All Things Catholic with Dr. Edward Sri

Ascension

About

Join well-known theologian and author Edward Sri for weekly insights on understanding and living out the Catholic faith. Delve deeper into the Bible, prayer time, virtue, relationships, marriage and family and culture with practical reflections on all things Catholic. Don't just go through the motions. Live as an intentional Catholic, a disciple of Jesus Christ.

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341 episodes

What Christ Really Meant by “It Is Finished”

Do you know what Jesus’ last words were before he died on the cross? More importantly, do you know what his last words meant? This Holy Week, Dr. Edward Sri reflects on the final moments and words of Christ. He explains their deeper meaning so that each of us can better understand Jesus’ passion and death on the cross. Snippet from the Show Jesus poured out everything. He held nothing back. He gave it all. For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

21m
Mar 26
Mark’s Passion Narrative: What You Need to Know for This Palm Sunday

Are you prepared for the most important week, the holiest week of the entire year? This Sunday is Palm Sunday which begins Holy Week. Dr. Edward Sri helps you prepare for these sacred days by digging into the Gospel for Palm Sunday which is Mark’s passion narrative. Dr. Sri explains some of the unique aspects of Mark’s narrative and what they mean for our understanding of Jesus’ passion and death. Snippet from the Show “Truly this man was the Son of God." For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

21m
Mar 19
How Martha Found Freedom from Anxiety

How do you handle the stress and anxieties of life? Does it frequently overwhelm you and rob you of your peace? Martha is a character from Scripture that many can relate to. She struggled with anxiety and became overwhelmed. Dr. Edward Sri examines the stories of Martha from the Bible and reveals what we can learn from her about overcoming anxiety and finding interior peace. Snippet from the Show Be Mary before becoming Martha. For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

31m
Mar 12
Praying with the Psalms

No other collection of poetry has influenced the world more than the Book of Psalms. In this episode, Dr. Sri explains the different types of Psalms and how they are a powerful vehicle for prayer. Snippet from the Show The Psalms remind us to put God’s Word first. For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

25m
Mar 05
God’s Commandments: Loving or Limiting?

How do we see the ten commandments? Are they just hoops to jump through? For many, rules and laws can feel controlling and cold. It can be difficult to understand how we can be in a loving relationship with God when he imposes rules and laws upon us. To answer these questions, Dr. Edward Sri looks into the story of the Israelites and the ten commandments. He explains the goodness of God’s commands. Snippet from the Show “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light for my path.” For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

22m
Feb 27
Hold Nothing Back from the Father

What are you holding back? As a person pursues holiness, they sometimes find that they are still holding certain things back from God. Dr. Edward Sri addresses this challenge by walking through the story of Abraham and Isaac. He shows how both were ready to give everything to God. Dr. Sri explains the result of such incredible trust in God. Snippet from the Show The more we learn to trust and the more we learn to sacrifice, the better we are able to give our entire hearts to God. For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

22m
Feb 20
Letting Jesus Touch Your Wounds

Is there a part of your life that you are afraid to share with God? Perhaps, there are things you would like to keep hidden from everyone. Dr. Edward Sri dives into the Gospel passage from last Sunday about Jesus and the leper. He explains how Jesus responds to the leper and what that reveals about how Jesus responds to each of our wounds. Snippet from the Show Jesus wants us to come to him and admit that we cannot do this on our own. For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

19m
Feb 13
Rend Your Heart and Not Your Garments

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by Lent? There are so many different devotions, fasts, and studies to participate in. How do you figure out what God is calling you to this Lent? Dr. Edward Sri answers this question and offers five practical ways to transform your life this Lent. Snippet from the Show If we truly know ourselves, we know that we cannot rely only on ourselves. We must rely on God. His grace makes all things possible. For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

26m
Feb 06
The Real Meaning of the Presentation of the Lord (UPDATED VERSION)

Perhaps, you are familiar with the story of Joseph and Mary taking the baby Jesus to the temple after his birth. This event is called the Presentation. But why is it called this and what is so significant about this event? Dr. Edward Sri answers these questions and explains the deeper meaning of the Presentation that few Christians understand. Snippet from the Show Our lives are meant to be a sacrifice to God. For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

24m
Jan 31
The Real Meaning of the Presentation of the Lord

Perhaps, you are familiar with the story of Joseph and Mary taking the baby Jesus to the temple after his birth. This event is called the Presentation. But why is it called this and what is so significant about this event? Dr. Edward Sri answers these questions and explains the deeper meaning of the Presentation that few Christians understand. Snippet from the Show Our lives are meant to be a sacrifice to God. For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

38m
Jan 30
Don’t Be a Dead Sea

Do you want to live your faith as a true disciple? St. Paul desired that his student St. Timothy know and live the faith. However, he also desired for St. Timothy to pass on the faith effectively. Do you pass on the faith effectively? Dr. Edward Sri discusses the importance of passing on the faith and how to do it effectively. Snippet from the Show We should always be on the lookout for opportunities to share our faith. For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

26m
Jan 23
Prayer: A Chore or a Response?

Do you treat your prayer life like a chore? Many of us find ourselves treating it like a checklist. However, prayer isn’t just about completing a task. Rather, it is about responding to God. Dr. Edward Sri goes in depth on this topic and explains what is really at the heart of prayer. Snippet from the Show Prayer is not about a performance. It is about responding to the thirst of Jesus for your soul. For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

19m
Jan 16
The Heart of All Our Suffering

What is the real reason behind the increase in loneliness and anxiety? There is almost an inability, in our world today, to cope with life. Monsignor James Shea addressed this question in his keynote at the SEEK conference. Monsignor Shea offers that perhaps this struggle is a result of growing up in a world without God. Dr. Edward Sri discusses the deeper meaning of Monsignor Shea’s words. Snippet from the Show The heart of all our suffering in this world is because we find ourselves under Satan’s power. For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

23m
Jan 10
Merry Christmas from the Sri Family

Dr. Sri would like to extend a “Merry Christmas” to all of you! He hopes you enjoy this recording of his sons playing “O Holy Night.” Snippet from the Show “Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!” For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

3m
Dec 26, 2023
The Deeper Meaning of Jesus’ Birth Story

Did you know that every detail matters in the Biblical account of Jesus’ birth? Sometimes, we take this Biblical story for granted because we have heard it so many times. However, the details of this story have so much meaning. Dr. Edward Sri shares some of that deeper meaning so that each of us can grow closer to Christ this Christmas. Snippet from the Show Jesus was born into a suffering world. Even now, he desires to enter into our suffering with us. For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

24m
Dec 19, 2023
Wisdom from St. John of the Cross

What do you do when you’re going through a rough time? How do you respond to pressure and conflict? God can feel absent at these times. Prayer may feel dry. To help offer encouragement for times such as these, Dr. Edward Sri shares a story from the life of St. John of the Cross. This story reveals a time of intense suffering for St. John of the Cross and his response to that suffering. Snippet from the Show God’s love pierces through all attachments and all suffering. God opens our hearts to be more receptive to him as he is the only one who satisfies. For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

24m
Dec 12, 2023
Mary: Perfect…But Still Human?

Are you ever intimidated by Mary? Because of her sinlessness, imitating Mary seems like an impossibility. However, Dr. Edward Sri explains that she reveals what we are called to. Although she was free from Original Sin, Mary still experienced many of life’s trials that we face as well. To help us understand her better, Dr. Sri shares examples of some of Mary’s very human experiences. Snippet from the Show Although Mary was conceived without sin, she still had to walk by faith and not by sight. For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

30m
Dec 05, 2023
Living Advent Like Mary

There can be so much excitement and anticipation when waiting for the arrival of a new baby. Have you ever imagined what it may have been like for Mary as she waited for the arrival of Jesus? What did she do to prepare for his arrival? As Advent draws near, Dr. Edward Sri encourages us to look to Mary’s example as we prepare ourselves for Christ’s coming. Snippet from the Show Be attentive to the presence of God. In his presence, you will find peace. For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

28m
Nov 28, 2023
Are You Prepared for Judgment?

How often do you think about death? Every person will eventually die and it is essential to remember that we are made for eternal life. Dr. Sri addresses the topic of death focusing primarily on judgment. He explains the difference between particular judgment and final judgment and offers insight for how we can prepare for death and judgment. Snippet from the Show Your bad choices affect others, but remember, your good choices also make an impact. For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

28m
Nov 21, 2023
Where Are You God?

Why is this happening? Where are you God? These are the sorts of questions people sometimes ask when they experience great suffering or doubt. To show how God responds to us in these situations, Dr. Edward Sri dives into the story of one of the greatest figures of the Old Testament: Abraham. Snippet from the Show “Lord, if this is how you treat your friends, no wonder you have so few.” - St. Teresa of Avila For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

28m
Nov 14, 2023
Now Is the Time for Eucharistic Revival

When you face fears or troubles, where do you turn? There are so many challenges we face: at work, in our families, with our parishes. In these times of trial, do you turn to God? Do you turn to the Eucharist? Dr. Edward Sri discusses the importance of the Eucharistic Revival so as to bring more people into deeper intimacy with Jesus in the Eucharist. Snippet from the Show Jesus wants to be with us in our struggles, our trials, everything. He is waiting for us to turn to him in the Eucharist. For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

25m
Nov 07, 2023
Are the Saints Unrelatable?

When you hear the stories of the saints is it ever overwhelming? Some of their stories are so extraordinary that they can feel quite unrelatable. Dr. Edward Sri shares some of the saint stories that are very relatable. There are saints who made human mistakes, who struggled to pray, and didn’t always feel loved by God. Dr. Sri talks about those stories and how we can be more like the saints. Snippet from the Show You need a heart that is willing to be united to Jesus in his loneliness, in his misunderstanding, and in his suffering. For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

24m
Oct 31, 2023
Who Can Receive Holy Communion?

“I receive Holy Communion every week, so why am I not more holy?” Perhaps, this is a question you have asked yourself. Receiving Holy Communion is an essential part of striving for sainthood. So, how do we do it well and who gets to receive Communion? Dr. Edward Sri explains multiple ways that we can prepare ourselves for receiving the Eucharist and why some people should not receive. Snippet from the Show The Eucharist is an expression of unity with the Church, unity of faith, and unity of life. For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

26m
Oct 24, 2023
Are You a Slave to Fear?

Do you live your life with confidence in God? This can be incredibly hard to do, but fortunately we have great examples to follow, especially St. John Paul II. As the feast day of St. John Paul II approaches, Dr. Edward Sri shares some lesser-known stories of him and lifts him up as an amazing example of courage. Snippet from the Show Even amidst relativism, secularism, and the sexual revolution, St. John Paul II courageously called people to the truth. For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

26m
Oct 17, 2023
How Ancient Is the Mass?

Is Mass simply an opportunity to come together as a community? Is music the focus of Mass? While those things are good and important, the purpose of Mass is even greater. Dr. Edward Sri discusses the significance of the Mass and its ancient roots that go far back into the Old Testament. Snippet from the Show There is nothing more fulfilling than worshiping God. For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

27m
Oct 10, 2023
4 Truths from St. Francis of Assisi

St. Francis of Assisi loved nature and talked to birds, but is there more to him than that? Of course there is! The life of St. Francis of Assisi is filled with incredible examples of doing God’s will and emptying oneself for God’s sake. There is so much we can learn from St. Francis and Dr. Edward Sri outlines four of those lessons in this episode. Snippet from the Show It is essential that we set aside our feelings as we strive to do God’s will because more often than not, it will be difficult to do God’s will. For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

28m
Oct 03, 2023
The Value of Failing

Do you ever feel like you are failing or coming up short in the different areas of your life? Perhaps, you are struggling at work or in your marriage. In this episode, Dr. Edward Sri uses the wisdom of St. Therese of Lisieux to reveal the goodness that can come from acknowledging our failings and shortcomings. Snippet from the Show When we encounter our weaknesses and shortcomings, it reminds us, “Lord, I need you.” For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

31m
Sep 26, 2023
How to Handle Conflict

We are fallen human beings. As a result, sometimes we hurt one another. How should we address conflict in our friendships, families, workplace, and community? Dr. Sri breaks down the importance of fraternal correction and how we can effectively communicate with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Snippet from the Show God wants to write his love on our hearts. For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

30m
Sep 19, 2023
A Pivotal Step in the Spiritual Life

“I want to pray but I’m not sure how.” This is a challenge many people face when it comes to the spiritual life. How do you start? Using examples from The Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila, Dr. Edward Sri explains how to progress in the spiritual life. Snippet from the Show If we don’t have daily meditation, we cannot progress in our spiritual lives. For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

24m
Sep 12, 2023
How to Surrender Like Mother Teresa

Surrendering to God is difficult. Even the holiest men and women struggled to surrender to God. Fortunately, we can learn from them how to give our lives completely to God. Dr. Edward Sri shares in this episode Mother Teresa’s struggle to surrender to God’s will for her life. He reveals how we can follow her example. Snippet from the Show God will help you do the things you cannot do on your own. For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

29m
Sep 05, 2023