The Patrick Madrid Show

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Patrick Madrid tackled a great question that could make you scratch your head a bit!    How is it logical for God to create everything out of nothing?    Our buddy Anonymous Andy from Rhode Island wrote in with a serious theological puzzle. He gets that God is logical and cannot create contradictions (like a four-sided triangle or a married bachelor). Then Andy hits us with the question:   "If God created everything out of nothing, isn’t that a contradiction too?"     Patrick’s Breakdown: Why This Isn’t a Contradiction   1. A Contradiction = Two Opposing Truths at the Same Time   A four-sided triangle is actually impossible because "triangle" means "three-sided figure." If you try to add a fourth side, it's no longer a triangle. That’s a logical contradiction. Creating something out of nothing, however, is not.   2. God IS Existence Itself (Remember the Burning Bush?)    Patrick takes us to Exodus 3, where Moses asks God, “Who should I say sent me?” and God replies:   "I AM WHO AM."   Not "I have being" but "I AM being." Unlike us, who received existence from something before us (our parents), God didn’t get existence from anything: He IS existence.   3. Everything in Creation Had a Beginning   Everything we see: planets, people, Patrick Madrid’s radio show, came into existence because something caused it to exist. Here’s the important thing: there has to be a first cause, something that always existed and started it all.   That "something" is God: the uncaused cause, the prime mover, the reason anything exists at all.   4. "Before" Creation? There Was No "Before"!    We’re stuck thinking in terms of time, but time itself is part of creation. Saying, "What happened before creation?" is like asking, "What’s north of the North Pole?" (Nothing.)   When God created, it wasn’t like He was sitting around twiddling His divine thumbs. There was no "before": only God, eternally existing.   5. It’s About God’s Power, Not a Magic Trick   Creation ex nihilo (out of nothing) doesn’t mean "poof!" in a magician sort of way. It means that God, who IS existence, shares existence with created things. He isn’t reshaping pre-existing stuff like some cosmic Play-Doh; He gives being itself.     Final Takeaway: It's All About God’s Nature   Patrick wraps it up by emphasizing:   Creating out of nothing isn’t a contradiction; it’s the logical result of who God is. If God wasn't the uncaused cause, nothing else could exist. He created not because He needed to, but out of love.      God creating out of nothing isn’t like a square circle; it's the only way anything could exist at all.

Patrick addresses sincere listener queries about biblical scripture, understanding the mystery of indulgences, and coping with devastating tragedies. He tackles Agnes's curiosity on Bible study resources, shares Joe's inspiring story of faith and recovery, and explains the gravity of mortal sin and its repercussions.   Agnes (email) – I want to study the Bible. What are some good resources that will help me? (2:04) Andy (email) – How is creating everything out of nothing different from creating a 4-sided triangle? In other words, how is creating everything out of nothing logical and not contradictory? (7:25) Andrew - I am going to Rome on pilgrimage. What indulgences are available and how can I get them? (20:51) Joe – I met a young man looking for God and he had his prayers answered. He’s not religious but he prayed, and it was amazing to hear. (32:54) Robert (email) – I’m seeing some information online that the pilot might not be who they said it is (36:24) Dominic - where does the Bible speak against homosexuality and who are they hurting by doing that? (37:02)

Patrick hears from listeners like Bridget, seeking advice on supporting friends in difficult circumstances, and he addresses the complexities of faith and personal struggles. Patrick explores everything from spiritual guidance to understanding perplexing biblical passages.   Brigitte - I have a friend who is a lesbian. She believes in Jesus and reads the Bible, but she’s still living with girlfriend. How can I support her? (0:49) Joe - What does Jesus mean when He said, “in order that they not be converted and be forgiven”? It seems like a contradiction. (8:05) John - What is a 12-step program for Catholics? (16:32) Tom (email) – Why didn’t you spend time commemorating MLK? (20:00) Diana – How do we balance evangelization without the risk of stepping into the occult? (24:41) Sally (email) – Do you know of any free catholic counseling services or resources? (32:50) Cynthia - I rely on the Bible to practice my faith. What else can I rely on? (36:01) Aaron - How can the Catholic Church say it is the only way to heaven? Jesus said, “no man can come to the Father but through me” (40:56)

Patrick explores the importance of staying true to faith and the struggles many face in today's world. Patrick shares powerful personal stories from callers across the nation, discusses the impact of tradition versus modernity, and examines the historical context of the Catholic Church’s teachings. He tackles tough questions from why the Church appears silent on major issues to the role of deacons and even female deacons. Tune in to The Patrick Madrid Show for more compelling insights and stay encouraged!   Mike - Why didn't the Catholic Church speak up more about the LGBTQ pastor? (00:30) John - What do you think of a Deacon being an acolyte? (18:55) Dorothy - I find it hard to believe that you will go to hell if you leave Church. (25:52) Jean - Are female deacons ok? Is that in the Bible? (39:59) Carla - My 14-year-old is hiding things and lying. How can I teach my daughter about honesty through the Church's viewpoint? (45:11)

Patrick Madrid shares a great little saying from Karen in Pennsylvania. Her mom used to ask her and her siblings before a trip: "Are your spiritual bank accounts full?" Now, Karen does the same with her own kids. Love it. Simple, powerful, and convicting.   Patrick brings this up as he reflects on the heartbreaking tragedy you may have heard about: the collision between an American Airlines flight and a military helicopter near Washington, D.C. Everyone on board lost their lives. May the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen.    You never know when your time is up. Not in a scary, doom-and-gloom way, but in a real way. Life is unpredictable. If something sudden happened, would you be ready to meet God?    The challenge: Don’t just fill up your gas tank before a trip; fill up your soul, too. Whether that’s confession, prayer, or just checking in on where your heart is, stay ready.   A solid reminder from Patrick... and Karen’s mom! So… is your spiritual bank account full? 

Patrick addresses the tragic crash of American Airlines Flight 5342 and a military Blackhawk helicopter, reflecting on the brevity of life and the importance of being spiritually prepared. Patrick discusses Western cultural Marxism with insights from James Lindsay and tackles the complexities of gender ideology.   Patrick shares the horrible news of the plane and helicopter crash in D.C. (0:25) Audio: Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy: “The helicopter was in a standard pattern.” (2:06) Audio: Moments ago, emergency officials, including the Fire and EMS Chief Fire John Donnelly, confirmed that there are no survivors in the tragic mid-air collision over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. The crash involved a U.S. military Black Hawk helicopter carrying three service members and an American Airlines flight with 64 passengers on board. All 67 individuals are now presumed dead as recovery efforts continue. Authorities are investigating the cause of the collision while first responders work at the scene. (5:01) Maria - Is Sunday Mass preferable to Saturday Mass? (15:17) Patrick asks if your spiritual bank account is full (21:55) Audio: James Lindsay - Woke is Westernised Cultural Marxism (he mentions The 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals) (24:14) Patrick shares the UN’s 17 Goals for Sustainable Development (26:46) Audio: Gender ideologue is forced out of their echo chamber when he is asked - Why should I as a female before forced to get undressed in front of a male? (34:24) Audio: Carmelite Sisters wish everyone a Happy Catholic School Week 2025! (39:45) Joe - Is it okay for a priest to preach about Garabandal or Medjugorge? (42:41)

Patrick reflects on a range of heartfelt topics, confronting anger and division and emphasizing the importance of forgiveness and understanding in relationships. He discusses the crucial role of priests in spiritual lives and how their actions can leave lasting impressions. Plus, Patrick touches on pressing issues about faith and its intersection with societal concerns.   Patrick reads and comments on an email that claims he didn’t handle a call in the correct way (0:56 Len (email) – Grumpy man at church makes amends (6:33) Chris - Why isn't the USCCB calling out Joe Biden for joining the Freemasons? (10:00) Email – A priest at my parish doesn’t elevate the host (11:55) Daniel (email) – How important is it to hear from different priests when a parish has more than one? (22:49) Seena - My son disowned me because I voted for the wrong person. What can I do? (26:28) Carl - I used to love this particular priest, but he told me it doesn’t matter that I liked him “because you are not there for me or my homily”. (40:00) Richard - Good discussion with Seena. The criticism of anything Jewish is not Jewish hatred. I can criticize an unjust war. Criticism is not hatred and same is true of criticizing Democrats. (42:13)

Patrick begins with the complex international tensions surrounding Israel and Hamas, featuring insights from experts like Douglas Murray and Natasha Hausdorf. He then discusses the nuanced perspective on the ethics of euthanasia and its alignment with Christian doctrine. The conversation shifts to the importance of informed confession practices within the Catholic faith.   Audio: Douglas Murray, “they don’t care about Palestinians, they hate the Jews” (00:53) Audio: British attorney Natasha Hausdorff stunned the audience by completely destroying the Palestinian narrative about the conflict (03:10) Paul - Is it legit to say when I am in a confessional that I am confessing my sins with a priest? (08:01) Michael - How can we get people to listen to other sources of news? Both sides are convinced they are true. (14:51) Audio: President Trump addresses the nation about last night’s horrible tragedy (19:17) Jane - People make out that assisted suicide is normal is bizarre (29:16) Tom - I don't see how euthanasia fits into Thou Shalt Kill. (37:55) Rose - I wanted to commend you on your calm approach to callers and how you respond to them. I appreciate it. (48:59)

On this episode of The Patrick Madrid Show, Patrick explores a topic that many Catholics might not even realize they’re accidentally messing up: how we talk about Catholics and Protestants. If you’ve ever said, “Oh, I’m Catholic, and they’re Christian,” Patrick is here to gently (but firmly) ask you to stop doing that.    The Big Idea:   Patrick reminds us that Catholics ARE Christians: the OG Christians, to be exact.  When Jesus established His Church 2,000 years ago, it wasn’t some vague, do-it-yourself Christianity. Nope, it was the Catholic Church. So, when we use language that separates "Catholic" from "Christian," we’re actually misrepresenting the truth about who we are as followers of Christ.   What About Protestants?   Yes, Protestants are Christians, but their Christianity is different. It stems from the Protestant Reformation, which started as a protest against the Catholic Church about 500 years ago. Patrick explains how Protestantism branched into countless denominations because of the idea of Sola Scriptura (the belief in “Bible alone”): an idea that’s not biblical or part of historic Christianity.   Patrick points out the endless debates among Protestant groups: “Does baptism save you or not?” “Can you lose your salvation or nah?” It’s like a theological Rubik’s Cube with no solution.    The result? Protestants follow a fragmented version of Christianity that leans heavily on individual interpretations of the Bible. Patrick notes that some churches basically just pick a “mini-Pope” (a charismatic pastor) to tell them what the Bible means.   Catholicism = Historic Christianity   Patrick doesn’t hold back: the Catholic Church is the original Christianity. Full stop. When you open the Bible, especially the Book of Acts, you’re seeing the Catholic Church in her beginnings. By the early second century, Saint Ignatius of Antioch was already calling it the Catholic Church.   The Eucharist, Apostolic succession, the sacraments, the teachings of Christ: they all come from the Catholic Church. It’s not just a Christian church; it’s THE Church Christ established.   Why Words Matter   Patrick’s key takeaway is this: how we talk shapes how we think. By casually separating "Catholic" and "Christian," we’re accidentally buying into the false idea that Catholicism is just one denomination among many. I’s not. It’s the Church that Jesus Himself founded.   So Stop Saying...   “Oh, I’m Catholic, but they’re Christian.” Start Saying... "I’m Catholic: part of the original Christian Church."   Patrick isn’t here to bash Protestants; he just wants Catholics to stop selling themselves short. The next time someone asks you about your faith, remember: being Catholic is being Christian, and it’s time we talked like it.