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RC DAILY MEDITATIONS
RC DAILY MEDITATIONS

February 18, 2026

10-29 Papal Audience

“The Church is the mystery made perceptible.”: Pope Leo’s Words Today

/ Papal Audience, Regnum Christi News, Weekly Message Blog

“The Church is the mystery made perceptible.”

In this week’s Wednesday audience, Pope Leo XIV continues his catechesis on the Second Vatican Council, reflecting on ‘Lumen gentium’ and the mystery of the Church.

The Church as mystery is not something obscure or incomprehensible, but rather a reality that was previously hidden and is now revealed. In this sense, the Church is both a sign and an instrument of the mystery—of God’s divine plan to unite all people to him through his Son. It is through the Church that God achieves the aim of bringing people to him and uniting them with one another.

This understanding should make us “grateful to belong to the Church, the body of the risen Christ and the one pilgrim people of God journeying through history, which lives as a sanctifying presence in the midst of a still fragmented humanity, as an effective sign of unity and reconciliation among peoples.”

To read more of Pope Leo XIV’s General Audience reflection, click here.

“The Church is the mystery made perceptible.”: Pope Leo’s Words Today Read More »

Regnum Christi Spirituality Center Uncle Eddy

St Simeon

/ Uncle Eddy

Dear Simon, My volatile nephew, I believe you were bested.  You lost your temper while your Protestant roommate kept his cool, and so he has once again emerged from your “discussion” convinced that Catholics are simply misinformed and need to be re-educated according to the true faith.  I hope it helps you grow in humility. For the future, you may want to practice diverting your temper tantrums by appealing to history. Most Catholic doctrines are explicitly contained in Scripture, but some are only implicitly contained.  All, however, are present in the history of the Church. In other words, the faith that the first (and subsequent) Christians lived out was the Catholic faith; Protestantism is a new thing, a kind of “free-lance” Christianity that emerged late in the game (sixteenth century and thereabouts).  When you make this clear to people like your roommate, it helps broaden their perspective, breaking down anti-Catholic prejudices. Today’s saint happens to be a good example. Simeon is the relative of Jesus mentioned in St Matthew’s Gospel (chapter 13).  Some non-Catholics refer to him in order to prove that Mary had other children besides Jesus, since Matthew refers to him as one of the “brethren” of the Lord.  Of course, that phrase amply includes more distant relations. In this particular case, historical evidence and other indications in the Gospels (e.g. Mark 15) point to him as the son of Cleophas (St Joseph’s brother) and “the other Mary” (who may have been the Virgin Mary’s sister), blood brother to the Apostle James the Younger.   When that James was beheaded by Herod, the other Apostles and disciples met together to appoint a successor to lead the Church in Jerusalem, and they chose St Simeon.  When civil war broke out in Israel in the year 66, as some Jews began a violent struggle to free themselves from the Romans, the Christians in Jerusalem anticipated the coming disaster (some records indicate that they received a divine warning) and withdrew to the nearby city of Pella, across the Jordan River.  Because of this, Simeon escaped the imperial edict of Vespasian that required the execution of Palestinian Jews. After Titus put down the Jewish rebellion and burned the City of David, the Christians returned and lived among the ruins. Soon after, however, Simeon was turned in as not only Jewish, but also Christian, and he also suffered the fate of his brother and lost his head, after enduring excruciating tortures, even though he was over a hundred years old at the time. None of this appears in the Scriptures (which are not primarily books of secular history), but it sheds an awful lot of light on life in the early church – especially the fact that a successor to the Apostle James the Younger was appointed to carry on his Apostolic ministry.  History is full of such references that make the profile of the early Church unmistakably Catholic. The more of this you know, the more you will be able to help your roommate (and others like him) see the true faith more clearly. Your affectionate uncle, Eddy

St Simeon Read More »

40 Days to Peace and Union with God: Day 01 – Ash Wednesday

/ Lent 2026, Regnum Christi, Whole Territory

“But there is another and interior way of praying without ceasing, and that is the way of desire. Whatever else you are doing, if you long for that Sabbath, you are not ceasing to pray. If you do not want to cease praying, do not cease longing. Your unceasing desire is your unceasing voice.”

- ST. AUGUSTINE

READ: MATTHEW 6:1–6, 16–18

“Be careful not to parade your good deeds before men to attract their notice; by doing this you will lose all reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give alms, do not have it trumpeted before you; this is what the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win men’s admiration. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you give alms, your left hand must not know what your right is doing; your almsgiving must be secret, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you. And when you pray, do not imitate the hypocrites: they love to say their prayers standing up in the synagogues and at the street corners for people to see them; I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you pray, go to your private room and, when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in that secret place, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you. . . . When you fast do not put on a gloomy look as the hypocrites do: they pull long faces to let men know they are fasting. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that no one will know you are fasting except your Father who sees all that is done in secret; and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.”

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REFLECT

Hidden behind this sobering lesson against the temptation of hypocrisy is a beautiful revelation of the heart of Christ. He points out that He sees “what is done in secret.” He repeats this three times. He has seen all of the most selfish, vitriolic, and morose chapters of each of our ongoing interior monologues — everything. He knows it all. And yet He still loves us with the tender love of the perfect father, the perfect friend. If this doesn’t prove what unconditional love really is, nothing does.

But it doesn’t stop there. He wants us to let Him into that monologue, to turn it into an ongoing dialogue, a conversation with Him. He wants to take part in everything we do; He wants to be our closest companion, our most intimate friend. And why? Because He has some psychological need that we can pacify for Him? No. Just the opposite. Because He has more that He wants to give us. He has a reward to give each one of us, the reward of our true name (see Rev. 2:17), our fulfillment, the satisfaction of our deepest yearnings — most of all, He wants to give us Himself, now and for all eternity.

RESPOND

You see all my motives and intentions, but I think sometimes I try to hide from them. Show them to me, Lord. I don’t want anything to get in the way of our friendship. I don’t want to fall into hypocrisy. I want to do all things out of a humble, sincere love for You. With the humility of Your heart, Lord, shape my heart.

REST

At times, life seems so complicated, but You simplify it. Stay with me, Lord; walk with me; teach me how to love You, to love my neighbor, and to master my selfish tendencies. With the silence of Your heart, speak to my heart.

RESOLVE

How can I carry this encounter with me into the day? (Write / Journal)

CLOSING PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

Most Blessed and Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thank You for Your love and Your grace in allowing me this time of prayer with You.

The world, the flesh, and the devil will all propose things I should focus on and run after today. I beg You to fill me with Your Holy Spirit and help me instead to know and embrace Your will. Help me to see what You desire of me each moment of this day. Give me the wisdom, strength, and fortitude I need to avoid distractions, discern Your will, and focus on and carry out that which Wisdom reveals. Help me to work and live at a pace of peace and prayerfulness, always attentive to You, able to hear Your voice and to say no to anything that hinders my journey to You and a complete yes to every Holy prompting from You.

Help me to humbly and purposefully live, light, and lead others to the path of union with You and to tell everyone about this way of life. Amen.

About the Author

Bartunek-headshotFr. John Bartunek was ordained in 2003. He has taught moral theology at various ecclesiastical institutions at the graduate and undergraduate levels, and has authored many books, including the Gospel companion, The Better Part, and Inside the Passion, the only authorized behind-the-scenes look at the film, for which he provided on-set spiritual support. His online retreat guides are available in multiple formats at RCSpirituality.org. Fr. John currently resides in Atlanta, where he is serving as territorial vicar for the Legionaries of Christ.

40 Days to Peace and Union with God: Day 01 – Ash Wednesday Read More »

26-02-18-DM

February 18, 2026 – For Your Glory, Abba

/ Daily Meditations

Ash Wednesday

 

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Jesus said to his disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

Opening Prayer: Lord Jesus, grant me a purity of heart that seeks to love you for your sake alone.

Encountering Christ:

  1. The Tendencies of the Heart: In these three admonitions, Jesus warns against hypocrisy of heart. Do not pray, give alms, or fast for the sake of appearance. This human tendency of vainglory seems naturally ingrained within us. We sometimes stake a claim on our works so as to take all the credit in the eyes of others. But Jesus invites us to rediscover a deeper tendency within our heart. Prayer, almsgiving, and fasting are all noble endeavors. They reveal the human spirit’s desire to communicate with God (prayer), to selflessly provide for those in need (almsgiving), and participate in a spiritually redemptive act (fasting). Made in God’s image, we have these noble desires within, but they can get tainted by disordered self-love. Jesus invites me during this penitential season to examine and purify my love by prayer, almsgiving, and fasting.

     

  2. For the Father: As God’s children, we live in the Father’s loving gaze. Who but God knows the depths of our human intention? Rather than fearing his wrath, we are encouraged and strengthened by our Father who wants to see his children live with the selfless heart of his Son. This is a transformation process that takes time, collaboration, and grace. It is above all a growth in our identity as sons and daughters of God, in a heart-to-heart relationship. As God becomes more real, more of a Father, we respond not with a self-preserving egotism, but with a sincere and loving surrender to our heavenly Father.

     

  3. Your Reward: Jesus says that the Father who sees in secret will repay me. I can’t think of any prouder moment than when I received praise from my own father on earth. How blessed would I be to hear from my heavenly father, “This is my beloved son or daughter, in whom I am well pleased” (Mt 17:5). This Lent, I want to orient all of my actions and thoughts toward the glory of the Father, knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that my efforts please him.

Conversing with Christ: Jesus, I desire a pure heart that loves you above all else, especially above my own self-image and ego. I trust that you will transform my heart more and more into your image. Let me hear your words, “This is my beloved son or daughter, in whom I am well pleased.”

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will make an act of purity of intention, offering my prayer, sacrifice, and works to please my heavenly Father above all else.

Jennifer Ristine is a consecrated woman of Regnum Christi who is dedicated to spiritual and faith formation through teaching, conferences, writing, and spiritual direction. While serving in Ancient Magdala she wrote Mary Magdalene: Insights from Ancient Magdala.

February 18, 2026 – For Your Glory, Abba Read More »

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Alex Kucera

Atlanta

Alex Kucera has lived in Atlanta, GA, for the last 46 years. He is one of 9 children, married to his wife Karmen, and has 3 girls, one grandson, and a granddaughter on the way. Alex joined Regnum Christi in 2007. Out of the gate, he joined the Helping Hands Medical Missions apostolate and is still participating today with the Ghana Friendship Mission.

In 2009, Alex was asked to be the Atlanta RC Renewal Coordinator for the Atlanta Locality to help the RC members with the RC renewal process. Alex became a Group Leader in 2012 for four of the Atlanta Men’s Section Teams and continues today. Running in parallel, in 2013, Alex became a Team Leader and shepherded a large team of good men.

Alex was honored to be the Atlanta Mission Coordinator between 2010 to 2022 (12 years), coordinating 5-8 Holy Week Mission teams across Georgia. He also created and coordinated missions at a parish in Athens, GA, for 9 years. Alex continues to coordinate Holy Week Missions, Advent Missions, and Monthly missions at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Cumming, GA.

From 2016 to 2022, Alex also served as the Men’s Section Assistant in Atlanta. He loved working with the Men’s Section Director, the Legionaries, Consecrated, and Women’s Section leadership teams.

Alex is exceptionally grateful to the Legionaries, Consecrated, and many RC members who he’s journeyed shoulder to shoulder, growing his relationship with Christ and others along the way. He knows that there is only one way, that’s Christ’s Way, with others!