Frank Capra’s classic It’s a Wonderful Life is a beloved Christmas tradition for countless families. But an abridged version available on Amazon Prime has left many shaking their heads. This version eliminates the scenes where George learns what the world would be like if he was never born – leaving the viewer to miss the entire point of the film. Marcus has more.

Further Reading

The strange history of the abridged version of ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ that cuts out the movie’s pivotal scene

It happened again: Why edit “It’s a Wonderful Life”?

The downfall of Nicolas Maduro reminds us of the consequences of abuse of power. Ultimately, world leader are not just accountable to themselves or their citizens – they are accountable to God. Doug Keck joins Marcus.

Guest Info

Doug Keck is the retired President and COO of EWTN and the host of EWTN Bookmark.

Public life in the U.S. is a series of chaotic, irrational, violent events, increasingly inhospitable to any attempt at rational discourse. And no clear solution is in sight. Indeed, on its current trajectory, civic life in the U.S. is a dead society walking. Ken Craycraft joins us.

Further Reading

Civil society in the U.S. is a dead man walking

Book: Citizens, yet Strangers: Living Authentically Catholic in a Divided America

Follow Ken on Twitter

Guest Info

Kenneth Craycraft is author of Citizens Yet Strangers: Living Authentically Catholic in a Divided America.

The shocking news of the weekend was the United States’ arrest of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro. EWTN correspondent Andrés Henríquez joins us from Venezuela with a report.

Further Reading

Trump Announces Capture of Maduro Following U.S. Strikes On Venezuela

Ahead of UN Venezuela meeting, world powers respond to Maduro extraction

Follow Andres on Twitter

Guest Info

Andrés Henríquez is an EWTN Correspondent based in Venezuela.

The year now behind us carried the weight of an entire era rather than the simple turning of a calendar page. Anyone paying attention felt the sensation of standing beneath converging fault lines where politics, culture, technology, and faith pressed upon one another with accelerating force. Marcus has more as we kick off a new year.

Shannon Salter’s father recently died following a battle with cancer. Though he was relatively young, his life was an example of joyous service to Christ – so when the family was planning his wake, Shannon felt the call from Jesus to make the Sacrament of Confession available. She shares the story.

Learn more about the Salter family

2025 Ave Maria in the Afternoon Year in Review

From the minute Pope Leo was introduced, some people tried to frame him in the context of former popes. But we can only judge him based on what he actually says and does – and there was a lot to like about his first homily as pope. We look back on Marcus’ first commentary after his election as our year in review continues.

This Sunday’s Gospel tells the account of the Magi, who came to worship the newborn king of the Jews. We unpack the readings with Rob Corzine.

Guest Info

Rob Corzine is the Vice-President of Programs for the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology.

2025 Ave Maria in the Afternoon Year in Review

In July, the Ann Arbor community suffered the loss of Xavier Randolph, a remarkably faithful young man who lost his life in a drowning accident. Despite their unimaginable grief, Xavier’s parents have been incredible witnesses of a family who places their hope in Christ’s Resurrection. Marcus shares some impressions from Xavier’s funeral.

Ave Maria in the Afternoon Year in Review

The biggest Church news story of the year was, by far, the death of Pope Francis and election of Pope Leo. We look back on our conversation with Matthew Bunson, who was reporting from Rome as thousands of pilgrims prepared for Pope Francis’ funeral.

Further Reading

Pope Leo XIV - The Election of a Pope in Pictures

Guest Info

Matthew Bunson is Vice President and Editorial Director of EWTN News and a Senior Fellow at St Paul Center for Biblical Theology. He’s the author or co-author of more than 50 books including the first English-language biography of Pope Francis and The Encyclopedia of Catholic History. Follow him on twitter at MattBunson. Register Radio airs Saturdays at 4 pm and Sundays at 11 am on Ave Maria Radio.