Kresta in the Afternoon

Over the course of four weeks at the end of the Easter Season, we celebrate four magnificent feasts: the Ascension, Pentecost, the Trinity, and Corpus Christi. Just as the secular calendar organizes itself around celebrations like the New Year’s Day or Independence Day, the Church organizes itself around these feasts. Why? Al discusses.

On June 12, 1987, Ronald Regan uttered the phrase that arguably defined his presidency: “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” The Wall was an iconic symbol of Communism, designed to keep people in, not out. At the time its falling was viewed as a decisive victory for Western liberties and values, and a possible death blow for Soviet-style Communism. But was it? What do today’s generations believe...

In the past, upper-class Americans used to display their social status with luxury goods. Today, they do it with luxury beliefs. These are ideas and opinions that confer status on the rich at very little cost, while taking a toll on the lower class. Al takes a look

Pope Francis has postponed a summer trip to Africa as he deals with knee problems and other health issues. We get an update on how he is doing, along with other Church news, from Matthew Bunson.

On the day the United States Supreme Court delivers its decision in the closely-watched case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, pro-life advocates will gather for a rally in Ann Arbor. Monica Miller has the details.

Last night, the House January 6 Committee hosted the first of six televised hearings to investigate what happened on January 6, 2021. We take a look at what was discussed and the future of the Republican Party with Donald Critchlow.

What happened on January 6? It wasn’t an insurrection, but it was a shameful moment and it’s not an event that is going away. Al discusses.

We're opening up the phone lines today! Summer is here and we want to know what's on your reading list. What books would you recommend to others? Find the complete list of today's books at avemariaradio.net!

We're opening up the phone lines today! Summer is here and we want to know what's on your reading list. What books would you recommend to others? Find the complete list of today's books at avemariaradio.net! 

It is a time of great feasts in the Church. On consecutive Sundays we celebrate the Ascension, Pentecost, and the Holy Trinity. We dive into the Catechism to learn more about the mystery of the Trinity with Peggy Stanton.

San Francisco residents voted overwhelmingly last night to recall District Attorney Chesa Boudin, who is recognized as one of the nation’s most progressive prosecutors. What would lead one of the most progressive cities in the nation to turn on a progressive official they elected? Erica Sandberg joins us.

The Vatican-China deal is set to be renewed in October. Since it was signed in 2018, Chinese authorities have cracked down in Hong Kong, imprisoning leaders like Jimmy Lai and even bringing charges against Cardinal Zen. Should the deal be renewed? Anthony Clark joins us.

You can’t have a kingdom of God without citizens. The whole process of discipleship is to render us fit to be disciples of that kingdom. Al takes a look.

Andres “June” Ybarra serves two roles in Uvalde: He’s a Grand Knight of the local Knights of Columbus Council, and he works as a mortician in the local funeral home, which has helped prepare the bodies and organize funerals for 16 of the 21 people killed in last month’s massacre. How does he do it? He joins us.

On June 19, dioceses across the US will kick off a three-year Eucharistic Revival. Its goal is to help Catholics be formed and healed to bring the power of the Eucharistic to a wounded world. Tim Glemkowski gives us a preview.

Violence against Christians continues in Nigeria. Gunmen stormed St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church during Pentecost Mass on Sunday, killing dozens. More than 50 are feared dead, including many women and children. Raymond Ibrahim tells us more.

It’s becoming harder and harder for Catholics to find common ground with other Christians, much less people who do not accept Jesus or any organized religion. Much of what we experience every day forces us to consider how we are different from the culture. But, beyond these divisions, we share a common humanity. Al discusses.

June 6 is the anniversary of the Normandy Invasions, one of the most important battles of the century. The invasion was led by Supreme Allied Commander Eisenhower, who would later go on to the White House. While there have been many biographies of Eisenhower's military and political career, none have looked deeply at the role his faith played in both his personal and public life - despite the fact...

When Joelle Maryn was 6 years old, her family experienced an unimaginable tragedy: an unattended Advent candle set their Christmas tree on fire and her sister died in the ensuing blaze. She tried praying to God to bring her sister back, and when nothing happened she gradually began losing her faith and slipping into a life of worldly pleasures. Years later, a radical awakening set her on the path...

Christology is the study of who Christ is, but often times modern ‘Christologies’ are composed without a deeper attention to traditional metaphysics: the classical philosophical understanding of reality that comes to us from Aristotle and Aquinas. We talk with Fr Thomas Joseph White about the mystery of the Incarnation and God becoming Man.

On this day in 1944, thousands of allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy. More than 4,000 did not survive the day. That evening, President Roosevelt addressed the American public and updated them on what had happened. And then he led the nation in his D-Day Prayer. We’ll listen to his prayer and Al has further thoughts.

This weekend we celebrate Pentecost – the Birth of the Church. We get a virtual tour of the scene with Steve Ray.

A recent editorial at MSNBC claims that the popularity in homeschooling is driven by the “insidious racism of America’s religious right.” In other words, parents want to homeschool their children to indoctrinate them with racist viewpoints. Kerry McDonald joins us with her response.

Last weekend a gold tabernacle was stolen from St Augustine Church in New York and the Eucharist inside was thrown all over the altar. It’s the latest of several attacks against Churches that have occurred in the last two years. Katie Yoder joins us with a review of some of the incidents and also discusses how pro-life centers are helping families with the baby formula shortage.

Why are things the way they are? Why do we enjoy learning about them? The answer is simple: for the beauty of it. When we speak of the existence of God, we are not speaking of just one more being in whom one might believe. We speak rather of the condition of possibility, the foundational existence, reason, and love that makes reality intelligible, steeped in meaning, and rooted in the beauty of be...