If you’re stressed or anxious, you will find great comfort in Pope John Paul II’s famous phrase: “Be not afraid … Open wide the doors to Christ!” In this episode of All Things Catholic, Dr. Sri explains the meaning behind Pope John Paull II’s words and shares a simple way you can begin bringing your fears and anxieties to Christ in prayer. Once you surrender those fears to Christ, you might be surprised at the amazing plan that unfolds. _Snippet from the Show Whatever is burdening you right now,...
Oct 22, 2019•20 min
Do we really need a church? Why can’t we just be spiritual instead? Dr. Edward Sri explains not only why God gave us the Church, but why it is a gift for us and a necessity to be brought into a familial relationship with him. Snippet from the Show “God sent his son, Jesus Christ, and he set up a church. He gave his authority to the apostles and their successors to pass on his teaching.” Go to ascensionpress.com/allthingscatholic to get the shownotes! Support All Things Catholic with Dr. Edward S...
Oct 15, 2019•21 min
We’ve talked about the Biblical roots of the Hail Mary, but what about the Rosary? What makes this prayer so powerful that St. Padre Pio called it “the weapon for these times”? Dr. Edward Sri explains why the Rosary is not “vain repetition”, points to the Biblical source of each prayer in the Rosary, and gives practical advice on how we can better incorporate this impactful prayer into our daily lives. Get the shownotes for this episode at ascensionpress.com/allthingscatholic Support All Things ...
Oct 08, 2019•22 min
When we fall short, it’s easy to despair and berate ourselves for our failings. We’re tempted to turn our focus inward, and that’s exactly where the enemy wants us. Using the theology of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Dr. Sri explains how this is the opposite of what God wants us to do. When we fail, instead of navel-gazing, we can recognize our littleness and let the Lord into our hearts by surrendering our shortcomings to him. Snippet from the Show Paradoxically, the real victory in the spiritual lif...
Oct 01, 2019•23 min
Every faithful Catholic goes through a season where prayer is difficult. Whether you’re unable to feel God’s presence, get easily distracted, or find yourself avoiding prayer altogether, Dr. Sri points out four reasons why we may struggle in prayer, and what we can do to persevere and build an ever-stronger relationship with God. 4 Reasons We Struggle with Prayer Sin - if we haven’t repented of our sins, it will be difficult to pray. The devil - the enemy knows how important prayer is for the fa...
Sep 24, 2019•23 min
Catholics are often criticized for praying to Mary, but every part of the Hail Mary has biblical roots which reveal that the focus of this prayer is actually Jesus. St. John Paul II put it this way, “Although the repeated Hail Mary is addressed directly to Mary, it is to Jesus that the act of love is ultimately directed, with her and through her.” Dr. Sri unpacks the biblical roots of the Hail Mary to help us truly understand the significance of this powerful prayer. Snippet from the Show “Every...
Sep 17, 2019•19 min
What gives the cross its redemptive value is not the amount of suffering or bloodshed, but the amount of love that was put into Christ’s sacrifice. The cross is less about taking on punishment and more about the total gift of love Jesus offered to the Father on our behalf. As the Church celebrates the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross this week, Dr. Sri takes us into the heart of the cross—which is ultimately the heart of God and his passionate love for his people. Support All Things Catholic...
Sep 10, 2019•22 min
We’re not called to be like the Amish, separating ourselves completely from the world. But we must be careful how much of the world’s influences we allow into our homes and into our hearts. How do we strike the right balance? Dr. Sri draws on wisdom from Blessed John Henry Newman to help us live a Christians in this world without being of this world. Support All Things Catholic with Dr. Edward Sri...
Sep 03, 2019•21 min
Do you have family or friends away from the Catholic Faith? St. Monica’s example offers six practical things we can do to help bring our loved ones back to Christ and the Church. Too often we focus on how to change our son, sister or friend. But the first step in evangelizing our loved ones might involve changing our own heart and approach to evangelization itself. Are we willing to make the sacrifices necessary to reach them with the Faith? Support All Things Catholic with Dr. Edward Sri...
Aug 27, 2019•23 min
Where is Mary’s Queenship in the Bible? Is this just Catholics exaggerating Mary’s role, trying to put Mary on par with Jesus the King, so they make her a Queen? In this episode Dr. Sri unpacks the rich Biblical foundation for the feast the Church celebrates this week - the feast of Mary’s queenship - and shows clearly that the Bible reveals Mary to be our Queen. Get a chance to win a free signed book from Dr. Sri by taking the short survey on the podcast at edwardsri.com/podcast Support All Thi...
Aug 20, 2019•20 min
Did Mary experience death before she was assumed into heaven? Or was she preserved from death because she did not have original sin? You might be surprised about what the Catholic Church actually teaches on Mary's Assumption. Support All Things Catholic with Dr. Edward Sri
Aug 13, 2019•15 min
“How can we stay with a Church that has so many problems?” Dr. Sri unpacks key insights from Bishop Barron’s recent book “A Letter to a Suffering Church” - a book that takes a hard look at the clergy abuse scandal and offers hope and some practical ways forward. If you don't have time to read it, listen to this brief summary of the many gems in this helpful book. Shownotes: Learn more about this book by Bishop Barron https://www.sufferingchurchbook.com Support All Things Catholic with Dr. Edward...
Aug 06, 2019•32 min
Why would Catholics build a whole basilica dedicated the Blessed Virgin Mary? Isn’t this distracting from Jesus? Shouldn’t we be building churches in honor of Jesus, not Mary? And why would the Catholic Church have a special liturgical feast day celebrating the dedication of this Marian basilica? In this special edition, we go to the principle church dedicated to Mary all the world, as we prepare to celebrate on August 5 the memorial of the dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major’s - one of...
Aug 01, 2019•20 min
Our marriage began with JP2 blessing it in Rome on our honeymoon. So for our 20th wedding anniversary last week, we wanted to do a special marriage pilgrimage to Krakow and walk in the footsteps of this great saint. In this episode, Beth and Edward Sri discuss the importance of couples getting time away and share from their experiences at the sites of JP2's youth and years a priest and bishop in Krakow where he poured his life into university students, battled the atheistic Communists, and guide...
Jul 23, 2019•27 min
Every detail of the Gospels is there for a reason: to show Jesus fulfilling all the ancient prophecies from the Old Testament. More than any other Gospel, Matthew is constantly alluding to Jewish hopes and expectations to demonstrate how God has been preparing humanity for the Savior and how Jesus is indeed the promised Messiah. Do you know the two main ways Matthew shows prophecies coming to fulfillment in Christ? Support All Things Catholic with Dr. Edward Sri...
Jul 16, 2019•23 min
Why does the Catholic Church hold up Matthew’s Gospel as so crucial for passing on the Faith--whether as a parent, teacher, catechist or friend? And why does Matthew stand out in times of evangelization and renewal in the Church? Matthew’s background as a tax collector gives an important clue into how he gave his Gospel a beautiful structure - a structure that is the key to understanding the story of Jesus as the climax of the history of the world. Support All Things Catholic with Dr. Edward Sri...
Jul 09, 2019•22 min
When the saints die, they don’t get cut off from the Body of Christ. They’re closer to Jesus and thus even closer to us, able to hear our prayers and intercede powerfully for our needs. In this episode, Edward Sri answers listeners questions on a range of topics, including Mary, the Saints, Purgatory, and responding to our teen and young adult children’s questions about the Catholic Faith. You can send your questions to Dr. Sri at edwardsri.com/contact Support All Things Catholic with Dr. Edward...
Jul 04, 2019•24 min
Mercy is the highest expression of God’s love. But His mercy is not like that of a judge who merely pardons our violations of the law or a demanding boss who one day decides to overlook the mistakes in our work. This week’s Solemnity of the Sacred Heart invites us to ponder the Biblical truth of God’s mercy - a mercy rooted in God’s amazing unconditional love, a love that remains faithful even when we are unfaithful. Support All Things Catholic with Dr. Edward Sri...
Jun 25, 2019•16 min
How can Catholics believe the Eucharist is really the Body of Christ? ‘It’s just a piece of bread! It’s just a symbol of Jesus, not his real presence,’ some would say. But there’s one Biblical passage that offers the richest theology of the Eucharist and most clearly demonstrates how much Jesus wanted to give us his very Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in the total gift of Himself in every Holy Communion. This special edition of All Things Catholic was recorded on location in Capernaum in the Hol...
Jun 20, 2019•18 min
Do you want your heart to have more space to receive God’s Love in your life? Learn from one of Dr. Sri’s favorite saints in Rome, St. Philip Neri, who is a patron saint for the New Evangelization. This special edition was recorded in Rome outside Chiesa Nova, where St. Philip Neri is buried. Support All Things Catholic with Dr. Edward Sri
Jun 12, 2019•18 min
“Holy Spirit, inspire me in all my actions….guide me in all my decisions….” After Pentecost, the Apostles were transformed men. We can experience that same transformation in the Spirit today - if we grow in deeper relationship with the Third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. Support All Things Catholic with Dr. Edward Sri
Jun 05, 2019•19 min
Mary isn’t just open. She actually allows God to act in her life - even when it’s hard and unclear and when all she can do is walk by faith and not by sight. How can we be more like Mary, living trustful surrender as she did? For more on this topic, see Edward Sri's book "Walking with Mary" (Image Books). Support All Things Catholic with Dr. Edward Sri
May 28, 2019•15 min
Mary’s "Yes" was not a one-time "Fiat" in Nazareth. She had to renew her trustful surrender to the Father’s plan repeatedly throughout her life. Will we, like Mary, always be on the lookout for the next step God is asking us to take? Support All Things Catholic with Dr. Edward Sri
May 21, 2019•22 min
“What makes the Bible different from Muslim, Hindu or other sacred texts from the world’s many religions? Can a modern serious thinker really believe that God inspired human beings to write his Scriptures? Doesn’t that sound like fairy tales?” In this episode, Edward Sri addresses these and other questions about the divine inspiration of Scripture. Support All Things Catholic with Dr. Edward Sri
May 14, 2019•20 min
Does your mind wander when you pray the Rosary? Discover five keys to help you overcome distraction and encounter Jesus and Mary more in this powerful prayer. May is Mary’s month and a good time to reinvigorate our devotion to Mary. In this episode, Edward Sri draws on insights from his book "Praying the Rosary Like Never Before" Support All Things Catholic with Dr. Edward Sri
May 08, 2019•18 min
Why do the Gospels never mention Jesus appearing to Mary on Easter? Does that mean it didn’t happen? Actually, the Risen Jesus probably appeared to Mary first - eagerly rising from the dead as early as possible on Easter morning so he could be reunited with his mother. Support All Things Catholic with Dr. Edward Sri
May 01, 2019•21 min
Can a serious thinker in the 21st century really believe in the resurrection of Jesus? When people die, they stay dead. How can Christians claim Jesus was different? The resurrection of Christ seems like a fairy tale—a Christian myth, invented by the apostles. That’s what many people in our secular age might think about Easter. How would you respond? Gain the clarity and confidence to explain our belief in the resurrection to others in this week’s episode. Support All Things Catholic with Dr. Ed...
Apr 24, 2019•28 min
The Cross is not Christ's defeat. It's his moment of triumph. Discover the Biblical meaning of the last three sayings from the Cross: "I Thirst"...."It is finished"....and "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." For example: "I Thirst." Jesus isn't just thirsting for something to drink. He thirsts for you—for your love, time and attention..for your total surrender to him. Will you make more room for him in your soul this Holy Week? Support All Things Catholic with Dr. Edward Sri...
Apr 16, 2019•24 min
Was Jesus abandoned by his Father on Good Friday? What is the meaning of his words, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” It's far from a cry of despair. It's actually a cry of confident hope amid great darkness. And the Biblical background to Jesus’ words gives us a roadmap for facing our own trials today. Support All Things Catholic with Dr. Edward Sri
Apr 09, 2019•22 min
Shortly before he dies, Jesus gives us one last gift: the gift of Mary as our spiritual mother. Indeed, this scene of Mary and the beloved disciple at Calvary is one of the most crucial Biblical passages for demonstrating Mary’s important role in the life of every Christian. In this episode, Edward Sri walks through the Biblical foundations for Mary's spiritual motherhood as he considers the third of Jesus' last words on the Cross: "Woman, behold your son...Behold, your mother." Support All Thin...
Apr 02, 2019•25 min
