The Patrick Madrid Show

Patrick handles questions from callers about selling blessed items and explains the Church's stance on simony, warning against treating spiritual goods as commodities. He picks apart misunderstandings about Christ’s divinity, rooting his answers in Scripture and the testimony of the earliest Christians, and engages in a spirited back-and-forth with a Pentecostal caller about the Trinity, grounding his replies both historically and theologically. When a mother wonders what to do about baptism for her child against her husband’s wishes, Patrick lays out the responsibilities and options with practical clarity.   Peter - Is it wrong to sell a blessed item like a Rosary? (01:10) Lucy (email) - If Jesus never said in the New Testament that He was God, why are we so certain? (11:09) Dan - In John 7, who is Jesus talking about when He says, “he that believeth in me”? (23:03) Martine (email) - If he's always existed, "where" was Jesus before he was born? (37:17) Marie - Infant baptism. I understand that this is not licit but could be done. If I baptized my kid on my own (without a priest or deacon) would I have to confess that? (47:51)

Patrick opens the episode weighing whether non-Catholic students should be altar servers in Catholic schools, laying out Church teaching and exploring its purpose. As listeners call in with their own stories and questions, he gives thoughtful responses, especially on how roles at Mass shape faith and vocations in boys and girls. Mid-discussion, Patrick shifts instantly to urgent updates about a tragic mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis, breaking from ordinary conversation to offer live news and prayer.   Adam (email) – Can non-Catholic students who attend Catholic school be altar servers? (00:52) Ellen (email) - Aren't altar servers supposed to have made their First Communion? (12:18) Stephanie – Non-Catholic kids in the Mass: I think as a kid it helped me to go to Mass to feel that I was welcome and that it wasn't closed off. (14:10) Brother John – A woman told me that we don't say altar boys anymore but altar servers. (21:12) Rick - Have you ever heard of Father Peter Mary Rookie?  (35:40) Bethany - I was a girl altar server. What would be beneficial for girls to do? Being an altar server helped bring me closer to my faith. What other options are there for young women? (39:09)

Patrick opens with real-time updates on the tragic mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Parish and School in Minneapolis, offering prayers and compassion while processing the horror as fresh details emerge. Amid sorrowful news, Patrick answers heartfelt listener calls about loss, faith, and why God permits such suffering, comforting those in pain while highlighting hope in scripture and the life of the Church. An eleven-year-old altar server’s voice brings a moment of gentle encouragement and innocence against the day’s grief.   Sharleen - My Church is St. Bernadette in Scottsdale. We have Knights of the Altar. (02:24) Aaron - I am distressed by this shooting. Is there any canon law or church teaching that would address that these children went to heaven? (24:01) Walter 11-years-old - I am an altar server, and it has helped me get so much closer to God. (30:28) Sharlyn - If God wills all things, is it His will for people to use their free will to carry out evil intention? (41:51)

It shouldn’t be a controversy to start a pro-life club at a Catholic high school. Patrick sorts through inconsistent policies and the confusion faced by students and parents. He fields a call from a thoughtful seven-year-old, breaks down traditions around Communion, and swaps stories about awkward early jobs and donut debates, letting serious moments mingle with humor and everyday honesty. Throughout the episode, Patrick offers insight, practical steps, and encouragement for families working to keep the Catholic faith alive in a rapidly shifting culture.   Martha (email) – Please consider homeschooling (00:41) Joel (email) – Kids should have t-shirts that say “Pro-Life Club” (04:30) Patrick and Cyrus talk about jobs they didn’t last long at (11:31) Richard - What is the proper way of handling the Eucharist when putting it inside the monstrance? (18:00) Avery (7-years-old) - Why can't nuns and priests get married? (24:25) Daniel (email) – Donuts and coffee! (34:47) A.J. (email) - I find it deplorable that the innocence of our special needs community is being compromised by the LGBTQ ideology. (38:05) Email - These verses are considered to be prophetic concerning the 1,000-year reign… (43:41) Brian - How do I find a Catholic Church in San Francisco? (48:24)

Brian calls in from San Francisco, searching for faith after a hard life, and Patrick offers hands-on advice for reconnecting with parish life and finding support. Marriage, divorce, and questions about scripture surface; Patrick calmly explains Catholic teaching and directs callers to authentic resources. Listeners offer prayers and concrete help, while Patrick quietly becomes a steady friend for souls hoping for relief or belonging.   Patrick continues his conversation with Bryan who had his life change by the words of a street preacher and is looking into joining the Catholic Church (01:20) Silvana (email) - Thanks for recommending Star of the Sea Parish to Brian.  They have a beautiful Marian Shrine there too. (20:24) Julie - I was so moved by your conversation with Bryan. The pastor of Our Lady Star of the Sea used to be a pastor of mine at another Church. Great guy. I want to thank you, Patrick. (20:42) Lisa - My daughter is going through a divorce and has been seeing a man for a year now. She is planning on getting an annulment. Can they live together as brother and sister? (26:38) Tony - My sister is living together with her husband civilly but not having sexual relations and receiving communion. Is that ok? (36:22) Michael - What do you think of the NIV and the King James Bibles? Are they comparable to Catholic bibles? (43:04)

Patrick responds to questions that cut to the heart of Catholic life, moving from a supervisor’s Sunday work dilemma to a mother’s heartbreak over her son abandoning Mass for love. He weaves together listener stories, personal reflections, and Church teaching with both gentle encouragement and striking candor. As he celebrates the arrival of his new grandson and listens to tales of faith, Patrick offers practical advice and genuine warmth, drawing out the truth in every exchange.   Steven (email) – Is it okay to ask people to work on Sunday? (02:03) Mary - My son is dating someone who is not Catholic. I feel the girlfriend is lying to him. Is there anything I can do? (10:07) Rosa - I called a year ago about an annulment. I want to thank you for your guidance. It helped me a lot. (23:17) Caesar - In Catholic Christian burials, we should keep the body together and not cremated and spread in the ocean. Saints, however, have relics all over the world. Can you help me understand this? (29:07) Victor – Our priest said that not all Catholics will be going to Heaven. He also said that we might meet Buddhist monks in heaven. How is this possible? (38:56)

Patrick opens the episode on a thankful note, spotlighting listener generosity before moving straight into authentic conversations about battling temptation, the significance of vows, and practical spiritual advice. He fields passionate emails and calls, touching on struggles with sin, the value of daily prayer, defending pro-life stances in Catholic schools, and finding God’s glory in everyday actions, with surprising candor and warmth. Expect encouragement, some humor, and a few pointed challenges for anyone yearning to live their faith more deeply.   Larry (email) - When trying to overcome a bad habit, like overeating or over drinking, to say, “I vow to God that I won’t overeat today.” (01:20) David (email) – How can I defeat the temptation of porn? (04:44) Susan (email) - I am a huge fan of Relevant Radio, you and Cyrus (22:12) John Paul (email) - My high school allows LGPTQ clubs, but not bible study clubs (25:00) Pat in Alberta - How do I glorify God? (38:11) Jacob - I have been dating a Lutheran girl for a couple of months. How can I convince her about the Catholic view of faith and works? (41:45) Bob - You are talking about lust. Does lust always have to do with sex? (49:22)

Patrick welcomes listeners into a cascade of honest conversations, fielding calls about temptation, virtue, and what it means to honor Catholic values during daily life’s toughest tests. He responds to real stories, from a caller’s brother leaving the faith for marriage, to fiery debates about pro-life representation in Catholic schools and Church leadership’s clarity, offering thoughtful book suggestions, clear Catholic teaching, and encouragement for deeper prayer and action. Angels, their hierarchy, and the invisible spiritual presence around each Mass come alive as Patrick brings theological insight and practical advice, guiding both skeptics and seekers toward deeper understanding.   Patrick continues his conversation with Bob from the end of the last hour about lust and sex (00:45) Jeff - My brother left the faith to be with his wife. Should I drop this or try to persuade him still? (05:45) Liz - What does the hierarchy of angels look like? Do they all sing with us during the Gloria at Mass? (12:56) Alexis (email) - Regarding the email about the pro alphabet club but anti life club: do you think it possibly boils down to funding for the school? (24:14) Trip (email) - Why can’t the Pope fix these corrupt Catholic schools? (26:31) Brian - I have a coworker who says that the Catholics killed Christians who disagreed with the Church before Luther. (33:27) Janelle (email) - How do you feel about the concept of "spiritual friendship" (sometimes called "vowed friendship")? (38:03) Kathy - I do believe that many are leaving the Church because of all the LGBTQ stuff going on in our parishes. Strong leaders could have a large effect but they skirt the issues of this. I think you should be bolder about this. (41:50)

Patrick tackles tough faith questions with honest, unscripted candor, from wrestling with Gospel passages on salvation to offering comfort for grief after a beloved pet’s loss. He fields calls about business ethics in old church buildings, kids’ biblical curiosities, salvation debates in marriage, and the sometimes-painful mysteries we all face. Listeners hear hard truths, genuine compassion, and the constant thread of hope rooted in Catholic wisdom.   Michelle - Why would God create people if most of them are going to Hell? It almost seems like the devil wins because he gets most of God's children. (00:40) Terry - My friend is asking me to run a coffee shop in his Protestant Church. Can I do that? (12:22) Emily (8-years-old) - In 2 Kings it mentions that Elijah went up in a chariot of fire. Did he actually go to heaven or was it just a 'place of waiting?' (19:13) Cindy - I am struggling. I lost my pet last Thursday. Can you give me some words of comfort and advice? (22:57) Nancy - My husband is a Baptist. He believes in having a personal relationship with Jesus and works are not required. What do you think? (28:02) Mark - What is the Catholic understanding of Peter's power to loose and bind in Matthew 16? (38:34)

Patrick Madrid takes a call from Matt in Huntington Beach, who asks a very relatable question: How do I keep prayer intentional when I have so many intentions that it feels like a checklist? Patrick admits right away that he’s not speaking as a prayer “expert,” but as a fellow traveler who wrestles with the same distractions. He encourages you to pray at times and in places where the noise of life is quieter -- whether that’s at home in the early morning or during a visit to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. But he also affirms that prayer doesn’t have to be limited to those moments; it can happen anywhere -- in the car, at the grocery store, or in the middle of a busy day. What matters most, Patrick says, is not the absence of distractions but what you do with them. He suggests offering those distractions to God directly: “Lord, I’m trying to pray, but my mind is scattered. I give you these distractions too.” That effort, he says, is pleasing to God because it shows love and persistence. Patrick also draws on Ignatian spirituality, recommending a prayer method that involves putting yourself into the scene of Scripture or the mysteries of the Rosary. For example, while praying the Sorrowful Mysteries, you can imagine yourself standing at the pillar as Jesus is scourged, which helps stir gratitude and deepen prayer. He goes on to outline the stages of prayer: -Discursive prayer -- the “shallow end,” made up of spontaneous prayers or rote prayers like the Our Father -Meditation -- a deeper form, where the mind and heart actively engage with the truths of the Faith -Contemplation -- the “deep end” of prayer, described by saints like Teresa of Avila as gazing on God with love, much like beholding a beautiful sunset in awe On the specific problem of prayer becoming a long “laundry list,” Patrick introduces the idea of virtual intentions. Instead of naming every single person or need individually each time, you can entrust categories of people or petitions to God: “Lord, I pray for all those I promised to pray for” or “I pray for all who have died.” This way, prayer remains heartfelt without being mechanical. Finally, Patrick recommends two spiritual classics to grow in prayer: Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales and The Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila. Both provide wisdom on moving from simple, everyday prayer to deeper intimacy with God. Patrick reminds you: the key is not perfection, but intention. As long as you’re sincerely engaging with God rather than just “clickety clacking” through words, your prayer life will bear fruit.