In Your Presence

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai on November 10, 2026, at St. Aidan's parish in Toronto, on a recollection day for priests.
In these last days of the month of November, we have all seen the red poppy on people’s lapels. This mysterious flower that bloomed over the graves of fallen soldiers, with only the last remnants of the colours of fall. But that poppy reminds us of the fallen.
It is recommended that you wear it on the left lapel, or as close to the heart as possible. The fallen, the souls in purgatory are close to our heart, and they awaken in us the hope of heaven.
Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, died in 1918.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
 In Flanders fields. (...)

This meditation was preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Kintore College, Toronto, on November 11, 2026.
The Gospel of the day, on Wednesday of the 32nd week of Ordinary time.
Luke 17:11-19: On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus travelled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered one of the villages, ten lepers came to meet him. They stood some way off and called to him, ‘Jesus! Master! Take pity on us.’ When he saw them he said, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ Now as they were going away they were cleansed. Finding himself cured, one of them turned back, praising God at the top of his voice and threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. The man was a Samaritan. This made Jesus say, ‘Were not all ten made clean? The other nine, where are they? It seems that no one has come back to give praise to God, except this foreigner.’ And he said to the man, ‘Stand up and go on your way. Your faith has saved you.’
The tragedy of ingratitude is the main theme that emerges here. We can receive great blessings from God and still forget God himself. Some writers, commenting on the ingratitude in the story of the healing of the lepers; they speak of a leprosy of the heart.
Thumbnail: Biblical Vector illustration
Music: Audio MULVEY Awakening instrumental

The introductory meditation at a retreat for priests on November 2, 2026, at Cedarcrest Conference Centre in Belfountain, Ontario, north of Toronto. Preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai.
Luke 12, 31-21: from the words of the rich man in the Gospel: We too are here to build bigger barns.
Dream of the barns that we are as priests, as ministers of God, and give thanks, but also of the bigger barns that the Lord needs now in his Church. Not more activity, more meetings. We have to see what that “more” is all about. We need a richer interior life. A deeper love for the Eucharist, a greater readiness to be other Christs. A deeper abandonment.
Music: Audiio_MULVEY_Awakening_Awakening_Instrumental
Thumbnail: Newell Convers Wyeth (1882-1945), The Homecoming, painted 1945. Christies, Private Collection.

A meditation preached at Ellerton Centre, Toronto, on November 1, 2026, on the solemnity of All Saints.
In Genesis 28 we read of the dream of Jacon in Bethel, where he sees a stairway of angels ascending and descending. Today, as we celebrate all saints, we have to behold that stairway to heaven. At its head stands Christ, beckoning us to follow. On the steps are his saints, inspiring us to take the steps that lead to Christ and happiness. Like the emblem on Superman's chest, it does not signify that we must be supermen, but men and women of hope.
Music: Lifting Dreams - Aakash Gandhi Youtube free

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai on October 29, 2026 at Kintore College, Toronto.
Luke 14:1-6: "Now on a sabbath day Jesus had gone for a meal to the house of one of the leading Pharisees; and they watched him closely."
Even at table, we are called to be itinerant contemplatives, and apostles.
Thumbnail: The End of Dinner, by Jules Alexandre Grün, Oil on canvas, 1911. © Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tourcoing.