We stand before the Cross of Christ and acknowledge the darkness in our hearts. This is what inspired the love of God the Father to send his Son, to shine with heavenly light upon our world and free us from our sins.
April 7, 2023 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
We recall the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross so that we never take for granted the Lord's saving gift as we are inspired to grow in faith, hope and love.
April 15, 2022 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
The Passion of the Lord reveals God's love for the world. May this day drive us to our knees as we accept the gift of Christ and share His love with one another.
April 2, 2021 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday are the "Sacred Triduum" (the three sacred days) found in the heart of Holy Week. These high liturgies set forth the central elements of our faith in Jesus Christ.
March 29, 2021 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
In the Cross of Christ we see the sign of the Greatest Love Story every told. May the love of God touch the hardness of our hearts as we gaze upon the Savior, who gave his life for our sins on the Cross.
April 10, 2020 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
Today the world stands silent at the foot of the Cross. Only the unconditional love of God could remedy human sin, and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ gives us hope for eternal life.
April 19, 2019 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
Today we pray with the Church around the world as we recall the sign of God's love through the death of Jesus on the Cross. May the Lord's suffering and sacrifice open our hearts with gratitude as we reflect on what Christ has done for our eternal salvation.
March 30, 2018 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
Jesus Christ shows us that suffering is a pathway, not a destination. Through suffering we experience a purification - whereby we grow and discover new insights through the process of challenge, pain, and difficulty. God permits suffering that we might be changed...for the good. For remember: the suffering of Good Friday will be transformed into the joy of Easter Day.
We are thus consoled and challenged by these words. Consoled, in that we take hope that the triumph of Christ on the Cross will one day be our triumph. He understands our suffering (he's already been through his own) and we can cling to his mercy and grace.
Challenged, in that we are invited to drink from the cup of suffering. Like Christ, we pray that the cup will pass by, but like Christ we will accept what God sets before us - opening our hearts to God and allow this process to transform us.
October 17, 2015 - Cathedral of Christ the King - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - studyprayserve.com
For more podcasts go to threegreatthings.libsyn.com or "Catholic Inspiration" in iTunes.
The Cross of Christ - ugly, filthy with the blood of countless victims, jagged, and splintered - becomes the sign of the depth and breadth of agony Jesus endured. As he embraces his suffering, the Cross becomes a bridge whereby he unites with all humanity, meeting us in our most profound moments of weakness and sin, and gives us hope through his triumph over death.
We must understand the Cross in the light of Easter joy:
We look to the Cross and allow Christ's Passion to touch our lives. We unite with Jesus and give grateful thanks that he has redeemed us in every aspect of our lives.
Come to the Cross and unite your heart to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ.
Be redeemed by Love Himself, who gave his life to save and set us free.
April 3, 2015 - Cathedral of Christ the King - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - studyprayserve.com
For more podcasts, go to threegreatthings.libsyn.com or "Catholic Inspiration" in iTunes.
This is the 3rd of four presentations given at a Parish Mission on March 9-12, 2015 for Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church in Green Valley, Arizona.
Carrying his Cross for the salvation of the world, the Lord reveals two key insights for Christians:
SACRIFICE - giving up something for the sake of something more important - becomes self evident as the Lord offers his life as a perfect offering. Innocent and without sin, he takes our place and helps us to recognize our own sacrifices as a participation in his Cross.
SUPPORT appears when we look at two familiar figures in the Stations of the Cross - Simon of Cyrene and Veronica. We read about Simon in the Scriptures, and Veronica has been a part of the tradition of this devotional prayer for centuries; both of them show that even the smallest of actions proclaims the value of human life in our relationships with one another. Running toward suffering and sacrifice, we can (like a Firefighter) be agents in great and small ways for compassion, mercy, and tenderness.
March 11, 2015 - Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church - Green Valley, AZ
Fr. Andrew Ricci
studyprayserve.com
For more podcasts go to www.threegreatthings.libsyn.com or "Catholic Inspiration" in iTunes.
This is the 3rd of four presentations given at a Parish Mission on March 9-12, 2015 for Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church in Green Valley, Arizona.
Carrying his Cross for the salvation of the world, the Lord reveals two key insights for Christians:
SACRIFICE - giving up something for the sake of something more important - becomes self evident as the Lord offers his life as a perfect offering. Innocent and without sin, he takes our place and helps us to recognize our own sacrifices as a participation in his Cross.
SUPPORT appears when we look at two familiar figures in the Stations of the Cross - Simon of Cyrene and Veronica. We read about Simon in the Scriptures, and Veronica has been a part of the tradition of this devotional prayer for centuries; both of them show that even the smallest of actions proclaims the value of human life in our relationships with one another. Running toward suffering and sacrifice, we can (like a Firefighter) be agents in great and small ways for compassion, mercy, and tenderness.
March 11, 2015 - Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church - Green Valley, AZ
Fr. Andrew Ricci
studyprayserve.com
For more podcasts go to www.threegreatthings.libsyn.com or "Catholic Inspiration" in iTunes.