In Your Presence Eric Nicolai

A meditation preached on June 1, 2024 at Lyncroft Centre in Toronto by Fr. Eric Nicolai. John 6 has this powerful discourse. Words of our Lord, speaking slow, articulating each word, speaking clearly, enunciating, people listening as the warm wind blew and the birds chirped. He probably said something that underlined that this was not all symbolism. This was real.

The Jews asked "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" (John 6:52), and his disciples said "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?" (John 6:60)

Music: Original guitar track by Michael Lee of Toronto, Ontario.

Fr. Eric Nicolai preached this meditation on May 24, 2024 at Cedarcrest conference Centre in Belfountain, Ontario.

Luke 10, 5: “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’  If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.

Music: Original music on guitar by Michale Lee, of Toronto

Museum: Jean-Francois Millet, The Sower, 1850. Boston Museum of Fine Arts.

Fr. Eric Nicolai preached this meditation at Cedarcrest Conference centre north of Toronto, on May 21, 2024.

We read in the prayer of consecration to the Holy Spirit, there was a description of the nature of the Paraclete himself, the consoler, the spirit of truth. It talks about the gifts he leaves in us, and then all the fruits that are left behind, that are noticeable in a person who has truly been touched by the Holy Spirit: charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, longanimity, meekness, faith, modesty, continence, and chastity.

He leaves his mark, his stamp on us. But the mark he leaves in us, is not his own. He leaves the embossed mark of Christ in everything we do. In what we say and what we do. Does this show?

Music: Original music by Michael Lee of Toronto.

Thumbnail: Rembrandt, The Hundred Guilder Print, 1647, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

A meditation preached on April 1, 2024 by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Serra House in Toronto. Serra House accommodates seminarians for the Archdiocese of Toronto in the initial stage of formation.

Music: A. Vivaldi_ Nisi Dominus, RV 608 - IV. Cum dederit (128 kbps)

Fr. Eric Nicolai preached the meditation at Lyncroft Centre in Toronto on May 4th, 2024.

Our lady will teach us, she will nudge us, because she is teacher of prayer. When we pray, we ask her ut loquaris pro nobis bona, to speak well on our behalf before the Lord.  She speaks well of us. Intercedes while we pray, while we work, while we keep our minds occupied.

Original music intro by Michael Lee of Toronto.



Thumbnail: Sassoferrato Virgin in Prayer, 1640-50 National Gallery, London.

Domina ut sit. Mary, may it be. Fix it. Fr. Eric Nicolai begins with a pastoral letter by Archbishop Leo of Toronto: "When faced with uncertainty and perplexing events in her own life, Myriam of Nazareth did not “wonder” but “pondered,” not fully understanding, yet always remaining faithful (Lk 2:19).

A meditation by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Lyncroft Centre in Toronto, preached on May 5, 2024.

Thumbnail: Our Lady of El Pilar, Zaragoza, Spain.

Music: Guitar by Bert Alink, from Handel's Opera Rinaldo, Aria "Lascia che io pianga."