Ave Maria in the Afternoon

2025 Ave Maria in the Afternoon Year in Review Recently unsealed court documents show employees at Facebook’s parent company Meta were aware of the adverse effects social media has on kids’ mental health, calling Instagram a “drug” and referring to themselves as “pushers.” Marcus has some thoughts. Further Reading Meta employees compared themselves to drug ‘pushers’ as company buried mental health...

In the grand scheme of Scripture, the Book of Sirach is often overlooked. But it is a treasure trove of enduring wisdom that continues to speak to every age. Andre Villeneuve helps us unpack it. Further Reading Book: Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture: Sirach Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture series Guest Info André Villeneuve (PhD, Hebrew University of Jerusalem) is associate professor...

2025 Ave Maria in the Afternoon year in review Charlie Kirk’s assassination will go down as one of the biggest stories of 2025. It did not happen in a vacuum - he died because he stood for truths that our culture increasingly rejects. Marcus has more. Further Reading Why Charlie Kirk’s Death Feels Personal What Charlie Kirk ACTUALLY said The Assassination of the Truthful This is a public episode....

Addiction is a sickness that touches us all. Whether it be alcohol, drugs, gambling, pornography, or sometime else, we all know someone who is bearing this cross. What can parents do to help their children in this situation? Dr. Ray Guarendi joins us. Guest Info Dr Ray Guarendi is the father of 10, clinical psychologist, public speaker and nationally syndicated TV and radio host. He’s the host of...

Bishop Daniel Thomas of Toledo has released a document that will help teachers and parents understand and respond to the issue of gender ideology. He joins us to discuss it. Further Reading Bishop Thomas’ letter Guest Info Bishop Daniel Thomas has served as Bishop of Toledo, Ohio since 2014. He is also the chairman of the USCCB’s Pro-Life Activities Committee. His Bishop’s Corner program can be he...

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, a landmark event in Midwestern heritage that Gordon Lightfoot famously memorialized in his classic ballad. John U Bacon takes us deep inside the story of that fateful night and the Storm of the Century that sank America’s most famous freighter. Further Reading Book: The Gales of November: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fit...

The Jews are history’s most unlikely survivors. For centuries, different empires have tried to eradicate the Jewish people – but to no avail. Marcus looks at the story through the lens of accusations of Genocide in Gaza. 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

2025 Ave Maria in the Afternoon year in review In February 2024, Megan Garcia’s son Sewell took his own life after he fell “in love” with an AI Chatbot, which encouraged him to join “her” in an artificial world. It’s a harrowing example of the dangers of this technology. She shares her story. Further Reading A Grieving Mother’s Call to Action Pope Leo XIV Meets Catholic Mother Who Lost Son to AI C...

2025 Ave Maria in the Afternoon Year in Review The Taliban have set up a ministry for the “propagation of virtue and prevention of vice” in Afghanistan. The rules include dozens of standards for dress code and how women may conduct themselves in public, with severe punishments for violating the rules. Luma Simms joins us to discuss the Catholic and Islamic views of the nature of the human person a...

2025 Ave Maria in the Afternoon year in review For nearly a decade, Democratic Party elites, Never Trump Republicans, and legacy media personalities have warned that the “walls are closing in” on President Donald Trump. Yet seven months into Trump’s second term, the establishment teeters on the brink of collapse. Peter Laffin looks at the steps that led to this situation. Further Reading Four lies...

2025 Ave Maria in the Afternoon year in review A recent Newsweek cover story entitled “shopping for sperm” explores an online “baby boom” being created by an unregulated sperm market. Single women and same-sex couples are pursuing pregnancy through people they find online. We take a look at this strange story with Andrew Kubick. Further Reading How the Unregulated Sperm Market Is Creating an Onlin...

As Christ hung on the cross, he famously cried out to God to “forgive them, for they know not what they do.” As followers of Christ, we are also called to forgive those who wrong us. We discuss the science of forgiveness with Dr. Robert Enright. Further Reading Book: Forgiving as Unity with Christ: A Journey for Healing Resentment and Relationships International Forgiveness Institute Guest Info Dr...

This Sunday we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family. All of the readings this Sunday highlight the importance of families in building a Christian society. We unpack the readings with Rob Corzine. 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 bonu...

Earlier this year, Facebook announced it would suspend its third-party fact-checking system. The news was met with both applause and uproar, with many fearing it would open a platform for Fake News and lies. But can we even have fact-checking in a world that rejects the very notion of Truth? We look back on our discussion on truth and relativism with Janice Breidenbach as we review the top intervi...

There are plenty of countries, especially in the West, that would be considered “culturally Catholic.” Their citizens know the basic tenants of the faith and observe the major feasts. But their practice of the faith does not have a transforming effect on their lives. Such cultural Catholicism is, simply put, inadequate to the transmission of faith and the evangelizing mission of the Church. Stephe...

The doctrine of the Eucharist is one of the biggest divisions between Catholics and Protestants. But we can begin a dialogue using a belief that is common to all Christians – the Word became Flesh. The shocking logic of the Incarnation is precisely what has compelled apostolic Christians to affirm the Real Presence for two thousand years. We talk more about it with Matthew Becklo. Further Reading...

The hope of Messiah was never a vague aspiration for the Jewish people. It emerged from exile and matured within their theology. Every facet of Jewish prayer kept Messianic hope alive. Marcus reflects on how that Hope was born tonight in a stable. 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

From the first chapters of Genesis to the final prophets of Israel, salvation unfolds through sworn commitment. Tonight, the Lord fulfills his promise to dwell with his people. Marcus traces the history of God’s covenants with His people and how it all leads up to tonight. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avem...

In order to grasp fully the significance of Christ’s birth, we must go all the way back to the very beginning and the events of Genesis 1-3. Monica Miller joins us. Further Reading Book: In the Beginning: Crucial Lessons for Our World from the First Three Chapters of Genesis Guest Info Dr Monica Miller is the Director of Citizens for a Pro-Life Society and the author of many books including “In th...

CS Lewis scholar and cultural commentator James Como died last month at the age of 79. As an indomitable culture warrior and soldier of Christ, he died with his boots on, working in the Lewisian vineyard in which he had labored for almost six decades. Joseph Pearce honors his memory. Further Reading Joseph’s website A Culture Warrior Goes Home for Christmas Guest Info Joseph Pearce is Senior Contr...

On a freezing Christmas night in 1776, General George Washington led a bedraggled group of soldiers across the Delaware River before a surprise attack on a garrison of Hessians at Trenton. This pivotal victory saved the fledgling Revolution and changed the course of American Independence. Marcus has more. Further Reading Book - Washington’s Crossing (Pivotal Moments in American History) George Was...

There is a video going viral on YouTube that claims to feature Cardinal Robert Sarah sharing a message he received in a vision of the Blessed Mother. There’s just one problem – it’s another AI fake. Matthew Bunson joins us. to Further Reading Compare the AI video: To a real video of Cardinal Sarah Guest Info Matthew Bunson is Vice President and Editorial Director of EWTN News and a Senior Fellow a...

For most of American history, putting family first was not just a private choice; it was a deep expression of American identity. But that seems to have changed. A new survey of more than 90,000 correspondents found that only 48% of Americans ranked family as a top-five value in their lives, and only 11% ranked it as their top priority. We discuss this collapse with Peter Laffin. Further Reading Fr...

Bethlehem is more than a name on the page. It is a real place that has existed for thousands of years, and we look at its historical context with Steve Ray. Further Reading Steve’s website 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, including a brand-n...

In an address today to the Roman Curia, Pope Leo called on Church leaders to be “more mission-oriented” and cautioned against the “forces of division” that can take root in the Church. Doug Keck joins us to discuss his comments. Further Reading Pope Leo XIV urges a ‘more missionary’ Roman Curia and warns against internal divisions Guest Info Doug Keck is the host of EWTN Bookmark and the retired p...