Meditations in Manhattan
Christian meditation podcast by Opus Dei priests in New York City. Each episode guides listeners through a dialogue with God, blending mindfulness with Catholic spirituality. New meditations are released weekly.
Episodes
Come Closer to Me — Humility, Contrition, and Grace
Drawing on the Old Testament story of Joseph inviting his repentant brothers to "come closer," this meditation explores God’s tender invitation to draw near despite our sins. Through the parable of the humble tax collector and the inspiring witness of St. Maria Goretti’s forgiveness, we are reminded that God never tires of offering His mercy. By approaching the Sacrament of Reconciliatio
Eucharistic Remembrance
Reflecting on the Feast of Corpus Christi, this meditation explores why remembering what God has done for us is the secret to living with hope. Spending time before the Eucharist helps us overcome the daily noise and worries that pull us away from Him. In the end, we are called to bring Him into our workplaces and families—where we become the monstrance, the love of Christ shining forth in our liv
Making Music in the Holy Spirit (Pentecost Reflection)
Inspired by a simple poem seen on a subway door — "I am the wind, you are the chimes" — this meditation explores how the Holy Spirit works in each of us. By choosing a path of docility, prayer, and sacrifice, we allow the Paraclete to turn our individual urban lives into a symphony of divine music. A meditation by Father Philip Moss.
The Ascension: Christ Lifts Us Up
How do we maintain presence of God amidst the noise and struggles of daily life? The Feast of the Ascension reminds us that while our feet must be planted on earth, our hearts are called to be united to the joy and hope of Christ. A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.
The Joy of Easter: Living the Alleluia
In this meditation Father Timothy Uhen explores the theme of being an "Easter people" by encouraging listeners to focus on the light of Christ even amidst life's inherent contradictions and struggles. Drawing on artistic metaphors and the restoration of peace to the apostles, he emphasizes that human weakness should not lead to despair but rather to a deeper reliance on God’s endurin
Easter: From Bitter Tears to Living Hope
This meditation reflects on Saint Peter's journey from the "bitter tears" of his denial to the transformative "living hope" found in the Resurrection. It explores how Jesus often remains by our side in unexpected ways—as a gardener or a stranger—even when we fail to recognize his presence through our personal trials. Drawing from Saint Peter's first letter, Father J.P. Mitchell explains that we ar
The Sermon on the Mount: A Lenten Path to Heaven
This meditation offers a moment of recollection and examination as we pass through Lent and journey toward Holy Week. Using the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7) as a spiritual roadmap, we explore Jesus' call to holiness through the "narrow gate" of our ordinary, daily activities. A meditation by Father Tim Uhen.
Lent: Tremendous Lovers
In this Lenten meditation, taking inspiration from Eugene Boylan’s classic This Tremendous Lover, Father Phil Moss reflects on the Christian call to be "possessed by love." This radical love is not just something we live in specific situations, but something we become through identification with Christ during this season of conversion. By plunging into His merciful heart, we find the str
The Beatitudes: A Portrait of Supernatural Life
This meditation by Father Phil Moss explores the Beatitudes as a "portrait of supernatural life" that fulfills the law through a radical newness of heart. We discover that true happiness is found through sacrifice, mercy, and union with Christ.
Be an Authentic Christian
Let us live "unity of life." May we live a life of intimacy with God, drawing closer to Christ in everything we do, through our prayer and our sanctified work. A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.
Humility: To Become Great, Become Small
As we gaze upon the infant Jesus during this Christmas season, let us embrace our identity as children of God. True self-knowledge combines an awareness of one’s own nothingness with the confidence of being infinitely loved by God our Father. A meditation by Father Philip Moss.
Christmas is Fast Approaching
This Christmas let us present the baby Jesus with the gift of our lives. A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.
Learn from Mary this Advent
Let us imitate Mary’s example this Advent so that the presence of Christ may overflow from within us and into the lives of our loved ones. A meditation by Father Javier del Castillo.
The Humility of Mary
Our mother Mary gave all the glory to God. Throughout the Gospels, she usually remains in the background. She directs attention not to herself but to Jesus. Mary becomes a model of humility, obedience and love for the whole Church. Mary was a mother for the first Christians, and she is a mother for us. A meditation by Father Thomas G. Bohlin.
The Assumption of Mary into Heaven
Let us ask our mother Mary, who has been assumed into heaven, to help us get into heaven. Mary, help us to be lovers after the Heart of your Son. A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.
The Transfiguration of Christ
Jesus took Peter, James and John, and he led them up a high mountain apart by themselves, and he was transfigured before them. The Transfiguration on Mount Tabor was a preparation for that other mountain, Mount Calvary, Golgotha. Jesus calls upon us to become another Christ, to embrace the Cross. A meditation by Father Thomas Bohlin.
Preparing for Holy Week
We are entering Holy Week, the most sacred and spiritually intense week of the year. Let us live it well, accompanying Jesus closely. A meditation by Father Thomas Bohlin.
Lent: An Invitation to Prayer
Throughout the Gospels Jesus tries to form the Apostles as men of prayer. He tries to introduce them to the intimacy he has with the Father. Lord, this Lent, let us enter through prayer into the life of the Trinity, into the loving dialog of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. A meditation by Father Joe Keefe.
Blessed are the Pure of Heart
Chastity means the successful integration of sexuality within the person. Living the virtue of purity will always be a battle, but with the help of Jesus, it is a battle we can win. We will need prayer and the sacraments, especially confession and the Holy Eucharist. The fight is worth it, because we are called to live here as children of God. A meditation by Father Thomas G. Bohlin.
August: When the Saints Come Marching In (Re-broadcast)
In this mediation we look at some of the great saints we encounter in the liturgy in August, including the Cure of Ars, Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Saint Monica, Saint Augustine, Saint John the Baptist. We celebrate the Assumption of Mary, the mother of Jesus and the greatest of saints. Taking advantage of the example, lives, and words of these great saints, let us strive to grow in holiness and becom
The miracle of Christ’s presence in the Eucharist
Let us give thanks for our Lord’s presence in the Eucharist. Let us consider the depth of our Lord’s love for us, which has led him to stay with us, hidden under the appearance of bread in the Blessed Sacrament. How much love he has for us. A meditation by Father Tom Bohlin.
Listen to the Holy Spirit
Being a child of God means listening to his voice. Let us have a listening heart, a heart that loves. Let us tell tell the Holy Spirit that we will listen more attentively to his voice. A meditation by Father John Agnew.
Come Closer to Jesus through Mary
During this month of May, let us come closer to Jesus, through Mary. A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.
Christ Brings Peace to Our Troubled Life
We all have troubles in life, but pain and failures are not final. Christ brings us true peace, not the kind the world gives, but deep and lasting peace. A meditation by Father Henry Bocala.
The Joy of the Resurrection
Our belief in the Resurrection of Jesus brings us joy. These days of Easter we are especially reminded of Christ’s presence among us. A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.
Vocation: We are Called by God
God has chosen us, in Christ, from the beginning of time. The Lord in his infinite mercy draws us closer and closer to Himself. Jesus knocks at the door of our hearts. Let us be generous in our response to that call. A meditation by Father Henry Bocala.
The Paschal Triduum: The Passion, Death and Resurrection of Christ
By entering into the Paschal Triduum, we can respond to Christ's invitation, "Love one another as I have loved you."
Lent Retreat Meditation 7/7: Beginning Again and Again
We are called to be saints in the middle of the world. And to become saints, we must begin again and again. During Lent, through our prayer, penance and almsgiving, we can follow Jesus closely. God loves us unconditionally. He calls us to live a life of commitment, and through that to live a life of joy.
This meditation is the final of seven meditations we are posting from a Lent retreat by Fathe
Lent Retreat Meditation 6/7: The Eucharist, Sacrament of Love
In the Eucharist, Jesus offers himself to us as the Bread of Life. We draw our life from him, and we learn to be humble of heart.
This meditation is the sixth of seven meditations we are posting during Lent from a retreat by Father Timothy Uhen. During Lent, we seek a deeper love of God and neighbor through prayer, self-denial, and charity. The aim of these Lenten meditations is to help us, throug
Lent Retreat Meditation 5/7: The Sacred Humanity of Jesus
In the Sacred Humanity of Christ, we have the perfect model for our life hear on Earth. Jesus said, "Learn from me." That is what the saints have done. Like Saint Paul, we should strive to live so that "it is not I who live, but Christ who lives in me."
This meditation is the fifth of seven meditations we are posting during Lent from a retreat by Father Timothy Uhen. During Len
Lent Retreat Meditation 4/7: Death and Judgment
While the prospect of death and judgment may bring a natural fear to our souls, our Lord is constantly reminding us that he is always with us, and that his mercy endures forever. Indeed, the reality of Last Things spurs us to use our time well and always be merciful to others.
This meditation is the third of seven meditations we are posting during Lent from a retreat by Father Timothy Uhen. Durin
Lent Retreat Meditation 3/7: The Danger of Lukewarmness
Jesus came to "cast fire upon the earth," yet the danger of lukewarmness is always lurking. We do well to heed the words of Our Blessed Mother at Cana, and do whatever Christ tells us.
This meditation is the third of seven meditations we are posting during Lent from a retreat by Father Timothy Uhen. During Lent, we seek a deeper love of God and neighbor through prayer, self-denial, and c
Lent Retreat Meditation 2/7: I am a Son of God
From the abundance of Love, God has created the world and given us a special place in it: We are made in his image and likeness. During a retreat, and during prayer, Jesus wants to “take me aside privately,” as he did with the deaf-mute, in order to heal me and bring me to a realization of my dignity as a son of God. Will I allow him to do so?
This meditation is the second of seven meditations we
Lent Retreat Meditation 1/7: In Silence with God
This meditation is the first of seven meditations we are posting this Lent from a retreat by Father Timothy Uhen.
The theme of this first meditation is prayer and interior silence. "O God, you are my God .. My soul longs for you (Psalm 63)." In prayer we recognize our sinfulness. But we also can learn to experience God's mercy and unconditional love.
During Lent, we seek a deeper
The Beatitudes, a Portrait of the Heart of Christ
Blessed are the merciful. Blessed are the clean of heart. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Pope John Paul II called the beatitudes "a portrait of the heart of Christ." Especially during this time of Lent, let us learn through the beatitudes to follow Christ more closely. A meditation by Father Thomas Bohlin.
The Secret to Happiness
Let us discover Christ in our ordinary lives. Jesus is there waiting for us. A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.
Discover Jesus through the Gospels
Jesus has told us, “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life.” We wish to draw closer to Christ in our prayer. And the best way we can do this is through the Gospel, the inspired Word of God. For the Holy Spirit is the author of Scripture, and in Scripture the Holy Spirit will lead us to Jesus. A meditation by Father John Agnew.
Christmas and the Holy Family
During the Christmas season we place the Holy Family
— Jesus, Mary and Joseph — in the center of our home. A meditation by Father Joe Keefe.
Temperance and the coming of Christmas
These days the Church invites us to ready ourselves for Christmas, the birth of the Son of God. It is a time of joy, but also a time of penance. The infant Jesus reminds us of the virtue of self-denial, because he is born in a manger. Let us look at him in that manger, and let us learn from him. A meditation by Father Henry Bocala.
Live Advent Well
Let us live Advent well. This is a time of grace, of preparation, of conversion, and of wonder, pondering a God who loves us so much. We have so many things to do, but the most important thing is that we pray, and ready ourselves for the coming of the Infant Jesus. A meditation by Father Thomas Bohlin.
The Feast of the Immaculate Conception
“Hail, Full of Grace, the Lord is with Thee.” These are words that the Archangel Gabriel addressed to Mary at Nazareth. From these words we get an indication of God’s special gift to Mary. From the moment of her conception, she was full of grace: She is truly immaculate, without stain. Mary Immaculate is our advocate with her Son. Turn to her, and she will bring you closer to Christ. A meditation
Our Hope is in the Lord
In this meditation, Father Henry Bocala reflects upon the virtue of hope – our hope to become saints, the hope we nurture in our hearts to see God face to face.
Thanksgiving: An Attitude of Gratitude (Rebroadcast)
Let us have a heart that is grateful. Let us give thanks always, an attitude that makes us happy, pushes us to share, and makes us more attentive to God. A meditation by Father John Agnew.
Lord, I Long to See Your Face
Jesus is calling each of us to be a disciple. We have the opportunity to say, "Yes, Lord, I long to see your face." This is why we were created, to see God. And we should remember those who have gone before us: pray for them, if they are in purgatory, that they get to heaven; pray to them, if they are in heaven, that they intercede for us. We want to see God, to be in that communion of saints. A m
Authentic Christian Freedom
Jesus Christ died for us that he might bring us into the freedom and liberty of the children of God. But we are free to follow Christ, or reject him. We need the Lord’s mercy, for without him, we are hopeless. With Christ’s help, we can achieve true freedom, by being obedient to the ways of God. A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.
Living the Communion of the Saints
In the month of November, we recall the deep bond we have – known as the communion of saints – with the three branches of the Church: the Church militant, the Church triumphant, and the Church suffering. Here on earth we are part of the Church militant, working out our salvation. We pray for the Church suffering, the souls in purgatory, undergoing final purification. And we enjoy the help and pray
Detachment: Choosing God above All Things
Jesus was born in a stable, and warned his apostles how hard it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. To follow Christ, we must live a spirit of detachment from material things and even from our own likes and preferences. We must choose God above all things, allowing Christ to show us the way. A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.
Seeking Holiness in our Work
In this meditation, Father Henry Bocala reflects upon the core message of the founder of Opus Dei: seeking holiness in the middle of the world through our ordinary work. In the Gospel of Matthew, we read, “Be you perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Despite our defects and limitations, with God’s help, we can be saints. We can truly love God with all our heart, all our mind, all our soul,
Seek Christ, Find Christ, Love Christ
On Oct. 2, 1928, Saint Josemaria “saw” Opus Dei – he saw that God was calling him to proclaim the universal call to holiness. Jesus says to each of us, “Come follow me.” We are called to seek Christ, to find Christ, to love Christ. There is no greater goal for our lives. If we have Christ, we have everything. A meditation by Father Thomas Bohlin.
All Christians are Called to be Saints (Re-broadcast)
Saint Josemaria Escriva founded Opus Dei on Oct. 2, 1928, to foster the universal call to holiness. In this meditation, Father Timothy Uhen explores this important truth, that all of us are called to be saints, and that we can find Christ in our work and everyday activities.
True Humility
In this meditation we consider the importance of humility.
Humility is offering ourselves to the Lord, walking in the truth. And Scripture tells us: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.
Greater Love hath No Man than This
In the home of Bethany, Jesus was a true friend of Martha, Mary and Lazarus. There, in Bethany, Jesus loved and was loved. And when Lazarus died, Scripture reports, “Jesus wept.” Let us reflect on the meaning of the friendship lived by Jesus, and try to be good friends ourselves.
Our Time is Precious: The Parable of the Talents
Let us live our lives so that, one day, God may say to us: “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over little things. I will set you over much.” A meditation by Father Tom Bohlin.
God’s Judgment and God’s Mercy
In our life, may we correspond to the mercy of God. Lord, help us to be wise. Help us to make good use of the talents you have given us. Help us to be charitable. A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.
Love the Pope
In this meditation, we reflect on the extraordinary gift that Christ has given us in the papacy: that Christ has appointed Peter, and his successors, to guide the Church. Listening more attentively to the Holy Father can help us live more deeply the joy of the Gospel. A meditation by Father John Agnew.
Who Do You Say that I Am?
Each of us are called to answer the question that Christ posed to his Disciples: “Who do you say that I am?” It is not enough to know Jesus abstractly. We need to consider: Do we deal with Jesus as a friend? What place does Christ occupy in our life? A meditation by Father Henry Bocala.
Lord, Increase My Faith
Amidst the storms of life, we, like the apostles, can turn to Jesus, saying “Save us Lord, for we are perishing.” We should have faith, a faith that strengthens us both in times of difficulty and also as we go about our
daily lives. With faith, we shall remember at all times Christ’s promise, “I will be with you always, until the end of the age.” A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.
August: When the Saints Come Marching In
In this mediation we look at some of the great saints we
encounter in the liturgy in August, including the Cure of Ars, Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Saint Monica, Saint Augustine, Saint John the Baptist. We celebrate the Assumption of Mary, the mother of Jesus and the greatest of saints. Taking advantage of the example, lives, and words of these great saints, let us strive to grow in holiness and becom
Restoring Our Life in Jesus Christ
Following the example of Saint Mary Magdalene, each of us are called to begin, and begin again. Let us restore our life in Christ again and again, being made clean like Mary Magdalene, especially through confession. A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.
Last Things: Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell
Each of us, one day, must render an account to God. We are free, and in this life we have the opportunity to turn to God, or to reject him. Let us do our part, and, with God’s help, choose life. A retreat meditation given by Father Timothy Uhen.
Come Closer To Me
In the Old Testament, the patriarch Joseph, who prefigures Christ, revealed himself to his brothers who had betrayed him. In their fear, they remained at a distance, but Joseph said, "Come closer to me." Our Lord does the same with each one of us. A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.
Imitate the Humility of Christ
Jesus, God, humbled himself upon the Cross. And He invites us, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart.” Let us strive to imitate the humility of Christ. A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.
Friendship with Christ
Jesus invites all of us to answer his question: "Who do you say that I am?" Let us foster a deep friendship with Jesus, our Lord, encountering him in all the events of our life, keeping up a loving conversation with him. A meditation by Father Henry Bocala.
Cardinal Dolan and Saint Josemaria (Special)
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, explains three reasons to cherish the spiritual legacy of Saint Josemaria Escriva, the founder of Opus Dei. From the Cardinal's homily at the Mass for the Feast of Saint Josemaria, at Saint Patrick's Cathedral, June 26, 2023.
Lord, Purify My Heart
The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes “the heart” as our inner center, the place of truth and encounter, the place where we choose life or death. Do we fill our hearts with God? Considering the love of Jesus for us should be a spur for us to respond with a complete and total love for God. Create in me a clean heart, oh God. A meditation by Father John Agnew.
Enter into the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Pope Benedict XVI wrote that “the essential nucleus of Christianity is expressed in the Heart of Jesus.” May we come to know and love Christ through the warmth of his Sacred Heart. A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.
The Deepest Mystery of the Catholic Faith
Saint Augustine said that the fullness of joy, in which there is no greater, is to rejoice in the Trinity of God. When we reach heaven, we will spend eternity adoring God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. We will never fully understand the Trinity, but we can ask God’s grace to reach a deeper understanding, that we better know and love each of the three Divine Persons. A mediatio
Living the Virtue of Purity
We have been made in the image and likeness of God. Our Lord has promised us that we are temples of the living God, temples of the Holy
Spirit. This is a goal worth fighting for, worth cleansing ourselves for. With Christ’s help, we will make the effort to follow Christ, to live the life of a
lover of God.
Conversion: Lord, Help Me Be a Better Son of God
During her appearances at Fatima, the Blessed Virgin Mary encouraged the three shepherd children to pray for the conversion of souls. Christ wants to give us a new life. God has promised that he will wipe away our every tear. Let us live this in our daily lives, hoping in the peace that only Christ can give. A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.
Always Have Hope
Each of us can recognize ourselves as a sinner, but our sins should not beat us down. We can always have hope, for Jesus says to us, “Wake up, and follow me.” Jesus helps us and waits for us to reply with our “yes.” With the help of Christ, and our cooperation with God's grace, we can have that joyful, hopeful expectation that one day we shall enter the joy of heaven.
Mary, Mother of God and Our Mother
In the Gospels, Mary is shown to us as mother, first at the Annunciation, as she becomes the mother of Jesus, and ultimately, at the foot of the Cross, when she is given to us as our mother. Mary became the mother of God when she gave her “yes” to the angel Gabriel. She continues now as our own mother, helping us , from heaven, with her tender, motherly intercession. A meditation by Father John
Finding God in Times of Silence
How is my presence of God? We need times of quiet, putting away digital devices and other distractions, so that we can listen to God. That way can foster an awareness of God, we can become lovers of God. A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.
Christ’s Presence in the Eucharist
In the Eucharistic discourse, in John’s Gospel, Jesus called upon us to eat his body and drink his blood: For his body is real food indeed, and his blood is
real drink indeed. In response, each of us can pray, “Lord increase my faith. I want to be a Eucharistic soul, and, with your help, I want to go out and try to be a saint.” A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.
The Beatitudes: True Happiness
In the Sermon on the Mount, in the Beatitudes, Christ comes to us with a new, radical teaching that points to us the ideals of Christian life. It is not enough to be good. Christ tells us what we need to do to be holy, to be perfect, to be a saint. A meditation by Father Henry Bocala.
Prayer: Encountering Christ in Holy Week
Let us enter into Holy Week and Easter with openness to the love of God. See the love that Christ has shown us, with his Passion, Death and
Resurrection. Through prayer, we can allow the the Risen Christ to speak to us. A meditation by Father Timothy Uhen.
Live the Mass with Greater Love
Let us be like the two disciples on the road to Emmaus who recognize Christ in the breaking of the bread. In this meditation, Father Tom Bohlin leads us through the Mass, showing us how to live the Mass with greater love.
Christ Waits for Us on the Cross
We need conversion, and acts of penance are essential aspect of the spiritual life. During Lent, let us intensify our spirit of penance. Look at Christ on the Cross. Jesus invites us to accompany him in lovingly embracing the Cross. A meditation by Father Henry Bocala.
Lent, Confession, and the Passion of Christ
Let us live a holy desire to correspond to all the graces we receive during Lent. May these be days of conversion for us. The sacrament of confession will bring to our soul the power of the passion, and help us to have true sorrow for our sins. A mediation by Father John Agnew.
What We Learn from Saint Joseph
Let us ask Saint Joseph to teach us to be the salt of the earth. Saint Joseph was a courageous soul, an ordinary man who went unnoticed, on whom God relied to do great things. With Joseph as our model, we too can enliven our surroundings with the savor of the peace and joy of Christ. A meditation by Father John Agnew.
Be the Man God Wants You to Be
We all have a mission as sons and daughters of God. That mission is to make Christ present in this world. Jesus asks each of us, are you willing to do it? Can you drink the cup that Jesus drank? Let us hear Christ’s words: “The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe.” A meditation given by Father Thomas Bohlin at a men’s evening of recollection at Murray Hill Place.
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