All Things Catholic by Edward Sri

How do I experience the transformation God wants to work in my life? How do get my spiritual life from where it is now to where God wants it to be? It’s not enough to go through the motions of the faith and believe the right things. We must learn to follow Jesus each day as a disciple. Only then will we be "changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another" (2 Cor. 3:18). This presentation is based on Edward Sri's newest book, Into His Likeness: Be Transformed as a Disciple of Christ.

You become a Tabernacle when you receive Holy Communion.  You also become like Mary: Just as Mary carried Jesus in her womb for nine months, you carry the Body and Blood of Jesus sacramentally within your soul in those moments after receiving the Eucharist. This isn't the time to look around or develop your "parking lot exit strategy." This is the most intimate encounter we have with God. Edward Sri reflects on this mystery and offers three things to do to make the most of this sacred time with Our Lord

Love wants to be near the one it loves. That’s why Jesus remains close to us in the Eucharist. He gives us his very Presence in all the Tabernacles throughout the world - And He longs for us to draw near to him.  Do you make it a priority to meet him? To visit him in the chapel? To spend time resting in the presence of the One who loves us so much? Encounter the blessing and power of Christ's presence in the Eucharist for your daily life.

Catholics talk about "The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass." But how was the Mass like those Biblical sacrifices of old - violent rituals with animals being cut up, set on fire and their blood being poured out on altars? The Mass I attended each week didn't look like that! But if we see Jesus' words at the Last Supper the way a 1st century Jew did, we'll realize Jesus didn't just give us his Body and Blood when He instituted the Eucharist. He gave us a way to encounter His sacrifice of himself on Calvary.

"He's a great guy, BUT...."   Many Christians have fallen into the sin of gossip with statements like this - statements that begin with a compliment but end with criticism.  Yet, sins of speech fall under the 5th Commandment, "Thou shall not kill." For when we gossip, we kill a person's reputation, which lives on long after they have died. In this week's episode, Edward Sri helps us take a closer look at we can use our speech more to build up other people and avoid tearing them down.  

The emerging generation brings many gifts and energies. But fear of discipleship may keep many from being the best they can be. In this episode, Edward Sri traces how the Enlightenment & 20th century self-esteem movement have shaped a generation of parents, educators and young people  - making it more difficult for people to receive the tradition of the virtues and the "art of living." Dream big dreams - for your career, friendships & family. But root those big dreams in the little way of humility.

Do you take the Eucharist for granted? Yes, we know it's the Real Presence and that we "have to go" to Mass each week, but do we long for the Eucharist like the early Christians did? As we approach the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, Edward Sri reflects on three ways we can rise above the routine and deepen our devotion to Jesus in the Eucharist. Recorded in Rome, he sums up three reflections based on the early Christian devotion to the Eucharist that he shared with his pilgrims this past week in Rome. 

We're in Rome today for the very first celebration of "Mary Mother of the Church" - the new feast instituted by Pope Francis this year.  But why do Catholics call Mary "Mother of the Church"?  Is there any Biblical basis for this?  And what does this mean for us today? Recorded today live in St. Peter's Square with Edward Sri's annual Rome pilgrimage group.

"Heaven is not a place in the universe, but a person: Jesus Christ. And the closer we draw near to Jesus, the more we bring heaven on earth." - from this week's podcast. As we reach the climax of the Easter Season, Edward Sri takes us through the last chapter of Mark's Gospel as he unpacks the three key events of the last 50 days: the Resurrection, Ascension and Commissioning of the Apostles.  Episode Notes: Here's a link to the prayer mentioned:  https://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=1629

Dr. Edward Sri answers listeners' questions about topics such as Mary, marriage and this week's feast of the Ascension of Our Lord.

Edward Sri discusses the real challenges every married couple faces but not many people talk about. And he unpacks three practical ways to experience the beautiful transformation God wants to work in our hearts - not in spite of, but precisely through the real struggles of daily married life.

Let’s unpack the Church’s top 3 ways to grow in virtue. Episode Notes: Edward Sri recommended the following books in this episode: - Donald DeMarco, The Heart of Virtue  - Stephen Jensen, Living the Good Life - Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics

The real question is not “Do I tolerate others?” but “Do I have the ability to love people?”  We tolerate cold weather or a traffic jam. But Jesus calls us to love the people in our lives, not just tolerate them. And that requires virtue. If we want to have good friendships and dating relationships; if we want to build a strong marriage and family life; if we want to care for the poor and build up love, there is one thing we need that goes far beyond tolerance and coexistence. And that’s virtue

"Don't impose your views on me! I'm free to do whatever I want with my life!"   There are two views of freedom competing for our attention. Knowing the difference can make or break a marriage. It can start a dating relationship on the right foot or lead you toward another dead-end romance. It can help you to succeed or fail in your parenting.   Will you embrace the modern notion of freedom - the freedom to do whatever you want? Or will you discover true freedom - the freedom to love?

There’s great spiritual power for us in the title “Mary, Ark of the Covenant”—much more than anything Harrison Ford and the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark may have imagined. But what does the ancient Ark of the Covenant have to do with the Blessed Virgin Mary? In this episode, Edward Sri unpacks the Biblical background of this Marian title and how turning to Mary as the New Ark of the Covenant can help us fight the spiritual battles we face each day.