In Your Presence

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai to priests of the priests of the Archdiocese of Toronto, in the parish of St. Edward the Confessor.Today the church celebrates the 15th-century Saint Juan Diego from Mexico, with an unpronounceable last name. He was surnamed Cuauhtlatoatzin. The account of her appearance transformed Mexico. She can transform us, too.Music: Bert Alink, Adeste fideles, guitar, by John Francis Wade. Played 2017.

Fr. Eric Nicolai preached this meditation on December 8th, 2025 at Lyncroft Centrre in Toronto. It has been worthwhile to prepare this solemnity because it tells us something hopeful about God’s plan of salvation, his desire for our redemption. He could count on this woman, not as a mere instrument, but as a free and active cooperator that was beautifully prepared and primed for the great work of salvation.We say she is immaculate, because she is without macula, without stain. The fathers of the Church teased out the Eve-Mary parallel: Mary was the new Eve.Music: relaxing-piano-music-248868Thumbnail: Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, The Immaculate Conception of Los Venerables (Soult Madonna), 1660–65, oil on canvas, (Museo Nacional del Prado)

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Lyncroft Centre, Toronto on December 6, 2025. The hymn of Our Lady, the Magnificat, (Luke 1, 46-55) is a pause in the infancy narrative, so that we can meditate on the events. It is as though we had to pause, think, catch our breath, and pray.“My soul magnifies the Lord,     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me and holy is his name. Thumbnail: The Magnificat" from the Church of Reconciliation, the church of the Taize Community in FranceMusic: relaxing-piano-music-248868

Fr. Eric Nicolai preached this meditation on December 6, 2025 in Lyncroft Centre, Toronto.The theme of the Visitation (cf. Lk 1:39-45). It starts with the annunciation in which the angel informs Mary about two miracles: she will be both virgin and mother of the Messiah, and Elizabeth will give birth, even in her old age. Mary goes with haste to bring her joy, and spread it to others in the family. This is an important role in our life during Advent.Thumbnail: Peter Paul Rubens, left panel of the Visitation from 1612 in the Cathedral of Our Lady in Antwerp.Music: relaxing-piano-music-248868, from Hozana.

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Kintore College in Toronto on December 3, 2025, on the feast of Saint Francis Xavier.Matthew 15:29–37 recounts Jesus healing many sick people by the Sea of Galilee. Matthew tells us about how there were large crowds of people. They were not just numbers to him, or statistics. They brought these people to him. The illnesses were varied. He made them whole again. There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves". But that clearly did not make sense. It was not logical, as the disciples barely had enough for themselves. But with that little contribution, those few loaves, and a couple of fish, that was enough for Jesus. It can be enough too in our apostolate.Music: O Holy Night by Christmas choir in Youtubetomp3.scThumbnail: Mosaic cycle Saint Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna 6th century, AD.

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai on the first Sunday of Advent in Lyncroft Centre, Toronto, November 30, 2025.Romans 13, 11: You know ‘the time’ has come: you must wake up now: our salvation is even nearer than it was when we were converted. The urgency of readiness for God’s appeal to our soul is the theme of Advent. Its a path that we ask God to teach us about. Psalm 25:  Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. Vias tuas, Domine, demonstra mihi, et semitas tuas edoce me.Music: "In Dulce Iubilo", choir collection from: Die Schonste Deutsche Weihnachtslieder, ChristmasWorld by Zyx Music.

A meditation preached at Cedarcrest Conference Centre in Belfountain, Ontario, on November 23, 2025.Luke 23:35-43: The soldiers mocked him too, and when they approached to offer vinegar they said, ‘If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.’ Above him there was an inscription: ‘This is the King of the Jews.’Thumbnail: The Romanesque crucifix (12th century) hanging in the Fuentiduena Chapel in The Cloisters, NYC.Music: Michael Lee.

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Cedarcrest Conference Centre, in Belfountain, Ontario, on November 21, 2025.The cunning ruse of the devil was a dialogue with Eve, in which she believed the devil's lie, and she disobeyed God's command. Sin lead to our death. But this truth is also an opportunity to ask for true conversion. Music: Michael Lee of Toronto.

Fr. Eric Nicolai preached this meditation on November 19, 2025 at Kintore College in Toronto. The topic is the Parable of the Talents from Luke 19:11-28.One day we will all arrive at that moment when our spiritual soul leaves our body, and goes off to judgment. The soul then ceases to vivify the body with the informing, animating principle we call life. The king responded to the man who had kept his one talent: Then why did you not put my money in the bank? On my return I could have drawn it out with interest.”

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai to a group of diocesan priests at Cedarcrest Conference Centre in Belfountain, Ontario, on November 7, 2025.John 5:2: We can picture the scene of the pool at Bethsaida, where the paralytic lay for 38 years. He had no one to help him enter the water when it was stirred. He was lying on his mat, waiting with a large crowd of other sick people, but had given up hope that he could be healed through the pool. Jesus, after asking if he wanted to be well, commanded the man to "Rise, take up your mat, and walk," and he was instantly cured, picking up his mat and walking away.Jesus is inviting us to have hope, he's giving us the grace to rise up, and take our responsibility seriously. To get up and embrace our call.Music: Michael Lee of Toronto.

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Ernescliff College, October 31, 2025. We meditate of the lament of Jesus over the holy City of Jerusalem. What was this lament about? He wept over the city, feeling the pain of the souls that were hardened to God's appeals.Luke 13, 33: ‘Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you that kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often have I longed to gather your children, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you refused! So be it! Your house will be left to you. Yes, I promise you, you shall not see me till the time comes when you say:‘Blessings on him who comes in the name of the Lord!’Music: Michael Lee of TorontoThumbnail: Enrique Simonet, Dominus flevit, Prado, Madrid, 1892

A meditation by Fr. Eric Nicolai, preached in Lyncroft Centre in Toronto, October 26, 2025, on the parable of the Pharisee and the publican (Luke 18:9-14).Music: Stephen Lee of TorontoThumbnail: Rembrandt, Etching of St. Jerome kneeling in prayer, 1635. From artnet

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai on October 15, 2025 at Kintore College, Toronto. Today we celebrate Theresa of Avila, this 16th century mystic, who died in 1582. Her conversion led her to reform her order, emphasizing poverty, prayer, and contemplative life. Juan Diego was her contemporary, thousands of kilometers away in Mexico. Both discovered the nature of confidence in God, gounded in the inside of the soul. Music: Michael Lee of Toronto.

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Cedarcrest Conference Centre in Belfountain, Ontario, on October 10, 2025.Today this has become a response for us in the Way of the Cross as we are introduced to each station. We are meant to look at the representation. Sometimes a picture, sometimes a painting. Sometimes just a simple cross.V: We adore You, O Christ, and we praise YouR: Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world. (Rise)We will say it today. This idea of the 14 stations started by those who could not journey to Jerusalem to spiritually participate in Christ’s Passion. Pilgrims in Jerusalem would process to various locations, praying and reading scripture at each spot. Franciscans became the custodians of the Holy Land sites. They would start these virtual representations in churches in Europe. They became standardized to 14 stations. 

Luke 9, 57: ..they met a man on the road who said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.This expression of willingness, this desire to follow the Lord, no matter what he asks, no matter where the Lord takes our life, no matter the pain I experience, no matter what city you want me to go, is a deeply felt disposition that the Lord blesses. We see it particularly with Therese of Lisieux, and today with the beginnings of St. Josemaria’s call, on October 2, 1928, the feast of the Guardina Angels.A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai on October 2, 2025 in Lyncroft centre 2025.

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai on Septemebr 29, 2025 at Lyncroft Centre, Toronto.John 1, 49-51: Jesus replied, ‘You believe that just because I said: I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.’ And then he added ‘I tell you most solemnly, you will see heaven laid open and, above the Son of Man, the angels of God ascending and descending.’The three archangels, Raphael, Michael, Gabriel, all have their role in the history of salvation. They are also present in the history and apostolates of Opus Dei. Here's how.Music: Michael Lee of Toronto.Thumbnail: Ivory panel at the British Museum of St. Michael, dating to the 6th Century.

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Cedarcrest Conference Centre in Belfountain, Ontario on September 25, 2025.Luke 8:4-15: With a large crowd gathering and people from every town finding their way to him, Jesus used this parable: ‘A sower went out to sow his seed.We are the crowd that the Lord is now addressing, as we see him now with eyes of faith. You see him as he speaks there in the Gospel.Music: Michael Lee of TorontoThumbnail: Jean-Francois Millet, The Sower, 1851.

Fr. Eric Nicolai preached this meditation on the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows at Roseaire Conference center in Delray Beach, Florida.Stabat mater dolorósajuxta Crucem lacrimósa,dum pendébat Fílius.At the Cross her station keeping,Stood the mournful Mother weeping,Close to Jesus to the lastIt is these tears and this sorrow that she embraced heroically today. But she did this as she co-redeemed with her son. Let us ask the light today to understand and deeply integrate in truth, what this all means for us, this start, this dolorosa, this lacrimosa. 

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai, at Roseaire Conference Centre in Delray Beach,Florida, September 13, 2025.In his encyclical, Spe Salvi, Pope Benedict XVI explained that hope can be performative not merely informative. Christian hope is not just knowledge or belief about the future. There is more:  There is dynamic power that changes how people live and act in the present. Hope does something. It can make us bold and daring in approaching apostolic challenges.Music: Michel Lee, Toronto.

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Roseaire conference Center in Delray Beach, Florida onSeptember 6, 2025.Lk 6: 1-15: Today we have another dispute of the pharisees with Jesus about the way of living the Sabbath. Jesus has authority over the Sabbath, he is Lord of the sabbath. He wants us to live out this time of rest in a way that goes beyond mere external compliance. Is it possible that there could be more of that trust in God? Less preoccupation. More of an abandoned prayer, to a God who loves us dearly, who cares for us, who has a plan for us, and uses our weakness, our limitations for his plans?Music: Michael Lee, TorontoThumbnail: Vincent Van Gogh, The Prayer, 1882.