January 5, 2025. Gospel Passage: Matthew 2:1-12, Luke 11:1-4. Quoting Pope Francis in General Audience of May 26, 2021 in www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/audiences/2021/documents/papa-francesco_20210526_udienza-generale.html and in Address on February 6, 2016 quoting St. Padre Pio in www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2016/february/do…

January 4, 2025. Gospel Passages: Luke 5:27-32; Matthew 4:18–22 / Mark 1:16-20 / Luke 5:1–11 / John 1:35-42; John 21:3; Matthew 17:24-27; John 17:15. Also quoting from Genesis 3:1-24; Romans 5:12-14. Meditation with Fr. Francis Ongkingco, Woodrose School Chaplain.Image: "The Calling of Saint Peter and Saint Andrew" by Jacob Willemsz De Wet. Private…

January 3, 2025. Gospel Passage: JJohn 1:29-34. Also 1 Corinthians 3:16; Romans 8:9, 11, 14; Romans 5:5. Quoting St. Josemaría Escrivá's "The Way" Point 57 in escrivaworks.org/book/the_way-point-57.htm and St. John of the Cross's "The Sayings of Light and Love" Point 121 in archive.org/details/completeworksofs02johnuoft/completeworksofs02johnuoft/p…

January 2, 2025. Gospel Passages: Matthew 16:26; Mark 7:37; John 19:25-29. Also quoting from Romans 5:5, Galatians 6:9-10, Philippians 1:6, St. Josemaría Escrivá's books "Christ is Passing By" Point 76 in escrivaworks.org/book/christ_is_passing_by-point-76.htm and "The Way" Point 7 in escrivaworks.org/book/the_way-point-7.htm. Reference: "New Year,…

January 1, 2025. Meditation with Fr. Francis Ongkingco, Woodrose School Chaplain. Image: "Divina Maternidad" by Raúl Berzosa in Diario SUR, Málaga. Used with Permission.Από τον Blessed Meditations

December 31, 2024. Gospel Passage: John 1:1-5, 14. Also quoting 1 John 2:18-21; Psalms 96:11a; Revelation 22:13. Meditation with Fr. Francis Ongkingco, Woodrose School Chaplain. Photo Credit: "Sun Reflection on Calm Water" by Davide Cantelli in Unsplash.Από τον Blessed Meditations

December 30, 2024, Gospel Passages: Luke 2:22-35,36-40; Matthew 2:9-18; Mark 7:37; Luke 2:19. . Also quoting from "The Forge" Point 485 by St. Josemaría Escrivá in escriva.org/en/forja/485. Meditation with Fr. Francis Ongkingco, Woodrose School Chaplain. Image: "Simeon's Song of Praise" by Aert de Gelder in The Mauritshuis Art Museum, The Hague (Wi…

December 29, 2024. Gospel Passage: Luke 2:41-52. Quoting St. Josemaría Escrivá's Letter dated February 14, 1974, Point 2 and Pope Francis's Address to the Participants in the Plenary Session of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences dated April 29, 2022 in www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2022/april/documents/20220429-plenaria-scienz…

December 28, 2024. Gospel Passages: Matthew 2:13-18: Matthew 5:45; 1 John 1:5-7. Quoting St. Quodvultdeus on the Holy Innocents. Meditation with Fr. Francis Ongkingco, Woodrose School Chaplain. Image: "Massacre of the Innocents" by Guido Reni in the Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna (National Art Gallery of Bologna), Italy (Wikimedia Commons).…

December 28, 2024. Gospel Passages: Luke 2:8-20. Also Exodus 3:1-22. Meditation with Fr. Francis Ongkingco, Woodrose School Chaplain. Image: "The Adoration of the Shepherds" by El Greco in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (Wikimedia Commons).Από τον Blessed Meditations

December 27, 2024. Gospel Passages: John 20:1-10; Matthew 20:20-23; Luke 9:51-56; John 13:23-25; Luke 2:19; John 19:26-27. Also 1 John 4:7-8 and 1 John 3:1. Quoting St. Josemaría Escrivá's "Friends of God" Point 228, "The Way" Point 884, and "The Forge" Point 755 n escriva.org/en/amigos-de-dios/228 and escriva.org/en/camino/884 and escriva.org/en/f…

December 27, 2024. Gospel Passages: John 20:1a and 2-8; Luke 5:1-11; Luke 9:49-56; John 1:14; Mark 15:40-41; Luke 2:25-35; John 19:25; Luke 2:14; John 3:16. Also quoting from "A Spiritual Canticle of St John of the Cross, priest" in the Office of Readings, December 14 in https://www.liturgies.net/saints/johnofthecross/readings.htm Meditation with F…

December 26, 2024. Gospel Passages: Matthew 10:17-22; Matthew 16:24-26. Also Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59. Quoting the sermon of St. Fulgentius of Ruspe, bishop, in "The Armor of Love" on the Feast of St. Stephen, Proto-Martyr in divineoffice.org/1226-or/?date=20221226 and St. Josemaría Escrivá's "The Way" Point 178 in escriva.org/en/camino/178 and Point 2…

December 25, 2024. Gospel Passage: Luke 2:1-14. Meditation with Fr. Francis Ongkingco, Woodrose School Chaplain. Image: "Adoration of the Shepherds" by Gerard van Honthorst in the Pomeranian State Museum, Greifswald (Wikimedia Commons).Από τον Blessed Meditations

December 24, 2024. Gospel Passage: Luke 2:1-7. Quoting from "Christ is Passing by"" Point 174 by St. Josemaría Escrivá in escrivaworks.org/book/christ_is_passing_by-point-174.htm and from the General Audience with Pope Benedict XVI on December 23, 2009 in www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/audiences/2009/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20091223.html. …

December 23, 2024. Gospel Passage: Luke 1:39-45. Reference: "Rediscover Advent" by Matthew Kelly. Meditation with Fr. Francis Ongkingco, Woodrose School Chaplain. Image: "The Visitation" by Feferico Barocci Urbino in the Santa Maria in Vallicella, Rome (Wikimedia Commons).Από τον Blessed Meditations

December 22, 2024. Gospel Passage: Luke 1:39-45. Meditation with Fr. Francis Ongkingco, Woodrose School Chaplain. Image: "Mary and Eve" by Sister Grace Remington in the Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey, Iowa. Used with Permission.Από τον Blessed Meditations

December 21, 2024. Gospel Passage: Luke 1:39-45; John 13:34-35. Meditation with Fr. Francis Ongkingco, Woodrose School Chaplain. Image: "The Visitation" by Domenico Ghirlandaio in the Louvre Museum Paris (Wikimedia Commons).Από τον Blessed Meditations

December 20, 2024. Gospel Passages: Luke 1:26-28, 38, 35. Also quoting Romans 8:28, St. Josemaría Escrivá in "The Way" Point 762 in escriva.org/en/camino/762, and from "An Introduction to Prayer" by Bishop Robert Barron. Image: "Annunciation" by Bartolomé Esteban Perez Murillo in the State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg (Wikimedia Commons).…

December 19, 2024. Gospel Passage: Matthew 1:23. Also Philippians 4:4-7, Psalm 15:11 and quoting from "Jesus as Friend" by Salvador Canals in spiritualreading.co.za/authors/salvador-canals and "Practice of the Presence of God" by Brother Lawrence. Meditation with Fr. Francis Ongkingco, Woodrose School Chaplain. Photo Credit: "Hallway view of the Ég…

December 18, 2024. Gospel Passages: Matthew 3:1-6; John 1:23 (Isaiah 40:3); John 1:29. Also Psalm 2:7 and Isaiah 12:3. Quoting from "Furrow" Point 145 by St. Josemaría Escrivá in escriva.org/en/surco/145 and "The Way" Point 504 in escriva.org/en/camino/504; from "The Restless Heart: Finding Our Spiritual Home in Times of Loneliness" Part One by Ron…

December 17, 2024. Gospel Passage: Luke 2:1-14. Quoting from Pope Francis's Apostolic Letter, "Admirabile Signum" Point 2 in December 1, 2019 in www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_letters/documents/papa-francesco-lettera-ap_20191201_admirabile-signum.html. Reference: "St. Francis and the Story of the First Nativity Scene" in the Catholic New…

December 16, 2024. Gospel Passage: Matthew 21:23-27. Meditation with Fr. Francis Ongkingco, Woodrose School Chaplain. Photo Credit: “Taking a Selfie” by Cristina Zaragoza on Unsplash.Από τον Blessed Meditations

December 15, 2024. Gospel Passages: Luke 3:10-18; John 13:34-35; Luke 1:38. Also Zephaniah 3:14-18. Meditation with Fr. Francis Ongkingco, Woodrose School Chaplain. Image: "The Baptism of Christ" by Antoine Coypel in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, California (Wikimedia Commons).Από τον Blessed Meditations

December 14, 2024. Gospel Passage: Matthew 9:35—10:1, 5a,6-8. Also 1 Peter 5:2 (Ezekiel 34:1-24) and 1 Corinthians 3:1-9. Quoting St. Josemaría Escrivá in "Christ Is Passing By" Point 80 in escriva.org/en/es-cristo-que-pasa/80 and from "The Way" Points 781, 416, 961, 800, 804 in escriva.org/en/camino/781, escriva.org/en/camino/416, escriva.org/en/c…

December 13, 2024. Gospel Passages: Luke 3:1-6; Luke 2:7; John 3:30; Luke 1:45. Quoting St. Josemaría Escrivá in "Christ Is Passing By" Point 18 in escriva.org/en/es-cristo-que-pasa/18 and St. John Henry Newman in "Watching" in www.cardinaljohnhenrynewman.com/watching. Meditation with Fr. John Agnew, guest priest from "Meditations in Manhattan" on …

December 12, 2024. Gospel Passage: Luke 1:39-47. Reference: "Nican Mopohua" on Our Lady of Guadalupe in web.archive.org/web/20071022042328/http://www.interlupe.com.mx/nican-e.html and "The Story of Our Lady of Guadalupe" in Vatican News dated December 11, 2018 in www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2018-12/our-lady-of-guadaloupe-feast-day-mexico-amer…

December 11, 2024. Gospel Passage: Matthew 11:28-30. Meditation with Fr. Francis Ongkingco, Woodrose School Chaplain. Image: "Jesus and his Disciples on the Sea of Galilee" by Carl Wilhelm Friedrich Oesterley based on an auction at Dorotheum (Wikimedia Commons).Από τον Blessed Meditations

December 10, 2024. Gospel Passages: Matthew 15:31-37, 29-30; Luke 2:15; John 6:25-27, 32-33. Quoting from "The Forge" point 69 by St. Josemaría Escrivá in escriva.org/en/forja/69 and from "The Mass in Slow Motion" by Ronald Knox in archive.org/details/massinslowmotion0000rona. Meditation with Fr. Francis Ongkingco, Woodrose School Chaplain. Image: …

December 9, 2024 for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. Gospel Passage: Luke 1:48. Quoting from the Apostolic Constitution "Ineffabilis Deus" by Pope Pius IX dated December 8, 1854 in https://www.papalencyclicals.net/Pius09/p9ineff.htm and www.ewtn.com/catholicism/teachings/pius-ixs-ineffabilis-deus-defining-the-immaculate-conception-153 a…

December 8, 2024. Gospel Passage: Luke 3:1-5. Also Isaiah 40:3-5 and Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11. Quoting St. Josemaría Escrivá in "The Forge" Point 237 in escriva.org/en/forja/237. Meditation with Fr. Francis Ongkingco, Woodrose School Chaplain. Image: "Saint John the Baptist Bearing Witness" by Annibale Carracci in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New…

December 7, 2024. Gospel Passages: Matthew 9:35-10:1, 5,6-8; Luke 1:26-38, 39-56. Quoting from St. Josemaría Escrivá in "The Way" Points 17, 755, 19, and 507 in escriva.org/en/camino/17, escriva.org/en/camino/755, escriva.org/en/camino/19, and escriva.org/en/camino/507. Reference: "Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience" by Mihaly Csikszentmiha…

December 7, 2024. Gospel Passages: Luke 1:46-56, John 14:6; Luke 22:27. Quoting from 1 Corinthians 1:4, 4:7 and St. Josemaría Escrivá in "The Way" Points 507 and 594 in escriva.org/en/camino/507 and escriva.org/en/camino/594. Quoting St. Teresa of Ávila in "Interior Castle" Chapter VI and St. John Paul II in "Angelus" dated March 4, 1979 in /www.va…

December 6, 2024. Gospel Passages: Matthew 9:27-31; Luke 15:8-10; Luke 15:3-6; John 9:1-41; Luke 24:13-35; Matthew 8:27; Luke 5:21. Also Isaiah 29:17-24. Meditation with Fr. Francis Ongkingco, Woodrose School Chaplain. Image: "The Blind Man's Meal" by Pablo Picasso in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (art-picasso).…

December 6, 2024. Meditation with Fr. Francis Ongkingco, Woodrose School Chaplain. Image: "The Annunciation at Cortona" (detail) by Fra Angelico at the Museo Diocesano at Cortona (Wikimedia Commons).Από τον Blessed Meditations

December 5, 2024. Gospel Passages: Matthew 7:21, 24-27; John 14:23; Luke 15:11-32. Also Genesis 3:1-21; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Jonah 1:1-3:10. Reference: Homily, "The Three Comings of the Lord" by St. Bernard of Clairvaux in the Roman Office of Readings for Wednesday of the First Week of Advent in www.liturgies.net/Liturgies/Catholic/loh/advent/week1…

December 5, 2024. Gospel Passages: Luke 2:19, 51, 1:26-38, 39-56; Matthew 26:36-41. Also Acts 1:14. Quoting St. Josemaría Escrivá in "Furrow" Point 448 in escriva.org/en/surco/448 and "The Way" Point 90 in escriva.org/en/camino/90. Reference: "In Conversation with God" Volume 1 by Francis Fernandez Carvajal. Meditation with Fr. Francis Ongkingco, W…

December 4, 2024. Gospel Passages: Matthew 15:29-37; John 21:1-6. Also Isaiah 25:6-10a and quoting from "The Way" Point 585 by St. Josemaría Escrivá; "Rorate caeli" hymn, "Adore te Devote" hymn by St. Thomas Aquinas. Meditation with Fr. Francis Ongkingco, Woodrose School Chaplain. Image: "The Multiplication of the Loaves" by Ambrosius Francke in (W…

December 4, 2024. Gospel Passage:John 19:26-27. Also quoting from "Christ Is Passing By" Point 142 by St. Josemaría Escrivá in escriva.org/en/es-cristo-que-pasa/142. Reference: "In Conversation with God" Volume 1 by Francis Fernandez Carvajal and "First Apparition (May 13, 1917)" at Fatima in www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/first-apparition-of-o…

December 3, 2024. Meditation with Fr. Francis Ongkingco, Woodrose School Chaplain. Image: "The Wedding at Cana" by Daniel Sarrabat. Location unknown (Wikimedia Commons).Από τον Blessed Meditations

December 2, 2024. Gospel Passages: Luke 1:46-56; Luke 11:27-28; Matthew 17:20; John 20:24-28. Quoting St. Augustine in "Confessions" Chapter XI Point 26 in John Paul I's General Audience on September 13, 1978 in www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-i/en/audiences/documents/hf_jp-i_aud_13091978.html. Quoting from "Footprints in the Sand" Lyrics in www.s…

December 2, 2024. Gospel Passage: Matthew 8:5-13 (was Luke 7:1-10). Reference: Footprints in the Snow in opusdei.org/en-ph/article/footprints-in-the-snow. Meditation with Fr. Francis Ongkingco, Woodrose School Chaplain. Image: "Christ with the Centurion" (detail) by Nicolaes Cornelisz Moyaert in the Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minnesota (Wikimedi…

December 1, 2024. Gospel Passages: Luke 1:38-56; Luke 11:13 (Acts 20:35); Luke 13:6-17. Meditation with Fr. Francis Ongkingco, Woodrose School Chaplain. Image: "The Meeting of Mary and Elizabeth" (detail) by Carl Bloch (Wikioo).Από τον Blessed Meditations

December 1, 2024. Gospel Passages: Luke 21:25-28, 34-36; Matthew 5:1-12; Matthew 5:48. Quoting from "Traité de théologie spirituelle" by Jean-Claude Sagne. Meditation with Fr. Francis Ongkingco, Woodrose School Chaplain. Image: "Blessed Be" by Jen Norton. Used with permission.Από τον Blessed Meditations

November 30, 2024. Gospel Passage: Luke 17:21. Quoting from Galatians 5:13, Romans 12:12, Genesis 32:22-32, 2 Corinthians 3:17, Letters from Fr. Fernando Ocáriz dated January 9, 2018 abd February 14, 2017 in opusdei.org/en-ph/article/letter-from-the-prelate-9-january-2018 and opusdei.org/en/article/letter-of-the-prelate-14-february-2017, and "The H…

November 30, 2024. Gospel Passage: Luke 1:26-38. Genesis 3:14-15. Quoting from the Apostolic Constitution "Ineffabilis Deus" by Pope Pius IX dated December 8, 1854 in www.papalencyclicals.net/pius09/p9ineff.htm. Meditation with Fr. Francis Ongkingco, Woodrose School Chaplain. Image: "La Inmaculada Concepción de Aranjuez" (detail) by Bartolomé Esteb…

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).Από τον 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…