This is the last meditation of a retreat preached at Shellbourne Conference Centre in Valparaiso, IN, on December 31, 2024.

Mark 6: When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”

4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.

Music: Regi Stone, All Heavens Declares Catholic music on Youtube

A meditation preached at Shellbourne Conference Centre in Valparaiso, Indiana, during a retreat on December 27, 2024.

Gen 2, 15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

With all the Christmas cards we’ve received, and the emails, and our own nativity scene, it is easy for us to imagine what happened that evening, and to see the warm glow of the child giving off divine light, he is the light of the world, amidst that dark and damp and musty place for animals. Mary and Joseph are warmed by the glow too.

Yet there is a tinge of reproach in John's description. John says it at the very beginning of the account of the incarnation itself. “He came to his own people, and his own did not receive him.” (Jn 1, 11).

Music: Die Schonsten Deutsche Weihnachtslieder, begins with Holy Night. @christmasworldbyzyxmusic3882

Thumbnail: Adoration of the Shepherds by Jean Baptiste Marie Pierre (1714-1789). Detroit Institute of Art.
@christmasworldbyzyxmusic3882

A meditation preached at Lyncroft Centre in Toronto on December 20, 2024.

With the scene of the annunciation to Mary, redemption has begun. But the last thing the angel mentioned was meant to show that the incarnation takes place within the larger context of the family, Mary’s family, but also Elizabeth's family. God decided that Elizabeth should bear a son. Mary would participate in this, to give support.

The unity of the members of a family - and, with more reason if they are children of God through Baptism - manifests the unity of God, his Creator: "The Christian family is a communion of persons, reflection and image of the communion of the Father and of the Son in the Holy Spirit”. (CCC 2207).

This is the time to contribute to family warmth. Provide affection and service. St. Josemaria often explained that the model of our family life is in the Holy Family of Nazareth. He liked so much to imagine the personal and close relationship that Jesus, Mary and Joseph had, that he said to his spiritual daughters and sons: "to this Family we belong."

Music: relaxing-piano-music-248868

Thumbnail: Thomas Kinkade HOMETOWN CHRISTMAS MEMORIES

Preached on Gaudete Sunday at Lyncroft Centre, Toronto, December 15, 2024.

Phil 4, 4: Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

There are the surface aspects of our life, there are the edges. Some days were good, other days not so much. But deep on the river bed there is calm.

Music: relaxing-piano-music-248868

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: Jean-Francois Tissot, Life of Christ, 1890s.

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

Fr. Eric Nicolai preached this meditation on November 24, 2024, the solemnity of Christ the King in Lyncroft Centre, Toronto.

John 18, 33: ’Are you the king of the Jews?’ Pilate asked. Jesus replied, ‘Do you ask this of your own accord, or have others spoken to you about me?’

Thinking it would placate Jesus, he had the inscription placed over his head on the cross: Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews. In Hebrew, Greek, and Latin: Jesus Nazarenus, Rex Judaeorum…  Different characters and languages that suggested his own universal kingship in the universal church.

Latin was the languages of the conquerors, Greek was more universal, like English today, and Hebrew, the local dialect.

Music: Regi Stone All Heaven Declares from Catholic Music Youtube channel

Thumbnail: Diego Velazquez, Crucifixion, 1632, Prado Museum, Madrid.

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.