Ave Maria in the Afternoon Full Hours

Segment 1: The Daily Challenge of Christian Life Today’s Office of the Readings includes an excerpt from Thomas à Kempis’ Imitation of Christ. He warns us of a very dangerous spiritual illusion – the assumption that just because we were faithful yesterday, we will automatically be faithful tomorrow. The Christian life depends on waking up every day and seeking the grace of God to sustain us in fid...

Segment 1: The Next 30 Years of Ave Maria Radio (2 segments) In summer 2021, Ave Maria Radio hosted a celebration of our 25th anniversary. Much has happened since then, most notably the death of Al Kresta in 2024. This year, Dr. Marcus Peter assumed the role of our new President, and Dr. Billy Kangas took over the role of CEO from the retiring Mike Jones. We will celebrate this fall with the SENT...

Segment 1: What did Dolly Parton believe? (2 segments) Dolly Parton holds a unique spot in American culture as one of only a handful of artists whose appeal crossed political, religious, and generational lines. What role did her faith play in her life? How did she deal with her massive stardom? We look at her life with east Tennessee native Terry Mattingly. Segment 2: Grieving with Augustine (2 se...

Segment 1: “Get behind me, Satan!” (2 segments) In this Sunday’s Gospel, Peter tells Jesus he will not let Him be killed. In response, Jesus says “Get behind me, Satan!” He then lays out the cost of discipleship – we must deny ourselves and take up the Cross. We unpack the readings with Rob Corzine. Segment 2: The West is cutting off its nose to spite its face (2 segments) Facing the English justi...

Segment 1: “Tell ‘em about the dream!” – The forgotten story behind MLK’s iconic speech (2 segments) On this day in 1963, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King, Jr delivered one of the most famous speeches in American history. But many people don’t know that the most iconic part of the speech was not in his original speech. As King paused in his delivery, Gospel vocalist Mahalia...

Segment 1: Päivi Räsänen’s ongoing free speech battle (2 segments) Päivi Räsänen, a Finnish Christian politician who had been barred from entering the United Kingdom to give a talk on free speech at a Northern Ireland church conference last week, was eventually granted a visa to enter the country — but it arrived too late. Matthew Bunson has more on this and other Church news. Segment 2: The Peren...

Segment 1: St. Monica’s Tears Today is the Feast of St Monica. And on this day last year, his nephew was born with serious complications and passed away. Marcus and the baby’s parents prayed fervently for a miracle, but the miracle they desired did not come to pass. But Christians have every reason to hope. We have a Lord who conquered the grave. Marcus has more. Segment 2: St. Monica: Hope for Al...

Segment 1: Daniel Ortega: A Warning on the Limits of Political Power Daniel Ortega has told Nicaragua to forget about elections. Nobody who has watched his regime work should be surprised. What should alarm Americans more is what Ortega and his wife, co-president Rosario Murillo, have already done to the one institution in Nicaragua they cannot fully control: the Catholic Church. His crackdown on...

Segment 1: Mother Teresa’s “Other” Anthropology Today is the birthday of St. Teresa of Calcutta. In a world bereft of wisdom, she offers another anthropology. She warned that the hunger for love can prove more difficult to satisfy than physical hunger. She met people in the poorest parts of the world who had a satisfaction that people who had everything they thought they wanted longed for. Marcus...

Segment 1: What Nobody Knows about the Theology of the Body John Paul II’s Theology of the Body is about much more than sex and chastity, and contains two other major themes. It’s St John Paul’s attempt to lay the foundation for a comprehensive approach to lay holiness in response to the Second Vatican Council, and it’s a plan for human flourishing that’s meant to evangelize the world. Dr. Greg Po...

Segment 1: The Culture that Mocks Chastity Our culture’s worship of sexual liberation did not begin in a vacuum - it arrived after decades of intellectual shifts. Marcus looks at how it happened. Segment 2: McKenna West saga exposes the flaws of surrogacy A court battle is playing out in Texas after surrogate mother McKenna West refused to abort the child she was carrying after the baby was found...

Segment 1: Baptism and the Social Life of the Church (2 segments) The Sacrament of Baptism saves us on an individual level. But it also goes beyond that – it is a vehicle to union with those who need God’s love. Mike Schramm joins us. Segment 2: 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 Bib...

Segment 1: “Here is a true child of Israel” If you read the Gospel readings today, you’ll see one of those deceptively brief encounters in the Gospel narratives, this one between Jesus and Nathanael. but There’s deep meaning behind the language that’s going forth here. Marcus takes a closer look. Segment 2: Flourish Fundraiser for Arbor Woman Health The Flourish Fundraiser to support Arbor Woman H...

Segment 1: “Who do people say that I am?” (2 segments) In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus asks the disciples who people say that the Son of Man is – and then he confronts Peter “but who do YOU say that I am?” We unpack the readings with Rob Corzine. Segment 2: Is Reading Gone for Good? (2 segments) A recent longform piece in The Atlantic asks how Civilization can survive the postliterate area. It’s in...

Segment 1: The Stockholm Syndrome of Sin Stockholm Syndrome is a term used to describe a bond that forms between a captive and their captors, and was coined after an attempted bank robbery in Stockholm, Sweden in August 1973. While most of us will hopefully never be held hostage, we are all in a “Stockholm Syndrome” relationship with the devil – for we all have sins we have not yet let go of. Marc...

Segment 1: San Antonio priest laicized for schism (2 segments) Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller of San Antonio has announced that John Mary Foster, a priest of the archdiocese, has been found guilty of schism and has been dismissed from the clerical state. Matthew Bunson has more on this and other Church news. Segment 2: Toy Story 5: Our insatiable thirst for Screens (2 segments) The latest entry...

Segment 1: “I will give you a new heart” In today’s first reading, the Lord promises that he will give us a new heart and place a new spirit within you. This promise is fulfilled by Christ, who makes us new so we can manifest His glory to the ends of the earth, Marcus has more. Segment 2: Philippine student live-streams school shooting As Dan mentioned in the news break - On Tuesday a high school...

Segment 1: Whose Conscience Counts in Virginia? Newly released texts show that Dr. Anthony Fauci privately told colleagues that a reaction some people had after their second COVID-19 vaccine dose “theoretically could be associated with miscarriage in the 1st trimester.” Days later, he told the public that 10,000 pregnant women had received COVID-19 vaccines without any concerning safety signals be...

Segment 1: “He who perseveres to the end will be saved” In today’s Office of the Readings, we hear from a sermon of St Augustine, who declares that “He who perseveres to the end will be saved.” Marcus shares some thoughts Segment 2: What Bumble says about virtue in dating The dating app Bumble was long famous for its rule that women had to make the “first move” with potential matches. This month,...

Segment 1: A Hidden Mental Health Crisis in the Church? 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: The Mob of Public Opinion Social Media is abuzz following the trial of Lindsay Clancy, a mother who has admitted to murdering her three...

Segment 1: A Camel through a Needle? In today’s Gospel, Jesus says it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God. There have been different interpretations of “eye of a needle” over the centuries – Marcus looks at the verse and what it means for us. Segment 2: The United Saints of America (2 segments) In her 250 years as a nation...

Segment 1: A “Striking” warning from the Gold Rush On August 16, 1896, gold was discovered in the Yukon Territory of Canada, and the Klondike Gold Rush was on. More than 100,000 prospectors migrated north with dreams of striking it rich, but only a few thousand succeeded. It’s a warning for all of us today – where does your treasure lie? Marcus has more. Segment 2: Nigerian court bars Islamic poli...

Segment 1: The Saddest Verse in Scripture? Today’s Responsorial Psalm features one of the saddest verses in Scripture: “You have forgotten God who gave you birth.” Moses admonishes the people who, despite receiving every divine blessing, have drifted away from God. It’s too easy for us to fall into the same trap. Marcus has more. Segment 2: Military chaplain candidates denied financial aid due to...

Segment 1: Paul speaks to the Gentiles (2 segments) In the Second Reading this Sunday, St. Paul addresses the Gentiles about how those who have disobeyed God have now received Mercy. We unpack the readings with Rob Corzine. Segment 2: Fulton Sheen speaks on the Demonic (2 segments) In 1974, Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen stated that he intended to write a book about the demonic. But such a book never...

Segment 1: Maximilian Kolbe’s example of holiness Today is the Feast of St Maximilian Kolbe. He’s known for his extraordinary act of heroism and sacrifice in Auschwitz, but the courage to make such a sacrifice begins with little acts of everyday holiness. Marcus has more. Segment 2: The Sacramental Mission of Catholic Education (3 segments) Forming souls and building culture together form the sacr...