St. Josemaria Institute Podcast

In this reflection on The Visitation of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth, we encounter the realization that Mary offers us much in the way of teaching us about self-giving. Especially in the way she puts others first, always availing herself to acts of serving others for the love of God. There is an experience of true joy in all she does. 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.org Also, if you enjoy the podcast, please consider helping us keep our episodes free and accessible for all our listeners: Give today!

On today's podcast we are reminded, for our contemplation, of the words Pope Benedict XVI offered on the meaning of freedom: “Who is freer than the One who is the Almighty? He did not, however, live his freedom as an arbitrary power or as domination. He lived it as a service. In this way he ‘filled’ freedom with content, which would otherwise have remained an ‘empty’ possibility of doing or not doing something. . .freedom draws its meaning from love . . .”If it is true happiness that we are looking for when seeking freedom, then we should observe the actions of Jesus Christ.  He himself showed us how to be obedient to God the Father no matter the cost. And, in return, God the Father nourishes Jesus’ strength to carry out his act of love for the Father.  This is the model the saints chose to follow and it would be wise for us to do the same. 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.org Also, if you enjoy the podcast, please consider helping us keep our episodes free and accessible for all our listeners: Give today!

Thank you for listening to the 10-Day Devotion to the Holy Spirit on the St. Josemaria Institute Podcast!10-Day Devotion to the Holy Spirit - Day 4 | Our faith in the Holy Spirit: necessarily completeFor the complete text of today’s reflection and for additional spiritual resources visit: stjosemaria.org/ten-day-devotion-holy-spirit/10-DAY DEVOTION TO THE HOLY SPIRIT IN PREPARATION FOR PENTECOST: The prayers and reflections for this devotion are taken from the “Handbook of Prayers,” published by Midwest Theological Forum. This long standing custom of the Church in preparation for Pentecost is an opportunity to ask the Holy Spirit to strengthen our hearts and make firm resolutions for our interior lives. 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.org Also, if you enjoy the podcast, please consider helping us keep our episodes free and accessible for all our listeners: Give today!

Today on the podcast… “When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, 'Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?' (Lk 24:30-32).”As we journey with those whom the Lord chooses to place in our lives, we can be apostles of today evangelizing simply through how we live our daily lives. Then will not our companions also exclaim, “Were not our hearts burning?” In today’s podcast we reflect upon and are reminded that our companions in life must see the truth in our convictions of how to live holy, joyful, saintly lives in the midst of the world 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.org Also, if you enjoy the podcast, please consider helping us keep our episodes free and accessible for all our listeners: Give today!

Today on the podcast… On May 1st, the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker.“…Behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him'” (Matt. 2:13).In this reflection, Msgr. Fred Dolan invites us to bring to our prayer the great example of St. Joseph, especially his obedience and immediate response to the will of God– even if it meant he would find himself without a home and without established work. 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.org Also, if you enjoy the podcast, please consider helping us keep our episodes free and accessible for all our listeners: Give today!

Reflection… Easter is the highest celebration of the Church because it is the culmination of the Paschal Mystery with Jesus as victor over sin and death. The properties of his suffering on the Cross and his Resurrection stimulate change. Not only a visible change in our behavior but also a spiritual change in direct correlation with our relationship in prayer with the Lord.All of this is made possible through a young Jewish girl’s "yes" to an Angel sent By God. Mary’s Fiat! As this young girl recites her Magnificat to the angel, her heartfelt  knowledge of the old testament is very evident for her words are drawn from all over the old testament. 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.org Also, if you enjoy the podcast, please consider helping us keep our episodes free and accessible for all our listeners: Give today!

The Church celebrates Divine Mercy Sunday at the conclusion of the Easter Octave during which we are reminded to “be merciful, just as [our] Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36).In this podcast, Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on the mercy of God by sharing a deeper understanding of the Eucharist. He explains that Christ is the incarnation of mercy itself which is revealed to us through the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist. As we receive the Eucharist and allow Christ to dwell within us, we also receive the grace of the Holy Spirit which empowers us to show mercy toward those we encounter each day and inspires us to love with the heart of Christ.St. Josemaria explains: “Mercy is more than simply being compassionate. Mercy is the overflow of charity, which brings with it also an overflow of justice. Mercy means keeping one’s heart totally alive, throbbing in a way that is both human and divine, with a love that is strong, self-sacrificing and generous” (Friends of God, no. 232).[ Transcript ] 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.org Also, if you enjoy the podcast, please consider helping us keep our episodes free and accessible for all our listeners: Give today!

Reflection… “My wounds stink and fester because of my foolishness, I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all the day I go about mourning. For my sides are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh. I am feeble and crushed; I groan because of the tumult of my heart” (Psalm 38:5-8).In the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus tells Peter, James, and John to watch and pray, he is also calling us to watch and pray.  In our prayer we contemplate who Jesus really is, what he did for us out of love and what this means for us today.  How can we make this time of prayer personal and allow what we learn to overflow into our daily lives. 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.org Also, if you enjoy the podcast, please consider helping us keep our episodes free and accessible for all our listeners: Give today!

Reflection… Lent is a season of conversion of the mind, heart, and soul through the acts of prayer, penance, and deeds of charity/alms giving. Though its exact time of origin is unknown, the practice of fasting and the offering of a penance during the 40 days prior to Easter was more widely visible in the church sometime soon after The First Council of Nicaea, AD 325. The councils’ program of liturgical and theological alignment may have been the springboard that aided in the formation of the structure of Lent as we practice it today.May the graces we receive this lent through our prayers of self-giving love, acceptance of our crosses of penance, and deeds of charity toward the least of our brethren, propel us to continue to perfect these newfound works in our daily lives.Jesus gently calls us to an improved relationship with Him, “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; even as I have loved you, that ye also love one another” (John 13:34). 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.org Also, if you enjoy the podcast, please consider helping us keep our episodes free and accessible for all our listeners: Give today!

Jesus prepared the disciples to bear fruit as they began to evangelize.  We too must prepare for evangelizing as well. During the season of lent let us practice being in the presence Jesus, to be in constant prayer.  In the early church St. Paul taught, to "Put on Christ".  To evangelize well our faith must grow and for our faith to grow one must pursue holiness.The Second Vatican Council has brought to the forefront that the laity are called to bring the modern world back to Christ.  Through obedience, let us begin in the silence of our meditation to commence with contemplative hearts to change the world. 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.org Also, if you enjoy the podcast, please consider helping us keep our episodes free and accessible for all our listeners: Give today!