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.

Further Reading

Courage Director: Synod Report ‘Wounds the Church’

Courage website

Guest Info

Fr. Brian Gannon is the Executive Director of Courage International.

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.

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.

Further Reading

History’s Queen: Exploring Mary’s Pivotal Role from Age to Age

Guest Info

Mike Aquilina is the award-winning author of more than seventy books on Catholic history, doctrine, and devotion. His works have been translated into many languages. He has hosted eleven television series and several documentary films and is a frequent guest on Catholic radio.

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.

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.

Further Reading

A Light Shines in the Darkness

Guest Info

Stephen P. White is executive director of Saint John Paul II National Shrine and a fellow in Catholic Studies at the Ethics and Public Policy Center.

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.

Further Reading

Opinion: The destructive culture of persona and the increasing loss of character

Guest Info

Anne Hendershott is Professor of Sociology and Director of the Veritas Center for Ethics in Public Life at Franciscan University in Steubenville, OH

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.

Further Reading

Opinion: The destructive culture of persona and the increasing loss of character

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.

Further Reading

How Christ’s ascension takes the training wheels off our faith

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.

Further Reading

The Mass and the Ascension: Making Present the Entire Paschal Mystery

Guest Info

Fr Michael Eades, Cong. Orat. is a member of the Toronto Oratory of St Philip Neri. Having earned a BA and PhL from the Catholic University of America, he attended St Philip’s Seminary where he is a teacher and spiritual director. He has a STL, ThD, and STD from Regis College at the University of Toronto. Currently he also serves as associate pastor at St Vincent de Paul parish in Toronto.

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.

Further Reading

Legislation Would Ensure Parents Can Arrange Burial or Cremation After Pregnancy Loss

Follow Michael on X

Guest Info

Michael J. New is Assistant Professor of Practice at the Busch School of Business at the Catholic University of America, a Senior Associate Scholar at the Charlotte Lozier Institute, and a Paige Comstock Cunningham Fellow at Americans United for Life.