Kresta in the Afternoon

Kresta Comments: Why do we have a liturgical calendar?

The collapse of liberal moral and political order has led to a welcome revival in Catholic political thought. So says Andrew Jones in an essay examining peace and the problem of power. What does he mean? What has led to these collapses? Andrew joins us.

Kresta Comments: What is the Role of Government?

May may be the “official” Month of Mary, but December is a special month as well. With the Feasts of the Immaculate Conception and Guadalupe, not to mention Christmas, it’s an ideal time to rediscover what the Gospels say about our Blessed Mother. William Albrecht and Fr. Christiaan Kappes join us.

St. Augustine said that "the New Testament lies hidden in the Old and the Old is fulfilled in the New" and we touched on that topic earlier this week with Stephen Clark. The early Church Fathers saw every part of Scripture as linked to every other part, and the Blessed Mother's role in Scripture is no exception. In what ways can we find Marian imagery in the Old Testament? We talk with Sandra Miesel.

Colleen Pressprich first made a consecration to Mary in college and continues to renew her consecration on every Feast of the Immaculate Conception. It's a wonderful gift, but it may be too advanced for young children. That's why she has developed a Marian consecration for families. She joins us.

Whatever one thinks of Jesus, it is impossible to be neutral about Mary's place in Christian doctrine and devotion. Either Mary is essential to the faith as the Mother of God, or she is a mere woman, or (perhaps) she is a quasi-pagan goddess who endangers the dignity and prerogatives of her son as Creator and Lord. There is no middle ground, no shared pronunciation by which Mary might be both the glorious Virgin Mother and the historically humble mother of Jesus. What was the real Mary like, and how was she regarded in the early church? We talk with Dr Rachel Fulton Brown.

Nolan Ostrowski contracted COVID-19 this summer and was admitted to a hospital in Lansing, Michigan in July. As he lay in bed a few nights later, a figure appeared next to him – it appeared to be Solanus Casey. His condition soon downgraded and he was taken to another hospital for special treatment. But now, he’s doing better. He joins us to tell the story.

Last month the US State Department updated its list of “Countries of Particular Concern” for violations of religious Liberty. This year Russia joined many of the usual suspects such as China, North Korea, and Iran. But controversially, Nigeria is no longer included in this group. Ed Clancy joins us with his analysis and also his own report on the plight of Christian women around the world.

“The Best Week Ever” is a bold statement. When one hears it, the first thought might be of a lavish family vacation—not a college’s summer program. And yet, these are the key words participants of the Experience Christendom Summer Program use time and again when describing the transformative time they spent in Virginia for one week—a week that provided them with the faith-filled educational experience they needed during such a formative time in their lives. Sam Phillips has more.