All Things Catholic with Dr. Edward Sri

“Anyone can say, ‘I love you.’ Some people might sincerely mean it. Few people, however, have the virtue to truly seek what is best for you and be a committed friend.” This week, Edward Sri unpacks Aristotle’s three kinds of friendship—and why knowing the difference can make or break our friendships, communities, dating relationships and marriages. For more on this topic, see the free articles on virtue at edwardsri.com

Marriage is hard. But it’s right there in the hard that God wants to bring out something beautiful. Join Beth and Edward Sri with International TOB speaker Damon Owens for a conversation about the deeper love that can be found in the real struggles of marriage. Learn more about Damon’s ministry at joytob.org Learn more about Beth’s ministry at borntodothis.org

“I said to her, ‘What if we stopped having sex?’ It wasn’t a serious proposal. But she started to cry. It tapped into something deep in her heart. I saw in her eyes that she saw me as a man that I wasn’t yet, but a man that I wanted to be.” International TOB speaker Damon Owens shares how his relationship with his wife was completely transformed when they realized the emptiness of the world’s view of sexuality - and found joy in God’s plan. Learn more about Damon’s ministry at joytob.org

Mary's world was turned upside down: a Roman census, an unexpected move in her last trimester and giving birth in such poor conditions. How could this be the King? She might have been wondering where was God in the midst of all this suffering?

What was that first Christmas really like? Was Joseph really a carpenter? Was Jesus born in a stable, a house or a cave? Join Edward Sri on location in Israel as he discusses the Christmas story from an ancient Jewish perspective. He interviews his favorite Jewish guide - a man full of faith and passionate about helping Christians see their own faith through ancient Jewish eyes.

The goal of Advent isn’t checking off boxes: I did this devotion, made this sacrifice, did this activity. The goal is becoming like the child Jesus we await at Christmas, who is the Jesus of the Cross. Edward Sri explores the many Biblical connections between Christmas and the Cross and how those insights can help us finish our Advent well. A successful Advent is about becoming more like Christ, even in one small way: more patient with our kids, kinder to our spouse, more generous with our friends, more humble with our coworkers.

Everything Catholics believe about Mary is not meant to focus primarily on her. It’s meant to help us understand and love Jesus more. That’s especially the case with her Immaculate Conception. Edward Sri unpacks the Biblical foundations for the Immaculate Conception as he shares insights from his newest book on every key New Testament reference to Mary: Rethinking Mary in the New Testament (Ignatius Press)

Beth & Edward Sri share from their successes…and failures in living Advent well. Personal devotions, family traditions and a spirit of sacrifice are key to keeping a spiritual focus on what matters most in this season.

Do you have the virtue of gratitude? With your spouse? With your friends, family and God? Not just saying “thank you” every once in a while, but the consistent disposition to first recognize the blessings others bestow on you and then express thanks to them. St. Thomas Aquinas offers three key aspects for living the virtue of gratitude.

Your friend says, “I can make up my own truth…What’s true for you may not be true for me!” How do you respond? How do you engage people who embrace Pilate’s relativistic philosophy of ‘What is Truth?’

The devil attacks us with voices of discouragement, self-condemnation, and rationalization to keep us from facing the truth about ourselves and experiencing God's mercy and healing power. Learn how to recognize these false voices of the enemy and learn how to rebuke them. This episode is based on Edward Sri’s recent filming in Jerusalem for his new series, “No Greater Love: A Biblical Walk through Christ’s Passion” filmed on location at the sacred sites from Good Friday. https://shop.ascensionpress.com/pages/no-greater-love-optin

Men and women are different. Discover how that impacts almost everything marriage, including conversation, emotional connection & sexual intimacy. This special edition is Part 2 of Edward Sri’s presentation featured in last week’s episode.

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 not in it? The start of 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. DiNarco wrote: “The questions raised deserve answers that are conclusive and based on evidence. Without those answers, innocent men may be tainted by false accusation and the guilty may be left to repeat sins of the past.” 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 feeling bewildered in the wake of horrific revelations about clergy abuse. We must, however, go deeper spiritually and theologically to face the present challenges. In times of sorrow and crisis, Scripture and the Catholic Tradition have always pointed to the three crucial acts of penance as a source of healing and hope. But can my prayer, fasting and almsgiving really make a difference? Can these practices really help the Church through these troubled times and comfort the victims, their families and the wider community of believers and even unbelievers alike who have been effected by these atrocities? 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.

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—a holy dwelling place for the presence of God. 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. So when we sit down after Communion, this is not the time to look around and see who is at Mass or to develop your "parking lot exit strategy." This is the most intimate time we have with God. Edward Sri reflects on this mystery and offers three things we can 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 can understand Jesus' words at the Last Supper the way a first century Jew would, we'll come to see that Jesus didn't just give us his Body and Blood when he instituted the Eucharist. He gave us a way to encounter and enter into his sacrificial offering of himself on Calvary. Indeed, his sacrifice on the Cross is made present in every Mass. If we want to grow in sacrificial love, we want to participate more fully in the sacrifice of the Mass where we encounter sacrificial love Himself transforming our hard hearts a with his perfect love.

"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 shows how our speech can be used to build others up or tear them down. Do we talk about others in an edifying way that gives life? Or do we tend to fall into complaining, negative humor and gossip?

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 and the 20th century psychology of self-esteem movement have shaped a generation of parents, educators and young people - making it harder 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 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: Dr. Sri referred in this episode to a prayer attributed to Blessed John Henry Newman called "Radiating Christ." Here's a link to the prayer: 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 a civilization of love, there is one thing we need that goes far beyond tolerance and coexistence. And that’s virtue. This episode is based on Edward Sri's best-selling book, Who Am I to Judge? (Ignatius Press-Augustine Institute)

"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? This episode is based on a chapter in Edward Sri's book, "Who Am I to Judge?" (Ignatius Press/Augustine Institute)

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.

Why is Simon of Cyrene a model of compassion? He didn’t lovingly volunteer to carry Jesus’ Cross. He was forced to do so! The Gospels, however, give us one small detail that indicates Simon was personally transformed through his encounter with the Cross on Good Friday. And his example reminds us that the crosses bearing the most fruit are often not the ones we seek out, but the unexpected crosses--if we embrace them when they come.

Do you know the Palm Sunday Prophecy? Discover the Biblical background to Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Edward Sri unpacks the prophecies fulfilled in this scene and the personal application for our lives today. Finish Lent strong by starting Holy Week well.

"Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass." What did Jesus mean by this prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. Was he trying to back out of the cross at the last minute? This prayer actually offers a window into Jesus' soul, revealing how he gives it all in the garden. Jesus goes on to say, "...not my will, but yours be done." And in so doing, he shows us the model of perfect love.

What did Jesus mean when he cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Did Jesus really think he was abandoned by the Father? Far from a cry of despair, Jesus' words are a prayer of great hope in the midst of great darkness. Jesus quotes Psalm 22, fulfills prophecy and models for us how to turn to the Lord amid the crosses we face. Episode Notes: For the YouTube video of Edward Sri's presentation on this topic, see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRfDD10q6z0 This episode is based on a chapter in Edward Sri's book 'Love Unveiled: The Catholic Faith Explained" (Ignatius Press)

Finding silence in a house with 8 kids and a busy apostolic life is not easy. But Beth and I both felt drawn this Lent to turn off the noise, be more unplugged and more tuned in to God in silent stillness. In the silence, we encounter our true selves at a deeper level. And we also have the interior space to encounter God and others more. Why do we tend to fill the spaces in our day with so much noise and distraction? Edward and Beth Sri share from their own experiences and offer practical ways to build more silence in the midst of busy lives.

Right now there's a battle going on for your mind - for how you look at reality. What is love? What brings happiness? What is a successful life? The secular world is doing everything it can to get you to look at these fundamental questions a certain way. But Jesus offers an alternative view. How can you make sure you are not conformed to this world but are transformed by a renewal of your mind? Episode Notes: This episode is based on a chapter in Edward Sri's latest book, Into His Likeness: Be Transformed as a Disciple (Ignatius Press-Augustine Institute)

The words "Lent" and "Romance" typically don't go together. Lent brings to mind drudgery, sacrifice and slogging through the dreary days of February without your favorite treats. What's romantic about that? At its essence, however, Lent is all about love. It's about creating more space in our hearts to encounter God. Edward Sri offers practical ideas for starting Lent well as he unpacks how the three main devotions of Lent help us love God with all our heart, soul and strength. Episode Notes: See Edward Sri's article "The Romance of Lent" at edwardsri.com

A crucial moment in the spiritual life comes when we hit the wall: when we experience our weaknesses and sins and fear that we'll never get better - we'll never change. In those low moments, we might be tempted to give up trying and settle for mediocrity. But when we dare to come to Jesus in our weakness, as we really are, in the valley of humility, God does the most profound work of healing and transformation in our souls. Episode Notes: Edward Sri, Into His Likeness: Be Transformed as a Disciple (Ignatius Press-Augustine Institute)