The Patrick Madrid Show

If you've ever wondered why the Church requires a Sunday obligation to attend Mass—even when you're doing other good things like feeding the poor or being kind—this conversation is for you. On The Patrick Madrid Show, Michelle from Kentucky calls in with a question: “If someone skips Mass but still does works of mercy, are they still in mortal sin? That just seems... harsh.” Patrick responds with some Holy Spirit–fueled clarity and compassion.  According to Church teaching (and backed up by Scripture), deliberately missing Sunday Mass without a serious reason (illness, caring for someone sick, dangerous travel, etc.) is a grave sin. Why? Because it’s saying "no" to a relationship. You're choosing to ignore Jesus' invitation to the most important family gathering of the week: the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. But What If You're a Really Nice Person? Michelle asks, “What about people who are super kind and charitable but don’t go to Mass?” Patrick said: Being nice is good—but it’s not salvific.  If goodness alone could save us, Jesus wouldn’t have needed to die on the Cross. Works of mercy done in a state of grace (in union with Christ) are eternally meritorious. Apart from grace, they’re nice, not saving.  Jesus Was Pretty Clear “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)“He who hears you hears me; he who rejects you rejects me.” (Luke 10:16)“No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) Jesus established His Church with real authority. When the Church says, “Go to Mass every Sunday,” you're being obedient to Christ’s own command. The Family Dinner Analogy (So Good) Patrick compares Sunday Mass to a family dinner: Imagine your parents say, “Everyone needs to be at the table at 6pm.” If one kid says, “Eh, I’ll just eat in my room,” they're disconnecting from the family. That’s what skipping Mass does. It breaks the spiritual family bond. God's Not Looking to Smite You Patrick explains that God isn’t standing there like, “Ha! Gotcha!” In fact, He’s constantly pouring out grace, constantly inviting us back—especially through Confession and the Eucharist.  Patrick reminds you that Jesus said some hard truths, but He says them out of love. He wants you home for dinner, forever. Real Talk: If you’ve been skipping Mass... come home. Go to Confession.Get back in the pew.And the Father is always watching for the prodigal child to return. 

Patrick shares a moving story about the Amish lending hands in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, expands on their traditions and roots, and invites listeners into a swirl of candid faith questions. He fields calls ranging from the hurdles foreign priests face to the trickiness of family support at interfaith weddings, circling around to a child’s simple but profound wonderings about God’s presence everywhere and the mystery of the Trinity. Inside every exchange and reflection, Patrick draws out what it means to live Catholic faith in the mess and beauty of ordinary days.   Good News Story to start your day: Amish community becomes part of Chimney Rock's comeback story (01:17) Patrick gives a quick overview of Amish history (08:08) Joan - What do you think about the status of foreign priests having to leave the country? What can we do to help with this? (15:07) David - My wife worked with the Amish, and they can't have power lines but can have generators and solar cells. It is up to their bishop how much they can have. Most of them keep the cell phone in an outhouse. (23:08) Mary - If a couple got married in a Catholic Church where one is Catholic, but the other is not. Was the mother right in not attending the reception? (27:39) Gordon (6-years-old) - How is it that God can be everywhere at one time and how is it that God is three persons? (33:55) Sean - That Western Music you just played was from the movie Big Country (41:06) Joe - Can you receive grace from the Eucharist even if you are not a good Catholic? (42:06) Michelle - How is someone who doesn't go to Church still capable of doing good works? (45:41)

Patrick wrestles with the tough question of why intentionally skipping Sunday Mass lands with the same seriousness as much graver sins, drawing thoughtful exchanges from listeners like Kate in Milwaukee, who struggles to see the fairness, and Maria Christina, who sees the Church’s call as a reminder to put God first. He pulls from lived experience, Scripture, and honest caller questions, building a conversation that challenges, unsettles, and reassures all at once. The hour brims with debate, vulnerability, and moments that unsettle certainty, never shying away from discomfort or hope.   Patrick continues his answer to Michelle’s question from the end of the last hour: How is someone who doesn't go to Church still capable of doing good works? (01:27) Kate - A lot of people have a problem of making a moral equivalent of missing Mass with murder or fornication. (09:40) Alicia - I am so thankful for your gift of patience. (22:53) David - I want to thank Patrick for having Kate speak. I think she was right. (32:16) Maria Christina - There is no comparison with what Jesus is asking us to do. (38:31) Bernadette - It is a sin against the 1st and 3rd Commandment (41:24)

Patrick answers heartfelt questions from callers wrestling with faith, loss, and daily morality, shifting from clever family stories to deep, practical Church teachings on marriage, organ donation, and the importance of Sunday Mass. Conversations are honest and gritty, everything from childhood memories of ice cream trucks to the raw reality of homelessness, and through it all, Patrick’s guidance flows directly from the Catechism, personal experience, and genuine care. Listeners hear moments of laughter, regret, confusion, and hard-won clarity all in one episode.   Yvonne - Billboards popping up that say Jesus is not God. What do you think of this? Also, an organization has contacted us to see if they can come in and take tissue from loved ones. (02:10) Joan - An elderly couple is in their late 70s and wants to get married. He is Jewish and she is Catholic. They have looked into getting permission from the bishop. Is this ok? (07:40) Marisela - I have been on both ends of the spectrum where I didn't care. Now I wouldn't miss Mass for anything. (11:19) James - When Patrick Madrid talks about what the Church teaches, what reference should I go to show people what he is saying is true? Is Romans 9:22 referring to predestination? (20:24) Michael - I appreciate all that you do and love you and Relevant Radio very much (27:01) Shirley - My husband was in mortal sin before getting married. Do we need an annulment? Do we both need to go to Confession? (32:52) Jackie - I am almost 75 and had it not been for Relevant Radio, I would not have appreciated my Catholic faith. There was so much I did not know. (39:46) Anna - I think we are forgetting that the first commandment is to love God. Going to Church, we receive Christ and this is connected to honoring God above all things. (49:07)

The History of the Brown Scapular Way back in the 1200s, in Aylesford Priory, England... St. Simon Stock, a Carmelite monk, had this famous encounter: Our Lady of Mount Carmel appeared to him and showed him the Brown Scapular. For religious folks, the scapular is part of their habit. For laypeople, it’s the mini version: two little squares of cloth, connected by strings, worn under your clothes. Important to remember: Wearing it is not a magic ticket to heaven. Patrick really hammers this home. What’s the Point of Wearing It? Patrick explains it this way: It’s like a wedding ring.→ The ring doesn’t literally make you married, but it’s an outward sign of an inward reality. The scapular is an outward sign that you’re asking Our Lady to pray for you, to help you love Jesus more, and to remind yourself to live for God. The Big Misunderstanding There’s a lot of rumors floating around:“If you wear the Brown Scapular, you’re guaranteed heaven.”"You’ll skip purgatory and go straight up the Saturday after you die!” Patrick is super clear here: -The Church does not teach that. -There’s no record of Our Lady promising that to St. Simon Stock. - Patrick says that salvation depends on dying in a state of grace, loving God, repenting from sin, not on religious accessories. Why Still Wear It, Then? Because: -It’s a beautiful sign of devotion to Mary. -It reminds you daily to love God and neighbor. -Our Lady does intercede for those who ask. -It helps you stay close to Jesus, but it’s not a magic amulet.  Bonus: Does Patrick Wear It 24/7? Yep... under his shirt, like most folks.He takes it off for showers or swimming (no, you’re not spiritually vulnerable if it’s not on — again, not magic!). Bottom Line (aka “What You Tell Your Friends”) The Brown Scapular is:-A beautiful, centuries-old Marian devotion.-A reminder to live for Jesus.-Not a spiritual hack or shortcut to bypass repentance and grace. Love Our Lady, trust in her prayers, and keep your eyes on Jesus.

Image via Joan Sutter / Shutterstock. Here’s the rundown from this great moment on The Patrick Madrid Show. So, a young caller named Ezra from Naperville, Illinois, jumps on the line and asks: “Um, hi, Mr. Madrid… Did Jesus ever have a last name?” Great question, Ezra! Patrick jumps in with his usual mix of smarts and warmth. Short answer: No, Jesus didn’t have a last name like we do today. Longer answer: Back in Jesus’ time, people were identified by who their dad was or where they were from. So instead of “Jesus Christ” like it’s a last name, He might’ve been called “Jesus bar Joseph” — which literally means “Jesus, son of Joseph.”(Bar means “son of” in Aramaic.)

Patrick opens with heartfelt listener emails, sharing stories about visits to St. Michael’s Abbey and the Mission Hotel, weaving in his own childhood memories. Throughout the episode he fields questions on topics from holy water and pro-life engagement to cremation, offering answers both practical and compassionate while responding to callers exploring faith, grappling with funeral wishes, and seeking a way back to the Catholic Church.   Justin - I am not Catholic. Is it ok for me to use Holy Water? (05:23) Email - My Catholic father wrote in his will that he wants his ashes scattered in the ocean (14:18) E-Frank - Should ministries in the Church support the prolife movement? (20:06) Bruce - My wife and I are both blind and want to come back to the Catholic Church. How can we be useful? (25:06) Dominic - What is the status of Fulton Sheen canonization? (34:05) Court upholds male-only draft registration, dealing a major blow to feminist movement (44:57)

Patrick fields listener questions ranging from whether a child conceived through IVF can be baptized to when righteous anger is justified, drawing deeply on Catholic teaching and scripture. He unpacks the nuances of salvation, clarifies misunderstandings about purgatory, and listens to callers wrestling with heavy choices, including grave illness and faith’s demands. Moments of empathy, debate, and practical advice land side by side, as Patrick guides callers through the messiness of real Catholic life.   Priest told my friend that because her daughter was conceived through IVF that she can't be baptized. Is this true? (00:38) Robert - Women are not permitted in combat and so a new draft would face new legal issues because the rule has changed. (04:21) Art - Bishop Fulton Sheen: When I was a young boy, my mother used to watch his show. I think that was the Holy Spirit. I think the devil tries to smear holy men and women. (07:26) April - How is it that Jesus lost His temper? (09:09) Enrique - In order to be off birth control, the doctor advised my sister to get her tubes tied. She doesn’t know what to do and any advice you can give will be much appreciated. (18:29) Salvador - Is it ok for a sick person to say no to a treatment if he wants to die? (22:21) Henry - I need the quintessential Patrick answer. If God is all- forgiving, does that mean everyone is going to heaven? (34:48) Judy - The listener who is sick should go to palliative care first and they will guide him to the next step. There is hope for him. (48:30)

Patrick answers practical questions about Catholic marriage, restitution for old wrongs, and the real meaning of faith in tough times. He listens to callers voicing struggles with family choices and personal guilt, then offers down-to-earth Catholic wisdom. Moments of warmth surface when young Josie wonders if she should pray for her brother after a mishap, alongside heavier questions about supporting a spouse with ALS and grappling with faith under pressure.   Jay (email) - In the traditional Catholic prayer before meals, why, do you suppose, is there no "thank you"? (00:31) Maureen - What happens when a Catholic marries a Jewish person? What kind of marriage is this considered? (01:25) Josh - What does the Church teach on restitution? (17:23) Juan - My wife is terminally ill with ALS. What do I say to her, when she says it is hard to believe and trust in God when she is in such a poor condition? Does doubt keep us from salvation? (27:50) Jose (7-years-old) - I hit my brother, what should I do? Should I forgive him and say sorry? Or should I pray for him? (38:11) Jean - I thought your response was perfect. I had MS diagnosed 20 years ago and didn’t have Catholic Radio. (42:13) Teresa (email) - My husband of 43 years, who is in his mid-60's, is having trouble with the very personal issue of ED. We are past child bearing years. Is it immoral for him to use ED medication? (48:10)

Patrick threads through cultural questions about Disney fatigue, the surprising streaming stats of Gunsmoke, and the endurance of classic TV, weaving in Mike Rowe on the urgency for trades as tech transforms jobs. The episode weaves callers’ real-life faith, parenting, and ethical dilemmas, while Patrick fields everything from baptism validity to feng shui for nurseries and warnings about dubious online miracle prayers, keeping the conversation unpredictable and lively throughout.   Audio: Jerry Seinfeld on Marcus Aurelius (02:12) Steve Miller Band cancels all tour dates due to bad weather (04:59) 50-year-old ‘Gunsmoke’ Reruns More Popular than Disney’s Star Wars/Marvel Trash (08:40) Mike Rowe: We need 500,000 welders, plumbers, and electricians (18:01) Christine - How can I avoid liberal Catholic schools? (28:19) Todd - Gun smoke did have an 'A' list Star. Kurt Russell was on when he was a kid. (35:34) Linda - My Grandchildren are getting baptized in a non-Catholic Church. Is that a valid baptism? (37:27) Billy (email) - A priest told me the other day that God loves us unconditionally, but he damns us to hell if we don’t love him back. How is that unconditional? (40:11) Shannon - Is feng shui compatible with Catholics? (43:41) Bob - Can I do tai chi for health purposes and to lose weight? (46:37) Rosalie - During the Carter administration I was an apprentice for the federal Government. We were trained how to be mechanics. They canceled the program though but now we are needing these jobs. (49:09)