The text of this reflection can be found here.

In this brief meditation, Newman draws us into mind and heart of Christ as our Lord enters into His Passion. In His embrace of our humanity, Christ also embraces the mental anguish and darkness of the poverty of our sin. He freely surrenders to His fate in loving obedience. Satan seizes his opportunity and Christ is afflicted not only with the weig…

We begin our Everyday Meditations from St. John Henry Newman, CO with the virtue of Hope; a virtue often neglected or little understood. Newman sees it as not only rooted in the goodness of God and His creation but also in God's personal desire for each of us to experience the happiness for which He has created us. It is not something abstract but …

In this final reflection, Guardini reminds us that the Gospel calls us to be vigilant, to remain spiritually awake and ready. We are to look for the signs of Christ’s coming, though we do not know exactly when he will come. Our vigilance in preparation for this coming consists of worship. To remain spiritually awake is not first a matter of moral o…

Guardini draws our attention to a way that Christ establishes His memorial that is often given little notice in instructions on the Mass - Covenant. At the consecration of the wine we hear: "this is the blood of the new and eternal covenant." Yet what that exactly means may elude many Catholics. Guardini shows us how the Mass is connected to the Pa…

Our participation in Mass and reception of the Holy Eucharist can never remain sentimental piety or become something impersonal and magical. Guardini seeks to help us understand that the reality of Christ present in the Eucharist and a living and vital relationship with Him are inextricable tied together. Thus, our relationship with Christ, Guardin…

Guardini examines with us language used in regards to the Eucharist and how it effects our understanding of what and, specifically here in this reflection, Who we receive. After having discussed the Bread of Life discourse with us and its sharp language emphasizing the reality of the gift that Christ makes of Himself to us, Guardini doesn't want us…

True conversion comes when divine truth overthrows our understanding of something or of life itself; where reason and earthly judgement is overcome by the revolution caused by God revealing Himself to us. We are often unready for such a thing; rather, we are struck at our inner depths. It is nothing short of a new birth. The great struggle of moder…

While the title of this reflection may seem obscure, what it addresses is a point of understanding that is often confused in our thinking about what we are participating in at Mass. The Mass is no mere simulation regardless of how permanent the form of commemoration it seems to be to us. It is not an action that commemorates certain events vividly …

Guardini raises our level of reflection to the height now by inviting us to consider the nature of Christ's acts in light of Eternity. Our decisions and acts, no matter their quality, always have their beginning and end. In a striking passage, Guardini states: "With Jesus it was different. Not only was His will spiritual, it was permeated by the di…

In the following reflection, Guardini turns his attention to the Reality that is made present in the Eucharist; the importance of the Christian's understanding of the urgency and power of the words - “This IS My Body” and “This IS My Blood.” Guardini warns: “It is not only wrong but sacrilegious to tamper with these words. What they express is simp…

In this meditation, Guardini looks to lay out for us how Christ passed on the memorial of His Person and redemptory fate. He begins with the Gospel account itself and connects it for us to the Exodus passover meal. God institutes the Passover meal in order that the redemption of the Hebrews from slavery might be celebrated liturgically - "to burn t…

Romano Guardini, in this reflection, is addressing something of utmost importance. He tells us: "what is at stake is so important and so rarely understood fully, that we should spare no pains to bring out the thought completely and clearly." In the Mass we are concerned with One single Person and His destiny - because His life and work is decisive …

Guardini takes up the second portion of his book focusing on the essence of the Mass itself, beginning with its Institution by Christ. He offers a brief review of the nature of religious life itself. It can focus on the actions of man in fulfilling certain works in relation to God and others which Guardian describes as "walking in the sight of God.…

Guardini begins to close the first part of his book with a few practical considerations; specifically those things that hinder our full participation in Mass. The first thing he addresses is Habit. The perpetual becoming that is part of our spiritual lives can be lost and one can fall into indifference. Whereas those things that are unchanging and …

On the second Saturday of February, Members of the Secular Oratory gathered with Fr. David for a discussion on 'Congregation as 'New Creation'' The group read and reflected upon a brief selection from 'Meditations Before Mass' by Msgr. Romano Guardini. We turn now to the second hinderance to full participation in the Mass which Guardini identifies …

Hindrances to Full Participation at Mass Part III - Human Nature Guardini concludes this subsection on hindrances to full participation in Mass with Human Nature. There is a stark simplicity with which Christ institutes the Eucharist - entrusting to His disciples the divine dignity of the mystery into human hands. The sacred act is placed within th…

On the second Saturday of November, Members of the Secular Oratory gathered with Fr. David for a discussion on 'Congregation as 'New Creation'' The group read and reflected upon a brief selection from 'Meditations Before Mass' by Msgr. Romano Guardini. In this reflection Guardini issues a challenge to us to go deeper and further than we have in und…

On the second Saturday of August, Members of the Secular Oratory gathered with Fr. David for a discussion on 'Oremus: The Word of Entreaty.' The group read and reflected upon a brief selection from 'Meditations Before Mass' by Msgr. Romano Guardini. Guardini continues to guide us through the Mass - focusing now on the prayers of entreaty and the ge…

On the second Saturday of October, Members of the Secular Oratory gathered with Fr. David for a discussion on 'Congregation - Injustice Rectified.' The group read and reflected upon a brief selection from 'Meditations Before Mass' by Msgr. Romano Guardini. Guardini now shifts his focus to the Congregation itself and specifically the interior dispos…

This was the February gathering for Schola Christi, a meeting open to all members of the Secular Oratory and adults who are interested. We began with a discussion of The Practice of the Jesus Prayer in the context of the ascetical life of the Christian followed by a history of the use and making of the prayer rope. Presented by: Fr. David Abernethy…

On the second Saturday of March, Members of the Secular Oratory gathered with Fr. David for a discussion on 'Holy Day and Sacred Hour.' The group read and reflected upon a brief selection from 'Meditations Before Mass' by Msgr. Romano Guardini. "It is the Paschal Mystery that becomes the cypher through which we understand the Divine Repose of the S…

On the second Saturday of April, Members of the Secular Oratory gathered with Fr. David for a discussion on 'The Revelatory Word.' The group read and reflected upon a brief selection from 'Meditations Before Mass' by Msgr. Romano Guardini. As an act, the Holy Mass speaks to us in a variety of ways. First, Guardini tells us, God makes Himself known …

On the second Saturday of May, Members of the Secular Oratory gathered with Fr. David for a discussion on 'Behold I Make All Things New! The Executory Word.' The group read and reflected upon a brief selection from 'Meditations Before Mass' by Msgr. Romano Guardini. The Word of God permeates the whole of the Mass and can be found in nearly all the …

Composure The precious fruit of silence and of stillness gained is composure. Regardless of our station in life (married, lay or religious) we are capable of being fragmented internally by the constant noise and distractions of our surroundings. Composure is the restoration of our inner unity in the spirit and the reestablishing the soul in its dep…

Stillness and The Word In a few pages, Guardini takes us ever deeper into the mystery of the interplay of silence, speech and hearing. It is not uncommon, Guardini notes, to observe people at Mass with the eyes fixed on the missal during the proclamation of the readings. This may be done with the sincerest desire not to miss a word. Yet, in providi…

Members of the Secular Oratory gathered with Fr. David for a discussion on 'Holy Stillness.' The group read and reflected upon a brief selection from 'Meditations Before Mass' by Msgr. Romano Guardini It is curious to think in our day that one of the most beautiful aspects of the Latin Rite Liturgy is the presence of silence. I say curious because …

Fear has big eyes. It sees everything as a threat and so controls our thoughts and destroys our hopes. In this sense it becomes an idol. We invest it with meaning above everything else - including the Love that God has for us and what He gives us. It directs our thoughts, makes our decisions and drives our actions. It may slow us down but it is not…

Desire for God, a longing for Him and His love, is at the heart of the spiritual life. To desire means to have a clear sense of lack and incompleteness. It drives us on in the pursuit of God's love and the pursuit of perfection. The more we desire God, the more we desire to please Him. Lack of desire reveals a lack of love and leads to mediocrity. …

On Stability in the Oratory Selections from Blessed John Henry Newman’s Oratory Papers, (Chapter Address, January/February 1856) The Congregation is to be the home of the Oratorian. The Italians, I believe, have no word for home – nor is it an idea which readily enters in the mind of a foreigner, at least not so readily as into the mind of an Engli…

From The School of St.Philip Neri, “Of Tribulations, Persecutions, Adversities, and the Passionsof the Soul” The present Lesson on Tribulations being exceedinglyimportant, it is necessary that we should attentively lend our heart, ratherthan our ear, to the advice and maxims given by our holy Master on the subject.He supplies a noble introduction t…

The great benefit which the soul derives fromretirement and the virtue of silence is clearly shown by the desire whichDavid implored them of God: "Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth"'and by the admonition of Saint James the Apostle, that he must not esteemhimself religious who does not bridle the tongue. "If any man thinkhimself to be religious, …

We continue during this 500th anniversary of St. Philip Neri's birth to consider his life and teachings. In the most gentle and thoughtful fashion, Philip sought to revitalize the faith of Catholics that had grown slack from neglect and from lack of guidance. He had the capacity to present the fullness of the spiritual traditions of the Church in t…

Once again St. Philip Neri proves to be the best of spiritual guides; particularly regarding his teachings on the struggle for chastity. Philip sought to maintain purity throughout the whole course of his life (at times through rather rigorous means) and kept unsullied the gift of his virginity. Despite his rigor, Philip did not suffer from scrupul…

Last night the Secular Oratorians gathered to discuss St. Philip Neri's teaching on mortification and how it can be applied to our daily lives and adapted to various stations of life. Along with the podcast, you will find below a selection from Bacci's biography of Philip on the mortifications that he used to exercise his spiritual children as well…

Despite the inclement weather, there was a very nice crowd for last night's "School of St. Philip Neri"; and for those who braved the subzero temperatures a wonderful discussion ensued regarding St. Philip's joy and how he sought to lift people out of a state of melancholy which can be an impediment to spiritual growth. What follows below is the po…

Last night we had our first meeting of the School of St. Philip Neri. The evening began with a brief introduction about St. Philip and the nature of the Oratory; especially in relation to the Secular Oratory, the fraternal association of the faithful for which the Congregation of the Oratory was established. As a layman, Philip was directed by his …

Last night the School of St. Philip Neri enjoyed a wonderful evening together as we discussed Philip's counsel on the preparation for and reception of Holy Communion. Once again Philip proved to be a wise teacher and guide and we found ourselves greatly challenged to approach the altar with humility and awe and to seek to shape a life that is truly…