A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai to priests of the priests of the Archdiocese of Toronto, in the parish of St. Edward the Confessor.

Today the church celebrates the 15th-century Saint Juan Diego from Mexico, with an unpronounceable last name. He was surnamed Cuauhtlatoatzin. The account of her appearance transformed Mexico. She can transform us, too.

Music: Bert Alink, Adeste fideles, guitar, by John Francis Wade. Played 2017.

Fr. Eric Nicolai preached this meditation on December 8th, 2025 at Lyncroft Centrre in Toronto. It has been worthwhile to prepare this solemnity because it tells us something hopeful about God’s plan of salvation, his desire for our redemption. He could count on this woman, not as a mere instrument, but as a free and active cooperator that was beautifully prepared and primed for the great work of salvation.

We say she is immaculate, because she is without macula, without stain. The fathers of the Church teased out the Eve-Mary parallel: Mary was the new Eve.

Music: relaxing-piano-music-248868

Thumbnail: Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, The Immaculate Conception of Los Venerables (Soult Madonna), 1660–65, oil on canvas, (Museo Nacional del Prado)

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Lyncroft Centre, Toronto on December 6, 2025. The hymn of Our Lady, the Magnificat, (Luke 1, 46-55) is a pause in the infancy narrative, so that we can meditate on the events. It is as though we had to pause, think, catch our breath, and pray.

“My soul magnifies the Lord, 

    and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 

for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 

for he who is mighty has done great things for me and holy is his name. 

Thumbnail: The Magnificat" from the Church of Reconciliation, the church of the Taize Community in France

Music: relaxing-piano-music-248868

Fr. Eric Nicolai preached this meditation on December 6, 2025 in Lyncroft Centre, Toronto.

The theme of the Visitation (cf. Lk 1:39-45). It starts with the annunciation in which the angel informs Mary about two miracles: she will be both virgin and mother of the Messiah, and Elizabeth will give birth, even in her old age. Mary goes with haste to bring her joy, and spread it to others in the family. This is an important role in our life during Advent.

Thumbnail: Peter Paul Rubens, left panel of the Visitation from 1612 in the Cathedral of Our Lady in Antwerp.

Music: relaxing-piano-music-248868, from Hozana.

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Kintore College in Toronto on December 3, 2025, on the feast of Saint Francis Xavier.

Matthew 15:29–37 recounts Jesus healing many sick people by the Sea of Galilee. Matthew tells us about how there were large crowds of people. They were not just numbers to him, or statistics. They brought these people to him. The illnesses were varied. He made them whole again. 

There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves". But that clearly did not make sense. It was not logical, as the disciples barely had enough for themselves. But with that little contribution, those few loaves, and a couple of fish, that was enough for Jesus. It can be enough too in our apostolate.

Music: O Holy Night by Christmas choir in Youtubetomp3.sc

Thumbnail: Mosaic cycle Saint Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna 6th century, AD.

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai on the first Sunday of Advent in Lyncroft Centre, Toronto, November 30, 2025.

Romans 13, 11: You know ‘the time’ has come: you must wake up now: our salvation is even nearer than it was when we were converted. The urgency of readiness for God’s appeal to our soul is the theme of Advent. Its a path that we ask God to teach us about. Psalm 25:  Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. Vias tuas, Domine, demonstra mihi, et semitas tuas edoce me.

Music: "In Dulce Iubilo", choir collection from: Die Schonste Deutsche Weihnachtslieder, ChristmasWorld by Zyx Music.

A meditation preached at Cedarcrest Conference Centre in Belfountain, Ontario, on November 23, 2025.

Luke 23:35-43: The soldiers mocked him too, and when they approached to offer vinegar they said, ‘If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.’ Above him there was an inscription: ‘This is the King of the Jews.’

Thumbnail: The Romanesque crucifix (12th century) hanging in the Fuentiduena Chapel in The Cloisters, NYC.

Music: Michael Lee.

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Cedarcrest Conference Centre, in Belfountain, Ontario, on November 21, 2025.

The cunning ruse of the devil was a dialogue with Eve, in which she believed the devil's lie, and she disobeyed God's command. Sin lead to our death. But this truth is also an opportunity to ask for true conversion.

Music: Michael Lee of Toronto.

Fr. Eric Nicolai preached this meditation on November 19, 2025 at Kintore College in Toronto. The topic is the Parable of the Talents from Luke 19:11-28.

One day we will all arrive at that moment when our spiritual soul leaves our body, and goes off to judgment. The soul then ceases to vivify the body with the informing, animating principle we call life. The king responded to the man who had kept his one talent: Then why did you not put my money in the bank? On my return I could have drawn it out with interest.”

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai to a group of diocesan priests at Cedarcrest Conference Centre in Belfountain, Ontario, on November 7, 2025.

John 5:2: We can picture the scene of the pool at Bethsaida, where the paralytic lay for 38 years. He had no one to help him enter the water when it was stirred. He was lying on his mat, waiting with a large crowd of other sick people, but had given up hope that he could be healed through the pool. Jesus, after asking if he wanted to be well, commanded the man to "Rise, take up your mat, and walk," and he was instantly cured, picking up his mat and walking away.

Jesus is inviting us to have hope, he's giving us the grace to rise up, and take our responsibility seriously. To get up and embrace our call.

Music: Michael Lee of Toronto.