Ave Maria in the Afternoon

Today we celebrate the Feast of John Paul II, one of the most influential figures of the 20th century. We celebrate his life with Patrick Novecosky. Further Reading Icons of Mercy: The Faith, Friendship, and Legacy of John Paul II and Mother Teresa Guest Info Patrick Novecosky is an award-winning author, journalist, and Catholic communicator with more than twenty-five years of experience in publis...

Archbishop James Golka of Denver has asked Father Chad Ripperger to take a yearlong break from public speaking and interviews. Matthew Bunson joins us with a look at this and other Church news. Further Reading Exorcist Father Ripperger agrees to 1-year ‘fast’ from public speaking Pope Leo XIV Needs No Further Treatment After Lung Cancer Surgery, Vatican Says Pope Leo Names New Theologians to Vatic...

When he was still the Archbishop of Krakow, Karol Wojtyla wrote a series of teachings based on St. Paul’s sermon to the people of Athens recounted in Acts 17. We break down these teachings with Eduardo Echeverria. Further Reading Teachings for an Unbelieving World: Newly Discovered Reflections on Paul’s Sermon at the Areopagus Guest Info Eduardo Echeverria holds a Licentiate in Sacred Theology fro...

Some social media “influencers” have been encouraging married women to consider leaving their husbands, because there is always someone out there who is richer, younger, and more attentive. The ordinary daily sacrifices of married life are now being touted as symptoms of patriarchal oppression. Marcus has more. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or g...

In today’s First Reading, St. Paul writes about how salvation involves the supernatural transformation of the human person through the indwelling of God. He prays that Christ will dwell in our hearts through faith. Christ’s love surpasses our human knowledge. Its infinite excellence exceeds the complete comprehension of any created intellect. But that doesn’t mean that God doesn’t want us to do th...

The stigmata is one of the strangest phenomena in the Catholic faith. Visionaries who have experienced the stigmata are living crucifixions, vividly portraying before the world Christ’s atoning death. We dive into their history with Paul Kengor. Further Reading The Stigmatists: Their Gifts, Their Revelations, Their Warnings Guest Info Paul Kengor is Editor of The American Spectator. Dr. Kengor is...

If Christian leaders are childish, what hope is there for their congregations? For the church to become relevant, it must eschew childish things and recapture her priorities. Carl Trueman joins us. Further Reading Book: The Desecration of Man: How the Rejection of God Degrades Our Humanity Book: The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self The Desecration of Man Erasing birth mothers When No-Fault Divo...

Catholics in all 70 parishes of the Diocese of Arlington heard the same letter read from the pulpit last month. Bishop Michael Burbidge asked every priest to urge a “no” vote on the two amendments to the Virginia Constitution that voters will decide on Nov. 3. This is religious liberty at work, and in much of the world a bishop who did it would pay dearly. Andrea Picciotti-Bayer joins us. Further...

What does it mean when the New Testament says that Jesus is a priest according to the order of Melchizedek? What does it mean to say there’s a high priest? What does a priest do? Why do we distinguish high priests from other priests? Joe Heschmeyer joins us, previewing his topic at the Tapestry of Praise conference. Click here to learn more about the Conference Guest Info Joe Heschmeyer is a staff...

Studies are showing that gratitude is on the decline in the developed world. We have lost our sense that good things come from something beyond ourselves. Marcus discusses the effects of gratitude on society. 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 recent years, more and more scholars - even those that don’t profess a Christian faith - have recognized the positive effect religion has on society. Marcus reflects on how a renewal of religious conviction can help save society. 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

Abortion and gender ethics continue to stir debate, in addition to how they relate to conscience rights. In his newest book, Dr. Christopher Kaczor addresses the legal and ethical questions surrounding these issues, arguing that all human beings possess inherent dignity and deserve protection in law. He joins us. Further Reading Vital Conflicts: Debating Abortion, Gender Treatments, and Claims of...

Bishop Mark Beckman of Knoxville, Tennessee has ordered priests to stop praying the St Michael prayer at the end of Mass, saying it is not appropriate to add additional prayers to the liturgy. Marcus discusses the story. 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

With the mental health crisis reaching unprecedented levels, the Church is finding the role she can play in counseling. What is pastoral counseling, and how does it differ from clinical counseling and spiritual direction? Dr. Greg Popcak joins us. 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 host...

Does Islam have a real concept of reality and logic? Is it compatible with the Judeo-Christian and Western worldview that has shaped the entire Western civilization? Carl Olson joins us. Further Reading Realism and Islam Guest Info Carl E. Olson is editor of Catholic World Report and Ignatius Insight. He is the author of Did Jesus Really Rise from the Dead?, Will Catholics Be “Left Behind”?, co-ed...

Lynda Rozell has been on a special kind of pilgrimage, seeking out Jesus in tabernacles all over the country. In her travels, she has sensed God’s longing for His people and His desire that we “return to Him.” She joins us to share her story. Further Reading Return to Me: Visits to the Tabernacle Lynda’s website Guest Info Over four years ago, attorney Lynda Rozell sold her house, quit her job, an...

There is no shortage of recent literature across the political spectrum warning of the profound cultural crisis confronting the West and the erosion of the moral assumptions that once bound society together. How did we get here? Dr. Gregory Slysz argues that the fundamental cause of the West’s civilization crisis does not lie principally in modern politics or ideology, but with the rejection of th...

John Paul II famously had much to say about the dignity and vocation of women, which he explored in his apostolic letter Mulieris Dignitatem. While he never published a document on manhood, one can still find much to say on it in his writings. Deacon David Delaney joins us. Further Reading Viri Dignitatem: Personhood, Masculinity and Fatherhood in the Thought of John Paul II Guest Info Deacon Davi...

When we read the Psalms, we are reading the very prayer book that Jesus used. As we imitate Christ’s prayer, we learn how to give God praise and glory, and ask things of Him. Billy Kangas will be speaking on this next month at the Tapestry of Promise conference. He joins us. Learn more about the conference Guest Info Dr. Billy Kangas is the CEO of Ave Maria Radio. This is a public episode. If you...

We were made for communion with God and every human soul suffers whenever it seeks life apart from God’s divine love. The greatest tragedy of the human condition is our enslavement to sin, which separates us from that communion with God. Marcus looks at how these themes appear in today’s readings. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to b...

The headlines this weekend brought news of two sudden, shocking deaths. A priest in Ecuador died while celebrating Mass when the crucifix fell of the wall and struck him – just moments after a homily in which he preached about how we prioritize our time. And a member of the US Air Force fell from the rafters during a pregame demonstration at a college football game, later dying of his injuries. If...

In every age, God gives his Church special grace to respond to the world’s challenges with love and truth. In every generation, God combats the world’s evils with a more abundant good, raising up holy servants to speak a word that will rouse us. The last century of human history has been so marked by evil and oppression that God saw fit to give us not one but two special agents of his unfathomable...

In this Sunday’s Gospel, the Pharisees attempt to trick Jesus, asking if it is lawful to pay the taxes to Caesar. Jesus answers that they should “render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” 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 d...

Today is the anniversary of John Paul II’s election to the papacy. This week also marks anniversaries of two other influential people – the birth of Friedrich Nietzsche, and the death of Marie Antoinette. Marcus looks at their worldviews and what we can learn from them. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemari...

Friedrich Nietzsche remains one of the most influential writers of the 19th century, and his accessible use of language helped his ideas to spread rapidly. For better or worse, he will continue to influence cultures, individuals, and peoples for centuries to come, in ways the other important thinkers of the nineteenth century probably will not. We look at his style of thought with Brad Birzer. Fur...