My mission is to reach as many people as possible and as deeply as possible with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
That's why I preach. That's why I write books. That's why I'm on television and radio. That's why I continue this ministry after all these years.
Someone once said, "You can see more through a teardrop than a telescope."
What a profound truth.
I've found that some of the greatest lessons, the deepest insights, and the closest encounters with God come not through success and prosperity, but through tears and trials.
In the 12-Step Program, they talk about having a "bottoming out" experience. A moment when you realize that what you've been doing isn't working anymore.
Nobody wants to hit the bottom. But often times that's where the breakthrough begins. #Jesus#12StepProgram#Catholic
St. Paul of the Cross said, "Look at a cross. It will preach you a sermon."
Take a moment today. Look at a crucifix and listen to what it is saying to your heart.
At our retreat center, we have a beautiful crucifix from Limpias, Spain. What makes it unique is that Jesus' eyes are still open. His side has not yet been pierced. He's still alive.
Every time I look at that crucifix, I'm reminded of the tremendous love Jesus has for us.
Every time you pray the Rosary, walk the Stations of the Cross, or look upon a crucifix, you're remembering the Passion of Jesus.
These devotions help us reflect on His suffering, His sacrifice, and His incredible love for us.
I'm a Passionist priest. That's why you see this sign over my heart. It stands for the Passion of Jesus, His suffering, His death, and His love for us.
Passionists have a special calling in the Church. We remember the Passion of Jesus. We meditate on it. We proclaim its meaning.
None of us wants suffering. But God can use it to awaken us, change us, and draw us back to Him. It can bring us to our senses. It can humble us. It can help us realize our need for God.
When I think about the ministry of Jesus, I think about someone who lived with tremendous purpose and passion. He didn't isolate Himself. He didn't settle for comfort. He went where the people were.
Don't be content with what's comfortable, live with passion.
Think about the Prodigal Son. As long as everything was going well, he stayed far from his father. It wasn't until he found himself hungry, and suffering that he came to his senses and began the journey home.
We all have thorns in our lives. Disappointments. Losses. Heartaches. Struggles that we never would have chosen for ourselves. But God can bring roses from our thorns. I speak more about how God can transform your suffering in my book, "Thorns Have Roses."
I have seen people experience a deep sense of God's presence through this sacrament. Sometimes there is physical improvement. Always there is healing and Gods grace.
Many people ask me about the garment that I wear. It's called a religious habit. As a Passionist priest, I wear it every day as a reminder of Jesus and His Passion, and His love for us on the cross.
When I put on this habit, I remember what Jesus did for you and for me.
Why did Jesus endure the cross? He willingly took on so much pain and suffering so that you and I could receive the gift of eternal life. Through his passion, Jesus opened the way for us to be reconciled with God forever. Watch the full message at Frcedric.org