Lent is a privileged time to place God back at the center of our lives. As Doug Hinderer reflected this week, true conversion begins when we allow the Word of God to penetrate our hearts — and that transformation doesn’t stay private. It spills into our marriages.

Traditionally, Lent focuses on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Doug invites couples to begin with prayer as a path to deeper intimacy with both God and each other.

“Prayer is cultivating an intimacy with God and with your spouse,” Doug explains. When husband and wife pray together, they grow closer to the Lord and to one another.

The simplest step? Start small and stay consistent. Pray together every day. That might mean reading Scripture and practicing Lectio Divina, slowly reflecting on how the Holy Spirit is speaking through the Word. It could also mean praying a Psalm each evening or setting aside time for the Rosary.

If a full five decades feels overwhelming, Doug offers practical encouragement: “If you’re not in the habit of doing a rosary, just do a decade.” Begin with one decade after dinner. The following week, add another. By the end of Lent, you will find yourselves praying the full Rosary together.

Couples can also deepen their prayer life by attending daily Mass a few times a week or spending quiet time in an Adoration Chapel. Sitting before Our Lord together fosters unity in a powerful way. As Doug puts it, when you go together before Jesus, “I promise you, you will leave there feeling closer together.”

Finally, he suggests a nightly examination of conscience tailored to marriage: “Lord, did I love my spouse well today? Where did I fail to love him or her today? What’s one concrete way I can love my spouse better tomorrow?”

Lent becomes more than a season of sacrifice. It becomes a season of renewal, strengthening not only your relationship with God, but the covenant you share with your spouse.

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It started in a dance class.

When Timmerie’s five- and three-year-old were asked what they do on Valentine’s Day, their answer was simple: “We go to church.” Their teacher smiled and replied, “That is very good. That is very, very good.”

For Timmerie's children, St. Valentine’s Day isn’t about candy or cards. It's about a saint.

As Timmerie explained on Trending, St. Valentine lived during fierce Roman persecution. Under Emperor Claudius II, young soldiers were forbidden to marry. The emperor believed single men made better fighters. But Father Valentine knew marriage between one man and one woman was sacred, a reflection of God’s covenant love. So he secretly united couples in Holy Matrimony.

When discovered, he was imprisoned, brutally tortured, and ordered to renounce Christ. Many martyrs were told to offer just a small gesture to pagan gods to save their lives.

Valentine refused.

He boldly declared, “I am a Christian.”

While in prison, Valentine encountered the blind daughter of his jailer, Asterius. He prayed for her, and her sight was restored. Tradition holds that this miracle led to her conversion.

Before his execution, he wrote her a final letter, signing it, “From your Valentine.”

Today, that phrase is printed on sentimental cards. But its origin is far deeper. It was written by a priest who would rather be beaten and beheaded than deny Christ.

Jesus said, “No greater love have any man than this, than to lay down his life for his friend.”

St. Valentine lived those words. His witness reminds us that real love is not sentimental. It is sacrificial, faithful, and courageous.

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If you’ve ever followed the Eucharistic Prayer closely, you may have wondered: At what exact moment does the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ? Is it when the priest extends his hands over the gifts? When he elevates the Host? Or at the final “Through Him, with Him, in Him”?

On The Patrick Madrid Show, a caller named Brian asked that very question.

Patrick explained that the consecration is one unified liturgical action. It begins with the epiclesis, when the priest extends his hands over the bread and wine and calls down the Holy Spirit upon the gifts. But the specific moment of transubstantiation occurs when the priest speaks the words of Christ.

When the priest says "Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my body, which will be given up for you", at that moment, the miracle of transubstantiation takes place.

Moments later, when the priest says over the chalice, “This is the chalice of my blood,” the wine becomes the Precious Blood of Christ. These are distinct moments, separated by seconds, yet part of one single sacred action.

Brian’s second question went even deeper: When did transubstantiation first occur? At Pentecost or at the Last Supper?

Patrick was clear: “Definitely at the Last Supper. Definitely.”

Jesus did not say, “This symbolizes my body,” or “This will become my body.” He said, “This is my body… This is my blood.” Patrick even cited St. Augustine, who wrote that at the Last Supper, Christ “was holding his own body in his own hands.” The reality of His sacrifice was made present even before the Crucifixion unfolded in time.

It’s a mystery that should leave us in awe. At every Mass, that same sacrifice becomes present again — not repeated, but re-presented — through the words of Christ spoken by His priest.

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Scott Weeman’s story begins in small-town Wisconsin and spirals into the nightlife of downtown Manhattan. What started as a teenage drink at 17 quickly escalated. “Loved the effect of alcohol,” he admits. By his early 20s, he had two DUIs, strained family relationships, and a bad habit that had quickly gone from recreational to dangerous.

But the breaking point wasn’t legal trouble. It was heartbreak. After moving to San Diego for a relationship he had turned into an idol, Scott found himself alone when it ended. “I was sick and tired of being sick and tired,” he said. In what he calls a “very brief moment of grace,” he walked into a 12-step meeting on October 10, 2011.

He expected judgment. Instead, he found mercy.

At the same time, Scott began making his way back to the Catholic Church. Through a vibrant young adult community and a steady rhythm of meetings, sponsorship, and prayer, he discovered that recovery and faith were powerful allies. “I can’t take any credit for it. It was by the grace of God and the fellowship of others,” he said.

That insight became the foundation for Catholic in Recovery, a ministry that bridges 12-step recovery and the Sacraments. Scott is clear: it’s not a substitute for traditional recovery groups, but a supplement, helping Catholics integrate their faith with healing. He even sees a parallel between the steps and the Sacraments, especially the connection between moral inventory and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Many who attend Catholic in Recovery return to Confession for the first time in decades.

Scott’s message is simple: identity is not found in addiction, but in our acceptance of the Father's love. In Christ, no fall is final. Grace can rebuild what seemed lost.

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With Lent upon us, many families begin asking the same question: how can we help our children truly get the most out of the Lenten season?

On Morning Air, John Morales introduced an exciting answer. It’s a brand-new series from The Merry Beggars called Lent with the Saints, a daily Lenten journey created especially for children ages five to eight!

Peter Atkinson, executive producer of The Merry Beggars, shared the heart behind the project. “What if I could take the catalog of all the saints we did and then adapt it for a young age so that every single day, the people listening will get a different saint story, but told through the lens of a narrator?”

Hosted by Kiley Lawrence, the series walks children through all 40 days of Lent, beginning on Ash Wednesday. Each day features a different saint and connects their life to the Church’s Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Saints like Joan of Arc, St. Kateri Tekakwitha, St. Thomas More, and St. Martin de Porres help children see that holiness is possible and joyful.

“Lent is a time of preparation that starts on Ash Wednesday and goes all the way to Holy Week and finally to Easter,” Kiley says in the trailer. “We’re going to have a lot of fun together, learning about our faith, about Lent, and all about the saints.”

The goal is simple: plant seeds of faith early. As Peter noted, children are fully capable of receiving the Faith in an age-appropriate way and growing in “attachment to Christ and growing in security of knowing that they are loved by Jesus Christ.”

Each episode also encourages small, practical resolutions: praying for someone by name, offering simple sacrifices, and entering more deeply into the Mass. It’s a reminder that Lent isn’t just for adults. The saints show us that even the smallest hearts can belong completely to Jesus.

Sign Up for Lent with the Saints today!

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Sometimes the most powerful moments on Family Rosary Across America are simple praise reports.

Jim from Los Angeles, California, called in with a prayer of gratitude. Two weeks earlier, he had emailed asking for prayers for an upcoming hip surgery. His request was read on the air and now he had an update.

“I had the surgery on Thursday. I was walking Thursday afternoon with physical therapy,” Jim shared. “I’m home now and I’m recovering.”

The timeline surprised everyone. Surgery at 7:50 in the morning, and by noon, he was out of bed with a walker.

“Thanks be to God,” Fr. Rocky responded warmly.

Jim added a reflection that stayed with listeners: “God’s not a vending machine. You put the prayers in and you get what He gives you. So I wanted to say that I’m very grateful for what He gave me.”

Fr. Rocky affirmed it beautifully: “He’s much better than a vending machine. He’s our Father.”

Prayer isn’t a transaction. It’s trust in a loving Father who gives us what we truly need.

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Eucharistic Adoration can feel intimidating, especially if you’re not sure what you’re “supposed” to be doing.

Jan from Olive Branch, Mississippi, called into The Inner Life with an honest confession. A cradle Catholic, she longed to make Adoration part of her Lenten “toolbox,” but felt stuck. “I still don’t know what to do when I’m in front of the Blessed Sacrament,” she admitted. “I don’t get it. I don’t know what to do, and I’m ashamed to admit it.”

Father Tom Wilson, priest of the Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis, responded with both encouragement and clarity.

First, he thanked her simply for showing up. “Thanks for your perseverance in continuing to put yourself before the Lord in Adoration. That’s a gift and a prayer in and of itself.”

Then came the advice that lifted the burden: “Pray as you can, not as you can’t.”

If you pray the Rosary each day, pray the Rosary before the Blessed Sacrament. If you read Scripture, bring your Bible. If spiritual reading feeds your soul, do that. Adoration isn’t about discovering a secret formula, it’s about being with Jesus.

And what about dryness? That feeling that nothing is happening?

Father Wilson offered a beautifully simple solution: talk to Him about it.

“Jesus, this is very difficult for me.” That honest, heart-to-heart prayer, he said, “can never be beat.” The Lord can handle whatever we bring to Him, even frustration.

He also pointed to St. Teresa of Avila, who advised those entering prayer to “always bring the book with you.” Come prepared. If silence feels heavy, open a spiritual book, pray familiar prayers, or simply sit patiently. The point is presence.

“It’s not a time to be frustrated,” Father Wilson reassured. “Just love the Lord and let the Lord love you and speak to Him as you are able.”

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When Myla from Maricopa, Arizona, called into Father Simon Says, she brought an honest question. Raised Independent Fundamental Baptist, she grew up knocking on doors every Saturday, evangelizing and loving Jesus. Now, with her husband in OCIA and her own curiosity growing, she wanted to know: Why should someone become Catholic?

Fr. Richard Simon didn’t hesitate.

“Because we have sacraments, and these are things that Jesus established,” he explained. Becoming Catholic isn’t about walking away from the person of Christ. It’s about drawing closer to Him in the way He intended.

Myla admitted she was raised in a strongly anti-Catholic environment. But after attending Mass, she noticed something surprising. “It is a lot of Bible. If you want to go to a Bible church, it would be that.”

Fr. Simon smiled at that observation. The sacraments, including the Holy Eucharist, are all found in Scripture. From the readings to the prayers, Catholics are constantly hearing and praying the Word of God.

He also addressed a common concern: devotion to the Blessed Mother. He explained plainly that it’s not he said plainly idolatry. “We don’t worship. I have never in my life worshiped the Blessed Mother. Love her.” Honoring Mary, he noted, fulfills Scripture: “The Bible says 'all generations will call me blessed.'”

But perhaps his most powerful point centered on the Eucharist. “You know what you get when you become a Catholic? You get to go to a place where Jesus is physically present.”

That reality changes everything. The Catholic Church offers not only Scripture, but the fullness of Christian life and a path to salvation: the sacraments, apostolic Tradition, and the Communion of Saints.

“If you do become Catholic,” he reassured Myla, “you’re not repudiating Christ… you’re augmenting it and strengthening it and joining something that is eternal.”

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What did Jesus really mean when He said, “You are the salt of the earth”? On Father Simon Says, Fr. Richard Simon dives into the original Greek to uncover a meaning that’s both surprising and convicting.

In English, we hear, “If salt loses its taste…” But in Greek, the word used is moranthi — which literally means “to become foolish” or “to become stupid.” Fr. Simon explains that in the ancient world, salt wasn’t just seasoning. It was a preservative. Without refrigeration, salt kept meat from rotting. In fact, salt was so valuable that it was sometimes used as payment — which is where we get the word “salary.”

So when Jesus calls His followers “the salt of the earth,” He isn’t just talking about bringing vibrancy and flavor to life. He’s talking about preservation.

Salt, Fr. Simon notes, was even compared to the soul in the body. As long as the soul remains, the body does not decay. In the same way, Christians are meant to be a preserving force in the world, holding back corruption through holiness and truth. 

But what happens when salt “loses its edge”?

In homes with dirt floors, moisture could seep into a salt box and contaminate the bottom layer. Once polluted, it was useless and had to be thrown out. The salt itself had not preserved what touched it. Instead, it had been corrupted.

“If we are polluted with the dirt of the world,” Fr. Simon explains, “we’ve become stupid. We’ve become pointless. We’ve lost our edge.”

The warning is clear. Christians are called to transform the world, not be transformed by it. If the preservative becomes contaminated, who will preserve it?

Jesus’ words may be ancient, but they remain urgent. To be salt means to remain distinct, faithful, and grounded in Him, even and especially when the world resists.

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Discouragement can feel heavier than the sin itself.

On The Inner Life, Father Carter Griffin, rector of St. John Paul II Seminary in Washington, D.C., and author of Reclaimed: Win the War of Freedom, Self-Mastery, and Holy Purity, addressed the quiet battle many face, especially in struggles with pornography and habitual sin.

“A saint is a sinner who just kept getting back up,” Father Griffin said.

That simple line reframes everything. Holiness is not about never falling. It is about refusing to stay down. “The one who wins a boxing match is just the guy who’s still standing at the end,” he explained. In the spiritual life, we are never fighting alone. Jesus is always ready to lift us up.

Father Griffin noted that discouragement often hides a subtle pride: the belief that we shouldn’t still be struggling. “That’s why we have the grace of God,” he reminded listeners. Christ came to set us free. No sin is our destiny if we keep turning back to Him.

But grace doesn’t replace effort. Father encouraged listeners to develop practical tools: identify patterns, learn from falls, and form a concrete plan. When setbacks happen, respond immediately: get up, go to Confession, and keep moving forward.

With trust in God’s mercy and a determined heart, discouragement loses its power.

Victory in the spiritual life isn’t about perfection. It’s about perseverance.

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