The Patrick Madrid Show

Patrick answers listener questions about the Sign of the Cross, what it means to be a Godfather, why do we classify churches as cathedrals or basilicas, are we doing the Sign of the Cross too much, should I raise my hands in church, and is it okay to adopt an embryo that is frozen and abandoned by in vitro fertilization? Ross - Should we be making the sign of the cross at the beginning of mass? When did that start? Dave - Can I be a Godfather to child if their parents aren't really serious about teaching the faith? Noah - Why do we classify churches as cathedrals and basilicas? What does that mean and where does it come from? Danielle - In Church during communion when the bells ring, should we be bowing? What about the Sign of the Cross? Mike - How do we participate in mass properly? Should I raise my hands? Arianna - Is it okay to adopt an embryo that is frozen and abandoned by in vitro fertilization? Ana – I’ve been away from the Church since 2008. How can I catch up with everything I’ve missed? James – I’m dealing with some crosses and not sure if I should seek spiritual or physical therapy

Patrick answers listener questions about being buried, confession, and what is the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation Patrick comments on the lack of cursive handwriting being taught in schools Nancy - How important is the position your body when you are buried? Mick – Since we ask for forgiveness of sins during mass, then why do we need confession? Donna - If I eat meat on Friday, do I have to go to confession before communion? Martin - If you haven't been married in the Catholic Church, can you still go to confession? Patrick recommends “Annulments and the Catholic Church: Straight Answers to Tough Questions” by Edward Peters Pat - Kids are getting dumbed down by not learning cursive. They won't be able to understand our history since many documents were written in cursive. 57-Year-Old Unconscious Dead Man Describes His Resuscitation As If He Was Watching It Barbara – What is the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation?

Patrick continues the conversation about forgiveness and how we are called to forgive, even in terrible circumstances Vito – If you forgive but don’t forget, does that mean you have not really forgiven? Anita - We have to keep forgiving. If you cut yourself, it creates a scar and heals. Every time you look at it, you remember, but the scare does fade Sam - I have forgiven my mom but I go through a cycle where the hurt resurfaces - what should I do to make sure I don't pass this to my kids? Cynthia – I had a hard time forgiving my father

Patrick answers listener questions about forgiveness, if lesbians can be groomsmen at a Catholic wedding, and if I should let me kids visit their father who is a problematic relationship Sylvia – When a person says “I forgive but won’t forget” they really are not forgiving at all Patrick shares and comments on James 3:1 “Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly” Patrick recommends the movie “The Last Rites of Joe May” Gabriel - Son is asking his lesbian friends to be in his Catholic wedding. Is this okay? Frances - How can I handle my children spending time with their father when he is going off the deep end and doing questionable stuff?

Patrick answers listener questions about tattoos, if he thinks it’s a good idea to take kids to a Planned Parenthood so they can see how awful it is, what is the Church’s teaching on sex and gender and he shares audio on “How to Debunk Transgender Madness in 2 Minutes” Mom Refused Doctors’ Suggestion to Abort Two of Her Quadruplets, Now They're All Healthy Mystery Of Kung Fu Icon Bruce Lee’s Death May Finally Be Solved Christina - Is it okay to have tattoos? Joe - Parents should take their daughters should check out planned parenthood and prolife centers so kids have an idea beforehand the difference between death and life George - What is the Church teaching on sex and gender? I want to have charitable conversation about this. Patrick comments on the shooting at Club Q and how the shooter does not fit the narrative that was first put out by the for-profit media

Danielle - Follow up-we should be teaching the values of saving sex for marriage not just assuming that they will get pregnant Katie – It is a horrible idea to take kids to visit Planned Parenthood. Listening to Relevant Radio has turned me into a Prolife Catholic! Angela – I’ve ordered the “Godless Delusion” book multiple times. I gave it to several people and I love it. Everyone should get it. Michael – Question about how to talk about the structure of the Church

Patrick answers listener questions about guardian angels and fallen angels, healing crystals, St. Joseph’s connection to white lily, and how does salvation differ between catholic and Protestantism Jody - Is my guardian angel just as powerful as Lucifer and other fallen angels? Mayra - Daughter's Christmas list includes healing crystals. Is that kind of stuff against our faith? Paul - Why does St Joseph always have a white lily? Kate - Looking to buy a bass guitar for my daughter for Christmas. What is a good one to start her out with? Gaby - Did all the Jewish people automatically go to heaven? Ramona – What is the best book about the life of St Augustine? Patrick recommends “The Confessions” by St. Augustine. Patrick recommends “Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions” by Gregory Koukl and “Socratic Logic: A Logic Text using Socratic Method, Platonic Questions, and Aristotelian Principles” by Peter Kreeft, and “How to Do Apologetics: Making the Case for Our Faith” by Patrick Madrid Dawn - How does salvation differ between catholic and Protestantism? Robert - What is the Church teaching on blessing people in line who are not receiving communion? Thomas – I’m near the end of my life and never finished RCIA, can I still get last rites?

Special Guest Host Fr. Matthew Spencer helps us prepare for Thanksgiving and Advent and takes listener questions about Angels, how to improve your prayer life, and if it’s okay to look for signs of God in your everyday life Preparing for Advent and Christmas with gratitude Our spiritual lives are mostly unextraordinary. Most of us will not see “signs,” but the spiritual life isn’t about those extraordinary experiences Fr. Matthew reflects on today’s statement from Pope Francis saying that “consolation is a tremendous gift for the spiritual life.” Diane - Husband was in the hospital, and twice he almost died but I heard a voice saying he would be okay, I felt peace. Julie - I’m not sure what Pope Francis means about seeking it. If God wants to talk to you he will. Ashley - Who was the first angel to have a prayer? Bill – Is it true that when we pray, God doesn't change the circumstance, but rather, he is changing us? Yocasta - How can I improve my prayer life this Advent?

Special Guest Host Fr. Matthew Spencer answers listener questions about if St. Padre Pio really heard the confession of the devil, what to do if you have desolation in your prayers, and how should I react to gossip in my parish? Nancy - Is it true St. Padre Pio heard the confession of the devil? Monica - My second husband died and I’m concerned about his soul Carolina - What to do if you have desolation in your prayers for years? Donna - Someone gossiped that my parish priest might be gay. Should I bring it up to him? Patricia – My father is terminally ill and going off oxygen. Is it okay to take him off this life supporting machine?

Special Guest Host Fr. Matthew Spencer answers listener questions about death bed conversions, why some people are afraid of going to confession, and is it okay to not invite my daughter to Thanksgiving because she has a drinking problem Anne - My sister is away from the church and dying from cancer. She won't go to confession but she does say the Rosary. What can I do to help her? Don’t be afraid of confession Esteban – I’m struggling with homosexuality. I want to go back to the Church and I’m missing the Eucharist. What can I do? Maggie - My daughter has a drinking problem and she gets nasty. We decided not to allow her to Thanksgiving this year. Is that sinful? Suzy - Jesus told the thief on the cross he was going to heaven but Jesus went to hell first. Where did the good thief go? Matt – A priest at a funeral invited everyone up to communion. Should I have corrected him?