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RC DAILY MEDITATIONS
RC DAILY MEDITATIONS

May 26, 2026

WM_LeoXIV

Leo XIV’s Agenda

/ Regnum Christi News, Weekly Message, Weekly Message Blog

Dear Friends,

 

The recent first anniversary of Pope Leo XIV’s election to the papacy brought a spate of commentaries and analyses about the signals he was sending and the direction he seemed to be going as the Vicar of Christ.

While some of the commentaries were well-intended and insightful, one could get the sense that popes are now subject to the same kind of scrutiny once reserved for politicians, CEOs, and sports figures.

Is the Pope leaning toward this end of the spectrum or the other end? What do his bishop appointments say about his likes and dislikes? And will he draw the line on this or that group?

Some of these questions assume that there is a hidden agenda at work in this papacy. But what if there isn’t one?

On Pentecost 2025, Leo said, “The Church must always become anew what she already is. She must open the borders between peoples and break down the barriers between class and race. In her, there cannot be those who are neglected or disdained.”

Those words reflect a mind that is more focused on the Sacred Heart of Jesus than on an ideology.

In ages past, most Catholics thought of a pope as a father who gave sure guidance amid the problems and challenges of the world. 

That simple approach allowed people to focus their energy on the day-to-day tasks of life in their families and parishes. Talk of papal “agendas” would have brought blank stares from most people. 

This month of June, with its emphasis on the Sacred Heart, might be as good a time as ever to refocus on the mission of the Church: to bring Christ’s love and Gospel to the world.

To that end, our Retreat Guide, Fire and Thorns, might be worth praying with. 

It can help remind us that the best agendas are centered on Our Lord.

In Christ,

Father Edward McIlmail, LC

Ask a Priest contributor

Leo XIV’s Agenda Read More »

Regnum Christi Spirituality Center Uncle Eddy

St Philip Neri

/ Uncle Eddy

Dear Phil, You are just a freshman; you’ve got so much time ahead of you – three more big, fat years at college, and then a whole lifetime!  But you are wise to pose the question you asked in your last note: how can you make the best use of your college years? I imagine that this question has arisen because you have experienced a few qualms of conscious about how you utilized your time during your first year.  If that’s the case, don’t hesitate to bring it up in confession – ask our Lord’s pardon for any wasted, irresponsibly used time; time is a gift from God just like all the other gifts he gives us, and we ought to use it well. There is an awful lot to say about time management, especially in today’s super fast-paced post-modernity.  As your loving uncle, however, I would like to give you one simple word to guide your use of time during these beautiful and critical college years: training.  Yep, you are in training. Only God knows what mission he has in store for you, what battles you will be called to fight for his Kingdom, what divine secrets he will want to communicate to the world through your words and example.  These years of your education are part of the plan; they are years in which he wants you to develop your talents and ready yourself to receive your marching orders. He is counting on you take advantage of every minute to build a solid character, form an agile and robust intellect, hone your interpersonal skills, learn to communicate, and learn the art of living.  The centerpiece of it all, however, has to be a deep, vibrant, dynamic, and heartfelt friendship with Christ. With that in place, the Holy Spirit will be able to take care of all the rest. Just like he did with today’s saint. Philip Neri abandoned a promising clerkship to move to Rome, where he spent two years almost entirely in prayer and sacrifice, forsaking the pleasures of the world in hopes to discover how he was to serve the Lord.  He became so close to God, so filled with zeal, that he almost single-handedly ignited a religious revival among the corrupt and worldly people and clergy of the Eternal City. He is still today known as the Apostle of Rome (even though he was born in Florence).  He started all kinds of ministries, spent entire days in the confessional (he would tell people their sins even before they confessed them), and acted as a spiritual adviser to a steady stream of repentant cardinals, clergy, laity, and even a Pope or two. He had put his relationship with God first and kept it there, and that’s all God needed in order to ensure that his eighty years of earthly life were filled with incomparable joy, immense love, and incredible apostolic fruit. So then, you would like a bit of advice on taking advantage of your time.  Well, if you can keep in mind that these are your training years (and they will never return) and that the core of all your training is your relationship with God… In that case, I’d be willing to bet that you finish with no regrets. Love, Uncle Eddy

St Philip Neri Read More »

Are Strapless Bridal Dresses OK?

/ Ask a Priest

Q: What do you think about the strapless and shoulderless bridal dresses for Catholic nuptial Masses? — Kathleen

Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC:

It’s not often that Ask a Priest is asked for an opinion about women’s clothing. What follows is a pastoral observation.

A wedding is an expression of a man and a woman’s love and lifelong commitment to each other. Their fidelity rules out any unbecoming behavior with other people.

One way they can reinforce their fidelity and guard their marital chastity is by helping others around them live chastely.

This in turn implies modest dress and behavior. And what better way to start a marriage than to live that kind of modesty from Day One?

For that reason, strapless and low-cut, shoulderless dresses wouldn’t be high on the list of recommended attire. (See this article for related reading.)

Such dresses can be a temptation for others, either in the area of chastity or of vanity, and thus a bit incongruous for what should be a sacred event in a sacred place.

Are Strapless Bridal Dresses OK? Read More »

26-05-26-DM

May 26, 2026 – Cost and Benefit

/ Daily Meditations

Memorial of Saint Philip Neri, Priest

 

Mark 10:28-31

Peter began to say to Jesus, “We have given up everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come. But many that are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

Opening Prayer: Lord Jesus, though I am not deserving, I am grateful for your love. Sometimes following you is not easy. I lose my way and fall into sin, but you always find me. You gently lead me to the road back to your heart. Help me to persevere in following you.

Encountering Christ:

  1. What About Us?: Peter had just heard Jesus tell everyone how hard it can be to enter the Kingdom of heaven. “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God!” (Mk 10:25). They were all amazed. In this context, Peter voiced the thought that was probably on everyone’s mind: “We have given up everything and followed you.” In other words, “What about us?” God blesses Peter for his frankness. Without his outburst, we would have missed the consolation Jesus offered next. We should never hesitate to tell the Lord what’s really on our minds. He knows already, and loves us anyway. The very act of praying from our heart unleashes graces from Jesus’ Sacred Heart.

     

  2. The First Will Be Last: The “firsts” in this world believe in themselves. They believe they are deserving of their elevated status. They believe they are stronger, smarter, more beautiful, etc., than others. They can be demanding, ungrateful, self-important, and sometimes downright angry. These are not the qualities of the “firsts” who belong to Our Lord’s Kingdom. These “firsts” believe not in themselves but in God who sustains them. They believe that if they are stronger, smarter, or more beautiful than others, the attribute is to be used to glorify God and to be of service to others. They are grateful, peaceful, joy-filled, and authentic. They may or may not be the “last” in a worldly sense, but, by their faith, they have secured a prime place with God for all eternity.

     

  3. The Reward: The cost-benefit analysis is a method used to analyze business decisions before actually committing to one, but let’s relate this concept to the decision of following Jesus. “Take up your cross and follow me,” Jesus said. Walking with Jesus can mean we suffer hardships, but the benefits outweigh the burden of carrying our crosses, because we don’t carry them alone. Jesus accompanies us through our pains and gives meaning to our sorrows. And there is also a promise, a reward: When we offer our lives to Jesus, we gain the joy of his friendship, which is a priceless treasure, and we receive an inheritance in heaven which lasts forever.

Conversing with Christ: Dear Jesus, thank you for calling me to the Catholic faith. I am reminded that no worldly good can truly fill my heart. The joy of knowing you is the greatest treasure of all. Fill my heart with faith and hope, and with the vision of heaven especially when circumstances around me get tough. May I always find peace and joy in your presence.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will make a plan to go to confession.

For Further Reflection: Take your time in doing your examination of conscience tonight..

Beverly Dalton is a writer and lives in the city of Manila. She also works for a Catholic psychology center, helping out with research studies and programs for the poor. When she is not busy, she spends time with her mom and sister, and occasionally finds leisure and relaxation in soapmaking as seen in @twosistershome.ph.

May 26, 2026 – Cost and Benefit 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!