Ave Maria in the Afternoon Segments

You may remember the tragic cases of Charlie Gard and Alfie Evans, terminally ill babies who died in UK hospitals after their doctors determined they should no longer receive care. Now, a hospital is withdrawing kidney support from a patient over his family’s objections, stating that letting him die is a clinical decision. Wes Smith has more.Further ReadingU.K. Hospital Unilaterally Cuts Off Life Support of Disabled Patient over Family ObjectionsFollow Wes on XWes’ Humanize podcast Guest InfoWes Smith is the Chair and Senior Fellow at the Discovery Institute’s Center on Human Exceptionalism. He’s also the host of the Humanize Podcast. He’s the author of 13 books including “Culture of Death: The age of Do-Harm Medicine.” Follow him on Twitter @thewesleyjsmith and check out his articles at National Review, First Things and 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

Pro-Abortion professor Susan Ostermann will not assume leadership of the Asia studies department at Notre Dame, following widespread backlash from bishops and other Catholic leaders. Patrick Reilly, founder of the Cardinal Newman Society, joins us.Further ReadingNotre Dame: Pro-abortion professor withdraws as institute directorThe Golden Dome’s Identity CrisisRead the 2025-26 Newman Guide Guest InfoPatrick Reilly is the founder of the Cardinal Newman 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

Everyone agrees that baptism is part of Christianity, right? It says so in the Bible. But among different Christian groups, questions and arguments about baptism abound. Who should get baptized? How should it be done? What happens to unbaptized babies when they die, and should people secretly baptize their grandchildren? And on top of all this—why bother with baptism at all? Does it really do anything? We tackle these questions with Karlo Broussard.Further ReadingBook: Baptism Now Saves YouGuest InfoKarlo Broussard, DPhil., a native of Southern Louisiana, left a promising musical career to devote himself full-time to the work of Catholic apologetics. As a staff apologist and speaker for Catholic Answers, and a member of the chancery evangelization team at the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma, he travels the country and the diocese giving talks on apologetics, biblical studies, theology, and philosophy. Karlo is a regular guest on Catholic Answers Live and frequent contributor to Catholic Answers Magazine Online. He is an adjunct Professor of Philosophy at Franciscan University of Steubenville as well as an adjunct Professor of Apologetics at Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Cromwell, Connecticut. 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

The State of the Union was intended to be an opportunity for the president to address Congress and the Nation about the challenges facing the country and the prospects for overcoming them. But over the course of the last 30 years, it has devolved into little more than a partisan campaign rally, fueled by drama and moments staged to go viral. We’re looking at the state of our divided union, but we can find a way back. 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

Late Friday afternoon, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a significant ruling a case concerning the display of the Ten Commandments in schools, vacating an injunction that had blocked their display. The Court’s decision is welcome news for religious expression in public life, and there is reason for genuine optimism about what comes next. Andrea Picciotti-Bayer joins us.Further ReadingA Good Day for the Ten Commandments — and a Better One Could Be ComingGuest InfoAndrea Picciotti-Bayer is a legal analyst for EWTN News. She also directs the Conscience Project. Follow her on Twitter @bayerpicciotti and visit conscience-project.org. 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

Long before he became Catholic, Derek Bingham hungered for the Eucharist. He and his wife Hannah began studying and reading the Church fathers and found their teachings aligned with the Catholic Church’s understanding of the Eucharist. It was the first step in their whirlwind journey to the Catholic Church. They share their story with us.Further Reading ‘It’s All About the Eucharist’: Catholic Faith Brings Peace and Unity to a Family of 5 Converts 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

Venerable Fulton Sheen was famous for his love of the Eucharist, and once observed “the greatest love story of all time is contained in a tiny white host.” Christianity presents a claim that no other religion would dare to say: the God we worship doesn’t merely send laws or prophets; he takes on our very nature. Marcus has more on how the Eucharist connects us to the divine Love of God. 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

Has this ever happened to you? You’re trying to put the kids to bed, or rush them out the door in the morning, and they decide it’s the perfect time to stump you with a question on the faith. Steven Hemler joins us with short answers to life’s biggest questions.Further ReadingBook: The Busy Parent’s Guide to the Catholic Faith: Short Answers to the Big QuestionsCatholic Apologetics Institute of North AmericaCAINA on FacebookGuest InfoSteven Hemler is the author of The Busy Parent’s Guide to the Catholic Faith: Short Answers to the Big Questions. He is president of the Catholic Apologetics Institute of North America and is the author of three other books, including The Reality of God 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

Next week Marcus will join a mission trip to Taiwan, where a mere 1% of the population is Catholic. How do you explain complex theological ideas to someone who may have never heard the name of Jesus? Where do you begin with introducing the concept of God to a godless society? Marcus shares some thoughts.Further Reading‘She Had Never Heard the Name of Jesus’: Eucharistic Evangelization in Taiwan 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

Have you ever seen an adult behaving badly and wondered if they were ever disciplined as a kid? Childhood discipline has lifelong effects – and not just on how we behave. It also predicts the way we resolve conflicts as adults. We discuss Discipleship Discipline with Dr Greg Popcak.Further ReadingCatholic Households on MissionGuest InfoDr Greg Popcak is the founder and director of CatholicCounselors.com, a group pastoral telecounseling practice providing faithful help to Catholics dealing with personal, emotoinal and relationship problems. Together with his wife, Lisa, he is the author of over 20 books integrating insights from counseling psychology and the timeless wisdom of our Catholic faith. They are also the developers of the CatholicHOM app, a resource helping Catholic families thrive. Dr. Greg and Lisa are the hosts of More2Life, a call in advice program airing weekdays at 10am E and produced by Ave Maria Radio and carried across the EWTN Global Catholic Radio Network. 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 billionaires continuing to pour cash into fertility technology, we are approaching a world where “Big Tech” and “Big Fertility” are intertwined. Eugenics is coming to America wrapped in code words such as “optimization” and “reassurance.” We discuss what this means for society with Patrick T. Brown.Further ReadingBig Tech Meets Big FertilityPatrick’s blog Follow Patrick on TwitterGuest InfoPatrick T. Brown is a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, where his work with the Life and Family Initiative focuses on developing a robust pro-family economic agenda and supporting families as the cornerstone of a healthy and flourishing 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

Unrest continues in Mexico following the killing of cartel leader Ruben “El Mencho” Cervantes. David Ramos joins us with a report.Guest InfoDavid Ramos writes for ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language affiliate of EWTN News. He heads the ACI Prensa Office in Mexico and has covered Church news throughout Central and South America. 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 the morning of January 28, 1986, President Reagan was preparing his State of the Union address when the country was shook by a national tragedy – the Challenger spacecraft had exploded just seconds after takeoff. Reagan postponed his planned remarks, setting aside politics for a moment of national unity and grieving. What can we expect from the State of the Union in a time of political divisiveness and performative theater? Marcus has some thoughts.Further ReadingThe Challenger Speech and Time Sanctified 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

The Lenten season parallels all of human history. Man began as dust in the Garden, and we begin our Lenten journey with Jesus in the dust of the desert. We discuss this journey from dust to glory with Matt Ramage.Further ReadingFrom the Dust of the Earth Benedict XVI, the Bible, and the Theory of EvolutionGuest InfoMatthew J. Ramage, Ph.D., is Professor of Theology at Benedictine College where he is co-director of its Center for Integral Ecology. His research and writing concentrates especially on the theology of Joseph Ratzinger/Pope Benedict XVI, the wedding of ancient and modern methods of biblical interpretation, the dialogue between faith and science, and stewardship of creation. In addition to his other scholarly and outreach endeavors, Dr. Ramage is author, co-author, or translator of over fifteen books, including Dark Passages of the Bible (CUA Press, 2013), Jesus, Interpreted (CUA Press, 2017), The Experiment of Faith (CUA Press, 2020), and Christ’s Church and World Religions (Sophia Institute Press, 2020). His latest book, From the Dust of the Earth: Benedict XVI, the Bible, and the Theory of Evolution, was published by CUA Press in 2022. When he is not teaching or writing, Dr. Ramage enjoys exploring the great outdoors with his wife and seven children, tending his orchard, leading educational trips abroad, and aspiring to be a barbeque pitmaster. For more on Dr. Ramage’s work, visit his website www.matthewramage.com. 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

Today’s Gospel foretells the division of the Sheep and the Goats. Jesus praises those who have fed the hungry, doctored the sick, and housed the homeless while condemning those who have not. Some progressives use this passage as a “moral trump card” to argue that doctrine and dogma do not matter, for in the end all that matters is our humanitarian gestures. Marcus breaks it down. 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

Yesterday was the Feast of the Chair of St Peter. Since the Reformation, we have seen what happens when a church “unhooks” itself from the authority of the Church and tries to go on its own. We discuss the feast and the Church’s enduring authority with Doug Keck.Further Reading9 Things You Need to Know About the ‘Chair of St. Peter’Why Does the Church Celebrate the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter?Guest InfoDoug Keck is emeritus president and COO of EWTN and the host of EWTN bookmark. 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

Whether it be our own lives, our faith, our families, or our Church, God wants us to grow. We look at how this theme is woven throughout the Scriptures with Michael Pakaluk.Further ReadingGod Is Pro-GrowthGuest InfoMichael Pakaluk, an Aristotle scholar and Ordinarius of the Pontifical Academy of St. Thomas Aquinas, is Professor of Political Economy in the Busch School of Business at the Catholic University of America. He lives in Hyattsville, MD with his wife Catherine, also a professor at the Busch School, and their children. His collection of essays, The Shock of Holiness (Ignatius Press) is now available. His book on Christian friendship, The Company We Keep, is now available from Scepter Press. He was a contributor to Natural Law: Five Views, published by Zondervan last May, and his most recent Gospel book came out with Regnery Gateway in March, Be Good Bankers: The Economic Interpretation of Matthew’s Gospel. You may follow him on Substack at Michael Pakaluk. 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

One of the latest AI innovations is Waymo, an autonomous taxi service that is gradually being introduced to cities nationwide. As sociologists have warned for decades, every new technology that is intended to make our lives easier has unintended and often unwelcome consequences. Francis Maier joins us.Further ReadingNotes on a ‘Great Reset’Guest InfoFrancis X. Maier is a senior fellow in Catholic studies at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. He is the author of True Confessions: Voices of Faith from a Life in the Church. 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

Our culture tends to speak about death in hushed euphemisms, as if renaming death will remove its power. We hide our decline behind hospital curtains and try to forget that we will all eventually die. Cancer breaks down these boundaries and ignores these so-called etiquettes. Ben Sasse’s reflections on his own impeding death from cancer illustrate how Christians should face death – through the lens of Memento Mori. Marcus has more.Further ReadingBen Sasse on Facing Mortality: ‘Death Is Evil, but Death Doesn’t Get the Final Word’ 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

America’s relational landscape is increasingly bleak and barren. Americans are less likely to be married, or even partnered, and they report having less sex. Instead of the happiness, authenticity, and pleasure that the sexual revolution promised, there is a loneliness epidemic as men and women are driven further apart. At the heart of the problem is the prevalence of pornography in our society. Forming young men will be a lot easier if we remove the filth that is choking out loving and flourishing complementary relationships between men and women. Nathanael Blake has more.Further ReadingWhy Are We So Pornsick?Guest InfoNathanael Blake, Ph.D. is a Fellow in the Life and Family Initiative at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. His research interests include American political theory, Christian political thought, and the intersection of natural law and philosophical hermeneutics. His published scholarship has included work on Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Hans-Georg Gadamer, Alasdair MacIntyre, Russell Kirk and J.R.R. Tolkien. 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

This Sunday’s readings present us with two temptations: Adam and Eve in the Garden, and Jesus during His time in the desert. But where Adam failed, Jesus triumphed. We unpack the readings with Rob Corzine.Guest InfoRob 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 discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

Blaise Pascal observed that all people seek happiness, and that all man’s actions ultimately seek this end. But since perfect happiness eludes us in this life, all we can hope is to be “happier.” One aspect of being happier, within reach of us all, is to grow in love. But to grow in love we need practical wisdom. We talk more with Christopher Kaczor.Further ReadingPractical Wisdom for a Happier LifeBook: Is Belief Believable? Reasoning About God from Plato and Aquinas to C. S. Lewis and Jordan PetersonFollow Professor Kaczor on X Guest InfoDr. Christopher Kaczor is President of the American Catholic Philosophical Association and Professor of Philosophy at Loyola Marymount University. A Fulbright scholar, his eighteen books include Is Belief Believable?: Reasoning About God from Plato and Aquinas to C. S. Lewis and Jordan Peterson. Kaczor was appointed a von Humbolt Fellow, a Member of the Pontifical Academy for Life, a visiting fellow at the University of Notre Dame, and William E. Simon Visiting Fellow at Princeton University. He can be found on X at @Prof_Kaczor. 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 a 6-3 ruling this morning, the Supreme Court struck down many elements of President Trump’s signature tariffs. The Founding Fathers designed our government with a system of checks and balances, so that no one branch could become too powerful. Marcus looks at the deeply Christian foundations of this system. 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

February 22 marks the anniversary of one of the greatest upsets in the history of sports – the United States’ victory over the Soviet Union at the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. Taking place in the midst of the Cold War just weeks after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the “Miracle on Ice” was much more than a game. It represented a clash between civilizations, cultures, and worldviews. 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

Why should we bother fasting? Why do those ascetical practices in Lent or any other time? Why bother with this self-discipline, this extra penance, especially if we’re already living fairly moderate lives? Isn’t it better to eat, drink, and be merry, given that we might die tomorrow? We talk with David Deavel.Further ReadingOnly The Lover FastsGuest InfoDavid Paul Deavel is Associate Professor of Theology at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, TX, and Senior Contributor at The Imaginative Conservative. The paperback edition of Solzhenitsyn and American Culture: The Russian Soul in the West, edited with Jessica Hooten Wilson, is now available in paperback. 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

The Priestly Society of St. Pius X says it will proceed with plans to consecrate new bishops on July 1 without a pontifical mandate, despite a Vatican warning that the move would represent a “decisive rupture” of communion and bring “grave consequences” for the group. Matthew Bunson reports on this and other Church news.Further ReadingSociety of St. Pius X says it will consecrate bishops without papal mandate despite Vatican warningCardinal Parolin: The Vatican ‘Will Not Participate in Trump’s Board of Peace’Knoxville Bishop Richard Stika, who resigned after Vatican mismanagement investigation, dies at 68Remembering Angelo GugelGuest InfoMatthew Bunson is Vice President and Editorial Director of EWTN News and a Senior Fellow at St Paul Center for Biblical Theology. He’s the author or co-author of more than 50 books including the first English-language biography of Pope Francis and The Encyclopedia of Catholic History. Follow him on twitter at MattBunson. Register Radio airs Saturdays at 4 pm and Sundays at 11 am on Ave Maria Radio 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

Western novels, songs, and films make many assumptions about love and marriage. Yet one underlying expectation continues to shock the non-Western world: dispositive spousal consent, or the belief that a marriage is valid because two individuals freely choose one another, rather than because their families or political authorities approve the match. We talk more about this “free market” of marriage with Clara Piano.Further ReadingMarriage: The Free Market We Take for GrantedGuest InfoClara E. Piano is currently a Visiting Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of Mississippi, a position which will become tenure-track in Fall 2026. Her primary areas of research are family economics, law and economics, and public choice. She has also been a lecturer of economics at the Catholic University of America and George Mason University. 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

Pope Leo has declared the period from January 10, 2026 to January 10, 2027 to be the Year of St. Francis, in commemoration of the 800th anniversary of the saint’s death. A plenary indulgence can be obtained during this time, one of the conditions for which is a pilgrimage to a Franciscan church. Fr. James Conlon of St. Francis in Ann Arbor joins us.Further ReadingIndulgence is an encounter with God, not a spiritual shortcut’Learn more about St Francis parish 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

The U.S. bishops’ latest religious liberty report warns that threats are coming from multiple directions — and calls Catholics across the political spectrum to respond. Andrea Picciotti-Bayer joins us.Further ReadingAs America Turns 250, Bishops Sound the Alarm on Religious FreedomGuest InfoAndrea Picciotti-Bayer is a legal analyst for EWTN News, and director of the Conscience Project. 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

This year, the Muslim observation of Ramadan falls during February and March, during the Catholic observation of Lent. To the untrained eye, these seasons are similar, containing times of fasting and reparation for sin. But Lent is much more than a “Catholic Ramadan.” Marcus has more.Click here to get Marcus’ Lenten reflections book 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

What is the difference between thinking and praying? Between dieting and fasting? Between spending and almsgiving? David Bonagura joins us.Further ReadingLent: Intention makes the sacrificeGuest Infohttps://avemariapm.substack.coDavid G. Bonagura, Jr. is the author, most recently, of 100 Tough Questions for Catholics: Common Obstacles to Faith Today, and the translator of and the translator of Jerome’s Tears: Letters to Friends in Mourning. An adjunct professor at St. Joseph’s Seminary and Catholic International University, he serves as the religion editor of The University Bookman, a review of books founded in 1960 by Russell Kirk. 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

Most people know that Lent lasts 40 days to unite with Jesus’ 40 days fasting in the desert. But why did Jesus fast for 40 days, instead of a different period of time? We’ll talk with Gary Michuta.Guest InfoGary Michuta is the author of several books, most recently The Gospel Truth: How We Can Know what Christ Taught and Revolt Against Reality: Fighting the Enemies of Sanity and Truth. 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

It’s almost undeniable that God is working miracles of healing in evangelization today. For theologians, pastors, and evangelists some questions arise: What is the relationship between physical healing and the message of salvation? How can we take advantage of Lent as a special time of healing? Fr Mathias Thelen joins us.Guest InfoFr. Mathias Thelen is Co-Founder and President of Encounter Ministries. He is also the Pastor of St. Patrick Catholic Parish in Brighton. 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

If you ask St. Benedict of Nursia, he’d say that Lent shouldn’t be necessary – because the Christian life by its very nature should be a life of penance and renewal. Lent offers us the chance to pick up our spiritual slack and return with renewed vigor to the core practices of the spiritual life. We talk more with Jared Staudt.Further ReadingWhy We Need Lent: Advice from St. BenedictGuest InfoR. Jared Staudt PhD, serves as Director of Content for Exodus 90 and as an instructor for the lay division of St. John Vianney Seminary. He is author of Words Made Flesh: The Sacramental Mission of Catholic Education (CUA Press, 2024), How the Eucharist Can Save Civilization (TAN), Restoring Humanity: Essays on the Evangelization of Culture (Divine Providence Press) and The Beer Option (Angelico Press), as well as editor of Renewing Catholic Schools: How to Regain a Catholic Vision in a Secular Age (Catholic Education Press). He and his wife Anne have six children and he is a Benedictine oblate. 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

The ashes placed on our foreheads today remind us that we will die, but if we repent and believe in the Gospel we will have new life. Marcus has more on the meaning of ashes and how they appear throughout scripture.Click Here to receive Marcus’ E-Book, Lavished in Love 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

Last week, human rights activist Jimmy Lai was sentenced by a Chinese court to twenty years in prison – essentially a life sentence for the 78-year-old. Tragically, Lai’s fate comes as no surprise to anyone who has followed the CCP. Ben Rogers has more.Further ReadingBook: The China Nexus Thirty Years in and Around the Chinese Communist Party’s TyrannyHong Kong WatchJimmy Lai’s Sentence Is a Stark Symbol of Authoritarian OverreachGuest InfoBenedict Rogers is a British human rights activist and journalist based in London. His work focuses on Asia, specialising particularly on Burma, North Korea and Indonesia. He is a regular contributor to The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and The Huffington Post and has appeared on BBC, CNN, Al Jazeera and other many others.Rogers is the co-founder and deputy chairman of the Conservative Party’s human rights commission and the co-founder of the International Coalition to Stop Crimes Against Humanity in North Korea. He is also the East Asia Team Leader at Christian Solidarity Worldwide and the founder of Hong Kong Watch and a member of the advisory group of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) and an advisor to the World Uyghur Congress. 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

Mardi Gras gets treated like a civic right to behave badly with a liturgical permission slip, and plenty of Catholics smile politely at the noise while quietly hoping Ash Wednesday will come along and disinfect the calendar. Marcus looks at the Catholic roots of Fat Tuesday and how we can faithfully celebrate it.Further ReadingFat Tuesday Is Deeply Catholic 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

Arguments are an inevitable part of any marriage. But when we invite God into our conflicts, He challenges us to approach them in a different way. Greg Popcak has more.Further ReadingCatholic Households on MissionGuest InfoDr Greg Popcak is the founder and director of CatholicCounselors.com, a group pastoral telecounseling practice providing faithful help to Catholics dealing with personal, emotional and relationship problems. He is also the former chair of the Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies program at Holy Apostles College and Seminary and an adjunct professor of psychology and graduate theology at Franciscan. Together with his wife, Lisa, he is the author of over 20 books integrating insights from counseling psychology and the timeless wisdom of our Catholic faith. They are also the developers of the CatholicHOM app, a resource helping Catholic families thrive. Dr. Greg and Lisa are the hosts of More2Life, a call in advice program airing weekdays at 10am E and produced by Ave Maria Radio and carried across the EWTN Global Catholic Radio Network. 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

The next presidential election will feature a new Republican candidate for the first time in 12 years. Because pro-lifers constitute a large and important bloc of Republican presidential primary voters, the candidates will have to consider how they approach pro-life policy. We discuss goals for the pro-life movement with Michael New.Further ReadingPro-Lifers Should Push for These Realistic Policy GoalsGuest InfoMichael J. New is an assistant professor of practice at the Busch School of Business at the Catholic University of America and a senior associate scholar at the Charlotte Lozier Institute. 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

“Was Jesus in reality a liberal rabbi—a forerunner of Christian liberalism? Is the Christ of faith, and therefore the whole faith of the Church, just one big mistake?” Benedict XVI explored these critical questions in his book Jesus of Nazareth. We look at the answers with Carl Olson.Further ReadingJesus: Liberal rabbi or incarnate Messiah?Guest InfoCarl 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-editor/contributor to Called To Be the Children of God, co-author of The Da Vinci Hoax (Ignatius), and author of the “Catholicism” and “Priest Prophet King” Study Guides for Bishop Robert Barron/Word on Fire. His recent books on Lent and Advent—Praying the Our Father in Lent (2021) and Prepare the Way of the Lord (2021)—are published by Catholic Truth Society. The Most Asked Questions about Faith, Reason, Jesus, and the Bible, co-authored with Fr. Robert Spitzer, S.J., will be published by Ignatius Press in Spring 2026. He is also a contributor to “Our Sunday Visitor” newspaper, “The Catholic Answer” magazine, “The Imaginative Conservative”, “The Catholic Herald”, “National Catholic Register”, “Chronicles”, and other publications. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @carleolson. 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

Reverend Jesse Jackson’s life, work and legacy expose how quickly a movement for human dignity can be inherited by people who will keep the slogans but who will completely deny the dignity of the human person. 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

When George Washington was elected president, he started another revolution – the revolutionary idea that a leader’s power could be limited by the people. We talk more about it with Doug Keck.Guest InfoDoug Keck is the emertius president and COO of EWTN and the host of EWTN Bookmark. 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

Lent is an opportunity to be transformed, to emerge differently, and to cultivate new habits and practices that will linger long after the season is over. Karen McClelland joins us with some ideas.Further ReadingRead Karen’s ideas for Living Liturgically All Lent Long Guest InfoKaren McClelland has a Masters in theology from Franciscan University and explores the idea of liturgical living and building a Catholic family culture. 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

A new book explores how J.R.R. Tolkien’s Catholic faith — and especially the Mass — shaped his stories and sustained his soul. Ben Reinhard’s The High Hallow looks at how Tolkien was influenced by the Mass and how, in his eyes, it was life’s greatest drama. Ben has more.Further ReadingThe High Hallow: Tolkien’s Liturgical ImaginationGuest InfoBen Reinhard is Professor of English at Franciscan University of Steubenville, where he teaches courses in medieval literature, mythology, and the Inklings. A graduate of the Medieval Institute at the University of Notre Dame, he has written articles and essays for a wide range of scholarly and popular publications, and his translation of Beowulf was published in 2022. He lives in southeast Ohio with his wife and five children, where they attempt to live a sanctified and orderly life in a chaotic and disintegrated world, fighting the long defeat. 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

Presidents’ Day is a perfect opportunity for us to reflect on the founding ideals of our nation. Our founders meticulously created a system of government that would attach accountability to the power that comes with government. As an immigrant, Marcus has seen both sides of this equation. He offers some thoughts. 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

Fr. Jose Maria has just returned from the Holy Land. He explains the Biblical significance of the area and why so many people call it the “Fifth Gospel.”Fr. Jose Maria Cabrera is Pastor and Vicar for Clergy in the Diocese of Saginaw. 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 today’s First Reading, James tells us to consider it a joy when we encounter various trials, for the testing of our faith produces perseverance. This especially applies to our marriages, where we will inevitably encounter trials as a couple. Marcus has more. Further ReadingMarriage resources from Ave Maria Radio 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

How do you move forward after you receive an unexpected diagnosis for your baby? How do you deal with the devastation and chaos? Most importantly, how do you prepare for the range of possibilities you now face? Beverly Jacobson shares her firsthand knowledge of these experiences.Further ReadingFrom Diagnosis to Delivery: What to Expect When the Unexpected Happens During Your PregnancyBeverly’s websiteMama Bear CareGuest InfoBeverly Jacobson is a military wife and homeschooling mother of 9, the youngest of whom has significant special needs. Through her homeschool ministry, she offers discipleship and coaching programs, workshops, and seminars. Her mission is to help moms be rooted in Jesus and the truth of His Word so they can homeschool for the long haul–with eternity in mind. Beverly is also the founder of Verity’s Village, a pro-life nonprofit ministry serving families who receive a life-limiting diagnosis for their babies. She enjoys public speaking, a good cup of coffee (made Italian-style), and walking the wooded trails near her Colorado home. 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

This Sunday’s readings dive deeply into the meaning of the Law and those who follow it. We unpack the readings with Rob Corzine. Guest InfoRob 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 discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

The concept of God is so large that it can be hard to decide where to start. How can we define God? How can we begin explaining Him, or trying to prove he exists? It’s a daunting task, and Pat Flynn gives us a “wish list” of theistic theories.Further ReadingA Wish List for Theistic TheoriesBook: The Best Argument for God Guest InfoPat Flynn is a writer, philosopher, podcaster, and speaker living in Wisconsin with his wife, five children, and St. Bernard. He hosts Philosophy for the People and The Pat Flynn Show. His website is ChroniclesOfStrength.com 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