St. Josemaria Institute Podcast

Are you attune to the voice of God and open to the plans he has for you? In this podcast, Fr. Leo Agustina reflects on the life of Mary and the pivotal moment in which she changed the course of history through accepting her vocation as the Mother of God. Following in her example, we too must seek to make room in our heart for the Lord. Fr. Leo reminds us that it is first at home in our daily life...

In this podcast, Msgr. Fred Dolan shares a reflection on the standard of holiness which St. Josemaria characterizes by the following three points: holy intransigence, holy coercion, and holy shamelessness. He explains that we must form our heart and mind according to the gospel message so that we will have a firm foundation when confronted with opposition. We are encouraged to look to the example...

The Church commemorates the faithful departed on November 2, praying in a special way for those in purgatory who remain in hope of entering the joy of heaven. In this podcast, part of our Day of Recollection resources for the month of November , Fr. Javier del Castillo shares examples of how we can remember and honor loved ones who have passed away and encourages us to remain steadfast in praying...

The Church celebrates the Solemnity of All Saints on November 1, honoring both the known and unknown saints. In this podcast, Fr. Leo Agustina shares a reflection inspired by the lives of the unknown saints and challenges listeners to pursue sainthood in the world today amid the joys and trials of daily life. As St. Josemaria explains: “Don’t wait until you are old to start becoming a saint. That...

What do authentic, faith-filled friendships look like? Reflecting upon the life of Pope Saint John Paul II, we see the witness of his authentic, faith-filled friendships come to fruition through his life of piety, trust in the Lord, and love of neighbor. In this podcast, Fr. Peter Armenio examines the life of Pope Saint John Paul II and draws inspiration from the personable interactions he shared...

Have you felt the desire to make a spiritual retreat but overwhelmed at how to begin? In this podcast, Fr. Javier del Castillo offers practical tips and suggestions to make the most of a spiritual retreat by eliminating distractions to avail ourself to the voice of Christ. He examines three purposes for a retreat: to re-kindle our love for God, to examine ourself in light of God’s love and truth,...

Are you living with the desire to become a saint? In this podcast, part of our Day of Recollection resources for the month of October , Fr. Peter Armenio shares spiritual insights from his experience of attending the canonization Mass of St. Josemaria Escriva in 2002. Reflecting back on this historic moment, Fr. Peter looks at the impact the life of St. Josemaria continues to have upon countless p...

October 2nd marks a special anniversary in the life of St. Josemaria Escriva, founder of Opus Dei. In this podcast, Fr. Javier del Castillo explains how God showed St. Josemaria his vocation to be the founder of Opus Dei and the prayers and circumstances that led up to that moment. Reflecting on this anniversary will help lead us to ask ourselves: “What does God want of me?” “What does He want me...

In this podcast, Fr. Javier del Castillo shares a reflection on the Holy Archangels–St. Michael, St. Gabriel, and St. Raphael–in preparation for the feast of the Holy Archangels on September 29. As we reflect on the tasks of the angels in the history of salvation, we are encouraged to strengthen our own devotion to the angels, especially through the example of St. Josemaria Escriva. St. Josemaria...

In this podcast, Fr. Justin Gillespie reflects on true friendship as a rare and precious gift. While it is a gift, friendship is also something that we need. Jesus provides it, and by praying about what true friendship is, we can rediscover the vital importance of friendship with Christ. St. Josemaria explains: “God never abandons us. It is not a proper Christian attitude to look upon friendship w...

In this podcast we rebroadcast a cherished meditation from the first five years of the St. Josemaria Institute Podcast. This reflection from Msgr. Fred Dolan leads us to consider our own relationship with Mary, through whom we are led closer to the heart of Christ. As St. Josemaria Escriva wrote: “Today as in other times, the rosary must be a powerful weapon, to enable us to win in our interior st...

In this podcast, Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on Mary’s title "Mother Most Amiable", showing us how Mary invested in the lives of others as true friends. As we reflect upon the Visitation and the Wedding Feast at Cana, it is evident to see the genuine concern and authentic love Mary has for those around her. These stories offer inspiration and encouragement for us as we foster holy friends...

Do you find yourself lacking resilience in the spiritual life, often resulting in taking “two steps forward, one step back” when it comes to your relationship with Christ? In this podcast, part of our Day of Recollection resources for the Month of September , Msgr. Fred Dolan reflects on confronting the struggles we face in strengthening and maintaining our relationship with God. Drawing upon the...

In this podcast, Fr. Javier del Castillo shares a meditation inspired by the phrase, “an hour of study, for a modern apostle, is an hour of prayer” (St. Josemaria Escriva; The Way , no. 335). Approaching academic learning as a form of prayer is not a way of life designed solely for students. Rather, it is a way of life that all Christians should adopt as it helps us develop a stronger worldview. F...

Do you have the desire and goal to love others well? In this podcast, Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on sharing the love of Christ with those we encounter each day: among our family, friends, and colleagues. He explains that to love others well, we must first deny ourself by embracing our daily struggles and sacrificing for the good of others. As we transform our disposition toward our challenges, we...

In this podcast, as we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Fr. Javier del Castillo revisits the dogma of the Assumption, discusses St. Josemaria’s devotion to Our Lady, and explains how we too can participate in the mystery of the Assumption. St. Josemaria explains: “As we meditate on these truths, we come to understand better the logic of God. We come to realize...

In this podcast, Fr. Justin Gillespie shares some considerations on ways that we can speak to our Lord in the stillness, in the silence, of being present in his presence in the Eucharist. He also reminds us to call upon the Blessed Virgin Mary for help and guidance as we make efforts to improve our relationship with God and in turn improve our lives. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! If you enjoy our weekl...

What is the vocation of a priest, and how can we as the lay faithful support them in their path of life? In this podcast, as we celebrate the feast of St. John Vianney, Fr. Javier del Castillo explains why priests need our prayers and reflects on the four characteristics of a priestly soul according to St. Josemaria Escriva. St. Josemaria explains: “The Church needs priests, and always will. Ask t...

Has anyone ever told you to let go and let God? In this podcast, Fr. Javier del Castillo shares a reflection on the Gospel scene in which Martha welcomes Christ into her home (Luke 10:38-42) and reveals to us the meaning of letting go and letting God into our lives. In the Gospel passage, we notice Martha become caught up in the activity and details of serving Christ which inhibit her from fully e...

Why is marriage important to society today? And, what distinguishes a healthy marriage from one that is in serious trouble? On this podcast, Msgr. Fred Dolan reflects on the Sacrament of Marriage and how it is the cornerstone to society and the image of the eternal love between Christ and his Church. Marriage is the pathway for spouses to lead one another to heaven. For a marriage to flourish, it...

Amid the challenges of your day, do you find God there with you as a Loving Father? In this podcast, Fr. Peter Armenio shares a reflection on the fatherly love of God and the joy we can experience when we live in proper relationship with him. This timely meditation speaks to the challenges present in society and inspires listeners to be a reflection of the love of God in the world today. St. Josem...

In this podcast, from our Day of Recollection resources for the month of July , Fr. Peter Armenio poses the important question: Do you really want to be a saint? As we reflect upon this question, Fr. Peter reminds us that we cannot rely solely on the desire for sanctity, but that we must actively choose to live in the presence of God. We are encouraged to form ourselves through prayer, spiritual r...

A Spiritual Retreat on the Temptations of Christ invites you to journey with Christ through six key moments in which he encountered and resisted temptation. This retreat prompts us to look inward and assess the temptations we face in our daily life – in our profession, in our spiritual life, with family, among friends. As we look at the example of Christ, we come to understand the necessary virtue...

As we prepare for and celebrate the Feast Day of St. Josemaria Escriva on June 26, we share a new podcast from Fr. Peter Armenio reflecting on the spiritual aspiration of St. Josemaria: to hide and disappear, wanting Jesus alone to shine. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, St. Josemaria set out to encounter Christ in the ordinary moments of everyday life. In this podcast, Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on t...

In this podcast, Fr. Javier del Castillo reflects on the immeasurable love of Christ as we prepare for and celebrate the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Christ became incarnate and took on a human heart to model for us the ability to love with our own heart of flesh if we are receptive to the grace of God. As Christians, we must allow for the love of Christ to permeate our daily actions s...