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Heaven Starts Now: Becoming a Saint Day by Day
Michigan pastor Fr. John Riccardo helps us dive into the Scriptures so that we can apply them to our daily lives. In his inspiring and incisive way, Fr. Riccardo addresses the obstacles we all face in becoming mature disciples. How do we learn to forgive? How do we combat fear and understand suffering? How do we worship the Lord, love others as Christ loves us, and fully surrender our lives to God? If you've enjoyed Fr. Riccardo's gifts of teaching and preaching through his broadcasts and podcasts, this book is for you!
142 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2016
104 people are currently reading
219 people want to read
About the author
John Riccardo
12 books21 followersFR. JOHN RICCARDO is a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit, ordained in 1996. He is the founder of Acts XXIX, a ministry to help pastors and their teams transform their parish culture and reclaim the Church's missionary identity. His popular show, Christ Is the Answer, is broadcast daily over the EWTN radio network, and his groundbreaking work in parish renewal has drawn national attention. In addition to his work in Detroit, Fr. Riccardo has served as a member of the USCCB National Advisory Council and is currently a member of the Alpha USA Pastors Forum.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
November 29, 2020
Advice. Didn't find all of it relevant to my condition.
June 11, 2020
We are called to LOVE everyone - give each other and ourselves grace! Start loving people.
March 29, 2024
This is a short yet profound read that changed my perspective on several aspects of my faith and the teachings of the Church. I love that it’s rich in Scripture and relatable scenarios/stories.
I’m so glad I stumbled upon this book as we approach the end of this Lenten season. Perfect timing!
I’m so glad I stumbled upon this book as we approach the end of this Lenten season. Perfect timing!
March 17, 2019
Remember: we want to become saints so that we can begin to live the life of heaven now. We want the Lord to take possession of us and of whatever he is doing in our lives.
Heavy on biblical quotes, and on quotes from Papal writings. The goal is to better understand God’s purpose, what he asks us to do, and how he expects us to respond to his love.
He echoes another book I’ve read recently, Man's Search for Meaning:
Many of us know from our own experience or from caring for others that the body actually reaches something of a threshold with physical pain. Physical pain is endurable; what is not endurable is the torment that comes from feeling as if there’s simply no point to the pain.
It’s not really a coincidence, because I pulled Man’s Search for Meaning from my to-read file after running across a mention of it here.
Riccardo emphasizes that suffering does not mean “that God has abandoned us” but rather than when Jesus says “take up your cross and follow me” this is not just “a figure of speech. The cross was the manner of execution… for the Romans… So when Jesus tells us to pick up our cross and follow him, he’s clearly trying to make it known to us that this is going to entail hardships…”
This is a light-hearted book, but also a difficult one. Becoming a saint means giving up control to God’s will.
As long as we want to decide for ourselves where we will find God, we need not fear that we shall meet him!—Father Wilfrid Stinissen
October 1, 2018
“Heaven Starts Now: Becoming a Saint Day by Day” by Fr. John Riccardo is filled with a number of tidbits on how you can start living a life of heaven right now- you don’t have to wait to get there. Even people in 2018 can be saints. If it weren’t so bittersweet I would hang this quote in every Alzheimer’s facility in the world: (summarizing) “Don’t lose heart. Though your outer self is wasting away, your inner self renews everyday. Your slight (in the whole scheme of things) affliction is preparing you for an eternity’s worth of glory- beyond anything you can imagine.” —St Paul to the Corinthians
March 29, 2021
Simple steps to Sanctity
“Sanctity” is a status that most of us still consider beyond our reach. But ever since the dramatic moment when the Holy of Holy’s was opened as Christ’s heart burst from love, we have been offered the chance to be saints. Do we realize what a gift this is?! Do we know how to receive it? Do we rejoice and praise God for this invitation? Are we willing to take steps right now to become saints, to love like God loves us, to shine with the light of Christ? May the Lord use this book to convert all our hearts!
“Sanctity” is a status that most of us still consider beyond our reach. But ever since the dramatic moment when the Holy of Holy’s was opened as Christ’s heart burst from love, we have been offered the chance to be saints. Do we realize what a gift this is?! Do we know how to receive it? Do we rejoice and praise God for this invitation? Are we willing to take steps right now to become saints, to love like God loves us, to shine with the light of Christ? May the Lord use this book to convert all our hearts!
June 3, 2019
This is a good concise book which shows us the journey toward holiness starts now: the aim is the 'omega' of sanctification. Each chapter discusses those 'tools' making this possible. There are Biblical references and helpful suggestions to outreach. I found it helpful that Fr John mentions some reflections I could make during different parts of the Mass to more attentively participate and have a fuller appreciation of celebrated Mass.
January 16, 2022
Father John Riccardo does it again...His ability to communicate the gospel in a clear, inspiring and thoughtful way is a gift from God! I remember one of my Rel Ed 2nd graders that responded to my prompt of "You all could become saints." She said, "You mean its not too late?"
He challenges the reader to get a plan...to become a saint!! Wow! What a tangible goal for all of us. Talk about a New Years Resolution!!
He challenges the reader to get a plan...to become a saint!! Wow! What a tangible goal for all of us. Talk about a New Years Resolution!!
September 21, 2020
Fr John Riccardo is one of my favorite priests. In this book he looks at the many challenges that humans have with life. Forgiveness, fear & anxiety, suffering and greed are all looked at in depth.
My favorite insight is: Forgiveness is not a question of trying harder, it is a question of letting the Holy Spirit come more deeply into our lives.
A short read for deepening faith.
My favorite insight is: Forgiveness is not a question of trying harder, it is a question of letting the Holy Spirit come more deeply into our lives.
A short read for deepening faith.
July 13, 2017
I love Fr. John Riccardo's podcast, and this is a great summary of a lot of what he talks about. The podcast is definitely the way to get the most out of his ideas, but I still enjoyed this brief book.
March 7, 2020
Father Ricardo is a very holy man who has a gift for explaining scripture and God’s will for our lives. God wants us all to be saints and he explains how and what that means in this book. I loved it!
January 28, 2017
Amazing, amazing book. Easy to read and real life applications. The chapter on surrender was terrific!
May 8, 2017
Great practical easy read. A nice shot in the arm for Lenten or Advent reading.
October 3, 2017
We are blessed to have this man working in our Archdiocese of Detroit.
July 31, 2017
Great read and thought provoking. I know I will reference back to it! May God continue to bless Fr. John. :)
January 29, 2019
Great chapter on forgiveness for others and myself.
October 1, 2020
Used as part of a prayer group. Provided very good discussion for the group. Would recommend it.
November 29, 2023
Practical, inspiring, quotes others frequently.
August 11, 2025
Fr. Riccardo is amazing. This was just the encouragement I needed.
March 8, 2017
This book was very inspirational and thought provoking I really enjoyed it.
December 23, 2016
This book by Fr. John Riccardo of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Archdiocese of Detroit, is a printing of a series of 8 lectures that he gave at a 10-week course in his parish. The subject of this series is becoming a saint in day-to-day life, a topic which he approaches with cheerfulness and optimism, but above all with total seriousness. He really intends to convince people to undertake the task of becoming Saints.
There is, of course, nothing really groundbreaking or revolutionary in that call. That is a good thing. Revolutionary and groundbreaking spiritual writing is usually heresy. This book is a distillation and rephrasing of the perennial message of Christ through His Church, and in keeping with the call of Vatican II to a “new evangelization” and the “universal call to holiness.” Where it seems revolutionary that is only because it is re-presenting the essentially revolutionary nature of Christianity.
He begins by exhorting the reader to sit down and make a detailed plan of how you intend to achieve sainthood, (you can check mine out on this site if you like https://themanwhowouldbeknight.wordpr...). He then takes the reader through a few of the fundamental obstacles to holiness that the beginner can expect to run into and those with more experience will readily recognize. These include “Forgiveness,” “Fear and Anxiety” and “Suffering.” He concludes with a chapter on the Primacy of Love.
It was this final chapter that I thought most relevant and necessary (it stands on the other chapters, however, so don’t just skip to the end). In it Fr. Riccardo sums up his foregoing advice under the title of “accumulation of virtues.” I especially love that phrase because it so perfectly illustrates my default (and problematic) approach to holiness. That is, I habitually pursue the accumulation of virtue in a check-the-list fashion. (“Now for a limited time only, pursuit of virtue! Collect all seven!”)
Fr. Riccardo provides the necessary corrective to that attitude by pointing out that the end goal is not perfection. That is an impossible goal. Instead the goal is intimacy with Jesus, perfection being the inevitable but utterly gratuitous result of that intimacy. That is, we are trying to open ourselves to the love of Jesus, and letting that love be manifest in our obedience to Him and in our treatment of our neighbors. Virtue is a means of exercising that love, and also the result of being possessed by that love.
Again, there is nothing new in this book (or under the heavens either, accord to Ecclesiastes). If you have done any catholic spiritual reading at all, or have ever read the Bible you have heard it all before in much greater depth. It is, however, a great reminder, easy to read but challenging to live up to. As long as we live I don’t think we shall ever grow out of our need for repeated exhortation, and this is what Fr. Riccardo provides admirably.
There is, of course, nothing really groundbreaking or revolutionary in that call. That is a good thing. Revolutionary and groundbreaking spiritual writing is usually heresy. This book is a distillation and rephrasing of the perennial message of Christ through His Church, and in keeping with the call of Vatican II to a “new evangelization” and the “universal call to holiness.” Where it seems revolutionary that is only because it is re-presenting the essentially revolutionary nature of Christianity.
He begins by exhorting the reader to sit down and make a detailed plan of how you intend to achieve sainthood, (you can check mine out on this site if you like https://themanwhowouldbeknight.wordpr...). He then takes the reader through a few of the fundamental obstacles to holiness that the beginner can expect to run into and those with more experience will readily recognize. These include “Forgiveness,” “Fear and Anxiety” and “Suffering.” He concludes with a chapter on the Primacy of Love.
It was this final chapter that I thought most relevant and necessary (it stands on the other chapters, however, so don’t just skip to the end). In it Fr. Riccardo sums up his foregoing advice under the title of “accumulation of virtues.” I especially love that phrase because it so perfectly illustrates my default (and problematic) approach to holiness. That is, I habitually pursue the accumulation of virtue in a check-the-list fashion. (“Now for a limited time only, pursuit of virtue! Collect all seven!”)
Fr. Riccardo provides the necessary corrective to that attitude by pointing out that the end goal is not perfection. That is an impossible goal. Instead the goal is intimacy with Jesus, perfection being the inevitable but utterly gratuitous result of that intimacy. That is, we are trying to open ourselves to the love of Jesus, and letting that love be manifest in our obedience to Him and in our treatment of our neighbors. Virtue is a means of exercising that love, and also the result of being possessed by that love.
Again, there is nothing new in this book (or under the heavens either, accord to Ecclesiastes). If you have done any catholic spiritual reading at all, or have ever read the Bible you have heard it all before in much greater depth. It is, however, a great reminder, easy to read but challenging to live up to. As long as we live I don’t think we shall ever grow out of our need for repeated exhortation, and this is what Fr. Riccardo provides admirably.
February 18, 2018
Father Riccardo doesn't pull his punches on the changes each of us need to make if we are to live the life of heaven here on earth. Too many Christians, even those of us who strive to be intentional, missionary disciples, have compromised with the world in ways we may not even have recognized. Are we living as citizens of heaven or citizens of the world? Our Lord Jesus Christ paid too high a price for us not to live the life of heaven starting right now.
June 10, 2017
How to become a saint
Father John, who has developed a national following thanks to his Catholic radio program and his leadership in the New Evangelization, lays out some of his moving story (his mother was a Saint who experienced a miracle and his father ran Chrysler) while detailing (in simple language) the steps to finding our own journey to sainthood.
Father John, who has developed a national following thanks to his Catholic radio program and his leadership in the New Evangelization, lays out some of his moving story (his mother was a Saint who experienced a miracle and his father ran Chrysler) while detailing (in simple language) the steps to finding our own journey to sainthood.
December 28, 2019
Who am I
Have you ever asked yourself that question? If you have ,Father John's book, Heaven Starts Now, will lead you to the answers. Do not wait because no one is promised tomorrow. We are promised something more, an eternal love that never let's go ,a mercy which exposes every thing and makes it holy ,a future hope in all the good around us.
Have you ever asked yourself that question? If you have ,Father John's book, Heaven Starts Now, will lead you to the answers. Do not wait because no one is promised tomorrow. We are promised something more, an eternal love that never let's go ,a mercy which exposes every thing and makes it holy ,a future hope in all the good around us.
December 24, 2016
I love Fr. Riccardo's talks, and I was happy to see he writes just as well. The book is clear and direct and in a practical way discusses what we need to do in our lives to live in a holy way. The challenge is to actually do it.
May 24, 2019
Fantastic Book
I enjoyed starting my day with this book! Many times I have read a great book and you feel a sense of sadness when it ends, because the enjoyment is over. I highlighted many passages & will reread those to remind me of its great message.
I enjoyed starting my day with this book! Many times I have read a great book and you feel a sense of sadness when it ends, because the enjoyment is over. I highlighted many passages & will reread those to remind me of its great message.
September 3, 2023
This book is very well written and easy to read. The discussion/reflection questions at the end of each chapter are introspective and thought-provoking. I recommend this book to all sinners who are striving to be Saints.
June 2, 2024
enlightening !
Fr. Riccardo weaves a tapestry of what God’s wants for us and shows us the power of Jesus and how to have it in our lives everyday.
Fr. Riccardo weaves a tapestry of what God’s wants for us and shows us the power of Jesus and how to have it in our lives everyday.
December 5, 2016
Profound
Excellent read for spiritual growth; enjoyable, easy to follow; well structured; deeply rewarding . Father Riccardo knows how to capture your mind and soul.
Excellent read for spiritual growth; enjoyable, easy to follow; well structured; deeply rewarding . Father Riccardo knows how to capture your mind and soul.
January 6, 2018
If you want to be a better human, and you understand or believe the Catholic faith, this book is for you. Well-researched, challenging, and incredibly well written, this book is a gift.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews