Ave Explores (Ave Maria Press)

During Lent, when life feels busy, noisy, and overwhelming, making room for the Lord is more important than ever. In this episode of Ave Explores: Lent with Sr. Josephine Garrett, CSFN, Oscar Rivera, host of Ave Spotlight, explores how Lent challenges us to embrace vulnerability and authenticity—not just with God, but with others. When we resist the temptation to close ourselves off and instead open our hearts, we create space for real spiritual growth. Tune in for an inspiring conversation on how Lent serves as a training ground for deeper faith and genuine connection. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)

Sr. Miriam James Heidland, SOLT, concludes her Restore reflections for Lent and offers practical ways to fully enter into the celebration of the Easter season.

Fr. Blake Britton, a priest in the diocese of Orlando, says that you can begin evangelization at home by immersing your family in the Church's sacramental and liturgical life. He recommends examples such as praying the Liturgy of the Hours or making daily Mass a priority.

Fr. Patrick Mary Briscoe, OP, says the Mass is important because it is there that we stand at the foot of the Cross and are transformed. It's also the place where we meet in community with fellow Catholics.

Joel Stepanek, author of Chasing Humility: 8 Ways to Shape a Christian Heart, joins Katie Prejean McGrady to discuss how Lent can be fruitful if we pay attention to what God wants us to do with prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Humility is the golden thread that ties together these Lenten practices.

Elizabeth Lev, an art historian, author, tour guide, and college professor living in Rome, shares how art—especially the art of the Church—is the ultimate path to understanding what we believe and helps us see the continuity of the faith throughout history. Lev explains how art ultimately invites us to be drawn into its beauty and to contemplation of the divine.

Kris Frank, vice president of Vagabond Missions, shares how the Steubenville, Ohio, ministry expanded across the country by focusing on sharing the Gospel with at-risk, inner-city youth, helping them break the cycle of abandonment and hopelessness.

Karianna Frey, author of A Brief Overview of Diversity, discusses how patron saints can bring spiritual depth, personal healing, and comfort to a family. Frey shares which saints have been particularly inspiring to her own family and how she has chosen to entrust each of her four children to a saint.

What’s the purpose of Lent? It’s a simple question, and one Mark Hart answers in a very honest and straightforward way: Lent prepares us for heaven. If we view Lent merely as a spiritual bootcamp to get ready for Easter, we will miss out on all the season has to offer. However, by approaching Lent with a broader perspective, we'll realize that these forty days can prepare us not only for the rest of our lives but also for the joys of heaven. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)

Theologian Edward Sri and his wife Beth talk with host Katie Prejean McGrady about how marriage and parenting is meant to be centered in love of God and a couple’s call to mission— to generously love, serve, teach, and proclaim the Gospel. With stories of raising their eight kids (ranging in age from nineteen to four years old), the realities of balancing work, home, and travel, and how to find healing from past wounds, the Sris explain how generosity is the key to thriving within Catholic family life.

Catholicism is incarnational and tactile. We exist in reality, and so does our faith. Remembering that is essential to growing in our Catholicism, and Timothy P. O’Malley explains how “matter matters” in the places and spaces we worship. This summer, Catholics in the United States will have the chance to experience that incarnational reality on the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, spanning four routes from coast to coast, converging in Indianapolis in July for the National Eucharistic Congress. Chenele Shaw, former host of Ave Spotlight, shares the story of the pilgrimage and what we can expect along the way. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)

Maria Morera Johnson discusses her family’s immigration to the United States from Cuba. Johnson, the author of Our Lady of Charity, shares the journey that led her to a relationship with the saints, especially St. Teresa of Avila, and a deeper prayer life.

Emily Jaminet is a Catholic author, speaker, mother of seven, and the executive director of the Sacred Heart Enthronement Network. She talks with host Katie Prejean McGrady about how family prayer and welcoming Jesus into your home can transform your family dynamic. Jaminet also explains how the ability to pivot in the midst of life’s changes is a mother’s greatest strength, sharing how when a mother is centered in prayer, she’s able to change course with grace and patience.

Leah Darrow, a speaker, author, Season 2 contestant on America’s Next Top Model, and founder of Lux U, shares about her struggles with depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, “mom guilt,” balance, and explores ways one can find peace and strength through spiritual practices such as prayer and meditation, regularly attending daily Mass, and “recalibrating” one’s routine.

On this week's podcast, Paul George talks about leaning into intentional prayer and giving generously of our first fruits during Lent. These spiritual practices can sometimes make us uncomfortable, but the Lord can help us grow in that discomfort.

When Ash Wednesday rolls around, many of us are ready—even excited—to start our Lenten resolution. However, as the weeks go by, our resolve can wane. What do we do when our Lenten practices become challenging to maintain? Fr. Agustino Torres, CFR, the author of Made for Heaven, offers us a way to enter this season as he explains why he felt called to write about going into the wilderness of Lent with a willing spirit and a ready heart. If we “fight” Lent, we close ourselves off to God’s greater plan for these forty days. If we go into the desert remembering that Jesus went there first, we will see growth in our faithfulness. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)

Catholic speaker, author, and "worry expert” Gary Zimak discusses what it’s like to live with anxiety, and helps explain ways chronic worriers can find peace, comfort, and relinquish control to Jesus.

Mallory Smyth discusses how understanding our gifts and paying attention to how the Holy Spirit calls us to use them is the first step in sharing the faith. She also shares how her reversion to Catholicism and her work in various ministries has shown her that we are all called to uniquely give witness to Jesus.

Jeannie Gaffigan, author of the bestselling When Life Gives You Pears, wife to comedian Jim Gaffigan, and mother of five, talks candidly with host Katie Prejean McGrady about balancing family life, her Catholic faith, and maintaining a sense of sanity and fun in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic in New York City. Gaffigan shares practical tips on how Catholic family life can thrive by lowering your expectations and letting stressful things go so you can focus on your family’s health, happiness, and holiness.

In this week's episode, Fr. Agustino Torres, CFR, talks with Katie about finding ourselves in the Easter story. He says that when we embrace an authentic relationship with Christ, we can see how our prayer, fasting, and almsgiving have given space for him to dwell in our hearts.

Marcia Lane McGee is a birth mother with an open adoption and a foster mom who lives with six teenage boys at the Mooseheart Home near Chicago. She tells host Katie Prejean McGrady that we are all called to creatively foster family life based on our unique state of life and vocation. Lane McGee also explains how we must invest in people, even when they are at their worst, to help them find joy and to lead them to a fullness of love in Christ.

Dr. Tod Worner, editor of the Word on Fire Institute's Evangelization and Culture journal, talks about how to tackle difficult topics of faith with skeptics and non-believers. He suggests starting from a place where each side can acknowledge their human dignity and a shared desire for truth and the ability to explain the natural world.

Katie Prejean McGrady and Meg Hunter-Kilmer talk about what it’s like to travel all the time (especially when living out of your car), how to trust in God’s providence, and how Mary is an example of what radical trust in God can, and does, look like.

Danielle Bean, author, speaker, podcaster, and the brand manager of CatholicMom.com, talks with host Katie Prejean McGrady about the challenges of parenting, and offers advice on how to stay grounded throughout the stages of family life. Bean also shares how cultivating a “God will give me the grace” attitude is the best way to form a healthy and holy family culture.

Scott Boyle, associate director of recruitment and formation for the Notre Dame Echo and Notre Dame Vision programs, discusses how these week-long summer camps at the University of Notre Dame are life-changing experiences for thousands of young people who have learned to share their faith through authentic storytelling and witness.

Christine Valters Paintner is a Catholic author and online abbess at the Abbey for the Arts, a virtual monastery offering classes and resources on contemplative practice and creative expression. She explains how we are called to see ourselves as artists in the world, not because we have marketable talents, but because the Lord is inviting us to create. Paintner explores how God surprises us with art in every form.

Alex Jones discusses the founding of Hallow--a Catholic prayer and meditation app--which came from his desire to read and meditate more on scripture. Scripture is a key component of the app, including audio recordings of books of the Bible, Gospel challenges, and scripture-based sleep stories. Jones said thousands of users have developed a habit of reading the Bible because of Hallow.

Rachael Killackey, founder and executive director of Magdala Ministries, discusses pornography addiction by women. Killackey says that naming wounds and identifying the source of trauma can lead to deeper healing and awareness of your identity as a beloved daughter of God.

Fr. John Burns examines the Week One theme of Restore, the desert. He discusses how the wilderness of the desert is a place where healing can begin and where restoration is found. Use AVE10 for a 10% discount at https://sockreligious.com/.

Paul Jarzembowski, assistant director of youth and young adult ministries at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, discusses {Evangelii Gaudium}, Pope Francis's Apostolic Exhortation on evangelization. Jarzembowski explains how accompaniment and encounter are the key elements of evangelization.

Meg Hunter-Kilmer, author of the forthcoming Pray for Us, loves to tell stories of the saints, especially those who are not as well known. She shares how growing close to holy men and women has helped her to love Christ more. Hunter-Kilmer says each saint she’s grown close to has been a unique match during particular challenges in her life.

Leah Libresco Sargeant discusses her conversion from atheism to Catholicism, highlighting how she used math and science to reconcile the ideas of objective moral truth and God's existence. She reflects on how we can help others to convert by answering questions, opening our homes, and being a witness to faith in everyday life.

Emily DeArdo, author of Living Memento Mori: My Journey through the Stations of the Cross talks with Katie Prejean McGrady about her battle with cystic fibrosis and how it deeply affects her friendships, family life, and faith. Emily shares how carrying this cross helped her gain new insights into how to walk through any desert, especially the forty days of Lent.

Mary Lenaburg, author of Be Brave in the Scared: How I Learned to Trust God during the Most Difficult Days of My Life, talks with Katie Prejean McGrady about how suffering and joy go hand-in-hand, especially during Lent. With a heart for hospitality, Lenaburg shares how her family joyfully lives life while always celebrating the memory of her daughter Courtney.

In this sacred season, our ultimate aim is to draw nearer to Christ. And what better way to achieve this closeness than by physically spending time with him in the presence of the Eucharist? Join Tanner Kalina, a passionate Eucharistic missionary for the National Eucharistic Revival, as he demonstrates how Lent is the perfect time to seek the Lord's presence. Through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, Tanner reveals how this season offers a unique opportunity for the Lord to manifest his love, mercy, and kindness to us. Lent is about having—and maybe doing—less to create space for the Lord to pour out his abundance upon us. This episode shares how we can allow the Eucharist to become our ultimate source of what more the Lord hopes to give We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)

Join Sr. Josephine Garrett, author of Wilderness Within, as she unpacks the virtue of hope and its transformative power. In this episode, Sr. Josephine reflects on how cultivating hope requires intentionality, patience, and radical trust in God’s promises. With the Jubilee Year of 2025 as a backdrop, discover how this sacred time invites us to assess and deepen our hope in the Lord, making it a guiding force in our daily lives. A Word from Sr. Josephine: I am pleased also to share that we have been granted by the Holy Father the special grace of a Jubilee indulgence for the entire year (from the First Sunday of Advent, December 1, 2024 until November 30, 2025). This plenary indulgence is both for all our Sisters who will pray in the private chapels of our communities, as well as for all those who, during this period, will join us in devotional and liturgical celebrations, particularly in the chapels of our convents, as well as through the recitation of the Prayer to the Holy Family: O Holy Family, bless and protect all the families of the world. Safeguard their unity, fidelity, integrity and dignity. Enable them to live according to God’s law that they may fulfill their sublime vocation. May their lives be a reflection of yours and may they enjoy your presence forever in heaven. Amen. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)

Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, the 10th Archbishop of the Archdiocese of New York, shares his favorite Catholic churches and places in the United States of America. He offers insight into the current challenges facing Catholics, from a perspective of the historical Catholic Church, and reasons for his abundant hope in the Church in America today. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)

Theologian and author Timothy P. O'Malley talks with host Katie Prejean McGrady about the Eucharist as a renewing force in our lives. Because we come to know Jesus stirring our hearts, the Eucharist can renew our communities, families, homes, and personal identities.

Mike Aquilina, bestselling and award-winning author of A History of the Church in 100 Objects, relates how Catholics are a sacramental people, and objects such as the chains of St. Peter and the dome of the basilica named for him are significant to our understanding of faith. Aquilina also shares how ancient locations central to Christianity’s early development have helped him grow his love for the Lord.

On this week's podcast, Britt Fisk discusses radical surrender and dependence on God during her battle with cancer. Her season of suffering felt like a perpetual Lent, she says. Britt helps us see that trusting the Lord with the big things in our lives can help us trust him with the small ones as well.

Andrew Glicksman, chairman of the theology department at the University of Dallas, discusses his love of the Old Testament and explains how studying the sacred text brings about a greater appreciation for the New Testament and the story of Jesus.

Geologist Paul Giesting discusses how working as an environmental regulator has helped him to contemplate mankind's tiny place in the colossal universe. Giesting says studying the planet through its geology has expanded his faith and given him a deeper appreciation of God's power.

It all started as an idea to create silly socks for a saint’s feast day. From there, Scott and Elisabeth Williams turned their desire to share creative ways to celebrate something meaningful in the Church into their company, Catholic Concepts. Listen to the story about how this couple went from fun socks to creating other beautiful products to help Catholics grow in their faith by sharing about saints, planning the week, and decorating a home with subtle references to Church teaching and devotions. Through their story, you’ll be inspired to express your faith and celebrate special days and moments in the Church year in creative, unique, and beautiful ways. Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)

In this first reflection from Opening the Holy Door, Joan Watson explains the meaning behind the panel that depicts the Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15. For more insight into the meaning of this panel, get your copy of Opening the Holy Door at https://www.avemariapress.com/products/opening-the-holy-door. To meditate on this, see Panel 7: A Father's Heart at https://www.avemariapress.com/opening-the-holy-door.

Fr. Joshua Whitfield, pastor of St. Rita Catholic Church in Dallas, Texas, provides practical tips for preparing for Mass. He also discusses his conversion from the Anglican Church to Catholicism.

Heather and Jake Khym talk with host Katie Prejean McGrady about how a deeper understanding of the Eucharist can lead to abundant, life changing healing in your life.

Kendra Tierney wanted to teach her children about the depth and beauty of Catholicism and give them a lived discipleship that wasn’t stuffy or boring. In her quest to pass on a vibrant faith, she discovered the rhythms of the Church year—encompassing saints' feast days and the tapestry of liturgical seasons—as a foundation to illuminate, educate, and infuse the everyday with boundless joy and fun. Her exploration led to the creation of Catholic All Year, a one stop blog and shop that helps families embrace the liturgical year and nurture the faith within the home. Experience Kendra's journey to learn practical ways you can also bring your own faith journey alive and pass that joy on to those you love.

Percival Holt, former president of the Youth Council of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India, discusses the vibrant Church in India, especially within youth and young adult ministry. Having traveled throughout India advancing the youth worker movement, Holt also explains the diversity within Indian Catholicism, where liturgical worship is an expression of local regions and communities.

Fr. Kevin Sandberg, C.S.C, former executive director of and current professor of Theology at the Center for Social Concerns at the University of Notre Dame, shares how advocating for the common good helps to end social isolation and oppression.

Advent and Lent, revered penitential seasons, stand as gateways to prepare us for days of rejoicing and victory. These seasons are so iconic that even secular society joins in with traditions including Advent calendars for everything under the sun and seasonal fish sandwiches at your favorite drive-thru. Fr. John Burns explains how the natural ebb and flow of the liturgical year, especially with Advent and Lent as pillars of penance within the seasons, allow us to more fully celebrate what is worth celebrating and repent when we need to repent. Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)

Bob Schuchts, founder of the John Paul II Healing Center and author of the bestselling Be Healed, discusses the Week Two theme of Restore, freedom of heart. He explains why healing and the work of identifying wounds are both difficult and fruitful, leading to a joy that can only come from Jesus. Schuchts says when we explore our wounds, we are doing the work of restoration; when we're willing to do that work, the Lord heals us and gives us the freedom to live life to the fullest. Use AVE10 for a 10% discount at https://sockreligious.com/.

Chris Baglow, director of the science and religion Initiative at the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame, discusses how faith and science approach truth. He said that by exploring science with the eyes of faith and approaching faith with a desire to understand science, the Church can evangelize in new ways.

What places hold significance, and who are the key figures in the narrative of Catholicism in the United States of America? From both a historical and modern perspective, the story of the Church in the US is expansive, diverse, and compelling. Authors Kevin Schmiesing and Meg Hunter-Kilmer share their insights and expertise on the noteworthy locations and influential figures shaping the Church in the United States today. Explore must-visit shrines and churches, delve into the inspiring tales of Americans on the path to sainthood, and embark on a captivating journey through Catholicism in America. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)

Sr. Miriam James Heidland, SOLT, author of Restore, introduces the main themes of healing and forgiveness as you begin your Lenten journey with her. By following Sr. Miriam's guided journal for prayer and meditation, you will find a deeper awareness of God's healing presence in your life as you walk with Jesus for forty days. Use AVE10 for a 10% discount at https://sockreligious.com/.

Fr. William L. Burton, OFM, says that many Catholics are hesitant to read Scripture because they assume they'll get it wrong, but even scholars sometimes make mistakes. Burton explains there are surprises on every page of the Bible and encourages every Catholic to keep God's Word as their constant companion.

Scott and Kathryn Whitaker share how the Eucharist was a key part of the early days of their marriage and remains a root of their family life. Kathryn and Scott also provide practical tips on prioritizing the Eucharist to build a holy and happy culture in the home.

In this reflection from Opening the Holy Door, Joan Watson explains the meaning behind the panel that depicts the encounter of Jesus and Peter, after Peter's Denial. For more insight into the meaning of this panel, get your copy of Opening the Holy Door at https://www.avemariapress.com/products/opening-the-holy-door. To meditate on this, see Panel 10: Hope in the Face of Sin at https://www.avemariapress.com/opening-the-holy-door. For more insight into the meaning of this panel, get your copy of Opening the Holy Door at https://www.avemariapress.com/products/opening-the-holy-door.

Sr. Josephine Garrett, CSFN, joins Katie this week to talk about sin. Sr. Josephine explains that while sin is the cause of much of our woundedness, we should remember that we weren't created to sin but to be sons and daughters of Christ. Rather than being hyper-focused on sin, we should look for God's healing through prayer and the sacraments.

Fr. Rob Galea discusses his inspiring story of healing, an ongoing journey that has included not only moments of great despair but also profound hope. Galea said that healing must be rooted in love of Jesus and a desire to know him more.

The stories of saints in the United States are diverse and dynamic. The first American born female saint, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and the founder and first chaplain of the Knights of Columbus, Bl. Michael McGivney, show us how holiness is found in a unique way. Brian Caulfield and Amy J. Cattapan share the stories of these two holy American heroes that introduce us to Catholicism on the east coast. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)

A pear-sized brain tumor helped director, producer, and comedy writer Jeannie Gaffigan draw closer to the Blessed Mother. In this first Ave Explores podcast, Gaffigan, wife of comedian Jim Gaffigan, talks about praying the Rosary alone and with her family and how her illness helped her grow in her faith. Gaffigan’s book, When Life Gives You Pears (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1538751046/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1538751046&linkCode=as2&tag=katieprejean-20&linkId=f34f59ce60caa771b04c043f09ae34ec), was released in 2019.

Heather and Jake Khym discuss the Week Five theme of Restore, the journey of forgiveness. The Khyms share their personal story of healing and practical insights on forgiveness, as well as what it means to be open to the miracle of God's restoration of our hearts and minds.

Author and itinerant missionary Meg Hunter-Kilmer says daily reading of Scripture inspires a greater appreciation of Church tradition and a more robust understanding of Christ. Hunter-Kilmer has shared her reflections on daily Scripture on Instagram for two years. She explains how her life of faith has been changed by using the Bible as an anchor of her daily prayer.

Leticia Ochoa Adams, author of Our Lady of Hot Messes discusses her experience with childhood trauma and her grief following her son's death by suicide. She offers practical ways to engage with struggle, learn from wounds, and help others as they travel the same road.

Christopher T. Baglow, director of the science and religion initiative at the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame, discusses how faith and science approach truth. He says that by exploring science with the eyes of faith and approaching faith with a desire to understand science, the Church can evangelize in new ways.

Sean Forrest, founder of Haiti180, discusses his international mission that serves the impoverished of Port Au Prince. Forrest, who travels to Haiti frequently to work with missionaries and operate an orphanage, says Catholicism is an anchor in the Haitian culture.

Doug Tooke, vice president of mission at ODB Films and host of the Renovo podcast, explains canonization, the process the Church uses to declare a person a saint. He also shares how each of us can strive for holiness.

Amid the hustle and bustle of this time of year, it’s easy to lose sight of the heart of Advent—and the true meaning of Christmas: Jesus. In this episode, Jackie Angel, author of the upcoming Memorize Scripture (https://www.avemariapress.com/products/memorize-scripture), shares how immersing yourself in Sacred Scripture—through daily reading and simple memorization—can transform your experience of the season. Discover how slowing down with God’s Word can help you embrace the joy of Advent, prepare your heart for Christmas, and encounter Christ in a deeper, more personal way. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)

Being rooted in love is key to thriving in life and experiencing a fruitful Lent. In this episode of Ave Explores: Lent with Sr. Josephine Garett, CSFN, Mari Pablo shares how trusting in Jesus’s love and mercy—and seeking refuge in his Sacred Heart—has guided her through life’s challenges and the depths of her own heart. During Lent, as we intentionally pray, fast, and give, Christ offers us comfort, rest, and transformation. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)

Whether it’s the Lady who appeared in a forest to young Adele Brise or the Lady atop a golden dome visible for miles from a college campus in northern Indiana, the Blessed Virgin Mary is revered, cherished, and celebrated in the American Midwest. Fr. Edward Looney, author and priest in the Diocese of Green Bay, and Fr. Nate Wills, CSC, chaplain to the University of Notre Dame football team, share the story of Catholicism in the Midwest of the United States, through the lens of Marian devotion and midwestern grit. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)

Katie Prejean McGrady introduces Ave Explores, a new project from Ave Maria Press. This season, we explore Mary, our Blessed Mother, answering some big questions about her and the role she plays in our lives. Why does she matter, and how can we get to know her? What does it mean to pray with Mary, to emulate Mary, to trust like Mary? Who is she, really? You'll hear stories from a woman who travels around the country, as a "hobo for Christ" and insights from the Editor-In-Chief of Catholic News Agency. You'll learn about a mom of 7 who hosts a morning rosary on Instagram live, a priest who got to know Mary during his years in seminary, and hear the story of resilience and strength from a mom who lost her eldest son to suicide. All this, and more, on this first season of Ave Explores. Sign up for additional Ave Explores content at https://www.avemariapress.com/aveexplores-mary-signup/

Katie Prejean McGrady visits with Leticia Ochoa Adams, a wife, mom, and speaker from Texas, who shares about grief, hope, and faith following the suicide of her son and how we can look to Mary as mother and comforter during the darkest days.

Elena Gaona discusses the mission of the Catholic Climate Covenant, highlighting how the organization works to bring solar power to parishes, create climate care teams for dioceses, and encourage the faithful to care for the earth and slow the effects of climate change.

Popular Catholic speakers and authors Sr. Miriam James Heidland, SOLT, and Fr. John Burns join Katie Prejean McGrady to talk about forgiveness and healing.

Katie sits down with J.D. Flynn, Editor-in-Chief of Catholic News Agency and co-host of the popular Catholic podcast, The Editor's Desk from CNA, to talk about the Blessed Mother's importance to his family, how praying a rosary every evening has helped him be a better husband and father, and he puts on his "Canon Lawyer hat" to help give tips on how to explain Mary to non-Catholics.

During the pandemic, Fr. Tim Grumbach, a priest of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, learned how to say the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, also known at the Latin Mass. He reflects on how saying both the Latin Mass and the Novus Ordo--the Mass most Catholics participate in today--enhanced his appreciation for the liturgy and helped him become a better priest.

Kelly Wahlquist, founder of WINE: Women in the New Evangelization, says that joy is ultimately rooted in peace. She offers encouragement on ways to maintain joy during Advent in the time of coronavirus.

Comedian Shayne Smith had everything he thought would make him happy—success, wealth, and recognition—but still felt deeply unfulfilled. His search for meaning led him to a church, where he encountered Christ and Our Lady for the first time and embraced Catholicism. In this episode of Ave Explores, Shayne shares how his first Lent, spent journeying through RCIA with a group of women in Brooklyn, became a crash course in what it truly means to live the faith. Through the sacrifices and lessons of the Lenten season, he discovered that Catholicism isn’t always easy—but it’s always worth it. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)

Holy Week not only should be a time for deep contemplation of Christ's suffering but also an invitation to enter into our own hardship. On this week's podcast, Sr. Miriam James Heidland, SOLT, discusses how patient suffering is a chance to grow closer to Jesus.

Gary Zimak, “worry” expert and author of "Give Up Worry for Lent! 40 Days to Finding Peace in Christ" chats with Katie Prejean McGrady about how to avoid becoming over scrupulous and reassures us that we can’t really ruin the forty days of Lent if we keep our priorities straight.

The further we get into Lent, the more likely it is that we have run into some—or many—missteps and pitfalls. While this can feel discouraging, Sr. Orianne Pietra René, FSP, a passionate social media evangelist, helps us understand how when Lent is “hard” and we feel weak, that is precisely when the Lord shows up to do great things within us. Our poverty in Lent becomes God’s strength and glory. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)

Heather Khym, author of Abide and cohost of the Abiding Together podcast, shares her story of healing and her journey to understand God's love for her. Khym explains why all of us are called to and deserve, an abundant and healed life in Christ.

Jackie Mulligan, CEO of Reform Wellness, says healing only happens when we know Jesus, rely on him, and allow him to heal us. We come to be healed through this relationship with Jesus.

The Jubilee Year of Hope 2025 began December 24, 2024, with the opening of the Holy Door in St. Peter's Basilica. For the next five weeks, _Ave Explores _will look at how an Ordinary Jubilee is a chance for hope, repentance, renewal, and revival in the Church. Spes non confundit - Bull of Indiction of the Ordinary Jubilee of the Year 2025 (9 May 2024)(https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/bulls/documents/20240509spes-non-confunditbolla-giubileo2025.html) LVIII World Day of Peace 2025 - “Forgive us our trespasses: grant us your peace” (https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/peace/documents/20241208-messaggio-58giornatamondiale-pace2025.html) We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)

Katie Prejean McGrady gives a snapshot of the topic for the upcoming season of Ave Explores, taking a look at stress, anxiety, and mental health. This season includes interviews with Leah Darrow, Roy Petitfils, Tommy Tighe, and more, along with articles from professional counselors, psychologists, and doctors. Subscribe to Ave Explores: Stress, Anxiety, and Mental Health here (https://www.avemariapress.com/aveexplores-mentalhealth/signup/):

Fr. John Burns wraps up our look at the Advent themes in Adore by explaining that his goal in writing the book was to help readers more deeply appreciate Christmas by getting to know the ways Emmanuel comes into our hearts and changes our lives.

Erica Tighe Campbell established Be A Heart as a contemporary lifestyle brand designed for Catholics seeking elegant ways to practice their faith and commemorate the various seasons of the Church calendar. While crafting her product line and writing her latest book, Living the Seasons, she has uncovered the profound significance of embracing both the present phase of life and the yearly cycle, recognizing them as invitations to align with God's purpose, design, and blessings. Discover how you, too, can embrace the seasons of the liturgical year to empower your own walk with the Lord and share the reason for your joy with those around you.

Heidemarie Petersen, owner of Reliquary Supply (https://www.reliquarysupply.co), says that charity means little if it isn't rooted in your heart. She practices charity personally and through her Catholic small business, giving to other organizations and hiring people from marginalized and oppressed communities.

Catholic speaker Brian Greenfield talks with host Katie Prejean McGrady about a father’s role as provider and protector, and as an affirming, empathetic, healing presence in the lives of his wife and children. A theology teacher at an all-boys high school, Greenfield also shares how walking with young people through their wounds and helping them to find peace and love is a key role that all men can play in helping to heal a broken and selfish culture.

Fr. Robert P. Boxie III, discusses the life, legacy, and Cause for Canonization of Sr. Thea Bowman, a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration who lived and worked in the Diocese of Jackson, Mississippi. Her cause was opened in November 2018. Boxie also shares his vocation story.

Sr. Josephine Garrett, CSFN, says that when we work to restore ourselves to healing we can begin to help heal the world in which we live. Our personal healing can be transformative for others as well.

In this reflection from Opening the Holy Door, Joan Watson explains the meaning behind the panel that depicts the repentant woman who washes Jesus's feet with her hair. For more insight into the meaning of this panel, get your copy of Opening the Holy Door at https://www.avemariapress.com/products/opening-the-holy-door. To meditate on this, see Panel 8: The Necessity of Love at https://www.avemariapress.com/opening-the-holy-door. For more insight into the meaning of this panel, get your copy of Opening the Holy Door at https://www.avemariapress.com/products/opening-the-holy-door.

Catholic counselor Tommy Tighe shares ways we can help our children cope with the current crisis and how couples and families can continue to thrive with routine, prayer, and facing their feelings of uncertainty together.

Jackie Francois Angel and Bobby Angel, authors, speakers, and parents of four, explain to host Katie Prejean McGrady that marriage must be rooted in friendship, attentiveness to the other’s needs, communication, and a dedication to prayer. The Angels say that marriage is meant to be abundantly joyful, established in a love of Christ that flows into family life.

Theologian Timothy P. O'Malley provides an overview of the USCCB's Eucharistic Revival and discusses how the Mass should not only be integral to the life of the parish, but also in our everyday lives.

Katie Prejean McGrady's parents, Marie & Garland Prejean, introduce the upcoming Ave Explores series on Catholic Family Life

Cardinal Wilfred Fox Napier, O.F.M., archbishop of Durban in South Africa, discusses the Church's global diversity, which is rooted in love of Jesus Christ. Napier, who went to seminary in Ireland, also talks about the early days of his priesthood during apartheid in South Africa and eventually voting in the conclaves that elected Popes Benedict XVI and Francis.

Kathleen Hoenke, a spatial ecologist and program director at the St. Kateri Conservation Center, discusses growing native plants and building rain gardens on church properties. She says her faith came to life when she realized the grandeur of God in the natural flowers that grew in her own backyard. As a result, how she manages her household, what she grows in her garden, and what she teaches her children have changed.

Licensed mental health counselor Regina Boyd explains that healing is rooted in hope and a desire to recover and experience resurrection. She said women especially seek answers to questions about worthiness and acceptance, and when they find answers, discover the hope found in healing.