Tune in to the St. Josemaria Institute Podcast to fuel your prayer and conversation with God. On our weekly podcast we share meditations given by priests who, ...
In our meditation of the week: Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on the hidden years of Jesus' life and the profound sanctity found in the ordinary. He emphasizes how Jesus, Mary, and Joseph lived lives of simplicity and work, demonstrating that holiness is not reserved for extraordinary deeds but is found in daily life, family, and labor. Fr. Peter highlights the Gospel's silence on Jesus' early years, noting that his hidden life in Nazareth was so ordinary that it became a stumbling block for those who later encountered him as the Messiah. Drawing from St. Josemaria Escriva’s writings, he explains that the path to holiness is through sanctifying daily tasks with love—whether in work, family life, or social interactions. Also looking to the example of St. Therese of Lisieux, who found holiness in the smallest acts, Fr. Peter encourages listeners to transform their daily routines into prayer. He reminds us that God’s love is expressed through self-giving in ordinary duties and that evangelization begins in the family and workplace. View Transcript Visit Show Page 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!
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28:34
Living as Children of God: On Divine Filiation
The following meditation was recorded in front of a live audience. In this meditation, Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on the profound reality of God’s unconditional love for us as his sons and daughters. Drawing from the only prayer Jesus taught us —“Our Father”— Fr. Peter reminds us of its deeper meaning: a call to recognize God’s perfect love and his desire for our happiness. Fr. Peter emphasizes that our spiritual lives are rooted in the truth of our being children of God. Each of us is uniquely and intentionally created by God, custom-made with a soul that reflects his will and love. Our individuality glorifies him, and living as our most authentic, kind, and charitable selves is how we respond to this gift. Using the image of the Samaritan woman at the well, Fr. Peter illustrates how Jesus invites each of us, no matter our circumstances, into a personal relationship with him. By offering her the gift of “living water,” Christ reveals his desire to love and transform us through grace, making even the most broken among us vessels of his love and joy. View Transcript Visit Show Page 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!
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26:18
Preserving the Light of Christ
The following meditation was recorded in front of a live audience. In this meditation, Fr. Peter Armenio explores the parables of the mustard seed (Matthew 13:31-32) and the sower (Luke 8:4-15), illustrating how God’s grace transforms small beginnings into extraordinary outcomes. Through these parables, he highlights the importance of receptivity to the Holy Spirit. He also reflects on the "vertical" and "horizontal" dimensions of love, symbolized by the cross. Prayer, as the foundation (vertical), unites us to God, while love for others (horizontal) flows from this connection. And, drawing from the life of St. Josemaria Escriva, Fr. Peter shares practical examples of how small, consistent acts of faith—like mental prayer, Eucharistic devotion, and the Rosary—can illuminate the world and remind us that even the smallest seeds of grace, nurtured with humility and perseverance, have the power to grow into something magnificent. View Transcript Visit Show PageSupport 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!
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26:23
The Beatitudes: Pathway to Happiness
In our meditation of the week; Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on the call to be “salt of the earth” and “light of the world,” as described in the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 5:1-16). He explains that these images capture the transformative role of Christ’s disciples in the world. Drawing from the Beatitudes, Fr. Peter emphasizes that they are a blueprint for shaping a heart to be like Christ’s, and they are a pathway to happiness in the world. Through a practical examples of two young men whose faith flourished despite family challenges, Fr. Peter illustrates how ordinary acts of holiness can have a profound impact. Like salt enhancing flavor, or light dispelling darkness, Christians have the power to inspire and guide others through their witness.View Transcript Visit Show PageSupport 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!
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28:48
A Disposition of Love: Our Baptismal Calling
The following meditation was recorded in front of a live audience.In our meditation of the week: Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on how a disposition (or willingness) to love is required to fulfill our baptismal calling and common vocation to follow Jesus Christ.Drawing from the Gospel account of the rich young man (Matthew 19: 16-30), Fr. Peter explains that while the young man had lived by the commandments, he lacked the detachment and disposition necessary to fully surrender to Christ. Fr. Peter emphasizes that this detachment is not merely about material wealth but about offering ourselves entirely to God, allowing him to transform our hearts and bring our baptismal vocation to full maturity. Because the rich young man rejected Our Lord's invitation to follow him, the young man was filled with sadness and unable to be a witness to others. If we want to be Christ's witnesses, we must learn to overcome our disposition to self-love, and chip away gradually at all that separates us from God.View Transcript Visit Show PageSupport 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!
Tune in to the St. Josemaria Institute Podcast to fuel your prayer and conversation with God. On our weekly podcast we share meditations given by priests who, in the spirit of St. Josemaria Escriva, offer points for reflection to guide you in your personal prayer and help you grow closer to God.The meditations are typically under 30 minutes so that you can take advantage of them during your time of prayer, commute, walk, lunch, or any time you want to listen to something good.The St. Josemaria Institute was established in 2006 in the United States to promote the life and teachings of St. Josemaria, priest and founder of Opus Dei, through prayer, devotions, digital and social media, and special programs and initiatives.