Segment 1: Drinking from the Cup

In Matthew’s Gospel, James and John’s mother kneels before Christ and asks that her sons may sit at His right and left in the Kingdom. Her request has historical context – she thinks that Christ’s kingdom will reign on earth as David’s did. In response, Jesus asks her to “drink from the cup.” He’s telling her that her sons need to join Him in suffering. Marcus looks at the Biblical meaning of drinking from the cup.

Segment 2: When I Met Fulton Sheen (3 segments) Last month we received the exciting news that Fulton Sheen’s beatification can finally move forward. When Matthew Bunson was a young boy, he met Archbishop Sheen in person. He shares his memories, looking at the unique connection between Sheen, Jimmy Lai, and the rise of Communism.

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Segment 1: Walter Cronkite and the Devolution of News

In March of 1981, Walter Cronkite signed off CBS’ evening broadcast for the final time. He represents an era when the news industry was trusted, conveying a sense of authority with every declaration of “And that’s the way it is.” Al Kresta frequently observed that the industry has devolved into “News as Entertainment” and multiple surveys show public trust in mainstream news is plummeting. What happened? Marcus has some thoughts.

Segment 2: Making Sense of our Childless Age

Around the world, some of the most developed and advanced nations are reporting low birth rates and aging populations. Many are discussing why no one wants to have children. Experts debate the causes, but few present convincing conclusions. We discuss the cultural shifts that have happened with John Horvat.Segment 3: The Death of Stalin and the Inevitable Fate of Communism (2 segments)

March 5 is the anniversary of two separate, yet linked events: Winston Churchill’s “Iron Curtain” speech in 1946, and Joseph Stalin’s death in 1953. Paul Kengor looks at the relationship between these events and what they mean for us today.

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Segment 1: Meet the New Campus Radicals

There is a new kind of radical on college campuses today, and they look nothing like what we have come to expect. They are not barricading buildings or shouting down speakers. They are not demanding the overthrow of institutions or vilifying those who disagree with them. Instead, they are challenging institutional decisions and the dominant culture of their peers while living according to their deepest Christian beliefs. Andrea Picciotti-Bayer shares their stories.

Segment 2: St. Joseph’s Silent Leadership (3 segments) The Church dedicates the month of March for a special devotion to St. Joseph, who in many ways is the silent hero of the Gospels. We get to know him better with Steve Ray.

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Segment 1: Greetings from Taiwan!

For the next several days, Marcus will be on a mission trip with Renewal Ministries to Taiwan, spreading the Gospel in a country where a mere one percent of the population is Catholic. Where do you begin evangelizing someone who may never have even heard of Jesus and has no inherent understanding of their value as a human person? Tom Edwards joins Marcus.

Segment 2: What makes Catholic art unique?

The Catholic faith gives us a unique sense and understanding of beauty. Mosaics, paintings, sculptures and other artwork in our churches help give us a sense of a world greater than our own. Fr. Chas Canoy’s parish has its own special artwork – he joins us to talk about it. Segment 3: FDR’s Sense of the Sacred (2 segments)

On March 4, 1933, as the nation sat stagnant in the Depression, newly inaugurated President Franklin Delano Roosevelt faced the nation and declared, “the only thing we have to fear is Fear itself.” He insisted that the country would endure has it had endured before, based on a shared civic sense of faith in our Constitutional order. Marcus has more on FDR’s sense of sacred duty.

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Segment 1: John Paul II and the Family’s Call to Holiness

As the first post-Vatican II pope to serve a full papacy, John Paul II made the Universal Call to Holiness his mission. But much of traditional Catholic spirituality is drawn from the monastic tradition, and doesn’t fit neatly into a family life. John Paul II thus spent his entire pontificate laying the groundwork for a universal approach to lay spirituality. We talk about it with Dr. Greg Popcak.

Segment 2: Supreme Court says California can’t hide student transgender identities from parents The Supreme Court has ruled that the state of California cannot keep student’s transgender identities hidden from parents. In a 6-3 ruling, the court said that parents enjoy “the right not to be shut out of participation in decisions regarding their children’s mental health.” Andrea Picciotti-Bayer has the details.

Segment 3: Eight Characteristics of a Culture of Lay Formation (2 segments)

Since the Second Vatican Council, there has been a new surge in the role of the laity in forming the Church. John Paul II and Benedict XVI made the “co-responsibility of the laity” a key theme of their papacies. We discuss the meaning of lay formation with John Cavadini.

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Segment 1: Did the Pharisees kill Jesus? Or did We?

The Pharisees were instrumental in Jesus’ death. But we would be wrong to say the Jews killed Jesus. No, our sins killed Jesus. When Jesus rebukes the Pharisees, he’s rebuking the Pharisee in all of us. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: When Fulton Sheen went Viral

Like his hero St. Paul, the Venerable Fulton Sheen never shied away form using the technology of the day to spread the Gospel. And if he were still preaching today, he’d surely use social media to “go viral.” We look back at some of his most “meme-worthy” moments with Jack Figge.

Segment 3: Pope Leo’s Augustinian Inspiration (2 segments)

Why does Pope Leo XIV call himself a “son of Saint Augustine”? Examining his life and writings, we can see a prominent Augustinian influence that is manifested in four themes. We talk about them with Matthew Becklo.

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Segment 1: What is Notre Dame’s Catholic Identity?

Now that abortion-rights advocate Susan Ostermann has stepped away from an academic leadership post at Notre Dame, the university needs to undertake meaningful reforms to ensure a comprehensively Catholic identity. Doug Keck joins us to talk about it.

Segment 2: Pope Leo XIV urges diplomacy amid Iran tensions Pope Leo XIV voiced concern on Sunday about developments in the Middle East and Iran, urging the parties involved to stop what he called a “spiral of violence” before it becomes an “unbridgeable chasm.” Alberto Fernandez has the latest.

Segment 3: Where does Cultural Transformation begin? (2 segments)

The cultural historian Christopher Dawson has been called one of the foremost Catholic thinkers of modern times. When he retired from Harvard in 1962, Pope John XXIII sent him an Apostolic blessing. Dawson once observed that “the first step in the transformation of culture is a change in the pattern of culture within the mind.” Joseph Stuart joins us to talk more about Dawson and cultural transformation.

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Segment 1: Let’s Think Rationally about Iran

President Trump’s decision to bomb Iran has sparked a variety of reactions, with many questioning its constitutionality or asking if the US should involve itself in yet another war in the Middle East. But there is a line that must be drawn – and claims that Iran was a peaceful and rights-respecting state defy any basic fact-checking. Marcus shares more.

Segment 2: AI is taking over Hollywood – and that may be a good thing

The AI revolution is rapidly changing Hollywood. Movie producers see many advantages in a “cast” that can work unlimited hours, will follow any direction, and demands no salary. And there may be a silver lining in all this change. Marcus explains.

Segment 3: How’s your Lent going? (2 segments)

Do you ever feel like Lent is a New Years Resolution all over again? You start out strong for a couple weeks, then find yourself regressing to the norm? Year after year and Lent after Lent promises to be different, but inevitably fails? We discuss persistence in penance with Stephen White.

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Segment 1: Jesus’ journey in the Sunday Readings (2 segments)

This Sunday’s readings highlight a theme of beginning the journey of faith, telling us the story of God’s Covenant with Abraham and Jesus’ Transfiguration. We unpack the readings with Rob Corzine.

Segment 2: Paul Thigpen, RIP Paul Thigpen, the noted theologian and convert to the Catholic faith known for his prolific writing career that included an in-depth survey of extraterrestrial life and the Catholic Church, died on Feb. 24. He was 71. His friend Matthew Bunson honors his life.

Segment 3: What Hollywood gets Wrong about Romance

Hollywood is in the midst of a resurgence of romance films, highlighted by the box office-leading Wuthering Heights. Film execs understand that audiences desire intimacy, passion, and emotional fulfillment – but their attempts to fulfill these needs will inevitably fall short. Marcus reflects on how Christians can live out true romance.

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Segment 1: Don’t Let President Trump (or anyone else) drive you crazy!

This week political philosopher Robbie George shared some thoughts on social media regarding President Trump, observing “you are not required to let him cause you to forget or abandon your principles, to turn against what you once believed, or to become an ideologue who simply reacts to him pro or con.” But even this call for rational dialogue produced little more than furious, reactionary responses. At the end of the day, Christians are called to a higher level of rationality and civility. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: What next for tariffs?

Last week the Supreme Court struck down many of the tariffs that have become a landmark part of President Trump’s economic policy. In response, he enacted further tariffs. What’s next? Robert Whaples joins us. Segment 3: What is Catholic Philosophy? (2 segments)

The Catholic Church has always recognized that philosophy is necessary both to understand the faith as well as to defend it, and the need for a philosophically-informed faith has become more acute with the rise of secularism. James Jacobs joins us with an introduction to Catholic philosophy.

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