Ave Maria in the Afternoon

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. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus...

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. Further Reading What boys lose when they stop studying history This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this wi...

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. Further Reading Recovering the Origins of Catholic Social Teaching, Part One Recovering...

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. Further Reading Randy Barnett article Guest Info John Czarnetzky is Chief Executive Officer and Dean at the Ave Maria School of Law. He also serves as a legal adviser to the Holy See’...

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. Further Reading A Thank You to Our Beloved Priests Guest Info Joanna Bogle is a journalist in the United Kingdom. Her book Newman’s London...

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. Further Reading New record in France: More than 20,000 adults and teens baptized at Easter This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss...

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. Further Reading Josh breaks down the study Them Before Us Blog Them Before Us website Josh’s substack Them Before Us: Why We Need a Global Children’s Rights Movement Guest I...

The question of the historicity of Jesus’ resurrection has been repeatedly probed, investigated and debated. And the results have varied widely. Michael Licona joins us with his historiographical approach to the evidence for the Resurrection. Further Reading The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach Guest Info Michael Licona is associate professor of theology at Houston Baptist U...

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. Further Reading The Bedrock of Christianity: The Unalterable Facts of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection Did Jesus Really Rise from the Dead?...

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. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

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. Further Reading Pain, Suffering, and Redemption: Where Faith and Reason Mingle Guest Info Stephen Doran, M.D., a board-certified neurosurgeon with over twenty-five years of experience, is an ordained permanent deacon and serves as the bioe...

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. Further Reading Good Friday, Death, and Christian Life Guest Info Dr. Randall B. Smith i...

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. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other...

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. Further Reading The Eucharist in its Jewish Context Guest Info Dr. André Villeneuve is a Catholic theologian, biblical scholar, and Associate Professor of Old Testament and Bib...

Tonight’s Holy Thursday Mass includes some special rituals not seen on an ordinary Sunday. We discuss them with Matthew Bunson. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

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. Further Reading Holy Thursday: When Love Enters a Cosmos Turned in on Itself...

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. Further Reading Jesus and the Old Testament Roots of the Priesthood Guest Info John Bergsma is professor of Theology at the Franciscan Universi...

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. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

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. Further Reading Book: Messiah: Old Testament Prophecies Fulfilled in Christ Book: Revolt Against Reality: Fighting the Foes of Sanity and Truth - From the Serpent to the State Guest Info Gary Michuta is...

Holy Week is about experiencing liberation, the freedom that comes from being saved from deadly forces we can’t control. Jared Staudt has more. Further Reading The Paschal Mystery: Our Exodus from Death to Life Guest Info R. Jared Staudt PhD, serves as Director of Content for Exodus 90 and as an instructor for the lay division of St. John Vianney Seminary. He is author of Words Made Flesh: The Sac...

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. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or...

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. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

The Supreme Court has 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 discusses why this is such an important victory for families. Further Reading SCOTUS Defends Christian Counselor’s Right to Confidentiality Why the SCOTUS Win for Chr...

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. Further Reading Book: What Christ Suffered A Doctor’s Journey Through the Passion, Revised and Expanded Guest Info Dr. Tom McGovern is the author of What Christ Suffered: A Doctor’s Journey Through the Pa...

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. Further Reading Catholic Households on Mission Guest Info Dr Greg Popcak is the founder and director of CatholicCounsel...