May 18, 2026 - Hour 1

Segment 1: Do Not Take Your Baptism for GrantedIn today’s First Reading, Paul enters Ephesus and finds men who had received John’s initial baptism of repentance, but had not been baptized in the authority Christ proposed. He baptized in this manner, and they began to prophecy. The church needs sons and daughters who will boldly and seriously live out every aspect of our baptismal promises. Do not take the graces of your baptism for granted! Marcus has more.Segment 2: Courage Director responds to Synod ReportThe final report of the Synod on Synodality’s Study Group 9 has drawn widespread criticism since its publication last week — not least for what its authors wrote about Courage International. The organization’s Executive Director Fr Brian Gannon joins us.Segment 3: Freedom without Virtue is DoomedToday, political conflict in the United States is more than a social crisis—it is a cultural mirror. A considerable portion of the population thinks violence is justifiable to achieve political goals, debate has gone out the window, and our elected officials seem more interested in verbal sparring than actually accomplishing anything. At the heart of this trend is a civilizational challenge: a steady breakdown of the civic virtues that once sustained Western democracy. We look at the problem with Jonathan Emerson-Pierce.Segment 4: Our republic needs virtue - and virtue needs Jesus’ truthGod made us for communion with Him. Sin fractures that communion. Christ restores it by His blood. Our political life will never replace that covenant. But political life can be healed by citizens who live in virtue. Marcus has more This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com