Catholic Inspiration

Jesus uses an image of a grain of wheat: how it falls to the ground, dies, and then rises into new life.  This pattern of death to new life will be traced in Holy Week as the Lord offers his life on the Cross and changes the world through his Resurrection. This pattern of death to new life applies to us as well.  One day we will also make the journey from death to eternal life.  Furthermore, at this moment we can use this pattern to die to sin and rise with God's grace. March 3, 2015 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI Fr. Andrew Ricci studyprayserve.com For more podcasts go to "Catholic Inspiration" in iTunes. or www.threegreatthings.libsyn.com

We use the words "I love you" all the time - even when life is difficult.  Love is an affirmation that we cherish others...particularly when challenges and struggles occur.  The same is true for the Lord:  "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son..." These words are spoken to us in hope - that even when we make big mistakes God reaches out to us in love.  God remains faithful, welcoming, and present to us.  May we accept the love of God into our hearts and share that love with those placed before us. March 3, 2015 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI Fr. Andrew Ricci studyprayserve.com For more podcasts go to "Catholic Inspiration" in iTunes. or www.threegreatthings.libsyn.com

Often as spring starts to roll around many of us look around at the parts of the house that you could use a little cleaning.  Maybe it's something we haven't used for a long time, or perhaps there are items that simply need to be recycled, repurposed, or regifted to another.  Whatever it is, the process is the same: we evaluate what we have and determine what should stay, and what needs to go. The same process is true for our spiritual lives.  The 10 Commandments were given to the people of Israel to help them know how to live - to determine what needed to stay or go from their hearts. In the Gospel, Jesus cleanses the Temple and teaches that his own body - a temple - will be destroyed and raised up.  This cleansing and the lesson of death/life is true for us as well.  Christ comes to cleanse our hearts, and through his death and resurrection he will not only purify our lives, but he will create a temple where he will dwell among us. March 3, 2015 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI Fr. Andrew Ricci studyprays

The sacrifice of Isaac sounds truly terrible - that someone would offer their only beloved son.  It assaults our sense of goodness, human dignity, and respect...and this is an accurate assessment. And yet this is exactly what God did for us.  The Father offers his beloved son as a sacrifice.  A working definition for "sacrifice" may be: "to give up something because we believe in something greater" Simply put, the depth of our sacrifices reveals the extent of our values, convictions, and love.  It is the love, revealed in the transfigured glory of Christ, which inspires us to offer our lives as a sacrifice for others. March 1, 2015 - Cathedral of Christ the King - Superior, WI Fr. Andrew Ricci studyprayserve.com For more podcasts go to "Catholic Inspiration" in iTunes. or www.threegreatthings.libsyn.com

This is the 3rd of 3 presentations given at a Parish Mission on February 22-24, 2015 at Cathedral of Christ the King in Superior, WI.  The third presentation discusses how we navigate change and challenge in the course of our lives.  How do we face trials and struggles?  How do we live - reacting to events, engaging them, or passively drifting along?  Four words are used to guide this presentation: Attitude Habit Team God When we bring these different aspects together, we find that we live the gift of our lives with joy - not that life will be easy - but that we are attuned to bring our best effort to the Lord, who in turn will touch our lives with the grace we need. February 24, 2015 - Cathedral of Christ the King - Superior, WI Fr. Andrew Ricci studyprayserve.com For more podcasts go to "Catholic Inspiration" in iTunes. or www.threegreatthings.libsyn.com  

This is the 2nd of 3 presentations given at a Parish Mission on February 22-24, 2015 at Cathedral of Christ the King in Superior, WI.  We look at three areas in life to determine our spiritual fitness: Resources: the "stuff" in our lives People: how we relate to others Myself: Body, Mind, Heart, and Soul Looking at these areas we ask three simple questions: What external measure can I use to evaluate my life? What patterns do I see? How does this help me be a better disciple of Christ?  As we determine our fitness, we call upon the Lord to guide our efforts as we continue on our journey of faith. February 23, 2015 - Cathedral of Christ the King - Superior, WI Fr. Andrew Ricci studyprayserve.com For more podcasts go to "Catholic Inspiration" in iTunes. or www.threegreatthings.libsyn.com

This is the 1st of 3 presentations given at a Parish Mission on February 22-24, 2015 at Cathedral of Christ the King in Superior, WI.  Using the "Fruits of the Spirit" that St. Paul writes about in Galatians 5:22-23, we can look for these signs in our journey of faith:  Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control.  We look for these "fruits" in four regions of our lives: WHAT do I do with the "stuff" in my life? WHO are the people in my life? HOW do I behave? WHY do I do what I do? As we look for the signs of the Spirit in our lives, we can quickly and clearly observe God's hand at work in our hearts. February 22, 2015 - Cathedral of Christ the King - Superior, WI Fr. Andrew Ricci studyprayserve.com For more podcasts go to "Catholic Inspiration" in iTunes. or www.threegreatthings.libsyn.com  

Christ's words in the Gospel of Mark are brief and to the point: Repent Believe in the Gospel To do these two crucial points we look at three parts of our lives: thoughts, words, actions.  We evaluate these parts by three steps: We acknowledge the reality We make a change We put it into practice This simple sentence has the potential to quickly and decisively evaluate our Lenten journey.   February 21, 2015 - St. William Church - Foxboro, WI Fr. Andrew Ricci studyprayserve.com For more podcasts go to "Catholic Inspiration" in iTunes. or www.threegreatthings.libsyn.com

The messy, dirty, grimy ashes on the outside remind us of the messy, dirty, grimy reality of sin in our hearts.  As we repent and believe in the Gospel, may we call upon the Lord to wash us clean with the grace of Jesus Christ. February 18, 2014 - Cathedral of Christ the King - Superior, WI Fr. Andrew Ricci studyprayserve.com For more podcasts go to "Catholic Inspiration" in iTunes. or www.threegreatthings.libsyn.com

Lent provides a powerful opportunity to grow closer to the Lord and one another.  Yet if we are unprepared we will miss much that this holy season has to offer. This homily offers practical tips and tools to direct our path.  Use this for a simple starting point to make this the best Lent ever! Originally given on March 2, 2013 - Cathedral of Christ the King - Superior, WI Fr. Andrew Ricci studyprayserve.com For more podcasts go to "Catholic Inspiration" in iTunes. or www.threegreatthings.libsyn.com

Suffering not only affects us individually, but relationally as well.  The four categories described last week may touch our relationships in some of these ways: Body - illness separates us from touch and personal contact Mind - misunderstanding and doubt can drive us apart Heart - emotions can overwhelm our words & actions, dividing us Soul - evil alters our sense of values, right & wrong, separating us from others Like the leper in the Gospel of Mark today, we can reclaim the healing we need in our lives and the relationships around us.  Here are three things to consider: Acknowledge what is broken and wounded Actively seek to reconcile with one another Call up God for the help and strength we need for healing  February, 15, 2015 - Cathedral of Christ the King - Superior, WI Fr. Andrew Ricci studyprayserve.com For more podcasts go to "Catholic Inspiration" in iTunes. or www.threegreatthings.libsyn.com  

 This is the 1st of 3 talks given at a Parish Mission on the Eucharist at St. Dominic Church in Frederic, WI on March 8, 2014. This first talk draws on the Gospel story of Emmaus (Luke 24:1-35) and the writing of St. Justin Martyr.  It then outlines the teaching and command of Jesus to receive the Body of Christ so that we become the Body of Christ.  Fr. Andrew Ricci studyprayserve.com For more podcasts go to "Catholic Inspiration" in iTunes. or www.threegreatthings.libsyn.com

This is the 2nd of 3 talks given at a Parish Mission on the Eucharist at St. Dominic Church in Frederic, WI on March 8, 2014. This second talk offers a series of practical points on how to prepare and participate in the Mass so that its power can direct our lives.   Fr. Andrew Ricci studyprayserve.com For more podcasts go to "Catholic Inspiration" in iTunes. or www.threegreatthings.libsyn.com

This is the 3rd of 3 talks given at a Parish Mission on the Eucharist at St. Dominic Church in Frederic, WI on March 8, 2014. This third talk discusses how Eucharist and Adoration can nourish our spiritual lives and then goes on to connect with a reflection from Pope Francis (given on February 21, 2014) that shows three distinct ways that the Eucharist inspires a Catholic Way of Life. Fr. Andrew Ricci studyprayserve.com For more podcasts go to "Catholic Inspiration" in iTunes. or www.threegreatthings.libsyn.com

Suffering is a part of human life.  It is often found in one of four quadrants of human experience: Body - our physical health Mind - our intellectual health Heart - our emotional health Soul - our spiritual health When we encounter suffering we can first do our part: We acknowledge the pain and hurt  We gather resources to help us We act: putting our healing into practice But sometimes we discover that the suffering is bigger than ourselves.  We cannot handle it alone, so we then turn to the Lord who through his death on the Cross understands our pain and triumphs over it. February 8, 2015 - Cathedral of Christ the King - Superior, WI Fr. Andrew Ricci studyprayserve.com For more podcasts go to "Catholic Inspiration" in iTunes. or www.threegreatthings.libsyn.com

The Sacrament of Reconciliation, which also goes by the names of Confession or Penance, is a powerful treasure.  Yet there are many misconceptions, many fears, and many questions that surround this great gift to the Church.  Sometimes I think that folks would rather have a dental root canal than walk into a confessional... If it has been some time since you have gone to Confession, do not fear!  This incredible Sacrament continues to transform hearts and change lives; the following presentation dispels some of the myths and answers many of the common questions that are frequently asked. This sacrament has four components: Contrition - sometimes called repentance, shows we are sorry Confession - where we admit what we have done Reparation - where we undertake a penance as an outward sign we want to make things right Absolution - where the priest, speaking on God's behalf, extends God's grace and forgiveness This sacrament will touch our hearts and change our lives!  Confession is not only an experience of fo

The power and authority of Jesus Christ is evident in the Gospel reading today, as the Lord teaches and then casts out unclean spirits.  This same power was extended through the Apostles; calling upon the Lord these disciples changed the world as they allowed the grace and strength of Christ to flow through their lives. When we are plugged in to the grace of Jesus, we allow the Lord's love to flow through our lives and touch the hearts of others.  Like extension cords, we become conduits - drawing upon the strength of Christ and sharing his power with those in our lives - so that the Lord's mission will continue through us today. February 1, 2015 - Cathedral of Christ the King - Superior, WI Fr. Andrew Ricci studyprayserve.com For more podcasts, go to "Catholic Inspiration" in iTunes. or www.threegreatthings.libsyn.com

Remember as kids when we learned how to do long division?  Remember what happens when you make a mistake early on, only to find out at the end that the answer is wrong?  And remember how you have to: Go back to the beginning Find the mistake Rework the problem to a new solution? The same is true for spiritual life.  Both the first reading and the Gospel call us to repent - turning away from our sins and mistakes and following God with full hearts.  May we call upon the Lord's grace to move forward with God's help as we embrace the Good News. January 24, 2014 - St. William Church - Foxboro, WI Fr. Andrew Ricci studyprayserve.com For more podcasts, go to "Catholic Inspiration" in iTunes. or www.threegreatthings.libsyn.com

This "Theology on Tap" reflection offers some practical ways to strengthen your prayer life and grow closer to God.  Some topics include: Time, Space, Location, and Preparation Dealing with Distraction Using resources - including Scripture and Devotionals Finding what works for you Originally given on November 11, 2013 - Dubh Linh's Pub - Duluth, MN Fr. Andrew Ricci studyprayserve.com For more podcasts, go to "Catholic Inspiration" in iTunes. or www.threegreatthings.libsyn.com

The call of the Lord today touched the hearts of Samuel and two disciples of John the Baptist through the assistance of Eli and John.  Their example speaks to us: Are we listening to the Lords call in our lives? Are we helping others find their call? May we keep our hearts open through Scripture, Prayer, and Fellowship; may we speak to others in love - sharing what we see so that they can find their path. January 18, 2015 - Cathedral of Christ the King - Superior, WI Fr. Andrew Ricci studyprayserve.com For more podcasts go to "Catholic Inspiration" in iTunes or  www.threegreatthings.libsyn.com