On The Patrick Madrid Show, 11-year-old Walter from Orlando calls in to share how being an altar server has helped him grow closer to Jesus. He talks about his favorite parts of serving – ringing the bells, carrying incense, and bringing the water and wine to the priest – and explains how those moments help him believe in the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Walter even says that he often thinks about becoming a priest one day, and Patrick encourages him to keep listening for God’s call.

The two swap stories about their own altar boy experiences, from serving multiple Masses on feast days to treasured memories of Holy Week. This uplifting exchange shows how altar serving plants seeds of faith and vocation in young hearts.

If you’ve ever wondered what altar serving means for kids today – or how it can inspire the priests of tomorrow – you’ll love this heartwarming conversation.

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.

On The Patrick Madrid Show, 11-year-old Walter from Orlando calls in to share how being an altar server has helped him grow closer to Jesus. He talks about his favorite parts of serving &ndash; ringing the bells, carrying incense, and bringing the water and wine to the priest &ndash; and explains how those moments help him believe in the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Walter even says that he often thinks about becoming a priest one day, and Patrick encourages him to keep listening for God&rsquo;s call.
The two swap stories about their own altar boy experiences, from serving multiple Masses on feast days to treasured memories of Holy Week. This uplifting exchange shows how altar serving plants seeds of faith and vocation in young hearts.
If you&rsquo;ve ever wondered what altar serving means for kids today &ndash; or how it can inspire the priests of tomorrow &ndash; you&rsquo;ll love this heartwarming conversation.
<hr>
The&nbsp;best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It&rsquo;s free and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out <a href="https://relevantradio.com/listen/get-the-app/">here</a>.

Life can get busy, and it's easy to miss out on the captivating moments from your favorite Relevant Radio shows. But now, we've got you covered! "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" brings you the crème de la crème of Relevant Radio's programming. We carefully curate and compile the most engaging and relevant content from the past week, just for you! Get ready to catch up on faith, culture, current events, and personal growth, all in one convenient and easily accessible podcast. It's like having a front-row seat to the most compelling moments from Relevant Radio's diverse range of shows. So, whether you're an active Relevant Radio listener or new to our programming, "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" is your passport to a world of knowledge, growth, and inspiration.

Life can get busy, and it's easy to miss out on the captivating moments from your favorite Relevant Radio shows. But now, we've got you covered! "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" brings you the crème de la crème of Relevant Radio's programming. We carefully curate and compile the most engaging and relevant content from the past week, just for you! Get ready to catch up on faith, culture, current events, and personal growth, all in one convenient and easily accessible podcast. It's like having a front-row seat to the most compelling moments from Relevant Radio's diverse range of shows. So, whether you're an active Relevant Radio listener or new to our programming, "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" is your passport to a world of knowledge, growth, and inspiration.

The Best of the Week

"Altar Serving Has Helped Me Grow in My Faith." (The Patrick Madrid Show)

Some lines in Scripture are repeated because God wants us to stop and listen. For Fr. Richard Simon, one of those lines is Psalm 118:22: “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.”

On Father Simon Says, he reflects on how this verse echoes throughout the Bible, appearing again and again in the Gospels, Acts, and the letters of St. Peter. That repetition is no accident. It points us directly to Christ.

Fr. Simon explains that Jesus was not crucified on a distant hill, as many imagine, but in a quarry near one of Jerusalem’s busiest gates. It was a public place, a place where Rome made examples of criminals. And in that quarry, there was apparently a great stone that had been rejected for building because it was unusable.

That detail gives the passage fresh power. Jesus, rejected by the world, was crucified at the place of rejection. The image is almost too perfect to ignore: the rejected stone becomes the cornerstone.

As Fr. Simon puts it, “By the Lord has this been done, it is wonderful in our eyes.” What looked like defeat became the foundation of salvation. What seemed cast aside became the center of God’s plan.

It is a reminder for all of us: God does not waste rejection, suffering, or weakness. In Christ, even what the world throws away can be transformed into glory.

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.

Some lines in Scripture are repeated because God wants us to stop and listen. For Fr. Richard Simon, one of those lines is Psalm 118:22: &ldquo;The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.&rdquo;
On Father Simon Says, he reflects on how this verse echoes throughout the Bible, appearing again and again in the Gospels, Acts, and the letters of St. Peter. That repetition is no accident. It points us directly to Christ.
Fr. Simon explains that Jesus was not crucified on a distant hill, as many imagine, but in a quarry near one of Jerusalem&rsquo;s busiest gates. It was a public place, a place where Rome made examples of criminals. And in that quarry, there was apparently a great stone that had been rejected for building because it was unusable.
That detail gives the passage fresh power. Jesus, rejected by the world, was crucified at the place of rejection. The image is almost too perfect to ignore: the rejected stone becomes the cornerstone.
As Fr. Simon puts it, &ldquo;By the Lord has this been done, it is wonderful in our eyes.&rdquo; What looked like defeat became the foundation of salvation. What seemed cast aside became the center of God&rsquo;s plan.
It is a reminder for all of us: God does not waste rejection, suffering, or weakness. In Christ, even what the world throws away can be transformed into glory.
<hr>
The best way to listen to the&nbsp;Best of the Week&nbsp;is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It&rsquo;s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out&nbsp;<a href="https://relevantradio.com/listen/get-the-app/">here</a>.

Rejected Stone, Eternal Cornerstone (Father Simon Says)

Fasting has always been part of the Christian life, especially during Lent. But on The Drew Mariani Show, Drew Mariani looked at this timeless practice from another angle: What if fasting is not only spiritually fruitful, but physically beneficial too?

Drew pointed out that for most of human history, people did not eat constantly. Periods without food were a normal part of life. Today, however, many people eat all day long, rarely giving the body a chance to rest. That is one reason fasting has drawn new attention from modern science.

According to Drew, after about 12 to 16 hours without food, the body begins to shift from burning sugar to burning stored fat. He noted that this “metabolic shifting” may open the door to deeper physical benefits. He invited on guest Dr. Sean O’Mara to explain more.

Dr. O’Mara began with a reminder from Saint Paul that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. From that perspective, fasting is not merely self-denial. It can also be a way of honoring God with our bodies. He described fasting as a kind of “spring cleaning” that helps the body clear out what is damaged or unhealthy.

He also stressed that fasting can benefit people even later in life. Far from simply weakening the body, he said fasting may help preserve strength and support healthier aging. Still, his advice was practical: start slowly.

Lent calls Catholics to prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. This conversation served as a timely reminder that fasting is not an empty rule. It is a discipline that can sharpen the soul, strengthen the body, and draw us back to greater dependence on God.

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.

Fasting has always been part of the Christian life, especially during Lent. But on The Drew Mariani Show, Drew Mariani looked at this timeless practice from another angle: What if fasting is not only spiritually fruitful, but physically beneficial too?
Drew pointed out that for most of human history, people did not eat constantly. Periods without food were a normal part of life. Today, however, many people eat all day long, rarely giving the body a chance to rest. That is one reason fasting has drawn new attention from modern science.
According to Drew, after about 12 to 16 hours without food, the body begins to shift from burning sugar to burning stored fat. He noted that this &ldquo;metabolic shifting&rdquo; may open the door to deeper physical benefits. He invited on guest Dr. Sean O&rsquo;Mara to explain more.
Dr. O&rsquo;Mara began with a reminder from Saint Paul that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. From that perspective, fasting is not merely self-denial. It can also be a way of honoring God with our bodies. He described fasting as a kind of &ldquo;spring cleaning&rdquo; that helps the body clear out what is damaged or unhealthy.
He also stressed that fasting can benefit people even later in life. Far from simply weakening the body, he said fasting may help preserve strength and support healthier aging. Still, his advice was practical: start slowly.
Lent calls Catholics to prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. This conversation served as a timely reminder that fasting is not an empty rule. It is a discipline that can sharpen the soul, strengthen the body, and draw us back to greater dependence on God.
<hr>
The best way to listen to the&nbsp;Best of the Week&nbsp;is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It&rsquo;s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out&nbsp;<a href="https://relevantradio.com/listen/get-the-app/">here</a>.

The Body, the Soul, and the Power of Fasting (The Drew Mariani Show)

A thoughtful call on The Patrick Madrid Show turned into a moving reflection on one of Christianity’s deepest wounds: the division between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church.

Lyal, a Greek Orthodox listener from San Diego, asked a simple but powerful question. She explained that Roman Catholics and Greek Orthodox celebrating Easter on different dates causes confusion, especially in a workplace full of non-Christians. She wondered whether there are any real signs that Catholics and Orthodox might one day celebrate Easter together.

Patrick Madrid responded with warmth and hope. He said this division is one that “can be healed,” and he pointed to meaningful signs of progress. He recalled the lifting of mutual excommunications between Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras, as well as the work of Pope Saint John Paul II, who emphasized both the beauty of Eastern Christianity and the importance of Christian unity.

Patrick did not pretend the path forward would be easy. He noted that the biggest obstacle may not be at the highest levels of leadership, but among ordinary believers still carrying suspicion and anger. Reconciliation, he said, will require humility, forgiveness, and trust on both sides.

Speaking from the experience of her Middle Eastern Christian background, and even sharing that members of her own family were killed for being Christian, she asked a piercing question: if Christians can forgive such suffering, why can’t Catholics and Orthodox forgive one another?

As her witness suggested, Christian unity is not just about calendars or centuries-old disputes. It is about conversion of heart. It is about seeing fellow Christians not as rivals, but as brothers and sisters in Christ.

By the end of the call, Patrick and Lyal were united in the same prayer: that God would grant true reconciliation between East and West. Their exchange was a reminder that healing often begins with one honest conversation, one generous heart, and one shared hope.

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.

A thoughtful call on The Patrick Madrid Show turned into a moving reflection on one of Christianity&rsquo;s deepest wounds: the division between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church.
Lyal, a Greek Orthodox listener from San Diego, asked a simple but powerful question. She explained that Roman Catholics and Greek Orthodox celebrating Easter on different dates causes confusion, especially in a workplace full of non-Christians. She wondered whether there are any real signs that Catholics and Orthodox might one day celebrate Easter together.
Patrick Madrid responded with warmth and hope. He said this division is one that &ldquo;can be healed,&rdquo; and he pointed to meaningful signs of progress. He recalled the lifting of mutual excommunications between Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras, as well as the work of Pope Saint John Paul II, who emphasized both the beauty of Eastern Christianity and the importance of Christian unity.
Patrick did not pretend the path forward would be easy. He noted that the biggest obstacle may not be at the highest levels of leadership, but among ordinary believers still carrying suspicion and anger. Reconciliation, he said, will require humility, forgiveness, and trust on both sides.
Speaking from the experience of her Middle Eastern Christian background, and even sharing that members of her own family were killed for being Christian, she asked a piercing question: if Christians can forgive such suffering, why can&rsquo;t Catholics and Orthodox forgive one another?
As her witness suggested, Christian unity is not just about calendars or centuries-old disputes. It is about conversion of heart. It is about seeing fellow Christians not as rivals, but as brothers and sisters in Christ.
By the end of the call, Patrick and Lyal were united in the same prayer: that God would grant true reconciliation between East and West. Their exchange was a reminder that healing often begins with one honest conversation, one generous heart, and one shared hope.
<hr>
The best way to listen to the&nbsp;Best of the Week&nbsp;is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It&rsquo;s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out&nbsp;<a href="https://relevantradio.com/listen/get-the-app/">here</a>.

"Altar Serving Has Helped Me Grow in My Faith." (The Patrick Madrid Show)

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