The Best of the Week

Epizody

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  A Mother Asks for Healing and a Home (Family Rosary Across America) 19.08.2026 2min

  Loretta from Los Angeles called in to the Family Rosary Across America carrying three heavy intentions: healing for her sister, healing for her 12-year-old son, and a home after nine months of homelessness. Her sister, a cancer survivor, is now facing another serious health crisis. At the same time, her son is dealing with swollen lymph nodes. And Loretta, exhausted from sleeping in cars, asked God for something simple: a small home with a yard. Father Rocky turned her requests into a prayer of confident trust, asking St. Joseph to intercede for her family and help provide a home. “We’re gonna pray for your sister. We’re gonna pray for your son,” Father Rocky said. “And we pray that St. Joseph move you to the top of the list.” The best way to catch Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.
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  The Strength It Takes to Ask for Forgiveness (The Inner Life) 19.08.2026 3min

  On The Inner Life with Deacon Patrick Conley, caller Tom from Milwaukee shared a powerful lesson about meekness, forgiveness, and what can happen when we make room for God’s grace. For years, tension had been building between Tom’s family and their neighbors. His neighbor's children frequently came over, conflicts arose, and resentment grew. Tom and his wife prayed about the situation, but the anger remained. Then his wife suggested something unexpected: They should go next door and ask forgiveness for whatever part they had played in the conflict. Tom was reluctant. From his perspective, the problems were entirely the neighbors’ fault. Still, he went. “I can’t explain it outside of God’s mercy, grace,” Tom recalled. “That second, everything changed.” The neighbors hugged, they invited Tom and his wife to dinner, and Tom said his anger toward the woman disappeared. Patrick pointed out that this is precisely why meekness should never be confused with weakness. It takes an immense amount of strength, he said, to approach someone against whom you have a long list of grievances and simply say, “Forgive me.” Sometimes, winning the argument isn’t what heals a relationship. Humility, forgiveness, and God’s grace can accomplish what resentment never will. The best way to catch Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.
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  How Do You Find a Good Spouse? (Marriage Unhindered) 19.08.2026 16min

  Doug Hinderer has some practical advice for singles looking for their spouse: Don’t just ask yourself whether you’re attracted to someone. Pay attention to the qualities that could make them a good spouse. On Marriage Unhindered, Doug shares three signs from relationship researcher Dr. John Gottman. Does the person take a genuine interest in you, asking questions and listening to your answers? Do they treat people well even when there is nothing to gain from it? And are they reliable? Do they do what they say they will do? Doug adds another essential quality: virtue. Look for someone who is not only striving to be a good person but recognizes that growth is lifelong. Marriage will offer countless opportunities to change, mature, sacrifice, and become more virtuous. And for Catholics, there is another crucial consideration: being aligned in the Faith. Sharing a commitment to God can provide a strong foundation for building a life and family together. But how do you actually get to know someone? Doug recommends moving beyond small talk with questions such as: What sparks your curiosity? What are your hobbies? Who do you surround yourself with? What do you spend most of your time thinking about? Perhaps the most revealing question is: “What does a life well-lived look like to you?” The answer can reveal someone’s values, hopes, and vision for the future – and whether that future might be one you could build together. The best way to catch Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.
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  How Catholic Parents Can Keep the Faith Alive at Home (The Patrick Madrid Show) 19.08.2026 14min

  When Omar from Hollister, California, called The Patrick Madrid Show, he had a concern familiar to many Catholic parents. He and his wife are raising two young children, hoping for more, and trying to put the Faith first, but few members of their extended family still practice. Sometimes, Omar admitted, it gets lonely. Patrick encouraged him to see his family as a light in the darkness. Even a single candle can illuminate a pitch-black room. In the same way, a Catholic family faithfully living its beliefs can become a quiet witness to relatives who have drifted away. That witness begins at home. Patrick recommended prominently displaying a crucifix and images of the Sacred Heart and Immaculate Heart, praying the Rosary as a family, attending Mass, receiving the sacraments, and letting children see that Catholicism shapes everyday life. “It’s the meat and potatoes,” Patrick explained. Faith is formed through the basic things done faithfully again and again. For Omar, that also means remembering his responsibility as a father. “God is first,” Patrick told him, followed by his wife and children. Rather than worrying that he is thinking too much about raising them well, Patrick encouraged him to keep seeking God’s guidance. That responsibility also includes protecting their innocence. When relatives or situations could expose young children to scandal or subjects they are not ready to understand, parents can prudently establish boundaries while continuing to love their family. “You’re a young patriarch,” Patrick told Omar. “You’re at the beginning of this lifelong adventure.” The years with young children will pass quickly. Patrick’s encouragement was simple: fill those years with prayer, the sacraments, Catholic life, and a visible love for Jesus. “Grab it and don’t let go of it.” The best way to catch Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.
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  When Is It Time to Stop Fighting Infertility? (Trending with Timmerie) 19.08.2026 17min

  For Catholic couples struggling with infertility, being “open to life” can raise a painful question: How far should they go to have a child? On Trending with Timmerie, Daniel and Bethany Maiola shared how infertility unexpectedly became part of their marriage. After about a year of trying to conceive, they began seeking medical answers through NaPro Technology. Over the next five or six years, they underwent tests, surgeries, and treatments, ultimately receiving the frustrating diagnosis of “unexplained infertility.” Eventually, the emotional toll began affecting their marriage. “There was a lot of grief, there was a lot of anger, and there was not a lot of peace,” Daniel said. Through spiritual direction and prayer, their perspective began to change. Daniel came to recognize that even the profound desire for a child cannot ultimately satisfy the human heart. “Children are not the greatest good in our life. It’s Christ alone.” That surrender did not mean rejecting openness to life. Instead, Bethany discovered that openness cannot be measured simply by the number of children a couple has. “The generosity is not less because of the results of being open to life,” she explained. For couples considering morally permissible fertility treatments, Bethany emphasized that there is no universal point at which they must stop. Medical interventions can carry physical, emotional, financial, and marital costs, all of which can factor into prayerful discernment. The same applies to adoption. It is a beautiful vocation, but not an obligation for every infertile couple. For the Maiolas, infertility eventually led them toward adoption and other forms of spiritual fruitfulness, including hospitality, service, and ministry. Their journey offers hope to couples carrying this cross: A marriage can remain profoundly open to God’s gift of life even when biological children do not come. Faithfulness is not measured by results, but by loving surrender to God’s will. The best way to catch Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.
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  Can Catholics Trust Organ Donation? (The Drew Mariani Show) 19.08.2026 13min

  On The Drew Mariani Show, Drew discusses a federal investigation into Network for Hope, an organ procurement organization serving several states. Federal reviewers identified serious concerns in roughly 100 of 351 examined cases in which organ donation had been authorized but not completed. The organization disputes the findings and plans to appeal. For Catholics, the controversy raises an important moral question: How certain must doctors be before organs are removed? Drew welcomes Father Tad Pacholczyk, senior ethicist at the National Catholic Bioethics Center, who emphasizes that determining death requires careful testing without shortcuts. “If we're dealing with matters of life and death, we must carry out due diligence here, and no two ways around that,” Father Tad says. The Church permits organ donation when it is freely given and does not cause the donor’s death. As Drew notes, organ donation can allow someone’s generosity to continue even after death. The troubling findings underscore the need for rigorous safeguards, transparency with families, and absolute respect for the dignity of every human life. Medicine can accomplish remarkable things, but saving one life can never come at the cost of intentionally ending another. The best way to catch Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.
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  Out of the Darkness: The Power of Surrender (The Mark Swartzberg Show) 19.08.2026 28min

  Bishop James Conley from the Diocese of Lincoln joined The Mark Swartzberg Show to speak candidly about the anxiety and depression that eventually led him to take an 11-month leave of absence in 2019. Amid the clergy abuse crisis, an investigation in Nebraska, difficult diocesan decisions, and his sister’s cancer diagnosis, Bishop Conley felt responsible for solving every problem before him. He described falling into an “ungodly self-reliance,” believing that if he simply worked and prayed harder, he could fix everything. Eventually, sleeplessness, weight loss, anxiety, and a loss of joy led friends and family to encourage him to seek professional help. Mark noted that Catholics readily accept the importance of spiritual direction, so seeking help from a reliable mental health professional should not be viewed with shame. Bishop Conley agreed, explaining that psychological and spiritual care are distinct but complementary. One piece of advice from his Catholic therapist became particularly important: “Just show up.” Get out of bed. Do what you can. Stop believing you have to control every outcome. Bishop Conley told Mark that even when prayer brought little consolation, he held tightly to the Rosary, the Divine Office, and the Holy Mass. They became lifelines as he continued walking through the darkness. His experience ultimately taught him a lesson he now shares with others: we cannot always pray or work our way out of suffering. Sometimes we must accept help, surrender the outcome to God, and keep moving forward in faith. There is always hope. The darkness will not last forever. The best way to catch Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.
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  The Saints Are Anything but Boring (The Tim Glemkowski Show) 19.08.2026 6min

  For Peter Atkinson, founder of The Merry Beggars, telling the stories of the saints became much more personal when his own daughter began listening. Atkinson explained on The Tim Glemkowski Show that The Merry Beggars created The Saints series to introduce younger children to prayer, the sign of the cross, and the lives of the saints. When he played it for his 4-year-old daughter, Francesca, her reaction brought him to tears. She was discovering that St. Joan of Arc could be her friend and that the Faith could be filled with “joy and adventure and risk.” “If you tell stories the right way,” Atkinson said, “kids will love it. Kids will come to love the stories of the saints.” That means presenting saints not as what Atkinson jokingly called “animatronic prayer cards,” but as real people whose lives were filled with courage, sacrifice, and trust in God. He pointed to St. Kateri Tekakwitha and her extraordinary journey through the wilderness as an example of the adventure already present in Church history. Atkinson believes Catholic artists have an opportunity to bring those stories alive for the next generation. As one supporter once told him, “The problem with boring Christian storytelling is it tells the lie that we serve a boring God.” The saints show us exactly the opposite. The best way to catch Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.
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  Should You Receive the Eucharist in Mortal Sin? (The Inner Life) 12.08.2026 3min

  What should a Catholic do if they have committed a mortal sin but are approaching Mass and Holy Communion? On The Inner Life, host Deacon Patrick Conley shared a question from Robert in Montclair, California: “What about receiving the Eucharist in mortal sin?” The answer begins with what mortal sin means. When someone knowingly and deliberately chooses grave evil contrary to Christ’s commandments, that choice ruptures his relationship with God. Holy Communion expresses precisely the opposite. Receiving the Eucharist is a sign of communion with Christ – not only professing belief in Him, but seeking to live according to His commandments. That is why knowingly receiving the Eucharist in a state of mortal sin creates a serious contradiction and is, itself, another serious sin. “If we are living in mortal sin or have committed mortal sin, we should not be presenting ourselves to Holy Communion,” guest Fr. John Paul Erickson explained. “The manner of our life has said, ‘I don’t want to be one with Jesus.’” The Church therefore teaches that a Catholic who is conscious of having committed mortal sin ordinarily must receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation before receiving Holy Communion. Far from being merely a restriction, this teaching points toward reconciliation. If grave sin has separated us from friendship with God, Christ offers us a way home through His mercy. As Fr. John Paul encouraged listeners, “We need to get to confession as quickly as we can so that our lives can be in conformity with the way of eternal life.” The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.
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  A Bright Future for the Church and the Knights of Columbus (The Drew Mariani Show) 12.08.2026 13min

  Broadcasting from the 144th Supreme Convention of the Knights of Columbus in Denver, Drew Mariani sat down with Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly to talk about the future of Catholic men, the Church, and the New Evangelization. Kelly highlighted COR, an initiative bringing men together for prayer, faith formation, and fraternity. What began four years ago with just 60 Knights of Columbus councils has expanded to 6,000. “There’s a hunger to know their faith,” Kelly said. COR gives men an opportunity to respond to that hunger alongside other Catholic men. And its growth comes amid encouraging signs of young people discovering—or rediscovering—the Catholic Faith. Kelly also reflected on the Knights’ theme this year, “In the One, We Are One,” drawn from Pope Leo XIV’s episcopal motto. At a time marked by division and isolation, Kelly sees unity and fraternity as increasingly important. Looking ahead, he sees reason for hope. “What I see, I see a brightness coming,” Kelly said. “I see people interested in their faith.” For Kelly, that renewal is connected to the vision of the New Evangelization promoted by Pope St. John Paul II. And the Knights hope to be part of it by helping Catholic men grow closer to Christ, serve others, and strengthen their families and parishes. As Kelly put it, “Where the Church thrives, the Knights thrive.” The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.
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  How the Crucifix Helped a Navy Officer Hear God’s Call (The Mark Swartzberg Show) 12.08.2026 23min

  Father Patrick Costello entered the U.S. Naval Academy preparing for military service. But through daily Mass, the Rosary, and the example of faithful priests, he began hearing another call: the priesthood. That call became clearer after graduation when he was stationed in Japan. Father Costello frequently traveled to Nagasaki, where St. Paul Miki and his companions were martyred. Standing where Catholics had given their lives for Christ made a lasting impression. “Something in me really stirred,” Father Costello told Mark on The Mark Swartzberg Show. “I really had a desire for giving my life to Christ in some way.” Now a Navy chaplain serving at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, Father Costello encourages Catholics to discover that same spirit of self-gift by contemplating Jesus on the Cross. He suggested simply looking at a crucifix and recognizing Christ’s sacrifice as a personal act of love. The Mass offers an especially powerful opportunity to respond. As the priest elevates the Host, Father Costello recommends making an interior offering: “Lord, I give you my life. I lay my life down for you this day.” Then, when receiving Holy Communion, we can remember that Christ gives Himself completely to us, and offer ourselves back to Him. The Stations of the Cross, the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary, and meditation on the Passion can also deepen this union with Christ Crucified. Father Costello’s journey from Annapolis to Japan and eventually the priesthood shows what can happen when we make room for God each day. Prayer gradually teaches us not merely to admire Christ’s sacrifice, but to offer our own lives in return. The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.
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  Why Should Catholics Pray the Rosary? (The Patrick Madrid Show) 12.08.2026 8min

  For Catholics returning to the Faith, the Rosary can sometimes raise a basic question: Why do we pray it? On The Patrick Madrid Show, caller Al asked Patrick Madrid about the Rosary’s origins and importance. Patrick explained that far from distracting us from Jesus, the Rosary invites us to meditate more deeply on His life. “The origin…of the Rosary as such is the Holy Bible,” Patrick said. He explained that its traditional 150 Hail Marys parallel the Bible’s 150 Psalms. More importantly, the mysteries draw our attention to pivotal moments in the life of Christ. The Joyful Mysteries take us through events including the Annunciation, Nativity, and Presentation. The Sorrowful Mysteries lead us into Christ’s Passion and Death, the Glorious Mysteries begin with His Resurrection and Ascension, and the Luminous Mysteries help us focus on the moments of light in Christ's life. “The idea behind the Rosary is to meditate upon the mysteries of the life of Christ,” Patrick explained. The Rosary also asks the Blessed Virgin Mary to intercede for us as we contemplate her Son. As Patrick told Al, approaching the prayer this way can help us go deeper in the Bible. For anyone wanting to understand the Rosary more deeply, Patrick recommended Pope Saint John Paul II’s apostolic letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae, which explores the prayer’s biblical and theological dimensions. The Rosary is an invitation to walk through the Gospel with Mary while keeping our attention fixed on Jesus. The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.
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  Priestly Brotherhood Through the Companions of Christ (The Tim Glemkowski Show) 12.08.2026 11min

  Priesthood can bring unique challenges, including loneliness and isolation. On The Tim Glemkowski Show, Tim spoke with Father Max Behna about the Companions of Christ, an association offering diocesan priests another way: pursuing their vocation in intentional community. The Companions remain diocesan priests serving parishes, but they commit to a rule of life centered on communion with Jesus and fraternity with brother priests. “It’s just this intentional lifestyle of trying to pursue holiness, be in communion with Jesus, but to do that together with brother priests,” Father Behna explained. That includes regular meals, prayer, study, and, when permitted by the bishop, living together even while serving separate assignments. Father Behna currently lives with two other priests. Together, they pray a Holy Hour every morning. The Companions also voluntarily embrace the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience according to their priestly vocation. The goal is not simply companionship for its own sake, but a common life that strengthens each priest’s relationship with Christ and his service to God’s people. The model is not for every diocesan priest, Father Behna emphasized. But for those called to it, brotherhood can offer important protection against isolation while fostering holiness and mission. As Tim observed, “Communion is the ground of mission.” The Companions of Christ offer a compelling example of what that communion can look like: priests praying, growing, and serving together. The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.
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  Could Organ Donation Begin Before a Patient Is Truly Dead? (Trending with Timmerie) 12.08.2026 5min

  On Trending with Timmerie, Timmerie raises serious concerns about organ procurement and the need to protect patients whose lives may still hang in the balance. She points to federal proceedings involving Network for Hope in Kentucky. According to the information Timmerie shared, federal officials reviewed 351 cases from 2021–2024 in which organ donation had been authorized but not completed. Of those, 103 raised concerns, including 73 patients who reportedly displayed neurological signs incompatible with proceeding with organ donation. The issue became frighteningly concrete in the case of Anthony “TJ” Hoover. As Timmerie recounts, Hoover was being prepared for organ donation when he began moving and showing other signs of consciousness. Thankfully, the procedure was stopped, and he survived. For Catholics, the concern goes beyond medical procedure. Every human person possesses inherent dignity, and a patient must never be treated merely as a potential source of organs. Timmerie argues that these reports should prompt careful scrutiny of how brain death and death itself are determined in practice. Medicine must remain ordered toward the good of the patient, especially when that patient cannot speak for himself. The controversy is ultimately a reminder that end-of-life decisions demand prudence, clarity, and unwavering respect for human life. As Timmerie emphasizes, the wisdom of the Church can help Catholics navigate difficult questions surrounding treatment, suffering, and natural death. The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.
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  One Family Takes on the Alps (Family Rosary Across America) 12.08.2026 1min

  Julie from Indianapolis, Indiana, called Family Rosary Across America with one big prayer request: safety for her family’s adventure in the Alps. Her 41-year-old son is taking on an incredible 107-mile ultramarathon, while his 6-year-old son will run a 3-kilometer race. Father Rocky promised prayers—and made one request of his own: “He’s got to send a picture of him at the end of the race.” The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.
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  When Your Family Disrespects Your Spouse (Marriage Unhindered) 12.08.2026 11min

  What do you do when your extended family repeatedly disrespects your spouse? On Marriage Unhindered, Doug Hinderer responds to a husband whose sister has repeatedly insulted his wife while his mother dismisses the behavior as simply “who she is.” Now, the couple is considering distancing themselves from the family altogether. Doug’s message is clear: Ignoring bad behavior doesn’t create peace. “You don’t solve problems by ignoring them or brushing them under the rug,” he says. The husband’s wife suggested sitting down with the family to clear the air and establish expectations. Doug agrees with the idea, but says the husband needs to take responsibility for addressing his own family. “In marriage, I mean, here’s the rule, okay? The husband handles problems with his side of the family and the wife handles problems with her side of the family.” Rather than confronting everyone at once, Doug recommends beginning with a brief, direct conversation with the sister. The goal isn’t to debate whether her opinions about his wife are justified. Instead, the husband should calmly explain that criticism, belittling, and cruel remarks toward his wife will no longer be tolerated. If the disrespect continues, consequences may be necessary, including stepping away from family gatherings. That can feel drastic, especially when children are involved. But Doug challenges the assumption that children always benefit from relationships with extended family. If relatives are consistently dysfunctional, disrespectful, or cruel, creating distance may actually protect the child. Ultimately, marriage changes a person’s primary earthly family commitment. The husband himself pointed to Scripture’s teaching that a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife. Doug says his extended family needs to understand that if they force him to choose, “You’re going to choose her.” Setting boundaries isn’t about retaliation. It’s about protecting your marriage, refusing to enable destructive behavior, and making clear that your spouse deserves kindness and respect. The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.
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  Another Joyful Answer to Prayer (Family Rosary Across America) 05.08.2026 1min

  The Relevant Radio family celebrated a beautiful answer to prayer this week as Maggie shared the joyful news that baby Riley was born healthy after a scheduled C-section. Riley’s parents had previously asked listeners to pray for their long-awaited “miracle walk-to-marry baby,” and those prayers were answered. Fr. Rocky responded with heartfelt gratitude, thanking God and reflecting on the many prayers offered through the Family Rosary Across America. “Thanks be to God,” he said. “I'm happy for the baby, happy for the parents, and happy the prayers have been answered.” It was a moving reminder that God hears the prayers of His people and that the Relevant Radio family continues to unite in faith, hope, and trust through every joy and every trial. The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.
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  How Can We Help Others Believe Jesus Is Truly Present? (The Inner Life) 05.08.2026 3min

  Many Catholics long for others to discover the beauty of Eucharistic Adoration. On The Inner Life, a caller named Cindy shared her heartfelt desire to see Adoration Chapels filled with people who truly believe Jesus is present – Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity – in the Blessed Sacrament. Cindy spoke of the joy she experiences in Adoration and her hope that others would encounter the same peace. She often invites friends to visit the chapel, but wonders what more Catholics can do to inspire belief in the Real Presence. Monsignor Thomas Richter encouraged her not to lose heart. "It requires having a fire in one's heart, and you clearly have that," he said. He reminded Cindy that while we can “witness to our love for the Eucharist, only God can awaken supernatural faith in another person.” His advice was simple: entrust that longing to Jesus. Pray for those He desires to draw to Himself, remain faithful, and continue inviting others with love. Our witness matters, but ultimately Christ is the One who calls every soul into His Eucharistic presence. The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.
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  Marriage Was Always Part of God’s Plan (Marriage Unhindered) 05.08.2026 11min

  What if marriage isn't simply a human institution, but part of God's plan from the very beginning of creation? On Marriage Unhindered, Doug Hinderer welcomes biblical scholar Dr. John Bergsma to discuss his book Love Basics for Catholics. Together, they explore how the opening chapters of Genesis reveal marriage as a reflection of God's own nature. Dr. Bergsma explains that Adam, formed from the virgin soil of the earth, points forward to Christ, the "new Adam," whose Resurrection began from a virgin tomb. From Genesis to the Resurrection, Scripture reveals God's desire to enter into a covenant of love with His people. The conversation centers on a striking claim from Dr. Bergsma's book: "God created the world for marriage." Throughout Scripture, God describes His relationship with His people in spousal terms, culminating in Christ's union with His Church. Every Christian marriage reflects that divine love. Dr. Bergsma also highlights how the creation of man and woman in God's image points to the mystery of the Holy Trinity. Husband and wife become "one flesh," and their love naturally opens itself to new life, offering a beautiful glimpse of the communion of persons within God Himself. Far from being merely a social institution, marriage is an icon of God's love and an invitation to participate in His divine life. It's a reminder that every faithful marriage tells the greatest love story ever written. The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.
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  What is the True Purpose of a Catholic Funeral? (The Drew Mariani Show) 05.08.2026 12min

  Catholic funerals have increasingly begun to resemble celebrations of life rather than sacred moments of prayer for the deceased. On The Drew Mariani Show, Drew welcomed Bishop Thomas Paprocki of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois to discuss why several U.S. bishops are reinforcing long-standing Catholic funeral practices. Bishop Paprocki explained that these updated policies are not introducing anything new. Instead, they are meant to preserve the Church's understanding of the funeral liturgy amid what he called "liturgical anomalies" that have become more common in recent years. "Our culture's discomfort with death" has shifted the focus, the bishop noted, replacing prayers for the soul with personal tributes, lengthy eulogies, and celebrations centered almost entirely on the life of the deceased. Drew shared his own experience attending a relative's non-Catholic memorial service and lamented the absence of the funeral Mass. Bishop Paprocki acknowledged that while individuals may choose not to have a Catholic funeral, it is especially heartbreaking when faithful Catholics are denied the rites of the Church because family members no longer practice the Faith. The bishop also reminded listeners that a Catholic funeral is intended to unfold in three parts: the vigil, the Funeral Mass, and the committal at the cemetery. Together, these rites pray for the deceased, offer comfort to the grieving, and proclaim the Christian hope of the Resurrection. The conversation also addressed the growing practice of scattering cremated remains or keeping ashes at home. While recognizing families' desire to honor loved ones, Bishop Paprocki emphasized the importance of treating the body with dignity and following the Church's funeral rites. In the end, the discussion served as a timely reminder that a Catholic funeral is not primarily about looking back on someone's life, but about entrusting that person to God's mercy and praying for the repose of his or her soul. The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.