Patrick answers heartfelt questions from callers wrestling with faith, loss, and daily morality, shifting from clever family stories to deep, practical Church teachings on marriage, organ donation, and the importance of Sunday Mass. Conversations are honest and gritty, everything from childhood memories of ice cream trucks to the raw reality of homelessness, and through it all, Patrick’s guidance flows directly from the Catechism, personal experience, and genuine care. Listeners hear moments of laughter, regret, confusion, and hard-won clarity all in one episode.

• Yvonne - Billboards popping up that say Jesus is not God. What do you think of this? Also, an organization has contacted us to see if they can come in and take tissue from loved ones. (02:10)
• Joan - An elderly couple is in their late 70s and wants to get married. He is Jewish and she is Catholic. They have looked into getting permission from the bishop. Is this ok? (07:40)
• Marisela - I have been on both ends of the spectrum where I didn't care. Now I wouldn't miss Mass for anything. (11:19)
• James - When Patrick Madrid talks about what the Church teaches, what reference should I go to show people what he is saying is true? Is Romans 9:22 referring to predestination? (20:24)
• Michael - I appreciate all that you do and love you and Relevant Radio very much (27:01)
• Shirley - My husband was in mortal sin before getting married. Do we need an annulment? Do we both need to go to Confession? (32:52)
• Jackie - I am almost 75 and had it not been for Relevant Radio, I would not have appreciated my Catholic faith. There was so much I did not know. (39:46)
• Anna - I think we are forgetting that the first commandment is to love God. Going to Church, we receive Christ and this is connected to honoring God above all things. (49:07)

The History of the Brown Scapular

Way back in the 1200s, in Aylesford Priory, England... St. Simon Stock, a Carmelite monk, had this famous encounter: Our Lady of Mount Carmel appeared to him and showed him the Brown Scapular.

For religious folks, the scapular is part of their habit. For laypeople, it’s the mini version: two little squares of cloth, connected by strings, worn under your clothes.

Important to remember: Wearing it is not a magic ticket to heaven. Patrick really hammers this home.

What’s the Point of Wearing It?

Patrick explains it this way:

It’s like a wedding ring.
→ The ring doesn’t literally make you married, but it’s an outward sign of an inward reality.

The scapular is an outward sign that you’re asking Our Lady to pray for you, to help you love Jesus more, and to remind yourself to live for God.

The Big Misunderstanding

There’s a lot of rumors floating around:
“If you wear the Brown Scapular, you’re guaranteed heaven.”
"You’ll skip purgatory and go straight up the Saturday after you die!”

Patrick is super clear here:

-The Church does not teach that.

-There’s no record of Our Lady promising that to St. Simon Stock.

- Patrick says that salvation depends on dying in a state of grace, loving God, repenting from sin, not on religious accessories.

Why Still Wear It, Then?

Because:

-It’s a beautiful sign of devotion to Mary.

-It reminds you daily to love God and neighbor.

-Our Lady does intercede for those who ask.

-It helps you stay close to Jesus, but it’s not a magic amulet. 

Bonus: Does Patrick Wear It 24/7?

Yep... under his shirt, like most folks.
He takes it off for showers or swimming (no, you’re not spiritually vulnerable if it’s not on — again, not magic!).

Bottom Line (aka “What You Tell Your Friends”)

The Brown Scapular is:
-A beautiful, centuries-old Marian devotion.
-A reminder to live for Jesus.
-Not a spiritual hack or shortcut to bypass repentance and grace.

Love Our Lady, trust in her prayers, and keep your eyes on Jesus.

Image via Joan Sutter / Shutterstock.

Here’s the rundown from this great moment on The Patrick Madrid Show.

So, a young caller named Ezra from Naperville, Illinois, jumps on the line and asks:

“Um, hi, Mr. Madrid… Did Jesus ever have a last name?”

Great question, Ezra! Patrick jumps in with his usual mix of smarts and warmth.

Short answer: No, Jesus didn’t have a last name like we do today.

Longer answer:

Back in Jesus’ time, people were identified by who their dad was or where they were from.

So instead of “Jesus Christ” like it’s a last name, He might’ve been called “Jesus bar Joseph” — which literally means “Jesus, son of Joseph.”
(Bar means “son of” in Aramaic.)

Patrick opens with heartfelt listener emails, sharing stories about visits to St. Michael’s Abbey and the Mission Hotel, weaving in his own childhood memories. Throughout the episode he fields questions on topics from holy water and pro-life engagement to cremation, offering answers both practical and compassionate while responding to callers exploring faith, grappling with funeral wishes, and seeking a way back to the Catholic Church.

• Justin - I am not Catholic. Is it ok for me to use Holy Water? (05:23)
• Email - My Catholic father wrote in his will that he wants his ashes scattered in the ocean (14:18)
• E-Frank - Should ministries in the Church support the prolife movement? (20:06)
• Bruce - My wife and I are both blind and want to come back to the Catholic Church. How can we be useful? (25:06)
• Dominic - What is the status of Fulton Sheen canonization? (34:05)
• Court upholds male-only draft registration, dealing a major blow to feminist movement (44:57)

Patrick fields listener questions ranging from whether a child conceived through IVF can be baptized to when righteous anger is justified, drawing deeply on Catholic teaching and scripture. He unpacks the nuances of salvation, clarifies misunderstandings about purgatory, and listens to callers wrestling with heavy choices, including grave illness and faith’s demands. Moments of empathy, debate, and practical advice land side by side, as Patrick guides callers through the messiness of real Catholic life.

• Priest told my friend that because her daughter was conceived through IVF that she can't be baptized. Is this true? (00:38)
• Robert - Women are not permitted in combat and so a new draft would face new legal issues because the rule has changed. (04:21)
• Art - Bishop Fulton Sheen: When I was a young boy, my mother used to watch his show. I think that was the Holy Spirit. I think the devil tries to smear holy men and women. (07:26)
• April - How is it that Jesus lost His temper? (09:09)
• Enrique - In order to be off birth control, the doctor advised my sister to get her tubes tied. She doesn’t know what to do and any advice you can give will be much appreciated. (18:29)
• Salvador - Is it ok for a sick person to say no to a treatment if he wants to die? (22:21)
• Henry - I need the quintessential Patrick answer. If God is all- forgiving, does that mean everyone is going to heaven? (34:48)
• Judy - The listener who is sick should go to palliative care first and they will guide him to the next step. There is hope for him. (48:30)

Patrick answers practical questions about Catholic marriage, restitution for old wrongs, and the real meaning of faith in tough times. He listens to callers voicing struggles with family choices and personal guilt, then offers down-to-earth Catholic wisdom. Moments of warmth surface when young Josie wonders if she should pray for her brother after a mishap, alongside heavier questions about supporting a spouse with ALS and grappling with faith under pressure.

• Jay (email) - In the traditional Catholic prayer before meals, why, do you suppose, is there no "thank you"? (00:31)
• Maureen - What happens when a Catholic marries a Jewish person? What kind of marriage is this considered? (01:25)
• Josh - What does the Church teach on restitution? (17:23)
• Juan - My wife is terminally ill with ALS. What do I say to her, when she says it is hard to believe and trust in God when she is in such a poor condition? Does doubt keep us from salvation? (27:50)
• Jose (7-years-old) - I hit my brother, what should I do? Should I forgive him and say sorry? Or should I pray for him? (38:11)
• Jean - I thought your response was perfect. I had MS diagnosed 20 years ago and didn’t have Catholic Radio. (42:13)
• Teresa (email) - My husband of 43 years, who is in his mid-60's, is having trouble with the very personal issue of ED. We are past child bearing years. Is it immoral for him to use ED medication? (48:10)

Patrick threads through cultural questions about Disney fatigue, the surprising streaming stats of Gunsmoke, and the endurance of classic TV, weaving in Mike Rowe on the urgency for trades as tech transforms jobs. The episode weaves callers’ real-life faith, parenting, and ethical dilemmas, while Patrick fields everything from baptism validity to feng shui for nurseries and warnings about dubious online miracle prayers, keeping the conversation unpredictable and lively throughout.

• Audio: Jerry Seinfeld on Marcus Aurelius (02:12)
• Steve Miller Band cancels all tour dates due to bad weather (04:59)
• 50-year-old ‘Gunsmoke’ Reruns More Popular than Disney’s Star Wars/Marvel Trash (08:40)
• Mike Rowe: We need 500,000 welders, plumbers, and electricians (18:01)
• Christine - How can I avoid liberal Catholic schools? (28:19)
• Todd - Gun smoke did have an 'A' list Star. Kurt Russell was on when he was a kid. (35:34)
• Linda - My Grandchildren are getting baptized in a non-Catholic Church. Is that a valid baptism? (37:27)
• Billy (email) - A priest told me the other day that God loves us unconditionally, but he damns us to hell if we don’t love him back. How is that unconditional? (40:11)
• Shannon - Is feng shui compatible with Catholics? (43:41)
• Bob - Can I do tai chi for health purposes and to lose weight? (46:37)
• Rosalie - During the Carter administration I was an apprentice for the federal Government. We were trained how to be mechanics. They canceled the program though but now we are needing these jobs. (49:09)

Patrick opens with stories from listeners in the trades, questioning if hands-on jobs like garbage collection and machining could outlast the AI boom, all while sprinkling in sharp humor about robot insurance and future-proof careers. He tackles Catholic faith topics head-on, from unpacking the nature of God’s love, to candidly weighing the pros and cons of attending Society of St. Pius X Masses, laying out the deep tensions between tradition and Church unity. In a personal turn, Patrick reflects on raising eleven children, offering raw, practical encouragement about family life and sacrifice, before fielding questions both philosophical and delightfully mundane.

• Jorge – A.I. will not be taking the garbage jobs (00:41)
• Rosie - What do you think about the Neo Catechumenal Way? (02:30)
• Email – Are there any good Star Trek series anymore? (04:05)
• Brother John - I don't think God loves us unconditionally, I think there are conditions for God's love. (06:00)
• Stuart - I teach Tai Chi and there is nothing wrong with it. There is no spiritual aspect to it. There are branches that are more spiritual but don't have to be. (10:39)
• Ken - I am a machinist and wanted to talk about working in a trade. The threat in my field is 3D printing. (17:39)
• Theresa - Are we allowed to go to the SSPX mass? (23:28)
• Richard - You still need human beings to fix AI. (35:08)
• Thomas - How did you and Nancy parent so many children? (39:29)
• Matt - Does God love everyone equally or does he love some more than others? (48:32)

Patrick takes listeners through the meaning and history of Catholic devotions like the brown scapular and the miraculous medal while addressing common myths with clear, practical explanations. Calls spark discussions about the canon of Scripture, the early Church, apocryphal texts, and living authentic faith without superstition. Expect honest answers, a touch of humor, and insights for Protestants curious about Catholicism as well as lifelong Catholics.

• Sal - Can you explain the Brown Scapular? (00:45)
• Lynn - Why is the book of Judas not in the Catholic Bible? (08:31)
• Roxanna (email) - A few weeks ago, you made a comment that Catholicism is not a denomination. Can you expand/clarify what you mean by that? (17:27)
• James - Where does the promise of the Brown Scapular come from? (21:13)
• Tessa - What about metal scapulars or medals that have scapular built in? Is there a difference between these and other scapulars? (27:46)
• Gabriel - I am a Protestant wanting to enter the Church. Can you explain what the miraculous medal is? My wife and I are confused about this and other devotions. (36:19)
• Ezra (10-years-old) - Did Jesus have a last name? (43:03)
• Mark - I affirm what you are saying about the trades. I am a semi-retired drywall contractor. This has been a good life for myself. I want to encourage others to consider it. (44:32)
• Kate - Where was it understood that after Peter the other Popes would have the same power? (46:56)

On The Patrick Madrid Show, a caller named Connie asked Patrick how to explain to her uncle away from the Faith why Catholics pray to Mary and the saints—aren’t they passed away? Doesn’t the Bible say Jesus is the only mediator? 

Mary & the Saints 

Patrick pulls out Mark 12:27 where Jesus says:

“He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Mary—they’re alive in God. Mary isn’t just a memory or some dusty relic in a tomb. She was assumed body and soul into heaven and is gloriously alive in God’s presence. 

We’re asking living members of Christ’s body to pray for us.

But Doesn’t the Bible Say Jesus Is the Only Mediator?

Yes! 1 Timothy 2:5 says:

“There is one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus.”

Right before that, Paul tells us to:

-offer prayers

-intercede for each other

-give thanks for everyone, even kings 

In other words, Jesus is the bridge that makes it possible for us to pray for each other. When we ask Mary or the saints to pray for us, we’re not replacing Jesus. We’re joining the family prayer chain. 

Picture the Prayer Triangle

Patrick gave this helpful visual:
-You ask your friend to pray for you (left point)
-Friend brings your prayer to God (top point)
-God answers with blessings (back down to you)

Same thing when we ask Mary or a saint:
We’re just asking a friend of God—someone already perfected in love and close to His heart to join us in prayer.

We’re not treating Mary or saints like gods. We’re asking them to pray with us and for us because we’re all part of the Body of Christ, across heaven and earth. It’s relational, not competitive.

Want to go deeper? Patrick has a free article called Any Friend of God’s Is a Friend of Mine. It’s packed with biblical examples and clear explanations.