In Your Presence

Episodet

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  The DNA of the Life Faith 06.08.2026 28min

  A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai on August 1, 2026 at Ellentor Centre in Toronto.Matt 14, 22-36: Jesus walks on the water, and calls out to Peter: Come!Water in the ancient world was always seen as a place of instability. It was a scary place when you had these rickety boats. But Jesus informs everything we do. It is our life of faith. Our faith must inform our vision, the way we think, the way we work. It leaves its fingerprints everywhere we go. There you will find the DNA of faith.Music: pulsebox-piano-music-free-music-552725 pixabay freeThumbnail: Walking on Water, by Ivan Aivazovsky (1888), private collection.
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  The Feeding of the 5 Thousand 02.08.2026 28min

  A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai on August 1, 2026 at Ellentor Centre in Toronto. John 6:1-15 tells of the account of the feeding of the 5 thousand. Lots of people. A real problem. A multitude had followed him. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a multitude was coming to himHe looked up with mercy, with compassion. In front of the problem, the numbers, the money, the few pieces of bread, we hear about that little boy. 10 or 12 years old. Not with his parents. Free to help.One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, John 6, 9-10: “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what are they among so many?”  Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place; so the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 
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  Optimism and Smiling Faces 31.07.2026 32min

  A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Ellentor Centre in Toronto, July 31, 2026."Don't forget that sometimes it is necessary to have smiling faces." (The Way, 657)
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  The Penitent Magdalene 22.07.2026 18min

  A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Chipnee camp in Port Burwell, Ontario, July 22 2026.Mary Magdalene is the first person to whom the risen Christ appeared and he entrusted her with announcing the Resurrection to the Apostles themselves. She is the apostles of Apostles. Pope Francis elevated her memorial to the level of a feast.Music: pulsebox-piano-music-cinematic-552722Thumbnail: Antonio Canova, Penitent Magdalene 1808, St. Petersburg Museum.
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  The Courage of a Full Life 21.07.2026 24min

  A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Chipnee Camp in Port Burwell, Ontario, on July 21, 2026.We reflect on the famous story of the young rich man who approaches Jesus to ask him something.(Mt 19:16–22; Mk 10:17–22; Lk 18:18–23) It’s a key text, one of the most memorable encounters that Jesus had. It is full of youthful horizons, yet mystery and a bitter dissolution too.What does it mean to live a full life?Music: pulsebox-piano-music-cinematic-552722Audiio_MULVEY_Awakening_Awakening_InstrumentalThumbnail: Crucifixion from France, 12th century, St. Louis Art Museum.
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  Forging Bonds of Frienship 20.07.2026 23min

  A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Chipnee Girls Camp in Port Burwell, Ontario.The disciples of Emmaus shared an intense run home after having seen and heard the Lord. When we are together, we cease to be fragile.
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  Martha and Mary: The Present and Future Life 15.07.2026 26min

  A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Ernescliff College, Toronto, on July 14, 2026. Sitting in front of the Saint Lawrence River, seeing all that water pass by, sometimes calm, other times more agitated. All that water is going to a hydroelectric dam, where it will go through turbines to generate much energy.  That daily flow looks peaceful, even tranquil, yet carries with it great energy. All our activities in our life, our work, our stress- they are like that river, flowing, but they must all go through turbines to serve as sources of good supernatural energy. It is an image of what we see in the account of Martha and Mary, in Luke.Music: pulsebox-piano-music-cinematic-552722Thumbnail: Hydroelectric Power Dam
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  Workers in the Vineyard 11.07.2026 30min

  A meditation by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Ellerton Center in Toronto, preached on July 4th, 2026.Mt 20:1-16: Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard.For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. From that early moment, he went out many times after. 9 a.m., He went out again about noon and about three p.m. Then again about five p.m. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. “He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’ Even at the end of our life, God calls us.Thumbnail: Jean-François Millet, les Glaneuses, Musée d’Orsay 1857Music: pulsebox-piano-music-cinematic-552722
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  First, Simon who is called Peter 08.07.2026 26min

  A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai on July 8th, 2026, at Kintore College, Toronto.Today’s Gospel gives us a glimpse of that luminous moment in which Jesus entrusts his apostles with the most important responsibility of their lives. Nobody has ever been entrusted with a mission as important as this, with such decisive consequences for world history.The account of Jesus' choice of his 12 apostles from Matt 10, 1-7: "Jesus summoned his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits with power to cast them out and to cure all kinds of diseases and sickness.  These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, the one who was to betray him."Thumbnail: Massacio (Tommaso di Ser Giovanni di Simone), "Peter Healing the sick with his shadow", Florence, Santa Maria del Carmine, Florence, 1424-1425.Music: pulsebox piano music-cinematic-552722
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  Woman with the Issue of Blood 06.07.2026 30min

  A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Ernescliff College, Toronto, on July 6, 2026.From today's gospel, Matthew 9, 18-26: "...Then from behind him came a woman, who had suffered from a hemorrhage 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."The 12 years of hemorrhage was humiliating; it weakened her, and it depleted her resources. But she reached out, discreetly, with a humble faith, just to touch the very fringe of his garment. As though she wanted to go unnoticed. It was a humble faith. It must be present in our initiatives as well. It will be rewarded, but we have to stay humble.Thumbnail: Fresco of the Healing of the woman with the issue of Blood, in the Catacomb of Sts Marcellinus and Peter, Rome, 4th century.Music: pulsebox-piano-music-cinematic-552722
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  If You don't lose your Life, You're Not Worthy of Me 04.07.2026 29min

  A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai on June 28, 2026 at Ellerton Centre, Toronto.Matthew 10:37-42: Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: ‘Anyone who prefers father or mother to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who prefers son or daughter to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who does not take his cross and follow in my footsteps is not worthy of me. Anyone who finds his life will lose it; anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it.
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  Jesus has power over the Demoniac and over us 02.07.2026 28min

  A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Kintore College in Toronto, on July 1, 2026. (new audio file with proper editing uploaded July 2)An account of the two demoniacs of the Gerasenes in Matthew 8:28–34. Jesus intervened and restored them to normality, but it meant that the herd of pigs was lost. Jesus has restored something authentic in this place, but the villagers are too desensitized to see it, to perceive it. This is really about the authority of Jesus on this earth, in our work, in our day-to-day. He must really be there. Yes, he can expel the demons of indifference. Of lukewarm norms, of lack of care in fraternity.Thumbnail: The Gerasene Demoniac by Sebastian Bourdon (1653)Music: pulsebox-piano-music-cinematic-552722 no copyrigh t
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  Josemaria Saw a Vast Fertile Field 01.07.2026 29min

  A meditation preached on June 24, 2026 at Hawthorn School for Girls on the solemnity of John the Baptist. From the very womb of his elderly mother, John was inundated by the Holy Spirit so as to prepare the manifestation of Jesus to the people.  He grew and lived in the desert.  He was preparing himself for his mission through solitude and prayer. Isaiah 40, 1-5: A voice of one crying in the desert. Prepare the way for the Lord.All the prophets before him anticipated the Messiah; John actually points Him out directly (“Behold the Lamb of God”)That can sometimes be your life, a voice crying out in the desert of secularism, immoral conduct, ideologies that go against nature, and the dignity of man. It ends up with strange fabrications, rejection of God, and distortion of the faith. As Saint Josemaria said: “We certainly need to convert anew, to be more fully loyal and more deeply humble, so that our selfishness decreases and Christ can grow in us. For illum oportet crescere, me autem minui, “he must increase and I must decrease.” (Christ is Passing By, no. 58)
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  Saint Josemaria's Legacy 28.06.2026 28min

  A meditation preached at Ellentor centre in Toronto, on the feast of Saint Josemaria, on June 26, 2026.It’s the legacy that we have the responsibility to maintain, to care for. We know sound elements of doctrine, but it comes out in unique ways in our apostolate, in our family prayer, our interest in others. What is the origin of this legacy?Music: pulsebox-piano-music-cinematic-552722 Free copyright on Pixabay.
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  Our Divine Filiation is a Solid Foundation 26.06.2026 25min

  A meditation preached at Kintore College, Toronto, on June 25, 2026.Matt 7, 21-29: ‘Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.’A building may appear beautiful and impressive, yet if its foundations are weak, sooner or later cracks will begin to show. The same is true of our spiritual lives. Much of what sustains us remains hidden from view: our prayer, our relationship with God, and especially our sense of divine filiation.Music: Carlos Gardel, Soledad, arranged for guitar by Bert Alink.
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  Having a Heart that is Pure, Transparent to God's Love 19.06.2026 30min

  A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai on June 19, 2026 at the Manoir de Beaujeu, at Coteau du Lac, Quebec.As we do our prayer, we consider that it is especially our heart that has been set aflame even more, rejuvenated, cleared of any arterial sclerosis, any build up over time, so that may may always live freely, purely and sincererly, as we consider that we are here in this place because we have given everything to God. Ancient tradition of the church reveals that she has seen numerous Christians that observed celibacy for the kingdom. Propter regnum coelorum. Apostolic celibacy is a testimony, a witness, but only if our heart is truly transparent to the love of God.
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  Fortitude, Resilience, Courage 29.05.2026 28min

  Meditation by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Ellentor Centre in Toronto, May 29, 2026. Today is the memorial of Pope Paul VI, Giovanni Battista Montini, a man of courage in a time of upheaval.Gen 12, 1-16: God speaks to Abraham: leave your country, your family, and go to the country I will tell you. So he responded by going to that unknown country. He was open to what God wanted. It took courage and fortitude and magnanimity to undertake such a massive task, to be the father of a nation.We need this human virtue of fortitude, but it must also be supernatural, done out of love.Music: Mulvey Awakening
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  The Fruits of the Holy Spirit 24.05.2026 30min

  In preparation for the solemnity of Pentecost, we have been trying to see all the things that can happen if we really become docile to his presence in our souls. For the apostles, it was manifested by a powerful wind that shook the house that they were in. Like a powerful tornado, a divine presence that no one could ignore. The result was that their lives were imbued with the fruits of the Holy Spirit. A meditation preached on the eve of Pentecost at Kintore College, Toronto, May 23, 2026.Music: Audiio MULVEY Awakening Instrumental.Thumbnail: Bernini's Holy Spirit in St. Peter's Basilica, Rome.
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  The Gift of Wisdom Changes Everything 22.05.2026 28min

  Preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Kintore College, Toronto on May 21, 2026. As we prepare for Pentecost, let us consider the first gift of the Holy Spirit, wisdom, which enables you to see how good and great the Lord is and, fills our life with flavour, so that, as Jesus said, you may be “salt of the earth”.Music: Audio MULVEY Awakening InstrumentalThumbnail: St. James the Greater Catholic Church, Concord, NC. Wikimedia
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  Mary Attracts all the Gifts of the Holy Spirit 20.05.2026 31min

  A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Hawthorn School for Girls in Toronto on May 20, 2026. During the month of May we prepare for Pentecost and also increase our devotion to our blessed Mother, Mary. There is an intimate connection between Mary and the Holy Spirit.  Mary attracted the Holy Spirit like a magnet at the Annunciation, and when she was at the centre of the apostles at Pentecost.  Two moments in which she served as a powerful attraction to draw down the Holy Spirit onto the world, onto the church, unto us and our priesthood. The two are connected.We need Mary, we need the gifts of the Holy Spirit.Music: Audiio MULVEY Awakening Awakening InstrumentalThumbnail: Juan Bautista Maíno (1581-1649), La Pentecôte 1615, Prado Museum.