All Things Catholic by Edward Sri

A young mom once said to me, “No one every told me how hard marriage would be!” But it’s through the challenges and messiness of marriage that God wants to shape us the most.

Engagement. Listening to God’s voice in prayer. Marriage troubles. The PTSD of Cubs fans. These are some of the topics Beth & Edward Sri address as they answer listeners’ questions in this week’s podcast.

Ever feel you’re just going through the motions at Mass? Distracted? Your heart is not in it? The Eucharistic Liturgy wakes us up with rituals and prayers that inspire us to “lift up our hearts” to God as we approach the sacred mysteries of the Mass.

It’s not enough to be open to God’s will. We must allow him to act in our lives. A true Christian disciple doesn’t put parameters around God’s will. But when we truly surrender to His plan and give our “Fiat,’ He begins to act in us and through us in amazing ways.

What was Mary’s life like before the annunciation? Before that day when Gabriel announced she would become the mother of the messiah?  The Bible itself doesn't tell us a lot - only two verses about the pre-annunciation Mary. But Edward Sri unpacks them for all their worth to give us a truly Scriptural picture of Mary's early years

What are the stigmata? Why do some saints receive them? And what difference do they make for my life? Look beyond the bodily marks and discover something deeper: a soul totally conformed to Christ’s self-giving love.

Do you ever feel your world is turned upside down? “Where is my life going?…Where is God?” Mary is right there with you. God drew her many times to step into the darkness and encounter Him there. In your darkness, turn to her, Our Lady of Sorrows.

You've heard of her care for the poor. But do know about her extraordinary interior life? “I have been burning with a longing to love Him as He has never been loved before.” - St. Mother Teresa.

What does one do when the Pope is accused of being associated with covering up abuse in the Church? On one hand, one must avoid rash judgment and jumping to conclusions. At the same time, Cardinal DiNardo (president of the US Bishop’s Conference) calls for a “thorough examination” of the questions surrounding Archbishop McCarrick. The Church needs heroes who will pursue the truth, wherever it leads. The Church needs heroic saints to guide us through this crisis. Will you do the heroic in your life

Many Catholics are bewildered in the wake of horrific revelations about clergy abuse. We must, however, go deeper to face the present challenges. In times of crisis, the Church has always recommended the three crucial acts of penance. But can my prayer, fasting and almsgiving really make a difference? Can these practices really help the Church through troubled times and comfort the victims, their families and the community of faith?  Discover a Biblical response to the recent scandal in the Church.

Where do Catholics get the idea that Mary was assumed into heaven? Is there any Scriptural basis for this doctrine? Or is this just a Catholic exaggeration of Mary’s role in the Christian life?

When it comes to romantic relationships, people often question whether they should follow the head or the heart.  But what about our friendship with God?  Is the head or the heart more important in the spiritual life?   The two, of course, go together. If you want to love Jesus more, it's absolutely crucial that you form your mind with his truth. For every new thing you learn about God is another reason for loving him.  

How do you respond when you feel stretched: overwhelmed, in-over-your-head, drowning, not sure you’re up for the task? Jesus reminds us to turn to him. He can make up for our deficiencies, just as he did that day when he fed 5,000 with only five loaves of bread.

Do you know the one verse that gives the framework to the entire Gospel of Mark?  Edward Sri unpacks the opening of this Gospel, which the Church is focusing on this liturgical year. 

God wants to meet the real you - as you are - with all your weaknesses, wounds and faults.  As St. Therese of Lisieux once told her sister Celine, "You want to scale the mountain of sanctity. But God wants to meet you down low, in the fertile valley of humility." Only when we allow God to encounter us as we really are, can we be fully lifted up by his grace and transformed.