Segment 1: The Revival of the HHS Conscience Division is a win for religious freedom This week, the Trump administration took a decisive step to safeguard religious freedom by reviving the Conscience and Religious Freedom Division at HHS — a federal watchdog tasked with defending healthcare workers and patients whose faith is increasingly under siege in American medicine. Andrea Picciotti-Bayer tells us more. Segment 2: How I Encountered the Living Christ

Marcus awoke on May 20, 2008 as a radical atheist who hated the idea of God. He went to bed as a Christian who finally understood that God loved him. On the anniversary of his conversion, Marcus shares what happened that day.

Segment 3: Five Fun Words for Mary (2 segments)

Catholics celebrate May as the Month of Mary. Steve Ray joins us with some special terms we use to describe what our Blessed Mother means to us.

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Segment 1: My Fair Lady: How Christ redeems the whole person.

Fans of the musical “My Fair Lady” may recognize May 20 as “Eliza Doolittle Day.” The musical is build on the premise that our manners, speech, and actions reveal something about our soul. The Catechism teaches that human dignity requires education and virtue, because education and virtue teach self-mastery. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: UK Renews Push for Assisted Suicide

A new public campaign is beginning in Great Britain, where some members of Parliament are attempting to pass a bill legalizing assisted suicide. Joanna Bogle has the details.

Segment 3: Don’t Waste your Suffering: Embracing the Cross when Fear takes Hold (2 segments)

Just over two years ago, Adam Wright got a life-changing message from his doctor. He had been diagnosed with cancer. That night, he prayed a simple prayer: “I’m not ready, Lord. But You are. Let’s go.” He reflects on his journey of suffering.

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Segment 1: The First Step to Personal Prayer A deacon in charge of seminary formation recently told Greg Popcak that “we no longer assume Catholics know how to pray – including applicants to the seminary. They know how to say prayers, but have no personal prayer life.” Greg joins us with some simple steps to starting personal prayer.

Segment 2: Malcolm X and Our Sentimental Read of History

Malcolm X was born on this day in 1925. He is one of many historical figures who have been either canonized or demonized by modern culture due to a simplistic, sentimental read of history. But as Catholics we have an obligation to look at history through the lens of the teachings of the Church, acknowledging how God has used broken men and movements to achieve great goods. Marcus has more.

Segment 3: A Battle Plan for Spiritual Warfare (2 segments)

With Fulton Sheen’s impending canonization, we would be wise to revisit his writings on battling demons. Fr. Dave Tomaszycki joins us with more.

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Segment 1: “To bear witness to the Gospel of God’s grace.”

In today’s reading, Paul speaks to the presbyters of Ephesus. He addresses them as a father, and his ministry is a participation in the self-given love of Christ. He is entrusting to them the urgent call of the Gospel to shepherd the faithful. We are given the same call to become witnesses for Christ. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: Pope Leo’s First Encyclical will Address AI

Pope Leo’s first encyclical will be published on May 25. Entitled Magnifica Humanitas, it will address the protection of human dignity in an age of artificial intelligence. Matthew Bunson has more.

Segment 3: Did the Revolution violate Romans 13? (2 segments)

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, Christians are once again debating the moral significance of the American Founding. Was the American Revolution an act of justified resistance, or a failure of obedience? Romans 13 commands us to “be subject to the governing authorities” and Jesus famously told us to “render to Caesar what is Caesar’s.” We talk more about it with Mitchell Bahnsen.

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Segment 1: Natural Law and Evangelization (2 segments)

Recently, there has been a notable upsurge in adult conversions to the Catholic faith, even amidst a long-term decline in religious affiliation. Heartening as it is, this glimmer of hope raises a question for those already devoted to the practice of the faith: what can we do to collaborate with the Holy Spirit to assist souls in finding their way to the fullness of the truth? We’ll talk about it with Joseph Hebert. Segment 2: The First Gen Z Saint?

The cause of canonization has opened for Pedro Ballester, an engineering student from England who died in 2018 at the age of 21. Could he be the first Gen Z saint? His friend Jack Valero joins us.

Segment 3: The Catholic Answer to the “Jewish Question”

A movement at a Catholic University calling itself the Coalition of Catholics Against Jewish Supremacy claims that Catholics have no Jewish roots and that Jews exist purely and entirely in opposition to Christ. The church gives us the answer to this so-called Jewish question. The answer is salvation in Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham. Marcus has more.

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Segment 1: Do Not Take Your Baptism for Granted

In today’s First Reading, Paul enters Ephesus and finds men who had received John’s initial baptism of repentance, but had not been baptized in the authority Christ proposed. He baptized in this manner, and they began to prophecy. The church needs sons and daughters who will boldly and seriously live out every aspect of our baptismal promises. Do not take the graces of your baptism for granted! Marcus has more.

Segment 2: Courage Director responds to Synod Report

The final report of the Synod on Synodality’s Study Group 9 has drawn widespread criticism since its publication last week — not least for what its authors wrote about Courage International. The organization’s Executive Director Fr Brian Gannon joins us.

Segment 3: Freedom without Virtue is Doomed

Today, political conflict in the United States is more than a social crisis—it is a cultural mirror. A considerable portion of the population thinks violence is justifiable to achieve political goals, debate has gone out the window, and our elected officials seem more interested in verbal sparring than actually accomplishing anything. At the heart of this trend is a civilizational challenge: a steady breakdown of the civic virtues that once sustained Western democracy. We look at the problem with Jonathan Emerson-Pierce.

Segment 4: Our republic needs virtue - and virtue needs Jesus’ truth

God made us for communion with Him. Sin fractures that communion. Christ restores it by His blood. Our political life will never replace that covenant. But political life can be healed by citizens who live in virtue. Marcus has more

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Segment 1: “Why are you standing, looking up at the sky?” (2 segments)

This Sunday we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension. Throughout the readings, we see a constant theme of the Enthronement of Christ. We unpack the readings with Rob Corzine.

Segment 2: Exploring Mary’s Pivotal Role from Age to Age (2 segments)

The Virgin Mary’s part in history doesn’t begin and end with her yes to God. She is at the center of history from creation to the end of time and everywhere in between. Mike Aquilina joins us to explore the many ways the mother of humanity has left her mark on the great events of time, not only as we see them in the Bible, but also in pivotal events such as Fatima, the battle of Lepanto, and the plague.

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Segment 1: What is a person? What is the Self?

Many people today, especially in the younger generations, root their identity in a particular social movement as they seek validation. But such validation can only be found, ultimately, in God. Marcus has more.

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Segment 2: Our Cultural Abandonment of Character

Jonathan Rinderknecht—the Uber driver charged with setting the blaze that killed twelve people and destroyed thousands of homes— has professed an admiration for Luigi Mangione, the accused killer of Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare. Anne Hendershott discusses how we are shaped by the cultural habit of looking outward to decide who to become.

Segment 3: When Man Loses Sight of God (2 segments)

God made man in His own image and likeness. God Himself, then, is the primary reference point for man’s self-understanding. Accordingly, when man loses sight of God, he loses sight of his own humanity. Stephen White has more.

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Segment 1: AI and Rerum Novarum

Amid all the concerns about artificial intelligence eradicating humans from the workforce, we must base our conversation in the language of the church. AI must serve the dignity of human persons. Everything we do in the sphere of the development of this technology must be to that end. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: Legislation to Protect the right to Bury the Unborn

New legislation introduced today would ensure parents can arrange for burial or cremation after a pregnancy loss. Known as the Bereaved Parents Act, the bill is sponsored by Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas, who practiced as an OBGYN for more than 25 years. Michael New tells us more about it.

Segment 3: The Liturgical Symbolism of the Ascension

When St. Thomas Aquinas explains the meaning of the Gloria in the rite of Mass, he says that it “commemorates heavenly glory, to which we tend after the misery of this life.” The Mass, from the very moment of the consecration, makes Christ present as he is now in heaven. On this Feast of the Ascension, we look at how Christ’s Ascension is highlighted in the Mass with Fr. Michael Eades.

Segment 4: The Ascension elevates our faith

The Ascension shows us a biblical narrative of Christ being enthroned because He ascends into heaven to receive His place at the right hand of God the Father. His full divine nature was always Lord and now His full human nature has ascended and is now fully Lord of heaven and earth. Marcus has more.

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Segment 1: Matthias makes the case for Apostolic Succession

Today presents us with two sets of readings: one for the Feast of the Ascension, and the other for the Feast of St Matthias. Matthias was the apostle chosen to succeed Judas, and his succession set the standard for the Apostolic succession we still observe today. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: Sexual Healing Conference comes to Detroit

How can men and women become good gifts to one another? Andrew Comiskey is hosting a conference that will explore the wounds we carry in our sexual identity and how they distort the way we see ourselves and eachother. It’s on May 30th at Mother of God Parish in Southfield and attendance is free! Andy has the details.

Segment 3: Reflections on the Rosary (2 segments)

Looking to dive deeper into the Rosary? Fr. Daniel Klimek joins us with a look at the thought of Pope St. John Paul II, St. John of the Cross, St. Josemaría Escrivá, St. Faustina Kowalska, and mystics such as Venerable Maria of Ágreda and Caryll Houselander, uncovering little-known spiritual treasures that will enrich the prayer and reflection of all.

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