This episode of The Patrick Madrid Show is tender, raw, and packed with grace.

It all starts with an email from Aaron, a Catholic school teacher who teaches grades 2–8. His school just suffered a devastating tragedy: a young boy — just about to enter sixth grade — was killed in an accident. 😔 Aaron, heartbroken, is reaching out for help. He's thinking ahead: how do I help my students process this? What do I say when they ask, “Why did God allow this?”

What Patrick Said:

“Words can only go so far.” He starts there — with brutal honesty. When your heart is shattered, “God is with you” can feel... empty, even if it’s true.

Patrick encourages him to use the moment as a “Catechetical Popcorn Trail” 🍿 Start small and lay the groundwork. Help kids understand why death even exists by going back to Adam and Eve, the Fall, and the entrance of sin into the world. This tragedy, as awful as it is, becomes a gateway into the bigger story of salvation. 

“Death is not natural. It’s not how we were meant to live.” God created us for life, forever, with Him. Death entered through sin. That helps kids understand their instincts are right — this feels wrong because it is wrong. But that’s not the end...

Jesus conquered death. Kids can look at the crucifix with new eyes. He chose to suffer, chose to die, so that death wouldn’t be the final word for us.

But Also... Teach Them This:

Original Sin is not the same as personal sin. Patrick offers a great analogy: Imagine your billionaire parents lose all their wealth due to a crime. You didn't do anything, but you still lose the inheritance. That’s original sin. Through baptism, God gives it all back, and more.

This boy might be in heaven. Patrick encourages Aaron to comfort the students with hope — if the boy was in 5th grade, it would make sense that he probably never committed a mortal sin. That’s theologically solid hope. 🌤️

Teach them how to pray for him, through offering Masses and praying the Chaplet. Let them participate in his journey to Heaven.

❤️ The Most Beautiful Part

At the end of the show, Aaron calls in; he just wants to say thank you. You can hear how much he loves his students and how much he’s leaning on the Holy Spirit. It’s one of those quiet holy moments that makes you realize the Church is so alive in people like him.

If You’re a Teacher, Parent, or Just a Catholic Who Cares…

This episode is worth your time. It reminds us that grief is the place faith speaks loudest. Our job isn’t to “fix” grief. It’s to walk through it with others, pointing to the Cross... and beyond it, to the Resurrection.

🕯️Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.

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.

This episode of The Patrick Madrid Show is tender, raw, and packed with grace.
It all starts with an email from Aaron, a Catholic school teacher who teaches grades 2&ndash;8. His school just suffered a devastating tragedy: a young boy &mdash; just about to enter sixth grade &mdash; was killed in an accident. 😔 Aaron, heartbroken, is reaching out for help. He's thinking ahead:&nbsp;how do I help my students process this? What do I say when they ask, &ldquo;Why did God allow this?&rdquo;
<hr data-start="792" data-end="795">
What Patrick Said:
&ldquo;Words can only go so far.&rdquo; He starts there &mdash; with brutal honesty. When your heart is shattered, &ldquo;God is with you&rdquo; can feel... empty, even if it&rsquo;s true.
Patrick encourages him to use the moment as a &ldquo;Catechetical Popcorn Trail&rdquo; 🍿 Start small and lay the groundwork. Help kids understand why death even exists by going back to Adam and Eve, the Fall, and the entrance of sin into the world. This tragedy, as awful as it is, becomes a gateway into the bigger story of salvation.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Death is not natural. It&rsquo;s not how we were meant to live.&rdquo; God created us for life, forever, with Him. Death entered through sin. That helps kids understand their instincts are right &mdash; this feels wrong because it is wrong. But that&rsquo;s not the end...
Jesus&nbsp;conquered death.&nbsp;Kids can look at the crucifix with new eyes. He chose to suffer, chose to die, so that death wouldn&rsquo;t be the final word for us.
<hr data-start="1887" data-end="1890">
But Also... Teach Them This:
Original Sin is not the same as personal sin. Patrick offers a great analogy: Imagine your billionaire parents lose all their wealth due to a crime. You didn't do anything, but you still lose the inheritance. That&rsquo;s original sin. Through baptism, God gives it all back, and&nbsp;more.
This boy might be in heaven. Patrick encourages Aaron to comfort the students with hope &mdash; if the boy was in 5th grade, it would make sense that he probably never committed a mortal sin. That&rsquo;s&nbsp;theologically solid hope. 🌤️
Teach them how to pray for him, through offering Masses and praying the Chaplet.&nbsp;Let them participate in his journey to Heaven.
<hr data-start="2656" data-end="2659">
❤️ The Most Beautiful Part
At the end of the show, Aaron calls in; he just wants to say thank you. You can&nbsp;hear how much he loves his students and how much he&rsquo;s leaning on the Holy Spirit. It&rsquo;s one of those quiet holy moments that makes you realize the Church is so alive in people like him.
<hr data-start="3244" data-end="3247">
If You&rsquo;re a Teacher, Parent, or Just a Catholic Who Cares&hellip;
This episode is worth your time. It reminds us that grief is the place faith speaks loudest. Our job isn&rsquo;t to &ldquo;fix&rdquo; grief. It&rsquo;s to walk through it with others, pointing to the Cross... and beyond it, to the Resurrection.
🕯️Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.
<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.

Advertisement