Ave Maria in the Afternoon Segments

Today is the feast of the Martyrs of Compiègne, French nuns who were executed during the Reign of Terror. They bravely walked to the guillotine singing hymns and offering their lives, “so that peace may be restored to the Church and the State.” Marcus honors their memory.EWTN Documentary: Blessed: The Martyrs of Compiègne 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

The Founding Fathers believed the common good consisted in securing a community in which individuals could fulfill their natural duties, duties to God and to their families and to their fellow man. We look at how they expressed this vision with Dr. Phillip Munoz.Further ReadingReligious Liberty and the American FoundingThe Founders and the Common GoodGuest InfoVincent Phillip Muñoz is the Tocqueville Professor of Political Science and Concurrent Professor of Law at the University of Notre Dame. 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

French Bishop Marc Aillet has declared that Catholic members of France’s National Assembly who voted for the country’s euthanasia and assisted-suicide bill will no longer be able to receive holy Communion. Matthew Bunson joins us to discuss this and other Church news.Further ReadingFrench Bishop: Catholic Lawmakers Who Back Euthanasia Bill Cannot Receive CommunionFrance Legalizes Euthanasia After Forceful Push Through ParliamentThe Bishop of Albany, His Missing Ring, and a Bag of Potato ChipsHow Does Pope Leo Take His Coffee?Guest InfoMatthew Bunson is Vice President and Editorial Director of EWTN News and a Senior Fellow at St Paul Center for Biblical Theology. He’s the author or co-author of more than 50 books including the first English-language biography of Pope Francis and The Encyclopedia of Catholic History. Follow him on twitter at MattBunson. Register Radio airs Saturdays at 4 pm and Sundays at 11 am on Ave Maria Radio 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

The popular imagination of homeschooling has rarely aligned with reality. Amidst the COVID lockdowns of 2020 and 2021, the public was forced to reconsider its understanding of what homeschooling really was – and it’s becoming more popular than ever. We discuss how homeschooling went mainstream with Dixie Lane.Further ReadingSkipping School: A History of American Homeschooling and How It Went MainstreamHomeschoolers Aren’t Weird (Anymore)Follow Dixie on XFollow Dixie on SubstackGuest InfoDixie Dillon Lane is an American historian and homeschooling parent who lives in rural Virginia. She holds a PhD in history from the University of Notre Dame and serves as associate editor of Hearth & Field. 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

Many Christians today are suffering from an epidemic of “spiritual sugar.” It looks enormous from a distance, it tastes sweet, but it immediately dissolves into empty air and leaves souls spiritually malnourished. 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

Today marks the anniversary of the founding of the first California mission by St. Junipero Serra. Modern outrage has tried to “cancel” him for being a colonizer and oppressor of Indigenous peoples, but that is not who the historical record actually shows him to be. Marcus has more.Further ReadingJunípero Serra: Pioneer, Missionary, SaintThe Man Who Founded California: The Life of Saint Junipero Serra 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

In his first year as leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV has published an Apostolic Exhortation on the poor, promulgated an Encyclical on humanity and technology, made several key appointments, and implemented measured changes in governance. He has also chosen to reflect on the documents of Vatican II during his Wednesday general audiences. What can we learn from Pope Leo’s first year and what implications does it have for promoting a free and virtuous society? Fr. Raymond de Souza joins us.Guest InfoFather Raymond J. de Souza, 50, was ordained a Catholic priest on July 20, 2002, for the archdiocese of Kingston, Ontario. He is currently the pastor of Holy Cross parish in Kemptville, near Ottawa. He served as chaplain at Newman House (2004-22), the Roman Catholic chaplaincy at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, while also serving as the pastor of Sacred Heart of Mary Parish (2006-22) on Wolfe Island—the largest of the Thousand Islands in the St. Lawrence River. Since 2014 he has served on the board of directors of Catholic Christian Outreach, the leading campus evangelization movement in Canada. In 2019 he became chairman of the CCO board. 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

Drew Vilinski has a dream: make sure every high school club, team, intramural group, and other organized activity be guided by the presence and guidance of a designated chaplain. He is hosting a nationwide conference on the idea this fall, and he joins us with the details.Further ReadingNorth American Sports & Arts Chaplaincy ConferenceGuest InfoDrew Vilinksy is a theology teacher at St Ignatius High School in Cleveland, Ohio, where he also directs the St Ignatius Sports & Arts Chaplaincy Program. 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

For many families, there is a clear answer to the question of who they trust to help them raise their children: a school that shares their mission — a genuine partner in a child’s education. But some families in Colorado are being denied that opportunity, a case the Supreme Court will hear next term. Andrea Picciotti-Bayer has more.Further ReadingColorado Denies Funding To Preschoolers On Account Of Their Catholic Faith, Lawsuit AllegesGuest InfoAndrea Picciotti-Bayer is a legal analyst for EWTN News. She also directs the Conscience Project. Follow her on Twitter @bayerpicciotti and visit conscience-project.org. 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

Twenty years ago today, a small social media platform called “Twitter” was launched to the public. Nobody could have foreseen the cultural juggernaut it would become. Driven by algorithms that promote the loudest, punchiest, most controversial statements, Twitter and the larger digital revolution have reshaped our public habits. 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

Artificial intelligence poses an existential threat to human freedom. It is already rapidly changing everything from the economy to relationships to attitudes about what it means to be human. Kevin Vallier joins us to look at how the people of the Church can engaged in the governance of AI technologies.Guest InfoKevin Vallier is a Professor of Philosophy at the University of Toledo, where he is Director of Research at the Institute of American Constitutional Thought and Leadership. 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

Today, Catholic Answers announced that legendary apologist Tim Staples has retired as senior apologist, though he will continue with regular appearances on Catholic Answers Live. Tim’s book Behold your Mother was instrumental in Marcus’ journey to the Catholic Church. Marcus reflects on the impact he has had.Further ReadingBehold Your Mother: A Biblical and Historical Defense of the Marian Doctrines 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

Everyone knows about the US Constitution and the role it played in forming American society. But Jordan Ballor proposes that there are actually two constitutions, both of which are foundational, but whose relationship requires attention and consideration. He joins us. Further ReadingAmerica’s Two ConstitutionsGuest InfoJordan J. Ballor (Dr. theol., Ph.D.) is executive director at First Liberty’s Center for Religion, Culture & Democracy and a senior fellow at the Henry Institute for the Study of Christianity & Politics at Calvin University. 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

Yesterday, Marcus looked at some of the social and legal ramifications of surrogacy. He continues his discussion looking at the medical effects on the practice. 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

When people talk about marriage from a secular perspective, they often ask whether a couple is “compatible.” There’s a new study from the Journal of Research in Personality that seems to show “compatibility” is overrated, and other factors are more important for long-term intimacy. Dr Greg Popcak has more.Further ReadingThe 2 Personality Traits Long-Term Couples Actually Have in CommonCatholic Households on MissionGuest InfoDr. Greg Popcak is the founder of CatholicCounselors.com Together with his wife Lisa, he’s the author of over 20 popular books, and the host of More2Life, heard each day at 10am E on EWTN radio. Greg and Lisa are also the founders of the CatholicHOM app that provides couples and parents with the coaching and resources they need to build strong domestic churches. 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

On July 14, the French remember Bastille Day, when revolutionaries stormed the infamous Paris prison. It’s regarded as the start of the French revolution. How does the French revolution differ from the American Revolution? What were their philosophical foundations and what kinds of societies did they seek to create? Brad Birzer is our guest.Guest InfoBradley J. Birzer is Russell Amos Kirk Chair in American Studies and Professor of History, Hillsdale College. He is also author of several books, including the award winning Russell Kirk: American Conservative, J.R.R. Tolkien’s Sanctifying Myth, Tolkien and the Inklings (forthcoming), American Cicero: The Life of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, and Sanctifying the World: The Augustinian Life and Mind of Christopher Dawson. 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

On July 1 the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to allocate $500,000 in local taxpayer monies to Planned Parenthood of Michigan. The commission indicated there may be more local resources committed to the organization in the future. Genevieve Marnon.Further ReadingRight to Life of Michigan press releaseGuest InfoGenevieve Marnon is the Legislative Director for Right to Life of Michigan. 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

In today’s Gospel, Jesus seems to use some particularly harsh language – or it at least seems harsh without its Old Testament context. 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

It’s easy for us to take for granted the unique, incredible gift of having a God that wants to have a personal relationship with us. No other faith has a God who demands a personal covenant bond with His followers. We reflect on this gift with Fr. Patrick Gonyeau.Further ReadingInto the Fire: Intimacy, Mission, and Miracles: The Life of Adventure in the Holy SpiritFr. Patrick’s Renewal of the Mind radio programFr. Patrick’s website 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

Thomas Lahart created Flight Foods to unite faith, fitness, and clean nutrition under one mission, helping people fuel their training while honoring the body as a temple. He joins us to share his work.Furter ReadingThomas’ websiteGuest InfoThomas Lahart is the founder of Flight Foods. Visit flight-foods.com 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

Our civilization is learning that, while nature can be manipulated, it is only a matter of time before human nature demands its own accounting before God. This is especially noticeable in the matter of surrogacy. Marcus has more.Further ReadingThe One Where the Kardashians Save the World 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

Regardless of what political system they are born into, every Catholic has social responsibilities toward their fellow man. What responsibilities do American Catholics have? Are we a people in a place of grace, or a people in exile? David Deavel joins us.Further ReadingAmerican Babylon: Place of Grace and ExileSolzhenitsyn and American Culture: The Russian Soul in the WestGuest InfoDavid Paul Deavel is Associate Professor of Theology at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, TX, and Senior Contributor at The Imaginative Conservative. The paperback edition of Solzhenitsyn and American Culture: The Russian Soul in the West, edited with Jessica Hooten Wilson, is now available in paperback. 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

Ann Widdecombe, who converted to the Catholic faith in 1993, was known for advocating conservative and pro-life positions in the British House of Commons. She died last week at the age of 78, and her friend Joanna Bogle joins us to remember her.Further ReadingBritish Catholic Politician’s Death Investigated As Murder, Police SayGuest InfoJoanna Bogle is a journalist in the United Kingdom. Her book Newman’s London is published by Gracewing Books. 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

In today’s Gospel Jesus says He has come not to bring peace, but a sword – but what kind of sword? Marcus looks at the Old Testament connections to this passage. 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

Bishop Jerry Vincke of Salina, Kansas joins us to share his experiences of spiritual fatherhood and how he has seen the Holy Spirit transform lives as we continue from the 2026 Encounter Conference.Guest InfoBishop Jerry Vincke is the Bishop of Salina, Kansas. 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

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus tells the famous Parable of the Sower. Rob Corzine joins us to unpack the readings.Guest InfoRob Corzine is the Vice-president of Programs for the St Paul Center for Biblical Theology. 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

In Romans 12:2, St Paul calls on us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. This is the essence of metanoia – a transformation of our hearts and souls in how we view the world, empowered by Christ’s Spirit. We talk more with Matt Ingold.Further ReadingMetanoia WebsiteGuest InfoMatt Ingold is the CEO and Cofounder of Metanoia. 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

In his work with St Paul Street Evangelization, Adam Janke brings the heart of the Gospel to people in their everyday lives. He joins us at the 2026 Encounter Conference.Further ReadingCatholic Street Evangelization: Stories of Conversion and WitnessCatholic EvangelizationSt Paul Street EvangelizationGuest InfoAdam Janke is the President of St Paul Street Evangelization. Adam is a “revert” to the Catholic faith having been born Catholic, raised Lutheran, and became Baptist in high school before returning to the Catholic Church in college. He oversees the day to day operations of St. Paul Street Evangelization, including the development of programs and resources. Adam brings the experience the institute has gained through hundreds of street teams in the form of talks and workshops on evangelization, healing, and hospitality. After converting to Catholicism in 2005, Adam obtained a BA in Theology and Catechetics and an MA in Theology in Christian Ministry from Franciscan University. Adam has been featured on EWTN Television and Radio, Catholic Answers Live, the Radio Maria Network, the National Catholic Register, as well as in several other Catholic news publications. He resides in Michigan with his wife and eight children. 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

On July 10, 1925, the Scopes Monkey Trial began. The state of Tennessee accused John Scopes, a high school teacher, of violating the Butler Act, which prohibited teaching human evolution in a state-funded school. The trial brought national attention to the Fundamentalist-Modernist Controversy, a debate over the compatibility of Scripture and modern human science. Marcus looks back. 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

We must never forget that the Scriptures are the Father’s love letter to us, inviting us to join Him in covenant life. Part of this covenant life is understanding where God is calling us. Dr Mary Healy joins us to discuss reading the Scriptures from the Heart and Mind of the Church.Further ReadingCatholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture: GenesisMary’s website Guest InfoMary Healy (STD, Pontifical Gregorian University) is professor of Sacred Scripture at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, Michigan. She is a bestselling author, an international speaker, and one of the first women to serve on the Pontifical Biblical Commission. She is also a member of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. Her books include The Gospel of Mark and Hebrews in the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Visit her website at DrMaryHealy.com. 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

Pope Leo XIV has named the first moderator of the curia for the Diocese of Rome, as the pontiff continues to reform the diocese’s central organization in the wake of administrative upheaval. Matthew Bunson has more on this and other Church news.Further ReadingPope Leo XIV Continues Reform of Diocese of Rome With Addition of Leadership PositionArchbishop Gänswein: ‘Time Is Ripe’ to Lift Restrictions on Traditional Latin MassDiocese of Oslo to Open Canonization Cause for Nobel Laureate Sigrid UndsetCanonization Cause for Mother Angelica’s Spiritual Mentor, Rhoda Wise, Reaches Next StepGuest InfoMatthew Bunson is Vice President and Editorial Director of EWTN News and a Senior Fellow at St Paul Center for Biblical Theology. He’s the author or co-author of more than 50 books including the first English-language biography of Pope Francis and The Encyclopedia of Catholic History. Follow him on twitter at MattBunson. Register Radio airs Saturdays at 4 pm and Sundays at 11 am on Ave Maria Radio 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

As the rector of St Paul Seminary, Fr. Joseph Taphorn spends his life helping young men discerning the priesthood to discover the power of the Spirit in their lives. The King of the Universe has a plan for all of us – including you! Fr. Joseph joins us to discuss the power of the Holy Spirit in discernment.Guest InfoFr Joseph Taphorn is the Rector and Vice-President of St Paul Seminary in Minnesota. He also serves as Vice-President of the University of St Thomas. He was ordained a priest in 1997. 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

It feels perfectly natural to tell friends – and even strangers – about our favorite movie, why our favorite team keeps coming up short, or a new restaurant we just discovered. So why does it sometimes feel so unnatural to share the transforming story of the Gospel? Pete Burak joins us.Further ReadingA Man on Purpose: 10 Rules of Life from a Faithful FatherGuest InfoPete Burak is the vice president of Renewal Ministries, an organization dedicated to renewal and evangelization in the Catholic Church, and codirector of Pine Hills Boys Camp. He also served as an EWTN host for coverage of the National Eucharistic Congress. He is the author of A Man on Purpose: 10 Rules of Life from a Faithful Father. 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

We are surrounded by tribes: political, professional, online, ideological. Each offer belonging at a price. Join, and you risk dissolving into a ready-made identity. Refuse, and you risk drifting into isolation. Either way, the modern person is pulled toward the same end: forming a fragmented self that is easier to manage, easier to sell to, and easier to recruit. Luke Burgis joins us with an alternative to this worldview.Further ReadingThe One and the Ninety-Nine: Forging Identity in the Age of Social ContagionLuke’s websiteLuke’s blogGuest InfoLuke Burgis is the author most recently of The One and the Ninety-Nine: Forging Identity in the Age of Social Contagion. He founded The Cluny Institute, which brings together philosophy, technology, and the arts in pursuit of a more human future, and is a professor at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He is also the author of Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life, which has been translated into more than 20 languages. He lives in Washington, D.C., and Michigan with his wife, Claire, and their two daughters. 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

Benjamin Franklin famously described the American government as “a Republic – if you can keep it.” In his Farewell Address, George Washington issued a warning to America about how that Republic might be lost – and it bears striking similarities to what Moses warned the Israelites thousands of years before. Marcus has more.Further ReadingMoses Warned His People. So Did George Washington. 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

Do you ever find yourself out sorts doing the summer months, once you get out of the regular routine of the school year? Andrea Picciotti-Bayer has felt this way, and found that incorporating the Examen into her evening routing helped her to find order in the chaos. She joins us.Further ReadingThe Quiet Potential of the Daily ‘Examen’Guest Info Andrea Picciotti-Bayer is a legal analyst for EWTN News, and director of the Conscience Project. 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

Nations across the globe are scrambling to reverse collapsing birth rates, but they’re unlikely to accomplish this through policy intervention alone. Sub-replacement fertility is rooted in a cultural shift that has embraced a false narrative—too often viewing another child as a burden or impediment rather than a gift and source of meaning. Reversing demographic decline is not to be found in policy but rather in re-imagining children as the supreme manifestation of the common good. Dr. Stephen Barrows has more.Guest InfoDr. Stephen Barrows is the Chief Operating Officer for the Acton Institute. He previously served as the Executive Vice President, Provost and Dean of Faculty of Aquinas College, where he was also a tenured associate professor of economics. Dr. Barrows also served 21 years in the Air Force as an acquisition officer, an economics professor at the United States Air Force Academy and a faculty mentor at the National Military Academy of Afghanistan. He retired from the Air Force in 2013, holding the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. 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

We’ve talked much before about the wisdom of St. John Henry Newman, especially when it comes to education. Fr. Nate Davis joins us with more, looking virtue formation and his approach to education through personal encounter.Guest InfoFr Nathan Davis is Parochial Administrator of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Community in Covina, California 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

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells His disciples to go out into the world and proclaim that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. It’s an invitation for us to unite ourselves at the Heart of the Father and center everything on Jesus, the true King. 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

As an Eastern Catholic deacon, Father Deacon Robert Klesko has a unique view of unity with Rome and why it is essential. He joins us.Further ReadingThe Church Fathers Explain Why Union With Rome Is EssentialGuest InfoFather Deacon Robert Klesko is an EWTN Theology Advisor, married to Aundrea with five boys and one girl, and is a deacon in the Byzantine (Ruthenian) Catholic Church. He writes from Irondale, Alabama. 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

The media is reporting that a Dutch doctor euthanized a sick twelve-year-old child with a non-disclosed illness. It is a “first” under a new Dutch law that allows euthanasia for children ages one to twelve. But it’s hardly the first pediatric case we have seen in recent years. Wes Smith has more.Further ReadingTwelve-Year-Old Euthanized in the Netherlands: Not a FirstGuest InfoWes Smith is the Chair and Senior Fellow at the Discovery Institute’s Center on Human Exceptionalism. He’s also the host of the Humanize Podcast. He’s the author of 13 books including “Culture of Death: The age of Do-Harm Medicine.” Follow him on Twitter @thewesleyjsmith and check out his articles at National Review, First Things and 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

The U.S. Department of Education has announced a major escalation in protecting parents’ rights. In a report published last week, the D.o.E. alleged that a Kansas City school district overstepped major student privacy laws when teachers hid student’s new transgender identities from parents. Theresa Farnan has more.Further ReadingUS DOE Cracks Down on Schools for Hiding Student’s Gender Dysphoria from ParentsU.S. Department of Education Partners with the U.S. Department of Justice to Protect Parental RightsPerson and Identity Project Guest InfoTheresa Farnan, Ph.D., is a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C., where she co-founded and works on EPPC’s Person and Identity Project. A philosopher who specializes in Christian anthropology, she focuses her work on countering the destructive effects of gender ideology on young people, families, and faith communities. She also writes and speaks in defense of the family, persons with disabilities, and the unborn, and is a staunch advocate of Catholic education. 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

In an increasingly secular world, Christians are often pulled in two directions. Some urge us to retreat and build insular communities. Others call upon us to wage a culture war, harnessing the government to shore up Christian cultural power. But there is another way—and it’s as old as the church itself. Stephen Presley joins us.Further ReadingCultural Sanctification: Engaging the World like the Early ChurchBiblical Theology in the Life of the Early Church: Recovering an Ancient VisionStephen’s websiteGuest InfoDr. Stephen Presley is an Associate Professor of Church History at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and previously served as the Director of Research Doctoral Studies at the seminary. His teaching and research specialize in early Christian studies, focusing on the development of theology and practice in the life of the early church. Dr. Presley is the author of several books, including Cultural Sanctification: Engaging the World Like the Early Churchand Biblical Theology in the Life of the Early Church. 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

A Michigan branch of Catholic Charities has filed a lawsuit against the state, after the state stripped its Cristo Rey Counseling Center of its designation as a women’s specialty services organization because of the organization’s religious on abortion and birth control. Jeremiah Galus of the Alliance Defending Freedom has more.Further ReadingMichigan officials target Catholic ministry serving vulnerable familiesGuest InfoJeremiah Galus serves as senior counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom, where he is a key member of the Center for Christian Ministries. Since joining ADF in 2015, he has represented a wide array of religious ministries, schools, and churches, litigating cases at all levels of state and federal court. He was a key member of ADF’s litigation team in Uzuegbunam v. Preczewski, leading to a U.S. Supreme Court victory ensuring government officials are held accountable for violating constitutionally protected freedoms. Prior to joining ADF, Galus worked as an attorney with a large law firm in Washington, D.C., where he focused on complex civil litigation. 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

After French star Kylian Mbappé eliminated her country from the World Cup, a progressive senator from Paraguay unleashed a tirade of racist taunts against him on social media. Mbappé criticized her, saying she was a “despicable woman who is unworthy of office,” and in response she accused him of sexism and threatened legal action if he didn’t apologize. The senator’s comments are another example of the silliness and futility of identity politics. Marcus has more.Further ReadingParaguayan senator demands apology from Kylian Mbappé, threatens legal action 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

On this day in 1535, Thomas More was taken from his cell in the Tower of London to his execution. He spent his final months on this earth extensively writing, especially on the topic of death. We look at his advice for living and dying well with Stephen Smith.Further ReadingThe Last Riddle: Advice on Living and Dying Well from the Imprisoned Saint Thomas MoreThe Essential Works of Thomas MoreThomas More video series Guest InfoStephen Smith is the author most recently of The Last Riddle Advice on Living and Dying Well from the Imprisoned Saint Thomas More. He is Temple Family Chair of English Literature at Hillsdale College. He teaches Renaissance literature, with a focus on the works of Thomas More, William Shakespeare, and John Milton. With Gerard Wegemer, Smith serves as codirector of the Center for Thomas More Studies and coeditor of The Essential Works of Thomas More (Yale University Press, 2020). He has also written on More, Dante, and Shakespeare in The Wall Street Journal. Smith and his wife, Laura, live in Hillsdale, Michigan, and have four children and four grandchildren. 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

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift, who were married this weekend, reportedly signed one of the most elaborate prenups ever written. The practice of prenups has skyrocketed in recent years, and there are popular arguments for their use. But they also lay the groundwork for the marriage to fail. Marcus has more.Further ReadingTaylor and Travis, a Prenup Won’t Protect Your Marriage 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

America’s greatness has never rested in her military strength or economic prosperity alone. It has rested in her willingness—even after failure—to strive toward justice, virtue, and the dignity of every human person. Lisa Wheeler has more.Further ReadingAmerica at 250: The Last, Best HopeGuest InfoLisa Wheeler is the founder and president of Carmel Communications, a premier PR and marketing agency working at the intersection of faith, entertainment, and culture. Representing films, television, talent, and media brands globally, she is widely recognized for helping bridge the gap between the sacred and the secular in modern storytelling. 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

When Fr. Matt DeGance tells engaged couples they should refrain from having sex during the six-month waiting period before their wedding — even for those living together — there’s a palpable tension in the silence. Even among couples who seek to be married in the church, the concept of abstaining from sex is countercultural. But research shows that, once again, the Church’s teachings lead to stronger marriages. Fr. Matt joins us with more.Further ReadingChastity before marriage? No cohabitation? Data says couples who skip both may have stronger unionsCommunioGuest InfoFr Matt DeGance is the pastor of St Helen Catholic Church in Vero Beach, Florida 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

A new six-year report has challenged the widespread belief that the Boko Haram terrorist organization and its affiliates are responsible for the majority of civilian killings in Nigeria. The report instead finds that Fulani ethnic militia have killed far more than the other groups combined. Ed Clancy has more.Further ReadingReport: Fulani militia overtake Boko Haram as Nigeria’s deadliest terror groupAid to the Church in NeedGuest InfoEdward Clancy is the outreach director of Aid to the Church in Need-USA 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