Kresta in the Afternoon

Over many centuries, Christians have lost sight of the heart of the Eternal Covenant: our nuptial union with God in Jesus as members of his Body and Bride. This has fueled a growing crisis of Christian identity and witness. Only by rediscovering the depth and beauty of our salvation in Christ will we be drawn to share more fully in his life and saving mission. We talk with Fr. Timothy Vaverek.

At first glance, Archbishop Fulton Sheen, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and Rev. Jerry Falwell don’t seem to have much in common – but you might be surprised. They were dominant religious figures in different eras of the 20th century and used contemporary media to great effect as they tried to change how Americans understood the nature and purpose of their country and the relationship between religion and public life. We take a closer look with James Patterson.

Outgoing USCCB President Jose Gomez addressed his fellow bishops this week and spoke passionately on the importance of evangelization in countering the secularization of society. Al shares the letter today.

In recent years we have seen an increased focus on the division between “everyday Americans” and the “elites.”  But before we can address the problem, we need to understand what an “elite” is. Luke Foster joins us.

Yesterday the National Revolutionary Police in Cuba summoned EWTN correspondent Adrián Martínez Cádiz for “questioning,” without giving a reason for doing so. Matthew Bunson fills us in and also lets us know what we should take away from this week’s Fall Assembly in Baltimore.

Gertrude the Great, also known as Gertrude of Helfta, was one of the great mystics of the 13thcentury. She practiced a spiritualty called “nuptial mysticism” in which she came to see herself as a Bride of Christ and had a deeply personal union with Jesus and his Sacred Heart. Today is her feast, and we talk about her with Rachel Fulton Brown.

Yesterday we celebrated the Feast of St. Albert the Great, a champion of the relationship between Faith and Reason. The Catholic Church’s value of Faith and Reason and has given rise to extraordinary ideas, especially during the troubled decades of the twentieth century. Robert Royal joins us with a look at the history of this tradition and how it can help us answer today’s challenges.

Gambling addicts often say it’s the thrill of winning, not the money, that keeps them addicted. We ask Michael Burke if he agrees. Michael was a successful lawyer who spent over $1.6 million of his client’s trust account funds on gambling. He was eventually jailed for his actions. He joins us today to talk about how to identify and help people afflicted with gambling addiction.

The Church year comes to an end this weekend with the Feast of Christ the King. But to celebrate this feast, the Gospel reading will bring us back to Calvary, where Jesus was mocked for being the “King of the Jews” and crucified alongside criminals. Why this reading? Peggy Stanton joins us.

We hear often from listeners who want to thank Dr Ray Guarendi for the lessons he has taught them and their kids. But Ray would point to his own kids for many of the lessons he has learned. He explains why.