Audio - St. Josemaria Institute

"Lift Up Your Eyes to the Heavens": The Feasts of All Saints and All Souls

The feasts of All Saints and All Souls bring into focus the Church’s teaching on the Communion of Saints, highlighting the eternal destiny of all believers.

DAY OF RECOLLECTION | November (Year A)

A monthly Day of Recollection is a time set aside specifically for a Christian to seriously go deeper into his or her relationship with God.

October: Month of the Holy Rosary

The Church dedicates the entire month of October to the Holy Rosary so that individuals, families, and communities would pray the Holy Rosary, if possible, on a daily basis for peace in the world.

Between Friends: The Feast of St Teresa of Avila

Although we might associate St Teresa’s spirituality with the extraordinary—with her numerous visions, locutions, and ecstasies—yet for her, these were never the main issue, much less the goal of her prayer.

Prayer that Purifies the Heart: How the Rosary Forms our Interior Life

In her poem “Why I Love You, O Mary!”, Saint Therese of Lisieux says that the Blessed Virgin teaches her how to weep and rejoice—what to have sorrow for and what to rejoice over.

DAY OF RECOLLECTION | October (Year A)

A monthly Day of Recollection is a time set aside specifically for a Christian to seriously go deeper into his or her relationship with God.

Why Opus Dei?

On April 15, 1967, in an interview with Peter Forbarth of Time Magazine, St. Josemaria Escriva explained the why and much more about the founding and mission of Opus Dei in the Church and in the world.

A Spiritual Backpack: Inspiration for the School Year

The St. Josemaria Institute “spiritual backpack” is a curated selection of resources for students, families and teachers to help maintain a happy spiritual life throughout the school year.

The Importance of Study: 10 Quotes from St. Josemaria Escriva

Study is not only a path to knowledge, but also a path to holiness. St. Josemaria Escriva reminded students and professionals alike that diligent study, offered to God, becomes prayer and apostolate.

“A Dialogue”: The Statue of St. Josemaria in St. Peter’s Basilica (2005-2025)

On September 14, 2005, Pope Benedict XVI unveiled and blessed the statue of St. Josemaria Escriva in St. Peter’s Basilica. Two decades later, the statue continues to stand as a powerful witness to the founder of Opus Dei’s message and mission in the life of the Church.

“You Are My Strength”: St. Josemaria’s Devotion to the Holy Cross

St. Josemaria Escriva believed that to be truly transformed by Christ's Passion, Christians should constantly identify with Christ’s suffering.

Protectors, Messengers, and Guides: The Intercessory Power of the Archangels

St. Josemaria Escriva had a deep and personal devotion to the Archangels. He saw them as powerful intercessors and guides in the Christian life.

DAY OF RECOLLECTION | September (Year A)

A monthly Day of Recollection is a time set aside specifically for a Christian to seriously go deeper into his or her relationship with God.

The Seven Sorrows of Mary: Reflections from St. Josemaria Escriva

The devotion to the Seven Sorrows of Mary helps us to meditate on the events in Our Lady's life when she lovingly and willingly united herself to her Son's self-giving and sacrifice on the Cross.

Conversations with St. Josemaria | Opus Dei: An Association Which Fosters the Search for Holiness

In Opus Dei: Opus Dei: An Association Which Fosters the Search for Holiness in the World, St. Josemaria Escriva explained that the development of the laity rests on a renewed awareness of the dignity of the Christian vocation.

Setting Hearts Alight: Insights on Personal Influence from Saints Josemaria and John Henry Newman

St Josemaria often evokes images of fire and light to show how the Christian faith is spread from one heart to another.

DAY OF RECOLLECTION | August (Year A)

A monthly Day of Recollection is a time set aside specifically for a Christian to seriously go deeper into his or her relationship with God.

"Martha, Martha": Combining the Love of Mary with the Work Ethic of Martha

Our Lord is well taken care of in Bethany. These are his friends. The Gospel tells of the arrival of our Lord and His disciples at the house of these friends, Martha and Mary and Lazarus.

"Exitus acta probat": Funeral Homily for Matt Anthony

There are moments in life when our words falter. When the weight of grief silences us. This is one of those moments.

"Next year, it's my turn.": Facing Sorrow as a Christian Family

The loss of a child is one of the most painful experiences of death and grief on earth. And the Escriva family were deeply aware of this suffering.

Our Lady of Torreciudad and St. Josemaria Escriva

St. Josemaria's gratitude to the Mother of God grew deeper and stronger over the years and one of the manifestations of his gratitude was the construction of a new Shrine of Torreciudad.

Novena for a Happy and Faithful Marriage | July 17-25, 2025

Join the St. Josemaria Institute in praying our annual Novena for a Happy and Faithful Marriage.

DAY OF RECOLLECTION | July (Year A)

A monthly Day of Recollection is a time set aside specifically for a Christian to go deeper into his or her relationship with God.

Simply the Father

On the occasion of Saint Josemaria’s feast day on June 26, Fr. Andrea Mardegan offers a reflection on the spiritual fatherhood of the Founder of Opus Dei, and the meaning of the phrase “every soul has his or her own path.”

"Life is Very Short": A Brief Account of St. Josemaria's Final Years

On June 26, 2025, we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of St. Josemaria Escriva.In this article, we share a brief account of his final years.

“Be calm! Be happy!”: St. Josemaria on Fear of Death

St. Josemaria's advice and points for reflection for those who may have fears about death.

50 Years: "Helping from Heaven" - The Favors of St. Josemaria Escriva

Each year on the feast day of St Josemaria Escriva (June 26th), we especially give thanks to God for all the favors that he has obtained for us—the big and the small, the ordinary and the extraordinary—that have impacted our lives and the lives of everyone around us.

"Josemaria Escriva": The Saints Podcast by The Merry Beggars

The award-nominated The Saints podcast from The Merry Beggars at Relevant Radio is excited to present a five-episode series on Saint Josemaría Escrivá.

Novena to St. Josemaria Escriva | 2025

Join us for the annual Novena to St. Josemaria Escriva, June 17-25, 2025!

DAY OF RECOLLECTION | June (Year A)

A monthly Day of Recollection is a time set aside specifically for a Christian to go deeper into his or her relationship with God.

Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Women’s Apostolate of Opus Dei in the USA

In 1950, a handful of brave and apostolic Catholic women started the first women's center of Opus Dei in the United States.

DAY OF RECOLLECTION | May (Year A)

A monthly Day of Recollection is a time set aside specifically for a Christian to go deeper into his or her relationship with God.

“All with Peter”: St. Josemaria Escriva’s Love for the Roman Pontiff

“Christ. Mary. The Pope. Haven’t we just indicated, in three words, the loves that make up the entire Catholic faith?”

Our New Life is Born in the Empty Tomb

All sorts of questions fill the air on Easter morning, on that first morning of our new life: “Who will roll us back the stone?” “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?”

Following in His Footprints: Accompanying the Lord through Holy Week

“And the crowds that went before him and that followed him shouted, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!’” (Mt 21:9).

Holy Week and the Paschal Triduum | "Contemplating the Mystery of Christ"

A selection of podcasts, articles, and reflection questions to help guide your prayer during Holy Week and the Paschal Triduum.

DAY OF RECOLLECTION | April (Year A)

A monthly Day of Recollection is a time set aside specifically for a Christian to go deeper into his or her relationship with God.

“Inklings of Love” | The Priestly Ordination and First Mass of St. Josemaria Escriva

As a teenager, St. Josemaria Escriva aimed to be a good student and dreamed of being an architect. Becoming a priest was not what St. Josemaria had originally thought was for him.

A Priest Forever | A Homily by St. Josemaria Escriva

When saying Mass a few days ago I paused to reflect on a phrase from the psalms in the Communion Antiphon: "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want."

A Spiritual Toolkit for Devotion to St. Joseph

This Spiritual Toolkit has been curated by the St. Josemaria Institute to celebrate and aid the devotion to St. Joseph whose solemnity we celebrate on March 19th.

Companions in Surrender: Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Mother of God

The gospel appointed for the Solemnity of St Joseph just might break all the rules for discipleship. Jesus asks to be followed, but here He has effectively hidden Himself from His parents.

A Spiritual Toolkit for Lent

This Lent explore our curated selection of resources to help you begin again and advance in your faithfulness to Christ and desire for holiness.

Letting God: The Annunciation & Freedom

A friend of mine once told me: “You are never freer than when you are doing God’s will, and never less free than when you are doing your own.” There you have the Annunciation.

DAY OF RECOLLECTION | March (Year A)

A monthly Day of Recollection is a time set aside specifically for a Christian to go deeper into his or her relationship with God.

"The Way" | A Spiritual Classic

"The Way," in its 999 points, is a clear, down-to-earth guidebook for serious Christians living in the world who aspire to climb the “inclined plane” that leads to union with God.

Lent 2025: Called By Name

Together with the St. Josemaria Institute, inspire your conversion and renewal this Lent contemplating how Our Lord continues to call you by your name.

DAY OF RECOLLECTION | February (Year A)

A monthly Day of Recollection is a time set aside specifically for a Christian to go deeper into his or her relationship with God.

Safe, Calm, and Loved: An Invitation

One of the highest compliments we can pay to a place is to say: I feel at home here.

DAY OF RECOLLECTION | January (Year A)

A monthly Day of Recollection is a time set aside specifically for a Christian to go deeper into his or her relationship with God.

Beginning the New Year with Meaningful Resolutions: 6 Tips from St. Josemaria Escriva

The beginning of a New Year invites us to reflect on the areas of our lives that we want to improve, grow, or change throughout the twelve months ahead.

St. Nicholas and St. Josemaria: A Heavenly Intercessor for Earthly Challenges

On December 6, 1934, amidst mounting financial challenges in the early days of Opus Dei, St. Josemaria Escriva officially named St. Nicholas of Bari as the intercessor for the organization’s economic needs. This act of faith marked the beginning of a deep and enduring devotion to the saint, whose intercession would guide St. Josemaria through many hardships.

DAY OF RECOLLECTION | December (Year B)

A monthly Day of Recollection is a time set aside specifically for a Christian to seriously go deeper into his or her relationship with God.

A Spiritual Toolkit for Young Adults

The St. Josemaria Institute is pleased to share A Spiritual Toolkit for Young Adults with a selection of resources to inspire your daily life as a young Christian who desires to know and follow God's will in today's world.

Proclaiming Christ as Our King

Today is the Solemnity of Christ the King...We finish the liturgical year in a strong fashion, proclaiming Christ as Our King. In many places in Scripture, Our Lord talks about His kingdom, specifically in the parables of the kingdom.

“All Her Beauty and Grace”: On the Presentation of Our Lady

Our Lord is calling us to sanctify the ordinary tasks of every day, for the perfection of the Christian is to be found precisely there. Let's consider it once more as we contemplate Mary's life.

Carols at the Manger: St. Josemaria’s Devotion to the Child Jesus

St. Josemaria Escriva cherished Christmas carols as a way to unite the simplicity of childlike devotion with deep theological messages.

Novena to the Immaculate Conception

Join the St. Josemaria Institute for our annual Novena to the Immaculate Conception from November 30 to December 8.

What is the Price of Friendship?

Recently, I've been reflecting on various texts about friendship and pondering how it might be one of the most beautiful gifts God has bestowed upon us since creation.

DAY OF RECOLLECTION | November (Year B)

In this month's recollection, we reflect on our duty to transmit the gift of faith to others, beginning with our friends and family. We consider that, for parents especially, the duty to form their children well is of primary importance.

Open to God and Men | A Homily by St. Josemaria Escriva

We are here, consummati in unum! united in prayer and intention, and ready to begin this period of conversation with Our Lord, having renewed our desires to be effective instruments in his hands.

"Prepare the Way of the Lord": An Advent Devotional

In the Gospel we hear John the Baptist proclaim: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths” (Luke 3:3). Even today, the proclamation reminds us that true peace and joy come from being prepared and following the paths that lead to Christ.

Even Saints Have Their Own Saints

Have you ever thought about what kind of relationship two saints would have had if they had met while they were alive?

"Prepare the Way of the Lord": Advent Guide 2024

During this season of Advent, the St. Josemaria Institute invites you to join us in preparing our hearts and homes for the coming of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, and the celebration of his nativity.

The Christian's Hope | A Homily by St. Josemaria Escriva

I was deeply moved by the Epistle in today's Mass, and I imagine the same will have happened to you. I realized that God was helping us, through the words of the Apostle, to contemplate the divine interlacing of the three theological virtues.

DAY OF RECOLLECTION | October (Year B)

A monthly Day of Recollection is a time set aside specifically for a Christian to seriously go deeper into his or her relationship with God.

"Under the Gaze of Our Lady of Mercy": The Marian Devotion of St. Josemaria Escriva

The title of “Our Lady of Mercy” came to hold a special place in St. Josemaria’s memory and heart.

Where You Least Want to Look

Looking creates responsibility, especially when looking means seeing another’s distress... The first reading for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross features a look that saves.

DAY OF RECOLLECTION | September (Year B)

In this month's Recollection, we reflect upon the magnificent reality of Christ as the Good Shepherd who knows and calls us by name.

"A Safe Path" | St. Josemaria Escriva and the Consecration of Opus Dei to Our Lady

On August 15, 1951, Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Josemaria Escriva entrusted a very serious intention to Our Lady of Loreto.

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary | Praying with St. Josemaria Escriva

"God has taken Mary —body and soul— to Heaven: and the Angels rejoice! So sings the Church."

The Transfiguration of the Lord | Praying with St. Josemaria Escriva

The Transfiguration of the Lord was a significant event in the life of Jesus Christ.

10 Characteristics of a Priest According to St. Josemaría Escrivá

St. Josemaría is one of those saints who succeeded in changing the perspective of those who followed him in a very simple way: by fully living his vocation to sanctity as a priest and founder of Opus Dei.

DAY OF RECOLLECTION | August (Year B)

A monthly Day of Recollection is a time set aside specifically for a Christian to seriously go deeper into his or her relationship with God.

Bethany Moments

A character in the Gospel provides a particular point of view to understand the image of our Lord: Martha of Bethany. She was a woman of service, a woman of faith, and one of the closest friends of Jesus during His time on Earth.

Thanksgiving After Mass: Contemplating Jesus as King, Physician, Teacher, and Friend

Receiving Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist is the closest we’ll ever be to Jesus Christ on earth. Therefore, St. Josemaria Escriva encouraged everyone to truly recollect themselves in prayer during those holy moments of our lives.

The Eucharist, Mystery of Faith and Love | A Homily by St. Josemaria Escriva

"Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end" (Jn 13:1). The reader of this verse from St John's Gospel is brought to understand that a great event is about to take place.

Living in Hope: Saints Joachim and Anne

Nothing disappoints more than misplaced hope. And maybe nothing is easier to misplace than our hope. From time to time we are all tempted to put our hopes for happiness, even for a kind of salvation, in people whom we idealize or future circumstances we imagine will be perfect.

Homecoming for the Children of God

Saint Josemaria portrays the Blessed Virgin as a unifying force or common bond among the children of God. What better image to have before us as we celebrate Mary as Refuge of Sinners...

Open Wounds: His and Ours

Everyone is wounded by original sin and by subsequent personal sins. Everyone has been wounded by the sins of others. What we do with these wounds largely decides the depth of our inner peace.

A Spiritual Toolkit for Devotion to the Eucharist

This spiritual toolkit was curated by the St. Josemaria Institute to celebrate and aid in devotion to the Holy Eucharist in preparation for the Eucharistic Congress being held July 17th - 21st.

DAY OF RECOLLECTION | July (Year B)

A monthly Day of Recollection is a time set aside specifically for a Christian to seriously go deeper into his or her relationship with God.

Breaking Point

Does everyone have a breaking point? A point beyond which too much pressure causes collapse?

St. Josemaría Escrivá, The Last of the Romantics

With the meaningful expression “last romantic,” coined by St. Josemaría himself, Msgr. Mariano Fazio titles his book, St. Josemaría Escrivá: The Last of the Romantics.

To Be Loved by a Sacred Heart

That Christ has come to us with a heart made of flesh tells us a lot about how the Sacred Heart loves us, and about the kind of love we need. We are loved by any number of hearts during our earthly lives, but one alone among them we call Sacred.

The Portrait of a Saint

Every time we think about a person who has passed away, we try to deepen their image in our imagination. Often, the easiest way to remember someone is to find people who had at least some contact with them. This applies even when the person we are trying to reconstruct is a saint.

DAY OF RECOLLECTION | June (Year B)

A monthly Day of Recollection is a time set aside specifically for a Christian to seriously go deeper into his or her relationship with God.

On the Feast of Corpus Christi | A Homily

Today, on the feast of Corpus Christi, we come together to consider the depths of our Lord's love for us, which has led him to stay with us, hidden under the appearances of the blessed Sacrament.

St. Josemaria Escriva: A Pilgrim at Luján

On June 12, 1974, St. Josemaria Escriva went on a pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Luján, Patroness of Argentina.

The Supernatural Aim of the Church | A Homily on the Solemnity of the Most Blessed Trinity

The Church is rooted in this fundamental mystery of our Catholic faith: the mystery of God who is one in essence and three in persons.

St. Josemaria Escriva: A Pilgrim at Aparecida

On May, 28, 1974, St. Josemaria Escriva made a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida in Brazil.

The Great Unknown | A Homily for Pentecost Sunday

Having just read in the Acts of the Apostles about Pentecost, the day when the Holy Spirit came down on the Lord's disciples, we are conscious of being present at the great display of God's power with which the Church's life began to spread among all nations.