Segment 1: The Greatest in Heaven’s Kingdom

In today’s reading from the Gospel of Matthew, the disciples ask Jesus who will be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus’ response is key for all of us who want to follow Him. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: Protest Planned Parenthood on Thursday

The Oakland County Board of Commissioners will vote this Thursday, August 13th to give $1.5 million in funding to Planned Parenthood. Monica Miller is planning a protest for that day, and she joins us with the details.

Segment 3: The Sober Wisdom of the American Founding (2 segments)

It’s no surprise that there are daunting moral and cultural ills that plague American democracy in our republic today. But a return to the hope and sober wisdom of our founding can help save us from creeping nihilism. Dr Dan Mahoney has more.

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Segment 1: Confronting the Opioid Crisis (2 segments)

Deaths from opioid overdoses hit record highs in 2021 and 2022, and are now on the decline. But there is still much work to be done. Mike Vasquez has devoted his life to confronting the opioid crisis on a mental, physical, and spiritual front and he joins us with more.

Segment 2: “Stand Firm, Be Strong” – Answering the Call of Catholic Manhood (2 segments)

Fr. Wade Menezes has launched a new podcast called Stand Firm, Be Strong, inspired by his book of the same name. He invites men to answer the call to put on the armor of God for the daily struggles and trials of life. Fr Wade joins us with more.

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Segment 1: The Gift of the Diaconate

Today’s feast of St Lawrence is a great opportunity to remember this amazing martyr, and to reflect on the role deacons play in the Church. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: Are Data Centers worth the cost? (2 segments)

As artificial intelligence drives a rapid expansion of energy-hungry data centers across the United States, Catholic environmental advocates are urging lawmakers, technology companies, and consumers to evaluate the industry’s growth through the lens of Catholic social teaching. We look at the issue with Tom Doran.

Segment 3: St. Dominic shows how ideas have consequences

A few days ago we celebrated the great feast of St. Dominic. He was born at a time when Europe had magnificent cathedrals and expanding universities, but was also enduring one of the greatest spiritual crises of the Christian history. And every century is going to discover that ideas have consequences. Marcus has more.

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Segment 1: Jesus walks on Water (2 segments)

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus walks across the stormy waters to His disciples. We unpack the Sunday readings with Rob Corzine

Segment 2: The Politics of Faith during the Cold War (2 segments)

How did Roman Catholics shift from being perceived as un-American to emerging as the standard-bearers for political liberty and economic prosperity? We look at the rise of the American Church during the Cold War with D.G. Hart.

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Segment 1: Self-Denial in Caesarea Philippi

When Jesus revealed Himself as the Messiah to the disciples, he was in the region of Caesarea Phillip. This area was named in honor of Caesar as an act of veneration towards him, so Jesus chose this place to show that his Kingdom would supersede. But if we want to follow Him, we must deny ourselves. Marcus has more on this and today’s readings.

Segment 2: Is Prayer Pointless? (3 segments)

Our understanding of God can sometimes make prayer seem like a fruitless task. If God is all-good and all-powerful, He will already grant us whatever is best. And if God is all-powerful, then how could our petitions cause him to change? We tackle these challenges with Pat Flynn.

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Segment 1: Cash for Baptisms? (2 segments)

An investor in Germany is offering families 500 euros for every child they have baptized. The local diocese has acknowledged the donorʼs intentions but stressed that, from the Churchʼs point of view, there is no financial barrier to baptism in the first place. We talk more about this and other Church news with Matthew Bunson.

Segment 2: Confronting the Loneliness Epidemic (2 segments)

A new report from the Institute of Family Studies finds that more than half of young men in the US feel lonely or isolated, and 4 in 10 report feeling like failures. Doug Barry joins us with steps on confronting this crisis.

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Segment 1: God’s Throne reigns over all

In today’s First Reading, Daniel describes a vision which proves to be a foreshadowing of the Transfiguration. His vision shows that the Kingdom of God will always reign above earthly kingdoms. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: “Half a league, half a league, half a league onward!”

Today is the birthday of Alfred Lord Tennyson. His “Charge of the Light Brigade” highlights how words shape thought and direct action. Words can either illuminate reality or obscure it. Words matter. Marcus has more.

Segment 3: Aquinas’ Wisdom on the Transfiguration

In his writings on the Transfiguration, St. Thomas Aquinas says that the “clarity of the Transfiguration was the clarity of glory.” We talk more about the wonder of the Transfiguration with Michael Dauphinais.

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Segment 1: The Latest Attack on Christian Ministries

There is a troubling pattern emerging of government officials in America’s bluest states punishing religious organizations and individuals for simply living their faith. We talk about it with Andrea Picciotti-Bayer.

Segment 2: The Simple Encounter that brought Alec Guinness to the Faith

Today is the anniversary of Alec Guinness’ death. Behind the unforgettable role of Obi-Wan Kenobi, there’s a man who pursued God by recognizing that God pursued him – and it all started with a simple encounter with a young boy. Marcus looks at the story.

Segment 3: A New Sermon from Augustine? (2 segments)

Imagine discovering a “lost” document from a prominent historical figure. It may sound like something out of Indiana Jones or National Treasure, but something very like that has apparently happened – the recovery of a manuscript containing sermons from St. Augustine. We talk about it with Jimmy Akin.

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Segment 1: Oh woman, great is your faith!

In today’s Gospel, Jesus meets a woman whose daughter is possessed by a demon. Marcus takes a closer look at their exchange.

Segment 2: The Real Migrant Crisis in Ceuta

The images circled the globe and generated debate, memes and disinformation. Tens of thousands of young men flooded the Spanish African city of Ceuta on the Moroccan coast. It was presented or contested as a story about uncontrolled migration, and the events in Ceuta are certainly part of that narrative, but there is much more to the story. We talk about it with Alberto Fernandez.

Segment 3: Victory Through Suffering

In Romans chapter 8, St Paul assures us that in the face of all hardships, we can conquer through the power of Jesus. Paul had many experiences of suffering during his travels, yet he always asserted that no one can separate us from the Love of Christ. We talk more about finding victory in suffering with Fr. Thomas Kuffel.

Segment 4: Michigan Election Recap

Michigan is expected to be one of the most closely watched states in this fall’s midterms, as Democrats see it as a key piece to flipping control of the Senate. In last night’s primaries, progressive Democrat Abdul El-Sayed narrowly won the nomination over Haley Stevens, who had the backing of centrist Democrats, and will face off against Trump-endorsed Mike Rogers for a Senate seat. We talk more about the race with Matthew Handley.

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Segment 1: How can parents reclaim their authority?

Dr. Greg Popcak has identified three styles of parenting: Permissive, Authoritarian, and Authoritative. When it comes to discipline, most parents swing between the permissive and authoritarian approaches. Greg joins us to talk about how to exercise our authority as parents in an effective and loving way.

Segment 2: The National Debt as a Moral Crisis

The US national debt is hovering around $30 trillion and has hit 100% of the US GDP. How did we end up here and what happens now? James Peregoy joins us.

Segment 3: The Gift of the Priesthood (2 segments)

St. John Vianney, whose feast we celebrate today, once said that, “The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus. When you see a priest, think of our Lord Jesus Christ.” We talk more about the meaning of the priesthood with Daniel Lendman.

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