July 14, 2026 • 13 mins
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. Dolan invites us to pray with the simplicity of spiritual childhood, entrust our worries to the Father, and rediscover the peace that comes from living as his beloved sons and daughters.
Listen and reflect on:
- Becoming like little children before God
- The Father's faithful love
- Trust over anxiety
- Prayer rooted in confidence
- Remembering who we are in Christ
Read the full text of St. Josemaria’s homily, “Getting to Know God”, online here.
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Episode Transcript
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SPEAKER_00 (00:10):
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of
the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
My Lord and my God, I firmlybelieve that you are here, that
you see me, that you hear me.
I adore you with profoundreverence.
(00:30):
I ask your pardon for my sins,and the grace to make this time
of prayer fruitful.
My Immaculate Mother, SaintJoseph, my Father and Lord, my
guardian angel, intercede forme.
Saint Josemaria begins hishomily getting to know God with
(00:55):
a charming personal account.
He recalls that the previousnight he had awakened several
times, and had repeated as anaspiration some words from
sacred scripture quasi modogeniti infantes, which means as
(01:17):
newborn babes.
That phrase struck him as aperfect image for our condition
as children of God, our divinefiliation.
As he put it, it is certainlyright that we strive to be
strong, solid men and women ofmetal, who can positively
(01:42):
influence our environment.
And yet, before God, how good itis to see ourselves as little
children.
Saint Osamaria invites us tobecome like newborn infants
before God.
(02:04):
Saint Teresa of Avolabeautifully explains what this
means by comparing the soul to ababy at its mother's breast.
The child does not earn itsnourishment, nor does it even
know how to ask for it.
The mother lovingly provideseverything.
(02:24):
And as Teresa notes, an infantdoes not anxiously wonder
whether its mother will feed itthe following day.
So too in prayer, our first taskis not to accomplish something,
but simply to remain with God,confident that our Father
(02:48):
already knows what we need.
We are called to receive Hisgrace, to drink the milk of the
Spirit, and to enjoy itssweetness.
That phrase that moved SaintJosemaria so much continues
(03:11):
Quasi modo geniti infantesratiolo lac concupicite.
Like children just born into theworld, cry out for the clean,
pure milk of the Spirit.
Let us meditate today on thecertainty that we are children
(03:34):
of God, and on the consequencesthis has for our daily lives.
Saint Josemaria shared from hisown deep interior life.
My life has led me to realize ina special way that I am a son of
God.
(03:56):
I have experienced the joy ofgetting inside the heart of my
Father.
To enter the heart of our FatherGod.
Our own hearts skip a beat atthe thought of such a wonderful
reality.
No wonder Saint Osemaria speaksof the joy of climbing inside
(04:21):
God's heart.
We can make this our own prayerright now.
Lord, I have to tell you what isgoing on in my heart right now.
Otherwise, I will burst.
I just love being your child.
(04:42):
I just love knowing that I amloved.
In no way will I ever doubt yourlove.
Just as a little child does notcalculate whether he deserves
his father's love.
From within God's heart we canborrow his fatherly glasses, so
(05:07):
to speak, and see those aroundus differently.
This is the interior life.
To enter the Father's heart andremain there.
We then begin to love what heloves, rejoice in what pleases
him, grieve over what woundshim, and look upon others with
(05:31):
his patience.
But we know from experience thatthis is not easy.
Saint Josemaria warns us.
This is why I want to insist nowthat you and I need to be made
anew, to wake up from theslumber of feebleness by which
(05:54):
we are so easily lulled, and tobecome aware once again, in a
deeper, more immediate way, ofour condition as children of
God, how easily we forget who weare.
We begin to live as thougheverything depended entirely
(06:18):
upon us, becoming anxious,self-reliant, and burdened.
That is the existential slumberfrom which Saint Josemaria wants
to awaken us, not merelyphysical inactivity, but a
forgetfulness of our Father'slove.
(06:43):
Laziness, softness, and a falselove of comfort threaten our
pursuit of sanctity.
Let us resolve today to shakeoff this spiritual slumber and
awaken to our identity as God'schildren.
(07:06):
We often begin the prayers ofthe faithful at Mass with this
petition, with the confidence ofour divine filiation.
This confidence is meant tosustain us, in spite of our
defects and limitations.
As Saint John tells us, see howGod has shown his love towards
(07:30):
us, that we should be counted ashis sons, should be his sons.
Beloved, we are sons of God evennow.
This is not a pious metaphor.
It is the fundamental realityfrom which the whole Christian
(07:52):
life flows.
Saint Josemaria reflected, Overthe years I have sought to rely
unfalteringly for my support onthis joyous reality.
I have said to him, Lord, youput me here.
You entrusted me with this orthat, and I put my trust in you.
(08:18):
I know that you are my father,and I have seen that tiny
children are always absolutelysure of their parents.
Such trust transforms ourprayer.
Instead of trying to persuadeGod, we begin to rest in Him.
(08:42):
Instead of carrying every burdenourselves, we place it squarely
in the hands of our Father.
After all, children ask forseemingly impossible things
simply because they know theyare speaking to their Father.
(09:23):
What confidence, what rest, andwhat optimism it will give you
in the midst of difficulties, toknow you are a child, the child
of a Father who knows everythingand who can do everything.
(09:44):
When we pray as children, ourwill becomes identified with the
will of our Father, who alwayswants the best for us.
This trust dissipates theanxiety that comes from
depending solely on our ownstrength.
(10:06):
As the founder wrote in The Way,draw strength from your divine
filiation.
God is a Father, your Father,full of warmth and infinite
love.
Call him Father frequentlythroughout the day.
(10:27):
Tell him when you are alone,that you love him, and that you
feel proud and strong becauseyou are his child.
Quasi modo geniti infantes, likenewborn babes.
(10:49):
This attitude of spiritualchildhood enables us to savor
those other words from SaintJohn All that is born of God
overcomes the world.
It conquers difficulties andachieves victory in the great
battle for peace in our soulsand in society.
(11:13):
Our wisdom and our strength lieprecisely in being convinced of
our littleness in the eyes ofGod.
Yet at the same moment, Heprompts us to get moving, to
confidently proclaim His onlybegotten Son, Jesus Christ.
(11:35):
He calls us to action despiteour errors and miseries,
provided that we are activelyfighting to overcome our
weakness.
Let us begin with ourselves.
Striving to discover the good wecan do for our families, our
friends, and everyone we meet.
(11:58):
There is no better way tocontemplate the greatness of God
than to start from this simple,inexpressible fact.
He is our Father, and we are Hischildren.
Today, perhaps the Lord isasking only one thing of us.
(12:21):
Call him Father.
Say it slowly, say it often.
Let those words sink from yourlips into your heart.
The child who knows he has afather is never truly alone,
never without hope, neverwithout strength.
(12:43):
Everything changes once weremember whose children we are.
I thank you, my God, for thegood resolutions, affections,
and inspirations that you havecommunicated to me in this
meditation.
I ask your help in putting theminto effect.
(13:07):
My Immaculate Mother, SaintJoseph, my Father and Lord, my
guardian angel, intercede forme.
In the name of the Father and ofthe Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
God bless you.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of
the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
My Lord and my God, I firmlybelieve that you are here, that
you see me, that you hear me.
I adore you with profoundreverence.
(00:30):
I ask your pardon for my sins,and the grace to make this time
of prayer fruitful.
My Immaculate Mother, SaintJoseph, my Father and Lord, my
guardian angel, intercede forme.
Saint Josemaria begins hishomily getting to know God with
(00:55):
a charming personal account.
He recalls that the previousnight he had awakened several
times, and had repeated as anaspiration some words from
sacred scripture quasi modogeniti infantes, which means as
(01:17):
newborn babes.
That phrase struck him as aperfect image for our condition
as children of God, our divinefiliation.
As he put it, it is certainlyright that we strive to be
strong, solid men and women ofmetal, who can positively
(01:42):
influence our environment.
And yet, before God, how good itis to see ourselves as little
children.
Saint Osamaria invites us tobecome like newborn infants
before God.
(02:04):
Saint Teresa of Avolabeautifully explains what this
means by comparing the soul to ababy at its mother's breast.
The child does not earn itsnourishment, nor does it even
know how to ask for it.
The mother lovingly provideseverything.
(02:24):
And as Teresa notes, an infantdoes not anxiously wonder
whether its mother will feed itthe following day.
So too in prayer, our first taskis not to accomplish something,
but simply to remain with God,confident that our Father
(02:48):
already knows what we need.
We are called to receive Hisgrace, to drink the milk of the
Spirit, and to enjoy itssweetness.
That phrase that moved SaintJosemaria so much continues
(03:11):
Quasi modo geniti infantesratiolo lac concupicite.
Like children just born into theworld, cry out for the clean,
pure milk of the Spirit.
Let us meditate today on thecertainty that we are children
(03:34):
of God, and on the consequencesthis has for our daily lives.
Saint Josemaria shared from hisown deep interior life.
My life has led me to realize ina special way that I am a son of
God.
(03:56):
I have experienced the joy ofgetting inside the heart of my
Father.
To enter the heart of our FatherGod.
Our own hearts skip a beat atthe thought of such a wonderful
reality.
No wonder Saint Osemaria speaksof the joy of climbing inside
(04:21):
God's heart.
We can make this our own prayerright now.
Lord, I have to tell you what isgoing on in my heart right now.
Otherwise, I will burst.
I just love being your child.
(04:42):
I just love knowing that I amloved.
In no way will I ever doubt yourlove.
Just as a little child does notcalculate whether he deserves
his father's love.
From within God's heart we canborrow his fatherly glasses, so
(05:07):
to speak, and see those aroundus differently.
This is the interior life.
To enter the Father's heart andremain there.
We then begin to love what heloves, rejoice in what pleases
him, grieve over what woundshim, and look upon others with
(05:31):
his patience.
But we know from experience thatthis is not easy.
Saint Josemaria warns us.
This is why I want to insist nowthat you and I need to be made
anew, to wake up from theslumber of feebleness by which
(05:54):
we are so easily lulled, and tobecome aware once again, in a
deeper, more immediate way, ofour condition as children of
God, how easily we forget who weare.
We begin to live as thougheverything depended entirely
(06:18):
upon us, becoming anxious,self-reliant, and burdened.
That is the existential slumberfrom which Saint Josemaria wants
to awaken us, not merelyphysical inactivity, but a
forgetfulness of our Father'slove.
(06:43):
Laziness, softness, and a falselove of comfort threaten our
pursuit of sanctity.
Let us resolve today to shakeoff this spiritual slumber and
awaken to our identity as God'schildren.
(07:06):
We often begin the prayers ofthe faithful at Mass with this
petition, with the confidence ofour divine filiation.
This confidence is meant tosustain us, in spite of our
defects and limitations.
As Saint John tells us, see howGod has shown his love towards
(07:30):
us, that we should be counted ashis sons, should be his sons.
Beloved, we are sons of God evennow.
This is not a pious metaphor.
It is the fundamental realityfrom which the whole Christian
(07:52):
life flows.
Saint Josemaria reflected, Overthe years I have sought to rely
unfalteringly for my support onthis joyous reality.
I have said to him, Lord, youput me here.
You entrusted me with this orthat, and I put my trust in you.
(08:18):
I know that you are my father,and I have seen that tiny
children are always absolutelysure of their parents.
Such trust transforms ourprayer.
Instead of trying to persuadeGod, we begin to rest in Him.
(08:42):
Instead of carrying every burdenourselves, we place it squarely
in the hands of our Father.
After all, children ask forseemingly impossible things
simply because they know theyare speaking to their Father.
(09:23):
What confidence, what rest, andwhat optimism it will give you
in the midst of difficulties, toknow you are a child, the child
of a Father who knows everythingand who can do everything.
(09:44):
When we pray as children, ourwill becomes identified with the
will of our Father, who alwayswants the best for us.
This trust dissipates theanxiety that comes from
depending solely on our ownstrength.
(10:06):
As the founder wrote in The Way,draw strength from your divine
filiation.
God is a Father, your Father,full of warmth and infinite
love.
Call him Father frequentlythroughout the day.
(10:27):
Tell him when you are alone,that you love him, and that you
feel proud and strong becauseyou are his child.
Quasi modo geniti infantes, likenewborn babes.
(10:49):
This attitude of spiritualchildhood enables us to savor
those other words from SaintJohn All that is born of God
overcomes the world.
It conquers difficulties andachieves victory in the great
battle for peace in our soulsand in society.
(11:13):
Our wisdom and our strength lieprecisely in being convinced of
our littleness in the eyes ofGod.
Yet at the same moment, Heprompts us to get moving, to
confidently proclaim His onlybegotten Son, Jesus Christ.
(11:35):
He calls us to action despiteour errors and miseries,
provided that we are activelyfighting to overcome our
weakness.
Let us begin with ourselves.
Striving to discover the good wecan do for our families, our
friends, and everyone we meet.
(11:58):
There is no better way tocontemplate the greatness of God
than to start from this simple,inexpressible fact.
He is our Father, and we are Hischildren.
Today, perhaps the Lord isasking only one thing of us.
(12:21):
Call him Father.
Say it slowly, say it often.
Let those words sink from yourlips into your heart.
The child who knows he has afather is never truly alone,
never without hope, neverwithout strength.
(12:43):
Everything changes once weremember whose children we are.
I thank you, my God, for thegood resolutions, affections,
and inspirations that you havecommunicated to me in this
meditation.
I ask your help in putting theminto effect.
(13:07):
My Immaculate Mother, SaintJoseph, my Father and Lord, my
guardian angel, intercede forme.
In the name of the Father and ofthe Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
God bless you.
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