Ave Maria in the Afternoon Full Hours

Segment 1: Should the Ten Commandments be displayed in classrooms? Does displaying the 10 commandments in a public school classroom constitute an unconstitutional establishment of religion under the First Amendment? Or is it enshrined within the First Amendment? Does it speak to a shared heritage of the constitutional framework and grounding and underpinnings of the very identity of the nation its...

Segment 1: Jesus heals the lepers In today’s Gospel, Jesus heals ten lepers – but only one returns to thank him. Marcus looks at the reading and the significance of the Biblical language that is used. Segment 2: The “War to End All Wars,” Didn’t – Why? (3 segments) 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 brough...

Segment 1: Tips on Taking Kids to Mass Taking young kids to Mass can be a challenge. They squirm. They want to talk. And sometimes, they throw a tantrum. How can we help even young children appreciate the beauty of the Mass? Dr. Greg Popcak has some tips Segment 2: The man behind the Reformation Today is the birthday of Martin Luther, most famous for pinning his 95 Theses on the door of the cathed...

Segment 1: How St Leo predicted our cultural crisis. Today is the Feast of Pope St Leo the Great, one of the early Church fathers. In his writings, he predicted that if society rejected Christ, it would lead to the society’s own downfall. Marcus has more. Segment 2: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald (3 segments) On this day in 1975, the Edmund Fitzgerald sank on Lake Superior, a landmark e...

It’s time to Reground ourselves in Christ (full hour) The midterm elections have caused an uproar across the nation. Some are celebrating victory, while others are lamenting defeat and are concerned about the future of the nation. But for Christians, there hasn’t been a real political victory for decades and our flawed candidates in each cycle are a result of our flawed culture. What our nation ne...

Segment 1: President Trump Ponders the Afterlife (2 segments) In a recent 60 Minutes interview, Ross Douthat asked President Trump whether he could forgive his political enemies if such a deed was required to enter Heaven. Trump seemed hesitant, saying that he hates some of his enemies and always will. The issue raised by this exchange concerns the forgiveness Christianity requires from everyone w...

Segment 1: “Behold, the Bridegroom!” (2 segments) In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus tells the story of the virgins who were unprepared for the arrival of the bridegroom and were locked out of the wedding feast. Likewise, we do not know the hour that the Lord will arrive and must be ready. Rob Corzine unpacks the Sunday readings. Segment 2: “Ever Ancient, Ever New” – The Renewal of the Church (2 segme...

Segment 1: Mary, the new daughter of Zion The theme of the Daughter of Zion can be found throughout the Old Testament, and it’s a title that is eventually bestowed on Mary our Blessed Mother. Mary Healy will be exploring this topic at the Tapestry of Promise conference, and she gives us a preview. Segment 2: What the Daughter of Zion means for us Marcus follows up on Dr Healy’s discussion with mor...

Segment 1: How Peru Shaped Pope Leo XIV (2 segments) When Pope Leo XIV visits Peru next week, it won’t be just an ordinary papal trip. It will be more like a homecoming. Matthew Bunson has more on this and other Church news. Segment 2: Understanding your Spouse’s Four Deepest Needs (2 segments) Most couples don’t drift apart because they stop caring. They drift apart because they stop understandin...

Segment 1: Let Jesus heal your resentment We all long for peace in our lives, but our peace suffers when we let political conflict seep into our hearts. God has claimed our hearts through His covenant with us. Today’s Responsorial Psalm proclaims “Let hearts rejoice who search for the Lord.” It reminds us to be grateful in remembrance. It reaches directly into our resentment. Marcus has more. Segm...

Segment 1: Election brings mixed results for pro-lifers The midterms brought mixed results for pro-lifers on state ballot initiatives. Missouri voters rejected a constructional amendment that would have repealed the state’s 2024 right to abortion, while Virginia decisively voted in favor of a constitutional amendment that embeds expansive abortion rights into the state Constitution. And in Idaho,...

Segment 1: The Perils of Political Deification There are many takeaways from the midterm elections. Democrats have achieved a massive victory, flipping Senate seats they have not held in Decades and securing control of both chambers of Congress. Analysts say the results show a clear rejection of Donald Trump – but the issue is bigger than that. The Trump phenomenon is a symptom of a larger problem...

Segment 1: When Politics divides a Family A survey published by the APA Newsroom found that 21% of Americans have become estranged from a family member, 22% have blocked a family member on social media, and 19% have skipped a family event because of disagreements over controversial topics. As we wrap up a contentious political cycle just in time for the holidays, we speak with Dr. Greg Popcak. Seg...

Segment 1: “Every knee shall bow” In today’s First Reading, St Paul promises that one day, at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow. These words were especially provocative at a time when emperors claimed divine honor and demanded worship from their subjects. They’re also important words to keep in mind as we elect our new leaders. The fullness of Christ’s scriptures and revelation can bring abo...

Segment 1: Why pray for the Dead? (2 segments) To many people, even many Christians, purgatory is a fantasy or worse, a wicked lie invented by the Church to make salvation complicated and keep people in fear. But apologist Karlo Broussard says that purgatory is fact, not fiction. The Bible supports it, Christians have historically believed in it, and it makes theological sense. He joins us. Segmen...

Segment 1: “Pray for the Living and the Dead” This weekend, nine people boarded a private jet in Florida, fully expecting to reach their definition. Their lives ended in a devastating crash. Detroit Lions star linebacker Jack Campbell went to make a routine tackle – and suffered a devastating neck injury that left him in the hospital through at least Monday evening. On this All Souls Day, Marcus r...

Segment 1: “Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven” (2 segments) In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus delivers the Beatitudes. We unpack the readings with Rob Corzine. Segment 2: The Gift of Sainthood (2 segments) On Sunday we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints. We talk about the saints, and their families, with Patrick O’Hearn. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscrib...

Segment 1: Why would a bishop say the Church “isn’t here to convert?” In an interview with Belgian media, Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco of Algiers reflected on the role of the Church in Algerian society, noting that “We are the Church of this people. Not a proselytising Church, not a Church that is there to convert, but a Church that aspires to be one of the components of this people.” Why would a bish...

Segment 1: With the midterms approaching, what do Catholics value? (2 segments) A new survey from the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate finds that the majority of Catholic voters cite the cost of living, inflation and unemployment as higher priorities than life issues. Matthew Bunson joins us with more. Segment 2: Lying and “the Right to the Truth” (2 segments) It’s a classic moral puz...

Segment 1: The Strange Slavery of Addiction Matthew Perry died on October 28, 2023. While the public knew him for his leading role on one of the top sitcoms of the 1990s, he battled massive addictions to drugs and alcohol. Marcus explores the spiritual battle of addiction. Segment 2: What to do when your diocese restructures Across the US and the Western world, Catholic dioceses are undergoing sig...

Segment 1: Religious freedom is a foreign policy priority Each year on Oct. 27, the U.S. marks International Religious Freedom Day, the anniversary of the 1998 law that made defending conscience abroad a standing aim of American foreign policy. The observance is best understood as a statement about what keeps a country stable, ours included. Andrea Picciotti-Bayer has more. Segment 2: Would You At...

Segment 1: Patriotism emerges from our Christian identity. Why do we obey the law? Because we love the Lord first. Why do we follow civic virtues that are necessary for the flourishing of society? Because we love the Lord first. Our patriotism must emerge from our Christian identity. Genuine love for our country becomes increasingly virtuous only when our national commitments are governed by the m...

Segment 1: Persecuted and Forgotten: The Latest Data on Christians Worldwide The latest report from Aid to the Church in Need shows that millions of Christians around the world continue to live under persecution. Ed Clancy has the latest data. Segment 2: Bishops: Don’t apologize for doing your duty Multiple US Bishops have now issued apologies or clarifying statements following a controversial pho...

Xavier Randolph: Racing Towards Heaven (4 segments) Last summer, Catholics in Ann Arbor and beyond mourned the loss of Xavier Randolph, a young man who died in a drowning accident on Lake Michigan. Xavier loved to run, he loved his family and friends, and he had a deep love for Jesus. His brother Peter, who is now a priest, preached a powerful homily at his funeral and his family has been a remark...

Segment 1: What Good Is Sacred Tradition? (2 segments) Some Protestants object to the Catholic view on Sacred Tradition on the grounds that we can’t know its content the way we can know the content of Scripture. Tom Nash joins us. Segment 2: Thinking Politics through a Catholic Lens (2 segments) The Church has always taught that the Gospel bears social implications, shaping how Christians live in...