In this meditation marking the 20th anniversary of the St. Josemaría Institute, Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on the life, spirituality and enduring influence of St. Josemaria Escriva. Fr. Peter explains how St. Josemaria’s vision places the lay faithful at the center of evangelization and reminds us that, "Sanctity is not reserved for a privileged few. All the ways of the earth, every state in life, every profession, every honest task can be divine” (Conversations, no. 26). 

Listen to reflect on: 

• The lasting fruit of St. Josemaría’s mission 
• The universal call to holiness 
• The mission of the laity in today’s world 
• Evangelization through friendship and daily life 
• Confidence in God’s grace at work through ordinary means 
• The responsibility that comes with receiving a gift 

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In this meditation, Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on Christ’s enduring call to conversion, particularly as we prepare for the penitential season of Lent. Drawing inspiration from the spiritual aspiration of St. Josemaria, “nunc coepi — now I begin,” Fr. Peter reminds us that the Christian life advances through repeated efforts, perseverance in our struggles, and reliance on grace. 

Listen now to reflect on: 

• Conversion as an ongoing process, not a one-time event 
• The role of prayer, penance, and charity in encountering Christ 
• Why holiness grows through “little conversions” 
• Beginning again with hope rather than discouragement 
• Trusting grace more than personal success 

 This meditation is an excerpt from  “Come and See”: A Spiritual Retreat. This 5-part audio retreat invites us during the season of Lent to examine our heart, confront the obstacles that impede our relationship with Christ, and renew our desire for conversion. Access the retreat online at www.stjosemaria.org.

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In this meditation, Fr. Leo Austin explores what it means to form and mentor others in the image of Christ. He explains that true formation requires confidence in God’s grace and a willingness to take risks for the sake of growth. By fostering freedom rather than dependence, we help souls mature into responsible disciples capable of generous love and mission. 

Listen now to reflect on: 
• How Christ formed his disciples  
• Why freedom is necessary for mission 
• Trust as an act of faith in God’s work 
• Letting go of control for the sake of growth 
• Becoming mentors who lead others to God 

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In this meditation, Msgr. Fred Dolan invites us to rediscover the sacredness woven into every human life, reminding us that each life is meant to be approached with awe, gratitude, and love. Through Scripture and personal anecdotes, Msgr. Dolan encourages us to see others through the eyes of God as precious and beloved. 

Listen now to reflect on: 
• Life as a sacred mystery 
• The dignity present in every person 
• Reverence as the beginning of love 
• Gratitude for the gift of existence 
• Responding to life with compassion and care  

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In this meditation, Fr. Marty Miller helps us examine the subtle ways pessimism can take root in the heart, slowly dulling our confidence in God’s will and our own vocation. Fr. Mary illustrates how hope restores clarity, freedom, and peace, and invites us to continually place our trust in God who works through each unique circumstance. 

Listen now to reflect on: 
• The spiritual dangers of pessimism 
• How hope reshapes our vision and expectations 
• Trusting God’s grace amid uncertainty 
• The call to live our vocation with confidence 
• Letting Christ illuminate the path forward

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In our meditation of the week: Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on the greatest gift that we have from God-- the supernatural virtue of charity.

Many of the Mass readings during Christmas, Epiphany and the following days, remind us that God really wants us to think about charity. We are especially reminded of Jesus's desire that we, his disciples, should be known by the love we have for one another.

Fr. Peter explains that through our baptism, all of us have charity, together with faith and hope, written in our supernatural genetic code or DNA. God gives us what it takes to love with the heart of Christ.

As his disciples, no matter what the culture is like, we know that charity is more powerful than resentment, hatred, and coldness. The light of charity always dissipates darkness, just as life overcomes death and grace overcomes sin.

So, as we listen to this meditation, Fr. Peter guides us to pray and ask ourselves: When I'm with my family, my friends and my colleagues, how do they detect that I'm a disciple of the Lord? What are the characteristics of my charity?

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In this meditation, Fr. Leo Austin invites us to rediscover the transformative power of a personal encounter with Jesus Christ. Drawing upon the life of St. Pier Giorgio Frassati and the gospel story of the paralyzed man, Fr. Leo reflects on how faith, joy, and mission naturally flow from meeting Christ. This meditation challenges us to move beyond fear and place our heart fully on the path God sets before us. 

Listen now to reflect on: 

• The power of encountering Christ through prayer 
• How faith often acts through friendship and shared courage 
• Cultivating joy and mission in everyday life 
• Pier Giorgio Frassati’s call to live “verso l’alto”—toward the heights 
• Allowing God to transform the world through you 

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In this meditation, Fr. Eric Nicolai draws us into the mystery of the Nativity as a moment of profound light shining in darkness. From the difficult journey to Bethlehem to the silence of the manger, we see how God enters the world without spectacle, yet with infinite love. Through Scripture and sharing the witness of the saints, Fr. Eric helps us examine whether our own hearts have become a place truly fit for a King. 

Listen now to reflect on: 

• The mystery of Christ choosing poverty and humility at his birth 
• Mary and Joseph’s quiet faith amid hardship and rejection 
• What it means to “make room” for Christ in our interior life 
• The Nativity as a call to conversion and simplicity of heart 
• How Advent prepares us to welcome Christ more fully at Christmas 
• Welcoming Christ more intentionally this Christmas season. 

Download our free Advent devotional, Journey to the Manger, for guided prayer with the writings of St. Josemaria and questions for deeper reflection to accompany our Advent podcast series. 

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In the fourth meditation of our Advent series, Fr. Eric Nicolai invites us to accompany the Magi on their long, hope-filled journey to Bethlehem. Attentive to the mysterious star and guided through moments of clarity and darkness, the wise men reveal what it means to seek Christ with perseverance, humility, and faith. Through art, Sacred Scripture, and the Magi’s lived experience, Fr. Eric shares how God guides each of us—sometimes through brilliance, sometimes through obscurity—toward the manger. 

Listen now to reflect on: 
• How to follow God’s light even when it seems distant or obscured. 
• What the Magi teach us about discernment, perseverance, and trust. 
• How darkness, confusion, and uncertainty can still draw us closer to God. 
• The unity of shepherds and the Magi before the Child in the manger. 
• How the Magi teach us to forgive, to trust, and to keep moving toward God. 

Download our free Advent devotional, Journey to the Manger, for guided prayer with the writings of St. Josemaria and questions for deeper reflection to accompany our Advent podcast series. 

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In this third meditation of our Advent series, Fr. Eric Nicolai invites us to contemplate the shepherds, who were the first to receive the news of Christ’s birth. Though they appear to be secondary figures in the Nativity story, their recognition of the Child wrapped in swaddling clothes becomes a powerful revelation: the newborn Jesus is the true Lamb of God, the light shining in the darkness, and God-with-us. 
As we follow their humble faith and joyful haste toward the manger, we ask for hearts ready to recognize Christ’s presence with the same simplicity and awe. 

Listen now to reflect on: 
• The shepherds’ unique role in caring for sacrificial lambs, and how this prepared them to recognize Jesus. 
• The symbolism of the swaddling clothes and what they revealed about Christ’s mission. 
• The contrast between earthly poverty and the glory of God’s revelation. 
• Why the shepherds became the first evangelizers after encountering the Child. 
• How their humility, attentiveness, and readiness to adore can shape our Advent prayer. 

Download our free Advent devotional, Journey to the Manger, for guided prayer with the writings of St. Josemaria and questions for deeper reflection to accompany our Advent podcast series. 

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