This meditation was preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai on at Lyncroft centre in Toronto, January 19, 2025.

You may have heard that Pope Francis has published his autobiography, published by Penguin Canada, now that he is an old man, and his pontificate has lasted longer than anyone expected.

Here is what he tells his readers: “If one day you are overcome by fears and worries, think of that episode in the Gospel of John, at the marriage at Cana (John 2:1– 12), and say to yourselves: The best wine has yet to be served.”

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai on January 15, 2025 in Kintore College, Toronto.

The Gospel today from Mark 1:29-39, tells us about some of the sick that Jesus healed, and the demons that he expelled.

We see this at the beginning of the Jubilee Year of Redemption. It is a year of hope, as described by the Bull of Indiction, Spes non confudit, established by Pope Francis.

Music: Regi Stone, Regi Stone, All Heaven Declares, 2003 Straight Arrow Records. Released in 2003.

Thumbnail: Pope Francis opening the Holy Doors.

This is the last meditation of a retreat preached at Shellbourne Conference Centre in Valparaiso, IN, on December 31, 2024.

Mark 6: When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”

4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.

Music: Regi Stone, All Heavens Declares Catholic music on Youtube

A meditation preached at Shellbourne Conference Centre in Valparaiso, Indiana, during a retreat on December 27, 2024.

Gen 2, 15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

With all the Christmas cards we’ve received, and the emails, and our own nativity scene, it is easy for us to imagine what happened that evening, and to see the warm glow of the child giving off divine light, he is the light of the world, amidst that dark and damp and musty place for animals. Mary and Joseph are warmed by the glow too.

Yet there is a tinge of reproach in John's description. John says it at the very beginning of the account of the incarnation itself. “He came to his own people, and his own did not receive him.” (Jn 1, 11).

Music: Die Schonsten Deutsche Weihnachtslieder, begins with Holy Night. @christmasworldbyzyxmusic3882

Thumbnail: Adoration of the Shepherds by Jean Baptiste Marie Pierre (1714-1789). Detroit Institute of Art.
@christmasworldbyzyxmusic3882

A meditation preached at Lyncroft Centre in Toronto on December 20, 2024.

With the scene of the annunciation to Mary, redemption has begun. But the last thing the angel mentioned was meant to show that the incarnation takes place within the larger context of the family, Mary’s family, but also Elizabeth's family. God decided that Elizabeth should bear a son. Mary would participate in this, to give support.

The unity of the members of a family - and, with more reason if they are children of God through Baptism - manifests the unity of God, his Creator: "The Christian family is a communion of persons, reflection and image of the communion of the Father and of the Son in the Holy Spirit”. (CCC 2207).

This is the time to contribute to family warmth. Provide affection and service. St. Josemaria often explained that the model of our family life is in the Holy Family of Nazareth. He liked so much to imagine the personal and close relationship that Jesus, Mary and Joseph had, that he said to his spiritual daughters and sons: "to this Family we belong."

Music: relaxing-piano-music-248868

Thumbnail: Thomas Kinkade HOMETOWN CHRISTMAS MEMORIES

Preached on Gaudete Sunday at Lyncroft Centre, Toronto, December 15, 2024.

Phil 4, 4: Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

There are the surface aspects of our life, there are the edges. Some days were good, other days not so much. But deep on the river bed there is calm.

Music: relaxing-piano-music-248868

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

Fr. Eric Nicolai peached this meditation on December 4th, 2024 at Kintore College.

Today’s Gospel is from St. Matthew St. Matthew 15, 29-37, about the multiplication of loaves and fish.

Crowds had followed him. So many people were attracted to him. And Matthew gives a brief description of these people: they were lame, blind, deformed, mute, and many others. These people with all these infirmities could not have gotten there on their own. 

They needed friends or family to get around, or to help them understand what Jesus was saying. All this moved the heart of Jesus. He was moved by the suffering, he saw people hindered by their limitations and their pain, but I think he saw beyond that, he was also touched by the generous solidarity of people around them. People helping them to get their food, to protect them, guide them, and encourage them.

Music: Regi Stone All Heaven Declares from Catholic Music Youtube channel

Image: Jean-Francois Tissot, Life of Christ, 1890s.

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai on December 3, 2024 at Ernescliff College, Toronto.

Jesus addresses a word of hope to His disciples: “Stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand” (Luke 21, 28). During the time of advent, a time of preparation for the coming of the Lord, we may feel a faint whisper of sadness, maybe discomfort. The Lord invites us to stand erect.

This is what the life of Saint Francis Xavier (1506-1552) was like. What an example of zeal and apostolate.

Music: Regi Stone, All Heaven Declares, from Catholic Music Youtube channel