Special Guest Host Fr. Matthew Spencer focuses on the beautiful season of Advent and preparing hearts for Christmas. He had an engaging conversation with Cyrus about the unexpected benefits of giving up coffee and how simplifying Christmas shopping can actually increase joy. He covered topics from faith and theology to managing a busy holiday season without stress. Remember, small sacrifices and simplicity often bring the biggest rewards.

• John (email) – Why is saying “Oh my God” considered taking God’s name in vain? (07:59)
• Marilyn - My pastor at my church is called 'Canon', what does that mean?  (18:26)
• Is A.I. making us dumber? (24:39)
• Jackie - Thank you to Marilyn speaking up with that suggestion. I needed that encouragement. (37:13)
• Albert – Is our destiny already written and blessed when we are baptized? (43:04)
• Maria - I went to confession, and I forgot to do my penance, what should I do? (46:31)

Special Guest Host Fr. Matthew Spencer

• Paul - Is homosexuality still considered a sin in the Catholic Church? (00:56)
• Pamela - I went to confession and before I confessed all my sins, he gave me absolution.  Should I have gone back? (11:20)
• Tee – Are canonizations infallible?  (17:48)
• Reyna - If somebody is baptized Catholic, but they're not raised in the faith, are they still considered Catholic? (24:17)
• Maryanne – Is it okay that my priest puts drops of water in both chalices? (29:20)
• Francisco - My nephews were born premature, and the priest baptized and dropped water on incubator, but the water never touched their heads.  Is that a valid baptism? (35:18)
• Corina - I dated a freemason for two years.  Are there any prayers that I should be praying to protect myself? (39:34)
• Matthew – Is there a scriptural foundation for the literal interpretation of the presence of Christ in the Eucharist? (44:44)

Special Guest Host Fr. Matthew Spencer

• Priscilla - If you commit sins years ago, but didn't think they were mortal, and didn't confess it, are my absolutions still okay? (02:04)
• Rose – Why are their different translations to Genesis 3:15? (07:57)
• Bill - I have a habitual venial sin. How do I discern whether or not my free will has been compromised? (12:33)
• Sam - Is there a certain time for the offertory basket to be presented? (24:44)
• Patricia - Is it a sin, or wrong, as a Catholic, to rent my house to my daughter, when she's living with her boyfriend? (21:15)
• Sharmane - If something touches a 2nd class relic, does it become a 3rd class relic? (27:01)
• Angie - Can I baptize someone? (40:56)
• Francisco - Why does God allow the devil to roam and tempt us? (46:07)

Patrick answers a listener's question about attending Saturday vigil Mass to meet Sunday obligation. Canon Law 1248, subsection 1, states that the Mass must be after 4 PM. Any earlier time won't fulfill this requirement.

• Email – What’s the earliest I can go to Mass on Saturday for it to count as my Sunday obligation? (04:06)
• Patrick shares a Yahoo news story: “'Elon Musk has killed the bill': Tech billionaire flexes newfound political muscle” (07:32)
• Tim - I think we should be cautious about Elon Musk. If he turns bad, we will all fall with him. (19:53)
• Robert - How should a Christian view Elon Musk? It seems like he has devoted himself completely to material success. He doesn't live a Christian life. (33:38)
• Chinto – My favorite Christmas present memory is when my dad bought us a go cart. (37:38)
• Manuel – What parts of the bible are changed in the Jehovah’s Witness bible? (46:58)

Is December 25th really Jesus’ birthday? Patrick answers this and also addresses a real-life dilemma about attending a Christmas celebration hosted by a family member living in sin. The answer rests in balancing faith and family with grace and an informed conscience.

• Patrick continues his conversation with Manuel about where to find the errors in the Jehovah’s Witness bible – 01:18)
• Email – What are the rules of communion and attending Mass? (09:47)
• Can you get a dispensation from Sunday Mass while on a cruise? (21:10)
• Steve - X has so much smut that I think you shouldn't be on there. It’s like you are inviting listeners to walk down the Red Light district with you. (27:17)
• Email – My son uses ChatGPT for hours and is amused and learning at the same time (36:28)
• Alexandra - Can I go to a Christmas vigil mass before 4pm on Saturday? (39:30)
• Tracy - Was Jesus really born in December or was it September? Also, can I go to a Christmas celebration at the house of someone who is living in sin? (42:54)

How can those outside the Catholic faith, like Protestants and Buddhists, handle mortal sin without the Sacrament of Confession? Patrick explores the teachings of Jesus about faith, repentance, and the necessity of baptism and confession.

• Jim – Sometimes things pop up in real life, just like they do on the internet, and you need to ignore it and move on (01:36)
• Peter (email) – We went on an Alaskan cruise and made sure one of the stops would allow us to attend Mass
• Mary - What is a Synod and why is there so much talk about it lately?
• Mary Lou – Regarding the young girl shooter in Madison, WI. The phenomenon with young people and their extreme phone usage, is it affecting the part of the brain related to empathy? (24:06)
• Steve - How are protestants restored in the Body of Christ since they don't have confession (28:35)
• Koko – Did Mary and Joseph have marital relations? (38:48)

Patrick engages with a recent Catholic convert who found inspiration through the station. He addresses questions about the Virgin Mary in response to assertions from the caller’s Pentecostal Apostolic uncles. Patrick clarifies misunderstandings about Mary's perpetual virginity and highlights early Church teachings from apostles like John as well as reformers like Martin Luther and John Calvin that support Catholic doctrine.

• Matthew – Did the Virgin Mary have 4 daughters? (00:50)
• Peter – Is there a difference between praying for those who have passed away or for those who have fallen asleep? (22:51)
• Email – I don’t like all the sound effects and movie references (29:54)
• Disney cuts transgender storyline from new animated series (35:47)
• Al - I am a Christian, not Catholic, and came across this radio station by accident. Love your pop culture spots. I have been listening for a year. (42:27)
• Deb - My best friend and brother-in-law put out a social media post that hurt my family. We had a huge falling out. How can I go forward? (45:33)

Patrick explores a heartfelt and complicated family dilemma—grief, forgiveness, and unexpected conflicts. Deb from Milwaukee shares her emotional journey after her sister's recent passing and the shocking revelations at Thanksgiving that led to a family blow-up. Patrick offers thoughtful advice on setting boundaries, allowing time for healing, and finding peace in the most challenging situations.

• Patrick continues his conversation with Deb from the end of the previous hour. Her sister passed away and now her best friend is dating her brother-in-law (she found out on social media)
• Karen - I have the opposite perspective. I think the family is being unfair to this gentleman. Maybe this guy and the best friend just knew each other well. (14:49)
• Charlotte (email) - My brother was a Catholic Priest who got a woman pregnant, civilly married her, had another child, and then divorced her. (20:58)
• Dolores – The gentleman dating his deceased wife's friend probably has an attraction to her because she is similar to his wife. I think he and the whole family should go for grief counseling. They are all in pain. (32:12)
• Rosemary - I have gone through a similar situation. I think this woman should look at it differently. (35:56)
• Ray - I know widowers who have married within a year of their spouses passing. It’s not that unusual. (41:35)

Patrick responds to Elizabeth, a caller seeking advice on a difficult situation at her workplace. Elizabeth talks about being excluded by coworkers over political differences, even though they once had a close and respectful relationship. Patrick offers thoughtful advice on maintaining maturity and perspective in the face of such pettiness. He also touches on broader social influences that make these divisions worse. As Patrick and Elizabeth discuss modern office life, political polarization, and the importance of staying above the negativity, this conversation provides practical advice and highlights cultural issues many people face.

• Mary Pat (email) - Would it make a difference if the man was dating his deceased wife’s friend but not posting it on Facebook? (02:31)
• Alicia - I am in conflict resolution, and I think they need family mediation. Having a neutral perspective would help to work through emotional clutter. (07:46)
• Mary - We had a similar situation in our family. My sister knew she was going to die and knew her husband needed someone. She told her husband to try to be with a friend of hers. (14:39)
• Barbara (email) – As a recent window, I have advice to not judge that man so harshly (25:20)
• Ana - We shouldn't judge people because many people who lose a spouse are hurting so much. (27:44)
• Joseph - I have been a widower for 4 years. My pastor asked me to lead a men's grief group after she passed. The grieving process has been profound. (32:02)
• Elizabeth – I’m friends with girls at work. They won't speak to me since the election. They found out who I voted for and now they won’t talk to me. How can I handle this? (38:32)
• Lisa - For a man who is widowed and not capable of consummating a marriage, is he able to enter a Catholic marriage? (47:20)

Patrick explores an incredible archaeological discovery, the Frankfurt Silver Inscription—an 18-line engraving dating back 1800 years, revealing the oldest known evidence of Christianity north of the Alps. Patrick discusses how modern technology like CAT scans allows us to digitally unravel this silver foil without damaging it. Patrick also highlights the importance of true faith over physical artifacts when it comes to eternal life.

• Mark (email) – Porn almost ruined my marriage. Patrick recommends https://catholicinrecovery.com/ (00:41)
• Mysterious 1,800-year-old silver amulet discovered in Germany could rewrite the history of Christianity in Europe (04:33)
• Patrick recommends Holy Heroes as a good resource for literature for children
• Maria - When we see adoration on YouTube, is Jesus really present with us? (17:37)
• Sophie - Is ok not to believe in the literal stories of the Bible, like Jonah and the whale didn’t actually happen? Is it okay to just focus on the message? (26:13)
• Patrick shares “Can a Catholic Attend an Invalid Marriage?” by Gregory Caridi (37:54)
• Mary - Are Old Testament people all in heaven as if they were baptized? (45:16)