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In her book "Maybe You Should talk to someone" (2019), Lori Gottlieb explores the inner chambers of her patients’ lives. &nbsp;We too are like patients, with all these inner chambers. These are chambers that we must prepare to open up, so that we can be helped to see how all the machinery is working. Preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Lyncroft Centre on July 6, 2022.
Music: Andrian Berenguer, Fall (Album Multiplicity, 2017)
For more meditations, check my channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/EricNicolai/videos
www.ernescliff.ca
www.opusdei.ca

Being Sincere in Spiritual Direction

In September the Church celebrates the feasts of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (14th) and Our Lady of Sorrows (15th). On today&apos;s podcast we prepare ourselves for the celebration of these feasts with the help of Our Lady by observing her example during the Passion of her Son and contemplating her at the foot of the Cross. Our Lady of Sorrows places us at her side, before Jesus on the Cross, to help us mature in our share in the mission of her Son. Bringing us to the Cross means helping us to face up to the difficulties of life, since learning how to deal with suffering is a major step in our personal growth. And, it means sharing in the mission of the redemption of Christ, which gives great depth to the purpose of our lives. Therefore, at the foot of the Cross: Ask yourself: How do I handle difficulties? Do I dig deeper to find its deeper meaning? Contemplate the great miracles of Jesus and see how most of them were messy.Consider: If we don&apos;t have the Cross, what are we left with?Ask for the grace of great serenity, joy, and efficacy in your mission to co-redeem with Christ. <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>

Our Lady of Sorrows

Motherhood Coach Janet Quinlan joins us this season to talk about how our thoughts create our reality. In this first episode of a 3-part series we'll be sharing over the next couple months, Janet helps us re-think the thoughts we have about our marriages and spouses to better set us up for success.You can find Janet online at <a href="https://janetquinlan.com">https://janetquinlan.com</a>And her podcast, Finding Joy in Motherhood: <a href="https://janetquinlan.com/podcast/">https://janetquinlan.com/podcast/</a>

Ep. 10 Your Thoughts Create Your Marriage with Janet Quinlan

In this podcast, Msgr. Fred Dolan brings our attention to the days between the Ascension and Pentecost where we join Mary, the holy women, and the Apostles in the Upper Room as they eagerly await the coming of the Holy Spirit. As he explains, “Thinking of those in the Upper Room, there was nothing static about their daily life during those days between Easter and the Ascension. After all, they had spent three long years being constantly nourished by the Master. And so, during that time in the Upper Room, each of them had to dig deep into their interior life in order to grapple with their new situation, in order to seek strength.”As we continue to contemplate the events surrounding Christ’s death and Resurrection, Msgr. Dolan reminds us that Christ is not merely a distant figure of the past but that he is truly alive and present among us! So we also can find strength today in the same charisms that strengthened the Apostles during this pivotal time: contemplation, the Eucharist, and Our Lady’s maternal love.  <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/With-Mary-Praying-as-a-Single-Family-Transcript.pdf'>View Transcript</a> <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/podcast/'>Visit Show Page</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>

With Mary, Praying as a Single Family

Doug shares reasons why people fall out of love. He stresses the importance of staying connected through regular prayer, date nights and communicating about your hopes and dreams. &nbsp; Listener Questions and comments: <ul> <li>Maria - I have been married about 40 years and have had a good friend for 15 years. I sacrificed my friendship for my marriage. How can I save both?</li> <li>Rick - I'm in the process of a divorce. We just concluded mediation. Is there any hope for my marriage?</li> <li>Jim &ndash; How do you help a friend who says that her boyfriend is controlling and they're getting married soon?</li> <li>Tom - I've been separated for the last 7 years, but we're still married. I read a book on boundaries, and a lot of trouble we've had, and we haven't communicated boundaries. What do you think about boundaries?</li> <li>Rana - Marriage in the military could be stressful too, especially if the spouse is higher in rank. As long as he outranked me, he was happy.&nbsp; When we were the same rank, it was okay.&nbsp; When I outranked him, it was a blow, and that started the resentment. I made more money.&nbsp; We are now divorced.</li> <li>Mary - What do you think about the silent treatment?</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; Catholic Therapists <a href="https://www.catholictherapists.com/">https://www.catholictherapists.com/</a>

Reasons why couples fall out of love

#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.

06-03-26 When we beat, stone, and kill the prophets (JB)

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Lyncroft Centre in Toronto, January 18, 2026. Today’s Gospel presents the account of Jesus&#39; baptism seen through the lens of John the Evangelist. Its the Evangelist’s take. The Baptist appears in the description. (John 1:29-34). But John the Evangelist here interprets the baptism not simply as an event, but as a revelation of identity and mission. Jesus&#39; mission is to be the Lamb that will take away the sin of the world. We need humility to recognize our sins, and embrace God&#39;s forgiveness. Have I really done that?Thumbnail : Francisco de Zurbarán, The Lamb of God, 1635, Prado Museum in Madrid.Music: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Angelic, with license.

Behold the Lamb of God

In Love with the Church brings together four homilies of Saint Josemaría Escrivá, the founder of Opus Dei. These homilies contain magnificent reflections on the Church and on the layperson's role in the Church, written in Saint Josemaría's attractive and compelling style. This book offers the reader and opportunity to grow in love for the Church and to learn how to serve her more faithfully, guided by a saint whose own love for the Church was truly remarkable.

In Love with the Church

In this reflection, Fr. Peter Armenio, priest of Opus Dei, invites us to take time during the Easter season to ask God in our prayer: “What is it that you want me to contemplate in light of the Resurrection?” Fr. Peter explains that we will see that we are called to bring Jesus Christ into the world in a &quot;new way&quot;, especially through our joy— the joy that comes from making “Jesus Christ the center of our work, sufferings, and recreation.” “If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. ‘I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you’” (Jn 15:10-12). As we contemplate the “cloak of joy surrounding the mystery of the Resurrection,” we can ask God for a “conversion of interior life.” And, the joy that overflows from our interior lives will help to draw those around us to Jesus Christ. <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 Resurrection: Icon of Joy

Matthew 22:1-14: The King who sought to invite people to the wedding feast of his son, but nobody would come. What is to be done? There is nothing for it but to send out into the streets and lanes of the city, the highways and hedges of the countryside, and bring in the poor, the lame, the halt, and the blind, and fill up the vacant seats with guests less favoured, guests who cannot afford to refuse such generosity. Those people are us, and we have been invited, despite our poverty.
Fr. Eric Nicolai peached this meditation at Kintroe college in Toronto on October 15, 2023.
Music: Bert Alink, Mossy Garden.
Thumbnail: Abraham van Beyeren, Banquet Still Life, 1667

Enter The Great Banquet with the King

31-03-26 At The Last Supper (NS)

As we begin the Advent Season, Fr. Luke Mata offers some thoughts on how we can use this time to prepare well for the birth of the Christ Child. Today, we can resolve to run forth to meet Christ.

Ep. 39 Annual Advent/Christmas Reflection with Fr. Luke Mata

In this meditation, Msgr. Fred Dolan reflects on the profound role for Our Lady in our lives as Christians and our need “to embrace Our Lady to remind her of how much we love her.” He especially reflects on the meaning and devotion to the Holy Rosary and how it is an expression we can you use to repeat our love for Our Lady “again and again and again.”As St. Josemaria Escriva wrote: “Today as in other times, the rosary must be a powerful weapon, to enable us to win in our interior struggle and to help all souls. Exalt holy Mary with your tongue: God asks you for reparation, and for praise from your lips. May you always want to know how to spread peace and happiness throughout the world, through this beautiful devotion to our Lady, and through your watchful love.” <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/To-Jesus-Through-Mary.pdf'>View Transcript</a> <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/podcasts/podcast-to-jesus-through-mary-2'>Visit Show Page</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>

To Jesus Through Mary (Rebroadcast)

02-04-26 Friends with Jesus (JPM)

You, therefore, must be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matt 5:48). Fr. Eric Nicolai preaches at Lyncroft Centre in Toronto, on April 26 2023. The message “Be perfect...” might cause us to wilt. How can I be perfect even as a human being, much less “as the Father is perfect” – the Infinite, Omnipotent God whom I cannot see, whom (it seems) I know only from a distance? This is an impossible vocation! Indeed it is... if I am relying only on my own efforts. This is why a Gospel reduced to mere human moralism is always either oppressive or watered down to a purely human proposal.

Jesus Calls us to be Perfect. How?

As you read through the narrative of how Virtuous Leadership expert Alex Havard came to find his mission through the contemplation of his own story, ask yourself: 
What is my story? What is my talent? What is the cultural or social challenge I am called to respond to with passion and dedication?
 Reflect on your story. Contemplate it. Recognize that your story is your strength. And write it down.  
"In my Virtuous Leadership classes I always call on my students to discover their own essence in order to identify a mission. And to help determine what that is, I ask them to write the story of their lives to that point. I suggest that in the writing they will begin to see themselves for who they are, to develop a concept of self, and, in the process, discern a mission—the thing they were born to do."- Alexandre Havard

Discovering a Mission: My Way to Virtuous Leadership

On this episode of Marriage Unhindered, Matt Young joins Doug to discuss suicide prevention. &nbsp; Listener questions and comments: <ul> <li>Elizabeth - I had postpartum depression and I was feeling suicidal at the time. This was 20 years ago. (22:47)</li> <li>Jim - When I served in Vietnam, a soldier was reading a letter, and then immediately killed himself. It was because his girlfriend was breaking up with him. It's haunted me to his day. (26:38)</li> <li>Diane - My son passed away and there were many times I've thought about taking my life. I'm going to a Christian therapist. Sometimes I still think about doing it. (33:16)</li> <li>Sonya - I attempted suicide when I was 6 years old. My parents were fighting and my dad was beating my mother up. My older brother pushed me into bathroom to lock the door. I was slamming my head against bathtub faucet. I wanted to die, but God stopped me. (39:06)</li> </ul> &nbsp; Resources: &nbsp; If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, call or text 988 &nbsp; American Foundation for Suicide Prevention <a href="https://afsp.org/">https://afsp.org/</a>

A Story of Hope

The Lord said: "I will ask the Father and He will give you another Advocate to dwell with you forever, the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you shall know him because he will dwell with you, and be in you" (Jn 14: 16-17).
Think how great the HS must be for Christ to utter these words:
"It is to your advantage that I go away…" (Jn 16,7)
Picture the invisible Holy Spirit active in your soul now. Are you aware of him acting in your mind? In your will? In guiding your conscience? The first Christians were. It certainly made them move. Gave them deep sense of responsibility. St. Josemaria had a prayer to the Holy Spirit. Preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Ernescliff College.
Music: Handel, Opera Rinaldo, Aria "Lascia ch'io pianga", arranged for guitar by Bert Alink.
For more meditations, check my channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/EricNicolai/videos
www.ernescliff.ca
www.opusdei.ca

How The Holy Spirit Energizes

As we begin a new season of Lent, Fr. Peter Armenio shares a reflection on the importance of connecting with the Lord through prayer, fasting and almsgiving. It is a season to look inward and assess what the Lord is asking us to deny, offer up, so that we can share in his self-emptying and experience the joy of everlasting life.St. Josemaria Escriva reminds us that “conversion is the task of a moment; sanctification is the work of a lifetime” (Christ is Passing By, no. 58). The Lenten season is an opportunity to begin again, to continue laying the foundation of your spiritual journey, and to grow in holiness in your everyday life. By accompanying Christ in the desert, we can put into practice the spiritual tools needed to become a saint in the world today. <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/A-Time-of-Penance-Purification-and-Conversion-Transcript.pdf'>View Transcript</a> <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/podcast/'>Visit Show Page</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 Time of Penance, Purification & Conversion (Rebroadcast)

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Lyncroft Centre in Toronto, on April 2, 2026, Holy Thursday. Two Masses today: the Chrism Mass, which commemorates the institution on the Priesthood, and the bishop blesses the Holy oils.  Then the Mass of the Lord’s supper. The day is called In Cena Domini, “At the Lord’s Supper.”The meaning of the oils, the last supper, and the command of charity.Music: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.Thumbnail: Leonardo Da Vinci, Last Supper, 1595, Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan.

Holy Thursday: The oils, the Feet, the Eucharist.

On September 12th the Church celebrates the feast of the Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary.On today’s podcast we reflect on Mary&apos;s role and mission as a mother to give us the very best:  To help us in all of our needs- physical, emotional, and spiritual. To unite us with her Son, Jesus Christ.To win for us the grace to desire to be saints.Mary shows us that we can have confidence in her intercessory prayers when she spoke to the servants at the wedding in Cana, “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:5). And that we can trust that she will see that our prayers are answered as long as they are compatible with God’s plan for our salvation.Our goal, therefore, is to imitate Mary’s holiness. We ask her to be a part of our spiritual life-- helping us to connect with her son, Jesus Christ, and to become instruments of evangelization, serving and attracting others to Him. <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, The Most Sweet Name

Have you or your spouse ever had an emotional affair? Did you experience healing from the affair? Doug shares statistics that 45% of men and 35% of women have cheated on an emotional level. He shares what constitutes and leads to an emotional affair, and how to experience healing. Listener questions and comments: <ul> <li>Brian - I have been caught in an emotional relationship by my wife and would like to share my experience so no one else goes through this. My wife saw me texting the woman asked me to leave.</li> </ul> Resources: Marriage Unhindered <a href="https://www.marriageunhindered.com/">https://www.marriageunhindered.com/</a> Happy Marriage for Life <a href="https://www.happymarriageforlife.com/">https://www.happymarriageforlife.com/</a> Catholic Therapists <a href="https://www.catholictherapists.com/">https://www.catholictherapists.com/</a>

Experiencing healing after an emotional affair

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Kintore College, Toronto, on the Feast of the Chair of Peter, February 22, 2204.
Today’s feast is like the result of the prayer of Jesus, or better, the testimony that Jesus gave of his own prayer to the Father for Peter:
“The Lord says to Simon Peter: I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail, and, once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” (Lk 22, 32)
That prayer was immensely efficacious. How could it not? God the Son, addressing God the Father.
 Peter, St. Peter&#39;s Basilica, Rome.

The Chair of Peter

The end of Fr. Jacques Philippe's book, Searching for and Maintaining Peace, includes several quotes from the Saints with advice for how we can remain at peace at all times.

What the Saints Teach Us - Searching for and Maintaining Peace

In a homily given by St. Josemaria Escriva in the 1960’s, he called everyone gathered there to imitate Jesus’ love for humanity. But what does this call invite us to do today?As we begin a new four-part series on Passionately Loving the World, Fr. Peter Armenio enlightens us in this meditation by explaining that the call to passionately love the world invites us to leave our comfort zone, find new compassion for others, and to be present for those who do not know that they hunger for Christ, his consolation, and his peace. In turn, our efforts of imitating Christ will ultimately give our lives meaning and we will have found true love.<a href='https://stjosemaria.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Passionately-Loving-the-World-Transcript.pdf'>View Transcript</a> <a href='https://stjosemaria.org/podcast/'>Visit Show Page</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>

Passionately Loving the World (Rebroadcast)

There are many instances throughout marriage where couples may grow in resentment and find it hard to forgive each other. Dr. Bob Schuchts, founder of the John Paul II Healing Center, shares with us how we can build the muscle of forgiveness through humility. He explains the powerful example that parents can be to their children by showing charity and patience to each other.The John Paul II Healing Center has a number of events throughout the country that help marriages and individuals heal and grow in love. You can view their events on their website at&nbsp;<a href="http://jpiihealingcenter.org">jpiihealingcenter.org</a>