Rebroadcast of the long-running radio program, "The Ave Maria Hour," a presentation of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement. www.AtonementFriars.org

Today’s episode tells the story of Christopher Columbus’ efforts to convince King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain to finance a sailing expedition to find a western route to the Orient. Columbus finally obtained royal support in 1492. This was achieved with the intervention of Juan Pérez, Superior of the Franciscan friars of La Rábida, near Huelva, with whom Columbus had stayed in the summer of 1491.