society. Thank you for listening!We can't wait to bring you new guests and exciting topics next season. Be on the look out for our Advent and Christmas reflections! Do you have a guest or topic you’d love to hear on the Fairest Love Podcast? We’d love to hear from you! Send your suggestions or interview recommendations to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:info@fairestlovefamilyproject.org">info@fairestlovefamilyproject.org</a>.

Season 5 Wrap-Up

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.” <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Be-Still-A-Christmas-Reflection-Transcript-.pdf'>View Transcript</a> <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/podcasts/be-still-a-christmas-reflection/'>Visit Show Page</a> Subscribe to our NEW Devotions channel where we share audio recordings of our popular novenas and devotions available at www.stjosemaria.org to accompany you in your time of prayer, whether at home or on the go. Click here to subscribe on <a href='https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/devotions-on-the-st-josemaria-institute-podcast/id1895870885'>Apple Podcasts</a> and <a href='https://open.spotify.com/show/1rpuXHM94Y06ouU37iIMHH?si=6508be06971e4324'>Spotify.</a> <a rel="payment" href="https://stjosemaria.org/give/">Support the show</a>THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! Let us know that our podcast is important to you:<ul><li>Share your favorite episodes with others and leave us a rating or review.</li><li>Stay connected with us on <a href='https://www.facebook.com/stjosemariainst/'>Facebook</a> and <a href='https://www.instagram.com/stjosemariainst/'>Instagram</a>. </li><li>Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/subscribe/'>www.stjosemaria.org</a></li></ul>Also, if you enjoy the podcast, please consider helping us keep our episodes free and accessible for all our listeners: <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/give/'>Give today!</a> <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/subscribe/'> </a>

Be Still: A Christmas Reflection (Rebroadcast)

As we conclude our mini-series on St. Josemaria’s homily, Passionately Loving the World, Fr. Peter Armenio shares a reflection on the inestimable value of ordinary life and how it serves as a medium through which we encounter the presence of God. Drawing upon the hidden years of Christ’s life, Fr. Peter highlights the importance of being formed by the witness of our family and being nurtured by prayer so that we can lead a heroic life of faith, generosity, and service.Fr. Peter explains: “Don’t underestimate [your] individual calling. We are all called to be saints because sanctity does not depend on exactly what [we’re] doing, but how much love [we] invest in what [we’re] doing.”As you pray and reflect today, what steps forward can you take in your prayer life to strengthen your resolve to invite Christ into the ordinary moments of each day?<a href='https://stjosemaria.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/An-Ordinary-Life-Made-Holy-Transcript.pdf'>View Transcript</a> <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/podcast/'>Visit Show Page</a> Subscribe to our NEW Devotions channel where we share audio recordings of our popular novenas and devotions available at www.stjosemaria.org to accompany you in your time of prayer, whether at home or on the go. Click here to subscribe on <a href='https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/devotions-on-the-st-josemaria-institute-podcast/id1895870885'>Apple Podcasts</a> and <a href='https://open.spotify.com/show/1rpuXHM94Y06ouU37iIMHH?si=6508be06971e4324'>Spotify.</a> <a rel="payment" href="https://stjosemaria.org/give/">Support the show</a>THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! Let us know that our podcast is important to you:<ul><li>Share your favorite episodes with others and leave us a rating or review.</li><li>Stay connected with us on <a href='https://www.facebook.com/stjosemariainst/'>Facebook</a> and <a href='https://www.instagram.com/stjosemariainst/'>Instagram</a>. </li><li>Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/subscribe/'>www.stjosemaria.org</a></li></ul>Also, if you enjoy the podcast, please consider helping us keep our episodes free and accessible for all our listeners: <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/give/'>Give today!</a> <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/subscribe/'> </a>

An Ordinary Life Made Holy

Today on the podcast… Fr. Peter Armenio, a priest of Opus Dei, shares the biblical basis for giving glory to God through our work, and explains how Jesus’ hidden life of work is meant to be for us a model for holiness. Subscribe to our NEW Devotions channel where we share audio recordings of our popular novenas and devotions available at www.stjosemaria.org to accompany you in your time of prayer, whether at home or on the go. Click here to subscribe on <a href='https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/devotions-on-the-st-josemaria-institute-podcast/id1895870885'>Apple Podcasts</a> and <a href='https://open.spotify.com/show/1rpuXHM94Y06ouU37iIMHH?si=6508be06971e4324'>Spotify.</a> <a rel="payment" href="https://stjosemaria.org/give/">Support the show</a>THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! Let us know that our podcast is important to you:<ul><li>Share your favorite episodes with others and leave us a rating or review.</li><li>Stay connected with us on <a href='https://www.facebook.com/stjosemariainst/'>Facebook</a> and <a href='https://www.instagram.com/stjosemariainst/'>Instagram</a>. </li><li>Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/subscribe/'>www.stjosemaria.org</a></li></ul>Also, if you enjoy the podcast, please consider helping us keep our episodes free and accessible for all our listeners: <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/give/'>Give today!</a> <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/subscribe/'> </a>

The Sanctification of Work

St. Josemar√≠a once wrote, "Our Lord does not expect us to be unhappy in our life on earth and await a reward only in the next life. God wants us to be happy on earth too, but with a desire for the other, total happiness that only he can give." 
 Our lives are full of highs and lows, successes and struggles, joys and sorrows. We are called to live with a happy heart alongside it all. But it is not enough to want to be happy: we must learn to be. Fr. Francisco will help you to discover happiness regardless of life's circumstances, by uniting your heart with the heart of God. 
 In Choosing Happiness, you will be given the knowledge and the tools to embrace and live out an all-encompassing happiness ‚Äîa daily fulfillment‚Äî that ensures joy now as well as in the afterlife.

Choosing Happiness: Working Within

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Chipnee camp for girls in the Durham region north of Toronto on July 11, 2024, the Feast of St. Benedict of Nursia.
Music: Original track by Michael Lee of Toronto.

Saint Benedict and Our Mission

A meditation preached on February 19, 2026, at Kintore College, Toronto.In his 2026 message for Lent, Pope Leo speaks about listening.The willingness to listen is the first way we demonstrate our desire to enter into a relationship with someone. Then he refers to the image of Moses standing in front of the burning bush.He says: In revealing himself to Moses in the burning bush, God himself teaches us that listening is one of his defining characteristics: “I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry” (Ex 3:7). Hearing the cry of the oppressed is the beginning of a story of liberation in which the Lord calls Moses, sending him to open a path of salvation for his children who have been reduced to slavery.This is a task we can discover during Lent, and identify some of the obstacles to proper listening.Music: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

Listen to Me

Work is a fundamental element of human life that claims much of our time. Consider Jesus' 30 years as a carpenter under the tutelage of St. Joseph! Our natural tendency can be to often curse or shirk its presence in life, instead of recognizing its true value as a source of personal development, improvement of society, and means of holiness and apostolate. 
The core part of the book is a dialogue between numerous scholars and Msgr. Fernando¬†Oc√°riz¬†about the message of St.¬†Josemar√≠a¬†Escriv√°, one of the great teachers of modern spirituality, who has taught us to sanctify work, to sanctify oneself at work, and to sanctify others through work.
Use¬†these words to reflect on the meaning of work in your own life and to learn how to change your perception of work as a burden into work as a source of sanctification.

Holiness Through Work

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. <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/First-Week-of-Advent-Conversion-and-Contrition-Transcript.pdf'>View Transcript</a> <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/podcasts/first-week-of-advent-conversion-and-contrition/'>Visit Show Page</a> Subscribe to our NEW Devotions channel where we share audio recordings of our popular novenas and devotions available at www.stjosemaria.org to accompany you in your time of prayer, whether at home or on the go. Click here to subscribe on <a href='https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/devotions-on-the-st-josemaria-institute-podcast/id1895870885'>Apple Podcasts</a> and <a href='https://open.spotify.com/show/1rpuXHM94Y06ouU37iIMHH?si=6508be06971e4324'>Spotify.</a> <a rel="payment" href="https://stjosemaria.org/give/">Support the show</a>THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! Let us know that our podcast is important to you:<ul><li>Share your favorite episodes with others and leave us a rating or review.</li><li>Stay connected with us on <a href='https://www.facebook.com/stjosemariainst/'>Facebook</a> and <a href='https://www.instagram.com/stjosemariainst/'>Instagram</a>. </li><li>Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/subscribe/'>www.stjosemaria.org</a></li></ul>Also, if you enjoy the podcast, please consider helping us keep our episodes free and accessible for all our listeners: <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/give/'>Give today!</a> <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/subscribe/'> </a>

First Week of Advent: Conversion and Contrition

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From discovering your temperament to educating your heart, this program follows a clear anthropological architecture: Understand who you are, build your character through the practice of virtues, integrate heart, mind, and will, formulate your personal mission, and achieve emotional maturity.
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From Temperament to Character

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai to High School students in Beamsville, Ontario ,on February 2, 2025.
Today is the feast of the presentation. It is a feast of pour Lady, but really focused on Our Lord who is being presented by his parents in the temple. It was the law of Israel that each first born should be presented to the Lord, 40 days after his birth. They are complying with the Mosaic Law. It is his mission. He is presented, offered, given over, and his parents do so with faith, knowing his purpose more than anyone.
Music: Original track by Michael Lee, of Toronto.
Thumbnail, Peter Paul Rubens, Presentation in the Temple, sketch, 1632, Naala Nura, ground level, Grand Courts.

Let Your Servant Go in Peace

Fr. Eric Nicolai preached this meditation to a group of High School boys in the OneUp program at Ernescliff College, Toronto. Matthew 9:9-13: &quot;As Jesus was walking on, he saw a man named Matthew sitting by the customs house, and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him.&quot;
By this short description, Matthew became one of the apostles of Jesus. Chosen specifically by Jesus himself. Jesus wants him to be part of this great adventure in the early church. He pointed at him, and Matthew pointed at himself, and all the publicans seem to point only at their own money, such as the 1599 painting by Caravaggio of the Call of St. Matthew in Rome.
Music: &#39;Jul&#39; by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com
Thumbnail: Caravaggio, The Call of St. Matthew in the Contarelli chapel in the church of San Luigi dei Francesi in Rome.