Ave Maria in the Afternoon

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. Further Reading Vatican to meet with SSPX after announcement of unauthorized episcopal consecrations Vatican Offers Talks With SSPX, Warns Illicit Consecrations Would End Dialogue Society of St. Pius X to consecrate bishops witho...

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. Further Reading No Apologies Why Civilization Depends on the Strength of Men Guest Info Anthony...

Virginia is considering a state bill to legalize assisted suicide. Andrew Kubick has the details. Guest Info Andrew Kubick is Senior Research Fellow for Public Policy at the Catholic Health Care Leadership Alliance and Ethics Consultant at the National Catholic Bioethics Center. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visi...

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. 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

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. Guest Info David Deane is Professor of Systematic Theology at Newman Theological College This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or...

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. 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

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. Further Reading The Quiet Power of a Spontaneous Rosary Guest Info Andrea Picciotti-Bayer is a legal analyst for EWTN News. She also directs the Conscience Project. Follow her on Twitter @b...

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. Further Reading Light From Dar...

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. Further Reading The Embryo Adoption Problem This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus epis...

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. 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

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. Further Reading Book: A Man on Purpose: 10 Rules of Life from a Fa...

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. Guest Info Dr Greg Popcak is the founder and director of CatholicCounselors.com, a group pastoral telecounseling practice providin...

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. Further Reading Book: The Making of the American Mind: The Story of our Declaration of Independence Guest Info Matthew Spalding is the Kirby Pro...

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. 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 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. Guest Info Steve Ray leads pilgrimages to the Holy Land, Rome and other sites. He converted to Catholicism in 1994 and is the author of “Crossing the Tiber,” “Upon this Rock” and...

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. 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

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. Further Reading The King and Queen are Naked: Establishment Failures based on S...

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. Learn More about the Event Guest Info Alexander Richmond is an Honors Political Science student at the University of Michigan who is passionately pro-life and has been inspired by the life of Charlie Kirk. This is a public episode. If you would li...

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. Thi...

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. F...

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

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. Further Reading Do Die (Before You Die): A Catholic response to Bryan...

On December 5, 2025, 30 pro-lifers conducted a rescue at the Planned Parenthood facility in Memphis, Tennessee. Several of them, including Monica Miller, were placed under arrest and charged with disorderly conduct. Thankfully, those charges have been dropped! Monica joins us. Further Reading Disorderly conduct charge dismissed against pro-lifers in Memphis rescue This is a public episode. If you...

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. Further Reading Derick’s web...

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. Further Reading Fallout Continues at Notre Dame Over Pro-Abortion Appointee Colombia celebrates 120th anniversary of Eucharistic miracle that stopped a tsunami Gue...