As we celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8th), Fr Javier del Castillo's homily, “Stella Matutina", helps us to reflect on the meaning of this special title of our Lady, "Morning Star", and how Mary “entrusted herself entirely to God, and in this we can hope to imitate her on our way to holiness.”

“Stella Matutina” (Morning Star) is a homily by Fr Javier del Castillo given on the Eve of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception at St. Mary of the Angels Church in Chicago, Illinois (USA) in 2010. 

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As we celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8th), Fr Javier del Castillo's homily, “Stella Matutina", helps us to reflect on the meaning of this special title of our Lady, "Morning Star", and how Mary “entrusted herself entirely to God, and in this we can hope to imitate her on our way to holiness.”

“Stella Matutina” (Morning Star) is a homily by Fr Javier del Castillo given on the Eve of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception at St. Mary of the Angels Church in Chicago, Illinois (USA) in 2010.

A GUIDE FOR MEDITATION:

We encourage you to write down moments from the meditations that strike you, as well as the thoughts, inspirations and resolutions that arise from your prayer and reflection with our Meditation Journal Sheet. Download it here: http://www.stjosemaria.org/meditations

ST. JOSEMARIA INSTITUTE PODCAST:

Don't miss new podcasts and additional resources for your spiritual life from the St. Josemaria Institute. Subscribe today at: http://www.stjosemaria.org/subscribe

As we celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8th), Fr Javier del Castillo's homily, “Stella Matutina", helps us to reflect on the meaning of this special title of our Lady, "Morning Star", and how Mary “entrusted herself entirely to God, and in this we can hope to imitate her on our way to holiness.”

“Stella Matutina” (Morning Star) is a homily by Fr Javier del Castillo given on the Eve of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception at St. Mary of the Angels Church in Chicago, Illinois (USA) in 2010.

A GUIDE FOR MEDITATION:

We encourage you to write down moments from the meditations that strike you, as well as the thoughts, inspirations and resolutions that arise from your prayer and reflection with our Meditation Journal Sheet. Download it here: http://www.stjosemaria.org/meditations

ST. JOSEMARIA INSTITUTE PODCAST:

Don't miss new podcasts and additional resources for your spiritual life from the St. Josemaria Institute. Subscribe today at: http://www.stjosemaria.org/subscribe

In this new podcast from the St. Josemaria Institute, Fr Javier del Castillo reflects on St John the Baptist to show how, like the saint, “we can become active listeners of the Word in our hearts.”

In particular, this talk aims “to persuade you to embrace a lifestyle where there is room for reading and meditation on Sacred Scripture or other spiritual reading, like the lives of the saints and other spiritual classics, that can help us grow in our interior lives.”

Among the recommendations in this talk are the three steps to get started on your spiritual reading plan:

1. Make Time

Each day set aside time for spiritual reading (10-15 minutes) and Biblical reading (5-10 minutes).

2. Take Notes

As you are reading or when you finish, write down what strikes you and what moves you. Also, start writing a list of passages from the Bible that you can frequently take to your prayer - make a top 100 list!

3. Practice

What are you going to put into practice— a resolution, a goal, or a small sacrifice— that day (or the next) from your reading?

For a list of recommended readings visit

http://www.stjosemaria.org/latest-news/391-podcast-spiritual-reading

A GUIDE FOR MEDITATION:

We encourage you to write down moments from the meditations that strike you, as well as the thoughts, inspirations and resolutions that arise from your prayer and reflection with our Meditation Journal Sheet. Download it here: http://www.stjosemaria.org/meditations

ST. JOSEMARIA INSTITUTE PODCAST:

Don't miss new podcasts and additional resources for your spiritual life from the St. Josemaria Institute. Subscribe today at: http://www.stjosemaria.org/subscribe

As we celebrate Thanksgiving Day in the United States, Father Javier del Castillo reminds us in this meditation, as St. Josemaria Escriva also often did, that we ought to thank God always by habitually making frequent acts of thanksgiving, acts of gratitude.

“We were never asked by God to come into existence,” Fr Javier explains, “everything we have— our talents, our virtues, even our defects— all have been been foreseen by God, allowed by God, given to us by God so that we can fulfill the single mission that we have received from before the foundation of the world, as St Paul would say, in giving glory to God. ‘Thank you Lord for everything because everything is good.’” And as we strive to maintain a constant spirit of gratitude in our lives we will realize that "thanksgiving enlarges our hearts to receive even greater gifts from God."

Support the show

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!

Let us know that our podcast is important to you:

• Share your favorite episodes with others and leave us a rating or review.
• Stay connected with us on Facebook and Instagram.
• Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: www.stjosemaria.org

Also, if you enjoy the podcast, please consider helping us keep our episodes free and accessible for all our listeners: Give today!

As we celebrate Thanksgiving Day in the United States, Father Javier del Castillo reminds us in this meditation, as St Josemaria Escriva also often did, that we ought to thank God always by habitually making frequent acts of thanksgiving, acts of gratitude.

“We were never asked by God to come into existence,” Fr Javier explains, “everything we have— our talents, our virtues, even our defects— all have been been foreseen by God, allowed by God, given to us by God so that we can fulfill the single mission that we have received from before the foundation of the world, as St Paul would say, in giving glory to God. ‘Thank you Lord for everything because everything is good.’”

And as we strive to maintain a constant spirit of gratitude in our lives we will realize that "thanksgiving enlarges our hearts to receive even greater gifts from God."

A GUIDE FOR MEDITATION:

We encourage you to write down moments from the meditations that strike you, as well as the thoughts, inspirations and resolutions that arise from your prayer and reflection with our Meditation Journal Sheet. Download it here: http://www.stjosemaria.org/meditations

ST. JOSEMARIA INSTITUTE PODCAST:

Don't miss new podcasts and additional resources for your spiritual life from the St. Josemaria Institute. Subscribe today at: http://www.stjosemaria.org/subscribe

As we celebrate Thanksgiving Day in the United States, Father Javier del Castillo reminds us in this meditation, as St Josemaria Escriva also often did, that we ought to thank God always by habitually making frequent acts of thanksgiving, acts of gratitude.

“We were never asked by God to come into existence,” Fr Javier explains, “everything we have— our talents, our virtues, even our defects— all have been been foreseen by God, allowed by God, given to us by God so that we can fulfill the single mission that we have received from before the foundation of the world, as St Paul would say, in giving glory to God. ‘Thank you Lord for everything because everything is good.’”

And as we strive to maintain a constant spirit of gratitude in our lives we will realize that "thanksgiving enlarges our hearts to receive even greater gifts from God."

A GUIDE FOR MEDITATION:

We encourage you to write down moments from the meditations that strike you, as well as the thoughts, inspirations and resolutions that arise from your prayer and reflection with our Meditation Journal Sheet. Download it here: http://www.stjosemaria.org/meditations

ST. JOSEMARIA INSTITUTE PODCAST:

Don't miss new podcasts and additional resources for your spiritual life from the St. Josemaria Institute. Subscribe today at: http://www.stjosemaria.org/subscribe

As we celebrate the Feast of All Saints on November 1, Fr Javier del Castillo helps us in this meditation to reflect on:

- What is the Communion of Saints
- The variety of saints (each unique in their way of holiness) that make up the Communion of Saints
- How we participate in the Communion of Saints through our common union with Jesus Christ
- How “Thinking Globally. Acting Locally.” can help us to grow in holiness as we care for the needs, struggles, pains, etc., of those near and far away from us.

Support the show

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!

Let us know that our podcast is important to you:

• Share your favorite episodes with others and leave us a rating or review.
• Stay connected with us on Facebook and Instagram.
• Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: www.stjosemaria.org

Also, if you enjoy the podcast, please consider helping us keep our episodes free and accessible for all our listeners: Give today!

As we celebrate the Feast of All Saints on November 1st, Fr Javier del Castillo helps us in this meditation to reflect on:

- What is the Communion of Saints,

- The variety of saints (each unique in their way of holiness) that make up the Communion of Saints,

- How we participate in the Communion of Saints through our common union with Jesus Christ, and

- How “Thinking Globally. Acting Locally.” can help us to grow in holiness as we care for the needs, struggles, pains, etc., of those near and far away from us.

A GUIDE FOR MEDITATION:

We encourage you to write down moments from the meditations that strike you, as well as the thoughts, inspirations and resolutions that arise from your prayer and reflection with our Meditation Journal Sheet. Download it here: http://www.stjosemaria.org/meditations

ST. JOSEMARIA INSTITUTE PODCAST:

Don't miss new podcasts and additional resources for your spiritual life from the St. Josemaria Institute. Subscribe today at: http://www.stjosemaria.org/subscribe

As we celebrate the Feast of All Saints on November 1st, Fr Javier del Castillo helps us in this meditation to reflect on:

- What is the Communion of Saints,

- The variety of saints (each unique in their way of holiness) that make up the Communion of Saints,

- How we participate in the Communion of Saints through our common union with Jesus Christ, and

- How “Thinking Globally. Acting Locally.” can help us to grow in holiness as we care for the needs, struggles, pains, etc., of those near and far away from us.

A GUIDE FOR MEDITATION:

We encourage you to write down moments from the meditations that strike you, as well as the thoughts, inspirations and resolutions that arise from your prayer and reflection with our Meditation Journal Sheet. Download it here: http://www.stjosemaria.org/meditations

ST. JOSEMARIA INSTITUTE PODCAST:

Don't miss new podcasts and additional resources for your spiritual life from the St. Josemaria Institute. Subscribe today at: http://www.stjosemaria.org/subscribe