June 13, 2023. Gospel Passage: Matthew 22:29; Luke 11:1-13. Quoting from "The Power of Silence: Against the Dictatorship of Noise" by Robert Cardinal Sarah with Nicolas Diat; "Time for God" by Jacques Philippe; Saint Jane Frances de Chantal. Meditation with Fr. Francis Ongkingco, Woodrose School Chaplain. Image: “Christin im Gebet” (Christian in Prayer) by Max Nonnenbruch. Location Unknown. (Wikimedia Commons)

The Strength of Silence and the Distractions of Noise in Prayer (Rebroadcast)

June 21, 2023. Gospel Passages: Luke 9:22-25, Matthew 6:1-18. Meditation with Fr. Francis Ongkingco, Woodrose School Chaplain. Image: "Christ Carrying the Cross" by Circle of Giovanni Bellini in the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston. (Wikimedia Commons)

Becoming Disciples of Christ (Rebroadcast)

June 22, 2023. Gospel Passages: Matthew 6:1-6, 7-15; Luke 15:11–32. Meditation with Fr. Francis Ongkingco, Woodrose School Chaplain. Image: “Prodigal Son” by Wayne Pascale. Used with Permission.

Growing in Humility and Penance

June 24, 2023. Gospel Passages: Matthew 11:2-3; John 3:25-30; John 1:19-28; Luke 1:41-43; Matthew 3:1-6; Mark 6:17-29. Meditation with Fr. Francis Ongkingco, Woodrose School Chaplain. Image: "St. John the Baptist Preaching in the Wilderness" by Santi di Titoi in the Dallas Museum of Art, Texas. (Wikimedia Commons)

Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist ~ Becoming Humble Instruments (Rebroadcast)

June 28, 2023. Scriptural Passages: Luke 18:9-14; 2 Corinthians 4:7; Luke 23:39-43; Psalm 115:1; Psalm 51; John 15:5; Luke 1:46-55. Also quoting from “City of God” by St. Augustine and “Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Others Don't” by Jim Collins. Meditation with Fr. Henry Bocala, guest priest from "Meditations in Manhattan" on Spotify. Image: "De Farizeeër en de tollenaar" (The Pharisee and the Publican) (cropped) by Barent Fabritius in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. (Wikimedia Commons)

Notes on the Painting: In the middle, the Pharisee kneels before the altar; on the left the proud Pharisee leaves the temple with a devil. On the right, the tax collector leaves the temple with an angel. https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/collectie/SK-A-2959

Priest's Notes: If we want to climb very high in our love of God and professional ambitions, we must have a deep foundation in humility. Humility opposes pride, which is the root of sin and complicates our lives; it helps us understand others, accept difficulties as opportunities to grow, and forget ourselves for the sake of God and others.

Humility

Humility: The Foundation of Greatness (Rebroadcast)

July 2, 2023. Gospel Passage: Matthew 10:37-42. Also quoting 2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16a. Meditation with Fr. Francis Ongkingco, Woodrose School Chaplain. Image: "Bergpredigt im Schwarzwald" (Sermon on the Mount in the Black Forest) by Rudolf Yelin d.Ä. (the Elder) in the Protestant Church in Reinerzau in the Black Forest. (Wikimedia Commons)

Discipleship ~ Welcoming Christ in Us (Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time)

July 3, 2023. Gospel Passages: John 20:24; John 11:16; Matthew 16:13-19; John 14:3-6; John 20:25-28. Quoting from "The Way" Point 382 by St. Josemaría Escrivá in https://www.escrivaworks.org/book/the_way-point-382.htm Meditation with Fr. John Agnew, guest priest from "Meditations in Manhattan" on Spotify. Image: "The Elevation of the Cross" (detail of central panel) by Peter Paul Rubens in the Cathedral of Our Lady, Antwerp. (Wikimedia Commons)

"Let Us Go With Christ" (John 11:16) ~ The Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle

July 5, 2023. Gospel Passages: Matthew 7:11; John 15:5b; Matthew 7:21-23. Also quoting 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; 1 Thessalonians 4:3;  Philippians 4:13; 2 Corinthians 12:10; Philippians 4:4-9. Quoting the Catechism of the Catholic Church on St. Augustine, Point 1847 in https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P69.HTM and St. Therese in "The Story of a Soul" in https://www.ccel.org/ccel/therese/autobio.xxii.ii.html  Meditation with Fr. John Grieco, guest priest from "Come Away By Yourselves" on Spotify. Photo Credit: "Woman Walking on Pathway During Daytime" by Emma Simpson on Unsplash.
Priest's Note: 
The Christian life entails a struggle. Growing in virtue and overcoming vice requires serious effort. This struggle for holiness, however, may seem overwhelming to the weak and  self-empowering to the proud. Realizing that God's aid is essential for all spiritual growth helps to overcome these two mistakes. Our spiritual combat must be carried out bravely and freely but also with full confidence in God.

Come Away By Yourselves

"To Run So As To Win" (1 Corinthians 9:24) ~ Conducting Spiritual Combat

July 6, 2023. Gospel Passages: Matthew 9:1-8 for Thursday of the 13th Week in Ordinary Time; Luke 21:19. Quoting the Prayer of St. Teresa of Avila in https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/prayer-of-saint-teresa-of-avila-364 Meditation with Fr. Francis Ongkingco, Woodrose School Chaplain. Image: "Jesus Heals the Paralytic" by Harold Copping. Printed illustration from The Copping Bible.

Patience and Interior Life (Rebroadcast)

July 13, 2023. Gospel Passages: Luke 9:51-56; John 4:1-26; Luke 10:38-42; Matthew 26:6-13. Also quoting 1 John 4:16. Meditation with Fr. Gavan Jennings, guest priest from "Be Silent" on Spotify. Image: "Living Water" by Simon Dewey. Used with Permission through Altus Fine Art. 

Priest's Notes: God cannot force us to love; He must win our love from us and He does this by manifesting to us His great love for us.

God's Love for Us

July 14, 2023. Gospel Passage: Matthew 13:24-29. Meditation with Fr. Eric Nicolai, guest priest from Toronto on "In Your Presence" on Spotify. Image: "The Gleaners" by Jean-François Millet at the Musée d'Orsay, Paris. (Wikimedia Commons) Music: Chiquinha Gonzaga, Lua Branca. Arranged for guitar by Bert Alink. Priest's Notes: The weeds in our life. The danger of becoming toxic to others by our attitude and behavior. Rather, we should have the qualities of good vitamins for the system.

The Enemy That Sows Weeds In Us

Uploaded by friends of Father Francis Ongkingco, with his guided meditations from the Philippines. We also have guest priests.

Humility: The Foundation of Greatness (Rebroadcast)

Blessed Meditations

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