Last week Gallup released the results of a new poll that finds a significant upsurge in religiosity among young men. While there remains much work to be done, this is also encouraging news - because if we want to create strong, faith-filled fathers who teach Catholic and pro-life beliefs and values to their children, we must first create strong and faith-filled young men. Michael New has more.

Further Reading

New Gallup Poll Shows Gains in Religiosity Among Young Men

Guest Info

Michael J. New is an assistant professor of practice at the Busch School of Business at the Catholic University of America and a senior associate scholar at the Charlotte Lozier Institute.

When you hear that Christians are called to build the kingdom of God, what do you think that means? The primary way we build God’s kingdom is not by doing “big things for Jesus,” but rather by working to build strong marriages and family lives. Dr Greg Popcak joins us.

Further Reading

Catholic Households on Mission

Guest Info

Dr Greg Popcak is the founder and director of CatholicCounselors.com, a group pastoral telecounseling practice providing faithful help to Catholics dealing with personal, emotional and relationship problems. He is also the former chair of the Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies program at Holy Apostles College and Seminary and an adjunct professor of psychology and graduate theology at Franciscan. Together with his wife, Lisa, he is the author of over 20 books integrating insights from counseling psychology and the timeless wisdom of our Catholic faith. They are also the developers of the CatholicHOM app, a resource helping Catholic families thrive.

Dr. Greg and Lisa are the hosts of More2Life, a call in advice program airing weekdays at 10am E and produced by Ave Maria Radio and carried across the EWTN Global Catholic Radio Network.

In today’s First Reading we hear of the martyrdom of St. Stephen. Before his execution, he boldly addressed the elders in the Temple and provides us with a standard of what Christian witness should look like. Marcus has more.

Modern man talks endlessly about happiness and then still wakes each morning with a hollow center. We’ve long been told that pleasure is the primary purpose of a man’s existence and that has left modern man starved for meaning and purpose. Marcus discusses the sources of true happiness.

Further Reading

Arthur Brooks on How to Find Meaning (and Happiness) in an Age of Emptiness

From the center of Rome, looking westward, an iconic shape appears on the horizon; a church dome, topped by a cross, reaches 448 feet into the sky. This year St. Peter’s Basilica celebrates the 400th anniversary of its consecration. Marcus looks at its art and history.

Further Reading

St. Peter’s Basilica at 400: ‘The Parish Church of the World’ Celebrates 4 Centuries

This week is National Infertility Awareness Week. Infertility is a burden most couples don’t expect to carry. It can affect your marriage, your relationship with family and friends, and your relationship with God. Infertility often feels like a long and lonely path. And ministries like Springs in the Desert are here to help. Cassandra Taylor joins us with more.

Further Reading

‘Springs in the Desert’: Growing Movement Breaks Silence on Infertility

Springs in the Desert website

Guest Info

Cassandra Taylor is the Communications Manager of Springs in the Desert Catholic Infertility Ministry. She married her husband Michael in 2016. A cancer survivor, she is navigating life post-hysterectomy while enjoying opportunities to live out her spiritual motherhood with her niece and nephew, godchildren, and the young people in her community. Visit Springsinthedesert.org and follow them on Facebook and Instagram @springsinthedesert

Legend states that on this day in 753 BC, Romulus founded the city of Rome. Roman religion from its earliest phases relies heavily on the concept of discerning the will of the gods. Once again, you've got these pre-Christian appeals to divine providence, the hand of God. Marcus has more thoughts.

We often imagine the Holy Family as beyond reach — too holy, too peaceful, too perfect to relate to our own messy, wounded families. But when we look closely through the light of Scripture, a startling truth emerges: the lives of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph were marked by all-too-common hardship, misunderstanding, loss, danger, and suffering caused by the sins of others. And yet it was precisely there that their love became heroic and their joy unsurpassable. Fr Sebastian Wolfe has more.

Further Reading

The Sufferings of the Holy Family Family: Love and Unity Through Difficult Times

Guest Info

Fr. Sebastian Walshe, O.Praem. is a Norbertine Canon of the Abbey of St. Michael in the Diocese of Orange, California, where he is a professor of philosophy for the seminary program. He is the author most recently of The Sufferings of the Holy Family: Family Love and Unity Through Difficult Times

Today is the birthday of two very different figures who shaped the 20th century in very different ways – Mother Angelica, and Adolf Hitler. Marcus imagines a conversation between the two of them as they share their thoughts on life and death.

While en route from Cameroon to Angola this weekend, Pope Leo said that an extended debate with President Trump is “not in my interest at all.” President Trump for his part recently said that he has “nothing against the pope.” We talk more about this with Doug Keck.

Further Reading

Pope Leo XIV says debate with Trump is ‘not in my interest at all’

Donald Trump on tensions with Pope Leo XIV: ‘I have nothing against the pope’

Trump, Pope Leo and the Catholic Divide

Guest Info

Doug Keck is the emeritus president and COO of EWTN and the host of EWTN Bookmark