Meditations in Manhattan

We are entering Holy Week, the most sacred and spiritually intense week of the year. Let us live it well, accompanying Jesus closely. A meditation by Father Thomas Bohlin.

Throughout the Gospels Jesus tries to form the Apostles as men of prayer. He tries to introduce them to the intimacy he has with the Father. Lord, this Lent, let us enter through prayer into the life of the Trinity, into the loving dialog of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. A meditation by Father Joe Keefe.

Chastity means the successful integration of sexuality within the person. Living the virtue of purity will always be a battle, but with the help of Jesus, it is a battle we can win. We will need prayer and the sacraments, especially confession and the Holy Eucharist.  The fight is worth it, because we are called to live here as children of God. A meditation by Father Thomas G. Bohlin.

In this mediation we look at some of the great saints we encounter in the liturgy in August, including the Cure of Ars, Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Saint Monica, Saint Augustine, Saint John the Baptist. We celebrate the Assumption of Mary, the mother of Jesus and the greatest of saints. Taking advantage of the example, lives, and words of these great saints, let us strive to grow in holiness and become saints ourselves.

Let us give thanks for our Lord's presence in the Eucharist.  Let us consider the depth of our Lord's love for us, which has led him to stay with us, hidden under the appearance of bread in the Blessed Sacrament. How much love he has for us. A meditation by Father Tom Bohlin.

Being a child of God means listening to his voice. Let us have a listening heart, a heart that loves. Let us tell tell the Holy Spirit that we will listen more attentively to his voice. A meditation by Father John Agnew.

During this month of May, let us come closer to Jesus, through Mary. A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.

We all have troubles in life, but pain and failures are not final. Christ brings us true peace, not the kind the world gives, but deep and lasting peace. A meditation by Father Henry Bocala.

Our belief in the Resurrection of Jesus brings us joy. These days of Easter we are especially reminded of Christ's presence among us. A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.

God has chosen us, in Christ, from the beginning of time. The Lord in his infinite mercy draws us closer and closer to Himself. Jesus knocks at the door of our hearts. Let us be generous in our response to that call.

By entering into the Paschal Triduum, we can respond to Christ's invitation, "Love one another as I have loved you."

We are called to be saints in the middle of the world. And to become saints, we must begin again and again. During Lent, through our prayer, penance and almsgiving, we can follow Jesus closely. God loves us unconditionally. He calls us to live a life of commitment, and through that to live a life of joy. This meditation is the final of seven meditations we are posting from a Lent retreat by Father Timothy Uhen. During Lent, we seek a deeper love of God and neighbor through prayer, self-denial, and charity. The aim of these Lenten meditations is to help us, through Jesus, to gaze upon the glory of God and to realize that his kindness is a greater joy than life itself.

In the Eucharist, Jesus offers himself to us as the Bread of Life. We draw our life from him, and we learn to be humble of heart. This meditation is the sixth of seven meditations we are posting during Lent from a retreat by Father Timothy Uhen. During Lent, we seek a deeper love of God and neighbor through prayer, self-denial, and charity. The aim of these Lenten meditations is to help us, through Jesus, to gaze upon the glory of God and to realize that his kindness is a greater joy than life itself.

In the Sacred Humanity of Christ, we have the perfect model for our life hear on Earth. Jesus said, "Learn from me." That is what the saints have done. Like Saint Paul, we should strive to live so that "it is not I who live, but Christ who lives in me." This meditation is the fifth of seven meditations we are posting during Lent from a retreat by Father Timothy Uhen. During Lent, we seek a deeper love of God and neighbor through prayer, self-denial, and charity. The aim of these Lenten meditations is to help us, through Jesus, to gaze upon the glory of God and to realize that his kindness is a greater joy than life itself.

While the prospect of death and judgment may bring a natural fear to our souls, our Lord is constantly reminding us that he is always with us, and that his mercy endures forever. Indeed, the reality of Last Things spurs us to use our time well and always be merciful to others. This meditation is the third of seven meditations we are posting during Lent from a retreat by Father Timothy Uhen. During Lent, we seek a deeper love of God and neighbor through prayer, self-denial, and charity. The aim of these Lenten meditations is to help us, through Jesus, to gaze upon the glory of God and to realize that his kindness is a greater joy than life itself.

Jesus came to "cast fire upon the earth," yet the danger of lukewarmness is always lurking. We do well to heed the words of Our Blessed Mother at Cana, and do whatever Christ tells us. This meditation is the third of seven meditations we are posting during Lent from a retreat by Father Timothy Uhen. During Lent, we seek a deeper love of God and neighbor through prayer, self-denial, and charity. The aim of these Lenten meditations is to help us, through Jesus, to gaze upon the glory of God and to realize that his kindness is a greater joy than life itself.

From the abundance of Love, God has created the world and given us a special place in it: We are made in his image and likeness. During a retreat, and during prayer, Jesus wants to “take me aside privately,” as he did with the deaf-mute, in order to heal me and bring me to a realization of my dignity as a son of God. Will I allow him to do so? This meditation is the second of seven meditations we are posting during Lent from a retreat by Father Timothy Uhen. During Lent, we seek a deeper love of God and neighbor through prayer, self-denial, and charity. The aim of these Lenten meditations is to help us, through Jesus, to gaze upon the glory of God and to realize that his kindness is a greater joy than life itself.

This meditation is the first of seven meditations we are posting this Lent from a retreat by Father Timothy Uhen.  The theme of this first meditation is prayer and interior silence.  "O God, you are my God .. My soul longs for you (Psalm 63)." In prayer we recognize our sinfulness. But we also can learn to experience God's mercy and unconditional love.  During Lent, we seek a deeper love of God and neighbor through prayer, self-denial, and charity. In these seven retreat meditations, Father Uhen will draw from Psalm 63, a "Psalm of Longing," as a guide for this yearning. The aim of these Lenten meditations is to help us, through Jesus, to gaze upon the glory of God and to realize that his kindness is a greater joy than life itself.

Blessed are the merciful. Blessed are the clean of heart. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Pope John Paul II called the beatitudes "a portrait of the heart of Christ." Especially during this time of Lent, let us learn through the beatitudes to follow Christ more closely. A meditation by Father Thomas Bohlin.

Let us discover Christ in our ordinary lives. Jesus is there waiting for us.  A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.

Jesus has told us, “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life.” We wish to draw closer to Christ in our prayer. And the best way we can do this is through the Gospel, the inspired Word of God. For the Holy Spirit is the author of Scripture, and in Scripture the Holy Spirit will lead us to Jesus. A meditation by Father John Agnew.

During the Christmas season we place the Holy Family — Jesus, Mary and Joseph — in the center of our home. A meditation by Father Joe Keefe.

These days the Church invites us to ready ourselves for Christmas, the birth of the Son of God. It is a time of joy, but also a time of penance. The infant Jesus reminds us of the virtue of self-denial, because he is born in a manager. Let us look at him in that manger, and let us learn from him. A meditation by Father Henry Bocala.

Let us live Advent well. This is a time of grace, of preparation, of conversion, and of wonder, pondering a God who loves us so much. We have so many things to do, but the most important thing is that we pray, and ready ourselves for the coming of the Infant Jesus. A meditation by Father Thomas Bohlin.

“Hail, Full of Grace, the Lord is with Thee.” These are words that the Archangel Gabriel addressed to Mary at Nazareth. From these words we get an indication of God's special gift to Mary. From the moment of her conception, she was full of grace: She is truly immaculate, without stain. Mary Immaculate is our advocate with her Son. Turn to her, and she will bring you closer to Christ. A meditation by Father Henry Bocala.

In this meditation, Father Henry Bocala reflects upon the virtue of hope – our hope to become saints, the hope we nurture in our hearts to see God face to face.

Let us have a heart that is grateful. Let us give thanks always, an attitude that makes us happy, pushes us to share, and makes us more attentive to God. A meditation by Father John Agnew.

Jesus is calling each of us to be a disciple. We have the opportunity to say, "Yes, Lord, I long to see your face." This is why we were created, to see God. And we should remember those who have gone before us: pray for them, if they are in purgatory, that they get to heaven; pray to them, if they are in heaven, that they intercede for us. We want to see God, to be in that communion of saints. A meditation by Father Thomas G. Bohlin.

Jesus Christ died for us that he might bring us into the freedom and liberty of the children of God. But we are free to follow Christ, or reject him. We need the Lord's mercy, for without him, we are hopeless. With Christ's help, we can achieve true freedom, by being obedient to the ways of God. A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.

In the month of November, we recall the deep bond we have – known as the communion of saints – with the three branches of the Church: the Church militant, the Church triumphant, and the Church suffering. Here on earth we are part of the Church militant, working out our salvation. We pray for the Church suffering, the souls in purgatory, undergoing final purification. And we enjoy the help and prayers of the Church triumphant, the souls in heaven. Let us deepen and foster these ties, supernatural  bonds, rooted in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus was born in a stable, and warned his apostles how hard it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. To follow Christ, we must live a spirit of detachment from material things and even from our own likes and preferences. We must choose God above all things, allowing Christ to show us the way. A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.

In this meditation, Father Henry Bocala reflects upon the core message of the founder of Opus Dei: seeking holiness in the middle of the world through our ordinary work. In the Gospel of Matthew, we read, “Be you perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Despite our defects and limitations, with God's help, we can be saints.  We can truly love God with all our heart, all our mind, all our soul, and all our strength.  And we can find Him in our work and daily activities.

On Oct. 2, 1928, Saint Josemaria “saw” Opus Dei – he saw that God was calling him to proclaim the universal call to holiness. Jesus says to each of us, “Come follow me.” We are called to seek Christ, to find Christ, to love Christ. There is no greater goal for our lives. If we have Christ, we have everything. A meditation by Father Thomas Bohlin.

Saint Josemaria Escriva founded Opus Dei on Oct. 2, 1928, to foster the universal call to holiness. In this meditation, Father Timothy Uhen explores this important truth, that all of us are called to be saints, and that we can find Christ in our work and everyday activities.

In this meditation we consider the importance of humility. Humility is offering ourselves to the Lord, walking in the truth. And Scripture tells us: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.

In the home of Bethany, Jesus was a true friend of Martha, Mary and Lazarus. There, in Bethany, Jesus loved and was loved. And when Lazarus died, Scripture reports, “Jesus wept.” Let us reflect on the meaning of the friendship lived by Jesus, and try to be good friends ourselves.

Let us live our lives so that, one day, God may say to us: “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over little things. I will set you over much.” A meditation by Father Tom Bohlin.

In our life, may we correspond to the mercy of God. Lord, help us to be wise. Help us to make good use of the talents you have given us. Help us to be charitable. A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.

In this meditation, we reflect on the extraordinary gift that Christ has given us in the papacy: that Christ has appointed Peter, and his successors, to guide the Church. Listening more attentively to the Holy Father can help us live more deeply the joy of the Gospel. A meditation by Father John Agnew.

Each of us are called to answer the question that Christ posed to his Disciples: “Who do you say that I am?” It is not enough to know Jesus abstractly. We need to consider: Do we deal with Jesus as a friend? What place does Christ occupy in our life? A meditation by Father Henry Bocala.

Amidst the storms of life, we, like the apostles, can turn to Jesus, saying “Save us Lord, for we are perishing.” We should have faith, a faith that strengthens us both in times of difficulty and also as we go about our daily lives.  With faith, we shall remember at all times Christ's promise, “I will be with you always, until the end of the age.” A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.

In this mediation we look at some of the great saints we encounter in the liturgy in August, including the Cure of Ars, Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Saint Monica, Saint Augustine, Saint John the Baptist. We celebrate the Assumption of Mary, the mother of Jesus and the greatest of saints. Taking advantage of the example, lives, and words of these great saints, let us strive to grow in holiness and become saints ourselves.

Following the example of Saint Mary Magdalene, each of us are called to begin, and begin again. Let us restore our life in Christ again and again, being made clean like Mary Magdalene, especially through confession. A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.

Each of us, one day, must render an account to God. We are free, and in this life we have the opportunity to turn to God, or to reject him. Let us do our part, and, with God's help, choose life. A retreat meditation given by Father Timothy Uhen.

In the Old Testament, the patriarch Joseph, who prefigures Christ, revealed himself to his brothers who had betrayed him. In their fear, they remained at a distance, but Joseph said, "Come closer to me." Our Lord does the same with each one of us. A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.

Jesus, God, humbled himself upon the Cross. And He invites us, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart.” Let us strive to imitate the humility of Christ. A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.

Jesus invites all of us to answer his question: "Who do you say that I am?" Let us foster a deep friendship with Jesus, our Lord, encountering him in all the events of our life, keeping up a loving conversation with him. A meditation by Father Henry Bocala.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, explains three reasons to cherish the spiritual legacy of Saint Josemaria Escriva, the founder of Opus Dei. From the Cardinal's homily at the Mass for the Feast of Saint Josemaria, at Saint Patrick's Cathedral, June 26, 2023.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes “the heart” as our inner center, the place of truth and encounter, the place where we choose life or death. Do we fill our hearts with God? Considering the love of Jesus for us should be a spur for us to respond with a complete and total love for God. Create in me a clean heart, oh God. A meditation by Father John Agnew.

Pope Benedict XVI wrote that “the essential nucleus of Christianity is expressed in the Heart of Jesus.” May we come to know and love Christ through the warmth of his Sacred Heart. A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.

Saint Augustine said that the fullness of joy, in which there is no greater, is to rejoice in the Trinity of God.  When we reach heaven, we will spend eternity adoring God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. We will never fully understand the Trinity, but we can ask God's grace to reach a deeper understanding, that we better know and love each of the three Divine Persons.  A mediation by Father John Agnew.