Meditations - English

Fr. Jacques Philippe discusses interior freedom. With over 400,000 copies sold in 18 languages, Jacques Philippe’s writings on themes such as prayer, interior freedom, and peace of heart have become classics of modern Catholic spirituality.
 
Jacques Philippe was born in 1947 in Lorraine, France. After studying mathematics in college, he spent several years teaching and doing scientific research. In 1976, he met the then recently-founded Community of the Beatitudes and answered the Lord’s call to follow Him through this vocation (see below for more information on the Community of the Beatitudes). He then spent several years in Jerusalem and Nazareth immersing himself in the study of Hebrew and the Jewish roots of Christianity. In 1981, he traveled to Rome to study theology and canon law and also began his work as a spiritual director, working in the formation of priests and seminarians of the Community. In 1994, he returned to France, where he assumed various responsibilities including spiritual direction, the development of training in the Community, and participation in its General Council. He has also preached retreats regularly in France and abroad and has consolidated his principal retreat themes into five books on spirituality. In recent years, he has devoted himself primarily to spiritual direction, preaching retreats, and working for the development of the Community in Asia and Oceania, where he travels frequently.
 
Communauté des Béatitudes is an international association of the faithful of Pontifical Right founded in France in 1973. The Community of the Beatitudes gathers faithful from all states of life (married or unmarried lay people, seminarians, priests, permanent deacons, men and women consecrated in celibacy) who wish to conform as closely as possible to the model of the early Christian community through the common life, the sharing of goods, voluntary poverty and an intense sacramental and liturgical life. The members of the Community, which has a contemplative vocation based on Carmelite spirituality, are actively engaged in the service of the poor and the proclamation of the Gospel.
 

Interior Freedom | Fr. Jacques Philppe

Homily from the Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Faith is more than "agreement."

Mass Readings from September 03, 2017:
Jeremiah 20:7-9
Psalm 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9
Romans 12:1-2
Matthew 16:21-27

'17-'18 UMD Newman 

09/03/17 The Disposition of Discipleship

One of the most common Bible verses people use to try and debunk Catholic teaching is Matthew 23:9, where Jesus says, “Call no man on earth father.” In this episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz guides us through the New Testament to give us the context and significance of this teaching. By the end of this episode, you will see that Christ’s words here have much deeper meaning than what many people would believe.

The Fr. Mike Schmitz Podcast

Should Catholics Call Priests Father

An account of the six months Bl. Alvaro spent with St. Josemaria and others in the Legation of Honduras in Madrid in 1937. For the refugees there was lethargy and inactivity. For Alvaro, Josemaria and others, it was luminous. It was a time to grow inside. (by Fr. Eric Nicolai, Canada)

Growing On The Inside

St. Joseph, a master of heroic fidelity to God’s plan, can show us how to tap into our spiritual reserves to confront these challenging days with resilience and supernatural spirit. A meditation by Msgr. Frederick Dolan, Vicar of Opus Dei for Canada.

St Joseph

A short meditation by Fr. Eric Nicolai of Toronto, Canada.

The Merode Altarpiece from the 15th century shows Mary in her home as the angel announces that she will be the Mother of God. We can see that it represents the very instant is when she said her Fiat, her "yes" to God’s invitation, because a tiny Jesus is already flying through the air to enter her ear and establish himself in her womb (top left). So that means that the Humanity of Christ not only brings the Divinity closer to us: it makes it an intimate part of our daily life.

The Feast of Annunciation (Fr. Eric Nicolai)

For the anniversary of the priestly ordination of Saint Josemaria Escriva(1925), a meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai, chaplain of Ernescliff College in Toronto. Josemaria Escriva was ordained in Zaragoza on March 28, 1925. The Lord had prepared him as a teen, through different events. Then came the seminary of San Carlos. He was ordained with several candidates in a moving ceremony that left an imprint on his soul for life. He wanted always to be a priest through and through.

Anniversary of the Ordination of Saint Josemaria - Meditation

Audio readings of homilies by St Josemaria published in 'Friends of God'

The Christian's Hope

Reflections by Monsignor Fernando Ocáriz on the meaning of Holy Week (first in a series of four).  English translation.

Meditation of the Prelate: United in the Last Supper

United in the Last Supper

Prelate - Meditation - Our Lady

Prayer-reflections from the Prelate of Opus Dei.  During this month of May let us pray the rosary as a family, and with our friends, even if we need to do it digitally. Mary's example, particularly during this time of the coronavirus, teaches us to be  better friends.  English translation.

Prelate of Opus Dei: the Rosary and Mary's Friendship

Gospel for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity (Cycle A), and commentary. 

John 3:16-18
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. He who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 


The full text of the commentary is on the Opus Dei website:
https://opusdei.org/en-us/gospel/commentary-on-the-gospel-the-holy-trinity/
Read by John Coverdale.
Image attribution: Max Fürst (1846–1917) / Public domain (From wikimedia.org)

Meditations - English

Vasco Gonçalves