Right Now with Ralph Martin

In this week's episode, Ralph talks about our deeply rooted aversion to obedience and shows how important obedience to God is for the sake of our salvation. He identifies some of the ways in which we rationalize disobedience and names particular “exceptions” to God’s will that we are tempted to make these days. Don't forget to join us for the third night of our Pentecost Mission this Sunday at 8:00 p.m. ET. Register at www.renewalministries.net/pentecostmission.

This week, Ralph discusses teaching from St. John of the Cross on dark nights, how to discern them and how to respond to them. Join us for the second week of the Pentecost Mission Sunday, May 30, from 8-9:15 p.m. ET with Pete Burak. More information and registration here: www.renewalministries.net/pentecostmission.

This week, Ralph comments on an excellent article on “eucharistic coherence” by Archbishop Samuel Aquila from Denver. The points the Archbishop makes are inspiring for their honest acknowledgement of bishops' failures to teach the hard truths of the faith, which have led us to the current mess. At the same time, the Archbishop shares the Lord’s warnings about approaching the Eucharist unworthily, not just because of “Church law” but because of concern for the salvation of souls and true love.  Archbishop Aquila's article: https://bit.ly/3tTIyPz Ralph's article The Post-Christendom Sacramental Crisis: The Wisdom of Thomas Aquinas: https://bit.ly/3hIBjaG Join us for an online Pentecost Mission starting Pentecost Sunday, May 23, from 8-9:15 p.m. ET! We'll have four sessions, over four weeks featuring Ralph Martin, Pete Burak, Peter Herbeck, and Dr. Mary Healy. More information and registration here: www.renewalministries.net/pentecostmission.

As we approach the Feast of Pentecost, Ralph reflects on the story and example of St. Stephen: “What we’re seeing is how people can harden their hearts. What we’re also seeing is how, even though Jesus has gone before us, and suffered and died for us, He’s inviting us to participate with Him in the sacrifice of our lives joined to his life so that people may receive a witness to the Gospel and have the possibility of being saved” (Ralph Martin). Join us for an online Pentecost Mission starting Pentecost Sunday, May 23, from 8-9:15 p.m. ET! We'll have four sessions over four weeks featuring Ralph Martin, Pete Burak, Peter Herbeck, and Dr. Mary Healy. Get more information and register here: www.renewalministries.net/pentecostmission. 

Ralph is often asked what he thinks about prophesies about a warning or illumination of conscience that some prophetic strands in the Catholic tradition speak about. In this week's episode, he explains what this warning or illumination is prophesied to be and what he thinks about how we should approach this particular prophetic stream.

Brothers and Sisters, because of the importance of the subject matter we thought we should share a special message in this week's podcast. Bishop Robert Barron recently gave a sermon that has occasioned a lot of interest and some controversy. Fr. Mark Goring responded to some of what Bishop Barron said, but since part of what he said is an area that I have a deep concern about and also some expertise in, I thought I should offer some friendly comments. I hope you find them useful.  // Ralph Martin Bishop Barron's video: https://youtu.be/PqnxgwRrmv0 Father Mark Goring's video: https://youtu.be/HSyY3kqpOeg Will Many Be Saved: https://www.renewalministries.net/shop/product/will_many_be_saved The Ugency of the New Evangelization: https://www.renewalministries.net/shop/product/the_urgency_of_the_new_evangelization_answering_the_call A Church in Crisis: https://www.renewalministries.net/shop/product/a_church_in_crisis Free monthly Renewal Ministries Newsletter: https://www.renewalministries.net/newsletter

"We have to get really serious about what we are supposed to fear. Jesus says, 'Don't fear those who can kill the body.' Fear the death of the soul in hell, fear sin, fear the devil. Fear God—have respect for God, have awe for God, have an ever-so-strong desire to listen to his Word and respond to it." //Ralph Martin

This week, Ralph shares a message of hope, in light of the truth that evil is living on borrowed time! Evil will not prevail; Jesus has definitively won the victory.  "All we have to do is to hang on to Jesus. All we have to do is reach out and and cling to Jesus. That's all we have to do. We have to... keep clinging to Jesus for the rest of our life, no matter what evil continues to unfold, because it's days are numbered. And we will be definitively and finally rescued from all evil at the moment of our death, when we pass into the loving hands of the Lord." // Ralph Martin Please join us this weekend for our annual Renewal MInistries Gathering! This year's theme is "Seek First the Kingdom" and we'd love to see you there. Sign up today at www.renewalministries.net/gathering.

There is such a depth of meaning and such a wondrous promise made to us in the resurrection of Jesus that the most insightful of us is still only on the outskirts of the wonder. In this week's episode Ralph attempts to share a few insights into the amazing deeds of Christ and their relevance to our life now, to our future, and to everyone else’s lives and futures as well.

Happy Holy Week!  After our four-week Lenten Mission (which was chuck full of content!), this week we are having a short and sweet episode. As we approach the holiest days of the year, Ralph offers a reminder to seek first the Kingdom, particularly where finances are concerned: "It's really not a matter how much money you have or how little money you have, it's a matter of where your heart is. Is your heart fixed on the kingdom? Is your treasure in the kingdom? Is your desire to rely on the Father for your provision, is that where your heart is?" From all of us at Renewal Ministries, have a blessed Triduum!

In this week's episode, we have the final night of the Lenten Mission. Ralph focused on Chapter 14 of The Fulfillment of All Desire, "A Deeper Purification," seeking to answer the question: what are dark nights and how do we navigate them? One aspect of the answer? As Ralph says, "This is customized love, this is personal love. This is God the Father knowing perfectly well who we are and LOVING us, knowing completely what our imperfections are and LOVING us. So much so that he wants to really remove these things that separate us from him." For the booklet offer in this week's episode, visit www.renewalministries.net/STF and use the code STFLENT. This offer is available until midnight Saturday, March 27.

In Sunday's Lenten Mission, Ralph focused on Chapter 10 of The Fulfillment of All Desire: “Growing in Freedom". He shared wisdom from Sts. Francis de Sales, Augustine, and Bernard of Clairvaux on the glorious freedom that comes from detachment, particularly detachment from an inordinate affection for wealth, possessions, health, reputation, and sensual pleasure. Growing in detachment from these things frees us for something much greater: the love and mercy of God, who delights to care for our every need, and the proper place all the above are intended by God to have in our life. For Peter Herbeck's new booklet, Fear God and Give Him Glory (first copy is FREE!) visit www.renewalministries.net/FGG.   For any Fulfullment of All Desire Products: www.renewalministries.net/FAD - use the code FADLENT at checkout for 20% off.

In this week's episode, Ralph continues his four-week Lenten Mission on The Fulfillment of All Desire focusing on Chapter 5: "The Transformation of Thought, Desire and Action." He introduces more of Therese of Lisieux’s writing and shows how her narrative of how the various channels of grace worked to transform her can give us an insight into how the same channels of grace can transform us. The icon mentioned at 52:12 is Christ Pantocrator and is this week's episode art. For more information on Ralph's new book, to sign up for emails, or to support the work of Renewal Ministries, visit our website, www.renewalministries.net.  CCLI Streaming License #: 20994070

In this week's episode, Ralph begins a four-week Lenten Mission on Fulfillment of All Desire with an exposition of the "biblical world view" that all the saints shared, which included an acute awareness of the shortness of life and the "one thing necessary" – repenting, believing and growing in union with Jesus. He described John of the Cross’ and Catherine of Siena’s particular way of expressing these realities, and set the stage for next week’s talk which will examine how Therese of Lisieux’s life and writings can help us deepen our relationship with the Lord and grow in holiness. A few of the things mentioned in this episode: Fulfillment of All Desire – 20% discount code: FADLENT The Dialogue of St. Catherine of Siena The Collected Works of St. John of the Cross The Collected Works of St. Teresa of Avila – Vol. 1, Vol. 2, Vol. 3 Charles Borromeo: Selected Orations, Homilies and Writings New Testament: Ignatius Catholic Study Bible The Lift Jesus Higher Rally 2020 Fulfillment of All Desire Advent Mission - The Purgative Way The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)

On this week's podcast, Ralph offers timeless wisdom from the Word of God, so we won't be gripped by fear or anxiety, especially regarding our health and finances. This word is one that brings new freedom, peace, and reliance on the Father in troubled times. For more details about the Lift Jesus Higher Rally: Consuming Fire, check out the event website: www.ljhr.com. The event is free and open to all (no registration required) - just join us Saturday, February 27 at 1:00 p.m. ET on the Renewal Ministries' YouTube Channel. We would love to see you at The Fulfillment of All Desire Lenten Mission! Register today and we will see you at 8:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 28 to go deep into the heart of the Lord.

This week, Ralph comments on Isaiah 11’s promise that out of a broken down, dead looking stump, new life arises in the Messiah, and how we participate in the Spirit’s gift which is the source of new life for the Church today. He also shares a remarkable prophetic word from Fr. Joseph Ratzinger before he was elected Pope that is so applicable to what we are experiencing today. For more details about the Lift Jesus Higher Rally: Consuming Fire, check out the event website: www.ljhr.com. The event is free and open to all (no registration required) - just join us Saturday, February 27 at 1:00 p.m. ET on the Renewal Ministries' YouTube Channel. We would love to see you at The Fulfillment of All Desire Lenten Mission! Register today and we will see you at 8:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 28 to go deep into the heart of the Lord. 

This week, Ralph talks about the challenges of being an evangelist and sharing the good news with others, particularly those close to us. He comments on a remarkable passage in Philippians where Paul talks about how he weeps for those who are conducting themselves as enemies of Christ; and how we too must have tears in our hearts if not in our eyes as we reach out to those who are on the way to “destruction.” Scripture references: Eph 4:15 1 Pet 3:15 Philippians 3:17-4:1 Psalm 73 “There’s nothing more important than knowing and loving Jesus. There’s nothing more important than staying loyal to him and faithful to him, no matter how difficult it is.” // Ralph Martin

In this episode, Ralph speaks to us about the comfort and consolation the Lord wants us to have because of His presence with us and promises to us through a meditation on Psalm 16. Ralph's "cloud of witnesses" referenced in the episode: Saint Dominic Adoring the Crucifixion Christ Pantocrator Saints Francisco and Jacinta Marto Our Lady of Medjugorje Our Lady of Perpetual Help St. John the Evangelist St. George Holy Family

In this episode, Ralph discusses what has been happening in this country after the election, linked as it is to global forces trying to gain dominance for a technological elite. He also discusses how we can process the various emotions we may be experiencing, and the hope that we truly have because Jesus really is the Lord. Scriptures mentioned in this episode: 1 John 5:4, Matthew 5:30, Luke 12:11-12, Isaiah 55:8-9, Isaiah 53:2-6 Videos mention in this episode: The Activity of the Antichrist The American Election and its Global Consequences Fr.  Michael Scanlan's Amazing Prophecy: An Urgent Message for Today Another Prophecy from Fr. Scanlan Join us for the Lenten Mission starting Sunday, February 28: www.renewalministries.net/lentmission. Sign up for our Newsletter: www.renewalministries.net/newsletter. Ralph speaks of an icon of Christ on which he has been meditating lately (19:32). The icon is Christ Pantocrator from Saint Catherine's Monastery in Sinai and it is the cover art for this episode.

In this episode, Ralph points out that high ranking leaders in the Church are beginning to speak about the antichrist and are acknowledging the fears beginning to grow among God’s people, as they see what is happening in society and in the Church. Ralph looks at what these leaders are saying, what the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches about the antichrist, and how we can live confident in the power of God’s love and free of fear in challenging times such as these. Some items referenced in this episode: CCC 675-677 Rev 19:1-9 2 Thessalonians 2 That Hideous Strength, C.S. Lewis Ralph's video Two Events That Will Precede the Lord's Return: Are We Seeing Them Now? Venerable Fulton Sheen’s 1947 radio address, Signs of Our Times Ralph's video Struggling With Prayer

This week, Ralph reminds us of some of the great wisdom of St. Francis de Sales concerning suffering, and some of the amazing revelations of the power of suffering to bring about conversion contained in the messages of the angel and Mary at Fatima, and the powerful words of Jesus not to fear those who can kill the body, and the confidence we should have in the Father’s personal, detailed, love of us.

"Meditate on the shortness of life and learn wisdom of heart."This week Ralph comments on a few scriptures that urge young people to choose the Lord while they are still young and not be allured by what may be a false hope that there will be an opportunity later.Scriptures in this episode:Ps 90:12Ecclesiastes 11:9 - 12:8Ps 119:9

In this episode, Ralph speaks on the startling messages of the Blessed Virgin Mary to three young children at Fatima, Portugal in 1917, and how relevant and important it is for us today.

In our final night of the Advent Mission, we continued to delve into the wisdom of the saints, who are great spiritual masters of the interior life. We will pick up our study of The Fulfillment of All Desire again in Lent; we hope you will join us! Among many rich topics, in night four Ralph looks at a principle of the Christian life rooted in Acts 14:22 - “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” No one escapes suffering; we are all called to take up our cross and follow Christ. We all have to choose between the cross of Christ and the cross of Satan. 

Last night was night three of the Advent Mission. It was a joy to continue our Advent journey and to look closely at the challenges we can face on the path to holiness, particularly the dangers of sin. Join us for the final night on Sunday, December 20th at 8 p.m. ET. Register for free today: https://event.webinarjam.com/register/111/zyklza03. Ralph mentions a few YouTube videos in this episode. You can see those here: The Choices We Face - Fatima's Urgent Message Financial Anxiety What Are We Supposed to Fear? He also mentions last week's extra episode on the wrath of God. Haven't listened yet? Check it out. Interested in going deeper into The Fulfillment of All Desire? Purchase a copy at our website and enjoy a 20% discount until the end of the year (apply coupon FADADVENT at checkout).

The wrath of God is mentioned numerous times in the Old Testament but also in the Gospels, Epistles and Book of Revelation. What is the wrath of God? How can we flee it? Why is it urgent that we understand this important biblical concept for our lives today?

During Advent, Renewal Ministries is hosting a free digital Advent Mission each Sunday at 8 p.m. ET based on Ralph's best-selling book "The Fulfillment of All Desire." This week's podcast features Ralph's talk from the second session of the mission, entitled "Important Practices." Ralph spoke about some of the most important practices in our spiritual lives, including total dependence on God's grace, daily prayer and faithfully showing up to be with Jesus. To see the video of night two of the Advent Mission, including Q&A with Ralph, visit our YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/7BA3LFP5pFA. We would love to have you join us live for night 3 on Sunday, December 13th at 8 p.m. ET. Register for free today: https://event.webinarjam.com/register/111/zyklza03. During the mission, we are offering 20% off "The Fulfillment of All Desire" products on our website. Enter the code FADADVENT with the "apply coupon" button during checkout.

For the first time ever, Renewal Ministries is hosting a free digital Advent Mission each Sunday in Advent at 8 p.m. ET based on Ralph's best-selling book "The Fulfillment of All Desire." This week's podcast features Ralph's talk from the first session of the mission, entitled "Basic Decisions." Ralph shares about the foundations of the spiritual journey and invites us to make two basic, but essential decisions that pave the way for our pursuit of holiness. To see the video of night one of the Advent Mission, including Q&A with Ralph, visit our YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/I_mYiaeKFlc.  We would love to have you join us live for night 2 on Sunday, December 6th at 8 p.m. ET. Register for free today: https://event.webinarjam.com/register/111/zyklza03. During the mission, we are offering 20% off The Fulfillment of All Desire products on our website. Enter the code FADADVENT with the "apply coupon" button during checkout.

Happy Thanksgiving brothers and sisters! This week Ralph has an extra Thanksgiving episode where he shares about the scriptural exhortations to always give thanks and explains how and why this is both possible and good; and how we owe it to God.  “Paul says, ‘Rejoice in the Lord always.' How we can do that? Because no matter what our sufferings are, no matter what our disappointments are, no matter what our isolation may be at times, no matter what the rejection may be, no matter what the failures may be, no matter what things we may be ashamed of, no matter what the circumstances are, there is reason to rejoice. And why is that the case? Because we are loved. We are loved profoundly, steadfastly, in a way that will never end.” //Ralph Martin

This week, in part two on avoiding deception, Ralph unfolds the Catechism’s teaching on serious sin and the many scriptural warnings against deceiving ourselves. We are encouraged to cling to the Word of God as our lifeline in order to be protected against the tidal wave of deception that is sweeping over the world today. "If we are now addicted to serious sin… we need to ask God to have mercy on us, to help us to get clear that it is serious, that we DO need to turn away from it. We need to begin the battle against sin, we need to begin doing those things that are necessary to get free from sin..." so that we can "live in the glorious freedom of the sons and daughters of God." //Ralph Martin

This week, in part one of a two-part series, Ralph talks about the numerous warnings in scripture to not be deceived, and focuses on the huge deceptions in our culture, and even in the Church, concerning the area of sexual morality. "The Word of God is our lifeline. The words of Jesus are the only way that we can really know who he is and what his will is. It’s the only way that we can know the truth and be actually protected against this incredible tidal wave of deception that is sweeping over the world today and sweeping over the Church.” //Ralph Martin

This week Ralph describes the two signs that the apostle Paul declares will precede the return of the Lord and considers whether we are seeing these signs fulfilled today or not. In any case, he describes what our response needs to be to pass the test of the last days. Scripture in today's episode: 2 Thessalonians 2: 1-12.

Ralph shares how the New Testament itself doubles down on shocking warnings and actual historical manifestations of the consequences of ignoring them. He also offers some powerful encouragement that provide us great hope and confidence.

In a special bonus episode, this week Ralph shares his shock at reading page after page of severe punishments and warnings in the prophet Jeremiah and how the New Testament guides us in understanding these warnings.

This week, Ralph meditates on a meditation of St. John Henry Newman about how God alone is our happiness – and our most intimate friend. “Let’s make our souls a welcoming home for God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Let’s prepare a dwelling place for the Lord in our own soul. Let’s turn away from sin. Let’s turn away from inordinate, disordered attachment to the things of this world, because they are passing away.” - Ralph Martin In this episode, Ralph references a YouTube video on struggling with prayer. Check out that video message here: https://youtu.be/ceOin4LKTk0! He also mentions a favorite resource for prayer and meditating on the Word of God, Magnificat. Learn more about Magnificat here: https://us.magnificat.net/. Lastly, he talks about two messages on the shocking warnings of Jeremiah. Check out those messages in Bonus Episodes 2 and 3. 

Welcome to Right Now's first bonus episode! This special episode marks the arrival of Ralph's new book, A Church in Crisis: Pathways Forward, his first major book in 7 years. This week, Ralph shares an in depth summary of what is in the new book, presented to Renewal Ministries' country coordinators all over the world in a zoom conference. Get your copy of the book here: https://www.renewalministries.net/shop/product/a_church_in_crisis.

This week Ralph shares that no matter what the outcome of the election is, we still have our work cut out for us, and we still have great reason to hope and rejoice. “It’s election day… whatever we see, we need to remember that Jesus is the Lord and there is nothing that is going to happen today, or in the days following, that are outside of his control.” -Ralph Martin

One of the functions of prophecy is to call us back to relationship with God. . . . to call us back to remember his Word and to take this Word seriously. For the next few episodes, Ralph will talk about how we can respond to these prophecies and actually build our lives on a dependency on the Lord and not on the passing structures of this world—so that whatever happens in our country, whatever happens in our culture, whatever happens in our world, we will be standing on the Rock that is Jesus Christ and his Word.

Ephesians 6 says the devil is shooting fiery darts all day long into our hearts and souls, and it says the thing that can protect us from the deception of the evil one is the shield of faith. But so many people don't have the shield of faith! The shield of faith is being in Jesus Christ, loving Jesus Christ, and knowing his Word. So when a lie comes to us, we say, "That's not true. This is what the truth is, this is what the Lord is saying. This is what I must do."

We don't want to be in a situation where the Lord says, "You maybe came to church occasionally . . . but you didn't pay attention to how I was asking you to make Me the very center of your life. You didn't pay attention to how I told you to put yourself into this wholeheartedly in order to get connected with Me in the right way. And you didn't pay attention to Me when I told you at a certain point the door is going to close. And when the door close, that's it, your choice has been made. You were familiar with Me, you were familiar with my teaching, but you didn't enter into relationship with Me."

You can't get in to heaven on somebody's else's relationship with the Lord. You can be inspired by their relationship, you can be called by their relationship, but you need to respond and have the relationship yourself. . . . You need to have the oil of the Holy Spirit in your soul. You need to have the living presence of God in your soul. And the way we do that is through faith, repentance, sacramental life, prayer.

Ralph Martin reflects on a prophecy given by Fr. Michael Scanlan in 1976 and its importance and relevance today. When Ralph recently came across this prophecy, it left him “almost breathless” due to the amazing accuracy with which it describes so much that is occurring now: “Do you see those churches which you can go to so easily now? Are you ready to see them with bars across their doors, with doors nailed shut? . . . Are you ready to depend only on me and not on all the institutions of schools and parishes that you are working so hard to foster? . . . When you see it all shut down, when you see everything removed which has been taken for granted, and when you are prepared to live without these things, then you will know what I am making ready.”You also can access a text version of Fr. Scanlan’s prophecy and Ralph’s reflections on the Renewal Ministries blog: https://www.renewalministries.net/wordpress/fr-michael-scanlans-amazing-prophecy-an-urgent-message-for-today/

Ralph Martin reflects on a question he has been receiving a lot lately: "What is prophecy?" He also discusses a prophecy Fr. Michael Scanlan shared in 1980 and discusses its relevance today."Our prosperity has been a tremendous blessing from the Lord, but many of us have responded to prosperity by saying, "We've got things under control. We've got what we need. We don't need God." And rather than thanking Him for these blessings, rather than thanking Him for the time of peace . . . we've taken them for granted, and many of us have drifted away into being lukewarm, into compromise with the world, just like the prophecy says here."You can access the text of Fr. Scanlan's 1980 prophecy on our website: https://www.renewalministries.net/wordpress/hear-my-word-fr-michael-scanlans-1980-prophecy/

Ralph talks about the issues at stake in the upcoming American election – and it’s not just abortion, as important as that issue is – but also the future of the family, sexuality, and the freedom of Catholics to believe and profess their faith. He also shows why this is more broadly connected to the same issues at work throughout the world in a move towards a secular elite control of government, education, media and entertainment.