Patrick opens this episode by confronting the struggle parents face with teenagers glued to their phones, offering down-to-earth tools from no-phones-at-the-table rules to the undeniable simplicity of charging stations outside bedrooms. He fields calls on topics like Catholic teaching on medicinal cannabis, quoting Church sources and distinguishing between therapy and recreational use. Listeners bring up Marian doctrine, struggles of being a convert, and the often-misunderstood nature of Confirmation, pushing Patrick to share both personal reflections and resources from the Thomistic Institute. He doesn’t shy away from tough questions either—how a Catholic might find confidence in salvation or what makes Catholicism compelling even for lifelong members—circling back to the raw reality of hope, trust, and the struggle to believe. Expect practical tips, honest guidance, and the kind of off-the-cuff encouragement you rarely get anywhere else.

 

• Amy (email) - Any thoughts on how to entice teenagers away from their phones as school is ending?  Teenage girls these days are prone to spending hours in their bedrooms on phones and tablets.
• Victor - What is the Church's position on legal and medicinal use of cannabis? (06:54)
• Stephanie - Suggestion for grandparents to take grandkids to mass (11:40)
• Judy - Where in the Bible was Mary crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth? (15:17)
• Tom (email) – I really like you bringing up the topic of how smart phones are negatively affecting family life and social interactions (21:37)
• Audio: 5 Things People Get Wrong About Confirmation (Aquinas 101) (23:00)
• Jerry (email) – Are you afraid of death? (31:11)
• Kate (email) - You are 100% convinced about your Catholic faith. As a convert (I have been Catholic since 1992), I am not 100% convinced. Although I love Catholicism, I still struggle with some aspects of it. (36:27)
• Sandy – If we are here for the second coming, will there be a purification process? (48:45)

Originally Aired on 06/02/2025