This Sunday we celebrate the Trinity, one of the great mysteries of our faith. We unpack the Sunday readings with Rob Corzine.

Segment 2: Hey NYT: There is more to the Church than “Pelvic Theology” (2 segments)

Following the publication of Pope Leo’s new encyclical, the New York Times claimed that the teaching on artificial intelligence was a shift from the Church’s “fixation” on “pelvic theology.” This betrays a profound misunderstanding of the Church’s teaching on sexuality and its relationship to Catholic social doctrine. Noelle Mering has more.

Gregory the Great gives us an important exhortation in today’s Office of the Readings: Whose approval governs the soul when we are mocked? Do we do things for the love of God, or because we desire our own praise and adulation? If we aren’t careful, praise can very quickly become a drug to the soul and it can turn the soul away from the altar of God. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: Fundraiser Dinner for Lebanon

The Church continues to suffer persecution in Lebanon. Fr. Roger Chikri, head of the Maronite Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary, tells us about the struggles the Church is facing and how you can support them at an upcoming fundraiser dinner.

Segment 3: Encountering the Catholic Faith in Children’s Literature

Children’s literature, by its very nature, can spark unexpected and fruitful conversations. These conversations can take various forms—from lighthearted and whimsical to educational and pro­foundly thought-provoking. And they can be used to spark conversations on the faith. Luella D’Amico joins us with more.

Segment 4: A Warning from Constantinople

On this day in 1453, Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Empire. The Eastern Roman Empire came to its earthly end. The fall of Constantinople represents a clash between two political theologies – and it remains a warning for us today. Marcus has more.

The Society of St. Pius X has announced the names of four priests who will be consecrated as bishops on July 1 without the permission of Pope Leo XIV. We talk more about this and other Church news with Matthew Bunson.

Segment 2: The Church learns something new from Newman (2 segments)

St John Henry Newman taught the Church a whole host of things, ranging from the development of doctrine to the primacy of truth to the nature of conscience. But Matthew Walz wants to consider something else – what it means to Hope in God the Creator. He joins us.

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Today’s readings are united by a covenantal theme - we are no longer beggars and now belong to the family of God through the sacrifice of Christ. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: Life Lessons from Dante’s Inferno (2 segments)

Despite its linguistic beauty and political intrigue, Dante’s “Divine Comedy” is a work of profound theological depth. It reflects the coherence and richness of Medieval Christian philosophy and theology and has much to say about the nature and effects of sin. Mike Schramm has more.

Segment 3: When the Internet Grieved a Gorilla

10 years ago, social media was set ablaze following the death of Harambe, a zoo gorilla who was shot after a child fell into its enclosure. The White House X account tried to honor the anniversary of the incident this week with a rather bizarre post. A society that eulogizes a zoo animal while celebrating the “right” to abortion is a society doomed to fail. Marcus has more.

Something is happening in the country that is being misread as politics. People of faith are reasserting their place in American public life, the law is increasingly vindicating them and the secular establishment has not figured out what to do about it. Andrea Picciotti-Bayer has more.

Segment 2: Why the Pope should talk about AI

Pope Leo’s encyclical had barely been released before some critics began complaining that the Pope should address other matters rather than something like AI, accusing him of modernism and other absurd things. As the head of the Catholic Church, the Pope should offer guidance on things that affect the modern world. Marcus has more.

Segment 3: “If God did not exist, then the entirety of my life meant nothing.” (2 segments)

When Christopher Hazell was an atheistic college student, he found himself on a flight, staring out the window into the blackness. If God did not exist, he reasoned, than the entirety of life meant nothing. Sin and suffering can render the world dark and clouded, convincing us that our lives are meaningless. He joins us with more.

Today’s Mass readings are woven together by the theme of Redemption. We have been ransomed as a people, bought by Christ’s blood in order to live inside the peace of Zion through humble service to God. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: The Virgin Mary’s Message to Nigeria

Nigeria is among the worst countries in the world for the persecution of Christians, with attacks on villages and kidnappings of priests happening on a regular basis. This persecution was foretold by the Blessed Virgin Mary in a church-approved apparition that many have never heard of. Muji Kaiser tells the story.

Segment 3: The Digital Papacy and the Crisis of Online Catholic Discourse (2 segments)

In recent times, media coverage of papal remarks—especially in the Wild West of social media Catholicism—has come to assume a regrettable pattern. The pope gives a speech or grants an interview, and opposing factions predictably amplify selected lines to support preexisting positions they want to advance. The trend continues in the papacy of Pope Leo. Matthew Ramage has more.

In his new encyclical, Pope Leo writes that AI has ‘Even Greater Consequences’ than the Industrial Revolution. Brendan Newell, a Catholic expert on the ethics of Al, weighs in.

Segment 2: How to start praying with your spouse

Prayer is an essential part of a Catholic marriage – and not just praying on your own, but praying together for each other and the family. Dr Greg Popcak has tips on how to get started and how to take the next step.

Segment 3: What makes Mary the Mother of the Church?

In 2018, Pope Francis declared the Monday after Pentecost as the Feast of Mary, Mother of the Church. As a Protestant, Marcus was concerned that Catholic’s devotion for Mary competed with, or interfered with, their devotion to Christ. He explains how he came to understand the Catholic doctrine on Mary.

St. Peter begins today’s readings by taking us into the memory of Israel. The salvation announced in Jesus Christ arrived through God working through salvation history. The prophets searched the divine promises and discovered that the Spirit of Christ was already bearing witness within Israel’s sacred history. What does this mean for us? Have we, as Peter says in the Gospel, given up everything to follow Christ? Marcus shares some thoughts.

Segment 2: “Never has humanity had such power over itself.”

In his new encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, Pope Leo observes that AI is not a morally neutral tool; it matters not only how it is used, but how it is designed. Zac Johnson of Truthly AI has more.

Segment 3: Pope Leo Invokes Justice to Combat ‘Anti-Human Vision’ in AI (2 segments)

In his encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, published Monday, Pope Leo XIV calls on society and AI developers to implement “shared standards of social justice” in order for artificial intelligence to respect human dignity and serve the common good. We look closer at the document with Dr Matthew Bunson.

There is an irony to Memorial Day. Many Americans see it as a three-day weekend that “unofficially” kicks off summer and some stores seem to think it’s simply another cheap excuse to host sales on furniture and televisions. The phrase “Memorial Day” simply doesn’t do the day justice. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: An American Hero: One Man’s Legacy of Fatherhood and Faith

Jimmy Davis was a World War II whose resilience, integrity, and unwavering faith forged a life-giving legacy that transformed not only his family but also countless lives around him. Jack Watts shares his story.

Segment 3: The Civil War origins of Memorial Day (2 segments)

This weekend, Americans will dedicate a day to honor the memory of those who sacrificed their lives in defense of their country: Memorial Day. Although the federal holiday was officially established in 1968, its origins date back more than 160 years to the Civil War. During this time, a grieving nation sought to commemorate the many brave men lost in the brutal conflict. One soldier who has never come home is Sergeant Joseph Allen Frith. Patrick K O’Donnell tells the story.

On May 23, 1945, Heinrich Himmler – the mastermind behind the Holocaust and one of the top men in Nazi Germany – swallowed a cyanide pill rather than face justice for his crimes against humanity. His life is a cautionary example of what happens when a man casts aside the divine and enthrones himself. Conversely, Auschwitz Commandant Rudolf Höss felt remorse at the end of his life and asked for a priest to hear his confession. Marcus compares their lives.

Segment 2: A Vaccine for the Pandemic of Lunacy (3 segments)What is happening to the world? Why does it seem like everyone has gone insane? Why are so many things that seemingly everyone believed the day before yesterday suddenly held to be retrograde, hateful, or even criminal? And why are things that everyone seemed to view as lunacy the day before yesterday suddenly taught or even required? J. Budziszewski says it’s time we declared a pandemic of lunacy – and he has an antidote. He joins us.

There are different readings for the Pentecost Vigil and Sunday Masses this weekend, but they all come together to illuminate the Feast of Pentecost. We unpack the readings with Rob Corzine.

Segment 2: The Spirit Elevates the Apostles (2 segments)

Near the end of Luke’s Gospel, Jesus instructs His apostles to not leave Jerusalem “until you are clothed with the power on high.” That is the event we celebrate this weekend. Adam van Wart joins us to talk about how the Apostles were changed by the Spirit.

It’s a commonly touted line that Pentecost is the Birthday of the Church. But there’s no real root for that sentiment in the Church documents or the Scriptures. So where does it come from? And when is the Church’s birthday? The answer lies is understanding the nature and purpose of the Church’s existence. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: When the Spirit Comes in Power (3 segments)

The entire Easter and Lenten season presupposes that we are on a journey culminating with this moment – the Feast of Pentecost. We cannot underestimate the power of the Resurrection – but the Easter season culminates with Pentecost because it is an historical event that continues in the life of the Church to this very day. Peter Herbeck has more.

Reading the documents from the recent Synod on Synodality, you may find yourself wondering who the intended audience is. They certainly don’t seem to be written to the “people in the pew.” The jargon is so thick that the only possible audience could be other bureaucrats. Dr. Randall Smith joins us.

In today’s readings, Paul is dragged into the old courtroom of Israel, Jesus prays within the eternal communion of the Father, and in the psalms the voice of every covenant servant who has learned that God himself is our portion. The readings converge upon one urgent truth: the Church is born from the resurrection and sent into this public conflict of the world. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: New Jersey moves towards euthanasia

New Jersey is considering a bill that could open the door to intentional legal undernourishment. Wes Smith has the details.

Segment 3: Doomscrolling with the Devil

We know how smartphones affect our children’s brains – but what about their souls? John Melnikov joins us.

Segment 4: Triggered by Trigger Warnings? NYU Students Prove Haidt’s Point

Since his 2018 book The Coddling of the American Mind, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt has been documenting the harms that well-meaning movements such as “safe spaces” have had on our society, especially our youth. Ironically, his commencement address at NYU this spring sparked the very reaction he has been trying to fight – students treated their emotional discomfort with his ideas as the equivalent of a physical threat, asking if he was the “safest” option. Their response proved his point. Marcus has some thoughts.

Marcus awoke on May 20, 2008 as a radical atheist who hated the idea of God. He went to bed as a Christian who finally understood that God loved him. On the anniversary of his conversion, Marcus shares what happened that day.

Segment 3: Five Fun Words for Mary (2 segments)

Catholics celebrate May as the Month of Mary. Steve Ray joins us with some special terms we use to describe what our Blessed Mother means to us.

Fans of the musical “My Fair Lady” may recognize May 20 as “Eliza Doolittle Day.” The musical is build on the premise that our manners, speech, and actions reveal something about our soul. The Catechism teaches that human dignity requires education and virtue, because education and virtue teach self-mastery. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: UK Renews Push for Assisted Suicide

A new public campaign is beginning in Great Britain, where some members of Parliament are attempting to pass a bill legalizing assisted suicide. Joanna Bogle has the details.

Segment 3: Don’t Waste your Suffering: Embracing the Cross when Fear takes Hold (2 segments)

Just over two years ago, Adam Wright got a life-changing message from his doctor. He had been diagnosed with cancer. That night, he prayed a simple prayer: “I’m not ready, Lord. But You are. Let’s go.” He reflects on his journey of suffering.

Segment 2: Malcolm X and Our Sentimental Read of History

Malcolm X was born on this day in 1925. He is one of many historical figures who have been either canonized or demonized by modern culture due to a simplistic, sentimental read of history. But as Catholics we have an obligation to look at history through the lens of the teachings of the Church, acknowledging how God has used broken men and movements to achieve great goods. Marcus has more.

Segment 3: A Battle Plan for Spiritual Warfare (2 segments)

With Fulton Sheen’s impending canonization, we would be wise to revisit his writings on battling demons. Fr. Dave Tomaszycki joins us with more.

In today’s reading, Paul speaks to the presbyters of Ephesus. He addresses them as a father, and his ministry is a participation in the self-given love of Christ. He is entrusting to them the urgent call of the Gospel to shepherd the faithful. We are given the same call to become witnesses for Christ. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: Pope Leo’s First Encyclical will Address AI

Pope Leo’s first encyclical will be published on May 25. Entitled Magnifica Humanitas, it will address the protection of human dignity in an age of artificial intelligence. Matthew Bunson has more.

Segment 3: Did the Revolution violate Romans 13? (2 segments)

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, Christians are once again debating the moral significance of the American Founding. Was the American Revolution an act of justified resistance, or a failure of obedience? Romans 13 commands us to “be subject to the governing authorities” and Jesus famously told us to “render to Caesar what is Caesar’s.” We talk more about it with Mitchell Bahnsen.

Recently, there has been a notable upsurge in adult conversions to the Catholic faith, even amidst a long-term decline in religious affiliation. Heartening as it is, this glimmer of hope raises a question for those already devoted to the practice of the faith: what can we do to collaborate with the Holy Spirit to assist souls in finding their way to the fullness of the truth? We’ll talk about it with Joseph Hebert. Segment 2: The First Gen Z Saint?

The cause of canonization has opened for Pedro Ballester, an engineering student from England who died in 2018 at the age of 21. Could he be the first Gen Z saint? His friend Jack Valero joins us.

Segment 3: The Catholic Answer to the “Jewish Question”

A movement at a Catholic University calling itself the Coalition of Catholics Against Jewish Supremacy claims that Catholics have no Jewish roots and that Jews exist purely and entirely in opposition to Christ. The church gives us the answer to this so-called Jewish question. The answer is salvation in Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham. Marcus has more.

In today’s First Reading, Paul enters Ephesus and finds men who had received John’s initial baptism of repentance, but had not been baptized in the authority Christ proposed. He baptized in this manner, and they began to prophecy. The church needs sons and daughters who will boldly and seriously live out every aspect of our baptismal promises. Do not take the graces of your baptism for granted! Marcus has more.

Segment 2: Courage Director responds to Synod Report

The final report of the Synod on Synodality’s Study Group 9 has drawn widespread criticism since its publication last week — not least for what its authors wrote about Courage International. The organization’s Executive Director Fr Brian Gannon joins us.

Segment 3: Freedom without Virtue is Doomed

Today, political conflict in the United States is more than a social crisis—it is a cultural mirror. A considerable portion of the population thinks violence is justifiable to achieve political goals, debate has gone out the window, and our elected officials seem more interested in verbal sparring than actually accomplishing anything. At the heart of this trend is a civilizational challenge: a steady breakdown of the civic virtues that once sustained Western democracy. We look at the problem with Jonathan Emerson-Pierce.

Segment 4: Our republic needs virtue - and virtue needs Jesus’ truth

God made us for communion with Him. Sin fractures that communion. Christ restores it by His blood. Our political life will never replace that covenant. But political life can be healed by citizens who live in virtue. Marcus has more

This Sunday we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension. Throughout the readings, we see a constant theme of the Enthronement of Christ. We unpack the readings with Rob Corzine.

Segment 2: Exploring Mary’s Pivotal Role from Age to Age (2 segments)

The Virgin Mary’s part in history doesn’t begin and end with her yes to God. She is at the center of history from creation to the end of time and everywhere in between. Mike Aquilina joins us to explore the many ways the mother of humanity has left her mark on the great events of time, not only as we see them in the Bible, but also in pivotal events such as Fatima, the battle of Lepanto, and the plague.

Many people today, especially in the younger generations, root their identity in a particular social movement as they seek validation. But such validation can only be found, ultimately, in God. Marcus has more.

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Segment 2: Our Cultural Abandonment of Character

Jonathan Rinderknecht—the Uber driver charged with setting the blaze that killed twelve people and destroyed thousands of homes— has professed an admiration for Luigi Mangione, the accused killer of Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare. Anne Hendershott discusses how we are shaped by the cultural habit of looking outward to decide who to become.

Segment 3: When Man Loses Sight of God (2 segments)

God made man in His own image and likeness. God Himself, then, is the primary reference point for man’s self-understanding. Accordingly, when man loses sight of God, he loses sight of his own humanity. Stephen White has more.

Amid all the concerns about artificial intelligence eradicating humans from the workforce, we must base our conversation in the language of the church. AI must serve the dignity of human persons. Everything we do in the sphere of the development of this technology must be to that end. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: Legislation to Protect the right to Bury the Unborn

New legislation introduced today would ensure parents can arrange for burial or cremation after a pregnancy loss. Known as the Bereaved Parents Act, the bill is sponsored by Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas, who practiced as an OBGYN for more than 25 years. Michael New tells us more about it.

Segment 3: The Liturgical Symbolism of the Ascension

When St. Thomas Aquinas explains the meaning of the Gloria in the rite of Mass, he says that it “commemorates heavenly glory, to which we tend after the misery of this life.” The Mass, from the very moment of the consecration, makes Christ present as he is now in heaven. On this Feast of the Ascension, we look at how Christ’s Ascension is highlighted in the Mass with Fr. Michael Eades.

Segment 4: The Ascension elevates our faith

The Ascension shows us a biblical narrative of Christ being enthroned because He ascends into heaven to receive His place at the right hand of God the Father. His full divine nature was always Lord and now His full human nature has ascended and is now fully Lord of heaven and earth. Marcus has more.

Today presents us with two sets of readings: one for the Feast of the Ascension, and the other for the Feast of St Matthias. Matthias was the apostle chosen to succeed Judas, and his succession set the standard for the Apostolic succession we still observe today. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: Sexual Healing Conference comes to Detroit

How can men and women become good gifts to one another? Andrew Comiskey is hosting a conference that will explore the wounds we carry in our sexual identity and how they distort the way we see ourselves and eachother. It’s on May 30th at Mother of God Parish in Southfield and attendance is free! Andy has the details.

Segment 3: Reflections on the Rosary (2 segments)

Looking to dive deeper into the Rosary? Fr. Daniel Klimek joins us with a look at the thought of Pope St. John Paul II, St. John of the Cross, St. Josemaría Escrivá, St. Faustina Kowalska, and mystics such as Venerable Maria of Ágreda and Caryll Houselander, uncovering little-known spiritual treasures that will enrich the prayer and reflection of all.

Circuit Judge Stuart Kyle Duncan of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has made it clear that he understands the role of the courts in holding the federal government accountable. Two recent opinions — one checking the hasty work of the FDA in approving mail-order abortions, and another affirming the benign posting of the Ten Commandments in public schools — illustrate why he deserves attention. Andrea Picciotti-Bayer has more.

Segment 2: New film chronicles the untold story of how the Holy Spirit is renewing the Church

On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus prayed a prayer that still echoes across the Church today: “That they may all be one.” That’s the title of a new film, in theaters May 19 and 20. Michael Girgenti, who plays Jesus in the film, joins us.

Segment 3: The Historical Significance of Fatima (2 segments)

The Apparitions at Fatima are one of the most consequential events of the 20th century. We celebrate the miracle with Dr. Mark Miravalle.

The Vatican’ warned the SSPX today that its plan to consecrate new bishops without papal mandate will represent a schismatic act resulting in excommunication. The ball is now in the SSPX’s court. But while they claim to be saving the Church, man cannot save his family by burning down his house. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: Terrorists torch historic church in Mozambique

The bishop of Mozambique’s Catholic Diocese of Pemba has expressed sorrow following a terrorist attack that destroyed the historic St. Louis de Montfort Parish in Cabo Delgado province, saying the local community “remains in shock” after the assault. Ed Clancy tells us more.

Segment 3: Catholic Education Needs Civic Formation (2 segments)

There is a movement afoot in American education to restore the teaching of civics in a way that presents America as lovable and worthy of its citizens’ service. Catholics are well-positioned to join this movement. What we need now is for Catholics to do so eagerly. Thomas Harmon has more.

We are fast approaching the Great Feast of Pentecost, which we will celebrate a week from Sunday. We look at the meaning of the feast with Steve Ray.

Segment 2: The gravest threat facing both religion and science is the denial of objective truth.

In a recent address to the Vatican Observatory Foundation, Pope Leo said that the primary threat facing both science and religion is the denial of objective truth. The fact that something so self-evident even needs to be said says much about the state of our society. Marcus has more.

In today’s First Reading, we are taken to a prison in Philippi, where Paul and Silas were taken for preaching the Gospel. When an earthquake opened their cell doors, they remained behind and shared the Good news with their jailer. Any Catholic who treats the faith as a private devotional practice has already given in to a modern life, a theology of isolation that will result in the fragmentation of the body of Christ. Jesus didn’t come to decorate our hearts’ private sentiment. He came to reign over every home, every church, every society, every culture, and every nation as Lord. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: Archbishop’s Gala: Forming Shepherds for the Good News

The annual Archbishop’s Gala, which raises support for current and future seminarians in the Archdiocese of Detroit, is coming up on June 4 at St John’s in Plymouth. Fr. Brian Meldrum joins us to talk about the event and seminary formation.

Segment 3: The Beauty of Shakespeare (2 segments)

Shakespeare’s plays continue to be treasured by millions around the world. Dr. Henry Russell is directing a performance of one of Shakespeare’s early comedies, Love’s Labour’s Lost, in Ann Arbor this spring. He joins us to dive deeper into the meaning of Shakespeare’s works.

The performances are Friday, May 15 and Saturday, May 16 at 7:00 pm and Sunday, May 17 and 3:00 pm at the U-M Lydia Mendelssohn Theater. Tickets are $10 or $40 for families and may be purchased at the box office or by emailing stedmundcampionplayers@gmail.com.

Each day requests for help pour into the Vatican from every corner of the world. The Papal Foundation offers Catholics in America a unique opportunity to assist the Holy Father in responding with God’s love, grace and abundance. Deacon Jim Coffee tells us more about their work.

Segment 2: Sisters of Life: Serving the Heart of New York City

The Sisters of Life believe that every person is sacred, unique, unrepeatable, and infinitely loved by God. And this is the message they bring to the inner cities of New York, serving mothers in desperate situations. Sister Maris Stella has more.

Segment 3: Where does Culture Building Begin? (2 segments)

In order to bring Christ to the culture, we must first connect Christ to our own lives. Jeff Schiefelbein is doing this work through his “Beati-dudes” podcast. He joins us.

In today’s First Reading, we hear the account of Lydia, who was baptized by Paul along with her household and asked Paul to stay in her home. This and the other readings today compel us to ask whether our personal hearts, our families, and our households have been opened up to not just Christ’s messengers, but also to Christ Himself. Is He Lord over every facet of our existence? And if He is not, what is stopping us? Marcus has more.

Segment 2: Building a Culture of Life on Campus

A culture of darkness has overtaken many of our younger generations, but Kristan Hawkins is trying to fight back by building a culture of life. She shares her work with us.

Segment 3: Eight Characteristics of a Culture of Lay Formation (2 segments)

Since the Second Vatican Council, there has been a new surge in the role of the laity in forming the Church. John Paul II and Benedict XVI made the “co-responsibility of the laity” a key theme of their papacies. We discuss the meaning of lay formation with John Cavadini.

This Sunday’s Gospel addresses the vision of the Christian life. If we love Jesus, we will keep His commandments – and Jesus will come to help us. We unpack the readings with Rob Corzine.

Segment 2: Has the American Vision Failed? (2 segments)

This year is the 250th anniversary of the American founding. Is our country fulfilling the dream its founders laid out? Some critics on both sides of the political spectrum say the founding of America was flawed from the start. Was it? Dr Jerome Foss joins us

As a child, Santonio Hill dreamed of playing in the NFL and he was even offered a scholarship to play college football. But God had other plans and it soon became clear He was calling Santonio to the priesthood. Today, he is a Catholic father and speaker. He shares his story.

Segment 2: Christ’s Lordship Cannot be Compartmentalized

All of the areas of our human existence fall under the auspices of Christ’s Lordship and Godhead. And therefore, we cannot seek to compartmentalize Christ’s Lordship into segments - our political life, our personal life, our profession life, and so on. Marcus has more.

Segment 3: Jesus Reigns over All

Dr. John Grabowski discusses Jesus’ lordship over all areas of life.

We’re excited to be broadcasting this week from the Catholics at the Shore Conference in New Jersey. Chris McMahon tells us more about the event and how the culture is rediscovering the Eucharist.

Segment 2: Jesus transforms the Culture (2 segments)

All of us – regardless of our position or place in life, are called to be saints. And there’s no place we can go where God hasn’t preceded us. The Lord is already at work in our world and He wants us to join Him in mission. Marcus reflects with Billy Kangas.

Segment 3: Pope Leo meets with Marco Rubio

Pope Leo met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio today to discuss US-Vatican relations and the Iran war. Matthew Bunson gives us an update.

Today’s readings begin with the Church’s first council, recounted in Acts 15, which addresses the question of circumcision. This presented a major covenantal question for the early Church. And from there, the Gospel recounts Jesus inviting us to abide by the Father’s laws and Remain in His love. Marcus reflects on the readings.

Segment 2: Yes, Men Need to talk about Abortion (3 segments)

When Sean Corcoran was in college, his girlfriend told him she was pregnant. Despite offers from his family to adopt the child, she chose to have an abortion. She went on a downward spiral, and the school counseling office offered to help her. But when Sean sought out the same help, he was rejected – because abortion “wasn’t a man’s problem.” He’s now devoted his life to fighting that lie, and he joins us.

The Supreme Court handed down one of the most consequential First Amendment rulings in years Wednesday, and it did so without a single dissent. It ruled in favor of First Choice Women’s Resource Center, finding that it could not be forced to disclose information about its donors. Andrea Picciotti-Bayer has more.

Segment 2: What a Near-Death Experience taught me about the Eucharist (3 segments

In 2020, Jason Shanks contracted a severe case of Covid-19. Doctors told him he would need to be sedated and there was a chance he would never wake up. He spent the next several minutes writing farewell messages to his children and leaving instructions to his family on how to access his life insurance and other matters. The weeks he spent in the ICU changed him deeply, leading to a very different understanding of the Eucharist. He shares his story.

This week marks the anniversary of four separate, yet strangely connected historical events. We remember the Hindenburg disaster, the births of Robespierre and Sigmund Freud, and Stalin’s rise to premier of the Soviet Union. And they all highlight humanity’s ambition to baptize itself with the language of progress while removing God from the public sphere. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: The Dangers of Surrogacy gone Wild

A report in the Wall Street Journal finds that Chinese billionaires are taking advantage of US Surrogacy laws to father dozens of children. We look at the problems at hand with Jennifer Roback Morse.

Segment 3: The Busy Parent’s Guide to the Catholic Faith (2 segments)

Has this ever happened to you? You’re trying to put the kids to bed, or rush them out the door in the morning, and they decide it’s the perfect time to stump you with a question on the faith. Steven Hemler joins us with short answers to life’s biggest questions.

Marriage is sacred, but it is sacred for the work it does. Too many people think that they are preserving the sanctify of marriage by not doing the work that marriage asks them to do. As a result, marriage is treated as a holy relic or sacred knick-knack instead of a sacrament imbued with the power to make saints. Dr. Greg Popcak joins us.

Segment 2: National Debt matches 100% of GDP

Earlier this spring, the US National Debt exceeded 100% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product. James Peregoy of the Ave Maria Mutual Funds gives his analysis on this and other economic news and reflects on investing from a Catholic perspective.

Segment 3: Pope Leo XIV and His Plan to Heal the Church (2 segments)

When Cardinal Robert Prevost was introduced as the first American-born pope, he was virtually unknown. From his opening statement “peace be with you,” he has seemingly made it his mission to heal divisions within the Church and the world. Paul Kengor, author of a definitive new biography on the pope, joins us.

This week marks two interesting historical anniversaries – the death of Napoleon Bonaparte, and the birth of Maximillian Robespierre. These two icons of the French Revolution represent a stark departure from the original heritage of France. It’s a warning to us because it is easy for any nation to lose sight of its identity. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: Who’s Afraid of the Big, Bad, Revival?

While some are trying to explain away the surge of young people entering the Church, none of them seems to have an explanation for why Catholicism, especially traditional Catholicism, is suddenly popular among Gen Z. John Horvat join us with more.

Segment 3: Grace and Healing in the Modern Medical Center (2 segments)

Dr. Robert Collins was a young, agnostic doctor, quietly enjoying life. But when a “quiet little quasi-mystical experience” jolted him awake, everything changed. He shares his story.

What is going on in the Church in America? Are the recent encouraging signs of revival going to last, or is the Church still losing far more than she is gaining? David Deavel looks at the numbers.

Segment 2: The Science of Forgiveness (2 segments)

As Christ hung on the cross, he famously cried out to God to “forgive them, for they know not what they do.” As followers of Christ, we are also called to forgive those who wrong us. We discuss the science of forgiveness with Dr. Robert Enright.

Throughout today’s readings we encounter the theme of worship. . When we look at the Scriptures, it becomes very clear that it’s only within the context of true liturgical worship that we come to see idols get torn down, the heart uprooted of evil, and anything that has dwelt in the life of a person outside of God gets removed. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: Dementia Patients and Death by Intentional Undernourishment

Last year, Wes Smith warned about a movement among some bioethicists advocating the restriction of the amount of food and water given to dementia patients, an intentional undernourishment approach that the authors labeled “minimal comfort feeding.” Tragically, the movement is gaining steam. He joins us.

Segment 3: Pope Leo, the German Bishops, and the Quest for Unity (2 segments)

Pope Leo was recently asked to address the continued defiance by the German Church and to weigh in on how the German bishops’ decisions are affecting Unity in the Church. But human sexuality is not “simply” a matter of ethics, as human sexuality is connected to ecclesiology—the nature of the Church in union with Christ. Monica Miller joins us.

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus invites us to trust in Him and not let our hearts be troubled. He promises us that there is a place being prepared for us in Heaven. We unpack the readings with Rob Corzine.

Segment 2: Catholic Converts in light of History (2 segments)

There’s a lot that’s unique about modern converts, but in many ways they are similar to converts from the past. Marcus speaks with Nathaniel Peters about Catholic converts then and now.

In today’s readings, we can trace a line from the Book of Acts to the Psalms to the Gospel of John and find an abundant theme of sonship. We become partakers in the Divine Nature by the death, resurrection, enthronement, and return of the Son of God. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: Is the Catholic Revival leaving anyone behind?

There’s been a lot of excitement about a surge in Catholic conversions. But while it is certainly encouraging that the Church is growing in big cities, major universities, and elite circles, what about working-class, blue-collar folks? Are they also experiencing an uptick in conversions and Mass attendance? The data doesn’t suggest it. Marcus has some thoughts for today’s Feast of St Joseph the Worker.

Segment 3: I carried a Cross across America (2 segments)

In 1992, Jim “Butch” Murphy was inspired to undertake a 4200 miles journey across America, carrying a cross. 18 months, and 14 pairs of shoes, later he accomplished his goal. He shares his story.

The Department of Justice released a new report on April 30 detailing allegations of anti-Christian bias from former President Joe Biden’s administration. Matthew Bunson has more on this and other Church news.

Segment 2: Evangelizing through Myth (2 segments)

With so many resources for apologetics that are use philosophy and history, it’s easy to overlook the importance of myth and storytelling within Christian apologetics. Dr. Louis Markos believes that because Christianity is the truest of myths, Christ is the fulfillment of the pagan hope for a Savior. He joins us.

Today’s readings are connected by Jesus’ covenant promise. The blood of Jesus ultimately answers the problem of our Sin. In the First Reading, Paul lays the foundation for God’s plan, which culminates with the bringing forth of Jesus as the promised savior. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: Giving Everything to God

The average United States Catholic probably consumes more political commentary and social media content than scripture, sacred music, or other spiritually edifying material. Christ didn’t climb the mountain of Calvary to receive a convenient weekend slot between our preferred political pundits or our favorite TV shows. Christ didn’t give his life so that you and I can identify primarily with political and social tribalism. We are called to something higher. Marcus has more.

Segment 3: Navigating our Cultural Rapids

Labels of “Nazi” have become a comma in discourse and vulgarity is now a sign of transparency. Invading church services is now heralded as civil rights agitation and any critique of radical Islam is suppressed as a phobia. Is there any hope? Dr Charlie Self joins us.

The U.S. Supreme Court said a New Jersey faith-based pregnancy center may challenge a state subpoena demanding donor information. Andrea Picciotti-Bayer has the details.

Segment 2: The Death of the Culture of Death?

From Iceland to the wider West, falling birthrates and the elimination of the ‘unfit’ reveal a civilization undermining its own future. Is the Culture of Death committing suicide? Joseph Pearce joins us.

Segment 3: Can Civics Education be Saved? (2 segments)

Recent data shows that the typical American student is stunningly ignorant of their own history, with only 20 percent scoring “proficient” in civics. Randall Smith looks at the problem and offers a solution.

The Word of God grows through disciples engaging in liturgical worship. They are then sent by the Holy Spirit so that every nation may walk in the light of Jesus Christ. This theme appears throughout today’s readings, and Marcus shares some thoughts.

Segment 2: Pope Leo, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Limits of Dialogue

Pope Leo XIV met with the archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, at the Vatican on Monday. Mullallyʼs first official visit to Rome as the spiritual leader of the Church of England comes amid strained ecumenical relations and division among Anglicans. Joanna Bogle has more.

Segment 3: St. Catherine’s Mystical Thought (2 segments)

Although Catherine of Siena was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 1970, relatively little attention has been given to her mystical thought, particularly in the English-speaking world. We talk with Fr. Thomas McDermott about her teachings on spiritual development.

Marcus and Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers have been on a speaking tour this week, preaching the Gospel across the Midwest. They both find their identities as sons of God and as husbands and fathers – but they also both happen to be black. But the faith they profess in Christ is devoid of color. Deacon Harold joins Marcus for an in-depth reflection.

Today’s readings contain an overarching theme of the nations being gathered together by the voice of the Shepherd. How will we respond to the call? Marcus has some thoughts.

Segment 2: Surprise, Surprise: Married People are Happier

Recent social science data challenges the long-standing cultural and media narrative that married people, especially women with children, are less happy than their single, “childfree” counterparts. We take a deeper dive with Dr. Greg Popcak.

Segment 3: Religion, the Basis of Culture (2 segments)

Culture, enriched by religion, is the genesis of historical epochs that would not exist without cultured societies. We take a closer look at the connections between religion and culture with Steve Soldi.

Cole Allen, the man who charged a security checkpoint at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday, wrote in a manifesto that he planned to target Trump administration officials “prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest.” Doug Keck joins us to talk about it.

Segment 2: “That They May Be One” highlights Christian Unity

On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus prayed a prayer that still echoes across the Church today: “That they may all be one.” It’s the focus of a new movie, coming to theaters on May 19 and 20. Adriana Gonzalez tells us more.

Segment 3: The Christian Subversion of the Roman Empire (2 segments)

Christianity arose during the time of the Roman Empire – and God used that otherwise pagan empire that was steeped in a lot of natural law principles to bring about the expansion of the Christian faith as we know it today. We look at how with Paul DeHart.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus assures us that He is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep. He gathers together every soul who wants Him into one household, through the power of the Holy Spirit and the gift of repentance. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: Assisted Suicide Bill Fails in UK

UK pro-life groups are hailing a great victory as an assisted suicide bill has failed. Despite being billed as inevitable by much of the British media, the legislation stalled in the House of Lords last week. Joanna Bogle joins us with more.

Segment 3: War in a Season of Peace

Jesus’ first words to the disciples after his resurrection were “Peace be with you.” This was the fruit of Easter, resolving the two greatest threats to our peace — the internal discord of sin and the existential threat of death itself. Yet, war remains on the earth. Many people have held this up as proof against the coming of the true Messiah. If we look more deeply, however, the peace of Christ has deeply impacted the world, and peace has come to those of goodwill throughout history. Jared Staudt joins us.

Segment 4: St. Mark: A Man of the Gospel

On Saturday we celebrated the Feast of St. Mark. He was a man of the Gospel, a man so devoted to apostolic preaching they called him the son of Peter. He was a missionary to the nations and he was a servant whose evangelical written witness still helps souls engage and encounter Jesus. Marcus has more.

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus says he is the gate that leads sheep to pasture. A thief only comes to steal and destroy, while Jesus came to provide us with Abundant life. We unpack the readings with Rob Corzine.

Segment 2: Pope Leo responds to Germans on Same-Sex Blessings (2 segments)

Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Berlin has instructed priests in his archdiocese to introduce a handout “Blessing gives strength to love” as the basis of pastoral care. Pope Leo was asked about the measure on his return from his trip to Africa. We look at the situation with Carl Olson.

Today’s First Reading takes us down the road to Damascus, where Saul – en route to arrest new Christians – is thrown to the ground and confronted by a voice. In this radical encounter, Saul became Paul – a great evangelist for the Church. Saul needed to be conquered by Christ in order to preach Christ. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: China Pressures Underground Catholics to Join State Church

Human Rights activists in China report that the Chinese Communist Party is increasing its pressure campaign on underground Catholics to join the “official,” state-sanctioned Church. Reggie Littlejohn has the details.

Segment 3: How does God “manage” to be Omnipotent? (2 segments)

God’s omnipotence is one of the great mysteries of our faith, hard for human minds to understand. How do we explain this mystery? Even if God’s power is unlimited, doesn’t it seem like there is still something here that calls for explanation? Pat Flynn joins us.

Today’s readings are bound together by the theme of a father drawing us through His Word into the family. They begin when Philip meets an Ethiopian Eunuch who is studying the Scriptures in search of the Messiah. Marcus has more on what these readings mean.

Segment 2: The Theme of Faith in John’s Gospel

In the Gospel of John, Chapter 20, we read that Jesus’ works and miracles were recounted so that we may believe He is the Son of God. Some may think that this faith and belief is simply a matter of trusting in the Lord. But John means it to be more than that. David F. Sherwood is our guest.

Segment 3: Living a “Communist” Marriage (2 segments)

Michael Pakaluk and his wife live as communists. But they don’t extend that practice outside of their marriage. He explains what that means.

For many Americans, adulthood no longer follows the predictable flow it once did. CDC data shows overall births falling, but the real concern is a decline in marriages — a trend with profound implications for the life of the Church. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: 5 Things Divorced Catholics Want You to Know

There is a lot of discourse on divorce within the Church today, but so much of it exists on the “culture war” plane, either defending or dissenting from Church teaching. Important as these discussions are, divorced Catholics themselves often get lost in the tussle, becoming mere tokens in an ideological back and forth. Philip Campbell has experienced this firsthand, and he joins us.

Segment 3: The Virtues as “Super Habits” (2 segments)

For too many of us, life is harder than it needs to be. We have forgotten the ancient system of “super habits” — a specific set of habits for making decisions, managing our emotions, and dealing with other people that fosters lives of greater ease, happiness, and power. Andrew Abela has more.

The Supreme Court will take up a case out of Colorado asking whether a state may exclude a religious school from a universal preschool program because the school declines to abandon its beliefs on human sexuality and identity. The case, known as St. Mary Catholic School v. Roy, could shape the place of religion in American life for years to come. Andrea Picciotti-Bayer unpacks it for us.

Segment 2: “I am the Bread of Life”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us that He is the Bread of Life, and whoever believes in Him will never hunger or thirst. How do we respond to this invitation? Marcus has more.

Segment 3: Carrying the Cross of Infertility (2 segments)

In 1989, the National Infertility and Family Building Association launched an initiative with the stated goal to “empower you and change the conversation around infertility. The annual campaign, now known as National Infertility Awareness Week, is aimed at educating the public, reducing the stigma of infertility, and removing barriers those with infertility face in their journey toward parenthood. But the glitch is that “removing barriers” is code for “access to IVF.” This should give Catholics pause, as the Church does not see it as a morally licit means of becoming a parent. We talk more about it with Leigh Snead.

Like it or not, Artificial Intelligence is developing on a breakneck pace. But used and developed properly, it still has potential for good use. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: Can True Beauty save the world?

The late Pope Benedict XVI said that “art and the saints are the greatest apologetic for our faith.” This is because they both have the same basic root—beauty. It was the Russian Orthodox novelist and prophet, Fyodor Dostoevsky, who famously said that “beauty will save the world.” This can only be true if there is some essential connection between beauty and the One whom both Benedict and Dostoevsky recognized as their Savior—Jesus Christ. Mike Schramm has more.

Segment 3: What does it mean to be human?

What does it mean to be human? A simple enough question, right? Until one tries to answer it, or pays careful attention to the host of competing answers in our world. We talk with Thomas Doran.

Segment 4: The Meaning of President Trump’s Bible Verse

This week Donald Trump read from 2 Corinthians 7:14 as part of the America Reads the Bible project. It’s a verse that has long been recognized in American public religion as a national call to prayer, repentance, and healing. And it’s a verse that few modern politicians of any particular persuasion seem to understand. Marcus unpacks the meaning behind the verse.

In today’s First Reading we hear of the martyrdom of St. Stephen. Before his execution, he boldly addressed the elders in the Temple and provides us with a standard of what Christian witness should look like. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: How the kingdom of God originates in the home

When you hear that Christians are called to build the kingdom of God, what do you think that means? The primary way we build God’s kingdom is not by doing “big things for Jesus,” but rather by working to build strong marriages and family lives. Dr Greg Popcak joins us. Segment 3: Strong and faithful fathers must first be strong and faithful young men (2 segments)

Last week Gallup released the results of a new poll that finds a significant upsurge in religiosity among young men. While there remains much work to be done, this is also encouraging news - because if we want to create strong, faith-filled fathers who teach Catholic and pro-life beliefs and values to their children, we must first create strong and faith-filled young men. Michael New has more.

Legend states that on this day in 753 BC, Romulus founded the city of Rome. Roman religion from its earliest phases relies heavily on the concept of discerning the will of the gods. Once again, you’ve got these pre-Christian appeals to divine providence, the hand of God. Marcus has more thoughts.

Segment 2: Walking the Path of Infertility

This week is National Infertility Awareness Week. Infertility is a burden most couples don’t expect to carry. It can affect your marriage, your relationship with family and friends, and your relationship with God. Infertility often feels like a long and lonely path. And ministries like Springs in the Desert are here to help. Cassandra Taylor joins us with more.

Segment 3: St. Peter’s Basilica turns 400

From the center of Rome, looking westward, an iconic shape appears on the horizon; a church dome, topped by a cross, reaches 448 feet into the sky. This year St. Peter’s Basilica celebrates the 400th anniversary of its consecration. Marcus looks at its art and history.

Segment 4: Finding Happiness in an Empty Age

Modern man talks endlessly about happiness and then still wakes each morning with a hollow center. We’ve long been told that pleasure is the primary purpose of a man’s existence and that has left modern man starved for meaning and purpose. Marcus discusses the sources of true happiness.

While en route from Cameroon to Angola this weekend, Pope Leo said that an extended debate with President Trump is “not in my interest at all.” President Trump for his part recently said that he has “nothing against the pope.” We talk more about this with Doug Keck.

Segment 2: A Dialogue between Mother Angelica and Adolf Hitler

Today is the birthday of two very different figures who shaped the 20th century in very different ways – Mother Angelica, and Adolf Hitler. Marcus imagines a conversation between the two of them as they share their thoughts on life and death.

Segment 3: The Sufferings of the Holy Family (2 segments)

We often imagine the Holy Family as beyond reach — too holy, too peaceful, too perfect to relate to our own messy, wounded families. But when we look closely through the light of Scripture, a startling truth emerges: the lives of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph were marked by all-too-common hardship, misunderstanding, loss, danger, and suffering caused by the sins of others. And yet it was precisely there that their love became heroic and their joy unsurpassable. Fr Sebastian Wolfe has more.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus promises us a bread that will endure for Eternal life. But to receive this bread, we must accept the grace of Jesus and faithfully follow Him. We cannot receive the Eucharist if our lives are not fully conformed to the truth of Christ in his church. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: Bioethicists Argue That an Unborn Baby Is Merely a ‘Gestator’s’ Body Part

A recent editorial in the journal The Lancet claims that an unborn, gestating baby is a “part of the gestator’s body” and tries to make definitions about the metaphysical state of the child. Wes Smith joins us with more.

Segment 3: How we forgot the value of Sacrifice

As society has turned from religion, the value of the self has risen. And with these trends comes the loss of sacrifice, as personal fulfillment is the name of the contemporary game. David Bonagura has more.

Segment 4: Big Tech is reinventing reproduction. Will we let it?

This week is National Infertility Awareness Week. And while nothing is as fundamental to the human experience as birth, Silicon Valley and other investors are hoping to change that, to “reinvent reproduction.” And Katelyn Shelton has questions about the whole process. She joins us.

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus meets two disciples on the road to Emmaus. And the other readings this week are equally rich. We unpack the readings with Rob Corzine.

Segment 2: How Sexual Liberation Hurts Us All (2 segments)

The sexual revolution offered happiness and great sex—but Americans are increasingly lonely and unhappy, and they even report having less, and less satisfying, sex. Rather than providing fulfilling pleasure, sexual liberation has created a relational wasteland in which men and women are alienated from each other. Nathanael Blake has more.

As Christians, we can be serious and faithful citizens of the United States or any other nation- but we can never be political idolaters. We can vote with good discernment and speak the truth, but we must remember that Caesar will die and Christ is the king that remains eternal. To forget this runs the risk of moving from patriotism to overt nationalism. Marcus has more. Segment 2: Is Belief Believable? (3 segments)

One of the great falsehoods that is ingrained in our culture is that faith and reason are incompatible, when just the opposite is true – they are intertwined by their very nature. We do not have to choose between a spiritual or an intellectual life – we can live a life of reasonable faith and faithful reason. Dr. Christopher Kaczor has more.

The two biggest Church news stories of this week have been the clash between President Trump and Pope Leo, and the papal trip to Africa. Matthew Bunson has the latest on these and other stories.

Segment 2: Happy Birthday, Pope Benedict!

Today is Pope Emeritus Benedict’s 99th birthday, and Catholics around the world are planning a centenary celebration for next year. Marcus shares his own thoughts on what Benedict means to him.

If there were ever a week that summed up the state of our public discourse, it’s this one. Following the backlash over the image President Trump posted a few days ago, talk show host Joy Beher claimed that Jesus never actually claimed to be the Messiah – her determination to portray Trump as a narcissist was so strong she ignored basic historical fact. And Tucker Carlson tweeted that “the people in charge” don’t want you to know that the Muslim faith actually has great love and respect for Jesus – apparently forgetting the plight of Christians in Muslim-majority countries around the world. All it all, it’s been a very silly week – Marcus tries to inject some sanity.Segment 2: – The Story of the Declaration of Independence (3 segments)

Thomas Jefferson called the Declaration of Independence “an expression of the American mind.” Not merely a document, the Declaration is the common creed of our civic life, and it inspires the shared poetry of our political soul. Matthew Spalding joins us.

At a moment when trust in institutions is at historic lows and the public square rewards noise over substance, one question keeps pressing itself forward: What actually produces people of genuine character? The Catholic Church in America has been working on that question in earnest — and the results are becoming visible. Andrea Picciotti-Bayer has more.

Segment 2: Should the Pope “Stay Out of Politics?”

Since President Trump’s explosive social media attack on Pope Leo earlier this week, politicians including Vice President Vance and Tom Homan have claimed the pope should stay in his lane and stay out of politics. But the Vicar of Christ doesn’t suddenly lose his voice when the subject turns from liturgy to law and legislation or from doctrine to politics. Marcus has more.

Segment 3: Everything you Need to Know about Angels (2 segments)

Since the beginning of time they have attended the Holy Trinity with unending praise, and at the Bible’s pivotal moments they were present. They convey God’s saving messages and assist in his continual ordering of the cosmos. Some are hell-bent on our damnation; others intercede tirelessly for our salvation. They are the Angels – and Fr Mike Driscoll joins us to talk about them.

Tara Ross has written two new books about the American founding and the Constitution that explain these amazing events at a level kids can understand, but with an extraordinary level of detail. She joins us.

Segment 2: The Humility of the Saints (2 segments)

Every saint — from the greatest thinker to the commonest servant — has walked the same narrow road: the path of humility. It is the foundation of every virtue and the key to sanctity. Patrick O’Hearn joins us to talk about it.

Our culture has placed a massive value on being busy, constantly involved in events and activities. But this comes at a price – families have no time to spend together or pray together. Greg Popcak has some solutions.

Segment 2: Was Pius XII “Hitler’s Pope?” (3 segments)

Ever since World War II, a controversy has raged about Pope Pius XII. Was the Pope who had shepherded the Church through the war a Nazi sympathizer? Was he, as some have dared call him, Hitler’s pope? Did he do nothing to help the Jewish people in the grips of the Holocaust? We talk with Ron Rychlak.

Today is Holocaust Remembrance Day. The Holocaust arose from more than a brief lapse in administrative decency – it arose because the people of Europe were slowly taught to see their Jewish neighbors as corrosive, parasitic, alien, and disposable. Once that moral infection had ripened, hatred was allowed to masquerade as civic virtue. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: Scripture Shows No Room for Antisemitism

During the Holy Week and Easter Season readings, we see many references to “the Jews.” If misunderstood, these readings can lead to harmful misconceptions about the Jewish people. This moment in the Church’s life offers us an important opportunity to reaffirm what our faith truly teaches about Jews and Judaism. Msgr. John Kasza joins us.

Segment 3: Thomas More’s Not-So-Silent Campaign against Henry VIII (2 segments)

Thomas More is well known for his refusal to sign the Act of Succession and silence when asked why he chose to do so. But from his prison cell in the Tower of London, he launched a prolific campaign in writing to rebuke Henry VIII’s claims. Travis Curtwright joins us.

The Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network is a global community of prayer that is guided by the intentions of the Holy Father to pray for the Church. Fr. Phil Hurley joins us to talk about their work, including a personal encounter with Pope Leo and baseball, and also invites you to join him at the Catholics at the Shore conference in May.

Segment 2: A Convert Looks at the Eucharist (3 segments)

When he was a Baptist, Steve Ray thought the Catholic view of the Eucharist was unbiblical and idolatrous. Now, it’s the center of his faith. Steve unpacks the deep Biblical meaning of the Eucharist.

On the night of April the 14th, 1912, the grandest ship on Earth struck an iceberg. Within a few hours, the “unsinkable” ship lay at the bottom of the Atlantic. There’s something symbolic about the Titanic disaster that keeps it so ingrained in our collective memory. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: The State of the Church in Austria

Fr. Mark Thelen has spent more than 25 years preaching the Gospel across Europe. He joins us from Austria to share his stories.

Segment 3: A Hebrew Catholic Perspective on Acts

The Book of Acts is widely recognized as a sequel to Luke’s Gospel. It picks up where the Gospel left off and is addressed to Theophilus. And as it chronicles the days of the early Church, it reminds us that the first Christians were – of course – Jews. Angela Coustley joins us to offer a Hebrew Catholic’s perspective on the Book of Acts.

This Sunday’s Gospel presents us with the story of “Doubting” Thomas. We unpack the readings with Rob Corzine.

Segment 2: Divine Mercy or Divine Justice? (2 segments)

This weekend is Divine Mercy Sunday. We believe in a God who is all-Merciful, but is also perfectly Just. Do these qualities contradict each other? Michael Dauphinais is our guest.

This weekend we conclude the octave of Easter with the great Feast of the Divine Mercy. Marcus reflects on the meaning of God’s mercy and justice.

Segment 2: Dorothy Day’s Radical Love (2 segments)

Zohran Mamdani’s platform centers on New York’s affordability crisis and includes promises to freeze rents for two million rent-stabilized tenants, build two hundred thousand new affordable units, and provide government-run grocery stores and free universal childcare. Dorothy Day was a radical New Yorker as well. Both Mamdani and Day are defined by their commitment to workers and the poor, but only one still stands as a radical in the fight for justice, and it isn’t Mamdani. Thomas Dias has more.

Segment 3: The “Necessary Sin” of Adam?

If you attended the Easter Vigil last weekend, you may have noticed the line in the Exsultet that celebrates the “necessary sin of Adam.” We typically think of Jesus’ sacrifice as the necessary response to Adam’s sin, so what about the sin itself was so necessary?

U.S. officials are continuing to defend ongoing military actions in the Middle East amid criticism from top Catholic leaders around the world and after media reports that the Pentagon demanded the Vatican throw its support behind its ongoing military maneuvers. Matthew Bunson has more on this and other Church news.

Segment 2: What’s Next after the Convert Surge?

The Church is celebrating a surge in conversions this Easter. What’s next for our newest brothers and sisters in Christ? JonMarc Grodi joins us.

The world’s eyes remain fixed on Iran. But outrage will serve nobody well while the events are still unfolding across a region that’s already scarred by ideological fury and retaliatory violence. Therefore, Christians especially should slow our speech, discipline our passions, examine the facts, and pray for wisdom before we baptize any instant conclusion with some level of moral certainty. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: The Realities of Physician-Assisted Suicide

Jason Negri is hosting a panel discussion on physician-assisted suicide and end-of-life options next week at Wayne State University. He joins us with the details.

Segment 3: The Political Theology of Easter (2 segments)

It’s a common error to think of Jesus as a model for our religious and private lives, but not as one for civic and political engagement. This line of thinking, while common today, would have been entirely foreign in New Testament times. We discuss the Political theology of Easter with Dr Paul DeHart.

America is developing an appetite for killing its elderly. A recent Pew Research poll suggests that comfort is growing: 63 percent of Americans now say physician-assisted death is either morally acceptable or simply not a moral issue at all. Only 35 percent call it morally wrong. The conscience is not yet gone. But it is losing ground fast. Andrea Picciotti-Bayer has more.

Segment 2: Renew Your Spirit, Deepen your Faith at the Catholics at the Shore Conference

The Catholics at the Shore Conference is an opportunity to step away from the noise for two and a half days of Catholic formation, inspiring speakers, and real relationships in a beautiful coastal setting. Chris McMahon has the details.

Segment 3: The Relevance of the Resurrection (2 segments)

Christ’s glorified body tells us that the promise of eternal life which Jesus’s death and resurrection has opened up for us results not in obliteration or negation, but transformation and glorification. We talk more about it with Randall Smith.

In today’s Gospel, we meet Jesus on the Road to Emmaus. His disciples spent hours speaking with Him about the Scriptures, but did not fully recognize Him until dinner, when He broke the bread. The sermon prepared their hearts for the Eucharistic act which unveiled their eyes. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: What Surviving a Syrian Prison taught me about the Resurrection

Sam Goodwin has traveled to all 193 countries in the world, and spent nine weeks in a Syrian prison. And it’s during that time that he discovered a lot about gratitude, controlling what you can, and viewing uncertainty as an opportunity. He joins us.

Segment 3: The Cosmic Liturgy of Space Exploration

The Artemis II space flight is scheduled to end with a splashdown in the Pacific on Friday. Space exploration remains one of humanity’s greatest scientific achievements – and we must not overlook the Vatican’s continued contribution to the field. Daniel Gallagher has more.

Segment 4: A Cease-Fire in Iran?

Last night President Trump announced a two-week cease fire in Iran, backing off on threats he made early Easter Sunday. We look at the latest developments with Peter Laffin.

We often imagine the founders as older figures, seasoned statesmen and philosophers who arrived at their achievements after long and careful preparation. But many of them were strikingly young. When we forget this, we do our students a disservice – especially our young men.

Segment 2: SCOTUS considers Birthright Citizenship

The Supreme Court recently heard oral arguments over President Trump’s executive order that attempts to end automatic birthright citizenship. Dean John Czarnetzky of the Ave Maria School of Law gives us his analysis.

Segment 3: The Origins of Catholic Social Teaching

Catholic social doctrine may be one of the most misunderstood areas of Catholic teaching. Fundamentally, it is the Church’s attempt to shape the consciences of the faithful in their dealing with society at all levels, from the family to the state. We look at the foundations and history of CST with Matthew Walz.

Even as Christianity loses its cultural prestige, we are seeing signs of hope. This Easter, dioceses across the world reported the highest levels of baptisms and other sacraments in several years – even in countries as secular as France. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: Sarah Mullally installed as Archbishop of Canterbury

Late last month Sarah Mullally was installed as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury. Pope Leo has expressed his desire for continued dialogue with the Church of England, and sent his prayerful greetings to her. Joanna Bogle joins us with more from London.

Segment 3: Study claims having children “ruins your relationship” (2 segments)

The Daily Mail recently highlighted a study that purported to show having kids provides no boost to your wellbeing and “ruins your relationship.” But a closer look at the dataset reveals a different result. Josh Wood joins us.

If Christ had not been raised, then all our efforts in this life are pointless. It is the most important, earth-shattering event in human history. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: How do we know Jesus rose from the dead? (2 segments)

Did Jesus really die on the cross? If so, what became of his body? Is the resurrection a cleverly devised plot to found a new religion? Did the disciples of Jesus hallucinate? As Christians, we need to be ready to answer these questions. Dr David Anders joins us

Segment 1: Good Friday, Death, and Christian Life (2 segments)

It’s late afternoon on Good Friday. Jesus’ task has been accomplished. Mary has wept at the foot of the cross, and now weeps as Jesus lies in the tomb – and we weep with her. But we also must not stop there. For beyond the cross of Good Friday is Christ’s Resurrection on Easter morning. Randall Smith joins us.

Segment 2: Pain, Suffering, and Redemption: Where Faith and Reason Mingle (2 segments)

Why does God allow pain and suffering? Why did he allow his Son to suffer on the cross for us? We discuss pain, suffering and redemption with Dr. Stephen Doran.

Good Friday Reflections on the Stabat Mater (full hour)

The Stabat Mater is a Marian hymn that portrays the suffering of the Blessed Mother during Jesus’ Crucifixion. It dates back to the 13th century, and in the 1950s French composer Francis Poulenc wrote his own musical setting of the piece. In this special commentary, Marcus plays the music with his own comments and reflections.

Segment 1: Holy Thursday: When Love Enters a Cosmos Turned in on Itself

St. John tells us that as Jesus initiated his Last Supper with his disciples, he was fully aware of what he was doing, fully aware of what this meal anticipated and made sacramentally present, fully aware of it was going to cost him. We talk more about how love was manifested at the Last Supper with Msgr. Michael Heintz.

Segment 2: What Happens at Holy Thursday Mass?

Tonight’s Holy Thursday Mass includes some special rituals not seen on an ordinary Sunday. We discuss them with Matthew Bunson.

Segment 3: The Jewish Roots of the Eucharist (2 segments)

Although the Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life,” many Catholics are unfamiliar with its rich Old Testament and Jewish background. We explore the Eucharist in its Jewish context with Andre Villeneuve.

Tonight Jesus begins the ordeal that would culminate on the Cross and result in the formation fo the Church and salvation of the world. It is the blueprint of God’s new covenant with us. Marcus explains the Scriptural significance of Holy Thursday.

Segment 2: The Biblical Roots of the Priesthood (3 segments)

Is there anything in the New Testament about the need for priests in the Church? Was the priesthood found in the Old Testament simply a feature of the Old Covenant, undone by Christ? That’s not what we believe as Catholics. John Bergsma joins us with more.

The Supreme Court has spoken. In Chiles v. Salazar, the Court ruled 8-1 in favor of Kaley Chiles, a Christian therapist in Colorado Springs who refused to let the state dictate what she could say inside the confidential space of a counseling session. Andrea Picciotti-Bayer has more.

Segment 2: The Old Testament Prophecies Fulfilled in Christ (3 segments)

How do we know Jesus was who He claimed to be – the Messiah? Gary Michuta examines the biblical evidence to reveal the identity of the chosen one foretold since the beginning of salvation history.

Spy Wednesday is one of the most sobering days in Holy Week. We are meant to focus on Judas’ work of betrayal, and his indignation over Mary of Bethany’s decision to anoint Jesus’ feet with oil. Marcus looks at these final hours of Jesus’ life.

Segment 2: Judging the Judas Within It’s easy for us to make Judas the villain of Holy Week. How could someone who spent three years with Jesus ever betray Him? But we are no better. We are the betrayers of Jesus with every sin. We betray Christ whenever we prefer the darkness, while still claiming to want the vocabulary of Christ. Marcus has more.

Segment 3: The Paschal Mystery of Holy Week (2 segments)

Holy Week is about experiencing liberation, the freedom that comes from being saved from deadly forces we can’t control. Jared Staudt has more.

As a parent, have you ever felt awkward or unwelcome at Mass because your kids were making too much noise? Church teaching makes it clear – your kids should be there! But it can be difficult with little ones, especially during the long Triduum services. Greg Popcak has some tips.

Segment 2: A Medical Analysis of Christ’s Passion (3 segments)

What Christ suffered during his Passion -- for you -- is a powerful source of reflection and meditation. Dr. Tom McGovern gives us both a medical and spiritual analysis of what He endured for us.

On Tuesday of Holy Week, Jesus walked back into Jerusalem, and along the road, the disciples saw the fig tree mentioned in yesterday’s readings dried up and dead. It’s why the Tuesday of Holy Week is known as Fig Tuesday. The fig tree matters because in scripture, Israel is often described through vineyard and fig imagery. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: Assisted Suicide: A Warning from Spain

A 25-year-old woman was recently euthanized in Spain over the objections of her parents. This should come as a stark warning to us in the US. Do you have a plan for your loved ones and yourself? Dr. Kristin Collier will be speaking on this matter next month at OLGC in Plymouth. She joins us with more.

Segment 3: Christians United in Holy Week (2 segments)

Christians have every cause to find unity during Holy Week, especially when we remember Jesus’ high priestly prayer that we all may be one. There is no greater unifying reality that identifies a Christian more than our belief in the Passion, Death and Resurrection of our Lord. Charlie Self has more.

March 27 marked the 10th anniversary of Mother Angelica’s death on Easter Sunday, 2016. We remember her with Doug Keck.

Segment 2: Does Jesus Hear the Prayers of Warmongers?

In his Palm Sunday homily, Pope Leo condemned war and the use of religion to justify violence, and stated that Jesus “does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them, saying: ‘Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen: Your hands are full of blood.’” His comments deserve a careful and nuanced response; Marcus unpacks the viral moment.

Segment 3: A “New Paradigm” for Moral Theology? (2 segments)

The moral tradition of the Church has always held that there are certain acts that by their nature are sinful. No circumstance can justify them. Questions arise in situations like Chapter 8 of Pope Francis’ Amoris Laetitia. Was he recommending situational exceptions to moral norms or a more sympathetic pastoral approach to people who find themselves in these situations? Richard Doerflinger joins us.

On the Monday after Palm Sunday, Jesus rose from Bethany and he went again into Jerusalem. What he did that day was priestly and he began enacting his Messianic vision. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: Steve Ray’s Virtual Tour of Holy Week (3 segments)

We all know the story of Christ’s Passion. But have we ever really stopped to think about the people and places that appear in the story? What did they look like? What is the significance of details we hear about the Agony in the Garden or the trial before Pilate? We take a virtual tour of Christ’s Passion with Steve Ray.

This Sunday we enter into Jerusalem with Jesus and follow His paths through Holy Week down the road to Calvary. They’re among the most important readings of the year, and we’ll unpack them with Rob Corzine. Segment 2: Fulton Sheen’s War on Communism (2 segments)

Fulton Sheen’s beatification is finally moving forward. He’s well-known for his extensive writings and teachings, but one contribution that is sometimes overlooked is his refutation of Communism. We’ll look at the book with Paul Kengor.

Two recent stories out of Europe highlight just how far the Continent is going down the road to Secularism. In Finland, a Christian member of Parliament has been convicted for expressing her Christian beliefs on marriage. And in Belgium, a radio host said his countrymen wouldn’t be offended by the smashing of a Marian statue because “we’re not a very religious country.” Marcus has more.

Segment 2: Do Smartphones Deepen the Divide? Schools across the country are increasingly limiting students’ access to smartphones, or banning them altogether, as studies show the negative impacts phones have on mental health and classroom performance. But there is another reason we should limit kids’ access to smartphones: their effect on our political culture. It is looking increasingly like smartphones and social media are leading our culture to a new kind of tribalism. Thomas Howes has more.

Segment 3: The Christian Roots of American Liberty (2 segments)

Was the American founding an Enlightenment invention or organic development of liberty? Liberal or conservative? Secular or Christian? American conservatives traditionally answered “both” to these questions. More recently, new movements on the Right-from national conservatives to neo-integralists to post-liberals to Christian nationalists-have challenged this conviction. Some even dismiss the founding as hopelessly secular. John Pinheiro answers the problem.

Do we fully embrace the mysteries of Holy Week? Or are we like the people waving palms, mere bystanders along the Via Dolorosa? We talk more about the meaning of Holy Week with Bishop Daniel Thomas.

Segment 2: Pope Leo Addresses the Latin Mass (3 segments)

Pope Leo XIV has called for renewed unity in the Church’s liturgical life, urging French bishops to seek “concrete solutions” to include Catholics attached to the Traditional Latin Mass while preserving communion. Matthew Bunson has more on this and other Church news.

Michael Knowles has been widely praised for comments he delivered at a recent Heritage Foundation event, highlighting the many Catholic influences on the thought of the Founding Fathers. He’s certainly right, but when we treat his observations as something novel we betray our own historical ignorance. We must not overlook the Catholic heritage of this nation. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: Chavez faces the Cancel Culture Though the power of the #MeToo movement peaked long ago, the Left’s cancellation machine kicked into gear this past week. After a New York Times article claimed that Cesar Chavez abused women and girls in the 1960s and 1970s, the Left lost no time in immediately covering up or taking down statues, erasing the Hispanic labor leader’s name from monuments and holidays, and calling for schools and streets honoring him to be renamed. But whether Chavez was innocent or guilty, this instantaneous cancellation is cause for concern. David Deavel joins us.

Segment 3: What St. Paul Tells us about Suffering (2 segments)

On the road to Damascus, St. Paul was transformed from one of the most zealous persecutors of Christians into one of the greatest apostles in history. Like all of us, he experienced suffering, weakness, and hardships, but amid these trials during his heroic mission trips, visions, and near-death escapes, he felt the strength of God’s grace sustaining him and urging him forward. We talk more about it with Fr Mitch Pacwa.

The recent National Catholic Prayer Breakfast was a celebration of Catholicism’s contributions to the nation and liberty. Andrea Picciotti-Bayer was there and gives us a look.

Segment 2: India enacts another anti-conversion bill

Catholic leaders in one of India’s most populous states are demanding the repeal of a new law that criminalizes religious conversion — the 13th such measure enacted across the country under the ruling Hindu-nationalist government. We talk more about India’s anti-conversion measures with Chad Bauman.

Segment 3: What are Machines Shaping us into? (2 segments)

It’s no secret that we are inhabiting a moment in which digitalization is reshaping our world at an unprecedented pace. Day by day, screens, algorithms, and infrastructures of virtual reality are becoming the dominant frame through which we move through the world. The question is no longer whether technology shapes us, but what kind of human beings it is shaping us into. Matthew Ramage joins us.

Some Protestant thinkers will tell you that Mary was not “special” - God could have chosen any other young woman to be the mother of Christ. Some will go as far as to say Mary was merely an “incubator” for Jesus. But the Divine choice was infinitely deeper. Mary was never a random girl who stepped into a vacant role. Marcus has more.Segment 2: Inside Gosnell’s House of Horrors For 30 years, Kermit Gosnell operated out of an abortion clinic with conditions so disturbing it was nicknamed the “house of horrors” after law enforcement raided the clinic that had gone unchecked. We talk more about his crimes with Monica Miller.

Segment 3: The Annunciation: Mary’s Fiat (2 segments) Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation. Mary’s simple act of obedience changed the course of world history and is a key part of Marian devotion. We discuss why Mary is important with Rachel Fulton Brown, who also looks at examples of Franciscan devotion to Mary.

Notorious abortionist Kermit Gosnell has died in prison at the age of 85. For 30 years, Gosnell operated out of an abortion clinic with conditions so disturbing it was nicknamed the “house of horrors” after law enforcement raided the clinic that had gone unchecked. But his life is simply the product of a sexualized culture gone awry. Marcus has more.Segment 2: Rising from the Ashes Revival

The Rising from the Ashes Revival, taking place this summer in Detroit, seeks to root the faithful in the Eucharist and empower them to bring the Good News to the world. It will feature keynote speakers like Fr. John Riccardo and Jeff Cavins, with performances by Matt Maher and Sarah Kroger. Fr. Joe Mallia tells us more.

Segment 3: Faith and Science in Evangelization (2 segments)

Science needs the guidance of faith to present to it the wisdom necessary for its end goal. Christopher Baglow has more.

Jesus famously tells Peter that he must forgive not just seven times, but seventy-seven times. But what does it really mean to forgive? Dr Greg Popcak joins us. Segment 2: Special Holy Week Event – See the Passion Relics (2 segments)Holy Week is upon us, and on Monday St. Michael’s Church in Livonia will feature a special exhibit of relics from our Lord’s passion, including a fragment of the True Cross, a thorn from Christ’s crown, and replicas of the nails. Fr. Joseph Marquis has more.

Segment 3: World Down Syndrome Day Celebrates Every Life

March 21 is World Down Syndrome Day. As more and more countries in the developed world march toward “eradicating” Down Syndrome by abortion babies with the condition, we talk with Mark Bradford.

Segment 2: Death with Dignity – but without approval

A British appeals court has ruled against a hospital that withdrew life-sustaining treatment from a patient without family approval. Andrew Kubick has the details.

Segment 3: What would Aquinas say about AI? (2 segments)

Among St. Thomas Aquinas’ most important contributions is his discourse on faith and reason. For Aquinas, the foundation of all human intellect is the presence of a rational soul – so what would he say about a soulless AI program’s ability to reason? Mike Schramm joins us.

The last week has seen the deaths of two men who represented two very different forms of masculinity. Chuck Norris was the archetype of the “man’s man” whose characters defended the weak and stood up for justice. Meanwhile, OnlyFans owner Leo Radvinsky raked in nearly $2 million each day from his website, which was largely driven by pornographic content – a drop in the bucket of the mutli-billion dollar porn industry. Marcus looks at these forms of masculinity and our cultural priorities. Segment 2: UK legalizes abortion up to birth The UK’s House of Lords has approved an amendment to British law that effectively allows for abortion up to birth. Joanna Bogle joins us from London with more.

Segment 3: The Darkness of the Grave and the Inevitability of Death (2 segments)

We live in a time of astounding scientific breakthroughs and unprecedented medical marvels. Yet modern man has not yet found a way to overcome the one thing that is inevitable for every person, regardless of their social status, income, or lifestyle: death. We discuss the inevitability of death and the hope of the Resurrection with Carl Olson.

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus raises Lazarus. We unpack the readings with Rob Corzine.

Segment 2: The Best Films for Lent (2 segments)

The best movies are the ones that, in some way or another, draw us closer to God – and there are many that make for great Lenten viewing. Monica Miller has some suggestions.

GK Chesterton once observed that we are perishing not from want of wonders, but from want of wonder. Scientism, the claim that empirical science is the only real form of knowledge, has led to a deeply dehumanized worldview. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: The Hell of Overthinking

Thinking is good, but overthinking is not. It warps our sense of “what is” and it perseverates when we should let go. We talk more with Tod Worner.

Segment 3: The History of Secularist Violence (2 segments)

Religion and Violence are often cited as going hand-in-hand. But in the twentieth century alone we saw example after example of violence perpetrated by governments committed to extreme forms of secularism. We review the history of secularist violence with Thomas Howard.

Nearly six months after publicly criticizing Cardinal Blase Cupich’s plan to give a “lifetime achievement” award to a pro-abortion-rights senator, a long-serving lay member of the Catholic Conference of Illinois (CCI) board of directors is being involuntarily phased out of his role. Matthew Bunson has more on this and other church news.

Segment 2: A New Era for Civil Rights Sanity? (2 segments)

The original vision of the civil rights revolution was to ensure all Americans were protected from illegal discrimination. Unfortunately, it was derailed by the left’s misbegotten “disparate impact” approach. Are we trending back towards an era of civil rights sanity? Thomas Powers joins us.

On March 19th, 1859, Charles Grenoad’s Faust received its premiere at the Théâtre Le Cric in Paris. It tells the story of a man who makes a pact with a demon; his soul in exchange for unlimited worldly knowledge and pleasure. It’s the mirror opposite of the “Terror of Demons,” St. Joseph, who we celebrate today. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: Fatherhood and St. JosephAlthough no direct words of Joseph’s are recorded in Scripture, it is from Joseph’s own lips that the name of Jesus is first announced publicly among the people of Israel. The fatherhood of Joseph, though not natural fatherhood, is an imitation of the fatherhood of God. Stephen White joins us with more.

Segment 3: Holy Grit and Authentic Manhood (2 segments)

What does it mean to be a man of faith? The Lord has gifted us with hundreds of saints that exemplify true Catholic masculinity. We look at some of their lives with Paul George.

For Andrea Picciotti-Bayer, raising daughters in today’s culture has reinforced a lesson that no policy document can capture: Girls flourish when they are known, loved and accompanied by the people closest to them. No school counselor, no government agency and no ideology can replace the presence of an attentive and loving parent. She joins us.

Segment 2: Trisomy-18 and the “Population Bomb”

Paul R. Ehrlich, the biologist and author whose “Population Bomb” book sparked a hysteria about overpopulation, died last week. His philosophy is part of a greater movement that manifests itself in various ways that devalue the human person. In many countries today, we see nearly all children with genetic deficiencies aborted in the womb. As today is Trisomy-18 Awareness Day, Marcus ties it all together.

Segment 3: What “Theist” and “Atheist” actually mean (2 segments)

There is an assumption commonly shared on both sides of the theistic and atheistic debate that is a major obstacle to dialogue – the misconception that all theists believe in “basically the same thing” and that all atheists believe (or don’t believe) in “basically the same thing.” What do the terms actually tell us? Pat Flynn joins us.

Studies are showing that gratitude is on the decline in the developed world. We have lost our sense that good things come from something beyond ourselves. Marcus discusses the effects of gratitude on society.

Segment 2: “Justice for Tree, but not for thee”

The University of Sussex has published a “toolkit” to enable political and legal action to grant “rights” to trees. This is consistent with the radical environmentalist activism seen in many universities, such as Harvard Law, which is now teaching “nature rights” principles and strategies to students. Wes Smith has more.

Segment 3: Critical Theory Destroys – Let’s Respond with Love (2 segments)

Critical Theory has become firmly entrenched among modern political and social thinkers. The greatest challenge we have as Christians in confronting this philosophy is the social sins of the past and CT’s seductive promise to eradicate all injustice by destroying hierarchies of dependency. Michel Therrien has more.

It’s easy for Catholics in the West to take for granted the myriad of resources available to them, and their freedom to worship and to express and grow deeper in their faith. During his time in Taiwan, Marcus encountered people who grew up in a society dominated by the Chinese Communist Party, where the human person is merely a cog in the administrative machine. He shares more.

Segment 2: How the Iran War is impacting Christians

Ed Clancy of Aid to the Church in Need has an update on how the war in Iran is impacting the area’s Christian population.

Segment 3: Meet the Real St Patrick (2 segments)

Ireland’s patron saint has long been shrouded in legend, but the true story of St. Patrick is far more inspiring than the myths. Philip Freeman joins us to bring the historic Patrick and his world vividly to life.

How did St. Patrick’s Day devolve from a day honoring a heroic missionary to a day associated with binge drinking and debauchery? In his youth, Marcus struggled with alcohol. He reflects on the association St. Patrick’s Day has with binge drinking, what the church says about drinking, and how the real St Patrick can be a virtuous model for us all.

Segment 2: When Athletes Thank God

Last week Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat scored 83 points in a single game, the second-highest total in NBA history. When asked to describe the moment, he said “Man, I wish I could relive it twice. I credit God, my family, my teammates, this crowd.” It’s common for athletes to thank God in the big moments – crossing themselves after home runs and pointing to the sky after touchdowns. We talk more with Michael Pakaluk.

Segment 3: Sons of Saint Patrick – the Story of New York’s Archbishops (2 segments)

Every Archbishop of New York has been Irish by either birth or heritage. Each in their own way, these “sons of Saint Patrick” have been saints and sinners, politicians and pastors, and movers and shakers who have shaped the city and the nation. George Marlin joins us with their stories.

One of the deepest wounds of modernity is the loss of a sacramental worldview, leading to a society that sees the material world as either meaningless or utilitarian. Marcus discusses.

Segment 2: Meet the Sister Confronting the Mental Health Crisis

When Sister Theres Hong Phuoc Tran teaches mental health workshops at Catholic parishes, schools and religious congregations, she uses a simple verse from Scripture – Mark 12:30 – to illustrate the different components of wellness. She joins us to talk about it.

Segment 3: Does God Make us Righteous? (2 segments)

The Catholic Church teaches that the grounds for our justification is our interior state of holiness, which God brings about within us when we are initially saved. For a Catholic, God reckons a believer to be justified because he has freely and gratuitously brought about interior state of righteousness in the believer. This stands in contrast to the Reformed tradition of Protestantism, which denies that our interior state of holiness is the ground of justification. We take a closer look with Karlo Broussard.

The NCAA Men’s basketball tournament tips off this week, and millions of people have joined the quest for the “Perfect Bracket.” The odds of guessing all 65 matchups correctly are astronomical – roughly 1 in 9 quintillion if you flip a coin on every game, and about 1 in 120 billion if you are knowledgeable about college basketball. But the odds that Jesus “accidentally” fulfilled every Messianic prophecy are even longer. Marcus explains.

Segment 2: Stop trying to change the Church’s teachings

In its second interim report issued last month, a Synodal study group continued to talk about a “paradigm shift … in continuity with Vatican II” and labeled homosexuality as an “emerging issue.” Catholic teaching on issues of morality cannot change – so why do some people try to? Richard Spinello joins us.

Segment 3: Aristotle Clarifies the Christian Faith (2 segments)

When Christians of any age or denomination debate the nature of the good life, the soul, or free will, their thought process is based on Aristotelian principles. Though not a Christian himself, Aristotle made full use of general revelation to arrive at deep truths about the nature of God, human identity, and the universe. We explore his thought with Louis Markos.

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus heals a man born blind. He explains to the disciples that the man was not blind due to anyone’s sins, and responds to attacks from the Pharisees for healing on the Sabbath. We unpack the readings with Rob Corzine.

Segment 2: In the battle between faith and science, you don’t have to choose a side. (2 segments) The rift between faith and science seems to grow larger by the day, as many view the modes of thinking in opposition to one another. People often feel forced to choose between the two, with no apparent way of reconciling them. However, the experience of wonder might just hold the key that brings these two seemingly contradictory sides back together. Brian Cranley returns to continue discussion how the God of Reason created science in His image.

The Sokoto Caliphate fell in Northern Nigeria on this day in 1903. Marcus grew up in a nation where Sunni Islam was the predominant religion and explains the need to understand how Islam views the idea of a Caliphate.

Segment 2: The Death of Caesar and the Rise of the West

“Beware the Ides of March!” It was on March 15 that Julius Caesar was fatally stabbed, memorialized by Shakespeare with his agonized cry “Et tu, Brute?” Marcus discusses the rise the Roman empire played in the rise of Christianity.

Segment 3: The Priest as Father (2 segments)

As a spiritual father to an entire congregation, a priest has a different perspective on fatherhood. Fr. Josh Fons has more.

Artificial Intelligence has become one of the great controversies of our time. Will it inevitably try to overthrow us, as is depicted in so many films? It is simply another tool in our toolbox? Or is it somewhere in between? Thomas Williams is our guest.

Segment 2: The Covenant of Social Fabrics ( In today’s First Reading from Jeremiah Chapter 7, we see God speaking plainly. Using direct, relational language like “listen to my voice” and “walk in all the ways I command you,” He speaks to us on a personal level. This covenantal language binds heaven and earth through fidelity in God. Marcus has more.

Nate Kaji is a senior at Fr Gabriel Richard High School who joins us with a young man’s perspective on the crisis of manhood in our culture. It’s part of our conversation at the upcoming Familiaris Consortio conference, which will further explore Catholic manhood. He and president Joe Jordano join us.

Segment 2: Fr. Dave Pivonka Reflects on Leading a Catholic University (3 segments)

Fr. Dave Pivonka joins us for a wide-ranging conversation on his experiences at Franciscan University of Steubenville, looking at the Catholic meaning of grief, education, and more.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells His disciples that he has “not come to do away with the Law, but to fulfill it.” In doing so, He deliberately places Himself in the grander covenant story of Israel and the drama of Salvation history. Marcus takes a look.

Segment 2: A Vaccine for the Pandemic of Lunacy (3 segments) What is happening to the world? Why does it seem like everyone has gone insane? Why are so many things that seemingly everyone believed the day before yesterday suddenly held to be retrograde, hateful, or even criminal? And why are things that everyone seemed to view as lunacy the day before yesterday suddenly taught or even required? J. Budziszewski says it’s time we declared a pandemic of lunacy – and he has an antidote. He joins us.

It doesn’t take a medical degree to hypothesize that women’s healthcare has gone terribly wrong. It is almost entirely structured around either suppressing or bypassing the female reproductive system altogether. And it’s why women like Katelyn Shelton are rejecting hormonal birth control. She joins us with more.

Segment 2: This is Modern Society’s Favorite “Virtue” (2 segments)

Our polarized society has one obsession that stands above the rest: identity. Debates focus less on policy and rights and more on the struggle for “recognition.” We talk about the problem with Mitchell Bahnsen.

Segment 2: Countering Satan’s Twelve Attacks on Marriage (2 segments)

On last month’s Good News Cruise, Marcus gave a talk exploring twelve ways Satan attacks marriage. But knowing the enemy’s plans is only half the battle – we must know how to engage them. Dr. Greg and Lisa Popcak join us.

James Earl Ray, the convicted assassin of Martin Luther King Jr, was born on this day in 1928. Ironically, this date also marks the anniversary of the death of Civil Rights hero Harriet Tubman. Marcus compares their lives and how Ray’s efforts to combat civil rights ultimately drove the movement to even greater heights.

Segment 2: How the Rejection of God Degrades Our Humanity (2 segments)

As church attendance falls, suicide rates climb, and birth rates plummet, Christian pundits have suggested disenchantment and the loss of tradition are to blame for our spiritual malaise. But what if the problem is both much simpler and much more serious? Carl Trueman argues that modern man’s crisis of meaning stems from a rejection of a simple fact—that he was made in the image of God. He joins us.

Of all the theological errors commonly held today, the most popular is surely the denial of the doctrine of hell. Even self-described Christians question whether God would consign anyone to hell permanently. We discuss the issue with Doug Keck.

Segment 2: Embracing our Dynamic Faith (3 segments) What are young people looking for in the Church? What is the meaning of marriage and family? What is the purpose of Confirmation? We explore these questions and more with Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers.

C. S. Lewis’s classic -The Screwtape Letters brilliantly unmasked the devious psychological and philosophical roots of human temptation. Inspired by this, Samantha Stephenson has compiled the “Bellbind Letters,” unravelling the targeted attacks against the feminine genius as they manifest themselves in contemporary family life. She joins us.

Segment 2: When the Economy meets the Common Good (2 segments)

Is economics just a zero-sum game? It doesn’t have to be when we view it through the lens of the common good. Dr. Mark Hoipkemier has more.

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at the well and asks for a drink. We take a deep dive into their conversation as we unpack the readings with Rob Corzine.

Segment 2: A Beginner’s Guide to the Summa (2 segments) Aquinas’ Summa Theologica is one of the great works of Christian theology and philosophy, and it offers unmatched insights into God, humanity, and the path to salvation. Yet its vast scope and intricate arguments can make it daunting to modern readers. Fr. Cajetan Cuddy joins us with an accessible guide to the thought of Aquinas.

The battle of the Alamo ended on this day in 1836. The defenders of the fort lost the battle, but their sacrifice became a powerful symbol of courage, liberty and the fight for independence. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: What is a Man on Purpose? Pete Burak invites you to a special conference

Ave Maria Radio is excited to announce the next annual edition of Familiaris Consortio, in partnership with Emmaus Health and Fr. Gabriel Richard High School. What does it mean to be a Man on Purpose? Pete Burak and Fr. Josh Fons will discuss how we can combat the crisis of masculinity in our culture. Pete joins us. Segment 3: Living your Catholic Marriage Day by Day (2 segments)

True love knows no limit in giving more, being more, forgiving more. In marriage, husbands and wives are called to love one another without limits and to not lose sight of the fact that they are on the same team. When tempted to calculate or complain, they must simply love. Troy and Kathleen Billings share lessons they have learned from the highs and lows of their marriage.

In Matthew’s Gospel, James and John’s mother kneels before Christ and asks that her sons may sit at His right and left in the Kingdom. Her request has historical context – she thinks that Christ’s kingdom will reign on earth as David’s did. In response, Jesus asks her to “drink from the cup.” He’s telling her that her sons need to join Him in suffering. Marcus looks at the Biblical meaning of drinking from the cup.

Segment 2: When I Met Fulton Sheen (3 segments) Last month we received the exciting news that Fulton Sheen’s beatification can finally move forward. When Matthew Bunson was a young boy, he met Archbishop Sheen in person. He shares his memories, looking at the unique connection between Sheen, Jimmy Lai, and the rise of Communism.

In March of 1981, Walter Cronkite signed off CBS’ evening broadcast for the final time. He represents an era when the news industry was trusted, conveying a sense of authority with every declaration of “And that’s the way it is.” Al Kresta frequently observed that the industry has devolved into “News as Entertainment” and multiple surveys show public trust in mainstream news is plummeting. What happened? Marcus has some thoughts.

Segment 2: Making Sense of our Childless Age

Around the world, some of the most developed and advanced nations are reporting low birth rates and aging populations. Many are discussing why no one wants to have children. Experts debate the causes, but few present convincing conclusions. We discuss the cultural shifts that have happened with John Horvat.Segment 3: The Death of Stalin and the Inevitable Fate of Communism (2 segments)

March 5 is the anniversary of two separate, yet linked events: Winston Churchill’s “Iron Curtain” speech in 1946, and Joseph Stalin’s death in 1953. Paul Kengor looks at the relationship between these events and what they mean for us today.

There is a new kind of radical on college campuses today, and they look nothing like what we have come to expect. They are not barricading buildings or shouting down speakers. They are not demanding the overthrow of institutions or vilifying those who disagree with them. Instead, they are challenging institutional decisions and the dominant culture of their peers while living according to their deepest Christian beliefs. Andrea Picciotti-Bayer shares their stories.

Segment 2: St. Joseph’s Silent Leadership (3 segments) The Church dedicates the month of March for a special devotion to St. Joseph, who in many ways is the silent hero of the Gospels. We get to know him better with Steve Ray.

For the next several days, Marcus will be on a mission trip with Renewal Ministries to Taiwan, spreading the Gospel in a country where a mere one percent of the population is Catholic. Where do you begin evangelizing someone who may never have even heard of Jesus and has no inherent understanding of their value as a human person? Tom Edwards joins Marcus.

Segment 2: What makes Catholic art unique?

The Catholic faith gives us a unique sense and understanding of beauty. Mosaics, paintings, sculptures and other artwork in our churches help give us a sense of a world greater than our own. Fr. Chas Canoy’s parish has its own special artwork – he joins us to talk about it. Segment 3: FDR’s Sense of the Sacred (2 segments)

On March 4, 1933, as the nation sat stagnant in the Depression, newly inaugurated President Franklin Delano Roosevelt faced the nation and declared, “the only thing we have to fear is Fear itself.” He insisted that the country would endure has it had endured before, based on a shared civic sense of faith in our Constitutional order. Marcus has more on FDR’s sense of sacred duty.

As the first post-Vatican II pope to serve a full papacy, John Paul II made the Universal Call to Holiness his mission. But much of traditional Catholic spirituality is drawn from the monastic tradition, and doesn’t fit neatly into a family life. John Paul II thus spent his entire pontificate laying the groundwork for a universal approach to lay spirituality. We talk about it with Dr. Greg Popcak.

Segment 2: Supreme Court says California can’t hide student transgender identities from parents The Supreme Court has ruled that the state of California cannot keep student’s transgender identities hidden from parents. In a 6-3 ruling, the court said that parents enjoy “the right not to be shut out of participation in decisions regarding their children’s mental health.” Andrea Picciotti-Bayer has the details.

Segment 3: Eight Characteristics of a Culture of Lay Formation (2 segments)

Since the Second Vatican Council, there has been a new surge in the role of the laity in forming the Church. John Paul II and Benedict XVI made the “co-responsibility of the laity” a key theme of their papacies. We discuss the meaning of lay formation with John Cavadini.

The Pharisees were instrumental in Jesus’ death. But we would be wrong to say the Jews killed Jesus. No, our sins killed Jesus. When Jesus rebukes the Pharisees, he’s rebuking the Pharisee in all of us. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: When Fulton Sheen went Viral

Like his hero St. Paul, the Venerable Fulton Sheen never shied away form using the technology of the day to spread the Gospel. And if he were still preaching today, he’d surely use social media to “go viral.” We look back at some of his most “meme-worthy” moments with Jack Figge.

Segment 3: Pope Leo’s Augustinian Inspiration (2 segments)

Why does Pope Leo XIV call himself a “son of Saint Augustine”? Examining his life and writings, we can see a prominent Augustinian influence that is manifested in four themes. We talk about them with Matthew Becklo.

Now that abortion-rights advocate Susan Ostermann has stepped away from an academic leadership post at Notre Dame, the university needs to undertake meaningful reforms to ensure a comprehensively Catholic identity. Doug Keck joins us to talk about it.

Segment 2: Pope Leo XIV urges diplomacy amid Iran tensions Pope Leo XIV voiced concern on Sunday about developments in the Middle East and Iran, urging the parties involved to stop what he called a “spiral of violence” before it becomes an “unbridgeable chasm.” Alberto Fernandez has the latest.

Segment 3: Where does Cultural Transformation begin? (2 segments)

The cultural historian Christopher Dawson has been called one of the foremost Catholic thinkers of modern times. When he retired from Harvard in 1962, Pope John XXIII sent him an Apostolic blessing. Dawson once observed that “the first step in the transformation of culture is a change in the pattern of culture within the mind.” Joseph Stuart joins us to talk more about Dawson and cultural transformation.

President Trump’s decision to bomb Iran has sparked a variety of reactions, with many questioning its constitutionality or asking if the US should involve itself in yet another war in the Middle East. But there is a line that must be drawn – and claims that Iran was a peaceful and rights-respecting state defy any basic fact-checking. Marcus shares more.

Segment 2: AI is taking over Hollywood – and that may be a good thing

The AI revolution is rapidly changing Hollywood. Movie producers see many advantages in a “cast” that can work unlimited hours, will follow any direction, and demands no salary. And there may be a silver lining in all this change. Marcus explains.

Segment 3: How’s your Lent going? (2 segments)

Do you ever feel like Lent is a New Years Resolution all over again? You start out strong for a couple weeks, then find yourself regressing to the norm? Year after year and Lent after Lent promises to be different, but inevitably fails? We discuss persistence in penance with Stephen White.

This Sunday’s readings highlight a theme of beginning the journey of faith, telling us the story of God’s Covenant with Abraham and Jesus’ Transfiguration. We unpack the readings with Rob Corzine.

Segment 2: Paul Thigpen, RIP Paul Thigpen, the noted theologian and convert to the Catholic faith known for his prolific writing career that included an in-depth survey of extraterrestrial life and the Catholic Church, died on Feb. 24. He was 71. His friend Matthew Bunson honors his life.

Segment 3: What Hollywood gets Wrong about Romance

Hollywood is in the midst of a resurgence of romance films, highlighted by the box office-leading Wuthering Heights. Film execs understand that audiences desire intimacy, passion, and emotional fulfillment – but their attempts to fulfill these needs will inevitably fall short. Marcus reflects on how Christians can live out true romance.

This week political philosopher Robbie George shared some thoughts on social media regarding President Trump, observing “you are not required to let him cause you to forget or abandon your principles, to turn against what you once believed, or to become an ideologue who simply reacts to him pro or con.” But even this call for rational dialogue produced little more than furious, reactionary responses. At the end of the day, Christians are called to a higher level of rationality and civility. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: What next for tariffs?

Last week the Supreme Court struck down many of the tariffs that have become a landmark part of President Trump’s economic policy. In response, he enacted further tariffs. What’s next? Robert Whaples joins us. Segment 3: What is Catholic Philosophy? (2 segments)

The Catholic Church has always recognized that philosophy is necessary both to understand the faith as well as to defend it, and the need for a philosophically-informed faith has become more acute with the rise of secularism. James Jacobs joins us with an introduction to Catholic philosophy.

Pope Leo XIV responded to an atheist who paradoxically described himself as someone who “loves God,” explaining to him that “the real problem of faith” isn’t believing or not believing in him but seeking him. Marcus discusses this and other Church news with Dr. Matthew Bunson.

Segment 2: Transgender Lessons from the Dobbs Case Last month, a young woman named Fox Varian won a medical malpractice lawsuit against doctors who convinced her to get a mastectomy so she could “live as a boy.” The case is being hailed as a landmark victory for opponents of prepubescent sex change treatments, but we must use caution. Those same cheers were heard when Roe v Wade was overturned, without a cogent plan for the next steps. Marcus looks at lessons we can learn from the case.

Segment 3: Pro-Abortion Professor Withdraws from Notre Dame Leadership Appointment

Pro-Abortion professor Susan Ostermann will not assume leadership of the Asia studies department at Notre Dame, following widespread backlash from bishops and other Catholic leaders. Patrick Reilly, founder of the Cardinal Newman Society, joins us.

It’s a popular claim that if one is against abortion, they must also be against the death penalty, for they are both incompatible with a pro-life worldview. But what does the Church actually say about the death penalty? Does it still have a place in modern society? Marcus weighs in.

Segment 2: U.K. Hospital Cuts Off Life Support of Disabled Patient

You may remember the tragic cases of Charlie Gard and Alfie Evans, terminally ill babies who died in UK hospitals after their doctors determined they should no longer receive care. Now, a hospital is withdrawing kidney support from a patient over his family’s objections, stating that letting him die is a clinical decision. Wes Smith has more. Segment 3: Reading Genesis through Jesus’ Eyes (2 segments)

Known as the protoevangelium, Genesis 3:15 promises that the seed of the woman will crush the head of the serpent. In what sense does this apply to Jesus? Mark Heffley joins us.

Late Friday afternoon, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a significant ruling a case concerning the display of the Ten Commandments in schools, vacating an injunction that had blocked their display. The Court’s decision is welcome news for religious expression in public life, and there is reason for genuine optimism about what comes next. Andrea Picciotti-Bayer joins us.

Segment 2: The State of our Divided Union The State of the Union was intended to be an opportunity for the president to address Congress and the Nation about the challenges facing the country and the prospects for overcoming them. But over the course of the last 30 years, it has devolved into little more than a partisan campaign rally, fueled by drama and moments staged to go viral. We’re looking at the state of our divided union, but we can find a way back. Marcus has more.

Segment 3: How Water and Spirit Give Eternal Life (2 segments)

Everyone agrees that baptism is part of Christianity, right? It says so in the Bible. But among different Christian groups, questions and arguments about baptism abound. Who should get baptized? How should it be done? What happens to unbaptized babies when they die, and should people secretly baptize their grandchildren? And on top of all this—why bother with baptism at all? Does it really do anything? We tackle these questions with Karlo Broussard.

Venerable Fulton Sheen was famous for his love of the Eucharist, and once observed “the greatest love story of all time is contained in a tiny white host.” Christianity presents a claim that no other religion would dare to say: the God we worship doesn’t merely send laws or prophets; he takes on our very nature. Marcus has more on how the Eucharist connects us to the divine Love of God.

Segment 2: “We just wanted the Eucharist” (3 segments)

Long before he became Catholic, Derek Bingham hungered for the Eucharist. He and his wife Hannah began studying and reading the Church fathers and found their teachings aligned with the Catholic Church’s understanding of the Eucharist. It was the first step in their whirlwind journey to the Catholic Church. They share their story with us.

Have you ever seen an adult behaving badly and wondered if they were ever disciplined as a kid? Childhood discipline has lifelong effects – and not just on how we behave. It also predicts the way we resolve conflicts as adults. We discuss Discipleship Discipline with Dr Greg Popcak.

Segment 2: Explaining the Eucharist to someone who’s never heard of Jesus Next week Marcus will join a mission trip to Taiwan, where a mere 1% of the population is Catholic. How do you explain complex theological ideas to someone who may have never heard the name of Jesus? Where do you begin with introducing the concept of God to a godless society? Marcus shares some thoughts.

Segment 3: The Busy Parent’s Guide to the Catholic Faith (2 segments)

Has this ever happened to you? You’re trying to put the kids to bed, or rush them out the door in the morning, and they decide it’s the perfect time to stump you with a question on the faith. Steven Hemler joins us with short answers to life’s biggest questions.

On the morning of January 28, 1986, President Reagan was preparing his State of the Union address when the country was shook by a national tragedy – the Challenger spacecraft had exploded just seconds after takeoff. Reagan postponed his planned remarks, setting aside politics for a moment of national unity and grieving. What can we expect from the State of the Union in a time of political divisiveness and performative theater? Marcus has some thoughts.

Segment 2: EWTN’s David Ramos checks in from Mexico

Unrest continues in Mexico following the killing of cartel leader Ruben “El Mencho” Cervantes. David Ramos joins us with a report.

Segment 3: Big Tech plays the Fertility Game

With billionaires continuing to pour cash into fertility technology, we are approaching a world where “Big Tech” and “Big Fertility” are intertwined. Eugenics is coming to America wrapped in code words such as “optimization” and “reassurance.” We discuss what this means for society with Patrick T. Brown.

Segment 2: The Marxist Weaponization of Matthew 25 Today’s Gospel foretells the division of the Sheep and the Goats. Jesus praises those who have fed the hungry, doctored the sick, and housed the homeless while condemning those who have not. Some progressives use this passage as a “moral trump card” to argue that doctrine and dogma do not matter, for in the end all that matters is our humanitarian gestures. Marcus breaks it down.

Segment 3: From Dust to Glory: Humanity’s Origin, Fall, & Redemption in Christ (2 segments)

The Lenten season parallels all of human history. Man began as dust in the Garden, and we begin our Lenten journey with Jesus in the dust of the desert. We discuss this journey from dust to glory with Matt Ramage.

Our culture tends to speak about death in hushed euphemisms, as if renaming death will remove its power. We hide our decline behind hospital curtains and try to forget that we will all eventually die. Cancer breaks down these boundaries and ignores these so-called etiquettes. Ben Sasse’s reflections on his own impeding death from cancer illustrate how Christians should face death – through the lens of Memento Mori. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: The Great AI Reset

One of the latest AI innovations is Waymo, an autonomous taxi service that is gradually being introduced to cities nationwide. As sociologists have warned for decades, every new technology that is intended to make our lives easier has unintended and often unwelcome consequences. Francis Maier joins us.

Segment 3: God Is Pro-Growth (2 segments)

Whether it be our own lives, our faith, our families, or our Church, God wants us to grow. We look at how this theme is woven throughout the Scriptures with Michael Pakaluk.

Segment 2: Confronting the Crisis of Pornography (2 segments)

America’s relational landscape is increasingly bleak and barren. Americans are less likely to be married, or even partnered, and they report having less sex. Instead of the happiness, authenticity, and pleasure that the sexual revolution promised, there is a loneliness epidemic as men and women are driven further apart. At the heart of the problem is the prevalence of pornography in our society. Forming young men will be a lot easier if we remove the filth that is choking out loving and flourishing complementary relationships between men and women. Nathanael Blake has more.

February 22 marks the anniversary of one of the greatest upsets in the history of sports – the United States’ victory over the Soviet Union at the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. Taking place in the midst of the Cold War just weeks after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the “Miracle on Ice” was much more than a game. It represented a clash between civilizations, cultures, and worldviews. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: SCOTUS Tariff Ruling highlights the importance of checks and balances

In a 6-3 ruling this morning, the Supreme Court struck down many elements of President Trump’s signature tariffs. The Founding Fathers designed our government with a system of checks and balances, so that no one branch could become too powerful. Marcus looks at the deeply Christian foundations of this system.

Segment 3: Happiness begins in love - and love begins in wisdom (2 segments)

Blaise Pascal observed that all people seek happiness, and that all man’s actions ultimately seek this end. But since perfect happiness eludes us in this life, all we can hope is to be “happier.” One aspect of being happier, within reach of us all, is to grow in love. But to grow in love we need practical wisdom. We talk more with Christopher Kaczor.

Segment 2: Fasting as an act of love (2 segments)

Why should we bother fasting? Why do those ascetical practices in Lent or any other time? Why bother with this self-discipline, this extra penance, especially if we’re already living fairly moderate lives? Isn’t it better to eat, drink, and be merry, given that we might die tomorrow? We talk with David Deavel.

The U.S. bishops’ latest religious liberty report warns that threats are coming from multiple directions — and calls Catholics across the political spectrum to respond. Andrea Picciotti-Bayer joins us.

Segment 2: How to Obtain an Indulgence during the Year of St Francis

Pope Leo has declared the period from January 10, 2026 to January 10, 2027 to be the Year of St. Francis, in commemoration of the 800th anniversary of the saint’s death. A plenary indulgence can be obtained during this time, one of the conditions for which is a pilgrimage to a Franciscan church. Fr. James Conlon of St. Francis in Ann Arbor joins us.

Segment 3: The Free Market of Marriage (2 segments)

Western novels, songs, and films make many assumptions about love and marriage. Yet one underlying expectation continues to shock the non-Western world: dispositive spousal consent, or the belief that a marriage is valid because two individuals freely choose one another, rather than because their families or political authorities approve the match. We talk more about this “free market” of marriage with Clara Piano.

Segment 2: Why did Jesus Fast for 40 Days?

Most people know that Lent lasts 40 days to unite with Jesus’ 40 days fasting in the desert. But why did Jesus fast for 40 days, instead of a different period of time? We’ll talk with Gary Michuta.

Segment 3: Intention makes the Sacrifice (2 segments)

What is the difference between thinking and praying? Between dieting and fasting? Between spending and almsgiving? David Bonagura joins us.

The ashes placed on our foreheads today remind us that we will die, but if we repent and believe in the Gospel we will have new life. Marcus has more on the meaning of ashes and how they appear throughout scripture.

Segment 2: Lenten Advice from St. Benedict

If you ask St. Benedict of Nursia, he’d say that Lent shouldn’t be necessary – because the Christian life by its very nature should be a life of penance and renewal. Lent offers us the chance to pick up our spiritual slack and return with renewed vigor to the core practices of the spiritual life. We talk more with Jared Staudt.

Segment 3: The Healing Power of Lent (2 segments)

It’s almost undeniable that God is working miracles of healing in evangelization today. For theologians, pastors, and evangelists some questions arise: What is the relationship between physical healing and the message of salvation? How can we take advantage of Lent as a special time of healing? Fr Mathias Thelen joins us.

Segment 2: Reclaiming the True Heart of Shrove Tuesday

Mardi Gras gets treated like a civic right to behave badly with a liturgical permission slip, and plenty of Catholics smile politely at the noise while quietly hoping Ash Wednesday will come along and disinfect the calendar. Marcus looks at the Catholic roots of Fat Tuesday and how we can faithfully celebrate it.

Segment 3: Jimmy Lai’s Sentence is Tragically Predictable (2 segments)

Last week, human rights activist Jimmy Lai was sentenced by a Chinese court to twenty years in prison – essentially a life sentence for the 78-year-old. Tragically, Lai’s fate comes as no surprise to anyone who has followed the CCP. Ben Rogers has more.

Reverend Jesse Jackson’s life, work and legacy expose how quickly a movement for human dignity can be inherited by people who will keep the slogans but who will completely deny the dignity of the human person.

Segment 2: Jesus: Liberal rabbi or incarnate Messiah? (2 segments)

“Was Jesus in reality a liberal rabbi—a forerunner of Christian liberalism? Is the Christ of faith, and therefore the whole faith of the Church, just one big mistake?” Benedict XVI explored these critical questions in his book Jesus of Nazareth. We look at the answers with Carl Olson.

Segment 3: Realistic Policy Goals for Pro-Lifers

The next presidential election will feature a new Republican candidate for the first time in 12 years. Because pro-lifers constitute a large and important bloc of Republican presidential primary voters, the candidates will have to consider how they approach pro-life policy. We discuss goals for the pro-life movement with Michael New.

When George Washington was elected president, he started another revolution – the revolutionary idea that a leader’s power could be limited by the people. We talk more about it with Doug Keck.

Segment 2: The Joy of Trials in your Marriage

In today’s First Reading, James tells us to consider it a joy when we encounter various trials, for the testing of our faith produces perseverance. This especially applies to our marriages, where we will inevitably encounter trials as a couple. Marcus has more.

Segment 3: Tolkien’s Liturgical Imagination (2 segments)

A new book explores how J.R.R. Tolkien’s Catholic faith — and especially the Mass — shaped his stories and sustained his soul. Ben Reinhard’s The High Hallow looks at how Tolkien was influenced by the Mass and how, in his eyes, it was life’s greatest drama. Ben has more.

Presidents’ Day is a perfect opportunity for us to reflect on the founding ideals of our nation. Our founders meticulously created a system of government that would attach accountability to the power that comes with government. As an immigrant, Marcus has seen both sides of this equation. He offers some thoughts.

Segment 2: The Holy Land: The Fifth Gospel

Fr. Jose Maria has just returned from the Holy Land. He explains the Biblical significance of the area and why so many people call it the “Fifth Gospel.”

Segment 3: Living Liturgically All Lent Long (2 segments)

Lent is an opportunity to be transformed, to emerge differently, and to cultivate new habits and practices that will linger long after the season is over. Karen McClelland joins us with some ideas.

This Sunday’s readings dive deeply into the meaning of the Law and those who follow it. We unpack the readings with Rob Corzine.

Segment 2: What to Expect When the Unexpected Happens During Your Pregnancy (2 segments)

How do you move forward after you receive an unexpected diagnosis for your baby? How do you deal with the devastation and chaos? Most importantly, how do you prepare for the range of possibilities you now face? Beverly Jacobson shares her firsthand knowledge of these experiences.

Tomorrow is the birthday of Frederick Douglass. He grew up in the African American Methodist Church and his prophetic faith strongly influenced his work against slavery. Marcus discusses how.

Segment 2: You’re Invited to a Father-Daughter Retreat

Countless women in our society are suffering from strained relationships with their fathers. It is essential for men to show their daughters that they are here to love, protect, and lead them. Renewal Ministries’ BeLove Revolution is hosting a father-daughter retreat for middle and high school girls and their dads on Friday, February 27th. Debbie Herbeck has the details.

Segment 3: A Wish List for Theistic Theories (2 segments)

The concept of God is so large that it can be hard to decide where to start. How can we define God? How can we begin explaining Him, or trying to prove he exists? It’s a daunting task, and Pat Flynn gives us a “wish list” of theistic theories.

The Priestly Society of St. Pius X has announced plans to consecrate new bishops for the first time since 1988. Matthew Bunson discusses the history of this organization.

Segment 2: Reflections on the Rosary (2 segments)

Looking to dive deeper into the Rosary? Fr. Daniel Klimek joins us with a look at the thought of Pope St. John Paul II, St. John of the Cross, St. Josemaría Escrivá, St. Faustina Kowalska, and mystics such as Venerable Maria of Ágreda and Caryll Houselander, uncovering little-known spiritual treasures that will enrich the prayer and reflection of all.

Today marks the death day of philosopher Immanuel Kant. He had an enormous influence on the development of modern western thought, but what he proposed led to the re-definition of truth and reason. Marcus discusses.

Segment 2: Assisted Suicide comes to Virginia?

Virginia is considering a state bill to legalize assisted suicide. Andrew Kubick has the details.

Segment 3: Civilization Depends on the Strength of Men (2 segments)

It’s time to end the apology tour for traditional masculinity. A generation of young men and boys are being raised in self-loathing, taught that the core of their identity as men is not only abhorrent, but is responsible for humanity’s ills. We discuss rebuilding the strength of men with Anthony Esolen.

An unplanned moment of communal prayer after a recent Mass revealed to Andrea Picciotti-Bayer how the Rosary — prayed together — can quietly anchor a spiritual life amid ordinary busyness. She shares the story.

Segment 2: “I am the Immaculate Conception”

On this day in 1858, a young French peasant girl saw a vision of a beautiful lady, who would later identify herself as the Immaculate Conception. Marcus reflects on the story of Bernadette and the very special tie she has to his family.

Segment 3: Resisting the Political Empires (2 segments)

One of the triumphs of secular modernity on both the right and the left is how they have colonized our imaginations as Christians. By connecting with the Bible and the Church Fathers, we can resist this. David Deane joins us.

The question of what to do with frozen embryos left over from IVF procedures is deeply controversial. Many well-meaning Catholics want to adopt these embryos, lest they remain frozen indefinitely. But this is not the answer. Marcus explains why.

Segment 2: Light from Darkness: The Church Rises from Turmoil (3 segments)

Ask Catholics about the crisis in the Church today and you’ll often get one of two responses: The end is upon us! or Everything’s fine―the Holy Spirit is in charge! Neither of those attitudes makes sense from the perspective of history. And throughout history, the Church has risen from tumultuous times to come out even stronger than before. Steve Weidenkopf joins us.

Children often need help with the basic skill of expressing their emotions. Dr Greg Popcak frequently hears from parents, even parents of teenagers, whose children have anger issues that can explode out without warning. What can you do in this situation? Greg joins us.

Segment 2: What does it mean to be a Man with Purpose? (2 segments)

Many young men today long for direction and purpose. Fathers often feel the weight of responsibility but wonder how best to guide their sons. At the core of both concerns is a deeper question: What does it mean to be a godly man―and how do I become one? Pete Burak joins us to share lessons on manhood he learned from his own father.

Segment 4: The Temple: Where God meets Man

In today’s readings we see Solomon standing with his hands outstretched to heaven, giving Israel both a blessing and a warning. Marcus discusses how we meet God in the Temple.

Our modern age has trained itself to treat laws as antique and antiquated. And that’s why our public mood today keeps trying to treat laws as a nuisance.

Segment 2: The Story of the Declaration of Independence (3 segments)

Thomas Jefferson called the Declaration of Independence “an expression of the American mind.” Not merely a document, the Declaration is the common creed of our civic life, and it inspires the shared poetry of our political soul. Matthew Spalding joins us.

A key element that separates the Catholic Church from other denominations is its understanding of the Sacraments. We discuss Fr. Chris Alar’s book Understanding the Sacraments with Doug Keck.

Segment 2: A Day in the Life of the Holy Family

The Scriptures don’t tell us much about Jesus’ early childhood, and they tell us even less about how he, Mary and Joseph spent their day. Steve Ray looks to history and other sources to experience life through their eyes.

Ray Bradbury famously observed that if you want a society to stop reading, you don’t actually need to burn books – you just need to take away peoples’ interest in them. Multiple studies in recent years show that the majority of American high school and college students are reading at a level far below their grade level. Marcus discusses the importance of reading to a free and virtuous society.

Segment 2: Join 40 Days for Life in Ann Arbor

This Sunday, February 15, 40 Days for Life in Ann Arbor will host its kickoff rally and Jericho march. Keynote speaker Alexander Richmond has a preview.

Segment 3: What the Research Says about Gender Dysphoria (2 segments)

Although gender dysphoria is discussed regularly in the popular press and on social media, most people don’t have an understanding of the elements which make up the diagnosis. Additionally, many people don’t understand what the scientific literature says about treatments for this condition. Dr. Steven Rouhana joins us.

This Sunday’s readings use images of Salt and Light to illustrate the Holy Spirit. We unpack the readings with Rob Corzine.

Segment 2: The Monroe Doctrine’s Lasting Legacy (2 segments)

In his ideas regarding American foreign policy, President James Monroe echoed both Washington and Jefferson, yet he had to worry about things neither of them did. His policy needed to follow the diplomatic thought of the previous administrations while also adapting to quickly changing circumstances and intentions. We look at how his thought affects political thought to this day with Brad Birzer.

Derick Hall was born four months premature without a heartbeat, a bleed in his brain and weighing only two pounds. Doctors told his mother he would never walk or talk, but she refused to sign a DNR form and fought for her son’s life. This weekend, Derick will take the field for the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl. Marcus takes a closer look at this remarkable story.

Segment 2: Disorderly conduct charge dismissed against pro-lifers in Memphis rescue

On December 5, 2025, 30 pro-lifers conducted a rescue at the Planned Parenthood facility in Memphis, Tennessee.

Segment 3: Man’s Quest for Immortality (2 segments)

A new Netflix documentary takes an inside look at one man’s efforts to conquer death. Its central figure, Bryan Johnson, was once a committed Mormon and burned-out CEO and his story is an example of the principle of enantiodromia, a phenomenon in which extremes turn to their opposites. We explore all of this with Matthew Becklo.

President Trump headlined the 74th annual National Prayer Breakfast this morning with a speech that lasted more than an hour and focused largely on his political record. Matthew Bunson joins us with a look at this and other Church news.

Segment 2: The One who Hopes Lives Differently (2 segments)

Pope Benedict’s encyclical Spe salvi explores the verse from Romans Chapter 8 that states “in hope we were saved.” How do our lives change when we place our Hope in the Lord? Peter Herbeck joins us.

For decades, cold-case homicide detective J. Warner Wallace investigated the causes behind deaths and murders, chasing one lead after another as he attempted to solve the case. And it was these pursuits that led him to pursue the ultimate truth of the Gospel. He joins us.

Segment 2: The Virtues as “Super Habits” (2 segments)

For too many of us, life is harder than it needs to be. We have forgotten the ancient system of “super habits” — a specific set of habits for making decisions, managing our emotions, and dealing with other people that fosters lives of greater ease, happiness, and power. Andrew Abela has more.

Last Sunday at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minn., worshippers opened their Bibles and began to pray. It was not part of the planned service. It was their response to an anti-ICE mob that had stormed into their sanctuary, disrupting their constitutional right to worship freely. This was not an isolated incident. It is part of a disturbing pattern that is emerging. Andrea Picciotti-Bayer has more.

Segment 2: “Influencer Priests” and the Risks of Celebrity Evangelization

A well-known Italian priest who has millions of views and hundreds of thousands of followers across multiple platforms has announced his intention to leave the priesthood. Italian Fr. Alberto Ravagnani has previously clashed with his diocese over some of his online content. While many priests such as Bishop Robert Barron, Fr. Mike Schmitz and Fr. John Riccardo have used modern media to great effect, questions remain over what lines must be drawn. Marcus has more

Segment 3: How the God of Reason Created Science in His Image (2 segments)

For centuries, people have been told they must choose: believe in God or trust in science. But what if both paths were designed to lead to the same truth? What if wonder itself is the key that bridges them? Brian Cranley joins us.

Free climber Alex Honnold recently made worldwide headlines for climbing the Taipei 101 skyscraper without the use of any ropes, harnesses, or other safety equipment. Such a decision may be foolhardy, but it’s nothing compared to living our life without the safety harnesses God has provided us. Marcus has more.Segment 2: Midnight on the Potomac: The End of the Civil War and the Rebirth of America (3 segments)

Next summer the United States will celebrate its 250th birthday. We almost didn’t make it, as the Civil War fractured the Union to its core. Historian Scott Ellsworth tells the story of the last days of the Civil War – the most pivotal time in American History.

A new survey by CatholicTV suggests widespread emotional distress among US Catholics, raising questions about how mental health may shape parish life and Mass attendance. Dr. Greg Popcak joins us.

Segment 2: Healing the Wounds of Infertility

Infertility and pregnancy loss plagues many Catholic marriages. And it’s a wound that continues to stay tender. Because the world keeps moving, the parish calendar, the liturgical life keeps turning, and many well-meaning people and conversations keep flowing. But for a lot of these parents the ache just keeps returning to that same place again and again and again. Marcus reflects on his personal experience.

Segment 3: The Jewish Roots of American Liberty (2 segments)

For much of American history, an impassable gulf seemed to separate Jews and Christians, keeping their respective peoples and cultures far apart. But in recent decades that has begun to change. The rise of a militant secularism, one equally hostile to Israel and to America’s Judeo-Christian values and institutions, has unexpectedly drawn Jews and Christians closer together. In the face of a common civilizational threat, the study of the two traditions’ joint contributions to the West has risen to the forefront. We explore it with Wilfred McClay.

Thomas Aquinas writes that wisdom is where the revelation of God begins, because it is God who draws near to us in covenant love. Marcus has more.Segment 2: ‘Detransitioner’ Wins $2 Million Medical-Malpractice Lawsuit

The first gender “detransitioner” medical-malpractice case to go to trial resulted in a $2 million dollar verdict against the medical professionals who approved a double mastectomy for the plaintiff when she was only 16 years old. Wes Smith tells us more.

Segment 3: The Graphic Reality of Iran’s Theocracy (2 segments)

In its response to the latest citizen protests, the Iranian government has shown its true colors. An estimated 30,000 people have been killed with thousands others mutilated or placed under arrest. It is difficult for those in other countries to understand just how horrific are the conditions under which Iranians live, even in normal times, but an acclaimed graphic novel provides a view that other genres cannot equal. Hank Edmonson has more.

In today’s Responsorial Psalm for the Feast of the Presentation, we declare “Who is the King of Glory? It is the Lord!” It’s an especially appropriate prayer for this era of political division and “No Kings” protests. Doug Keck joins us with more.

Segment 2: Ignatian Discernment and the Religious Life

Fr. Timothy Gallagher has founded the Ignatian Discernment Institute to equip people of all vocations to live the spiritual life with hope, joy, and fruitfulness through St. Ignatius of Loyola’s teaching on discernment. He joins us to talk more about the meaning of discernment.

Segment 3: The Presentation of the Lord: The Significance of the Temple (2 segments)

Today is the feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple. The temple was the center of the Jewish world and played an integral part in the faith. We explore it with Andre Villeneuve.

Today marks an odd historical anniversary. On February 2, 1935, an inventor named Leonarde Keeler strapped an accused man to a polygraph machine and asked him a series of questions. For the next few minutes, the machine declared what was true and what was false. The polygraph promised something humans have wanted since the Garden: a shortcut past the messiness of conscience, speech, and character. But the same culture that craves technological certainty has also spent the last few decades training itself to sneer at any stable account of truth. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: Sacred Heart Dinner for Life

On Friday, February 13, the seminarians of Sacred Heart Major Seminary will host an evening of worship and hope to raise support for Pregnancy Aid Detroit. Charley Bemiss has the details.

Segment 3: Freedom without Truth is no True Freedom (2 segments)

We Americans have a thing about freedom. The deepest wellsprings of American freedom are not ours by virtue of being American but by virtue of our being human. And if there is a genius in our political traditions, it lies in a remarkable political system that we have not devised ourselves but only inherited. But for a people to be free, they must be willing and capable of living freely – and that begins with Truth. Stephen White joins us.

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus delivers the Sermon on the Mount and gives us the Beatitudes. We unpack the readings with Rob Corzine

Segment 2: The Humility of the Saints

Every saint — from the greatest thinker to the commonest servant — has walked the same narrow road: the path of humility. It is the foundation of every virtue and the key to sanctity. Patrick O’Hearn joins us to talk about it.

Today marks three historical anniversaries including three of the most significant figures of the last century. On this day, Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany, Mohandas Gandhi was assassinated, and Winston Churchill was laid to rest. If these three very different men were to meet, what would they say to each other? Marcus imagines a dialogue.

Segment 2: Crossing the River Sorrow: My Life as a Nurse

In her long career as a nurse, Janet Richards has often found herself crossing the “River Sorrow.” She joins us with stories of heartbreak and healing to share what she has learned about suffering.

Nigeria is home to an estimated 35 million Catholics and has one of the highest rates of Mass attendance in the world. Yet despite Catholicism’s rapid growth, Africa’s most populous nation has never had a native canonized saint. That could change with Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi, a Nigerian priest known for his holiness, pastoral zeal and asceticism. We get to know him with Matthew Bunson.

Segment 2: Loyalty isn’t just a virtue (2 segments)

In The American Republic, the American writer Orestes Brownson reflected on the meaning of Loyalty. He declares that Loyalty is the “highest, noblest, and most generous of human virtues, and is the human element of that sublime love or charity which the inspired Apostle tells us is the fulfilment of the law.” Michael Pakaluk joins us.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us not to hide our “light” under a bushel basket. The entire passage is deeply rooted in history, as God has long revealed Himself through the light. Marcus discusses more on the Covenants.

Segment 2: Century, Bloody Century

January 30 marks the anniversary of the infamous Bloody Sunday, one of the darkest days in Northern Ireland’s tumultuous history. Friedrich Nietzsche famously declared that we had killed God, but he also feared the implications of a Godless world. Marcus discusses the violent results of taking God out of our culture.

Segment 3: German Cardinal declares Synodal Way “Over” (2 segments)

A German cardinal has declared his participation in the controversial German Synodal Way finished, expressing deep skepticism about plans to establish a permanent synodal conference. Carl Olson joins us

In the shadow of the nation’s capital, a growing number of Washington-area families are quietly rethinking where and how their children learn. From the economically struggling neighborhoods of Anacostia to the affluent suburbs of northern Virginia, families of faith are discovering an alternative to the region’s increasingly polarized debates over curriculum and school governance. Andrea Picciotti-Bayer has the details. Segment 2: What is Ignatian Discernment?

The rules of Ignatian discernment provide a structure for people of all vocations, in all stages of life actually, to live the spiritual life with hope, with joy, with fruitfulness. Marcus has some thoughts.

Segment 3: What would Tolkien have thought of the LOTR Films? (2 segments)

Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings films are back in theaters this month to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the premiere of The Fellowship of the Ring. The trilogy is one of the most critically and financially film series of all time – but would Tolkien have accepted it as a faithful adaption of his novels? Austin Freeman joins us.

Speaking this week about continued immigration crackdowns, Tim Walz stated “Many of us grew up reading that story of Anne Frank. Somebody’s gonna write that children’s story about Minnesota.” The comparison confuses genocide with governance, racial annihilation with civil law, and totalitarian extermination with constitutional enforcement, thereby trivializing one of the gravest crimes in human history while offering zero serious illumination of the present controversy. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: God’s Faithfulness to David - and Us

Today’s reading from the Second book of Samuel contains a scene of immense Biblical weight. King David sits in silence, pondering over the fact that he rests within a house of cedar, while the Ark of the Covenant remains beneath cloth. And God makes a promise to him that expands towards Israel’s entire future. That same God shows faithfulness to us as well. Marcus has more.

Segment 3: Thomas Aquinas, Biblical Theologian (2 Segments)

In the past eight-hundred years, it is possible that no other theologian has shaped our understanding of God, man, and the Church more than St. Thomas Aquinas. While many people are familiar with his most famous work, the Summa Theologiae, fewer know of his important role as a biblical theologian. Michael Dauphinais joins us.

On January 27, 1945, Soviet troops entered the death camps at Auschwitz and Birkenau. What they saw defied description or imagination. This date now stands as the International Holocaust Remembrance Day. In the decades since the liberation of Auschwitz, the horror has faced a new enemy - an enemy that seeks to deny it ever happened. Marcus discusses how Holocaust denial has persisted and how it abuses history.

Segment 2: The Dangers of Surrogacy gone Wild

A report in the Wall Street Journal finds that Chinese billionaires are taking advantage of US Surrogacy laws to father dozens of children. We look at the problems at hand with Jennifer Roback Morse.

Segment 3: Catholic Schools Week highlights the need for truth-based education (2 segments)

This week students are celebrating Catholic Schools Week. In an era where our society has forgotten truth, the need for truth-based education has never been greater. Dan Guernsey joins us.

After Vladimir Lenin’s death, his body was placed in a mausoleum in Red Square – preserved as a saint of the new faith of Marxism. He envisioned a society without God – but this society created its own gods, with disastrous results. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: Pope Leo Highlights Risks of AI

Pope Leo has made it clear that addressing the risks of AI is a key component of his papacy, and his message for the Vatican’s 2026 World Day of Social Communications highlights this. William Schmitt joins us to talk about it.

Segment 3: Looking for Love in all the (Right) Places (2 segments)

On January 24 we celebrate the Feast of St Francis de Sales. In his Treatise on the Love of God, he writes that “Nothing so much presses men’s heart as love.” We talk with David Bonagura about finding perfect love in Jesus.

Vice-president JD Vance addressed huge crowds of pro-lifers on Friday before the March for Life in Washington, DC. In his speech, he reassured the crowds that “you have an ally in the White House,” but largely sidestepped the issues that have been at the heart of critics. Doug Keck joins us with more.

Segment 2: Connecting the Dots in Minneapolis

The death of Alex Pretti has swept up the news and social media. And like all issues, there are multiple conflicting reports and narratives from multiple sources. Terry Mattingly joins us to help straighten it out.

Segment 3: Orwell’s Religion

George Orwell died on January 21, 1950, but the influence of his writings lives on. We talk about his relevance to today’s world with John Rodden.

The deaths of Alex Pretti and Renée Good are tragic and eminently avoidable. They emerged from volatile circumstances where passions ran high, when authority was challenged at close quarters, and prudential judgment failed on multiple levels. How can we as Catholics contribute to better civil discourse? Marcus has some thoughts.

Segment 2: Society is built on lawful order

There is another effect of the ICE shooting and protests in Minnesota – a potential government shutdown. Some Democratic senators have said they will not vote for a massive government funding package if it includes money for DHS, which oversees immigration enforcement. President Trump’s immigration policies were a key part of the “No Kings” protests – but enforcing a duly enacted law is not a royal prerogative. We discuss the duty to enforce the law with John McGinnis.

Segment 3: How Feminism became a Pseudo-Christian Religion

While Christians have targeted the specific products of the feminist ideology, such as abortion and transgenderism, we have missed the bigger picture of how feminism’s shadow church has captured the psyche of Western women. Even amongst some Christians today, feminist ideology is seen as a path to true equality and freedom. Carrie Gress responds to these claims.

Notorious serial killer Ted Bundy was executed on January 24, 1989. Before his execution, he discussed his previous addiction to violent pornography. Marcus discusses how pornography devalues the human person and leads to a culture of death.

Segment 2: Why I Traded News for Pro-Life Work

Denyse Shannon was working the assignment desk at a local TV station when she learned of a horrendous story – a two-year-old child kidnapped and feared dead. As she reflected on the tragedy, she began to hear a calling from God – it was time for a change. She shares her story.

Segment 3: The Natural Law – your Fast-Track to Human Flourishing (2 segments) The Natural Law is the foundation upon which our laws, ethics, and policies are built. And following the principles of the Natural Law is a surefire way to lead to greater human flourishing. We explore it with Melissa Moschella.

It began on the shores of Galilee – Jesus called a man named Simon, later Peter, to follow him. Peter was far from perfect and he knew it, asking the Lord to depart from him for he was a sinful man. But throughout history God uses broken, sinful man for his plan for the world. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: Do Women Have a Universal Vocation?

What distinguishes men from women? Many of the discussions around what it means to be a woman, or conversations around the significance of maleness and femaleness, fail to take into account the angle of the questions asked or misunderstand the position that another is coming from. A “3-D” reality is condensed to a “2-D” explanation. Kerri Christopher joins us to discuss more on the reality of womanhood.

Segment 3: Why We Need a Global Children’s Rights Movement (2 segments)

Debates over issues such as marriage, infertility, divorce and adoption tend to consider the issue solely from the adult’s perspective and “rights.” But what about the Rights of the children? Stacy Manning joins us to flip the script on the conversation.

President Trump has invited the Vatican and several other European countries to join a “board of peace” to oversee the reconstruction of Gaza. Matthew Bunson has the details, and also honors the late Vatican journalist John Allen, who passed away this week.

Segment 2: The Faith – and Joy – of Indiana Football

On Monday the Indiana Hoosiers football team – historically one of the worst programs in the country – completed a dream undefeated season by winning the National Championship. They’re led by quarterback Fernando Mendoza, a devout Catholic who’s never backed down from sharing his faith. Fr. Patrick Hyde, pastor of the Catholic Center at IU, joins us with more.

Segment 3: Faith, Doubt, and the Dilemma of Being Human (2 segments)

Is doubt the sign of a lack of faith? Can faith and doubt co-exist? Do people who have faith also have doubts? We know from the events of Holy Week that even the apostles had doubts, but the manner of their deaths also shows their faith. We discuss the nature of faith and doubt with Randall Smith.

The interruption of Sunday services at a church in Minnesota marks a watershed moment in the moral and religious imagination of the American Republic and the Western world. If even religious worship may be interrupted in service of political expression, then truly nothing is sacred. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: Is the Church a Cruise ship, or a battleship?

Do you ever find yourself “hopping” from parish to parish in search of the one that will best suit your needs? While it’s important to search for parishes that will support you and your family, we cannot overlook the role the laity have to play in forming strong parishes. Jason Negri has more.

Segment 3: The Golden Thread of Catholic History (2 segments)

Where do the threads that form the Western Tradition originate, and how were they woven together throughout the millennia? What are the sources of our modern ideas about science, freedom, equality, law, and good government? James Hankins has authored a massive volume exploring this history, and he joins us.

What role should our government play in the life and death choices we all face? Andrea Picciotti-Bayer is featured on an upcoming PBS series that will explore this question. She joins us.

Segment 2: Lessons from the Eucharistic Revival

In the summer of 2024, thousands of Catholics flocked to Indianapolis for the National Eucharistic Congress. In the months since, the organizers have conducted research to try to quantify the effects of the Congress and make plans for the next one. Jack Figge has more.

Segment 3: What Converts have taught me about Christian unity

Through his work at the Coming Home Network, JonMarc Grodi has talked with hundreds of people about their journeys to the Catholic Church. What has talking with converts taught him about the prospects of Christian unity? He joins us.

On January 21, 1793, the guillotine fell upon the neck of French King Louis XVI. The execution of the French monarch was a symbolic moment then because the revolt ceased to be rhetorical. At that point, it became a public declaration of warfare. Unlike the American Revolution, which sought continuity with inherited law, custom, religious conviction, natural law, the French revolt pursued rupture, willfully so. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: The Uniqueness of Catholic Mourning

This week the Franciscan University community was rocked by the sudden death of two of its students. Luke Reimer and Mary Mich were found inside of a car in a campus parking lot and investigators believe they died from an engine gas leak. In times of such tragedy, we grasp to understand why God allows this to happen. The Catholic faith offers the only honest approach to death because it integrates truth and hope without compromise. Marcus has more.

Segment 3: Christian Unity begins with the Jewish people (2 segments)

This week, we continue to pray for Christian unity. And in the eyes of the Church, no Christian unity can be achieved without considering the Jewish people. Andre Villeneuve joins us.

Many Christians struggle with confidence because we’ve absorbed the world’s definition of it. The culture tells us that confidence means believing we’re strong, capable, and talented enough to handle whatever comes our way. If we don’t feel competent or certain, we assume something is wrong with us. But the Theology of the Body offers a radically different—and deeply freeing—understanding of confidence. Greg Popcak gives us a Christian view of what it means to be confident.

Segment 2: Taking Sundays Seriously

In today’s Gospel, the Pharisees accuse Jesus and His followers of breaking the Sabbath. God commands us to keep the Sabbath holy and observe the day of rest - but we can only join in that Sabbath rest if we take our Sundays seriously. Going to Mass is not an obligation. It is an invitation to be elevated into the divine intimacy and life of our Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Marcus has more.

Segment 3: The Hope for Christian Unity (2 segments)

This week, Catholics and many other Christian denominations are celebrating the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Dr. Charlie Self joins us with a look at Jesus’s words in John 17 and other scriptures, discussing the hope and promise for Christian unity.

January 15 was the 25th anniversary of the first edits on Wikipedia and many consider the date to be the website’s “birthday.” Wikipedia has grown from the website your teachers warned you never to cite as a source, to one of the most widely-used resources on the web. But while it can provide us with knowledge about countless topics, it cannot give us wisdom. Knowledge is valuable, but wisdom is invaluable. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: Join the Rose Mass to honor Victims of Abortion

Tomorrow night, Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Plymouth will host a Rose Ceremony during Mass to remember all the lives lost to abortion. Monica Miller joins us with the details.

Segment 3: What is the American Catholic Land Movement?

The mission, plantation, pioneer homestead, immigrant colony, mission farm, and remote job-homeschooling homestead―this is the story of the American Catholic Land Movement. Jared Staudt joins us to talk more about it.

A group of anti-ICE agitators stormed Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota yesterday during Sunday services. We look at the story with Doug Keck.

Segment 2: Old Wine into New Wineskins: Understanding the Covenants

In today’s Gospel, Jesus is asked why His disciples do not fast, while the followers of John and the Pharisees do. Jesus’ answer is key to understanding the covenantal relationship between the Old and New Testaments. Marcus has more.

Segment 3: The History of Papal Mosaics

Pope Leo’s official papal mosaic is complete and will soon be installed at St. Paul Outside the Walls Basilica in Rome, where the mosaics of every other pontiff are displayed. Art historian and expert Liz Lev joins us to talk about the history and symbolism behind these mosaics.

Segment 4: “One Dream or Two?” Martin Luther King’s Vision of Justice

In his iconic “I have a dream” speech, Martin Luther King shared his vision and understanding of Justice in America. We discuss it with Nathan Schlueter.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 has a significant place in the American moral and legal imagination. It addressed grave injustices that had disfigured our nation’s legal and civic life for generations. At the same time though, history has called us to some level of discernment on the unintended consequences of the Act. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: Jefferson’s Views on the Role of Government

We often hear that Thomas Jefferson got his anthropology wrong, a fact best seen in his dismissal of original sin’s effects and his apparent trust in “the people.” But a closer examination of his thought reveals his key understanding of the principal of subsidiarity. For Jefferson, man was a free but social and moral creature, and this had important implications for how he viewed the role of the State in human affairs. John Pinheiro joins us with more.

Segment 3: When the Government meets God (2 segments)

What is the relationship between God and Government? What did the founders intend, and has their vision been lost? Miles Smith joins us.

This Sunday’s Gospel gives us a view of the events immediately after Jesus’ baptism, from the perspective of John the Baptist. Rob Corzine joins us to unpack the readings.

Segment 2: Fulton Sheen beatification forthcoming? (2 segments)

The Holy See is expected to announce in coming weeks a date for the beatification of Archbishop Fulton Sheen, the Emmy-winning American prelate known for catechetical television programs in the 1950s and 1960s. Matthew Bunson has more on this and other Church news.

The Iranian government is brutally cracking down on protestors, and some critics say this is proof that religion should be kept out of politics. But every political order rests on religion - even when the altar has been replaced with things like screens or personal ideology or power. So the real question concerns not whether religion needs to be part of government, but which religion. Which god shapes the public conscience? Marcus has more.

Segment 2: What the “Words of the Year” tell us about our culture

Every year, the publishers of major dictionaries declare a “word of the year.” The words of the year for 2025 include “rage bait,” “slop” and “6-7” and reflect a lot about our internet-driven society. We talk more about it with Bill Schmitt.

Segment 3: C.S. Lewis Goes to Mars

CS Lewis is so beloved for his writings on faith and spirituality, as well as the Narnia books, that his adult fiction is sometimes overlooked. In the first book of his Space Trilogy, Out of the Silent Planet, three men go to Mars and their subsequent adventures show Lewis’ viewpoint on the difference between authentic science and the pride of scientism. Joseph Pearce has more.

Protests continue across Iran, though they have been largely smothered today thanks to the regime cracking down on internet access in the country. During the protests, at least 34 mosques have been set on fire in Tehran. Why is this happening in a country where a reported 98% of the population is Muslim? The answer is complicated – Alberto Fernandez joins us.

Segment 2: Renee Good, ICE, and the Demand of Christian Virtue

Last week, the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis ignited the predictable firestorm of tribal reactions, political posturing, and social media fury. How do we respond with virtue, wisdom, and the love of Christ rather than joining the chorus of knee-jerk outrage? Marcus discusses.

Segment 3: How the English Reformation Broke Reason (2 segments)

On this day in 1535, Henry VIII officially declared himself Head of the Church of England. The English Reformation was devastating to both English Reason and English art. We talk about it with Henry Russell.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has restored Title X funding to Planned Parenthood, the latest disappointment by a president once dubbed the most pro-life in history. Is Trump-Vance administration the most anti-life GOP administration in history? Marcus discusses.

Segment 2: Henry VIII Breaks from the Church

On January 15, 1535, Henry VIII proclaimed that he was now Supreme Head of the Church of England. We look at the historical context of this breakage with Joanna Bogle.

Segment 3: Does God Make us Righteous? (2 segments)

The Catholic Church teaches that the grounds for our justification is our interior state of holiness, which God brings about within us when we are initially saved. For a Catholic, God reckons a believer to be justified because he has freely and gratuitously brought about interior state of righteousness in the believer. This stands in contrast to the Reformed tradition of Protestantism, which denies that our interior state of holiness is the ground of justification. We take a closer look with Karlo Broussard.

President Trump recently said Republicans need to be “flexible” on taxpayer-funded abortions. Bishop Daniel Thomas joins us to respond and discuss the importance of the Hyde Amendment.

Segment 2: Supreme Court Tackles Identity Politics in Sports

The Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments this week in two key cases that will determine whether states can preserve girls’ sports teams. Andrea Picciotti-Bayer joins us with more.

Segment 3: Consecrate Yourself to the Holy Family with Fr. Calloway (2 segments)

The Holy Family serves as the pattern and model for marriage and family, demonstrating what these are, as well as the correct understanding of masculinity and fatherhood, femininity and motherhood, babies and children. In an age of such moral confusion, it’s time to consecrate yourself and your family to the Holy Family! Fr. Donald Calloway joins us.

Human Rights advocates estimate more than 2000 people have died in Iranian protests, and the government has threatened to begin executing political prisoners any day. This afternoon, Iranian state TV broadcasted a picture of Donald Trump after his near assassination in Butler, along with the caption “this time it will not miss the target.” Though it seems incredible to our society, the crackdown by the Iranian government is faithful to the Quran. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: Lawsuit in Canada to Force Catholic Hospitals to Permit Euthanasia

The family of a Canadian woman who chose assisted suicide has filed a lawsuit to compel Catholic hospitals to permit euthanasia on their premises. Wes Smith joins us with the story.

Segment 3: Meet the Magi (2 segments)

The Magi, or Three Kings, of the Nativity story are among the best loved yet most mysterious figures in all history. The fleeting and sparse account in St. Matthew’s Gospel raises as many questions as it answers. Roger Thomas has drawn from Scripture, history and modern research to bring their journey to life. He joins us.

Dilbert cartoonist Scott Adams died this morning following a battle with prostate cancer. As we discussed yesterday, he had announced he planned to convert to Christianity because he had “nothing to lose.” In an open letter shared after his death, Adams wrote that he does not believe in God, but still accepts Jesus as his savior. What does this all mean? Marcus discusses.

Segment 2: What’s in a (Holy) Name? (3 segments)

The Church’s devotion for the month of January is the Holy Name of Jesus. In Biblical times, names had meanings and carried great significance. We discuss the meaning of Jesus’ Holy Name with Steve Ray.

Ambition has always been a double-edged force in the history of civilization. It builds cities, constitutions, founds universities, organizes whole economies. At the same time though, ambition unmoored from moral hierarchy can corrode one’s character. It can fracture households, it can leave a trail of brilliance that’s shadowed by regret. Few lives in the American founding display that particular tension with greater clarity than that of Alexander Hamilton. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: Join Fr John Riccardo at the Jesus Conference

God has a vision — not just for creation in general, but for every person, every parish, and every corner of the world He loves. That’s the theme of Acts XXIX’s Jesus Conference, coming up in October. Albert Faraj has the details.

Segment 3: Proclaiming the Gospel of Matthew (2 segments)

Each Gospel reveals unique truths about who Jesus is. For Matthew, Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us always, who saves us from sin. In doing so, Matthew gives us a way of reading the Scriptures according to both the letter and the spirit. Leroy Huizenga joins us with more.

Scott Adams, creator of the comic strip Dilbert, recently announced he plans to convert to Christianity as he faces terminal prostate cancer. He has previously described himself as Agnostic, but says many of his Christian friends have reached out to him since his diagnosis last spring. Adams says he plans to convert because if he’s wrong, he loses nothing, but if he’s right, he “wakes up in heaven,” a classic example of Pascal’s Wager. We talk more about it with Doug Keck.

Segment 2: Mike Reagan, Devout Catholic

Michael Reagan, the adopted son of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan and a longtime conservative activist who spoke publicly about his Catholic faith, died on Jan. 4 at 80 years old. We discuss his life and faith with Paul Kengor.

Segment 3: Did Jesus really meet a woman caught in adultery?

The seventh and eight chapters of John’s Gospel recount the meeting between Jesus and a woman caught in adultery, when he tells the crowds that whoever among them is without sin should cast the first stone. The passage is sometimes called a “floating passage,” as some scholars dispute whether it was originally part of the Gospel. Marcus looks at the controversy.

Segment 4: “I will make you Fishers of Men”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus calls on a group of fishermen to lay down their nets and follow Him – and they will become Fishers of Men. Marcus discusses the reading with Billy Kangas.

This week is the 250th anniversary of the publication of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense. It became an instant bestseller and helped fan the flames of America’s revolutionary movement. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: Awaken your Contemplative Heart with St. Thérèse

In a letter to her spiritual brother Maurice Belliere, St. Therese wrote how she was profoundly affected by Joan of Arc and felt that she, too, was called to great things. Is the Lord calling you in the same way? Sean Breeden joins us to invite you to an immersive woman’s retreat experience to awaken your contemplative heart and warrior spirit.

Segment 3: Hundreds dead in Iran protests – will the regime fall?

Since late December, protests have swept across Iran against the Islamic Republic government. Hundreds have reportedly been killed, and President Trump says the US is “looking at its options.” Alberto Fernandez has the details.

Segment 4: Accompaniment at the Hour of DeathWhat’s the right thing to say when someone is dying? How can we help a person at their hour of death? Fernanda Moreira’s Apostolate for the Dying helps bring souls to God’s infinite mercy. She joins us.

This Sunday’s Gospel recounts the story of John baptizing Jesus in the Jordan. The heavens open, and God declares Jesus to be His beloved son. Marcus unpacks the readings.

Segment 2: The Source of Nature and Grace (2 segments)

When St. Peter answered Jesus’ challenge to step out of the boat and walk on water, he briefly seemed to defy the very laws of nature. Standing upon the waves without support, Peter manifested the ultimate source of man’s support, both metaphysically and spiritually. We discuss God as the source of Nature and Grace with Thomas Kronholz.

On Sunday we celebrate the Feast of Jesus’ Baptism. But why did a perfect man need baptism at all? The answer begins with an understanding of the immense significance of the Jordan River. Marcus discusses Jesus’ baptism and how we should respond in our own hearts.

Segment 2: Discerning Religious Life? Try a Day in the Life of a Sister!

Do you know a young woman who is discerning religious life? The Servants of God Love are hosting a Day in the Life of a Sister retreat on January 17. Join them for a day of prayer, ministry, and mission! Sr. Lisa Zelfa joins us.

Segment 3: Another Prominent Christian Leader Falls to Sexual Scandal (2 segments)

This week Phillip Yancey, an internationally-known speaker and bestselling Christian author, announced his retirement from public ministry due to an extended affair with a married woman. Tragically, it’s yet another example of a prominent Christian leader failing to live by the standards they preach. What lessons can we learn from these failures? Dr. Dave Anders joins us.

Archbishop Bernard Hebda is pleading for prayers and calm following the shooting of a US citizen by an ICE agent. Matthew Bunson has more on this and other Church news.

Segment 2: Join a Pilgrimage to England

What if you could walk the very halls where priests once hid, stand at the sites where martyrs gave their lives, and trace the conversion of Newman and the faith journeys of Lewis and Tolkien? Join Marcus Peter and Billy Kangas this fall for an amazing pilgrimage! Billy has more details, including about an upcoming info night.

Segment 3: “I’m a Lily-White-socialist-MAGA-racist-Obama-voting-Uncle-Tom on the AIPAC Dole.”

In comments sections and emails, Marcus has been accused of being both a socialist and a captialist apologist, a MAGA sellout and a Democrat spokesman, and a “lily-white racist” and Uncle Tom. Such accusations are almost inevitable, as Catholic political theology does not fit neatly in with any major American party, but it also shows the levels to which our public discourse has sunk. Marcus has more.

Segment 4: Christ’s Peace and the Next New Thing

Six years ago, the world was becoming enraptured with the COVID pandemic. In the years since then, there’s been an election, the rise of AI, numerous social media scandals, and other viral stories. Whatever the next “New Thing” will be is anyone’s guess, but we can safely say it will consume our attention and generate fresh anxieties over how it will upend our lives. David Bonagura puts things in perspective.

Why do our politicians usually swear in on the Bible? And how do so many of them miss the point? The answer lies in the meaning of covenant. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: How a Trip to Poland Convinced Me That Socialism Works

The victory of socialist candidates in recent elections has highlighted the renewed appeal of the Marxist system. Some now see socialism as the wave of the future. Conservatives reply by saying that this system must be rejected because “socialism does not work.” John Horvat shares what a trip to Poland taught him about socialism.

Segment 3: Vatican Commission Rejects Female Diaconate (2 segments)

In 2020, Pope Francis commissioned a group of scholars to study the question of the female diaconate. The commission finished its report late last year, and submitted a letter to Pope Leo stating that there was no support for ordaining women as deacons. We talk more about the issue with Monica Miller.

Baptism imprints a spiritual mark upon the soul, and that mark remains even when the baptized person drifts from God. God addresses post-baptismal sin through repentance, reconciliation, transformation, and sacramental reconciliation. Marcus has more on conversion and baptism.

Segment 2: Remembering Russell Shaw

Catholic writer and journalist Russell Shaw has died at the age of 90. Over his long career, Shaw served in several capacities with the US Bishops, wrote dozens of books, and was a frequent guest on Catholic Radio. Mike Aquilina joins us to honor him.

Segment 3: “It’s God’s Story. I’m just part of it.” (2 segments)

Ever since he was diagnosed with cancer in May 2024, Adam Wright has embraced his cross and walked the Via Dolorosa with his family. A few days ago, Adam had the joy of “ringing the bell” as he was declared Cancer-Free. He joins us.

Bill Watterson’s Calvin of comic strip fame once declared that he refused to make New Year’s resolutions, because improving oneself implied that certain values were better than others, but because values are relative they are all equl – virtue is no better than vice. Marcus looks at how this strip serves as a commentary on our culture.

Segment 2: Hope and Healing Conference for Widows

Our friends at WidowsMight.net are excited to host another conference, open to all widows who are navigating the next phase in their lives. Join them for a day of healing, hope, fellowship, and even some humor. Jen Thomm has the details.

Segment 3: Trump urges Republican ‘flexibility’ on taxpayer-funded abortions

President Donald Trump is asking congressional Republicans to be more flexible on taxpayer funding for abortions as lawmakers continue to negotiate an extension to health care subsidies related to the Affordable Care Act. Peter Laffin joins us with more.

Segment 4: The Dangers of Deepfake P*rn

Reports have surfaced of people, including teens, using the “Grok” AI chatbot to create pornographic images of classmates, neighbors, and others. This presents a challenge parents of previous generations never could have imagined. Marcus discusses what we can do.

It happens every year – you wake up on New Year’s Day, determined that this will be the year you get into shape, grow spiritually, settle your finances, and achieve your dreams. A month later, you’re back to old habits. Sound familiar? Dr. Greg Popcak has some tips.

Segment 2: Pope Leo, Bishops respond to Maduro arrest

At his Angelus address on Sunday, Pope Leo expressed concern over the situation in Venezuela and emphasized that the good of the Venezuelan people must prevail over all other issues. Alejandro Bermudez has more on the latest developments.

Segment 3: The Mystery of the Stigmata (2 segments)

The Stigmata is one of the strangest and most mystical phenomena in the Church. They’ve been the center of devotion and controversy for centuries – are they real? What’s the evidence? Why would God cause them? We explore the mystery with John Clark.

On this day in 1941, President Roosevelt delivered a speech in which he outlined four fundamental freedoms to which all people of the world were entitled. He was speaking at a time of existential crisis, when the future of ordered liberty was very much in doubt. Marcus takes a look at his speech.

Segment 2: Collectivism isn’t so warm

At his inauguration, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani declared he wants to “replace the frigidity of rugged individualism with the warmth of collectivism.” But a look at history shows the problems with this dream. Catherine Pakaluk has more.

Segment 3: Tolkien and Lewis at War (2 segments)

In a world devastated by the cataclysm of war, two extraordinary authors and friends, J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis, delivered a bracing vision of the human story: a path back to goodness, beauty, and faith. How did they do it? Joseph Loconte joins us.

The downfall of Nicolas Maduro reminds us of the consequences of abuse of power. Ultimately, world leader are not just accountable to themselves or their citizens – they are accountable to God. Doug Keck joins Marcus.

Segment 2: It’s Still a Wonderful Life

Frank Capra’s classic It’s a Wonderful Life is a beloved Christmas tradition for countless families. But an abridged version available on Amazon Prime has left many shaking their heads. This version eliminates the scenes where George learns what the world would be like if he was never born – leaving the viewer to miss the entire point of the film. Marcus has more.

Segment 3: Start your year with the Divine Mercy (2 segments)

A year after the publication of his encyclical Dives in Misericordia on the Divine Mercy of God and after his long recuperation from an assassin’s bullet, Pope John Paul II visited the Shrine of Merciful Love in Collevalenza, Italy. It was there, on November 22, 1981, that he delivered this most urgent message: “Merciful love is more powerful than any evil that gathers upon man and upon the world.” Vinny Flynn joins us with daily reflections on the Divine Mercy.

The year now behind us carried the weight of an entire era rather than the simple turning of a calendar page. Anyone paying attention felt the sensation of standing beneath converging fault lines where politics, culture, technology, and faith pressed upon one another with accelerating force. Marcus has more as we kick off a new year.

Segment 2: US Captures Maduro: A View from Venezuela

The shocking news of the weekend was the United States’ arrest of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro. EWTN correspondent Andrés Henríquez joins us from Venezuela with a report.

Segment 3: Is the Maduro Arrest Legal?

Venezuelans at home and abroad are celebrating the removal of the dictator Nicolas Maduro. But what does international law say about the United States’ actions? Scholars are divided – Dan Philpott weighs in.

Segment 4: Who Killed Civil Society? Public life in the U.S. is a series of chaotic, irrational, violent events, increasingly inhospitable to any attempt at rational discourse. And no clear solution is in sight. Indeed, on its current trajectory, civic life in the U.S. is a dead society walking. Ken Craycraft joins us.

Segment 1: Let the Leo Roar

From the minute Pope Leo was introduced, some people tried to frame him in the context of former popes. But we can only judge him based on what he actually says and does – and there was a lot to like about his first homily as pope. We look back on Marcus’ first commentary after his election as our year in review continues.

Segment 2: Why we had confessions at my father’s wake (3 segments)

Shannon Salter’s father recently died following a battle with cancer. Though he was relatively young, his life was an example of joyous service to Christ – so when the family was planning his wake, Shannon felt the call from Jesus to make the Sacrament of Confession available. She shares the story.

Segment 1: Pope Francis’ Funeral: A View from Rome

The biggest Church news story of the year was, by far, the death of Pope Francis and election of Pope Leo. We look back on our conversation with Matthew Bunson, who was reporting from Rome as thousands of pilgrims prepared for Pope Francis’ funeral.

Segment 2: Marcus’ Monologue: Even Death Bows before a Christian Family

In July, the Ann Arbor community suffered the loss of Xavier Randolph, a remarkably faithful young man who lost his life in a drowning accident. Despite their unimaginable grief, Xavier’s parents have been incredible witnesses of a family who places their hope in Christ’s Resurrection. Marcus shares some impressions from Xavier’s funeral.

Segment 3: “Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.” (2 segments)

This Sunday’s Gospel tells the account of the Magi, who came to worship the newborn king of the Jews. We unpack the readings with Rob Corzine.

Fr Jim Rolph is a dynamic young priest in the Diocese of Lansing who has embraced the Cross of Jesus, yet radiates the joy of the Lord. He shares his story of discipleship and suffering

Segment 2: The Power of Everyday Holiness (2 segments)

Christian sanctity is far nearer and far more beautiful than we think. From mothers taking their children to Mass to a simple bottle of Holy Water, the most precious things in life often have no price and incredible power. We talk with Michael Pakaluk about the simple, electrifying truths of the Catholic faith.

Segment 1: From maintenance to mission: A bishop’s vision for the Church

Although we have seen some signs of resurgence in Church attendance, overall numbers are still on the decline. The Church needs to shift its mindset from one of maintenance to one of mission, taking cues from St. Paul and the early disciples. Bishop Robert Gruss of Saginaw has more.

Segment 2: Is Prayer Pointless? (3 Segments)

Our understanding of God can sometimes make prayer seem like a fruitless task. If God is all-good and all-powerful, He will already grant us whatever is best. And if God is all-powerful, then how could our petitions cause him to change? We tackle these challenges with Pat Flynn.

Segment 1: Facebook Employees Compare Themselves to Drug Pushers

Recently unsealed court documents show employees at Facebook’s parent company Meta were aware of the adverse effects social media has on kids’ mental health, calling Instagram a “drug” and referring to themselves as “pushers.” Marcus has some thoughts.

Segment 2: Matthew’s Gospel – the Key to Jesus (3 segments)

The Gospel of Matthew is more than the first book of the New Testament – it is the key that unlocks everything that Jesus would fulfill. We take a deep dive into the Gospel with Dr. Scott Hahn.

Segment 1: The Blood of a Fallen Patriot

Charlie Kirk’s murder did not happen in a vacuum. He died because he stood for truths that our culture increasingly rejects. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: Making Sense of Sirach (3 segments)

In the grand scheme of Scripture, the Book of Sirach is often overlooked. But it is a treasure trove of enduring wisdom that continues to speak to every age. Andre Villeneuve helps us unpack it.

Segment 2: My child is an addict – what can I do? (3 segments)

Addiction is a sickness that touches us all. Whether it be alcohol, drugs, gambling, pornography, or sometime else, we all know someone who is bearing this cross. What can parents do to help their children in this situation? Dr. Ray Guarendi joins us.

The Jews are history’s most unlikely survivors. For centuries, different empires have tried to eradicate the Jewish people – but to no avail. Marcus looks at the story through the lens of accusations of Genocide in Gaza.

Segment 2: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald (3 segments)

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, a landmark event in Midwestern heritage that Gordon Lightfoot famously memorialized in his classic ballad. John U Bacon takes us deep inside the story of that fateful night and the Storm of the Century that sank America’s most famous freighter.

Segment 1: Life in Afghanistan under the Taliban (2 Segments)

The Taliban have set up a ministry for the “propagation of virtue and prevention of vice” in Afghanistan. The rules include dozens of standards for dress code and how women may conduct themselves in public, with severe punishments for violating the rules. Luma Simms joins us to discuss the Catholic and Islamic views of the nature of the human person and the role religion can play in supporting democracy.

Segment 2: I lost my son to an AI Chatbot (2 segments)

In February 2024, Megan Garcia’s son Sewell took his own life after he fell “in love” with an AI Chatbot, which encouraged him to join “her” in an artificial world. It’s a harrowing example of the dangers of this technology. She shares her story.

Segment 1: “Shopping for Sperm” (2 segments)

A recent Newsweek cover story entitled “shopping for sperm” explores an online “baby boom” being created by an unregulated sperm market. Single women and same-sex couples are pursuing pregnancy through people they find online. We take a look at this strange story with Andrew Kubick.

Segment 2: Four lies that toppled the establishment (2 segments)

For nearly a decade, Democratic Party elites, Never Trump Republicans, and legacy media personalities have warned that the “walls are closing in” on President Donald Trump. Yet seven months into Trump’s second term, the establishment teeters on the brink of collapse. Peter Laffin looks at the steps that led to this situation.

Segment 1: The Limits of “Cultural Catholicism” (2 Segments)

There are plenty of countries, especially in the West, that would be considered “culturally Catholic.” Their citizens know the basic tenants of the faith and observe the major feasts. But their practice of the faith does not have a transforming effect on their lives. Such cultural Catholicism is, simply put, inadequate to the transmission of faith and the evangelizing mission of the Church. Stephen White joins us with more.

Segment 2: Fact-Checking in a World without Truth (2 segments)

Earlier this year, Facebook announced it would suspend its third-party fact-checking system. The news was met with both applause and uproar, with many fearing it would open a platform for Fake News and lies. But can we even have fact-checking in a world that rejects the very notion of Truth? We discuss truth and relativism with Janice Breidenbach.

On a freezing Christmas night in 1776, General George Washington led a bedraggled group of soldiers across the Delaware River before a surprise attack on a garrison of Hessians at Trenton. This pivotal victory saved the fledgling Revolution and changed the course of American Independence. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: A Culture Warrior Goes Home for Christmas

CS Lewis scholar and cultural commentator James Como died last month at the age of 79. As an indomitable culture warrior and soldier of Christ, he died with his boots on, working in the Lewisian vineyard in which he had labored for almost six decades. Joseph Pearce honors his memory.

Segment 3: Genesis Lays the Foundation for the Incarnation (2 segments)

In order to grasp fully the significance of Christ’s birth, we must go all the way back to the very beginning and the events of Genesis 1-3. Monica Miller joins us.

For most of American history, putting family first was not just a private choice; it was a deep expression of American identity. But that seems to have changed. A new survey of more than 90,000 correspondents found that only 48% of Americans ranked family as a top-five value in their lives, and only 11% ranked it as their top priority. We discuss this collapse with Peter Laffin.

Segment 2: Viral Video of Cardinal Sarah is the latest AI Fake (2 segments)

There is a video going viral on YouTube that claims to feature Cardinal Robert Sarah sharing a message he received in a vision of the Blessed Mother. There’s just one problem – it’s another AI fake. Matthew Bunson joins us. to talk about this and other Church news.

In an address today to the Roman Curia, Pope Leo called on Church leaders to be “more mission-oriented” and cautioned against the “forces of division” that can take root in the Church. Doug Keck joins us to discuss his comments.

Segment 2: Bethlehem Then and Now: Christmas in Context (3 segments)

Bethlehem is more than a name on the page. It is a real place that has existed for thousands of years, and we look at its historical context with Steve Ray.

In 1849, Fyodor Dostoyevsky stood before a firing squad fully prepared for death, only to have his sentence revoked at the last moment. But this near brush with death gave him unique credibility for writing about life. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: How the Christmas Truce Defied Assumptions of Warfare On Christmas Eve of 1914, the guns of the Great War’s Western Front fell silent. Enemy soldiers left the trenches, crossed the battle lines, and gathered to exchange food and gifts and sing carols. The ceasefire was not planned or sanctioned – it arose from the instincts of exhausted men. It emphasized a universal truth: at each end of the rifle, men were the same. Marcus has more.

Segment 3: The Social Character of the Natural Law (2 segments)

If we accept the natural law as a law that governs our lives, then it must bind more than one person and coordinate their activity, beginning with its very first principles. We look at the Social character of the natural law with Michael Pakaluk.

Segment 2: IVF and the Dangers of “Made-to-Order” Babies (2 segments)

The question of IVF remains an important moral issue for Catholics. Genetic testing companies claim to give parents “the power to protect their children before pregnancy begins” by screening embryos in the petri dish. We look at the ethical complications with Andrew Kubick.

A young woman in Japan recently made headlines for “marrying” her AI-generated boyfriend. Wearing a wedding dress and virtual-reality goggles, she walked down the aisle and exchanged vows with a virtual image powered by Chat GPT. It’s an example of a culture craving for frictionless affirmation – relationships completely free of challenge or conflict. But if such relationships exist, they are hollow. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: “Prepare the Way, Prepare the Path” - Music for Advent (3 segments)

The Church has given us a rich tradition of music for Advent. Solemn, yet joyful, it helps us to prepare our hearts for the birth of Christ. Deacon Tom Loewe joins us with two examples.

Pope Leo has tapped Bishop Ronald Hicks of Joliet, Illinois to be the next Archbishop of New York following the retirement of Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who has served America’s second-largest Archdiocese since 2009. We get to know him with Dr Matthew Bunson.

Segment 2: Christ fulfills the Messianic Prophecies (2 segments)

The Old Testament details 353 prophecies by which the Jews could recognize the Messiah. The odds that one man would fulfill them all are astronomic, but what do they say? We discuss them with Andre Villeneuve.

“Mary was an unwed mother.”

“Joseph was merely Jesus’ foster father.”

“The Holy Family were illegal immigrants in Egypt”

You’ve probably already heard these claims in the days leading up to Christmas, as people attempt to fit the story of Christmas into a modern mold. But it doesn’t work that way. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: A new approach to education Catholic men

St. Joseph the Worker Academy is an all-boys school in the Ann Arbor area based upon the educational philosophies of St. John Bosco and John Senior.

Segment 3: Why must we tether the Gospels to Tradition? (2 segments)

In a recent video discussion on the Bible, Jordan Peterson discusses the Gospels. He uses a translation known as The Single Gospel, a condensed version that combines the four narratives into one. However, this raises some issues because of what is lost. We discuss it with Daniel Gallagher.

The 14-year legal battle against federal contraceptive mandates will continue, with Little Sisters of the Poor and the federal government seeking to reinstate moral and religious exemptions that were established in 2017. Andrea Picciotti-Bayer has the details.

Segment 2: Truthly puts the Faith at your Fingertips

Truthly is a groundbreaking Catholic AI app designed to empower people with instant, reliable Catholic answers to questions about the faith and life. Co-founder Zac Johnson tells us more about it.

Segment 3: How the Boston Tea Party Transformed the Revolution (2 segments)

On December 16, 1773, members of the Sons of Liberty disguised as Native Americans boarded three ships in Boston Harbor and dumped hundreds of chest of tea into the water. The protest greatly escalated hostilities between Great Britain and the Thirteen Colonies, and open war broke out less than two years later. Shawn McGhee joins us with a closer look at how the Boston Tea Party transformed the American Revolution.

In the final days of Advent, the Church entreats us to the O Antiphons – short chants used during Vespers that are deeply set in Scripture and tradition. Marcus plays them and examines their deeper meaning.

Segment 2: What’s happening with the German and American bishops? (2 segments)In his travels, George Weigel has found that the perspective of American bishops in other countries is often far from reality. Friends will ask him why the bishops are so deeply divided, or why they disliked Pope Francis so much. With Pope Leo’s emphasis on unity, one would hope that such misconceptions will lessen. George joins us with more, and also discusses the latest developments with the German bishops.

Segment 2: The Digital Delusion: How Technology is Hurting our Students (2 segments)

Laptops, tablets, smartphones and other tech products were supposed to make learning easier. They would enhance our student’s access to knowledge and allow them to collaborate and exchange ideas. But the receipts are coming in and they show a different trend – the more schools digitize, the worst their students perform. Dr. Jared Horvath has more.

Segment 2: Lessons from a Disgraced Football Coach

For the last week, the University of Michigan football program has been rocked by the news that its head coach, Sherrone Moore, was fired for having an affair with a member of his staff. It’s a trend tracing back to King David and beyond – a powerful, successful man whose life is undone by sexual immorality. And it’s why Tom Nash says that chastity can be a man’s real best friend. Tom joins us.

Segment 3: Aristotle Clarifies the Christian Faith (2 segments)

When Christians of any age or denomination debate the nature of the good life, the soul, or free will, their thought process is based on Aristotelian principles. Though not a Christian himself, Aristotle made full use of general revelation to arrive at deep truths about the nature of God, human identity, and the universe. We explore his thought with Louis Markos.

Segment 2: Jimmy Lai convicted, faces life in prison

Jimmy Lai was found guilty today of multiple violations of China’s national security laws. He has not been formally sentenced, but is likely facing life in prison. Benedict Rogers joins us with more.

Segment 3: America’s Religious Landscape (2 segments)

Religion in America has seen its ups and downs throughout the country’s history. Recent statistics show that we’re experiencing a little bit of both now. Miles Smith takes a look at America’s Religious landscape.

Segment 2: Winning the War on Advent

Cultural commentators frequently speak of the “War on Christmas.” And there certainly is a long trend of secularizing the season, where Christ is replaced by Santa and gifts. But Joseph Vukov sees another battle – the War on Advent, when premature Christmas celebrations overshadow the Advent season. He joins us.

Segment 3: What Benedict XVI taught us about Israel (2 segments)

Pope Benedict XVI had a lot to say about Israel. For example, n his poignant address at the Reichstag in Berlin, he highlighted the Church’s “great closeness to the Jewish people” and the “special bond” we share with them as “beloved brothers.” We take a closer look with Dr. Matthew Ramage.

Segment 2: “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” (2 segments)

In this Sunday’s Gospel, the imprisoned John the Baptist sends messengers to Jesus to inquire if he is the Messiah. We unpack the readings with Rob Corzine.

Segment 3: Guadalupe Sanctifies the World

The Protestant Reformation did not arise on a whim or in a vaccuum. It was the result of more than a century of cultural and intellectual upheavel. And in the wake of this turmoil, Mary appeared to a young peasant in Guadalupe, Mexico. Marcus has more.

A vineyard owner in California has paid tens of thousands of dollars to clone his dog. The cloned animal shares completely identical genetics with the original dog, and it displays an almost eerie physical resemblance. However, it behaves in distinct ways, unique to itself. The story is an example of how we are limited in our ability to control the entire world around us. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: EWTN Poll finds Continued Catholic Support for Pope Leo and President Trump

A new EWTN News Poll finds that nearly 70% of American Catholics hold a positive view of Pope Leo XIV, and about 54% support President Trump’s immigration policies. We’ll take a closer look at more from the survey with Matthew Bunson.

Segment 3: Understanding the Sacrifice of Isaac (2 segments)

For thousands of years, the sacrifice of Isaac has challenged readers of Scripture to reconcile the God who commands “Thou shalt not kill” with the God who commands Abraham to kill his own son. Can the God who condemns the killing of the innocent be the same God who orders the innocent to be killed? How could God command such a morally abhorrent action? Monica Miller joins us.

Segment 2: The Christian Philosophy of Jacques Maritain (2 segments)

Jacques Maritain was regarded as one of the most prominent Catholic intellectuals during his lifetime and was a spokesman for the Thomistic revival. His philosophy was also essential in the development of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We look at his thought with Jason West.

The scandal involving University of Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore is the latest example of a successful, prominent man allowing his life to be ruined by sexual infidelity. Marcus discusses how society has been hurt by a lack of virtuous men.

Segment 2: America’s Conflicts are Fundamentally Religious

America is supposedly a secular country, with separation of church and state, free exercise of religion, and so on. Yet we find ourselves in the middle of what amounts to a religious war. How could this be? John Daniel Davidson joins us.

Segment 3: What Does Thomas Aquinas Say about the Jews? (2 segments)

Like many medieval Catholic theologians, St. Thomas Aquinas offers a fundamentally ambiguous take on Judaism and the Jewish people. He’s clearly committed to both the importance of the Jews in salvation history, and to the fundamentally flawed practices of Judaism after the coming of Christ. Bruce Marshall joins us with more.

As families gather this holiday season, finding entertainment that is both edifying and enjoyable shouldn’t require a culture-war battle. For years, it has. Here’s the good news: Americans are winning. Andrea Picciotti-Bayer has more.

Segment 2: A Solution to Campus Extremism

The ideological partisanship that is rampaging through our society today can be traced back partially to our educational system. Some students buy into the ideologies of campus classrooms, while others reject it so harshly they end up embracing other forms of extremism. What should we do? Robert P. George joins us.

Segment 3: The Turning Point of Advent (2 segments)

When historians study battles, or sports analysts study games, they attempt to identify the “turning point” – the moment when the tides turn. With Advent, we prepare for the biggest turning point the universe has ever seen: the Incarnation of the Son of God. David Bonagura joins us.

Today is the anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. The world had staggered out of a period in history in which industrialized nations used their technology to achieve a brutality many would have thought unthinkable. From this, the world reached for a moral vocabulary that would clarify human dignity in a way that no legal system could challenge. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: International Forum examines Human Rights abuses in China

The Genocide Convention, signed on December 9, 1948, was the first international legal document to codify genocide as a crime. In commemoration of this convention, Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting is sponsoring a forum examining the state of Human Rights in China. Featured speaker Reggie Littlejohn joins us.

Segment 3: The Eschatology of Advent (2 segments)

Advent is profoundly eschatological, a reality that grows more apparent as the season reaches its climax. In these days, Holy Mother Church considers Jesus Christ as the Approaching One, who brings into the middle of time not only the spotless light of the Beginning, but also the awesome glory of the End. Philip Primeau joins us.

Did you find yourself simply “surviving” the stress, chaos, and family tensions of Thanksgiving? Are you already dreading going through it at Christmas? Or did you have a great time and want to make Christmas even better? Dr. Greg Popcak has some tips.

Segment 2: Archbishop Sheen: The Convert-Maker (2 segments)

Venerable Fulton J. Sheen was one of America’s great spiritual leaders of the last century. His Emmy-winning television shows reached millions and he was a household name throughout the 1950s and 60s. But his greatest gift was in finding the lost sheep. We’ll talk about it with Cheryl Hughes.

Segment 3: Marcus’ Monologue: How Fulton Sheen Shaped the World

Fulton Sheen emerged as a thinker with a capacity for synthesis that astounded his contemporaries. He combined rigorous philosophy and theology in a manner that revealed the Truth to his listeners. Marcus shares some thoughts.

The United States is collaborating with Mexico and Canada to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and Seattle has been planning an “LGBT Pride” theme for the game it will host in late June, to coincide with the city’s Pride Weekend observances. When FIFA officials revealed the tournament groups yesterday, observers quickly realized that the two teams playing in the pride game are Egypt and Iran. Iranian state media has already announced plans to appeal the event, with some reports suggesting Egypt has done the same. Marcus has more on this story.

Segment 2: The Limits and Prospects of “America First”

Last week the Trump administration released its National Security Strategy document, which lays out a vision that is “motivated above all by what works for America—or, in two words, ‘America First.’” What are America’s duties to the world, and to herself? David Deavel joins us.

Segment 3: Can Homelessness be Fixed? (2 segments)

For many who have hit the rock bottom of long-term homelessness, the journey from here to there is a web of complications that can’t easily be fixed by any one program or institution. Rachel Ferguson joins us with a personal story of trying to confront the problem of homelessness.

Our Blessed Mother is the perfect example of heroic feminine virtue. We celebrate her Immaculate Conception with Doug Keck.

Segment 2: Steve Ray answers questions on the Immaculate Conception (3 segments)

“The phrase ‘Immaculate Conception’ isn’t in the Bible!”

“Mary was a sinner like the rest of us!”

“The Doctrine of the Immaculate Conception wasn’t even confirmed until the 19th Century!”

How do you answer these Protestant challenges? Steve Ray joins us.

Many contemporary scholars assume the Marian doctrines are mere “ornaments” within greater Catholic theology. This worldview collapses when we look at how the Marian vision helped give birth to an entirely new worldview. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: Does the Development of Doctrine Change Church Teaching? (2 segments)

The concept of the Development of Doctrine is frequently misunderstood today. Activists often claim it means that Church teaching can change over time to suit their interpretation of morality. Soon-to-be Doctor of the Church St. John Henry Newman wrote extensively on the Development of Doctrine, we discuss what he said with Eduardo Echeverria.

This Sunday’s Gospel takes us into the wilderness of Judea, where John the Baptist warns us to repent and prepare the way of the Lord. We unpack the readings with Rob Corzine.

Segment 2: Stalin Purges his Enemies (2 segments)

The Soviet Union adopted Stalin’s Constitution on this day in 1936. This document laid the foundation for the next several decades of Soviet rule and was soon followed by Stalin’s infamous purges. We look back on it with Dr. Vejas Liulevicius.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart died on this day in 1791. Raised a Catholic, he remained a devout member of the Church throughout his life and his faith influenced his works. Marcus shares some clips of Mozart’s music and comments on their significance.

Segment 2: Suicide Prevention Group Breaks Silence on Assisted Suicide

One of the great ethical ironies of the age has been that so many advocacy groups for suicidal people have been hesitant to speak out against assisted suicide. Thankfully, the International Association for Suicide Prevention has now issued a position paper opposing assisted suicide legalization. Wes Smith has the details.

Segment 3: What the Common Good Is - and Isn’t (2 segments)

There is more at stake in market economies than self-interest or making money. Lying just below the surface, there are shared projects answering the deepest political questions of how we live together and who we become. We explore these questions with Dr. Mark Hoipkemier.

This Saturday is the Feast of St. Nicholas, one of the great heroes of the early Church - he joins us in the studio to tell his amazing story! (Many thanks to Fr. Joseph Marquis!)

5:30 – What Has Arius to Do With Jesus? (2 segments)

On his visit to Turkey to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, Pope Leo XIV took up two themes dear to his predecessors, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope St. John Paul II. He offered a difference in emphasis from the former, and an echo of the latter in the context of Arianism, the heresy that Nicaea was called to confront. Matthew Bunson joins us with more.

There’s a conundrum facing our society - reporting that presents itself as investigative journalism, but actually reveals very little of substance. It’s not a new phenomenon, but the internet has allowed it to spread in new forms. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: Stop trying to change the Church’s teachings

In its second interim report issued last month, a Synodal study group continued to talk about a “paradigm shift … in continuity with Vatican II” and labeled homosexuality as an “emerging issue.” Catholic teaching on issues of morality cannot change – so why do some people try to? Richard Spinello joins us.

Segment 3: Will there be a Rapture? (2 segments)

In the Gospel last Sunday, Matthew wrote of two men in the field, one taken and one left. Passages like this are commonly cited by those who envision a pre-tribulation Rapture, the kind portrayed in series like Left Behind. What does Catholic teaching say about the end times? Dr. Dave Anders is our guest.

The United States Supreme Court heard oral argument Tuesday morning in First Choice Women’s Resource Centers, Inc. v. Platkin, a case that has drawn an unusually broad coalition in defense of donor privacy and access to federal courts.

Segment 2: GK Chesterton’s Defense of “Father Christmas”

GK Chesteron once wrote that “there is no more dangerous or disgusting habit than that of celebrating Christmas before it comes, as I am doing in this article.” What did he mean? Joseph Pearce is our guest.

Segment 3: The Church Speaks to the Jewish People (2 segments)

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the landmark document known as Nostra Aetate (In Our Time), which was the result of Jewish and Catholic collaboration during the Second Vatican Council. We talk about it with Dr. T. Adam van Wert, who also has the details on a free symposium hosted by Ave Maria University.

Today is the anniversary of the 1989 declaration by Mikhail Gorbachev and George H. W. Bush that the Cold War had ended. The nearly 50-year conflict grew from ideological roots that ran deeper than troop movements or diplomatic cables. Marcus looks at these intellectual and ideological foundations of the Cold War.

Segment 2: Meet the Sister Confronting the Mental Health Crisis

When Sister Theres Hong Phuoc Tran teaches mental health workshops at Catholic parishes, schools and religious congregations, she uses a simple verse from Scripture – Mark 12:30 – to illustrate the different components of wellness. She joins us to talk about it.

Segment 3: Confronting Homelessness with Community and Compassion

America’s homelessness crisis seems to have a simple fix – surely Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and a few of their friends have the money to provide housing, don’t they? But the problem is more complicated than that, and homeless means more than the simple lack of a home. Marcus has more.

Segment 4: Francis Xavier and the Missionary Mission

Today we celebrate the feast of St. Francis Xavier, who brought the Gospel all around the world. Marcus reflects on what it means to be a missionary.

Pope Leo has finished his visit to Lebanon, an ancient land that appears prominently in the Scriptures. We discuss the Biblical roots of the country and the papal visit with Fr. Roger Chikri.

Segment 2: Bioethics in a Secular World (2 segments)

Medicine and bioethics are going through profound changes in the Western world, as practices that prior generations would have recognized as morally impermissible become central components of modern health care. In the process of rejecting its Christian roots, the West has denied the traditional understanding of Truth that is central to both science and morality. We look at the problem with Dr. Mark Cherry.

Recently unsealed court documents show employees at Facebook’s parent company Meta were aware of the adverse effects social media has on kids’ mental health, calling Instagram a “drug” and referring to themselves as “pushers.” Marcus has some thoughts.

Segment 2: Instead of the 1619 Project, what about the 1531 Project?

In 2019, the New York Times partnered with a team of historians to produce the “1619 Project,” which claimed that the arrival of slaves in Virginia was the defining moment in American history. In response, conservative historians launched a “1776 Report” that presented a more patriotic view of American history. Dr. Christopher Shannon has a third option: the 1531 Project – citing the often-overlooked apparitions at Guadalupe as a seminal moment in our history. He joins us.

Segment 3: The Four Ls of My Catholic Conversion (2 segments)

Kenny Burchard grew up in an irreligious home with parents who had abandoned the nominally Catholic faith of their own childhoods. From there, his path to faith was a long and winding road. Kenny has identified “Four Ls” that summarize his journey to conversion – he joins us to share them.

Pope Leo XIV began his second day in Lebanon on Monday with a deeply symbolic pilgrimage to the tomb of Saint Charbel Makhlouf, entrusting the country and the wider Middle East to the intercession of the saint whom many Lebanese, Christians and Muslims alike, invoke as the “heavenly physician.”. We talk about it with Doug Keck.

Segment 2: Pope Leo’s “New Maps of Hope” for Education

Pope Leo recently published a document called Drawing New Maps of Hope, in which he outlines his vision for education. He sees education as proceeding from our foundation as made in God’s image, which sees us as more than mere passive recipients of being, but cooperative causes in its creation. We take a closer look with Mike Schramm.

Segment 3: Embracing the Embarrassment of Advent (2 segments)

Advent is a season that connects us to the end of time and the Son’s second coming in Glory. And by preparing for this Second Coming, we also prepare our hearts for Jesus’ arrival at Christmas. Carl Olson joins us with more.

On this day in 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat. Marcus looks back on what this heroic event means for today’s race relations.

Segment 2: Marcus’ Monologue: “Lord, I am not worthy…”

In today’s Gospel, we hear the story of a Roman centurion who said he was not worthy to have Jesus enter his home, and that all He had to do was say the word to heal the centurion’s servant. Marcus breaks down the readings.

Segment 3: The “Mini-Gospel” of Genesis (2 segments)

The 44th and 45th chapters of Genesis serve as a “mini-Gospel,” laying out a roadmap for the eventual coming of Christ. Dr. James Anderson joins us with more.

This Sunday is the start of the Advent season. In the Gospel, Jesus tells us what will happen at the coming of the Son of Man and that we must always be prepared for we do not know when that will happen. We unpack the readings with Rob Corzine.

Segment 2: Pope Leo visits Turkey (2 segments)

Pope Leo’s first trip outside of Italy is taking him to Turkey, home of some of the earliest Christians. Matthew Bunson reports on this and other Church news.

The Vatican doctrinal note Una Caro explains why the Church has always defined marriage as between one man and one woman. Marcus traces the meaning of marriage back to Genesis.

Segment 2: Making Sense of our Childless Age

Around the world, some of the most developed and advanced nations are reporting low birth rates and aging populations. Many are discussing why no one wants to have children. Experts debate the causes, but few present convincing conclusions. We discuss the cultural shifts that have happened with John Horvat.

Segment 3: What’s Next for Western Civilization? (2 segments)

We are at a unique point in our nation’s history. What does the history of this country tell us about its future? Dr. Jim Davis joins us.

Thanksgiving is a peculiar holiday. It’s religious by nature but is celebrated in a nation that is, at least as far as the law is concerned, secular. It reminds us of the peculiar character of the American nation and the President’s role in it. We talk more with Richard Samuelson.

Segment 2: Thanksgiving: The Holiday at the Heart of the American Experience (2 segments)

We all know the story of Thanksgiving. Or do we? This uniquely American holiday has a rich and little-known history beyond the famous Pilgrim feast of 1621. Melanie Kirkpatrick joins us.

Blessed Thanksgiving to you! Marcus reflects on the importance of being thankful to God for all he has given us.

Segment 2: The Spirituality of Gratefulness

In a consumer-drive culture, it’s easy to forget about the importance of gratefulness. Sure, we’re encouraged to take a few minutes at Thanksgiving to “count our blessings,” but it doesn’t go much further. Secular writers may explore the benefits of gratitude, but they fail to explore the much deeper spiritual meaning of gratitude. We’ll talk with Susan Muto about the development of Christian gratitude over the centuries and how it applies today.

Segment 3: Grateful Thoughts for Thanksgiving (2 Segments)

Somewhere in-between the cynicism of fatalists and the Pollyanna sentiments of too many greeting cards is the sentiment of gratefulness. We explore what it means with Charlie Self

Although we have seen some signs of resurgence in Church attendance, overall numbers are still on the decline. The Church needs to shift its mindset from one of maintenance to one of mission, taking cues from St. Paul and the early disciples. Bishop Robert Gruss of Saginaw has more.

Segment 2: What does it mean to be “sent” by the Spirit? (3 segments)

As Christians, we have been given spiritual gifts to equip us in building the Church. As John Paul II and other recent popes observed again and again, we are sent by the Holy Spirit to spread the Gospel. We take a deep dive into what this means with Peter Herbeck.

Thanksgiving remains one of the few days on the American calendar when we can gather to share a meal. It remains a symbol of simplicity and hope against today’s cynicism. Marcus shares some thoughts.

Segment 2: Threat to donor privacy unites Right and Left at Supreme Court

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments next week in First Choice Women’s Resource Centers v. Platkin. It’s a case that strikes at the heart of freedom, including donor privacy protections that allow Americans to give freely and according to their conscience without fear of harassment or reprisal. Andrea Picciotti-Bayer has the details.

Segment 3: Encountering Christ in Turkey (2 Segments)

Christianity in Turkey traces its roots back to the first century. Today, the country is officially secular, but the vast majority of its population identifies as Muslim. Derya Little grew up there, and in her youth she rejected her Islamic faith and became an atheist. Today, she’s a Catholic author and speaker. As Pope Leo prepares to visit Turkey, she gives us a look at the religious landscape there.

The thought of Thanksgiving with the family is enough to give some of us indigestion – and not from eating too much turkey. Whether it be a political argument, a religious barb, or just digging up old family gossip, it feels like it’s only a matter of time before someone’s feelings are hurt and they start throwing stuffing. Dr. Greg Popcak joins us with advice for a more peaceful holiday.

Segment 2: The Quest for Sojourner’s Truth

Abolitionist Sojourner Truth died on November 26, 1883 in Michigan. Her deep religious faith is what motivated her to fight for equality for all, and her “Ain’t I a Woman?” speech is celebrated to this day. But different accounts of what she actually said in that speech have been adapted to fit different political agendas. Mary Cuff joins us with more.

Segment 3: Ratzinger’s Favorite Author You’ve Never Heard Of (2 segments)

Ida Gorres was a German Catholic author whose work has largely been lost to history. But in mid-20th-century Europe, she was one of the Church’s most insightful and courageous writers, and then-Fr. Joseph Ratzinger said she wrote “with an insightful certainty and fearlessness about the pressing questions of the Church today.” We get to know her with Jennifer Bryson.

We all experience times in life where we seem to be walking through unending shadow. But if we keep a spirit of thanksgiving to God, we can be healed of these wounds. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: Ten Battles Every Catholic should Know: The Real Vlad the Impaler

We continue our look at the most important battles in history with Michael Greaney, who introduces us to the man history now calls Vlad the Impaler.

Segment 3: The surprising sanity of Bill Gates on climate change (2 segments)

In a recent article, billionaire Bill Gates address “three tough truths on climate change” and makes a surprising admission for a longtime climate activist: our concern for people ought to outweigh our fixation on the planet’s temperature. Matthew Ramage has more.

The University of Notre Dame has reversed changes to its list of staff values and has reinstated “Catholic mission” at the top of the list. We talk about the meaning of Catholic identity with Doug Keck.

Segment 2: Ten Maintenance Rules for Marriage

Have you ever felt that everyone’s marriage is perfect – except yours? Costanza Miriano joins us with advice for couples to not just survive their marriage, but thrive in it.

Segment 3: The Appalling Strangeness of the Mercy of God (2 segments)

Ruth Pakaluk was a dynamic woman: a Harvard graduate, atheist turned Catholic and mother of seven. She was recognized for her joyful faith, even in the midst of illness, and died of cancer in 1998 at the age of 41. Now the Vatican has granted a Nihil Obstat, allowing her canonization cause to advance to the Diocesan phase. Her husband Michael shares her story.

Over the weekend, Marcus had a chance encounter with a young man who was clearly going through some hard times. Marcus offered to pray for him and said “Jesus loves you,” something the young man hadn’t heard before. We must never forget the impact that such a simple phrase can have. Marcus shares more.

Segment 2: Why the Gnostic Gospels don’t make the cut (2 segments)

We talked briefly last week about a new Nicholas Cage film that illustrates the early years of Jesus’ life. It’s inspired by the Infancy Gospel of Thomas, which is not part of the New Testament Canon. Why doesn’t the Church accept Gnostic Gospels like the one Thomas wrote? Billy Kangas joins us.

Segment 4: Marcus’ Monologue: The Origins of Darwin

Charles Darwin published his Origin of Species on this day in 1859. Marcus discusses the origins of Darwin’s thought and the relationship between Church and science.

This Sunday we conclude the Church year with the Solemnity of Christ the King. Ironically, the Gospel reading celebrates the Kingship of Christ by telling the story of His death. We unpack the readings.

The Theology of Christ’s Kingship

The New Testament is saturated with language about Christ’s Kingship and how it fulfills the prophecies of the Old Testament. It also looks at Jesus as king in many different ways. We discuss it with Dr. Adam van Wart.

The Feast of Christ the King can sound awkward to a nation that was founded on the rejection of earthly kingships. But accepting Christ’s kingship over our lives can actually make us better citizens. Marcus has more.

Marcus’ Monologue: The Failures of Modern “Kings”

On social media yesterday, President Trump posted that a group of Democratic lawyers had committed a traitorous act in their message to the military, and should be put to death. While he later walked back on that sentiment, his actions are the latest example of why we must not put our hope in secular leaders – something that should be clear to anyone who has followed American politics over the last few presidential administrations. Marcus has more.

The Kingship of Christ: Catholics in Early America

In colonial America, Catholics were presumed dangerous until proven loyal. Yet Catholics went on to sign the Declaration of Independence and helped to finalize the First Amendment to the Constitution. What explains this remarkable transformation? Michael Breidenbach joins us.

Most religious liberty battles never reach the Supreme Court, so it’s important to pay attention to what is happening in the lower courts. Cases currently under review in the federal courts of appeal will have immediate impact on the lives of many Americans and can offer important legal roadmaps for courts addressing similar issues in the future. Andrea Picciotti-Bayer joins us.

Should Catholics Expect to Find a ‘Political Home’?

Cardinal Blaise Cupich recently commented that “The tragic reality in our nation today is that there are essentially no Catholic public officials who consistently pursue the essential elements of Catholic social teaching.” But are Catholics supposed to find a political home in this world at all? Daniel Gallagher joins us.

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Should Catholics Expect to Find a ‘Political Home’?

How the Gettysburg Addresse redefined how we see ourselves

On this day in 1863, on the site of the bloodiest battle ever fought on US soil, President Abraham Lincoln delivered one of the great speeches in American history. We discuss it with Brad Birzer.

Addiction is much more than a psychological or physical problem – it is a spiritual problem, because in our addictions we create an altar for a false god. Dr Greg Popcak joins us with advice for confronting this problem.

Studio Spotlight: Hope and Healing for Addiction

We all know people who are bearing the cross of addiction, but there is hope. Keaton Douglas joins Marcus to take your stories and questions.

Resources mentioned in this Interview

iThirst Initiative

The Road to Hope: Responding to the Crisis of Addiction

Freedom Coaching

Catholic in Recovery

Al-Anon

The Twelve Steps and the Sacraments

The slogan “America First” has a long and tangled history. It’s been revived in recent years, and is being taken as far as “America Only” as voters feel their country’s policies have served everyone except themselves. What does Catholic Social Teaching have to say about this approach? The answer may surprise you – Marcus discusses.

I Chased Everything – Except the Cross

In today’s spiritual marketplace, many are chasing fire like Prometheus—stealing symbols, rituals, and experiences—while refusing the Cross. Rob Sexton experienced this himself, spending nearly two decades exploring crystals, psychedelics, Eastern mystics, and more. He shares his story.

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Prometheus or the Cross: The Cost of Real Spirituality

Unum Sanctam – the Unity of the Church

On November 18, 1302, Pope Boniface VIII issued the papal bull Unum Sanctam, which laid down dogmatic propositions on the unity of the Catholic Church. We talk about what it says and what it means for us today with Dr. Harry Schnitker.

Another Church year is already coming to a close and this Sunday we will celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King. At times of such political and cultural upheaval, it’s a blessing to have this reminder that Christ remains on the Throne, holding primacy over all. Doug Keck joins us.

How to be “REVIV3D” in Christ

Feeling overwhelmed? Want to be Revived in Christ? The REVIV3 app helps you face life’s challenges and grow in your spiritual journey. Karam Bahnam and Melissa Khalil join us.

Learn more about Reviv3

Casual Sex, No Casual Dating, No Courtship

Dr Randall Smith has heard from his college students that they are living in an environment where there is casual sex, but no casual dating. What does this mean? He joins us.

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Casual Sex, No Casual Dating, No Courtship

Somewhere along the way, our culture lost sight of the most basic truth – that Jesus Christ is the lord over history. Thinkers like Christopher Dawson have been champions of this truth. Marcus has more.

Catholic university faculty must uphold Catholic values

The University of Notre Dame has updated its staff values, which no longer include “acceptance and support for the University’s Catholic mission.” The school says the change is “an expression of how we seek to advance Notre Dame’s mission as a global, Catholic research university.” Sadly, it’s just another example of a Catholic institution trying to shape itself to fit the world’s mold. We talk more with Kevin Murphy.

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Notre Dame drops ‘acceptance and support for Catholic mission’ from staff values

Cardinal Newman society

The Spiritual Vacuum of the Modern West

We have been fed a lie that history is random and meaningless. We talk with Joseph Stuart about the role religion has played in history and how the West lost sight on God.

As we near the end of the Church year, our readings at Mass are focusing on the end of life and resurrection of the body. Rob Corzine joins us.

(Please note – due to a miscommunication, the readings discussed in this segment are not for this Sunday. We apologize for the mixup.)

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A Hebrew Catholic Perspective on Acts

The Book of Acts is widely recognized as a sequel to Luke’s Gospel. It picks up where the Gospel left off and is addressed to Theophilus. And as it chronicles the days of the early Church, it reminds us that the first Christians were – of course – Jews. Angela Costley joins us to offer a Hebrew Catholic’s perspective on the Book of Acts.

On November 14, 1889, a young journalist named Nellie Bly set off on a voyage to circumnavigate the world in less than 80 days, following in the footsteps of Jules Verne’s Phileas Fogg. At the time, limitations in technology made the world feel much bigger than it does today. And today we’ve lost much of our sense of wonder for the world around us. Marcus has more.

Farewell to the Penny – is the Nickel Next?

For the first time since its founding, the US Mint has ceased production of the penny, citing increased production costs and other factors. What does this mean for consumers? And since the production cost of a nickel far exceeds its face value, is it next on the chopping block? Dr. Robert Whaples joins us.

The Gospel According to Silicon Valley

Religious revivals have been intertwined with American history since the beginning, often linked with other social movements of the time. And now, there are signs of a Christian revival in, of all places, Silicon Valley. We look at the trend and the connection between religion and technology with Dan Churchwell.

The USCCB has concluded its annual Fall Assembly. Matthew Bunson reports from Baltimore.

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U.S. bishops pass directive forbidding transgender surgeries at Catholic hospitals

Sister Mary Michael, last of Mother Angelica’s founding nuns, dies at 94

America’s bishops express opposition to indiscriminate mass deportations

Bishop Rhoades elected USCCB secretary, 6 committee leaders elected

Sacred Music and the Heavenly Liturgy

Liturgy is God’s gift to man. It brings to earth a glimmer of the peace, warmth, and liveliness of eternity, engaging all the senses: sight, touch, taste, smell, and sound. Sacred music, then, should immerse us―however imperfectly―in the atmosphere of heaven. Yet how often does the sound of the liturgy leave us feeling empty, or distracted? Peter Carter, director of the Catholic Sacred Music Project, joins us.

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The Song of the Lamb: Sacred Music and the Heavenly Liturgy

Benjamin Franklin famously declared that nothing in life is certain except for death and taxes. It’s an appropriate quote for our modern day, when our overabundance of choice makes it feel like nothing is certain at all. Marcus has more.

10 Battles Every Catholic should Know – The Dreadful Day at Manzikert

Throughout history, battles have been fought that changed the course of Civilization. Michael Greaney has compiled a list battles that most affected Church history. He joins us today with a look at the Battle of Manzikert, fought in 1071.

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Ten Battles Every Catholic Should Know

How I learned a Catholic can be Charismatic

It was a regular day at the office for Protestant pastor Sam Nunnally when he made a startling discovery – the early Church was undeniably Charismatic, and undeniably Catholic! He joins us to share his story.

Links for this Segment

Sam’s website

Journeys Home 3 – Pentecostals and Charismatics

Leah Sharibu is a young Nigerian girl who was kidnapped by Boko Haram militants in February 2018. Nearly eight years later, she is still in captivity, because she has refused to renounce her Christian faith. Andrea Picciott-Bayer has more on her story.

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Nigerian schoolgirl Leah Sharibu still captive 7 years later: When will the horrors end?

Rugged Wisdom for Faithful Dads

As a young man, Tyler Blanski lived by the bold American proverb “If you’re going to be a bear, be a grizzly.” He chased adventure, dreamed big, and lived passionately. But after marriage, kids, and settling into suburban life, he found himself wondering, Am I still the grizzly—or have I become a teddy bear? Sound familiar? What if the life you’re living—the diapers, deadlines, and dog walks—is exactly where your greatness is meant to unfold? Tyler joins us.

Links for this Segment

Find Your Fight book

Is there a priest in the house?

There was a time when, during an emergency or medical crisis, a priest would be called in addition to police or paramedics. But times have changed, and according to research by the National Catholic Register, priests report they are rarely called to the scene of emergencies. What brought about this shift? Marcus has more.

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‘Someone Call a Priest’: Sacraments at Time of Crisis Are Not Administered as Often as They Used to Be

The continued popularity of figures such as Tucker Carlson, Nick Fuentes and Candace Owens and the growing faction known as the “Woke Right” is one of the strangest spectacles in contemporary public discourse. What began as a resistance to identity politics has curdled into its own version of extremism. Marcus has more.

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How Critical Theory Paved the Way for Nick Fuentes

From Frankfurt to Fox: The Strange Career of Critical Theory

Life in Afghanistan under the Taliban

The Taliban have set up a ministry for the “propagation of virtue and prevention of vice” in Afghanistan. The rules include dozens of standards for dress code and how women may conduct themselves in public, with severe punishments for violating the rules. Luma Simms joins us to discuss the Catholic and Islamic views of the nature of the human person and the role religion can play in supporting democracy.

On the Taliban and the dehumanizing “regulations” of radical Islam

Democracy without Religion Is Dead

Democracy without Religion Is Dead: Part II

Marcus’ Monologue: The New Tower of Babel

In November of 1990, two scientists proposed a method of linking documents across a network of computers. Their dream is what we know today as the World Wide Web. In the decades since, the Web has evolved from something constrained to a large desktop in the corner of the room, to something we carry around in our pockets and can never fully disconnect from. It has become a 21st-century Tower of Babel. Marcus has more.

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Why the Web Won’t Be Nirvana (Published in 1995)

Two Catholic priests in Belarus will be released from prison in an act of “goodwill” after national leaders engaged in talks with the Vatican. Matthew Bunson has the details on this and other Church news.

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Belarus pardons 2 Catholic priests after talks with Vatican

World’s tallest Our Lady of Fátima monument inaugurated in Brazil

Pope Leo appoints Nigerian priest assessor for general affairs of the Secretariat of State

Pro-life groups condemn ‘glorification’ of Kessler twins’ assisted suicide in Germany

Discernment of Spirits for Beginners

We are engaged in a spiritual struggle with an enemy who seeks to bring about distraction, fear, and isolation. But we need not fear, for the Lord has given us tools and gifts to help fight this spiritual battle. Mary Ruth Hackett joins us.

Marcus’ Monologue: Don’t Fall for the Rage-Bait

A new film starring Nicholas Cage presents itself as a horror movie about the childhood of Jesus. Films like this like to bait Christians into harsh negative reactions, hoping to generate publicity. But this tactic seems to be wearing thin, as many Christians have decided to stop falling for the rage-bait. Marcus has more.

The Nuremberg trials began on this day in 1945. After years of devastation at the hands of the Axis powers, something more than vengeance was required. No civil code at the time was sufficient – so the Allies relied on something greater. Marcus discusses.

The Church as an Antidote to Despair

Bishop Robert Barron and Cardinal Gerhard Muller recently posted a video podcast in which they discussed a variety of theological topics, including how the Church presents a worldview that can counter today’s despair. We talk about it with Dr. Henry Russell.

Barron and Müller — Nietzsche, Vatican II, and the Catholic Church as the Antidote to Despair.

Homeschool Connections

From the Bible to Dante

Reading Scripture goes far beyond what is literally on the page, as we attempt to understand the deeper, transcendent meanings of the texts. The great writer Dante meant for his Divine Comedy to be read in the same manner. Joseph Pearce joins us.

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Joseph’s website

St. Mary Student Parish in Ann Arbor will reportedly host an “LGBT Yoga” retreat soon. What is a loving, faithful response when Church officials misrepresent what the Church teaches? Marcus discusses.

German Identical Twins Receive Death on Demand

Alice and Ellen Kessler, German twin sisters and dancers who were famous across Europe in the 1950s, died this week by joint assisted suicide. Predictably, many are hailing their suicide as a “heroic” or “empowering” act. Wes Smith joins us with more.

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German Identical Twins Receive Death on Demand

A Brief Pilgrimage into Death

November, the month of the dead, calls us to remember our own death and to prepare for eternal life. What if we could visit Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven? Wouldn’t that open our eyes and put life into an entirely different and eternal perspective? Jared Staudt joins us.

Preparing for Death: A Brief Imaginative Pilgrimage

The USCCB has elected Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City to serve as its next president, with Bishop Daniel Flores of Brownsville, Texas serving as vice-president. Coakley has a history of promoting a culture of life, opposing gender ideology, and supporting migrants. Matthew Bunson joins us with a live report from Baltimore.

How to Prioritize Family Time

Our culture has placed a massive value on being busy, constantly involved in events and activities. But this comes at a price – families have no time to spend together or pray together. Greg Popcak has some solutions.

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Have a more peaceful family by Christmas

Can the Creed Be Proven from Scripture?

“We don’t need the Creed – we have the Bible!” Have you ever heard this from a Protestant friend? How do you respond? Barnabas Aspray joins us.

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Can the Creed Be Proven from Scripture? Implications for Ecumenical Dialogue

As the Mayflower lay at anchor in Cape Cod, Pilgrim leaders signed the Mayflower Compact, the first governing document of Plymouth Colony. This short document is laden with profound truths about the role of religion in the world. Marcus has more.

Sing a ‘News’ Song unto the Lord

Secular newscasts continue to overlook or ignore the spiritual context of their stories. From a Catholic perspective, covering news should actually evoke prayer and reflection on the things that really matter. We talk more about it with Bill Schmitt.

Headlines Need Hearts: Sing a ‘News’ Song unto the Lord

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The “War to End All Wars” Didn’t – Why?

At 11:00 am on this day in 1918 – the “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” – an armistice took effect that brought the end to the Great War. At the time, many referred to the conflict as the “War to End All Wars,” believing that the world would never again see violence on such a scale. We discuss the impact of the war and religion’s role in the conflict with Dr. Vejas Liulevicius.

In a special video message on Friday, Pope Leo warned about how excessive internet use is fueling the continued rise of addictions such as pornography and gambling. Doug Keck joins us with more.

Marcus’s Monologue: Vatican Conference Explores the Benefits and Dangers of AI

Last week Marcus attended a conference at the Vatican where scholars and theologians gathered to construct a Catholic viewpoint of the AI movement. He gives us a report.

St. Leo the Great: The pope who clarified the humanity and divinity of Christ

Only a few saints in Church history have been recognized as “the Great,” and we celebrate one of them today – Pope Leo I, who helped define the critical doctrine of the Human and Divine nature of Christ. Matthew Bunson joins us.

Every year, British citizens celebrate Guy Fawkes Day, in commemoration of the failed Gunpowder Plot to blow up Parliament. For generations after Fawkes’ execution, English identity was centered on opposition to Rome – with disastrous results. Marcus has more.

The Emergence of the Post-Liberal Catholic Priest

A major recent survey suggests that a new generation of Catholic priests is breaking free of the restrictive political labels of “conservative” and “liberal,” recognizing that the claims of our Faith transcend such increasingly anachronistic branding. We look at the numbers with Ken Craycraft.

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The Emergence of the Post-Liberal Catholic Priest

Is the Church an Institution or an Organism

The fathers of the Early Church believed that the Church is necessary for Salvation because the Church is, first and foremost, an organism – the literal bodily ingrafting of humanity into Christ. But this does not mean the Church is not also an Institution. We discuss both roles of the Church with Richard Bulzacchelli.

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus famously drives the salesmen and money-changers out of the Temple, and then says that if the Temple is destroyed, He will raise it up. We unpack the readings with Rob Corzine.

Why Contraception is Evil

Before one can fully understand why the Church teaches that contraception is intrinsically evil, one must first comprehend the true meaning of human sexuality itself and the purpose for which it was intended. Monica Miller joins us.

Regardless of how we feel about political talking points, the Church has made clear where she stands on her relationship with the Jewish People. We talk more about what the Church has said, from St. Paul to Nostra Aetate, with Andre Villeneuve.

The Ethical Implications of Artificial Intelligence

Pope Leo has already made AI a focus of his papacy and encourages Catholics to be leaders in discussing the field and the ethical problems it raises. Brendan Newell joins us with more.

The Vatican II document Nostra Aetate is the hinge of Catholic reflection on Judaism and clarifies what Scripture has always said about the Church’s relationship with the Jewish people. Marcus reflects more on what it says.

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The Roman Empire and the Rise of the West

The classic saying “all roads lead to Rome” still rings true today – for the influence of the Roman Empire lingers on centuries after the empire’s demise. Matthew Bunson joins us.

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Fr Jim Rolph is a dynamic young priest in the Diocese of Lansing who has embraced the Cross of Jesus, yet radiates the joy of the Lord. He shares his story of discipleship and suffering.

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Rise Up to become the man you were made to be

Like so many men, Jonathan Edwards vowed to be a better person, husband and father time and time again – but it wasn’t until he felt the presence of Jesus as he walked out of a jail cell that he realized how much he wanted to change. He shares his story.

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As parents, our primary goal is to help our kids grow in their faith and become the person God created them to be. But in doing so, we should also grow in our own relationship with God. Dr. Greg Popcak has more.

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Faith of the Fathers: A History of Civil War Chaplains

More than one hundred Catholic priest-chaplains served during the American Civil War. Sadly, their commitment to faith and to the men they served has often been overlooked. Fr. Bob Miller joins us with a portrait of these courageous men and the importance of faith in nineteenth-century America.

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There was a time when the idea of chivalry was written into the conscience of a society. But those days are gone. Marcus discusses the decline of chivalry.

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Purgatory: The Front Porch of Heaven

The word “Purgatory” doesn’t appear in the Bible – but that doesn’t mean Purgatory isn’t real! During the month of November, the Church calls on us to pray for the living and the dead – for the dead need our prayers as well. Steve Ray joins us to present a Biblical and theological argument for Purgatory.

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The modern West has perfected the practice of infantilization. For decades, each successive generation has been held to a lower standard than the one before it. Marcus discusses how we got here and what we can do about it.

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The Detroit Model of Evangelization

In his pastoral letter Unleash the Gospel, former Detroit Archbishop Allen Vigneron wrote how works of charity overflow from our work of evangelization. Deacon Fred Billotto has more.

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Stephen Hawkings’ Atheism

Like many prominent modern thinkers, Stephen Hawking espoused the claim that that science and religion are incompatible. We respond to this claim with Pat Flynn.

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