Ave Maria in the Afternoon

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. Guest Info Peter Herbeck is the Vice President and Director of Missions for Renewal Ministries. He hosts Fire on the Earth on Ave Maria Radio and is the co-host of the Choices We Face. He is the co-aut...

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. Further Reading Dr. Abela’s blog Book: Superhabits: The Universal System for a Successful Life Guest Info...

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. Further Reading The Truth in True Crime: What Investigating Death Teaches Us About the Meaning of Life Detective Wallace’s webs...

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. Further Reading The Science of God, the God of Science Brian’s website Book: The Call of Wonder: How the God of Reason Created Science in His Image Guest Info Throughout...

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. F...

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. Further Reading Midnight on the Potomac This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access t...

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. Further Reading Without a Safety Net: Free Climbing and Mortal Sin This is a public epi...

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 effec...

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...

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...

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. Further Reading Is a Mental-Health Crisis Hiding in the Church’s Pews? Guest Info Dr Greg Popcak is the founder and director of CatholicCounselors.com, a group pastoral telecounseling practice providing...

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...

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. 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 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. Further Reading ‘Detransitioner’ Wins $2 Million Medical-Malpractice Lawsuit Guest Info Wes Smith is the Chair and Senior Fellow at the Discover...

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. Guest Info André Villeneuve (PhD, Hebrew University of Jerusalem) is associate professor of Old Testament and biblical languages at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, Michigan. He received his Licentiate...

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. Further Reading Ignatian Discernment Institute Books by Fr Timothy Gallagher Guest Info Fr Timothy Gallagher is cofounder...

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. Guest Info Doug Keck is the Emeritus President and COO of EWTN and the host of EWTN Bookmark. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss thi...

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...

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. Learn more about the Dinner Charley Bemiss is a Configuration III Seminarian at Sacred Heart Major Seminary. He was born into a Catholic family and attended St. Isaac Jogues parish in his youth. His faith took on...

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....

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. Further Reading Book: Humility of the Saints: The Litany of Humility Made Flesh Patrick’s website Guest Info Patrick O’Hearn is an author, speaker, and content creator. He s...

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus delivers the Sermon on the Mount and gives us the Beatitudes. We unpack the readings with Rob Corzine. Guest Info Rob Corzine is the vice president of programs for the St Paul Center for Biblical theology. 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

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. Further Reading Book: Crossing the River Sorrow: One Nurse’s Story Guest Info Janet Richards is an artist, wife, mother, nurse, and volunteer. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from the...

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. This is a public episode. If you would like to...

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. Further Reading On Loyalty Guest Info Michael Pakaluk, an Arist...