Fifty years ago, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to a Catholic nun in Japan. On many occasions after that, a statue connected to the series of apparitions was seen shedding blood from its hands and tears from its eyes. In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Kyle Kopy, Christine Niles and Rodney Pelletier discuss the three messages of Our Lady of Akita.

The feast day of St. Ignatius of Loyola is just a few days away. In this episode of The Download, hosts Simon Rafe, Bradley Eli, Christine Niles and Rodney Pelletier discuss the order he founded — the Society of Jesus. They highlight members of the order in times past who demonstrated heroic virtue, serving as role models for us today. They also bemoan how the order veered off course in the 20th century.

Abortion activists in the Buckeye State have now officially placed on the November ballot a constitutional amendment that would afford citizens a so-called right to abortion. In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Simon Rafe, Trey Brock and Joseph Enders talk about the fight for the helpless unborn. They also discuss some of the major disagreements between pro-life groups, including the issue of incrementalism.

In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Simon Rafe, Christine Niles and Rodney Pelletier discuss ad orientem worship. They look at what Catholics can do to foster greater love and reverence toward Our Blessed Lord, Who is truly and fully present in the Most Blessed Sacrament.

Note: On one or two occasions, the hosts arguably speak imprecisely about what constitutes valid matter for the Holy Eucharist. Read more about valid matter for the Eucharist here.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, in section 2223, teaches that parents are the primary educators of their children. But what are the options for Catholic parents? Is a decent public school district even an option anymore? These questions and more are subjects of discussion — and, at times, spirited debate — among hosts Bradley Eli, Simon Rafe, Trey Brock and David Gordon.

At a press conference Thursday, Church Militant and other Catholic groups in the Deposit of Faith Coalition highlighted the fact that the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops rakes in many, many millions in taxpayer dollars every year while advancing an anti-American agenda. In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Simon Rafe, Christine Niles and Trey Brock recap the press conference and prayer rally.

Today is the 700th anniversary of the canonization of St. Thomas Aquinas. In today's episode of The Download, Bradley Eli, Simon Rafe, Christine Niles and Kyle Kopy talk about a special indulgence you can obtain when visiting a Dominican church or chapel. They also explain the connection between theology, right reason and Western culture.

In this special edition of The Download, hosts Brad Eli and Simon Rafe discuss a prayerful protest and press conference, both happening in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, July 20. They are joined by Senior Executive Producer Stephen Wynne, who'll explain how Church Militant and other organizations are banding together as the Deposit of Faith Coalition. You'll get an inside look at the forging of this momentous partnership that's going public in D.C. Click here to learn more.

In this episode of The Download, hosts Brad Eli, Simon Rafe, Kyle Kopy and Alex Karzon talk about spiritual reading. They discuss what kinds of books Catholics can incorporate into their prayer lives.

As has been widely reported by now, the pope recently named Abp. Víctor Manuel Fernández to be the next head of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith — the Vatican's theological watchdog. The Argentine archbishop's appointment has sparked plenty of controversy, owing to his track record as relates to both theological concerns and sex abuse. In today's edition of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Simon Rafe, Christine Niles and David Gordon discuss the problems with Abp. Fernández and the implications of his appointment. They also give advice to fellow Catholics on how to deal with the crisis in the Church.