Welcome to this transformative spiritual retreat led by renowned author and spiritual director Fr. Jacques Philippe. In a world filled with noise, distraction, and anxiety, this collection of conferences offers a sanctuary of profound stillness, grounded in the deep well of Catholic spiritual tradition.
The eight videos in this series:
1. Be At Peace With God 2. Find Peace With Ourselves 3. Maintain Peace Over Time 4. God's Presence in Nature &amp; Creation 5. God's Presence In Holy Scripture 6. God's Presence In the Eucharist 7. God's Presence In the Humanity of Christ 8. God's Presence in Our Hearts
Throughout this series, Fr. Jacques guides us on a step-by-step journey to discover where God truly dwells and how we can cultivate an unshakeable interior peace across all seasons of life.&nbsp;
🌿 What You Will Discover in This Series: &bull; The Dimensions of God&rsquo;s Presence: Learn how to recognize and encounter the divine in Holy Scripture, the Holy Eucharist, the concrete humanity of Jesus Christ, and the hidden "little palace" of your own heart. &bull; The Foundations of Interior Peace: Receive practical, gentle guidance on how to be at peace with God, how to be at peace with yourself, and how to maintain that peace over time despite daily struggles and psychological wounds. &bull; The Source of True Freedom: Discover how small, two-second moments of silent recollection during a busy workday and simple acts of charity toward your neighbor unlock a life lived in constant communion with the Trinity.
📖 About Fr. Jacques Philippe Fr. Jacques Philippe is a member of the Community of the Beatitudes and the author of modern spiritual classics, including "Searching for and Maintaining Peace," "Interior Freedom," and "Time for God." His reassuring and accessible insights have helped millions of believers worldwide deepen their prayer lives and rest securely in God&rsquo;s love.
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📚 Brought to you by Scepter Publishers. Explore more books and resources to transform your spiritual journey.

Spiritual Retreat: Finding Peace & God's Presence

Discover

Hosted by evangelist Matthew Leonard at <a href="https://www.scienceofsainthood.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Science of Sainthood</a>, in a special partnership with Scepter Publishers, Introduction to Real Prayer&nbsp;introduces viewers to the basics of prayer, its necessity, and how to make it a part of their daily lives.
But it does a&nbsp;lot&nbsp;more.
Matthew guides viewers through the ins and outs of vocal, meditative, and contemplative prayer, showing&nbsp;not just what they are, but how to do them.
He also covers the three stages of the spiritual life (which many Catholics have never heard of), as well as the practical steps to make actual progress in the spiritual life in the easy-to-understand, conversational style for which he is known.
It's time to get real about prayer . . . and watch people's lives be radically transformed.&nbsp;
Purchase now for a year's access to Introduction to Real Prayer (includes entry into Science of Sainthood's email accompaniment sequence for this course)
View more courses like this at <a href="https://www.scienceofsainthood.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Science of Sainthood</a>.&nbsp;
Number of Lessons - 9 | Lesson Length - 20 Minutes&nbsp;

Introduction to Real Prayer

Originally published in English in 2008 and now an international bestseller, this new edition includes a helpful study guide for personal or group reflection.
Many people today are thirsty for God and feel a desire for a personal prayer life that is deep and ongoing. But they encounter obstacles that prevent them from following the path seriously and with perseverance. Time for God was written with these desires and difficulties in mind. 
Author Jacques Philippe focuses on mental prayer: prayer that consists of facing God in solitude and silence in order to enter into intimate, loving communion with him. Practicing this kind of prayer regularly is considered by all spiritual masters to be an indispensable path that gives access to genuine Christian life—a path to knowing and loving God that empowers us to respond to his call to holiness addressed to each individual. 
Philippe draws on years of experience as a spiritual guide to illuminate the fundamental principles of mental prayer and describes some common mistakes and misconceptions that can lead it astray. With simplicity and clarity, he explains the foundational principles for a healthy prayer life and gives advice for overcoming the various obstacles that arise when one sets off on the path of interior prayer.

Time for God

Become the leader you were made to be with the&nbsp;Leading Citizen Lecture Series&nbsp;from <a href="https://thomasmorestudies.org/">The Center for Thomas More Studies</a>

Leading Citizen Lecture Series

She was seventeen years old, a student from Barcelona with a quick smile, a guitar, and a love of mountain hikes &mdash; and she is now a candidate for beatification. Montserrat Grases lived nothing that looked extraordinary from the outside: school, friends, family, the small daily struggle to be kinder and more generous. Then came a terminal cancer diagnosis at sixteen, and the world saw what that hidden interior life had built. Written with warmth and precision by Mercedes Eguibar, this booklet follows Montse from her first encounter with Opus Dei to her death on Holy Thursday 1959 &mdash; a death as serene, joyful, and unhurried as her life. A quietly electrifying portrait of what it actually looks like to become a saint.

Montserrat Grases

Written in the weeks following St. Josemar&iacute;a's death in 1975, this moving tribute by Cardinal Sergio Pignedoli captures the spiritual genius of Opus Dei's founder with the intimacy of a friend and the precision of a theologian. Here is the man behind the movement: rooted in divine filiation, consumed by love for the Church, and utterly convinced that sanctity is the vocation of every Christian &mdash; in the office, the kitchen, the workshop, wherever life is lived.

Divine Ways on Earth

Enroll in the&nbsp;EXCLUSIVE SCEPTER PARTNERSHIP OFFER here: <a title="https://alexhavard.com/scepter-offer/" href="https://alexhavard.com/scepter-offer/">https://alexhavard.com/scepter-offer/</a>.&nbsp;
Temperament is biological&mdash;your natural style of reacting. Character is spiritual, forged over time through the practice of virtue. This course lays the foundation for everything that follows in the Virtuous Leadership&reg; journey.
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.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

From Temperament to Character

What do you do when marriage therapy is not working? What do you do when your parents receive a decree of nullity and start dating other people? Doug answers these questions and more. PLUS: Mary at the Crossroads of History. &nbsp; Listener questions and comments: <ul> <li>Pepper - I have done a lot of therapy and it was not going well. My therapist friend told me to 'do what the therapist tells you'. I hadn't been because it seemed silly. But you have to do it because it makes a huge difference. (20:00)</li> </ul> &nbsp; Resources: &nbsp; Mary at the Crossroads of History <a href="https://relevantradio.store/collections/books/products/mary-at-the-crossroads-of-history">https://relevantradio.store/collections/books/products/mary-at-the-crossroads-of-history</a> &nbsp; Rekindled Hearts <a href="https://relevantradio.store/collections/books/products/rekindled-hearts-book">https://relevantradio.store/collections/books/products/rekindled-hearts-book</a> &nbsp; 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>

Mary at the Crossroads of History

Opening

Chapter 1: Who is the Original Church?

Chapter 2: We Live as a Family

Chapter 3: We Receive These Things

Chapter 4: We Share Our Food, but Not Our Wives

Chapter 5: We Work for Your Benefit

Chapter 6: We Are Laughed At

A Rule for a Household

Other Books by James L. Papandrea

Closing

What if the Church was never meant to stay frozen in time&mdash;nor blown around by it?&nbsp;
The Original Church cuts through the noise of tradition versus trend to rediscover what Jesus actually intended when he said, "On this rock I will build my Church." The earliest Christians weren't stuck in the past, nor were they chasing relevance&mdash;they were rooted, growing, and guided by a clear purpose.&nbsp;
This book explores how the Church can develop without drifting, grow without losing its core, and how every believer can live with conviction in a world that keeps shifting.&nbsp;
The Christian faith is a compass, not a weathervane.

The Original Church (audiobook)

Doug takes calls from listeners struggling with discouragement, resentment, and distance in long-term marriages. He offers guidance on staying faithful to your vows and finding hope when relationships feel strained. Plus, the Friday rant!&nbsp; &nbsp; Listener questions and comments: <ul data-start="329" data-end="778"> <li data-section-id="wiqj2m" data-start="329" data-end="510">Jennifer &ndash; My marriage is in despair after 31 years, and my husband is distant and sleeping separately. How do I stay faithful to my vows when things feel so broken? (07:18)</li> <li data-section-id="1n03czc" data-start="511" data-end="636">Luara &ndash; After 31 years of marriage, I am starting to feel resentment. How do I remember and live out my vows? (19:32)</li> <li data-section-id="zqvvv3" data-start="637" data-end="778">Tom &ndash; I am divorced after 13 years of marriage and have tried therapy multiple times. How do I find healing and move forward? (34:25)</li> </ul> &nbsp; Resources: <a href="https://spiritualdirection.com/2026/02/01/avoiding-the-trap-of-discouragement">https://spiritualdirection.com/2026/02/01/avoiding-the-trap-of-discouragement</a> <a href="https://www.forgivenessinstitutekc.com/">https://www.forgivenessinstitutekc.com/</a>&nbsp;

Avoid the Trap of Discouragement

"When you love someone, you want to know all about his life and character, so as to become like him." – St. Josemaria 
 St. Josemaria spoke these words about the Lord Jesus, but they also apply to his Blessed Mother, Mary. The more we love Mary, the more we will want to know everything about her so as to become like her. 
 The Maiden of Nazareth is a delightfully imaginative story that will help you get to know the Blessed Virgin Mary -- not as a statue in a church -- but as a living, breathing, human being. It follows her life from her immaculate conception and birth, up through her assumption into heaven, and it introduces you to the various characters that accompanied her along the way: her parents Joachim and Anne, various cousins and relatives, her husband Joseph, Jesus, his apostles, and various disciples and friends. You will feel like you know all of them much better after having read this book! 
 This book is the fruit of many years of contemplating the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Its primary source is the author's imagination – an imagination fired by the love of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The Maiden of Nazareth

#10MinuteswithJesus

** Put yourself in the presence of God. Try talking to Him.
** 10 minutes are 10 minutes. Even if you can get distracted, reach the end.
** Be constant. The Holy Spirit acts "on low heat" and requires perseverance.

10-Minute audio to help you pray.
Daily sparks to ignite prayer: a passage from the gospel, an idea, an anecdote and a priest who speaks with you and the Lord, inviting you to share your intimacy with God.
Find your moment, consider you are in His presence and click play.

03-08-25 The Best Opportunity is Now (NS)

In celebration of today's feast of St. Josemaria Escriva, listen in to a portion of his homily Toward Holiness from the Scepter title Friends of God.

Toward Holiness - Friends of God

<a href="https://rss.com/podcasts/social-doctrine-daily/voicemail" target="_blank">Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.</a>In a rapidly changing technological, economic, and social landscape, Pope John XXIII took pen to paper and wrote Pacem in Terris from the heart of the Church as its father and prince, the representative of Christ on earth.Social Doctrine Daily is a daily podcast reading the social encyclicals of the Catholic Church.This podcast exists for people who want to work their way through catholic social teaching, but struggle to find the time. Each episode offers about ten minutes of a simple, uninterrupted audio reading from the documents themselves.These encyclicals—from popes such as Pope Leo XIII, Pope Pius XI, Pope John XXIII, Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis—form the heart of what is known as Catholic social teaching, a tradition that seeks to guide society toward what many have called a civilization of love.Core Documents of Catholic Social TeachingRerum Novarum — Pope Leo XIII (1891)Quadragesimo Anno — Pope Pius XI (1931)Mater et Magistra — Pope John XXIII (1961)Pacem in Terris — Pope John XXIII (1963)Gaudium et Spes — Second Vatican Council (1965)Populorum Progressio — Pope Paul VI (1967)Octogesima Adveniens — Pope Paul VI (1971)Justice in the World — Synod of Bishops (1971)Evangelii Nuntiandi — Pope Paul VI (1975)Redemptor Hominis — Pope John Paul II (1979)Laborem Exercens — Pope John Paul II (1981)Sollicitudo Rei Socialis — Pope John Paul II (1987)Centesimus Annus — Pope John Paul II (1991)Evangelium Vitae — Pope John Paul II (1995)Deus Caritas Est — Pope Benedict XVI (2005)Caritas in Veritate — Pope Benedict XVI (2009)Evangelii Gaudium — Pope Francis (2013)Laudato Si’ — Pope Francis (2015)Fratelli Tutti — Pope Francis (2020)Querida Amazonia — Pope Francis (2020)Laudate Deum — Pope Francis (2023)Magnifica Humanitas - Pope Leo XIV (2026)If you’d like to follow along with the text, all documents are available online through the Vatican website.You can listen on the Scepter Publishers app or wherever you get your podcasts.Download the free Scepter Spiritual Reading app here:Apple App Store:<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/scepter-publishers/id6755748736">https://apps.apple.com/us/app/scepter-publishers/id6755748736</a>Google Play Store:<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.scepterpublishers.app&amp;hl=en_US">https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.scepterpublishers.app&amp;hl=en_US</a>You can read more about Scepter here: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.scepterpublishers.org">www.scepterpublishers.org</a>

Pacem in Terris (Part 5)

Title and opening prayer

I. Jesus is condemned to death

II. Jesus takes up his cross

III. Jesus falls the first time

IV. Jesus is met by his Blessed Mother

V. Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry the cross

VI. The face of Jesus is wiped by Veronica

VII. Jesus falls a second time

VIII. Jesus consoles the women of Jerusalem

IX. Jesus falls the third time

X. Jesus is stripped of his garments

XI. Jesus is nailed to the cross

XII. Jesus dies on the cross

XIII. Jesus is laid in the arms of his Blessed Mother

XIV. Jesus is laid in the tomb

Let St. Josemar&iacute;a lead you through the Stations of the Cross and help you joyfully walk the way of the Cross in your daily life. St. Josemaria provides meditations for each of the stations on the Way of the Cross. These meditations are especially suited to help find paths to holiness in the ordinary circumstances of everyday life.
"The Way of the Cross is not a sad devotion. Msgr. Escriva taught many times that Christian joy has its roots in the shape of a cross. If the Passion of Christ is a way of pain, it is also a path of hope leading to certain victory. As he explained in one of his homilies:&nbsp;You should realize&nbsp;that God wants you to be glad and that, if you do all you can, you will never for a moment be without the Cross. But that Cross is no longer a gallows. It is the throne from which Christ reigns. And at his side, his Mother, our Mother too. The Blessed Virgin will obtain for you the strength that you need to walk decisively in the footsteps of her Son" (Friends of God). -Bishop Alvaro del Portillo

The Way of the Cross

When Jesus asks the Samaritan woman for a drink, he is expressing the same longing he voices from the Cross: &quot;I thirst.&quot; This meditation looks at that encounter between Christ and one soul, and at what he offers in return: water that becomes a spring in the person who receives it. It also considers what accepting that gift requires, starting with honesty before God and with ourselves. A meditation by Father Philip Moss.

Give Me a Drink: Christ Thirsts for Your Soul

Piedad y doctrina, teología y mística. Es el ejemplo de Tomás de Aquino, gran profundizador en la teología eucarística e incomparable cantor de la misma. Aprovechamos ahora para nuestra oración la quinta estrofa del Adoro te devote: Pan vivo que da la vida al hombre / Haz que mi alma de ti viva… haciéndolo, experimentaremos los frutos de la Redención.

2026-09-23 Que mi alma de Ti viva

Why is it so hard to pray without distraction? Why does our mind wander to everything except God when we kneel to speak with him? And what do we do with the flood of thoughts that seem to overtake us in the very act of prayer?
In this deeply contemplative yet practical book, Fr. John Henry Hanson takes us on a journey through the battleground of the mind, where attention, memory, and imagination often seem like saboteurs to prayer. Drawing on Scripture, the Desert Fathers, saints like Teresa of Avila and Augustine, and insights from modern psychology, this book offers not a quick fix, but something far better: a quiet revolution against wayward thoughts, a spiritual reorientation toward God.
Fr. Hanson helps readers to understand how God meets us even in mental chaos: how he works not despite our distractions, but sometimes through them. Along the way, readers will discover the role of grace in thought-life, how to respond to distraction, and what it means to have ""the mind of Christ."" With lyrical clarity, theological depth, and a pastoral heart, this book becomes not merely a guide to prayer, but a companion in it. "

The Fire and the Silence

To live in God's presence is not a mystical achievement reserved for monks and contemplatives &mdash; it is the birthright of every baptized soul. Francis Luna offers a practical and deeply human guide to cultivating an awareness of God throughout the ordinary moments of the day: at work, at home, in joy and in struggle. For anyone who longs to make their whole life a prayer.

Living in God's Presence

Fr. Eric Nicolai preached this meditation at Lyncroft Centre, Toronto on December 9, 2024, solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception, her preservation from all sin, meant that not even a tiny shadow of darkness existed in her soul. Knowing this was the product of a process.  First the Christian people realized it, then theologians discussed it, and gradually the Church became more and more aware of what it means to say she was full of grace, the holiness of the mother of God.The realization that she was redeemed in a unique way, right from the moment of her conception. Music: Regi Stone, All Heaven Declares, YouTube music

Mary is the New Eve by her Obedience

Every soul strives for unity with God. Over the centuries, spiritual guides have offered myriad methods for achieving such an intimate relationship. But those sincerely invested in the spiritual life know there is no shortcut to finding God. There is only one true path: through Christ.
This slim volume, penned by an anonymous Carthusian monk in the early twentieth century, offers a direct and practical way to advance one's personal holiness. Set upon a foundation of Christ's own words in the Gospels, Life in God's Presence confesses that God offers every soul the means to unity with Him through the virtues of faith, hope, and love. These virtues, coupled with a straightforward, childlike approach to prayer, can lead a soul to recognize God's presence in every aspect of daily life. By constantly and genuinely offering Him "all of our time, all of our strength, our whole soul", eternal life need not wait until after death; it can begin here and now.

Life in God's Presence

In this reflection from Fr. Peter Armenio, priest of Opus Dei, we are invited to hear Mary’s words from the Wedding Feast of Cana, “Do whatever He tells you” (John 2:5), as our instructions to listen and respond to Jesus’s command given during the Last Supper. “So when he had washed their feet [and] put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do” (John 13: 12-15). After washing their feet, Jesus instructs his Apostles to follow his example by loving and serving each other. Referencing the lives of the saints, Fr. Peter explains that although we may not literally wash others’ feet, the attitude of service can always be present, especially in the way we interact with others. In order to grow in charity, we must begin by uniting ourselves with Jesus, the source of charity. Then can we examine ourselves: how can I show more affection, more joy, and more of a spirit of service in my daily life? THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! If you enjoy our weekly meditations, please consider helping us keep the St. Josemaria Institute Podcast ad-free and accessible for all our listeners: <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/give/'>Give today!</a> <a rel="payment" href="https://stjosemaria.org/give/">Support the show</a>

Do Whatever He Tells You

Statesman, scholar, husband, father, martyr &mdash; Thomas More remains one of history's most compelling witnesses to the primacy of conscience. Thomas J. McGovern traces the spiritual formation of a man who rose to the heights of power in Tudor England without ever losing sight of what mattered most. A portrait of integrity, courage, and the quiet heroism of a life lived entirely for God.

Sir Thomas More: the Making of a Saint

Doug shares why you should have children before you are ready, how to raise emotionally intelligent children, and how to help your sons overcome laziness. Listener questions and comments: <ul> <li>Sharla - I'm and nurse and I see younger families come in and they roll with things and are more relaxed as the years go by after having more babies, as opposed to those who waited longer. (19:09)</li> </ul> Resources: Relevant Radio Dad&rsquo;s Pack <a href="https://relevantradio.store/collections/merch/products/dads-pack">https://relevantradio.store/collections/merch/products/dads-pack</a> Rekindled Hearts Marriage Bundle <a href="https://relevantradio.store/collections/books/products/marriage-bundle">https://relevantradio.store/collections/books/products/marriage-bundle</a>

When to start a family

One of history's most admired figures and one of the great lawyers and statesmen of all time, Thomas More was voted "Lawyer of the Millennium" by the Law Society of Great Britain and named "Patron of Statesmen" by John Paul II. More combined immense humanistic learning with an unequaled command of the legal and political traditions of Christendom, forging a profound philosophy of statesmanship and freedom. To this philosophic and cultural achievement, More added the virtues of an exemplary husband, father, and friend and the detachment and interior peace of a saint. He thus emerged from the first great crisis of modern tyranny—a crisis that would claim his life—as the model of a truly free man, whose conscience and character no despot can subvert. More was canonized in 1935, as Hitler was rising to power and the world needed an example of courage and skill in the face of the greatest of dangers.
Thomas More: A Portrait of Courage by Dr. Gerard Wegemer reveals how More prepared himself for the challenges of his life, and how he rose to the demands placed upon him in what became one of history's most revolutionary periods.
Thomas More is more important at this moment than at any moment since his death, even perhaps the great moment of his dying; but he is not quite so important as he will be in about a hundred years' time.  ~ G. K. Chesterton, 1929

Thomas More: A Portrait of Courage

God calls each of us by name &mdash; but do we know how to listen? Rev. Federico Suarez explores the nature of divine vocation with clarity and warmth, showing that God's call is not reserved for priests and religious but reaches every soul in the ordinary circumstances of daily life. A practical and encouraging guide for anyone seeking to discern God's will and respond with generous, wholehearted love.

When God Calls

Santa Teresa recomienda que tomemos a San José como maestro de oración. Y es que él tenía una relación singularísima, especialísima con Jesús y con María. Todo en su trato con ellos nos habla de cariño, de cotidianidad, de ternura, de confianza, de amistad. Busquemos modos como los suyos en nuestra vida de oración.

2026-09-22 José enseña a orar

23-09-26 Packing List for Apostolate (MC)

Today we bring you a homily from Fr. Peter Armenio, a priest for the Prelature of Opus Dei. It was recorded on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception in 2014 at St. Mary of the Angels Catholic Church in Chicago, IL (USA). Fr. Peter reflects on the verse “All generations will call me blessed,” and how Mary is the template for the New Evangelization. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! If you enjoy our weekly meditations, please consider helping us keep the St. Josemaria Institute Podcast ad-free and accessible for all our listeners: <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/give/'>Give today!</a> <a rel="payment" href="https://stjosemaria.org/give/">Support the show</a>

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception - A Homily by Fr. Peter Armenio (Rebroadcast)

Today on the podcast… The Lord asks that our holiness exceed that of the Pharisees (Matthew 23:1-36). We recall that the Pharisees were a virtuous people who lived the moral law, prayed many times throughout the day along with fasting and almsgiving. But the Lord wants us also to love as He has loved—a love that reveals through our actions that we are His disciples.  Desiring union with the love of Christ requires that we prioritize the formation of our heart&apos;s mission: to be humble, charitable, and pious in our actions and not just go through the motions. There are three components to this formation: Ask the help of the Holy Spirit to assist in our formation to be effective right where we are—in our piece of the world—our family, workplace, social acquaintances, and fellow parishioners.  We must be a light to others. Be salt to those around you affecting change in their lives and a desire to live the words of Christ— “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock” (Matthew 7:24). Ask our Lady to help in your formation and you will be assured of being formed according to the heart of Christ; thus your actions will be such that it may be said of you: &quot;This person reads the life of Jesus Christ&quot;; &quot;This person lives the words of Christ&quot;. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! If you enjoy our weekly meditations, please consider helping us keep the St. Josemaria Institute Podcast ad-free and accessible for all our listeners: <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/give/'>Give today!</a> <a rel="payment" href="https://stjosemaria.org/give/">Support the show</a>

A Holiness that Exceeds that of the Pharisees

Amid the challenges of your day, do you find God there with you as a Loving Father? In this podcast, Fr. Peter Armenio shares a reflection on the fatherly love of God and the joy we can experience when we live in proper relationship with him. This timely meditation speaks to the challenges present in society and inspires listeners to be a reflection of the love of God in the world today. St. Josemaria explains: “Charity is not something we ourselves build up. It invades us along with God’s grace, ‘because he has loved us first’. You and I are able to lavish affection upon those around us, because we have been born to the Faith, through the Father’s love for us. Ask God boldly for this treasure, for the supernatural virtue of charity, so that you may practice it even in the smallest details” (Friends of God, no. 229). THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! If you enjoy our weekly meditations, please consider helping us keep the St. Josemaria Institute Podcast ad-free and accessible for all our listeners: <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/give/'>Give today!</a> <a rel="payment" href="https://stjosemaria.org/give/">Support the show</a>

God, Our Infinitely Loving Father

Fr. Urteaga (1921-2009) is a writer who gave exceptional value to the human side of life, and its enrichment by an ongoing struggle for virtue. Likewise, he never lost sight of the importance of grace. He addresses parents in their sometimes-difficult job of raising children to be not only men and women, but Christian saints. His modus operandi is that life is truly worthwhile if it is lived for the love of God. 
 In these chapters, he draws on his own rich experience as a teacher and spiritual director. He adds Christian doctrine, humor, and common sense to make God and Children a book for all parents and especially those of young children. 
 Originally printed in 1960, this newly revised and slightly abridged version of Urteaga's book captures the spirit of his advice which is grounded in truth and is timeless in quality.

God and Children

Dream, and your dreams will fall short, Saint Josemaría Escrivá told early members of Opus Dei. This third and final volume of the most extensively researched work on the founder of Opus Dei covers his years in Rome, from 1946 until his death there in 1975. It describes how Opus Dei overcame major obstacles and blossomed from a handful of members in Spain into a worldwide institution, with more than 60,000 members of 80 nationalities. Andres Vazquez de Prada, a Spanish diplomat, writer, and historian who knew Saint Josemaría personally, narrates the story, using previously unpublished letters, diaries, and other sources from the archives of the Prelature of Opus Dei.

The Founder of Opus Dei, Volume III - The Divine Ways on Earth

Monica Hinderer joins Doug to dissect the differences between disciplining and punishing children. They share that when we punish children, the children often shut down, but when we discipline, we show them the adults we want them to become. Listener questions and comments: <ul> <li>Mary - What should I do instead of counting to three or spanking a toddler when they don't understand? (17:44)</li> <li>Jean - When my children were teenagers and they would use ugly language, I would have them write lines. It really helped. What do you think? (26:55)</li> <li>John - Do you have suggestions for disciplining our 17-year-old adopted daughter? (28:54)</li> <li>Marcela - How do you discipline a 10-year-old when they give you dirty looks all the time? I am the grandma, and the child lives with me. (46:35)</li> </ul> Resources: 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; Catholic Therapists <a href="https://catholictherapists.com/">https://catholictherapists.com/</a>

Discipline & Punishment

Pepe Serret was a businessman and the father of a large family. He had contagious good humor and an extraordinary capacity for friendship. He touched the lives of many people ranging from a gardener to the CEO of a company that competed with his.
Resources to learn more about Pepe Serret:
<ul>
 <li>Raventos Artes, Lluis. Pepe Serret. Himno a la vida. Madrid: Palabra, 2000. (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Llu%C3%ADs-Ravent%C3%B3s-Art%C3%A9s/dp/8490610649" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Amazon</a>, in Spanish)</li>
 <li>Rico, Octavio, and Juan Zandri, eds. Pepe Serret. Recuerdos de sus amigos. Lleida: Privately published, 1994. (<a href="https://www.scribd.com/document/682975534" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Scribd</a>, in Spanish)</li>
</ul>
For more information about Opus Dei or to inquire about Opus Dei activities in your area, visit <a href="https://opusdei.org/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠⁠www.opusdei.org⁠⁠</a>.
You can buy the book "Encounters: Finding God in All Walks of Life" from <a href="https://scepterpublishers.org/products/encounters" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠⁠Scepter Publishers⁠⁠</a> or on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/159417511X" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠</a>.

Pepe Serret: Businessman

As the Easter season comes to an end, we are sharing an excerpt from this FREE Scepter download: The Apostle Who Couldn't Believe by George Chevrot. You can download this free ebook on our website along with dozens of other ebooks.

The Apostle Who Couldn't Believe - George Chevrot

Luke 10:25-37: ‘A man was once on his way down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of brigands; they took all he had, beat him and then made off, leaving him half dead. Now a priest happened to be travelling down the same road, but when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. In the same way a Levite who came to the place saw him, and passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan traveller who came upon him was moved with compassion when he saw him. He went up and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. He then lifted him on to his own mount, carried him to the inn and looked after him. Next day, he took out two denarii and handed them to the innkeeper. “Look after him,” he said “and on my way back I will make good any extra expense you have.” Which of these three, do you think, proved himself a neighbour to the man who fell into the brigands‘ hands?’ ‘The one who took pity on him’ he replied. Jesus said to him, ‘Go, and do the same yourself.’
Who or what are the other robbers in our life?
One might be our sheer busyness.
Busy is not your friend. It makes you feel overwhelmed, tired, and inadequate. If busy were a person, would you spend all day with that person today, and then all day with that person again tomorrow? I don’t think so.
A meditation by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Lyncroft Centre, October 5, 2022.
Music: Carlos Gardel, Soledad, arranged for guitar by Bert Alink.
Thumbnail: Rembrandt, The Good Samaritan 1630. Ink drawing, Rijiksmuseum, Public Domain.

The Good Samaritan and His Friend

** Put yourself in the presence of God. Try talking to Him.
** 10 minutes are 10 minutes. Even if you can get distracted, reach the end.
** Be constant. The Holy Spirit acts "on low heat" and requires perseverance.

10-Minute audio to help you pray.
Daily sparks to ignite prayer: a passage from the gospel, an idea, an anecdote and a priest who speaks with you and the Lord, inviting you to share your intimacy with God.
Find your moment, consider you are in His presence and click play.

12-03-26 Titivillus (EA)

01-12-25 He's coming! Get ready. Get worthy (JB)

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai, June 2, 2023 in Ernescliff College, Toronto.
The account of Jesus cleansing the temple.
Mark 11, 11-26: So they reached Jerusalem and he went into the Temple and began driving out those who were selling and buying there; he upset the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those who were selling pigeons. Nor would he allow anyone to carry anything through the Temple. And he taught them and said, ‘Does not scripture say: My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples? But you have turned it into a robbers’ den.’
He was in the temple, and he is in us, as we are temples of the Holy Spirit. Which is why we make the sign of the cross over our body, in honour of the Blessed
 Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit but in the form of the cross.
Music: Waltz Op 121 No 1 Ferdinando Carulli Played by Cristian Garcia.
Thumbnail: Ippolito Scarsella Jesus Driving merchants from the temple, 1580, Capitoline Museum, Rome

Why Do You Make The Sign of the Cross?

Doug gives advice on the appropriate age to start dating, the purpose for dating, and shares standards that will help couples have a holy and chaste relationship. Doug also discusses red flags indicative of a narcissist: love bombing, false empathy, gas lighting and lack of boundaries. Plus: The Friday Rant! Listener questions and comments: <ul> <li>Mary - My daughter has been dating someone for a couple of years. The mother of her boyfriend has an unhealthy relationship and overpowers the relationship with my daughter's boyfriend. How can I help? (19:48)</li> <li>Joe - My son met a girl on Tinder. She reinforces his worst issues, and he's not going to church anymore. I think she'll be a bad mate. How can I talk him about this? (35:13)</li> </ul> Resources: Christian Courtship in an Oversexed World <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Christian-Courtship-Oversexed-World-Catholics/dp/1931709564">https://www.amazon.com/Christian-Courtship-Oversexed-World-Catholics/dp/1931709564</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>

Healthy dating relationships

Prayer is the breath of the soul &mdash; and yet so many Christians feel they don't quite know how. Rev. Francis Luna cuts through confusion and discouragement with straightforward, encouraging guidance rooted in the Church's rich tradition. Whether you are just beginning or have been praying for years, this booklet will deepen your conversation with God and renew your desire to seek his face.

How to Pray

In this podcast, Fr. Javier del Castillo reflects on the spirit of detachment and the freedom from material goods as we seek to live more fully in the presence of God. As St. Josemaria explains: &quot;The ordinary Christian has to reconcile two aspects in his life that may at first seem contradictory. There is on the one hand, true poverty, which is obvious and tangible and made up of definite things. This poverty should be an expression of faith in God and a sign that the heart is not satisfied with created things and aspires to the Creator; that it wants to be filled with love of God so as to be able to give this same love to everyone. On the other hand an ordinary Christian is and wants to be one more among his fellow men, sharing their way of life, their joys and happiness; working with them, loving the world and all the good things that exist in it; using all created things to solve the problems of human life and to establish a spiritual and material environment which will foster personal and social development&quot; (Conversations, no. 111). <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/recollection-august-year-a/'>This podcast is part of our Day of Recollection resources for the month of August, available for free online at www.stjosemaria.org.</a> <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/The-Spirit-of-Detachment-Transcript.pdf'>View Transcript</a> <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/podcast/'>Visit Show Page</a> THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! If you enjoy our weekly meditations, please consider helping us keep the St. Josemaria Institute Podcast ad-free and accessible for all our listeners: <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/give/'>Give today!</a> <a rel="payment" href="https://stjosemaria.org/give/">Support the show</a>

The Spirit of Detachment

We are all prone to a sleepiness of the soul. That raging fire of love that was once within dwindles slowly, often extinguishing without notice. Like an unknown cancer, this spreading toxin clouds your reasoning and enfeebles your will. Your spirit feels somehow empty and your joy becomes fleeting if not faded. What can you do? Like any relationship of love, the soul's friendship with God must always be reinvented, refreshed, and renewed. When the honeymoon is over, the real work begins. This brilliant volume&mdash;fully revised and remastered by the author&mdash;will help you to squelch that silent poison within: lukewarmness. From the creator of the internationally best-selling In Conversation with God series, this indispensable guide on overcoming lukewarmness can truly change your life. Learn how to defeat the "noonday devil"&mdash;that sluggish tepidity within&mdash;by rekindling the incomparable joy of following Christ. You will find that an unwavering cheerfulness will begin to pervade every area of your being and that what once was dying will be filled with life: the life of true love.

Overcoming Lukewarmness: Healing Your Soul's Sadness

Sanctity is not improvised. St. Josemar&iacute;a Escriv&aacute; believed that the soul, like any serious endeavor, requires structure &mdash; a daily rhythm of prayer, work, and sacrifice that keeps God at the center of everything. In this booklet he lays out the practical framework of a plan of life: not a rigid schedule, but a set of anchoring habits that give each day its supernatural direction. Clear, demanding, and deeply encouraging, it is essential reading for anyone who wants their ordinary hours to count for eternity.

A Plan of Life

Opening Credits

Introduction

Chapter 1: Holiness Is the Work of the Holy Spirit

Chapter 2: How Can We Foster Inspirations

Chapter 3: How Can We Know That an Inspiration Comes From God

Conclusion

Appendix I

Appendix II

Appendix III

Appendix IV

 Closing Credits

In the prayer lives of many Christians there is one person of the Trinity that often goes overlooked - The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is no less involved in our lives than the Father and the Son, yet many are unaware of this. Jesus said about the Holy Spirit, "If I go, I will send you another Comforter." But are we aware of the Holy Spirit in our lives?&nbsp; In the School of the Holy Spirit, by retreat master Jacques Philippe, will lead you to be more attentive to the movements of the Holy Spirit in your life as you learn to value the third person of the Trinity as the Sanctifier of your soul. Philippe explains the rewards of being attentive to the Holy Spirit, and provides simple and concrete ways to grow in this inner sensitivity. In his clear and simple style, he illustrates his points with many examples from modern life. The book can be a valuable aid in your own spiritual journey.

In the School of the Holy Spirit (audiobook)

Are you worried that your marriage is in danger? Do you feel like you are losing that loving feeling? Today, Doug shares how to resurrect a dead marriage. &nbsp; Listener questions and comments: <ul> <li>Joe - How do we find a way resolve issues without sounding angry and disrespectful in front of kids? (22:45)</li> </ul> &nbsp; Resources: &nbsp; Happy Marriage for Life <a href="https://www.happymarriageforlife.com/">https://www.happymarriageforlife.com/</a> &nbsp; Catholic Therapists <a href="https://catholictherapists.com/">https://catholictherapists.com/</a> &nbsp; Catholic Psychotherapy <a href="https://catholicpsychotherapy.org/">https://catholicpsychotherapy.org/</a> &nbsp; The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Seven-Principles-Making-Marriage-Work/dp/0553447718">https://www.amazon.com/Seven-Principles-Making-Marriage-Work/dp/0553447718</a> &nbsp; Hold me Tight <a href="https://bit.ly/4bWvTVz">https://bit.ly/4bWvTVz</a> &nbsp; Marriage Insurance <a href="https://relevantradio.store/products/marriage-insurance-book">https://relevantradio.store/products/marriage-insurance-book</a> &nbsp; God&rsquo;s plan for your marriage <a href="https://bit.ly/4mbkPam">https://bit.ly/4mbkPam</a> &nbsp; Practical tips to resurrecting your marriage <ol> <li>Believe that resurrection is possible and real</li> <li>Put Christ back in the center of your marriage</li> <li>Begin with a brutal but non-defensive honesty</li> <li>Get some help</li> </ol>

A Guide to Marriage Resurrection

The Bible is God's love letter, written to draw us into his life and his plan for our salvation. Theologian Jeffrey L. Morrow offers a clear, engaging, and faithful introduction to Sacred Scripture for Catholics hoping to understand the Bible more confidently and prayerfully. Drawing from the Church's teaching, the wisdom of the Fathers, and the best of contemporary scholarship, Morrow guides readers through: - What biblical inspiration really means&mdash;and why Scripture is wholly true, trustworthy, and divinely authored. - How to interpret the Bible "from the heart of the Church," through the literal and spiritual senses. - How archaeology and history powerfully support Scripture's remarkable reliability. - A tour of each major section of the Bible, illuminating its themes, contexts, and place within salvation history. - How every book of the Bible fits into the story of salvation. More than an overview, this book invites readers to encounter the living God in the pages of the Bible&mdash;to understand not only what Scripture says, but why it was written: ". . . that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work" (2 Tm 3:17). Whether you are opening the Bible for the first time or seeking a renewed, richer understanding, this book will help you read Scripture as the Church has always read it: faithfully, intelligently, and as a path to holiness.

The Word of God Inspired For Our Salvation

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Free Books of the Month

In this meditation for the Solemnity of Christ the King, Fr. Leo Austin invites us to contemplate the final gospel of the liturgical year, a gospel in which Christ’s kingship is revealed through the cross in suffering, silence, and mercy.  We are invited to recognize that the kingdom Christ brings is present in the heart of every Christian who asks for grace and opens themselves to his reign. Listen now to reflect on: <ul><li>Why the Cross is the true throne of Christ the King. </li><li>How the “good thief” reveals a path to conversion. </li><li>What it means for Christ to reign first in our soul. </li><li>The difference between suffering like Christ and suffering with Christ. </li><li>The interior kingdom Christ offers: joy, mercy, and friendship with God.</li></ul><a href='https://stjosemaria.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Christ-the-King-Kingdom-of-Mercy-Transcript.pdf'>View Transcript</a> <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/podcasts/christ-the-king-kingdom-of-mercy/'>Visit Show Page</a> THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! If you enjoy our weekly meditations, please consider helping us keep the St. Josemaria Institute Podcast ad-free and accessible for all our listeners: <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/give/'>Give today!</a> <a rel="payment" href="https://stjosemaria.org/give/">Support the show</a>

Christ the King: A Kingdom of Mercy

Are some emotions bad? What should you do if your child&rsquo;s emotions are out of control? Monica Hinderer joins Doug sharing the devastating impact of invalidating your child&rsquo;s emotions. They unpack 6 types of emotional invalidation and share how to validate your child's emotions. &nbsp; Listener questions and comments: <ul> <li>Sue - I have a 27-year-old son who doesn't really talk to me because he was so mistreated and criticized by his dad. I couldn't do anything to balance that out. I am very grateful for this topic. (41:53)</li> </ul> &nbsp; Types of emotional invalidation <ol> <li>Minimizing</li> <li>Dismissing</li> <li>Judging</li> <li>Fixing too quickly</li> <li>Comparing</li> <li>Ignoring</li> </ol>

Validating your child’s emotions

22-07-25 Early Morning in front of an empty tomb (JB)

Doug shares what the Church teaches about Marriage as a vocation, a path to holiness and a field for developing virtue. What do you do when one spouse is more devout? What if you are married to someone who is emotionally unavailable? Doug answers these questions and more.

Marriage and the Catholic Church

13-07-24 Sparrows and Hair (JB)

In this week’s podcast, Fr. Javier del Castillo shows how the Apostles were changed after receiving the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and how we too can be docile to the promptings of the Spirit. What you’ll hear: - How the Church was truly universal at the very beginning - Why the Acts of the Apostles is sometimes referred to as the “Gospel of the Holy Spirit” - How the Apostles were different after receiving the Holy Spirit at Pentecost - The gifts of the Holy Spirit that the Apostles received at Pentecost - The Holy Spirit’s central role in evangelization - Why St. Josemaria referred to the Holy Spirit as “the Great Unknown” - How we can get to know the Holy Spirit THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! If you enjoy our weekly meditations, please consider helping us keep the St. Josemaria Institute Podcast ad-free and accessible for all our listeners: <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/give/'>Give today!</a> <a rel="payment" href="https://stjosemaria.org/give/">Support the show</a>

Pentecost Sunday 2015

A Spiritual Retreat on St. Joseph, Father and Protector&nbsp;guides us on a prayerful reflection on St. Joseph as our father and protector, and his role in our salvation.
On this retreat, we are guided to contemplate the life of St. Joseph, his virtues and zeal, and take a contemplative look at our own lives. St. Joseph teaches us&ndash; despite our weaknesses, doubts, frailty, and sinfulness&ndash; how to see all the things of our lives as having a higher purpose and he helps us to desire and grow in virtue in all the circumstances of our lives. With St. Joseph as our father and protector, we are able to see our lives as being a part of a larger guided providence and not as a random series of events.
&ldquo;St. Joseph really is a father and lord. He protects those who revere him and accompanies them on their journey through this life &mdash; just as he protected and accompanied Jesus when he was growing up. As you get to know him, you discover that the holy patriarch is also a master of the interior life &mdash; for he teaches us to know Jesus and share our life with him, and to realize that we are part of God&rsquo;s family. St. Joseph can teach us these lessons, because he is an ordinary man, a family man, a worker who earned his living by manual labor &mdash; all of which has great significance and is a source of happiness for us&rdquo; (St. Josemaria Escriva;&nbsp;Christ is Passing By, no. 39).
A Spiritual Retreat on St. Joseph, Father and Protector is a collection of five meditations preached by Rev. John Henry Hanson, O. Praem., a Norbertine priest of St Michael&rsquo;s Abbey in Silverado, California and contributor to the St. Josemaria Institute.

Part Two | An Accepting Father

In our meditation of the week:  Fr. Javier del Castillo helps us to contemplate the Gospel of the Mass for the Third Sunday of Lent— Jesus cleansing the Temple (John 2:13-25). This is a rare moment in the Gospel when Jesus gets angry because the worship that was due to his Father was being mingled with human motives and was not worthy of his Father God. As Fr. Javier explains, when it comes to the sacred, Our Lord makes no allowances for competition. The same is true for us as the temples of the Holy Spirit. &quot;Do you not know that your body is a temple of the holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?&quot; (1 Corinthians 6:19) The virtue which allows us to love God and to worship God rightly with an undivided heart is holy purity. Purity is not simply a virtue for the single person but for everyone—married, single, priest, and religious. It is a virtue that allows us to see God behind everyone and every situation in our lives. And it allows us to be a contemplative, to carry that temple, to carry God with us wherever we go. Our heart is something great, something valuable, and we have to keep it pure for God. There&apos;s many manifestations of this virtue and they are all beautiful, but they do require sacrifice. And that is where we need to really make a commitment to living these sacrifices so that the valuable gift of holy purity can be safeguarded. <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/The-Temple-and-the-Virtue-of-Holy-Purity-Transcript.pdf'>View Transcript</a> <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/podcasts/temple-and-holy-purity/'>Visit Show Page</a> THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! If you enjoy our weekly meditations, please consider helping us keep the St. Josemaria Institute Podcast ad-free and accessible for all our listeners: <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/give/'>Give today!</a> <a rel="payment" href="https://stjosemaria.org/give/">Support the show</a>

The Temple and the Virtue of Holy Purity

Doug continues his discussion on what a Narcissist is and how you love them.

Narcissism pt 2

How do you overcome a broken heart? What do you do when your husband is in denial? How do you help adult children who aren&rsquo;t pulling their weight? Should you make your children play sports? Why is there a decline in intimacy in my marriage? Doug answers these questions and more. &nbsp; Listener questions and comments: <ul> <li>Jessica - Am I doing harm to my son by making him play sports even though he hates it? He is 12. (16:08)</li> <li>PJ - I am dealing with failure-to-launch adult children. How do I help them? (22:24)</li> </ul> &nbsp; Resources: &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>

Mending a Broken Heart

A meditation preached at Lyncroft Centre, Toronto, on July 20, 2025.In Genesis 18 we have the account of the appearance of the Lord to Abraham at the Oak of Mamre.  It is a wonderful account, in the heat of the day, with the cicada and the grasshoppers buzzing and the heat haze. Then we get a mirror image of this with the account of Bethany, and Jesus being treated, with his apostles by Martha and Mary. (Luke 10:38-42)It&#39;s all about where we can contemplate God and serve him in our life. Framing our stresses, anxiety, our multiple tasks in the light of God&#39;s love.Music: Michael Lee of Toronto.Thumbnail: Andrei Rublev Icon of Three Angels at Oaks of Mambre, 1410 in Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.

Abraham, Martha, and Mary: Finding Places to Serve God

What can Mary&rsquo;s Assumption into heaven teach us about marriage? Doug shares how sacramental marriage is a preparation for perfect union with God in heaven which Our Lady now enjoys. PLUS: A celebration of everything that is good about marriage. &nbsp; Listener questions and comments: <ul> <li>Ray - Let's say you have a spouse and you were to meet another person, better than the spouse you have... how would God look at you, or is that the devil? (8:33)</li> <li>Raul and Marilyn - I want to brag about my wife. We have been married nearly 37 years, and she is my saint. Christ has been right there from the beginning when we left the alter. (13:11)</li> <li>Jessica - Doug has a lot to do with my marriage being at a positive place right now. I emailed him, and I have been listening to the show for a while, and it has helped me change the perspective I have about marriage. (19:42)</li> <li>Helen - I've been married for 40 years. It has been very hard at times, and we have 5 children. With Relevant Radio for the past 5 years, we have grown together through prayer. (22:54)</li> <li>Vito - I was married for over 66 years before my wife passed away. We were together for 83 years and lived in the same house. She lived on the first floor, and I lived on the second floor. It was an exceptional marriage because we had the Lord in our marriage. (36:12)</li> <li>Len - I was married 44 years ago today on the Feast Day of the Assumption! (42:26)</li> <li>Monica - I thought I was married to the best man in the whole world, until I heard Vito. I did marry the best person. He is my cross and he is my gift. (48:36)</li> </ul> &nbsp; Resources: &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>

Celebrating Mary Assumed into Heaven

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Fr. Eric Nicolai preached this meditation as the introduction to a retreat for priests of various dioceses at the Manoir de Beaujeu, near Montreal. It was preached on February 28, 2024.
Mark 1:21-28: Today’s Gospel about the authority with which Jesus spoke in the synagogue of Capernaum. It was a place of quiet, to read the Word of God, and to pray.
Jesus simply spoke. That is the power of his word. Just like with his word he could create the heavens and the earth. No need for special incantations, or long prayers, or formulas.
But Jesus said sharply, ‘Be quiet! Come out of him!’ And the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and with a loud cry went out of him. He tells him to be quiet. There is no way the devil could say or speak anything of value. In a certain way he is telling each one of us to be quite too, we need to stay silent, because he has much to tell us.
Thumbnail: Jesus expels demon in Possessed man in Synagogue, by James Tissot, 1886. In Brooklyn Museum.
Music: Adrift among the infinite stars by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com

Distraction and Dissipation

Beloved by millions, The Way is St. Josemaría's spiritually rich collection of points for meditation and prayer. Genial but pointed, The Way is born out of deep Christian experience and aims at encouraging people to love God and live for Him. Says St. Josemaría: The 999 points which make up The Way were written with yearnings to see Christ, the light of the world. Anyone who reads it with the same yearnings will not have opened this book in vain. This mini edition fits easily into the most jammed purse or pocket.

The Way (Mini Edition)

Fr. Eric Nicolai preached this meditation to a group of priests in Toronto, on January 16, 2024.
Like brother Lawrence&#39;s experience in the 17th century, he saw a tree in the winter, and it was just branches, without leaves or flowers. But upon looking at it, he received the grace to realize that within just a few months that tree would be totally in bloom. This gave him a deep view of the providence of God which would never be faced from his soul.
Formation is “self-cultivation”.  This is like irrigating and cultivating a piece of arable land so that it will produce good crops.

Formation: Being Arable Land

In this podcast, Fr. Peter Armenio speaks of the New Evangelization, a term coined by St. John Paul II, as the “original evangelization.” The early Christians did not go into far off lands to convert others to Christ, they started where they were: in their families, their workplace, their circle of friends. By sharing the Gospel with others, one by one, they eventually changed the culture and the world. The example of the early Christians reminds us that we don’t need to leave our place in the world to become great evangelizers. Christ calls us to be “the light of the world” in our everyday occupations and in the ordinary circumstances of our life. Our mission territory is right where we find ourselves. This is where Christ calls us to share His life. Ultimately this is what St. Josemaria envisioned for the laity, especially for “the life of the members of Opus Dei, ordinary Christians who strive to live their Christian vocation fully without leaving the world” (Conversations, no. 33). All of us are called to be the light, leaven, and salt in the middle of the world, “that by our very presence, by our very witness, Jesus says, we will start to change the world.” This podcast is part of our Day of Recollection resources for the month of October. Access and download the full resources for free at www.stjosemaria.org. <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Bringing-Christ-to-the-Heart-of-the-World-Transcript.pdf'>View Transcript</a> <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/podcast/'>Visit Show Page</a> THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! If you enjoy our weekly meditations, please consider helping us keep the St. Josemaria Institute Podcast ad-free and accessible for all our listeners: <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/give/'>Give today!</a> <a rel="payment" href="https://stjosemaria.org/give/">Support the show</a>

Bringing Christ to the Heart of the World

In this meditation for the feast of St. Josemaria Escriva, Fr. Donncha Ó hAodha reflects personal freedom as the capacity to love. Drawing upon a simple aspiration St. Josemaria learned as a child— “Yours am I, I was born for thee. What is it, O Jesus, you want of me?”—Fr. Donncha explains how St. Josemaria’s spirituality was shaped by a docility to the Holy Spirit which allowed him to see that ordinary Christians can become saints through their daily work, relationships, and responsibilities.  Through prayer and reflection, we are encouraged to deepen our awareness of our identity as children of God and to discover new ways of loving and serving him in the ordinary circumstances of life.  Listen and reflect on: <ul><li>Our identity as beloved children of God </li><li>Holiness in ordinary life </li><li>The sanctification of work </li><li>Freedom fulfilled through love </li><li>Sharing the spirit of St. Josemaría with others </li></ul><a href='https://stjosemaria.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/St.-Josemaria-What-Is-It-O-Jesus-You-Want-of-Me-Transcript.pdf'>View Transcript</a> <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/podcasts/what-is-it-o-jesus-you-want-of-me/'>Visit Show Page</a> THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! If you enjoy our weekly meditations, please consider helping us keep the St. Josemaria Institute Podcast ad-free and accessible for all our listeners: <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/give/'>Give today!</a> <a rel="payment" href="https://stjosemaria.org/give/">Support the show</a>

“What Is It, O Jesus, You Want of Me?”

Doug reads an email from a man who struggles with sexual addiction and wants to save his marriage. Doug shares the importance of divine intervention through confession, mortification, and prayers of deliverance. Doug shares a case study from Impossible Marriages Redeemed by Leila Miller. In this situation, the husband was living a double life and having an affair. The marriage was healed through the power of confession, the rosary, and 12-step programs. &nbsp; Listener questions and comments: <ul> <li>Deedee - Given the rise of porn among men, how does a woman live a life of chastity?</li> </ul> &nbsp; Resources: Impossible Marriages Redeemed <a href="https://www.leilamiller.net/impossiblemarriagesredeemedpdf">https://www.leilamiller.net/impossiblemarriagesredeemedpdf</a> &nbsp; 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>

Marriages healed through the sacraments

In our meditation of the week: Msgr. Fred Dolan reflects on the 100th anniversary of St. Josemaria’s priestly ordination on March 28, 1925. He invites us to consider the extraordinary fruitfulness of St. Josemaria’s life and his desire to be a genuine priest with a genuine and serious concern for souls that led him to love everyone without distinction. Drawing from personal anecdotes and historical accounts, Msgr. Dolan highlights three defining traits of St. Josemaria’s priesthood: his passionate love for the Eucharist, his burning desire for souls, and his constant search for God’s will. He recounts St. Josemaria&apos;s deep humility, his desire to serve without recognition, and his conviction that everything is done by God. Msgr. Dolan reminds us that central to the spirituality of St. Josemaria is the call to place the Holy Mass at the very heart of our lives. For St. Josemaria, the Mass was not a daily obligation, but the center and root of his interior life—something he urged all his spiritual children to imitate. Reflecting on the 50th anniversary of his ordination, St. Josemaria wrote: “Let us renew the resolution that the Holy Mass will be always the center and root of our existence. That is the best celebration of priesthood.” <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/A-Genuine-Priest-On-the-100th-Anniversary-of-St.-Josemarias-Ordination-Transcript.pdf'>View Transcript</a><a href='https://stjosemaria.org/podcasts/a-genuine-priest-1925-2025'>Visit Show Page </a> THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! If you enjoy our weekly meditations, please consider helping us keep the St. Josemaria Institute Podcast ad-free and accessible for all our listeners: <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/give/'>Give today!</a> <a rel="payment" href="https://stjosemaria.org/give/">Support the show</a>

A Genuine Priest: On the 100th Anniversary of St. Josemaria's Ordination

Fr. Eric Nicolai preached this meditation at Lyncroft Centre in Toronto, on January 2, 2026.Acts of the Apostles repeatedly describes the Apostles speaking with parrhesia—freedom, frankness, fearless speech (Acts 2:29; 4:13, 29, 31). They had received the spirit of adoption. Of divine filiation.Paul still throbs with this parrhesia, the thrill that he witnessed in the apostles. “You did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ (Rom 8:15). How can this fearless sense of conviction imbue us as sons and daughters of God in 2026?Music: Angelic Choir Library with license, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.Thumbnail: Apostles at Pentecost 1030-1040, Ottonian parchment, Regensburg The J. Paul Getty Museum

Reasons to be Fearless and Confident

Doug shares first date red flags, his list of what to avoid, and what to look for on a first date. PLUS: The Friday Rant! First date red flags: arriving late, using the phone too much, high jacking the conversation, talking about your ex, debating everything, being overly touchy, expecting intimacy, complaining about everything, and splitting the bill. Listener questions and comments: <ul> <li>Susie - I am single and looking for Mr. Right. I have no Valentine and am looking for one. I am perturbed. Can you help me?</li> <li>Dee - Men should always pay the bill, not just on the first date.</li> <li>Lane - Valentine's Day is a ploy for selling candy, cards, and jewelry.</li> <li>Sarah - I have been married for 3 years - the best 3 years of my life. I prayed to St. Valentine for my husband.</li> <li>Debbie - I use Valentine's day to do self-development and do something for myself. I know how to be single with love.</li> <li>Liz - Valentine's Day is just another Day. My husband bought flowers the first two years but we don&rsquo;t celebrate anymore.</li> <li>Ricardo - I am 23 years old and listening. This is very refreshing to hear you say all this about relationships.</li> <li>Sheila - I also try to bow to God's will. I am getting married at the age 60.</li> </ul> Resources: Rekindled Hearts <a href="https://relevantradio.store/products/rekindled-hearts-book">https://relevantradio.store/products/rekindled-hearts-book</a>

Valentine’s Day Dating Advice

This week, Fr. Jeff shares some insights into how we, as parents, can encourage and foster a celibate vocation in our children.

Ep. 25 Q&A How to Encourage Celibate Vocations in My Children?

We are in a dark world, but the light of heaven streams in like a beam of luminosity, and hope, represented by that Easter pillar of light. Fr. Eric Nicolai preaches at Lyncroft Centre in Toronto about the meaning of the Easter Candle and the words of St. Paul to the Corinthians: Death, where is thy Sting? (1 Cor 15, 55).
 Thumbnail: The Harrowing of Hell, Russian 15th century icon, St. Petersburg.
Music: A heart that knows its Jesus is living, BWV 134 - II Aria: Auf Gläubige, singet die lieblichen Lieder, open source, from museopen.org.

Easter Sunday: Death, where is Your Sting?

For many, there is a touch of anxiety when the words of faith and finance are so close together. But that doesn’t have to be the case. Money mentors Jonathan and Amanda Teixeira of Wallet Win enlighten us on the matter. We discuss stewardship, the classic mistakes couples make, why to start budgeting now, and the idea of maximum fruitfulness.The Teixeiras can be found: <a href="https://walletwin.com">https://walletwin.com</a>Their podcast, the Catholic Money Show: <a href="https://walletwin.com/podcast/">https://walletwin.com/podcast/</a>

Ep. 20 Faith and Finances (with Jonathan and Amanda Teixeira)

Fr. Eric Nicolai comments on the effects of the gospel account of Jesus and the young rich man (Mark 10, 17-22). He had potential, that&#39;s why Jesus chose him. When you see someone with qualities, that works well, and seems to be a good person, you and I think of their potential. The power to become something more. You think of something still unrealized. Its latent within them. Undeveloped. Embryonic. There is a hidden future that gives you hope. What about our apostolic potential?
Preached in the Manoir de Beaujeu, March 22, 2023.
 
Thumbnail: Jesus and disciples fishing, medieval stained glass detail, Canterbury Cathedral 12th cent. Photo by Chris Beckett, Flickr.
Music: Chiquinha Gonzaga composer, Lua Branca (arranged for guitar by Bert Alink).

Our Apostolic Potential

Doug unpacks 14 nonnegotiable rules for a lasting marriage. He discusses the importance of respecting boundaries, talking through difficulties, forgiving, embracing differences, and practicing patience. Listener questions: &middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; My husband and I got divorced but we never got an annulment. My husband has been remarried and I'm wondering if I'm sinning by not getting an annulment? &middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The man I am dating wants to go back to school. How should this factor into my discernment of our dating? &nbsp; Resources: &nbsp; 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; Catholic Therapists <a href="https://www.catholictherapists.com/">https://www.catholictherapists.com/</a>

14 tips for a lasting marriage

As they begin their study of Psalm 2:8, Jake, Pat, and Louis explore one of the most surprising themes in Scripture: God doesn't simply allow us to ask—He desires it. Drawing on St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Gregory the Great, and the teachings of Scripture, they unpack why prayer is more than presenting requests to God. It is an act of trust, sonship, and cooperation with His grace.Together, they discuss why God invites persistent prayer, how asking prepares our hearts to receive His gifts, and why bold confidence—not timid hesitation—is the posture of every child of God. Through the examples of Christ Himself and the saints, they reveal that prayer is not about informing God of our needs, but about allowing Him to enlarge our desire for the gifts He has always wanted to give.Join us as we begin unpacking Psalm 2:8 and discover why the boldest prayers are often the ones God most desires to hear.

Verse 8, Part 1- Why God Wants You to Ask Boldly

Today we bring you a homily from Fr. Peter Armenio, a priest for the Prelature of Opus Dei. It was recorded on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception in 2014 at St. Mary of the Angels Catholic Church in Chicago, IL (USA).Fr. Peter reflects on the verse “All generations will call me blessed,” and how Mary is the template for the New Evangelization. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! If you enjoy our weekly meditations, please consider helping us keep the St. Josemaria Institute Podcast ad-free and accessible for all our listeners: <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/give/'>Give today!</a> <a rel="payment" href="https://stjosemaria.org/give/">Support the show</a>

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

Edited by Stephen Smith 
Foreword by Gerard Wegemer 
For the first time in forty years, the selected letters of St. Thomas More—son, husband, father, friend, statesman and martyr—are now available in this newly edited volume for the contemporary reader. Moving from the days of his youth to the startling drama of his final years, this collection serves as a "life in letters" and offers the reader fresh insight into More's education, formation, and character, visible both in season and out of season, in little matters as well as great controversies.
 The first English writer to use the word "integrity," More struggled to live as well as he wrote, with personal virtue, solid piety, and a well-formed conscience. These letters reflect all the facets of his humanity and personality, and through them, one may begin to glimpse the living face of this famous "man for all seasons," as he was known even in his own time. 
 In addition to the letters from Thomas More, the book offers introductory notes on the family members, friends, and other historical figures relevant to his life's history.

For All Seasons: Selected Letters of Thomas More

When we think of famous persons in history we usually remember their great deeds in the areas of science, politics, art, etc. But for some, their greatest achievement in life was not played out before the public, but rather took place within the private sphere of their marriage. The world may remember them for their extraordinary gifts and accomplishments, but they, at the end of their lives, were most mindful of their greatest love: their spouse. 
This book, 16 Marriages That Made History, honors the hidden love adventures of several famous persons in history. It offers concrete examples of historical marriages that transformed these well-known individuals in deep and personal ways. These are not fairy tales of marriages "made in heaven;" they are stories of real people with real struggles, who, through their marriage, were challenged, strengthened, and encouraged to grow in their capacity for love.
In this book, you will learn:

•How marriages can grow stronger through time
•How marriage can provide tremendous strength for facing life's difficulties
•How people with very different personalities can be completely united in marriage
•How one woman's selfless love saved her marriage
•How a queen learned to put her husband and her marriage ahead of power 
•How one couple's united search for truth led them to embrace the Catholic Faith

This book will help to restore your confidence in the power of marriage. It is recommended for those just starting out on their marriage journey as well as for those already well advanced along the path.

16 Marriages That Made History

Author's Note

Preface

Part 1: The Destroyers

Chapter 1: The Rationalism of René Descartes

Chapter 2: Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Sentimentalism

Chapter 3: Friedrich Nietzsche’s Voluntarism

Part 2: The Builders

Part 2, Chapter 1: Blaise Pascal's Reason of the Heart

Three of the seven &ldquo;prophets&rdquo; presented in this book&mdash;Descartes,Rousseau, and Nietzsche&mdash;provoked or facilitated, through their intellectual activity, great upheavals.
The others&mdash;Pascal, Kierkegaard, Dostoevsky, and Soloviev&mdash; predicted these very upheavals but showed us the way to overcome them.
If we study all seven of these philosophers in depth, we will have an easier time grasping the essence and origin of the universal drama now unfolding before our eyes and we will make wise and courageous choices for a better future.
Alex Havard walks us through the hills and valleys of recent history: the philosophical pitfalls embraced by the world, and the transcendent values and virtues that will help us overcome them.
This book is our way forward, as a collective community&mdash;a way to understand where the intellectual confusion began, so that we may find our way out of it.