Podcasts about eric nicolai

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Ernescliff College on May 18, 2025. Upon entering the oratory, I notice the holy water font had a large artistically inscribed text just over the font itself, you can see it in large letters just as you dip your finger into the water: Domine, si vis, potes me mundare. Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean (Matt 8, 3). These are the beautiful words of a leper, who on his own initiative, elbowed his way through the crowd, he came up to Jesus and made this humble petition.Music: Michael Lee of Toronto.Thumbnail: Jean Marie Melchior Doze Jesus Healing the Leper, 1864, housed in the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Nîmes, located in Nîmes, France

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai on May 18, 2025, at Lyncroft Center in Toronto.The Lord took care to leave a deep impression on the disciples, the apostles, when he gave them the mandatum novum. (John 13)It was like a special legacy that he wanted to leave behind. They remembered the words, his tone, but they especially remembered his gestures of tenderness and the warm tone of his voice when he knelt in front of them and washed their feet.They never forgot that night. It stayed imprinted on their brain.

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai on a day of recollection in Ernescliff College on May 11, 2025.I saw photos of Pope Leo XIV visiting Santa Maria Maggiore, praying in front of the Icon of Our Lady, Mother of God. She is showing us the child. She is showing us her son during the month of May when we have recourse to her.We can ask him to stir up the fire of our faith. Put little twigs and branches into the fire. The best twigs to get that faith raging is the devotion to our mother, as mother.It may be small now, but little aspirations, glances at images of our Lady are there to awaken something within us. Josemaria would as to “Stir up that fire of faith. Christ is not a figure that has passed. He is not a memory that is lost in history.” Mary seems to stir up devotion in us. She awakens our faith and makes us strong.Music: Michael Lee of Toronto.Thumbnail: Icon of Mary in Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome.

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Lancemore Centre in Toronto on May 11, 2025. We all must grow in fraternity. If the centres is like a garden, all the flowers need light, all need water. There is always somebody caring for the cleanliness, showing interest in people coming. Let us examine how we cultivate this special atmosphere around us.Music: Regi Stone, All Heavens Declares. Straight Arrow records, 2003.

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai on April 27, 2025 at Lyncroft Centre in Toronto.John 20, 21-23: After saying this he breathed on them and said:‘Receive the Holy Spirit. For those whose sins you forgive,they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained.'He had to breathe on them to give them that power. The breath of the Holy Spirit, like a sweet aroma that touched them, that they breathed in, and somehow stayed in them as a supernatural power.Music: Original track by Michael Lee of Toronto.

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at St. Aidan's parish in Toronto, on April 22, 2025.The nature of the Easter Octave is that it be filled with joy. This year it is mingled with a sorrow, and upheaval in which we feel orphaned, but also weighed down by the urgency of the moment. The Church really needs a shepherd. It needs its vicar. We are forlorn.Dic nobis Maria, quid vidisti in via?Tell us, Mary: say what thou didst see upon the way.A big concern had been who would remove the stone. We must nurture the optimism that is proper to Easter, and maintain it all our life.

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Lyncroft Centre, Toronto, on March 19, 2025. Joseph was in a state of emotional upheaval, until God told him in a dream what was happening with Mary. He knew what he had to do. He did not turn around in circles. Joseph's response was immediate: “When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him” (Mt 1:24). Obedience made it possible for him to surmount his difficulties and spare Mary.The imagination has been called "The Crazy Woman of the House." How can Joseph intercede to help us put our imagination under better control?Music: Original track by Michael Lee of TorontoThumbnail: Mosaic from St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai to university students at Ernescliff College in Toronto on March 11, 2025.Matt 5, 20: Jesus said to his disciples: ‘If your virtue goes no deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.He speaks of virtue that is not deep. Only surface depth. Merely appearance. Its a real challenge that the Lord offered us. He wants something deeper, a more authentic line from you and me.Music: Original track of Michael Lee of Toronto, Ontario.Thumbnail: J. Kirk Richards of the judgment of Christ by Pilate.

A meditation preached at Ernescliff College by Fr. Eric Nicolai on Sunday March 9, 2025.Luke 4, 1: Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit through the wilderness, being tempted there by the devil for forty days.We picture now led by the spirit, docile and at one with God's plan. He is not resisting. As man, as the word incarnate, he is fulfilling his purpose, that now starts within moment of human detachment. Why does Jesus go to the desert? Why did he need to go out?Music: Michael Lee of Toronto Thumbnail: Roualt, 1937

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Lyncroft Centre in Toronto on March 1, 2025.The ancient hymn that I have heard you sing so beautifully right here is the Anima Christi, the soul of Christ.O bone Jesu, exaudi me. Intra tua vulnera absconde me. Ne permittas me separari a te.O good Jesus, hear me. Within your wounds conceal me. Do not permit me to be parted from you.The wounds of Christ, a sign of the intensity of His love for us. They would not heal if he had not risen. What do they mean for us today?Music: Original music by Michael Lee of Toronto.Thumbnail: Caravaggio, The Incredulity of Saint Thomas 1601, Sanssouci Picture Gallery, Potsdam.

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Kintore College, Toronto, on March 1, 2025.Convertímini ad me in toto corde vestro, in ieiunio et fletu, et in planctu, dicit Dóminus. Turn to me with all your heart, in fasting, and in weeping, and in mourning, says the Lord.

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Lyncroft centre in Toronto on February 23, 2025.Jesus said to his disciples, ‘I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. (Lk 6, 27)They are jarring words, fighting words, discordant for our secularized society, but nevertheless, true and authentic divine words that seem to ask so much of us. They have been handed down to us over the centuries so that they be like the blueprint of our life.

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Cedarcrest Centre on February 14, 2025. This is a new audio, the last was the wrong file uploaded by mistakeMother of Fair Love. Learning how to love with the help of Our Lady. It is not in the Litany. Mater Pulchrae Dilectionis, Mother of Fairest Love. Beautiful love.Beauty is a wounding experience that moves us beyond our mundane lives, creating a longing for something greater. Beauty and truth are intrinsically linked. The absence of one can lead to the denial of the other, and both are essential to human flourishing.Music: Komm, süsser Tod, BWV 478, played on guitar by Bert Alink.

A meditation about heaven, preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai during a retreat at Cedarcrest Conference Centre in Belfountain, Ontario, on February 15, 2025. Pope Benedict XVI emphasized that heaven is not an abstract concept or imaginary place, but the true reality of God's presence. He said heaven is not a departure from the world but a "new mode of presence to the world. Its not a physical location in the cosmos.Music: 'Moonlight' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.comThumbnail: The oculus of the Pantheon, Rome.

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai on December 31, 2024 at Shelbourne Conference centre in Valparaiso, IN. The story of St. Gregory the Great (590 to 604) having a vision of Christ during his Mass. Christ is surrounded by all the instruments of the passion. It became a devotional piece to meditate on the cross, to look upon it, and dicern its layers of meaning in our life. Music: Helios relaxing music Into The Woods Thumbnail: Simon Marmion, The Mass of St. Gregory, 1460, Art Gallery of Ontario, Canada.

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai to High School students in Beamsville, Ontario ,on February 2, 2025. Today is the feast of the presentation. It is a feast of pour Lady, but really focused on Our Lord who is being presented by his parents in the temple. It was the law of Israel that each first born should be presented to the Lord, 40 days after his birth. They are complying with the Mosaic Law. It is his mission. He is presented, offered, given over, and his parents do so with faith, knowing his purpose more than anyone. Music: Original track by Michael Lee, of Toronto. Thumbnail, Peter Paul Rubens, Presentation in the Temple, sketch, 1632, Naala Nura, ground level, Grand Courts.

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Hawthorn School in Toronto, on January 23, 2025. There is one line by St. Josemaria that might encapsulate a mystery, and a mission. A fundamental truth that is both very clear, yet very mysterious. Both exciting and scary. Something that applies to all of us and is clear as the day, but is interpreted as not really applying to us, but just to a few. There is something holy, something divine, hidden in the most ordinary situations (Conversations, 114) It is that something that is still mysterious, still not fully articulated, perhaps vague or tenuous that we still need to bring to life, and apply to ourselves today with hope.

This meditation was preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai on at Lyncroft centre in Toronto, January 19, 2025. You may have heard that Pope Francis has published his autobiography, published by Penguin Canada, now that he is an old man, and his pontificate has lasted longer than anyone expected. Here is what he tells his readers: “If one day you are overcome by fears and worries, think of that episode in the Gospel of John, at the marriage at Cana (John 2:1– 12), and say to yourselves: The best wine has yet to be served.”

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai on January 15, 2025 in Kintore College, Toronto. The Gospel today from Mark 1:29-39, tells us about some of the sick that Jesus healed, and the demons that he expelled. We see this at the beginning of the Jubilee Year of Redemption. It is a year of hope, as described by the Bull of Indiction, Spes non confudit, established by Pope Francis. Music: Regi Stone, Regi Stone, All Heaven Declares, 2003 Straight Arrow Records. Released in 2003. Thumbnail: Pope Francis opening the Holy Doors.

Fr. Eric Nicolai preached this meditation at Lyncroft Centre, Toronto on December 9, 2024, solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception, her preservation from all sin, meant that not even a tiny shadow of darkness existed in her soul. Knowing this was the product of a process.  First the Christian people realized it, then theologians discussed it, and gradually the Church became more and more aware of what it means to say she was full of grace, the holiness of the mother of God.The realization that she was redeemed in a unique way, right from the moment of her conception.Music: Regi Stone, All Heaven Declares, YouTube music

Fr. Eric Nicolai peached this meditation on December 4th, 2024 at Kintore College. Today's Gospel is from St. Matthew St. Matthew 15, 29-37, about the multiplication of loaves and fish. Crowds had followed him. So many people were attracted to him. And Matthew gives a brief description of these people: they were lame, blind, deformed, mute, and many others. These people with all these infirmities could not have gotten there on their own.  They needed friends or family to get around, or to help them understand what Jesus was saying. All this moved the heart of Jesus. He was moved by the suffering, he saw people hindered by their limitations and their pain, but I think he saw beyond that, he was also touched by the generous solidarity of people around them. People helping them to get their food, to protect them, guide them, and encourage them. Music: Regi Stone All Heaven Declares from Catholic Music Youtube channel Image:

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai on December 3, 2024 at Ernescliff College, Toronto. Jesus addresses a word of hope to His disciples: “Stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand” (Luke 21, 28). During the time of advent, a time of preparation for the coming of the Lord, we may feel a faint whisper of sadness, maybe discomfort. The Lord invites us to stand erect. This is what the life of Saint Francis Xavier (1506-1552) was like. What an example of zeal and apostolate. Music: Regi Stone, All Heaven Declares, from Catholic Music Youtube channel

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai on November 20, 2024 at Hawthorn School for Girls in Toronto. J.R. R. Tolkien was chided by his contemporary fantasy writers for saying that the best fantasy has happy endings. For many them, the realism came in the dark, terrifying tales that ended in tragedy. But our faith tells us that death is a doorway to a happy ending, and we can prepare for it now, as we consider the kingdom of Christ. Music: Regi Stone, All Heaven Declares. From Catholic music YouTube channel. Thumbnail: West portal of Chartres Cathedral, Christ Pantocrator.

Fr. Eric Nicolai preached this meditation in Lyncroft Centre in Toronto, on November 2, 2024. Saint Josemaria faced a lot of opposition when he started his apostolic endeavours. In the Way he said: "God wants a handful of men 'of his own' in every human activity. And then... 'pax Christi in regno Christi — the peace of Christ in the kingdom of Christ'. " We have to help him reign really with our apostolate. He wants to need us. He wants us to be docile subjects. He wants us to go out there and stir things up.  Pope Francis speaks of hacer lio. ¡Hagan lío! Pero un lío que nazca de conocer a Jesús. Shake things up. I think you would say: “make a mess!” Messiness is a good things. Later we will clean up what must be cleaned. “stir up trouble!” or “shake things up!” Music: Regi Stone, All Heaven Declares, From Catholic Music Youtube Channel. 2003 Straight Arrow Records. Released on: 2003-01-01 Main Artist: Regi Stone Composer: Darlene Zschech Lyricist: Darlene Zschech Music Publisher: Hillsongs Thumbnail: Shove Memorial Chapel, Colorado College.

Fr. Eric Nicolai preached this meditation at Lyncroft Centre in Toronto on th Solemnity of All Saints, November 1, 2024. St. John the Apostle tells about his tremendous vision: After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” (Rev 9, 9-10) The uncountable throng represents the spiritual offspring of Abraham, i.e., those who imitated his faith (Rom 4:11-17).  The Lord had promised to make Abraham the father of many nations (Gen 17:5) and to give him progeny too numerous to count (Gen 15:5). He made him look up to the sky, and look at the stars. These same stars still lok down upon us, and invite us to look up. Music: Carlos Gardel (1890 – 1935), Soledad, arranged for guitar by Bert Alink. Thumbnail: Vincent Van Gogh, The Starry Night, 1889, Museum of Modern Art.

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai in Lyncroft Centre in Toronto, on October 27 2024. The focus is blind Bartimaeus and the heart of Jesus. Mark 10:46-52: As Jesus left Jericho with his disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus (that is, the son of Timaeus), a blind beggar, was sitting at the side of the road. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout and to say, ‘Son of David, Jesus, have pity on me.' And many of them scolded him and told him to keep quiet, but he only shouted all the louder, ‘Son of David, have pity on me.' Jesus stopped and said, ‘Call him here.' So they called the blind man. ‘Courage,' they said ‘get up; he is calling you.' So throwing off his cloak, he jumped up and went to Jesus. Then Jesus spoke, ‘What do you want me to do for you?' ‘Rabbuni,' the blind man said to him ‘Master, let me see again.' Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your faith has saved you.' And immediately his sight returned and he followed him along the road. Music: Carlos Gardel, Soledad, arranged for guitar by Bert Alink. Thumbnail: Pompeo Batoni, Sacred Heart of Jesus in the Church of the Gesù in Rome (1767)

Fr. Eric Nicolai preached this recollection at Hawthorn School in Toronto on October 23 2024. We are preparing the centennial of Opus Dei, founded on October 2, 1928. It was a shower of grace, that Saint Josemaria received on that day. We must ensure that we maintain the beauty of this charism, to ensure that it never go stale, or lose its vibrancy. Music: Choir of the Roman College of Holy Mary. Thumbnail: Cover of The Way published by Doubleday.

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai on October 18, 2024 at Lyncroft Centre in Toronto. Luke the Evangelist was born a Greek and a Gentile from Antioch in Syria. Luke is symbolised by the ox, a symbol of strength and of sacrifice. But also Luke wanted to preserve the face of Mary for us. He is the painter of Mary: Tradition says he produced the first devotional icons of the mother of God. He preserved her yes to her vocation. He'll help preserve our yes to the vocation to Opus Dei. Music: Carlos Gardel (1890-1935), Soledad, arranged for guitar by Bert Alink. Thumbnail: Luke Painting the Virgin, by Giorgio Vasari 1565 Basilica della Santissima Annunziata, Florence.

Fr. Eric Nicolai evokes the nature of the apostolate with young people in Opus Dei, which is entrusted to the intercession of the Archangel Raphael. It is known as the St. Raphael work. He gave this meditation at Lyncroft Centre in Toronto, on October 5, 2024. "I am the angel Raphael, one of the seven, who stand before the Lord" (Tob 12:15) Saint Raphael, whose name means "God has healed" because of his healing of Tobias' blindness in the Book of Tobit. He is the angel that heals. Our words must have that healing power, if we invoke him. Healed from anxiety and worry. Healed from selfishness. Healed really from any suffering. But that healing is in the soul, in our soul. This is why with Raphael's intercession, our words can give hope to young people. Thumbnail: Rembrandt, Abraham serving the three angels at Mambre, 1646 (private collection) Music: Ave Verum, St. Anthony's Latin Choir, from Musica Sacra Per Annum.

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai on October 15th at Lyncroft Centre in Toronto. Lk 1, 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard.  Since Zacharia doubted, unsure perhaps of his authenticity, needed more proof, as though seeing an angel were not enough, Gabriel had the power to silence him. To give him time to reflect. In quiet. Saint Josemaria invoqued Saint Gabriel as the patron with the work with Supernumeraries, married people in general. Music: Michael Lee, from Toronto Thumbnail: Duccio di Buoninsegna (1255–1319), Annonciation, circa 1307.

Preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Kintore College, Toronto, September 25, 2024. Today we evoke the courage and resilience of these men and women who came to evangelize the New World: Jean de Brebeuf and Isaac Jogues. They arrived in Quebec after a treacherous journey from France. They travelled to Georgian Bay and established a community among the Hurons. Music: 'Undertow' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com

Fr. Eric Nicolai preached this meditation to a group of High School boys in the OneUp program at Ernescliff College, Toronto. Matthew 9:9-13: "As Jesus was walking on, he saw a man named Matthew sitting by the customs house, and he said to him, ‘Follow me.' And he got up and followed him." By this short description, Matthew became one of the apostles of Jesus. Chosen specifically by Jesus himself. Jesus wants him to be part of this great adventure in the early church. He pointed at him, and Matthew pointed at himself, and all the publicans seem to point only at their own money, such as the 1599 painting by Caravaggio of the Call of St. Matthew in Rome. Music: 'Jul' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com Thumbnail: Caravaggio, The Call of St. Matthew in the Contarelli chapel in the church of San Luigi dei Francesi in Rome.

Fr. Eric Nicolai preached this meditation on September 10, 2024, to a group of priests at Saint Aidan's parish in Toronto. The subject is the figure of Zacchaeus in Luke 19: “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he made haste and came down, and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it they all murmured, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”

A meditation by Fr. Eric Nicolai in Lyncroft Centre, Toronto, on the occasion of the exaltation of the Holy Cross, September 14, 2024. The cross is the instrument on which the Lord was executed. It was a Roman instrument of torture, state-sponsored terrorism. Jesus gave an explanation in mysterious words. Enigmatic, somewhat cryptic, evoking an image, a movement, a veiled, almost dream-like quality.  John 3, 13-17: Jesus said to Nicodemus: ‘No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.' What does this mean for those who look upon the cross? Music: 'Life In Motion' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com Thumbnail: Apse mosaic from San Clemente Romano, Rome. 

Fr. Eric Nicolai preached this meditation on August 29, 2024 at Kintore College, Toronto. Matt 14, 1-12: The account of Herod's court, with the trendy crowd, an atmosphere of sensuality, a mood of decadence, the latest fashions, everyone vying for attention and positioning themselves in the right place to be noticed. Naturally alcohol was predominant for everyone. Certainly no self-restraint, and as a result, all judgment was disordered, immature, uncontrolled and even abusive.He was blinded by his own passions, because of what he saw. One of the greatest services we can render to people today is to awaken in them the desire for personal prayer, that silent, interior prayer of the heart so recommended by all the saints in the Christian tradition. London) Music: 'Undertow' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com

Fr. Eric Nicolai preached this meditation at Lyncroft Centre in Toronto on August 25th, 2024, the twenty-first Sunday of Ordinary time (year B). The focus is John 6, the denouement of the passages on the bread of life. John 6, 60-62: After hearing his doctrine many of the followers of Jesus said, ‘This is intolerable language. How could anyone accept it?' Jesus was aware that his followers were complaining about it and said, ‘Does this upset you? What if you should see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before? ‘It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh has nothing to offer. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. Music: FALL - Adrian Berenguer (Album Singularity)

This meditation was preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai to a group of counsellors at Caribou Boys Camp, near Barry's Bay, Ontario. It was August 18, 2024, the 20th Sunday of Ordinary time, Year B. John 6, 51-58: The tremendous discourse on the bread of life in Capharneum. Jesus said to the crowd: ‘I am the living bread which has come down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I shall give is my flesh, for the life of the world.' Then the Jews started arguing with one another: ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?' they said. Jesus replied: ‘I tell you most solemnly, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you will not have life in you. The only bread that could have come down from heaven would be the manna that the Jews discovered in the wilderness, in the book of Exodus. Music: Original Track by Michael Lee of Toronto. Thumbnail: Under the pines at Caribou Boys Camp. https://www.caribouboyscamp.ca

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Kintore College in Toronto on August 10, 2024. Yesterday was the feast of St. Edith Stein, Theresa Benedicta of the Cross. Beatified in 1987 then canonized in 1998 by Pope John Paul II.  She is one of the 6 patrons of Europe. Both she and St. Lawrence (today's feast) were martyrs for the faith. She was a Jew that converted after reading Theresa of Avila, and studying with Edmund Husserl. Then she went on to become a Carmelite nun. She was killed at Auschwitz. In 1941 she wrote to a friend, who was also a member of her order: "One can only gain a "scientia crucis" (knowledge of the cross) if one has thoroughly experienced the cross. I have been convinced of this from the first moment onwards and have said with all my heart: 'Ave, Crux, Spes unica' (I welcome you, Cross, our only hope)." Her study on St. John of the Cross is entitled: "Kreuzeswissenschaft" (The Science of the Cross). How does this fit into our vocation? Music: FALL - Adrian Berenguer (Album Singularity)

Fr. Eric Nicolai preached this mediation at Cedarcrest Centre in Belfountain, Ontario, August 2, 2024. Eph 4, 17, 20-24: I want to urge you in the name of the Lord, not to go on living the aimless kind of life that pagans live. Now that is hardly the way you have learnt from Christ, unless you failed to hear him properly when you were taught what the truth is in Jesus. You must give up your old way of life; you must put aside your old self, which gets corrupted by following illusory desires. Your mind must be renewed by a spiritual revolution so that you can put on the new self that has been created in God's way, in the goodness and holiness of the truth. provide for us that spiritual revolution. He can transform us. We must rekindle that faith, put it on fire. Watch out for the negative voice. Music: FALL - Adrian Berenguer (Album Singularity). Thumbnail:

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Cedarcrest Conference Centre in Belfountain, Ontario on August 3, 2024. Matt 14, 1: Herod made a rash decision under the pressure of his passions and his human respect. We must be contemplatives. What does it mean to be a contemplative in the middle of the world? Music: Recordações do passado (Souvenirs from the Past) a Valsa for piano (1885) by Ernesto Nazareth arranged Bert Alink. Thumbnail: detail of the face of Christ by Rembrandt, 17th century.

A recollection for priests at Saint Aidan's parish in Toronto, preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai on July 16, 2024. Based on the parable of the pharisee and the publican (Luke 18:9-14). Two men in a temple, praying, doing a good thing, but with different results. A security camera might have made them appear as two men praying with their own style, or culture. But Jesus sees below the surface, and wants us to recognize ourselves in these men. Only one went home justified. Music: Original track by Michael Lee from Toronto. Thumbnail: Gustave Doré engraving from the illustrated Bible, published in 1866.

Fr. Eric Nicolai preached this meditation on July 16, 2024 at Ernescliff College in Toronto. Mary appeared to St. Simon Stock, a Carmelite, on July 16, 1251, and promised a special protection to those who would wear the habit, later the scapulary. All you had to do was wear this garment. Like a protective clothing, and stay faithful. This promise of our Lady boosted the Carmelites street cred. Our Lady became associated with one protecting. They'd emphasize Marian protection, her intercession, the importance of living a life of prayer and service. Music: Original track by Micheal Lee of Toronto.

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Chipnee camp for girls in the Durham region north of Toronto on July 11, 2024, the Feast of St. Benedict of Nursia. Music: Original track by Michael Lee of Toronto.

A meditation preached on July 8, 2024 by Fr. Eric Nicolai at a camp for girls in the Collingwood area, Ontario. Matthew 9, 18-26: While Jesus was speaking, up came one of the officials, who bowed low in front of him and said, ‘My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her and her life will be saved.' Jesus rose and, with his disciples, followed him. Then from behind him came a woman, who had suffered from a haemorrhage for twelve years, and she touched the fringe of his cloak, for she said to herself, ‘If I can only touch his cloak I shall be well again.' Jesus turned round and saw her; and he said to her, ‘Courage, my daughter, your faith has restored you to health.' And from that moment the woman was well again. Michael

This meditation was preached in Ernescliff College by Fr. Eric Nicolai on the feast of Saint John the Baptist, June 24, 2024. He was a voice crying in the desert, the prophecy of Isaiah 40, 3: Vox clamantis in deserto: Parate viam Domini, rectas facite in solitudine semitas Dei nostri. A voice of one calling in the wilderness, prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Byzantine icons show him with a thinner cross, symbolizing his role as the Forerunner of Christ, a parchment, with a set of wings, to show he was like an angel of God, sending a message, the angel of the desert: The wings symbolize his ability to communicate between the divine and humans, similar to angels. These icons also show him with his own head on the ground, testifying to his future martyrdom by King Herod Antipas. We too have to be precursors. Guide others in their freedom. Thumbnail: Iconostasis Cephalonia; John the Baptist from 9th century, Vatican museum. For more images see https://www.christianiconography.info/johnBaptist.html Original music by Michael Lee of Toronto.

This meditation was preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai to a group of priests at St. Paul the Apostle parish in Toronto on June 11, 2024. Today is the feast of the apostle St. Barnabas. Who was Barnabas? Acts says he spoke boldly, and effectively, and defended St. Paul. We imagine them both speaking with lots of self-confidence. Saint Josemaria dreamt about the responsibility of ordinary Christians in the world playing their role of being salt and light. Matt 5, 13-16: “You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world.

A meditation preached at Kintore College in Toronto, by Fr. Eric Nicolai, on May 30, 2024. Msgr. Fernando Ocáriz was elected Prelate of Opus Dei in 2016. In the Old Testament book of Samuel there is a text that foreshadows the priesthood in the church and the role of the priest: 1 Sam 2, 35: "I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his priestly house, and they will minister before my anointed one always." Music: Original music by Michael Lee of Toronto.

A meditation preached on June 1, 2024 at Lyncroft Centre in Toronto by Fr. Eric Nicolai. John 6 has this powerful discourse. Words of our Lord, speaking slow, articulating each word, speaking clearly, enunciating, people listening as the warm wind blew and the birds chirped. He probably said something that underlined that this was not all symbolism. This was real. The Jews asked "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" (John 6:52), and his disciples said "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?" (John 6:60) Music: Original guitar track by Michael Lee of Toronto, Ontario.

Fr. Eric Nicolai preached this meditation on May 24, 2024 at Cedarcrest conference Centre in Belfountain, Ontario. Luke 10, 5: “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.'  If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. Music: Original music on guitar by Michale Lee, of Toronto Museum: Jean-Francois Millet, The Sower, 1850. Boston Museum of Fine Arts.

Fr. Eric Nicolai preached this meditation at Cedarcrest Conference centre north of Toronto, on May 21, 2024. We read in the prayer of consecration to the Holy Spirit, there was a description of the nature of the Paraclete himself, the consoler, the spirit of truth. It talks about the gifts he leaves in us, and then all the fruits that are left behind, that are noticeable in a person who has truly been touched by the Holy Spirit: charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, longanimity, meekness, faith, modesty, continence, and chastity. He leaves his mark, his stamp on us. But the mark he leaves in us, is not his own. He leaves the embossed mark of Christ in everything we do. In what we say and what we do. Does this show? Music: Original music by Michael Lee of Toronto. Thumbnail: Rembrandt, The Hundred Guilder Print, 1647, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam