In this meditation for the Fourth Week of Advent, Fr. Peter Armenio guides us in deepening our preparation for Christmas, the celebration of our transcendent God entering our world in the fullness of time, by reflecting on Jesus Christ as the ultimate source of peace and joy.

St. Paul preached not that Jesus is peaceful but that he is peace; Isaiah calls him the Prince of Peace; and Jesus tells us: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you” (John 14:27). God wants everyone to be recipients of this description of Jesus. This great joy is for all people and it fills all people with hope.

Fr. Peter directs us, therefore, to ask God’s help to penetrate this definition of peace so that we can “always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope” (1 Peter 3:15).

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In our meditation of the week: Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on the readings for the Mass of the third Sunday of Advent also known as “Gaudete Sunday” or “Rejoice Sunday.”

The very first description of Jesus in the Gospel is that he is “good news of great joy” (Luke 2:10). Great joy always surrounds him and there is always a joyous reaction in the presence of Our Lord. Therefore, one tell-tale sign that we are in the right disposition for him to come to us is the prominent fruit of the Holy Spirit: joy.

Fr. Peter explains that permanent, deep joy exclusively comes from Christ and is the fruit of a close relationship with him. Joy outside of Christ is just a good mood, a thrill, or a momentary pleasure. Our true joy comes from being that good soil where we habitually seek Our Lord with our whole heart.

And, if we are lacking joy, this is the time to examine ourselves: Am I looking for Jesus with all my heart? Is he number one in my life? Do I want him to be number one?

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In our meditation for the Second Week of Advent, Fr. Peter Armenio directs our attention to the metaphors of conversion found in the Gospel description of St. John the Baptist: “A voice of one crying in the desert, ‘prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.'”

We, too, want to be imitators of John the Baptist, “albeit in a flawed and imperfect way.” As Fr. Peter explains, “It’s not about my talents, my gifts, my skills; but it is about letting that Christ who lives in me through Baptism, to let him grow so he reveals himself […] through myself, being an imperfect vessel, but a vessel of Jesus Christ, nevertheless.”

During these days of Advent, our calling is to “put on Jesus Christ” more intentionally so as to let his life and his love be revealed through us. Only in this way can we make Christ “real” to those who earnestly seek him. And, as St. Josemaria wrote, we have two points of entry available to us: “the Bread and the Word.” By constantly nourishing ourselves with Scripture and the Eucharist, we will be better equipped to abide in Him amid the busyness of our daily lives.

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In our meditation of the week for the First Week of Advent, Msgr. Fred Dolan invites us to use this season as a time of true preparation, not just for Christmas but for our eventual encounter with Jesus Christ.

Advent is a call to conversion, urging us to go beyond small, surface-level changes and instead embrace the profound transformation that the Holy Spirit desires to work within us, reshaping us entirely to reflect Christ.

With the help of Our Lady, we can grow in a contemplative spirit, learning to freely and lovingly seek God in all things and to see our lives through his eyes.


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In our meditation of the week: Msgr. Fred Dolan invites us to reflect on the Solemnity of Christ the King as a call to embrace our shared kingship with Christ. Drawing inspiration from St. Josemaria, Fr. Fred encourages us to rise above a limited "small-town outlook" and instead adopt a universal heart open to all. Furthermore, he emphasizes the importance of self-dominion, spiritual renewal, and preparing ourselves to enter the new liturgical year with a sense of purpose and readiness to grow in Christ’s image.

As we approach Advent, we’re reminded that true kingship, modeled by Christ, is rooted in self-mastery and service. Through prayer, reflection, and a willingness to let go of rigid habits, we can embody this royal calling and approach each liturgical season with a fresh spirit and openness to God’s transformative grace.

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Are you seeking to draw near to Our Lord more each day?

In our meditation of the week, Fr. Eric Nicolai reflects on the inspiring figure of Zacchaeus from the Gospel of St. Luke—a tax collector with a tarnished reputation among his Jewish peers, yet driven by a sincere desire to encounter Jesus. Despite his shame, Zacchaeus took bold steps to draw near to the Lord as he passed by.

Fr. Eric highlights Zacchaeus’ promptness and initiative, which opened him to the transformative grace of conversion—a grace he received through his own generosity of heart. Fr. Eric challenges us to adopt this same initiative in our interior life, emphasizing the importance of humble self-examination and a willingness to begin again.

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Do you live each day with the urgency and desire to bring the gospel message into your work, family, and social relations?

In our meditation of the week, Fr. Peter Armenio shares a reflection on the value of living an ordinary Christian life in the middle of the world. He prompts us to reflect on the fading Catholic identity in the world today and challenges us to bear witness to the light of Christ in our everyday life.

Fr. Peter explains that: “Catholics, laity especially, have to give people an experience of Christianity, of Catholicism. The Church has to be brought to the workplace and to the family, to the party and to the sports field” because “the ordinary Christian in the middle of the world is, in fact, the true hope of the Church.”

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Is the Communion of Saints just a comforting idea, or a true and deeply consoling reality?

In our meditation of the week: as we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints (Nov. 1) and the Commemoration of All Souls (Nov. 2), Fr. Donncha Ó hAodha reflects on the importance of community in our life of faith as we pursue the goal of eternal life with Christ in Heaven.

Through the sacrament of baptism, we are welcomed in to communion with the Church and united to one another through the mystical body of Christ. We are never alone. Fr. Donncha explains: “The saints are cheering us on. They bear witness to the fact that holiness is indeed possible and that we too are called to that holiness, and that they help us by praying and interceding for us.”

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In our meditation of the week: Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on the spirituality of St. John Paul II, whose feast day is celebrated October 22nd. St. John Paul II rooted his papacy in the Eucharist and devotion to Mary, inspiring holiness in people of all backgrounds from across the globe. There are many aspects we can learn from the papacy of St. John Paul II, but most importantly he taught us: how to pray, how to love, and how to serve.

As Pope Benedict XVI wrote: “Everyone knows John Paul II: his face, his characteristic way of moving and speaking; his immersion in prayer and his spontaneous cheerfulness. Many of his words have become indelibly engraved in our memories, starting with the passionate cry with which he introduced himself to the people at the beginning of his pontificate: ‘Open wide the doors to Christ, and be not afraid of him!’ An entire pontificate is condensed in words like these. It is as though he would like to open the doors for Christ everywhere and wishes to open up to people the gate that leads to true life, to true love.”

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In our meditation of the week: Fr. Javier del Castillo shares insight into the life of St. Teresa of Avila and reflects on an important lesson we can learn from her: the necessity of prayer.

St. Teresa understood that people are not born saints but can achieve sainthood through cooperation in God’s divine plan. Her time of prayer was most frequently spent in quiet contemplation upon the suffering of Christ, which allowed her to become more aware of her own sinfulness and to rely more fully on God.

St. Teresa of Avila, whose feast day is celebrated October 15, is a Doctor of the Church known for her renewal of the spiritual and monastic life of Spain during the Counter-Reformation. Her written works are highly regarded among mystical literature in the Catholic Church and continue to inspire readers today.

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