Ave Maria in the Afternoon

What is the relationship between God and Government? What did the founders intend, and has their vision been lost? Miles Smith joins us. Further Reading Religion and Republic: Christian America from the Founding to the Civil War Guest Info Miles Smith is the author of Religion and Republic: Christian America from the Founding to the Civil War. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss...

We often hear that Thomas Jefferson got his anthropology wrong, a fact best seen in his dismissal of original sin’s effects and his apparent trust in “the people.” But a closer examination of his thought reveals his key understanding of the principal of subsidiarity. For Jefferson, man was a free but social and moral creature, and this had important implications for how he viewed the role of the S...

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 has a significant place in the American moral and legal imagination. It addressed grave injustices that had disfigured our nation’s legal and civic life for generations. At the same time though, history has called us to some level of discernment on the unintended consequences of the Act. Marcus has more. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with...

The Holy See is expected to announce in coming weeks a date for the beatification of Archbishop Fulton Sheen, the Emmy-winning American prelate known for catechetical television programs in the 1950s and 1960s. Matthew Bunson has more on this and other Church news. Further Reading ‘Back on the air’ - Fulton Sheen beatification to be announced Five takeaways from Pope Leo’s first ‘state of the worl...

This Sunday’s Gospel gives us a view of the events immediately after Jesus’ baptism, from the perspective of John the Baptist. Rob Corzine joins us to unpack the readings. Guest Info Rob Corzine is 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 avemar...

CS Lewis is so beloved for his writings on faith and spirituality, as well as the Narnia books, that his adult fiction is sometimes overlooked. In the first book of his Space Trilogy, Out of the Silent Planet, three men go to Mars and their subsequent adventures show Lewis’ viewpoint on the difference between authentic science and the pride of scientism. Joseph Pearce has more. Further Reading C.S...

Every year, the publishers of major dictionaries declare a “word of the year.” The words of the year for 2025 include “rage bait,” “slop” and “6-7” and reflect a lot about our internet-driven society. We talk more about it with Bill Schmitt. Further Reading Words of the Year: Defining Our Loss of Definitude Guest Info Bill Schmitt is a Catholic journalist, blogging for Father Robert Spitzer’s Magi...

The Iranian government is brutally cracking down on protestors, and some critics say this is proof that religion should be kept out of politics. But every political order rests on religion - even when the altar has been replaced with things like screens or personal ideology or power. So the real question concerns not whether religion needs to be part of government, but which religion. Which god sh...

On this day in 1535, Henry VIII officially declared himself Head of the Church of England. The English Reformation was devastating to both English Reason and English art. We talk about it with Henry Russell. Guest Info Dr. Russell’s works include The Catholic Shakespeare Audio Series. He was the Associate Editor of The Formalist from 1990-2004 and his writings have been published in various journa...

Last week, the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis ignited the predictable firestorm of tribal reactions, political posturing, and social media fury. How do we respond with virtue, wisdom, and the love of Christ rather than joining the chorus of knee-jerk outrage? Marcus discusses. Further Reading Renee Good, ICE, and the Demand of Christian Virtue This is a pub...

Protests continue across Iran, though they have been largely smothered today thanks to the regime cracking down on internet access in the country. During the protests, at least 34 mosques have been set on fire in Tehran. Why is this happening in a country where a reported 98% of the population is Muslim? The answer is complicated – Alberto Fernandez joins us. Further Reading Why Are Mosques Burnin...

The Catholic Church teaches that the grounds for our justification is our interior state of holiness, which God brings about within us when we are initially saved. For a Catholic, God reckons a believer to be justified because he has freely and gratuitously brought about interior state of righteousness in the believer. This stands in contrast to the Reformed tradition of Protestantism, which denie...

On January 15, 1535, Henry VIII proclaimed that he was now Supreme Head of the Church of England. We look at the historical context of this breakage with Joanna Bogle. Guest Info Joanna Bogle is a journalist in the United Kingdom. Her book Newman’s London is published by Gracewing Books. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episo...

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has restored Title X funding to Planned Parenthood, the latest disappointment by a president once dubbed the most pro-life in history. Is Trump-Vance administration the most anti-life GOP administration in history? Marcus discusses. Further Reading: Trump administration restores Title X funding to Planned Parenthood Trump-Vance is the most anti-life...

The Holy Family serves as the pattern and model for marriage and family, demonstrating what these are, as well as the correct understanding of masculinity and fatherhood, femininity and motherhood, babies and children. In an age of such moral confusion, it’s time to consecrate yourself and your family to the Holy Family! Fr. Donald Calloway joins us. Further Reading Book: 33 Days to the Holy Famil...

The Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments this week in two key cases that will determine whether states can preserve girls’ sports teams. Andrea Picciotti-Bayer joins us with more. Further Reading Supreme Court Tackles Identity Politics in Sports Folow Andrea on Twitter Guest Info Andrea Picciotti-Bayer is a legal analyst for EWTN News. She also directs the Conscience Project. Follow her on Twit...

President Trump recently said Republicans need to be “flexible” on taxpayer-funded abortions. Bishop Daniel Thomas joins us to respond and discuss the importance of the Hyde Amendment. Further Reading Bishop Thomas Affirms Hyde Amendment Amid Congressional Health Care Discussions Guest Info Bishop Daniel Thomas has served as bishop of the Diocese of Toledo since 2014. He is the chairman of the Pro...

The Magi, or Three Kings, of the Nativity story are among the best loved yet most mysterious figures in all history. The fleeting and sparse account in St. Matthew’s Gospel raises as many questions as it answers. Roger Thomas has drawn from Scripture, history and modern research to bring their journey to life. He joins us. Further Reading Book: From Afar Book: The Kidnapped Prince Guest Info Roger...

The family of a Canadian woman who chose assisted suicide has filed a lawsuit to compel Catholic hospitals to permit euthanasia on their premises. Wes Smith joins us with the story. Further Reading Lawsuit in Canada to Force Catholic Hospitals to Permit Euthanasia Catholic Hospital Can Be Sued for Refusing Transgender Hysterectomy Follow Wes on X Guest Info Wes Smith is the Chair and Senior Fellow...

Human Rights advocates estimate more than 2000 people have died in Iranian protests, and the government has threatened to begin executing political prisoners any day. This afternoon, Iranian state TV broadcasted a picture of Donald Trump after his near assassination in Butler, along with the caption “this time it will not miss the target.” Though it seems incredible to our society, the crackdown b...

The Church’s devotion for the month of January is the Holy Name of Jesus. In Biblical times, names had meanings and carried great significance. We discuss the meaning of Jesus’ Holy Name with Steve Ray. 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 other books, inclu...

Dilbert cartoonist Scott Adams died this morning following a battle with prostate cancer. As we discussed yesterday, he had announced he planned to convert to Christianity because he had “nothing to lose.” In an open letter shared after his death, Adams wrote that he does not believe in God, but still accepts Jesus as his savior. What does this all mean? Marcus discusses. This is a public episode....

Each Gospel reveals unique truths about who Jesus is. For Matthew, Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us always, who saves us from sin. In doing so, Matthew gives us a way of reading the Scriptures according to both the letter and the spirit. Leroy Huizenga joins us with more. Further Reading Book: Behold the Christ: Proclaiming the Gospel of Matthew Guest Info Dr. Leroy Huizenga has a B.A. in Religion f...

God has a vision — not just for creation in general, but for every person, every parish, and every corner of the world He loves. That’s the theme of Acts XXIX’s Jesus Conference, coming up in October. Albert Faraj has the details. Use Code EarlyBird25 at registration Click here to learn more Guest Info Albert Faraj serves on the missionary and leadership team for Acts XXIX. Visit Actsxxix.org This...

Ambition has always been a double-edged force in the history of civilization. It builds cities, constitutions, founds universities, organizes whole economies. At the same time though, ambition unmoored from moral hierarchy can corrode one’s character. It can fracture households, it can leave a trail of brilliance that’s shadowed by regret. Few lives in the American founding display that particular...