St. Josemaria Institute Podcast

As we begin the final week of Lent and prepare for Holy Week, we share with you on the St. Josemaria Institute Podcast a meditation for the Fifth Sunday of Lent: “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life" (Jn 12: 23-25).Fr Javier del Castillo encourages us in this meditation to reflect on the meaning of death-- death to self and death in this world-- and to understand "death as a remedy for evil and as a gift." Being aware of our death can help us to live each day with a supernatural desire "to do penance and to make many acts of love confident that God will be there at the end-- to love today so that I can love for eternity." Support the showTHANK YOU FOR LISTENING!Let us know that our podcast is important to you:Share your favorite episodes with others and leave us a rating or review.Stay connected with us on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: www.stjosemaria.orgAlso, if you enjoy the podcast, please consider helping us keep our episodes free and accessible for all our listeners: Give today! 

Today on the St. Josemaria Institute podcast we bring you a special meditation in honor of the Solemnity of St Joseph.Who was Joseph? What was he called to do? How did he answer God’s call? How did he provide for the needs of Mary and Jesus? Fr Javier del Castillo invites us in this meditation to contemplate the holy life of Saint Joseph who was “a family man and an upright worker and citizen.” We also prayerfully consider this two-fold vocation in order to learn from Saint Joseph how we can live these two aspects of our vocations (family and work) wherever we find ourselves.Ite ad Ioseph: “Go to Joseph" Support the showTHANK YOU FOR LISTENING!Let us know that our podcast is important to you:Share your favorite episodes with others and leave us a rating or review.Stay connected with us on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: www.stjosemaria.orgAlso, if you enjoy the podcast, please consider helping us keep our episodes free and accessible for all our listeners: Give today! 

In this meditation Fr Javier del Castillo invites us to reflect on a passage from the Second Reading of the Mass of the Fourth Sunday of Lent.God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love he had for us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, brought us to life with Christ — by grace you have been saved — raised us up with him, and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. Our greatest hopes lie in the richness of the mercy of God-- in His infinite amount of mercy, grace, and forgiveness-- which is always available to us. God will always forgive us, but to receive forgiveness is up to us. We should not stay away from His mercy, from the Sacraments, out of feelings of guilt. If we are challenged by guilt or a lack of humility, a good way to be open to forgiveness, as Fr Castillo explains, is by forgiving others and by doing it sooner and more generously each time. In this way we begin to open ourselves to receiving mercy in our lives."If a thief moved the heart of Christ on the cross, how could a Christian, you or I, not move the heart of Christ much more so."  Support the showTHANK YOU FOR LISTENING!Let us know that our podcast is important to you:Share your favorite episodes with others and leave us a rating or review.Stay connected with us on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: www.stjosemaria.orgAlso, if you enjoy the podcast, please consider helping us keep our episodes free and accessible for all our listeners: Give today! 

Our meditation today invites us to reflect on the value of the virtue of Holy Purity. “People in love demand total exclusivity,” explains Fr Javier del Castillo, “if their love is going to be sincere and true. Love requires a purity of heart… This is in essence what our Lord teaches us today in the Gospel, this Sunday.” “Since the Passover of the Jews was near,Jesus went up to Jerusalem.He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money changers seated there. He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables, and to those who sold doves he said,‘Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.’His disciples recalled the words of Scripture, Zeal for your house will consume me” (John 2:13-17).Lent is an appropriate moment to closely examine the aspects of our lives which can be transformed by living Holy Purity; for example, our choices of entertainment and relaxation, our conversations with friends and coworkers, our attractions and desires, and our dress and appearance. Our desire and effort to live Holy Purity is a joyful and positive affirmation of our desire to grow in intensity of love, especially when we serve others and when we truly and sincerely serve God. Support the showTHANK YOU FOR LISTENING!Let us know that our podcast is important to you:Share your favorite episodes with others and leave us a rating or review.Stay connected with us on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: www.stjosemaria.orgAlso, if you enjoy the podcast, please consider helping us keep our episodes free and accessible for all our listeners: Give today! 

In the Gospel for the Mass of the Second Sunday of Lent (Mark 9:2-10) we contemplate the Transfiguration of Jesus. "Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves.And he was transfigured before them…" (Mark 9:2).He takes them up Mount Tabor, as Fr Javier del Castillo explains in today's meditation, "to show them the full truth about himself, about his divinity, so that they can have hope in eternal life and they remember this experience of divinity, of bliss, of eternity, when it comes time to suffer through the passion.""In considering this scene at Tabor, we try to go to Jesus, to look at him, so that we may be enlightened. So that whether we are ill, suffering or dying-- or sick and tired-- we actually try to discover the Tabors behind the Calvaries." Support the showTHANK YOU FOR LISTENING!Let us know that our podcast is important to you:Share your favorite episodes with others and leave us a rating or review.Stay connected with us on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: www.stjosemaria.orgAlso, if you enjoy the podcast, please consider helping us keep our episodes free and accessible for all our listeners: Give today! 

The Gospel for the Mass of the First Sunday of Lent (Mark 1:12-15) tells of Jesus' forty days and temptation in the desert. In today's meditation, Fr Javier del Castillo asks us to contemplate Jesus' temptation as we begin the first week of Lent "to learn how to say yes to our Father God and to renounce Satan." And, we can learn to do that by understanding temptation and recognizing our personal struggles with temptations.In particular, Fr Javier draws our attention to three important characteristics of temptations:1. Temptations are tailor-made for us, made to fit us individually.2. Temptations never appear in their ugliness; they always appear attractive.3. We should never dialogue with temptation; we must run away from temptation.As we learn in the meditation, "we have to take time to think about and decipher those temptations, whether it's a pleasure or fear, because then pride comes in and takes over, and then we commit the greatest sins." Support the showTHANK YOU FOR LISTENING!Let us know that our podcast is important to you:Share your favorite episodes with others and leave us a rating or review.Stay connected with us on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: www.stjosemaria.orgAlso, if you enjoy the podcast, please consider helping us keep our episodes free and accessible for all our listeners: Give today! 

On February 7, 2015, over 100 guests participated in the St. Josemaria Institute’s 2015 inaugural conference “Pope Francis: His Life and Papacy and the Synod of the Family”, which was held at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois.Our speaker, Father Mark Manion, presented three talks on Pope Francis:First Conference-- Francis: A Brief Biographical Sketch in the Context of John Paul II and Benedict XVISecond Conference-- Unpacking the Joy of the GospelThird Conference-- Post-Synodal Air and the Upcoming Synod of the FamilyFr. Mark Manion is a priest of the Prelature of Opus Dei and the chaplain of The Willows Academy in Des Plaines and Midtown Educational Foundation in Chicago. He preaches recollections and gives spiritual direction in Chicago. The conference talks are now available on the St. Josemaria Institute Podcast to help us remain close to the Holy Father in preparation for his historic visit to the United States for the World Meeting of Families, September 26-27, 2015. Support the showTHANK YOU FOR LISTENING!Let us know that our podcast is important to you:Share your favorite episodes with others and leave us a rating or review.Stay connected with us on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: www.stjosemaria.orgAlso, if you enjoy the podcast, please consider helping us keep our episodes free and accessible for all our listeners: Give today! 

On February 7, 2015, over 100 guests participated in the St. Josemaria Institute’s 2015 inaugural conference “Pope Francis: His Life and Papacy and the Synod of the Family”, which was held at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois.Our speaker, Father Mark Manion, presented three talks on Pope Francis: First Conference-- Francis: A Brief Biographical Sketch in the Context of John Paul II and Benedict XVISecond Conference-- Unpacking the Joy of the GospelThird Conference-- Post-Synodal Air and the Upcoming Synod of the FamilyFr. Mark Manion is a priest of the Prelature of Opus Dei and the chaplain of The Willows Academy in Des Plaines and Midtown Educational Foundation in Chicago. He preaches recollections and gives spiritual direction in Chicago.The conference talks are now available on the St. Josemaria Institute Podcast to help us remain close to the Holy Father in preparation for his historic visit to the United States for the World Meeting of Families, September 26-27, 2015. Support the showTHANK YOU FOR LISTENING!Let us know that our podcast is important to you:Share your favorite episodes with others and leave us a rating or review.Stay connected with us on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: www.stjosemaria.orgAlso, if you enjoy the podcast, please consider helping us keep our episodes free and accessible for all our listeners: Give today! 

On February 7, 2015, over 100 guests participated in the St. Josemaria Institute’s 2015 inaugural conference “Pope Francis: His Life and Papacy and the Synod of the Family”, which was held at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois.Our speaker, Father Mark Mannion, presented three talks on Pope Francis:First Conference-- Francis: A Brief Biographical Sketch in the Context of John Paul II and Benedict XVISecond Conference-- Unpacking the Joy of the GospelThird Conference-- Post-Synodal Air and the Upcoming Synod of the FamilyFr. Mark Mannion is a priest of the Prelature of Opus Dei and the chaplain of The Willows Academy in Des Plaines and Midtown Educational Foundation in Chicago. He preaches recollections and gives spiritual direction in Chicago.The conference talks are now available on the St. Josemaria Institute Podcast to help us remain close to the Holy Father in preparation for his historic visit to the United States for the World Meeting of Families, September 26-27, 2015. Support the showTHANK YOU FOR LISTENING!Let us know that our podcast is important to you:Share your favorite episodes with others and leave us a rating or review.Stay connected with us on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: www.stjosemaria.orgAlso, if you enjoy the podcast, please consider helping us keep our episodes free and accessible for all our listeners: Give today! 

As we begin the holy season of Lent, Fr Javier del Castillo invites us in this meditation for Ash Wednesday to reflect on the readings and Gospel of today’s Mass and on the works we are called to fulfill during this time for our conversion: fasting, praying and almsgiving.“Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor 6:2)Father Javier explains that “now is the time to convert and to turn to the Lord.. [He gives us] an entire season of the liturgical year characterized by acts and symbols of penance… A time of salvation is a time of conversion [during which] we can actually repent from our actions, from our sins…” “We can say, ‘I do not wish to be identified with that action of mine. I wish I had never done it. In fact, I will try to undo it as best as I can with subsequent actions.’ That is what we want to do during Lent as we begin this acceptable time for conversion… To purify ourselves and identify ourselves with our Lord’s suffering… And when we see the great mercy that has been bestowed upon us we want to voluntarily participate a little bit in that, even though our meager efforts will never be able to match our Lord’s love for us and His power to redeem us.”Pointing to the ways that our Lord calls us to pray, fast, and give alms, this meditation helps us to see how these works are ultimately a participation in life and mission of Jesus Christ. And that these works can be fulfilled by doing our everyday duties with love as well as by offering up our food and drink, setting a time for prayer, going to Mass during the week, praying the Rosary— works and penances that fit our schedules like a glove as well as prayer that keeps us closely united to our Lord. Support the showTHANK YOU FOR LISTENING!Let us know that our podcast is important to you:Share your favorite episodes with others and leave us a rating or review.Stay connected with us on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: www.stjosemaria.orgAlso, if you enjoy the podcast, please consider helping us keep our episodes free and accessible for all our listeners: Give today!