St. Josemaria Institute Podcast

In this podcast, Msgr. Fred Dolan examines three critical players in our spiritual life: the intellect, will, and heart. He offers a view of our life as a “journey back home,” relating the perilous journey in Homer’s Odyssey as a way of understanding the dangers confronting the Christian life in the modern world.

“What a shame it would be,” he says, “to allow our day, our life, to be shipwrecked b...

In this podcast, Fr. Eric Nicolai leads us in a time of reflection and prayer to check up on our spiritual health. He explains that when we are spiritually healthy, we are grateful and cheerful. But when we are not, even the smallest thing drives us crazy.

All those times when we're kind of irritable, restless, disconcerted, really worried about how things are going to turn out, what people might say, that's a sign we need ...

In our meditation of the week, Fr. Javier del Castillo reflects on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and how she helps us to rise up to Heaven in our daily lives. For St. Josemaria, the Assumption or the Dormition of Our Lady played a vital role in his life as a young boy in Barbastro, Spain. St. Josemaria’s devotion to Our Lady became so great that he wished to “rise up” to Heaven with Mary by clinging to...

In today’s podcast, Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on the charity of God as “fuel” that enables us to seek holiness in the ordinary moments of everyday life. Our receptivity to God’s grace increases as we continue to strengthen our relationship with him through prayer and the sacraments. The grace we receive fills our life and will overflow into our relationships with one another, leading those we encounter clos...

In this final meditation of our 3-part series on St. Josemaria's homily, Getting to Know God, Msgr. Martin Schlag reminds us that to truly know God is to love him more deeply. As we grow in friendship with Christ and recognize ourselves as beloved children of the Father, we are invited to become contemplatives in the midst of our daily lives, allowing God's love to transform every thought, action, and relationship. 

Msgr. Schla...

In this second meditation of our series on St. Josemaria's homily, Getting to Know God, Fr. Eric Nicolai reflects on St. Josemaria's invitation to move beyond simply knowing about God to truly knowing him through prayer, recollection, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. As our relationship with God deepens, we begin to see the world, and ourselves, through his eyes. 

Fr. Eric encourages us to cultivate a faithful interior life...

In this first meditation of our three-part series on St. Josemaria's homily Getting to Know God, Msgr. Fred Dolan invites us to rediscover the foundational truth of the Christian life, that we are beloved children of God. As St. Josemaria reminds us, “We are children of God and we can talk things over with him and spend time with him, just as trustingly as a son does with his father” (Friends of God, no. 145). 

Msgr...

In this meditation, Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on God's plan for human love and the vocation of marriage as a reflection of Christ's love for his Church. Drawing from Scripture and the example of the Holy Family, we are reminded that authentic love is rooted in self-giving, sustained by grace, and centered on Jesus Christ.  

Fr. Peter invites us to renew our commitment to loving others out of love for Christ, to cultivate frien...

In this meditation, Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on the witness of the early Christian martyrs, whose courage and fidelity helped spread the faith throughout the world. While most Christians today are not called to shed their blood for Christ, we are all called to be martyrs in the original sense of the word: witnesses who make Jesus Christ present through our lives.  

Drawing from the teachings of St. Josemaría Escriva, Fr. Pete...

In this meditation for the feast of St. Josemaria Escriva, Fr. Donncha Ó hAodha reflects personal freedom as the capacity to love. Drawing upon a simple aspiration St. Josemaria learned as a child— “Yours am I, I was born for thee. What is it, O Jesus, you want of me?”—Fr. Donncha explains how St. Josemaria’s spirituality was shaped by a docility to the Holy Spirit which allowed him to see that ordinar...

In this meditation, Msgr. Fred Dolan reflects on the anxieties and distractions that often disturb our peace. Through the Gospel account of Jesus calming the storm, we are reminded that true security comes not from controlling our circumstances, but from trusting in Our Lord who remains with us in every trial.  

Msgr. Dolan invites us to slow down, focus on what is truly important, and develop habits of prayer and recollection ...

In preparation for the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on the Sacred Heart as an infinite treasure of love and mercy through which we come to know how much we are loved by God. We are invited to bring the truths of the Sacred Heart into our daily life for it is through this devotion which we can find the strength to withstand temptation and bear our cross, find hope amid discouragement, and f...

In this week’s podcast, Fr. Leo Agustina shares a reflection on the treasure of Christ, present in the Eucharist, and how we can become a living tabernacle in the world today. Fr. Leo draws our attention to the moments prior to the Ascension as Christ shares with his disciples the Great Commission: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, … teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And beh...

In this meditation, Msgr. Martin Schlag reflects on the relationship between Our Lady and the Holy Trinity, reminding us that she is a path to deeper union with God.  

Drawing upon the teachings of St. Josemaria, Msgr. Schlag encourages us in our prayer and conversation with God to be open to the transforming presence of the Trinity is all aspects of our life.  

Listen and reflect on: 

• The example of the earthly tri...

In this meditation for the Solemnity of Pentecost, Fr. Leo Austin reflects on the transforming power of the Holy Spirit and the call to deeper interior conversion. Like the Apostles, we are invited to open our hearts to God and allow his grace to shape our desires, choices, and way of life. 

Listen and reflect on: 

• Examining the deeper motives of the heart 
• Recognizing unhealthy attachments and desires 
• The role...

St. Josemaria made many Marian pilgrimages throughout his lifetime, seeking Our Lady’s intercession for his continual conversion and of the whole world.  Today’s meditation commemorates in a special way St. Josemaria’s pilgrimages to Fatima and his personal friendship with Sister Lucia, one of the visionaries of the apparition.  

Fr. Marty Miller offers a brief historical account of St. Josemaria at Fatim...

In this meditation, Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on the spirit of filial trust he witnessed in Blessed Alvaro del Portillo, shaped in large part by his closeness to St. Josemaría. Through that relationship, Blessed Alvaro learned to see God truly as Father and to entrust everything to him with serenity and faith. 

Fr. Peter encourages us to deepen our own trust in God, learning from the example of the saints to live with greater ...

In this meditation, Fr. Eric Nicolai reflects on the life and witness of St. Catherine of Siena, whose courageous love for the Church and the Holy Father helped restore unity in a time of division. Her example, deeply admired by St. Josemaria, reminds us that fidelity to Christ is lived through a sincere love for His Church. 

Fr. Eric invites us to follow this path, growing in unity, praying for the Pope, and responding with fa...

In this meditation, Fr. Leo Austin reflects on St. Josemaria’s Easter homily, Christ’s Presence in Christians, emphasizing that every true encounter with Christ leads to mission. Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, we are filled with hope from encountering the Risen Lord which transforms our life and prompts us to share this joy with others. 

Listen and reflect on: 

• Encountering Christ in a personal an...