The Patrick Madrid Show

Patrick shared a quick but oh-so-needed reflection that will resonate deeply. He read a recent interview from Vatican News featuring Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo (from Africa), about that ever-present buzz around division in the Church.    The real story is way deeper than the drama on your social media feed.      Media vs. Reality: Not the Same Thing   Cardinal Ambongo said this:   “The press often claims the Church is divided between conservatives and progressives... These categories do not exist among the Cardinals themselves.”   Whoa. So, while social media might make it seem like the Church is at war with itself (team trad vs. team modern, etc.), the actual Cardinals are not playing that game.    According to the Cardinal, what really happened at the conclave (you know, the one that just gave us Pope Leo XIV) was unity. Not fake, PR-crafted unity, but a shared love for Jesus Christ.     The Church = A Person, Not a Platform   Cardinal Ambongo gets to the heart of it:   “The Church is not an ideology... but rather an attachment to a person, and that person is Jesus Christ.”   Can we get an Amen?    This isn’t about being “Team Benedict” or “Team Francis” or “Team Trad Latin Mass Only.” The real “team” is: Team Jesus.   At the end of the day, Jesus didn’t ask Peter, “Do you have the right liturgical preference?” He asked, “Do you love me?”      Patrick’s Take: Strive for Unity, Not Cliques   Patrick ties it back to Scripture: St. Paul calling out early Christians for splitting into camps (remember “I’m with Apollos!” “I’m with Cephas!” etc.). Paul shut that down hard because it missed the point: It’s all about Christ.   Patrick’s challenge for us?  Even when the online world feels loud, snarky, and divided... especially within Catholic circles, we have to remember our purpose. And live like it. It’s Jesus. Period.     Final Word   If you’ve been feeling a little disheartened by all the Catholic infighting online, let this be your reminder: the Body of Christ is bigger than our factions.   Like Patrick said: this is also an ideal to strive for. Let’s get back to what unites us.     Want more thoughtful commentary like this? Catch The Patrick Madrid Show live weekdays on the Relevant Radio app, 8–11am CT.   Because in a noisy world, we could all use a little more truth... and a little less X/Twitter.   

Patrick highlights the challenges students face today with technology like smartphones and AI affecting their learning and motivation. He discusses the importance of unity within the Catholic Church and addresses pro-life advocacy and the need for grassroots involvement. Patrick shares options for parents wanting a stronger educational foundation for their children, including homeschooling and resources like Kolbe Academy.   Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo – “there is a gap between what is said in the media and reality” (00:56) Audio: Former Teacher Goes Viral: These Kids Don't Care…Cut Off AI (13:18) Alex - How do you recommend handling a Jehovah's Witness? I don’t want to argue with them. What do I do? (18:31) Congress to honor Pope Leo (28:38) Michael - LGBT companies like CVS and Walgreens provide abortion pills. Should we boycott them? (39:42) David - I don't see the rationale that Jehovah’s witnesses see Catholics as satanic. (43:08) Esther - What do you think about husbands doing homeschooling? (46:46)

Special Challenge Match Hour

Patrick brings listeners into thoughtful discussions on faith, tradition, and the differences in Church prayers across languages. He addresses challenging questions about end-of-life choices in light of Catholic teaching and reflects on the importance of prayer and patience while supporting loved ones. Patrick highlights how understanding, compassion, and a steady commitment to core values help people grow stronger in faith and community.   Daniel – Why is the Spanish translation with English prayers not consistent? (03:16) Why isn’t Pope Leo XIII a saint? (13:46) Sharon - If someone is an atheist and we pray for them, does God's mercy reach them? (17:33) Margaret - Why was John XXIII canonized a saint when he disavowed Fatima? He was supposed to reveal Fatima secrets but didn't (21:59) Matilda (email) – My son went to public schools and he never remembered his multiplication tables? (27:48) Lynn (email) – Question about the moral and ethical issues that come up with end of life issues (28:56) Anna – I had a younger brother with mental disabilities. All his systems were failing and he was on life support. I decided to remove the feeding tube and meds. He still had an oxygen tube in. What do you think? (40:22) Maria - Why do Catholics canonize people that are not even in process like previous Pope? (45:16)

Patrick talks about the relationship between the Latin language and the Catholic Church and also how words have been interpreted and changed over the years.   And he also talks about the differences between Latin and English, and recommends people learn some Latin.  Patrick discusses the conflict in wanting to an organization that does good, but commits some immoral acts.  He also takes a question regarding evolution and the way it’s taught.   Lily-Why can’t siblings get married? (2:42) Zach (email)-Does the devil hate the sound of Latin and is it the purest language? (5:06) Mark-How you could go to mass in any other country, and it’s the same Latin Mass and to get rid of the Latin Mass is to divide the Church.  (13:59) Catherine-Question about choosing new Godparents as original Godparents have lost their way. (18:09) Joan-Latin had a juridical and legislative vocabulary that led to doctrine. (20:11) Mary Ann Can I donate to a scientific research organization for a specific thing since I don't like all that they do? (28:44) Larry-If Satan doesn't like Latin, why do Devil worshipers use Latin? (39:19) Jessica (email)-Any online Latin classes to recommend?  (41:41) Magdalena-My kids go to Catholic School and they say that evolution could be a thing but I have a background in biological sciences and I see no evidence of it. (43:50)

Hour 2 Patrick explains that it isn’t sinful or immoral to use a product that may promote LGBTQ like Duolingo, especially comparing to everyday products that we use that also promote LGBTQ and if it’s possible to avoid their use, so much the better. Patrick takes a call from a listener who shared the program with her friends and now they are devoted listeners as well!    Annie (email)-It seems wrong to me that you want to promote Duolingo and they promote LGBTQ.  Could you explain?  (1:05) Lydia-When you talked about hope last week about Pope Leo XIV as I learned so much I shared it, and they were so moved that they are becoming regular donors! (5:14) Mary (email)-What do you think about the ALPHA program? (16:24) Tom (email)-About being skeptical regarding science and thinks Patrick has been taken in by AI.  (18:58) Rebecca-Why does exposition require 24 hours? (22:54) Paul I was told that Latin is considered holy because it was one of three languages used on the writing above Jesus on the Cross and that Satan may be using a different pronunciation of Latin (27:56) Preston Allex shares the story of going to pilgrimage to Lourdes bringing back the Holy Water from there for the Relevant Radio Pledge Drive (32:56) Jim-When the thief asked Jesus to remember him was that his acknowledgement that Christ was the messiah and was Jesus talking about heaven when He said paradise? (43:38)

Patrick talks about prayer and about God answering prayer and his Providence.  He also shares the wonderful miracles associated with Lourdes.  Patrick counsels a caller who wants to be more comfortable with the Novus Ordo mass.  Patrick explains the Jewish faith, how they have different beliefs regarding the Messiah within the faith itself.   Kathy-Why do we pray if God already knows everything and has it planned? (0:57) Patrick talks about the numerous miracles at Lourdes (7:26) Jonathan-How can I be more comfortable with the Novus Ordo mass? (15:05) Jonathan-What’s the difference between falling asleep in hopes of resurrection, purgatory and going to heaven? (22:19) Brian-Why are Jewish still waiting and how will they know if he comes? (27:21) Mary Ann (email): Why didn’t the ones who were in paradise go to purgatory (32:09) A.J.-(email) How do you know if you’re detached from sin in regards to plenary indulgence? (34:00) Mark-Where does our faith come from (42:30) Jessica (email)-Question about getting marriage convalidated as I enter OCIA? (46:58) Agnes-Is it okay to cut or break a rosary held by a deceased person before burial? (48:09) Angelica - How can I help people understand that there is life after death? (44:02)

Okay, put on your theological thinking caps, because in this podcast episode of The Patrick Madrid Show, you'll get a great answer to a BIG question: How do we know Jesus founded the Catholic Church and not some other Christian group?   Patrick brings the receipts, the analogies, and yes… the flat earth references.   The Question That Sparked It All   A listener named Timothy emails Patrick this question:   “Hey Patrick, aren’t you being a little harsh? You call out Protestants for coming down on Catholics, but then don’t you come down just as hard on non-Catholics? Aren’t both sides just passionate about what they believe?”   Timothy’s tone is respectful. And Patrick loves it. He takes it seriously. He gives a full, no-punches-pulled response: rooted in reason, history, and good old-fashioned Catholic confidence.   The Flat Earth Analogy   Patrick compares Protestantism to… flat earth theory.   Not because Protestants are dumb (he’s clear about that; they’re very sincere, smart, and well-meaning), but because:   You can be sincere… and still be sincerely wrong.   He argues that Protestant theology, like flat earth theory, is demonstrably false. It just doesn’t hold up when you look at Scripture, history, and the writings of the early Church Fathers. Just as science clearly disproves a flat earth, Church history disproves that Protestantism was ever the original Christianity.   So, What Does the Bible Say?   Patrick points out that Protestantism often relies on concepts like:   Sola Scriptura ("Bible alone")   Once Saved, Always Saved   …which aren’t in the Bible... and in some cases are even contradicted by the Bible.   He brings up passages like:   2 Thessalonians 2:15: Hold fast to the traditions, oral and written.   1 Corinthians 11: Keep the traditions as I delivered them.   These support Catholic teachings about Scripture and Tradition. Patrick says that trusting only personal Bible interpretation turns the faith into a theological Rubik’s Cube: everyone has their own twist on it. That’s just not how Jesus set it up.   Early Christians Weren’t Protestant, They Were... Catholic   He brings up St. John Henry Newman, the Anglican scholar who tried to disprove Catholicism… and ended up converting because the evidence was so overwhelming.   The early Church:   Believed in the Real Presence in the Eucharist   Celebrated the Mass as a sacrifice   Had sacraments, priests, apostolic authority   Baptized babies   Defended Trinitarian doctrine against heresies   And all this was happening centuries before the Reformation.   Protestantism, Patrick argues, is a latecomer: a break from the historical Church, not a return to it.   The Church is Noah’s Ark   Patrick closes with a beautiful, personal touch:   The Catholic Church is the Ark Jesus built to carry us through the flood of confusion, division, and error. He didn’t leave us a Rubik’s Cube Bible to figure out solo. He left us a Church: one, holy, catholic, and apostolic.   That’s why Patrick is confident, not just passionate. He's not trying to win arguments. He’s trying to show that there’s an unbroken, visible, historical Church founded by Christ, and it’s Catholic.

Patrick explores what it means to truly follow Jesus, gives a behind-the-scenes look at how a pope is elected, and answers real questions about the relationship between faith and works in salvation. He also provides clear, thoughtful responses to listener emails on prayers at the hour of death, the value of Masses for those who have passed away, and even organ donation. For anyone seeking practical answers and clarity about Catholic beliefs, Patrick delivers insight and encouragement to help you grow in faith.   Audio: “We're in Christianity to be faithful, to follow Christ, to seek eternal life” - Bishop Robert Prevost (01:23) Audio: South African cardinal Wilfrid Napier who has taken part in two conclaves processes, shares what it’s like to elect a new pope. (04:43) Shelly - Protestants say you don’t need works to prove faith. (07:19) Josie (email) - What exactly is the "hour of our death?" (27:24) Teresa (email) - Is more efficacious to have a Mass said for a deceased person than to enroll them in perpetual Mass associations? (29:38) Karina (email) - Would it align with our Catholic faith to donate reproductive organs, such as a uterus? (31:27) Ted - Planning funeral arrangements for my sister. Should I do this over two separate days or just do it in one day without the mass? (32:59) Karen (email) - I never understood that Jesus’s last words were “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me.” Isn’t that not trusting in God at the time of your death? (44:00) Nelson (email) - Most senior chaplains in the military are not catholic. They do not understand the difference between a Catholic priest and a protestant chaplain. (47:26)

Patrick reflects on leaving a legacy, how life can change in an instant, and the importance of preparing for what’s ahead—both spiritually and practically. He answers thoughtful questions about faith, technology, and personal security. Patrick reminds everyone that your actions, generosity, and words to loved ones truly matter. Be ready for the storms of life, express your love openly, and remember—your choices can bring hope.   Patrick shares the unexpected death of an old friend and reflects on how we don’t know the place or time of our death. (01:17) Francis (14-years-old) - In the Gospels, it says Jesus ate and drank after Resurrection. where did that food go? (14:19) 23andMe users’ genetic data is at risk (17:58) Scientists made a tool called “Difface” that turns your DNA into a 3D face — like CSI meets sci-fi. (21:28) Email – Why does the Lutheran service says Catholic Faith in their Creed? (27:45) Ray - My god brother passed away. He had down syndrome. How does God treat someone like that when they die? (31:09) Michael - What is the purpose of the universe? Why did God create all of this? Does it play part in eternal salvation? (33:59) Joni (email) - DNA can be recovered and if it's not already in a database, this could give police a huge advantage in finding someone more quickly. I guess there's positive and negative sides to everything. (41:12) Ben - Why did the Pope insert the Filioque clause into the Creed without calling Council? (42:52)