November 29, 2024. Gospel Passages: Matthew 28:18-20: Luke 17:21; Mark 4:26-27; John 12:32. Meditation with Fr. Francis Ongkingco, Woodrose School Chaplain. Image: "The Symbolic Fresco of the Twelve Apostles" (detail) by Enrico Reffo in the Chiesa di San Dalmazzo, Turin (ars_sacra_pt on Instagram).توسط Blessed Meditations

November 28, 2024. Gospel Passages: Mark 1:15; Luke 17:21; Luke 11:2; John 3:8; Luke 1:38. Quoting from St. Augustine in Letter 130 in https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/1102130.htm and from José Tolentino Mendonça in "Our Father who art on Earth: The Our Father for Believers and Unbelievers." Reference: Biography of Blessed Álvaro del Portillo in h…

November 27, 2024. Gospel Passages: John 17:15; Luke 12:49; Luke 2:34-35; John 19:25-27; John 2:1-3. References: "The apparitions and the Miraculous Medal" in the Chapelle Notre-Dame de la Médaille Miraculeuse, Paris in www.chapellenotredamedelamedaillemiraculeuse.com/langues/english/apparitions-et-la-medaille-miraculeuse-gb and "The meaning of the…

November 26, 2024. Gospel Passages: Luke 17:20-21; John 8:31-32. Quoting from St. Josemaría Escrivá's The Forge, Point 639 in escriva.org/en/forja/639 and Letters dated October 24, 1965 and May 31, 1954 quoted in Letter from the Prelate, Fernando Ocáriz, January 9, 2018 in opusdei.org/en-ph/article/letter-from-the-prelate-9-january-2018. Also "Conv…

November 25, 2024. Gospel Passages: John 18:33b-37; Matthew 27:17-26. Quoting from "Christ Is Passing By" Points 31 and 179 in escriva.org/en/es-cristo-que-pasa/the-epiphany-of-our-lord and escriva.org/en/es-cristo-que-pasa/179; and from "The Forge" Point 163 in escriva.org/en/forja/163, "Furrow" Point 161 in escriva.org/en/surco/161, "The Way" Poi…

November 24, 2024. Gospel Passage: John 18:33-37; John 19:5. Also Romans 8:28. Quoting from St. Josemaría Escrivá in "The Way" Point 939 in escriva.org/en/camino/939, "Furrow" Points 292 and 608 in escriva.org/en/surco/292 and escriva.org/en/surco/608, and "The Forge" Points 639 and 599 in escriva.org/en/forja/639 and escriva.org/en/forja/599. Refe…

November 23, 2024. Gospel Passage: Luke 9:1-6. Meditation with Fr. Francis Ongkingco, Woodrose School Chaplain. Image: "Ye Are My Disciples" by Scott Sumner. Used with Permission from LDSArt.توسط Blessed Meditations

November 22, 2024. Gospel Passages: John 19:31-34; Luke 24:13-35. Quoting from Ezekiel 36:26, Psalm 34:8, and "Dilexit Nos" Encyclical of Pope Francis dated October 24, 2024 in press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2024/10/24/0820/01635.html and "The Way of the Cross" Fourteenth Station by St. Josemaría Escrivá in escriva.org/e…

November 21, 2024. Gospel Passage: Luke 19:41-44. Also quoting from "The Way" Point 571 by St. Josemaría Escrivá in escriva.org/en/camino/571. Meditation with Fr. Francis Ongkingco, Woodrose School Chaplain. Photo Credit: "Purgatorio" in the Purgatory Chapel at the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America, Washington D.C by Fr. Lawrence Lew…

November 20, 2024. Gospel Passages: Luke 19:11-28; Luke 14:28; John 10:17-18. Also Genesis 12:1. Quoting from the "Letter from the Prelate" by Fr. Fernando Ocáriz dated January 9, 2018 in https://opusdei.org/en-ph/article/letter-from-the-prelate-9-january-2018 and "Friends of God" Points 27 and 66 by St. Josemaría Escrivá in escriva.org/en/amigos-d…

November 19, 2024. Gospel Passage: Luke 19:1-10. Also Ephesians 1:15-19. Quoting from the Homily of Pope Francis for World Youth Day on July 31, 2016 in www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/homilies/2016/documents/papa-francesco_20160731_omelia-polonia-gmg.html and from St. Josemaría Escrivá in the Preface of "The Way" in escriva.org/en/camino/intro…

November 18, 2024. Gospel Passages: Luke 18:35-43; Matthew 20:29-34. Quoting from "Friends of God" Points 190-204 (Living by Faith) by St. Josemaría Escrivá in escriva.org/en/amigos-de-dios/living-by-faith and from "The Forge" Point 754 in escriva.org/en/forja/754; and from the Catechism of the Catholic Church Point 103-104 in /www.vatican.va/conte…

November 17, 2014. Gospel Passage: Mark 13:24-32. Quoting St. Josemaría Escrivá in “Friends of God” Point 253 in escriva.org/en/amigos-de-dios/253, “The Forge” Point 838 in escriva.org/en/forja/838, and “The Way” Point 116 in escriva.org/en/camino/116. Reference on Blessed Carlos Acutis in www.catholicnewsagency.com/amp/news/46048/who-was-carlo-acu…

November 16, 2024. Gospel Passage: Luke 18:1-8. Quoting St. Josemaría Escrivá in "The Forge" Point 921 in escriva.org/en/forja/921 and in "The Way" Point 762 in escriva.org/en/camino/762. Quoting "gaudium cum pace" in "The Way," "Furrow," "Christ Is Passing By," and "The Forge" in escriva.org/en/camino/768, escriva.org/en/surco/8, escriva.org/en/su…

November 15, 2024. Gospel Passages: Matthew 22:2-4; Luke 15:7; John 2:1-5. Meditation with Fr. Francis Ongkingco, Woodrose School Chaplain. Image: "The Feast of Belshazzar" by Master of the Feast of Belshazzar in a Private Collection after a Neumeister Munich auction (Wikimedia Commons).توسط Blessed Meditations

November 14, 2024. Gospel Passage: Luke 17:20-25. Also 1 Corinthians 2:9. Quoting from "The Way" Points 752, 753, 253, and 17 by St. Josemaría Escrivá in escriva.org/en/camino/752; escriva.org/en/camino/753; https://escriva.org/en/camino/253 and escriva.org/en/camino/17. Meditation with Fr. Francis Ongkingco, Woodrose School Chaplain. Image: "Bergp…

November 13, 2024. Gospel Passages: Luke 17:11-19; John 21:1-7. Also quoting from 2 Kings 5:1-27 and St. Josemaría Escrivá's "Furrow" Point 668 in https://escriva.org/en/surco/668 and "The Way" Point 493 in https://escriva.org/en/camino/493. Meditation with Fr. Francis Ongkingco, Woodrose School Chaplain. Image: “The Ten Lepers Healed" by Paul Oman…

November 12, 2024. Gospel Passages: Matthew 19:16–26; Matthew 25:14-30. Also quoting from "The Way" Point 90 by St. Josemaría Escrivá in escriva.org/en/camino/90. Meditation with Fr. Francis Ongkingco, Woodrose School Chaplain. Image: "Christ and the Rich Young Man" by Andrey N. Mironov (Wikimedia Commons).…

November 11, 2024. Gospel Passages: Luke 17:1-6; Luke 14:15-24; Matthew 13:44. Also quoting “Friends of God” Point 37 by St. Josemariá Escrivá in escriva.org/en/amigos-de-dios/37. Meditation with Fr. Francis Ongkingco, Woodrose School Chaplain. Image: "The Feast of the Bean King" by Jacob Jordaens in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna (Wikimedia …

November 10, 2024. Gospel Passages: Matthew 12:38-44; Matthew 27:51, 8:10. Also Hebrews 9:24-28. Quoting from “The Way” Points 287, 826, 829 by St. Josemaría Escrivá in escriva.org/en/camino/287, https://escriva.org/en/camino/826, and https://escriva.org/en/camino/829. References: Encyclical “Dilexit Nos” by Pope Francis dated October 24, 2024 in w…

November 9, 2024. Gospel Passages: John 2:13-22. Also Revelation 21:1-3, 22; Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12; 1 Corinthians 3:9-10; 1 Peter 2:5; Deuteronomy 34:4-8. Meditation with Fr. Oskari Juurikkala, guest priest from Finland on "Time for Jesus" on Spotify. Photo Credit: "Basilica of St. John Lateran, Vatican" (Arcibasilica [Papale] del Santissimo Salv…

November 8, 2024. Gospel Passage: Luke 16:19-31. Genesis 3:8-12. Reference: "Blessed Bartolo Longo, the ex-Satanist Who Was Freed Through the Rosary" by Angelo Stagnaro in the National Catholic Register in www.ncregister.com/blog/blessed-bartolo-longo-the-ex-satanist-who-was-freed-through-the-rosary. Meditation with Fr. Francis Ongkingco, Woodrose …

November 7, 2024. Gospel Passage: Luke 15:1-10. Quoting from Genesis 3:8-15 and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Points 2709-2712 on Contemplative Prayer in www.vatican.va/content/catechism/en/part_four/section_one/chapter_three/article_1/iii_contemplative_prayer.html. Meditation with Fr. Francis Ongkingco, Woodrose School Chaplain. Image: "La…

November 6, 2024. Gospel Passages: Luke 14:25-33; Matthew 10:37-38; Mark 7:11-13. Quoting St. Josemaría Escrivá in "The Forge" Points 804 and 1024 in escriva.org/en/forja/804 and escriva.org/en/forja/1024 and "Way of the Cross: Tenth Station" Point 2 and "Ninth Station" in escriva.org/en/via-crucis/10 and escriva.org/en/via-crucis/9. Meditation wit…

November 5, 2024. Gospel Passages: Matthew 28:19-20; Matthew 10:8; Matthew 5:3–12; Matthew 19:16-30; Luke 1:39–56. Also quoting St. Josemaría Escrivá' "The Way" Point 2 in escriva.org/en/camino/2, 2 Peter 1:4, and the "Catechism of the Catholic Church" Part One, Section Two: The Creeds; Matthew 5:3–12. For further reading: "The Implicit Pedagogy of…

November 4, 2024. Gospel Passages: Luke 14:1,7-14; John 2:1-12; Luke 10:38-42; Matthew 26:17–29; Mark 16:15. Quoting 1 Corinthians 11:27-29, "Friends of God" Point 222 by St. Josemarìa Escrivá in escriva.org/en/amigos-de-dios/222, Pope Francis, Homily at the Upper Room (Jerusalem), May 26, 2014 in www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/homilies/2014/d…

November 3, 2024. Gospel Passages: Mark 12:28b-34; Matthew 8:3, 9:29, 7:33; John 14:18-19. Also quoting from Philippians 2:7, Galatians 2:20, and from the Encyclical, "Dilexit Nos" and Dostoevsky's The Demons with commentary by Romano Guardini) by Pope Francis dated October 24, 2024 in www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/20241…

November 2, 2024. Gospel Passages: Matthew 27:45-50,51-54; Mark 16:1-6; Luke 16:24-25. Also quoting 1 Corinthians 15:14, Ephesians 2:19 and from the "Catechism of the Catholic Church" Points 1689, 958, and 1371 (quoting St. Monica) in www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P5C.HTM, https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P2B.HTM, and https://www.vatican…

November 2, 2024. Gospel Passage: John 6:37-40. Quoting 1 Corinthians 2:9. Quoting St. Ambrose and the Entrance Antiphon (1 Thessalonians 4: 14, 1 Corinthians 5:22) in Opening Prayer in the Office of Readings for All Souls in www.liturgies.net/saints/allsouls/officeofreadings.htm and www.liturgies.net/saints/allsouls/mass.htm and the song "Fill the…

November 1, 2024. Gospel Passage: Matthew 5:1-12a. Reference: Lives of St. Ignatius: ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-voices/st-ignatius-loyola, St. Padre Pio, and St. Benedict in www.afcmmedia.org/DW-General-04.html, St. Thomas, St. Teresa of Calcutta. Story on John the Milkman told by St. Josemaría Escrivá in opusdei.org/en-ph/article/jesus-here…

October 31, 2024. Gospel Passages: Luke 7:11–17; John 11:1–44; Luke 8:40–56. Also quoting Revelation 7:9-10; Wisdom 3:7-8; 1 John 3:2; and Ephesians 2:12 within the Encyclical Letter "Spe Salvi" #2 by Pope Benedict XVI dated November 30, 2007 in www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20071130_spe-salvi.html. Med…

October 30, 2024. Gospel Passages: Luke 13:22-25; Matthew 7:13-14. Quoting from "The Interior Castle" by St. Teresa of Ávila and Romans 8:25-28. Meditation with Fr. Francis Ongkingco, Woodrose School Chaplain. Photo Credit: "Black Metal Gate" by Rohit on Unsplash.توسط Blessed Meditations

October 29, 2024. Scriptural Passages: 1 John 4:10, Acts 17:28, Romans 8:14, Ephesians 4:30. References: "Hail, Holy Queen" by Hermann of Reichenau, The Litany of Loreto in "Handbook of Prayers" edited by Fr. Charles Belmonte in where-you-are.net/ebooks/handbook-of-prayers-charles-belmonte.pdf or www.vatican.va/special/rosary/documents/litanie-laur…

October 28, 2024. Gospel Passages: Luke 2:48, John 2:5, 19:26-27. Also Psalm 143:8 and Acts 1:14. Quoting from "True Devotion to Mary" by St. Louis Monfort in ewtn.com/catholicism/library/treatise-on-true-devotion-to-the-blessed-virgin-6064 and from Apostolic Letter, "Rosarium Virginis Mariae" Point 10 by Pope John Paul II dated October 16, 2002 in…

October 27, 2024. Gospel Passage: Mark 10:46-52; John 9:1-5. Quoting from St. Josemaría Escrivá in "Friends of God" Points 195-198 in escriva.org/en/amigos-de-dios/195 ff. Meditation with Fr. Francis Ongkingco, Woodrose School Chaplain. Image: "Healing of Blind Man of Jericho" (detail) by Lucas van Leyden in the State Hermitage Museum, Saint Peters…

October 26, 2024. Gospel Passages: Luke 2:35; 19,51; Matthew 16:24; John 12:24. Song of Songs 4:7,12,8; Revelation 12:1. Quoting from Fulton J. Sheen on "Mary and the Sword" from "World's First Love" in catholictradition.org/Mary/mary-sword1.htm, and Vexilla Regis (hymn) in preces-latinae.org/thesaurus/Hymni/Vexilla.html. Quoting from Apostolic Let…

October 25, 2024. Gospel Passages: Luke 1:26-38; Luke 2:19, 51; Luke 11:1-4; John 16:32. Also 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. Quoting St. John Damascene in "Sermo II in Assumptione" in catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/activities/view.cfm?id=1311 and from “The Way” by St. Josemaría Escrivá, Point 2 in escriva.org/en/camino/2. Quoting from "The Tr…

October 24, 2024. Gospel Passages: Luke 12:49-53; Matthew 12:30. Also Isaiah 9:6, Ephesians 4:22-24, 1 Peter 2:2-3, Colossians 3:1-4, Psalm 86:11. Quoting from "The Eight Doors of the Kingdom: Meditations on the Beatitudes" Chapter 4 by Jacques Philippe. Image: "The Redeemer and the Apostles" (detail) by Bonifacio Veronese (Bonifacio de' Pitati) at…

October 24, 2024. Gospel Passages: John 14:16; Matthew 26:26-29. Also Acts 2:1-2, 3-13, Acts 2:14:41, 42-47. Quoting from the "Pastoral Letter for the Year of the Eucharist" dated October 6, 2004 in https://opusdei.org/en-ph/article/pastoral-letter-for-the-year-of-the-eucharist and the "Pastoral Letter for the Year of Faith" dated September 29, 201…

October 23, 2024. Gospel Passages: Luke 24:45-53; John 13:34. Also Acts 1:6-11. Quoting from "Jesus of Nazareth" Volume 2, Epilogue, by Pope Benedict XVI. Quoting from "The Long Loneliness" and "The Duty of Delight: The Diaries of Dorothy Day" by Dorothy Day; and her biography as quoted in "The Road to Character" Chapter 4 by David Brooks; from "My…

October 23, 2024. Gospel Passages: Luke 12:39-48; Matthew 6:10; Matthew 26:39. Meditation with Fr. Francis Ongkingco, Woodrose School Chaplain. Image: "Švenčiausioji Trejybė" (The Most Holy Trinity) by Szymon Czechowicz in the Lithuanian National Museum of Art, Vilnius (Wikimedia Commons).توسط Blessed Meditations

October 22, 2024. Gospel Passages: Mark 16:1-2; John 20:24-29; John 15:12; Matthew 18:1-3; John 13:37-38, Matthew 26:33-35, 69-75; John 20:11–17, 19-29. Also Acts 1:6-8. Quoting “The Humility Code” in "The Road to Character" and from "The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life" by David Brooks. Quoting from “The Forge” by St. Josemaría Escrivá…

October 21, 2024. Gospel Passages: Luke 12:16-21; Matthew 5:48; Luke 6:36; John 13:34; Matthew 25:34-40. Quoting also 1 Corinthians 7:29 and from "Friends of God" Chapter 3, Time is a Treasure, and "The Way" #735 by St. Josemaría Escrivá #39-54 in escrivaworks.org/book/friends_of_god-chapter-3.htm and escrivaworks.org/book/the_way-point-735.htm Als…

October 21, 2024. Gospel Passages: John 19:16-30; John 12:32; Mark 15:39; Matthew 16:18; Luke 1:38. Also Numbers 21:4-9. Quoting from "Jesus of Nazareth" Volume 2, Chapter 8 and Message for the 26th World Youth Day,Point 2, August 6, 2010 in www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/messages/youth/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20100806_youth.html by Pope B…

October 20, 2024. Gospel Passages: Mark 10:35-45; Matthew 13:44-46. Quoting from Bishop Robert Barron in "The Buffered Self" in youtu.be/aVcmwncKwPU and from St. Josemaría Escrivá in "The Way" Point 825 in escriva.org/en/camino/826 and "Christ is Passing By" Point 2 in escriva.org/en/es-cristo-que-pasa/2 and from Wendy Beckett in "Sister Wendy on P…

October 19, 2024. Gospel Passages: John 19:17, Matthew 16:24, Luke 23:26,32,42, Mark 15:21-22. Also Isaiah 53:12, Colossians 1:24. Quoting from "Road to Hope" by Cardinal Nguyễn Văn Thuận, from Pope Benedict XVI's General Audience dated October 25, 2006 in www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/audiences/2006/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20061025.html …

October 18, 2024. Gospel Passages: Luke 1:26-56; Luke 2:1-40; Luke 15:1-7, Luke 15:11-32. Also Isaiah 6:8, Genesis 22:1, 22:11, 31:11; Exodus 3:4, 1 Samuel 3:4-9, 10-20. Reference: Cardinal Nguyễn Văn Thuận as quoted by Pope Benedict XVI in Encyclical, "Spes Salvi" Point 32, dated November 30, 2007 and in www.nguyenvanthuan.com/writings.html and ca…

October 18, 2024. Gospel Passages: Matthew 20:19, 27:17-23; John 19:1-5; Luke 23:18-25; Mark 15:8-15. Quoting from "Christ Is Passing By" Point 47 by St. Josemaría Escrivá in escriva.org/en/es-cristo-que-pasa/47. Also quoting from "The Sadness of Christ" by St. Thomas More. Reference: The Holy Rosary, Second Sorrowful Mystery: escriva.org/en/santo-…

October 17, 2024. Gospel Passages: Luke 22:39-46; Mark 14:48-50. Quoting from "The Way of the Cross" or "left in the most absolute poverty" by St. Josemaría Escrivá, Tenth Station in escriva.org/en/via-crucis/10 and from "The Way" Point 631 in escriva.org/en/camino/631. Quoting from "Die Empty: Unleash Your Best Work Every Day" by Todd Henry. Refer…

October 16, 2024. Gospel Passages: John 13:1, Matthew 26:26-28. Quoting from St. Josemaría Escrivá in "The Way" Points 382, 934, and 495 in escriva.org/en/camino/382, escriva.org/en/camino/934, and escriva.org/en/camino/495; "The Forge" Point 39 in escriva.org/en/forja/39; and "the Way of the Cross" Sixth Station, Meditation and Point 2 in escriva.…