The Best of the Week

Sometimes the smallest voices carry the biggest prayers. On Family Rosary Across America, a young caller named Nora from Granger, Indiana, shared a heartfelt intention that reminded listeners of the beautiful power of prayer.

When Father Rocky asked what she wanted to pray for, Nora simply responded, “I want to pray for my leg because I'm getting a surgery on it for my tumor.”

Without hesitation, Father Rocky reassured her that she wasn't facing this difficult moment alone.

“You know, Nora, tens of thousands of people are praying for you today, so, you know, be strengthened by their love and their selflessness for you, okay, Nora?”

Her simple “Okay” was enough.

This tender exchange captures what makes the Family Rosary Across America so special. Every evening, people across the country unite in prayer, bringing their worries, struggles, and hopes before God through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother.

For Nora, that means knowing an entire community is praying for her as she prepares for surgery.

Her story reminds us that no prayer request is too small and no burden needs to be carried alone. Through the Rosary, we're united as one family in Christ.

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What if the books you enjoy reading are quietly changing the way you view love, intimacy, and even yourself?

On Trending with Timmerie, Timmerie raises concerns about the growing popularity of dark romance and paranormal romance, genres that increasingly feature explicit sexual content, violence, and disturbing relationships.

The conversation began when a friend of Timmerie's entered the publishing world. While searching for a publisher for her suspense novel, which includes Catholic and pro-life themes, she discovered something troubling. Although there was interest in faith-filled fiction, she encountered pressure within the industry to include darker, more sexually explicit storylines.

Timmerie explained that paranormal romance can feature relationships between humans and supernatural beings, including demons, while dark romance frequently explores violence, coercion, and abusive relationships.

But her greatest concern is how easily young readers can encounter inappropriate material.

She recalled reading a fantasy series marketed toward teenagers that became increasingly explicit. Eventually, she abandoned it altogether. Months later, she spotted an 8-year-old boy reading that same series while waiting for his mother at a Pilates studio.

Timmerie gently warned his mother about the content, prompting an uncomfortable but necessary conversation.

For Timmerie, this illustrates how repeated exposure to explicit material can normalize unhealthy expectations about intimacy and relationships. She warns that erotic fiction can become addictive, encouraging readers to seek increasingly extreme content.

Her message isn't simply about avoiding inappropriate books. It's about protecting human dignity and forming a healthy conscience.

Catholic teaching reminds us that authentic love respects the dignity of the human person. Timmerie encourages parents to pay attention to what their children read and urges adults to examine their own entertainment choices.

For anyone struggling with sexually explicit content, she recommends turning to the Sacrament of Reconciliation and seeking God's grace.

And when difficult conversations arise, don't shy away from them. Sometimes a loving warning can plant the seed for lasting change.

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For many mothers, finding time for prayer amid the demands of raising children can feel impossible. But one mother of nine recently shared a beautiful reminder that holiness can be found in the everyday moments of family life.

Kristen Terrio of Green Bay, Wisconsin called into Marriage Unhindered with Doug Hinderer to share how she maintains a close relationship with God while raising nine children, including seven-month-old twins.

Kristen admitted that during her early years of motherhood, she struggled with wanting to attend daily Mass and Eucharistic Adoration while managing the chaos of family life. Rather than finding peace, she often felt overwhelmed.

Over time, she discovered that prayer doesn't have to be complicated.

Each morning, Kristen offers her day to God. She and her husband also practice Lectio Divina with their children, reflecting on the upcoming Sunday Gospel together.

She explained that different seasons of motherhood allow for different amounts of prayer. With two infants at home, even praying an entire Rosary can be difficult.

"Right now, it's just a decade," Kristen shared. "I'm faithful right now to one decade."

Kristen also recalled finding comfort in St. Frances of Rome after experiencing a miscarriage. Inspired by the saint's example, she learned that sometimes serving God means leaving the altar to find Him in the home.

Her testimony deeply moved Doug Hinderer, who praised her joyful spirit and unwavering faith.

Kristen's story offers an encouraging message to parents everywhere: God doesn't measure our love by how much we accomplish, but by the faithfulness with which we offer Him what we can.

Even amid sleepless nights, diaper changes, and busy schedules, every small act of love can become a prayer.

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Could you forgive someone who took the lives of two of your closest loved ones? For Sherry from Oswego, Illinois, that question became a painful reality after her daughter, who was seven months pregnant, was murdered 14 years ago.

On The Drew Mariani Show, Sherry shared with Drew and guest Dr. how God's grace led her on an extraordinary journey toward forgiveness.

It began when her son encouraged her to forgive the man responsible. Sherry initially refused. But through the intercession of St. Maria Goretti and time spent in Eucharistic Adoration, her heart gradually changed.

During Adoration, Sherry felt Jesus calling her to visit the prison and bring the man a personalized Bible.

After two years of preparation and prayer, she finally went.

Sherry spent an hour and a half with the man who had taken so much from her. She offered him forgiveness and gave him the Bible.

“And I will just tell anybody that, um, it is freedom,” she told Drew. “I felt like I left my daughter's death there."

Drew called her witness an example of heroic virtue, while Dr. Jessica Loftus emphasized that forgiving such a terrible wrong requires God's help.

Their conversation highlighted a profound truth: Forgiveness is an act of the will, strengthened by God's grace.

Sherry's testimony reminds us that forgiveness doesn't erase suffering or excuse wrongdoing. Instead, through Christ, it can free our hearts from resentment and open the door to healing.

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What happens when life takes a heartbreaking turn and even your faith feels shaken? For Lisa O’Connor, the answer came through her 6-year-old son, Charlie, whose joyful spirit has transformed her understanding of suffering and God’s love.

Speaking with Mark on The Mark Swartzberg Show, Lisa shared how Charlie began experiencing developmental delays as an infant. Doctors eventually diagnosed him with infantile spasms, a dangerous form of epilepsy, and a rare genetic mutation affecting his brain.

The diagnosis left Lisa devastated. Despite growing up with a strong Catholic faith, she admitted that she spent years struggling with anger toward God.

But through prayer and reflection, Lisa began to recognize something profound: God does not abandon us in suffering. Through Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross, He can bring goodness even from our deepest pain.

Lisa recalled two powerful encounters with God during Eucharistic Adoration in her younger years. Those experiences taught her that God's love isn't something we earn through accomplishments or abilities. It is freely given.

That truth became especially meaningful as she watched Charlie grow. Although he cannot walk or talk, he radiates joy through his smiles, hugs, and love for his family.

Lisa also discovered a deeper understanding of prayer. During moments when she couldn't find the words to speak to God, she simply offered Him her life.

“My whole life, God, is a prayer," she said. She used to be so angry at God that she couldn't speak to Him, but even when words fail us, our whole life can be a prayer.

Today, Lisa advocates for research through CureGABA-A, an organization working toward treatments for children with Charlie's condition.

Her message to anyone carrying a heavy cross is that you are loved, you are not alone, and God can bring goodness from suffering.

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Is abortion really as complicated as people make it out to be? On The Patrick Madrid Show, Patrick responds to a listener named Ken who challenges his pro-life position, arguing that men shouldn't tell women what to do with their bodies and that adoption isn't a realistic solution.

Patrick pushes back, pointing out that a person's sex doesn't determine whether their moral reasoning is valid. Just as a female physician can offer sound medical advice to a man, men can recognize and defend the dignity of unborn children.

But Patrick's most powerful response comes from his own family.

Ken questions whether pro-life advocates actually adopt children whose mothers choose life. Patrick shares that his brother and sister-in-law adopted three children whose mothers had been considering abortion. Today, those children are thriving teenagers, with the oldest attending a Catholic college.

Their lives are living proof that adoption offers something abortion never can: a future.

He acknowledges that adoption doesn't eliminate every hardship, but insists that suffering cannot justify ending an innocent life.

When Ken argues that abortion isn't a simple issue, Patrick brings the conversation back to one fundamental question:

“What's not simple about that?”

The simple truth at the core of the argument is that no one has the right to take an innocent human life.

Patrick recognizes that defending this truth may be unpopular, but encourages listeners to stand firm in their convictions. His message is a reminder that compassion, reason, and faith must work together in defending the dignity of every human life.

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Imagine spending 16 hours a day hearing confessions! St. John Vianney did just that, offering countless souls the opportunity to encounter God's mercy.

On The Inner Life, host Patrick Conley and spiritual director Father Chris Stubna reflected on the saint's extraordinary dedication to the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Father Chris explained that St. John Vianney, the patron saint of parish priests, offers a powerful example of priestly service. At the heart of the priesthood is the responsibility to make God's forgiveness available to those who need it.

He also shared how the saint's witness challenges him to examine his own priorities each evening. Could he have spent more time serving others?

For Father Chris, celebrating the Eucharist and forgiving sins are central to priestly life. Both reveal Christ's love for His people.

And that mercy is something everyone needs. As Father Chris reminded listeners, “And all of us are sinners.”

St. John Vianney's example invites priests to make time for confession and encourages the faithful to seek the forgiveness Christ offers through this beautiful sacrament.

The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio App, check it out here.

When someone commits a horrific crime, is death the answer? On Father Simon Says, Fr. Richard Simon tackles the controversial subject of capital punishment, offering a powerful reminder that God's mercy extends even to the worst sinners.

"God does not wish the death of a sinner," Fr. Simon explains. He reminds listeners that Hell is a horrifying reality, and Christians should never wish eternal suffering upon anyone.

"As Christians, we wish no one to go to hell because God wishes no one to go to hell."

For Fr. Simon, this conviction is deeply personal. His own uncle was murdered, yet he doesn't wish eternal damnation upon the man responsible.

"My uncle was murdered. His murderer, I don't want in hell."

Fr. Simon acknowledges that protecting society from dangerous criminals is essential. He describes an extreme hypothetical situation in which lethal force might be the only way to prevent further killings.

However, he argues that modern societies have the means to securely incarcerate dangerous offenders, making executions unnecessary.

His reflection echoes the Catholic Church's teaching that the death penalty is inadmissible because it attacks the dignity of the human person.

Fr. Simon cautions against reducing capital punishment to political labels. Justice matters, but so does the possibility of repentance and salvation.

His message challenges us to ask a difficult question: Can we desire Heaven even for someone who has committed an unimaginable evil?

Christ calls us to pray for sinners, seek justice, and never abandon hope in God's mercy.

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Sometimes the simplest prayers come from the youngest hearts. During Family Rosary Across America, Fr. Rocky met two brothers whose heartfelt prayer intentions offered a beautiful reminder of childlike faith and the importance of praying for others.

Zeke, a 13-year-old homeschooled 8th grader, shared that he was preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in the spring.

When Fr. Rocky asked about his prayer intention, Zeke answered, “So my prayer intention is for everyone making their Confirmation.”

Zeke also revealed that he had chosen St. Carlo Acutis as his Confirmation saint. Fr. Rocky enthusiastically approved, recalling his own visit to the young saint's tomb.

Next came Teddy, Zeke's 8-year-old brother, who was eagerly anticipating his First Holy Communion. Fr. Rocky reminded Teddy that Jesus was looking forward to that special encounter, too!

When asked for his prayer intention, Teddy responded, “My prayer intention is for everybody making their First Communion.”

Fr. Rocky playfully asked whether Teddy meant children everywhere or just those at St. Christina Parish. After thinking it over, Teddy decided to pray for those at his parish.

“That is loyalty,” Fr. Rocky exclaimed. “I love it.”

These brothers remind us that preparing for the sacraments isn't just about our own relationship with Christ. It's also an opportunity to lift others up in prayer.

Their simple intentions reveal something profound: You're never too young to pray for others and help strengthen the Church through faith!

The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio App, check it out here.

What if the answer to your biggest life decision was waiting in the silence of an Adoration Chapel?

Joining Deacon Patrick Conley and guest Fr. Patrick Hyde, a caller named Jonathan from Athens, Georgia, shared how Eucharistic Adoration helped him discern a possible calling to the priesthood.

A convert to Catholicism, Jonathan is currently speaking with the Archdiocese of Atlanta and the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. His desire to serve in the Holy Land comes from a longstanding burden to pray for Jewish and Arab communities affected by conflict.

Fr. Patrick reflected on the importance of spending time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, recalling how his own father faithfully attended Eucharistic Adoration at 4am every Tuesday for nearly 20 years.

That example inspired him to prioritize prayer in his own life.

He explained that discerning God's will requires more than a quick prayer before making a decision. It means bringing our questions directly to Jesus and listening for His guidance.

Whether considering the priesthood, religious life, marriage, or a career change, every vocation begins with a relationship with Christ.

Fr. Patrick encouraged listeners to bring both big and small decisions before the Lord, trusting in His generosity.

Deacon Patrick echoed that encouragement with a beautiful reminder: "The Lord is never outdone in generosity."

Jonathan's journey reminds us that discernment isn't about having every answer immediately. It's about making time for Jesus, trusting His guidance, and remaining open to wherever He may lead.

The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio App, check it out here.