Ave Maria in the Afternoon

Whatever else they’re thinking about, every college president in the U.S. has one common concern right now — the coming demographic cliff. In 2024, the U.S. recorded a birth rate of 1.6 births per woman, the lowest rate on record, well below the population replacement rate of 2.1 children per woman. Children born in 2007 will head to college next fall. Then, fewer and fewer students will apply and...

In today’s First Reading, Paul writes to Timothy from the edge of death with the authority of an apostle. His life has already been placed upon the altar of Jesus Christ. Every line of his letter is the voice of a prisoner who knows what the Gospel demands of us. Marcus unpacks today’s readings. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bon...

Several viral videos this spring showed college commencement speakers praising the potential of AI, only to be showered by a chorus of boos from graduates concerned about their job prospects. What is the role of education in a world increasingly governed by AI? Dr Dan Guernsey joins us. Guest Info Dr. Daniel Guernsey is senior fellow at the Cardinal Newman Society and associate professor of educat...

As Catholics, we are called to use the resources God has given us in a morally responsible way. We talk about it with James Peregoy. Ave Maria Mutual Funds Guest Info James Peregoy is co-manager of the Ave Maria Bond Fund and the Ave Maria Undiscovered Fund, and a research analyst responsible for fixed income research and trading functions. He is also responsible for the equity trading functions o...

Most people think of parenting as a set of techniques that we use on kids make them behave. But St. John Bosco encourages us to instead approach parenting as a mentoring and discipleship relationship we have with our children. Dr. Greg Popcak has more. Guest Info Dr. Greg Popcak is the founder of CatholicCounselors.com Together with his wife Lisa, he’s the author of over 20 popular books, and the...

Texas Senate hopeful James Talarico has become a rising star in the progressive Christian movement. His pastor rejects the use of male pronouns for God, calls the Annunciation mythological, and rejects the apostle Paul as a homophobic jerk. Talarico claims that the Angel Gabriel asking Mary to be the mother of Christ is a defense of abortion rights. Marcus looks at the line of Protestant thinking...

Fr. Larry Holland, an elderly priest in Vancouver, Canada, has recently been in the news after it was disclosed that the hospital where he was recovering from a fractured hip offered to help him die. We look at the story and how the country continues to push for Medical Aid in Dying with Mark Bradford. Further Reading Living and Dying in Canada Further Reading Mark Bradford was appointed Fellow fo...

AI’s biggest contributions to human wisdom may be the questions it poses, not the answers it generates. Humanity needs to develop wiser, more nimble judgment in order to put our best feet forward as we encounter competition, such as AI. We talk about it with Bill Schmitt. Further Reading ‘We are Parthians, Medes and Elamites ... and Claude?’ Guest Info Bill Schmitt is a Catholic journalist, author...

The proud man’s first temptation is not necessarily open rebellion against God. It is slower and more subtle, as man thinks his own will to manage his life is sufficient. The Psalms give us the anatomy of this temptation, and look at how pride poisons our entire world – and offer an antidote. Marcus has more. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get...

Understanding the Trinity begins with the divine unity. We unpack the mystery with Dr. Matthew Levering. Guest Info Matthew Levering (PhD Boston College) is the James N. Jr. and Mary D. Perry Chair of Theology at University of Saint Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Illinois. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avem...

Most abortion drug sellers are flouting a federal rule that protects women from complications from chemical abortions, according to a recent report from the Charlotte Lozier Institute. Michael New has more. Further Reading Report: How Abortion Drug Sellers Are Violating Federal Rules Designed to Protect Women Guest Info Michael J. New is Assistant Professor of Social research at the Busch School o...

Today is the Feast of St Justin Martyr, and his life poses a challenging question: are we ready for the same thing? In the first reading, St. Peter tells us that divine power has already given us everything we need for a life of devotion. We are already equipped to live the full Christian life. How will we respond? Marcus has more. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with o...

What does it mean to build a truly good home? In an age marked by distraction, isolation, and the weakening of family life, that question has become more relevant than ever. John Cuddeback joins us with a solution to the problem. Further Reading The Intentional Household: Living as if People Matter Guest Info John Cuddeback, Ph. D., has been a Professor of Philosophy at Christendom College since 1...

As Peter preached the first sermon on Pentecost, he could hardly have imagined that he was shaping a Catholicism—a new way of life in Christ for all people—that would become Roman. There was nothing Roman about Jesus’ life until His saving death. The cross, Christianity’s central symbol, was a Roman execution device. But the fact that Rome supplied the cross that redeemed mankind is not the cause...

Six years ago, the two largest university systems in the country announced they would no longer consider an applicant’s SAT or ACT scores. DEI advocates applauded the decision, claiming that the use of standardized testing was a “racist metric” and a method of “illegal wealth and race discrimination.” Now, data shows a stunning lack of academic preparedness in students and hundreds of professors a...

Following the publication of Pope Leo’s new encyclical, the New York Times claimed that the teaching on artificial intelligence was a shift from the Church’s “fixation” on “pelvic theology.” This betrays a profound misunderstanding of the Church’s teaching on sexuality and its relationship to Catholic social doctrine. Noelle Mering has more. Further Reading The false divide between “pelvic theolog...

This Sunday we celebrate the Trinity, one of the great mysteries of our faith. We unpack the Sunday readings with Rob Corzine. Guest Info 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

On this day in 1453, Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Empire. The Eastern Roman Empire came to its earthly end. The fall of Constantinople represents a clash between two political theologies – and it remains a warning for us today. 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

Children’s literature, by its very nature, can spark unexpected and fruitful conversations. These conversations can take various forms—from lighthearted and whimsical to educational and pro¬foundly thought-provoking. And they can be used to spark conversations on the faith. Luella D’Amico joins us with more. Further Reading Wondrous Reading Encountering the Catholic Faith in Children’s Literature...

The Church continues to suffer persecution in Lebanon. Fr. Roger Chikri, head of the Maronite Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary, tells us about the struggles the Church is facing and how you can support them at an upcoming fundraiser dinner. Guest Info Fr. Roger Chikri is the head of the Maronite Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with othe...

Gregory the Great gives us an important exhortation in today’s Office of the Readings: Whose approval governs the soul when we are mocked? Do we do things for the love of God, or because we desire our own praise and adulation? If we aren’t careful, praise can very quickly become a drug to the soul and it can turn the soul away from the altar of God. Marcus has more. This is a public episode. If yo...

St John Henry Newman taught the Church a whole host of things, ranging from the development of doctrine to the primacy of truth to the nature of conscience. But Matthew Walz wants to consider something else – what it means to Hope in God the Creator. He joins us. Further Reading Trusting the One who ‘Knows What He’s About’ Guest Info Matthew Walz will begin serving as President of Thomas More Coll...

The Society of St. Pius X has announced the names of four priests who will be consecrated as bishops on July 1 without the permission of Pope Leo XIV. We talk more about this and other Church news with Matthew Bunson. Further Reading Vatican announces global rosary for peace with Pope Leo XIV Society of St. Pius X names priests to be consecrated bishops July 1 Churchgoers Hear About Political, Soc...

10 years ago, social media was set ablaze following the death of Harambe, a zoo gorilla who was shot after a child fell into its enclosure. The White House X account tried to honor the anniversary of the incident this week with a rather bizarre post. A society that eulogizes a zoo animal while celebrating the “right” to abortion is a society doomed to fail. Marcus has more. Further Reading Pope De...

Despite its linguistic beauty and political intrigue, Dante’s “Divine Comedy” is a work of profound theological depth. It reflects the coherence and richness of Medieval Christian philosophy and theology and has much to say about the nature and effects of sin. Mike Schramm has more. Further Reading 8 life lessons from Dante’s Inferno Guest Info Mike Schramm lives in southeastern Minnesota with his...