Discouragement can feel heavier than the sin itself.

On The Inner Life, Father Carter Griffin, rector of St. John Paul II Seminary in Washington, D.C., and author of Reclaimed: Win the War of Freedom, Self-Mastery, and Holy Purity, addressed the quiet battle many face, especially in struggles with pornography and habitual sin.

“A saint is a sinner who just kept getting back up,” Father Griffin said.

That simple line reframes everything. Holiness is not about never falling. It is about refusing to stay down. “The one who wins a boxing match is just the guy who’s still standing at the end,” he explained. In the spiritual life, we are never fighting alone. Jesus is always ready to lift us up.

Father Griffin noted that discouragement often hides a subtle pride: the belief that we shouldn’t still be struggling. “That’s why we have the grace of God,” he reminded listeners. Christ came to set us free. No sin is our destiny if we keep turning back to Him.

But grace doesn’t replace effort. Father encouraged listeners to develop practical tools: identify patterns, learn from falls, and form a concrete plan. When setbacks happen, respond immediately: get up, go to Confession, and keep moving forward.

With trust in God’s mercy and a determined heart, discouragement loses its power.

Victory in the spiritual life isn’t about perfection. It’s about perseverance.

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.

Discouragement can feel heavier than the sin itself.
On The Inner Life, Father Carter Griffin, rector of St. John Paul II Seminary in Washington, D.C., and author of Reclaimed: Win the War of Freedom, Self-Mastery, and Holy Purity, addressed the quiet battle many face, especially in struggles with pornography and habitual sin.
&ldquo;A saint is a sinner who just kept getting back up,&rdquo; Father Griffin said.
That simple line reframes everything. Holiness is not about never falling. It is about refusing to stay down. &ldquo;The one who wins a boxing match is just the guy who&rsquo;s still standing at the end,&rdquo; he explained. In the spiritual life, we are never fighting alone. Jesus is always ready to lift us up.
Father Griffin noted that discouragement often hides a subtle pride: the belief that we shouldn&rsquo;t still be struggling. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s why we have the grace of God,&rdquo; he reminded listeners. Christ came to set us free. No sin is our destiny if we keep turning back to Him.
But grace doesn&rsquo;t replace effort. Father encouraged listeners to develop practical tools: identify patterns, learn from falls, and form a concrete plan. When setbacks happen, respond immediately: get up, go to Confession, and keep moving forward.
With trust in God&rsquo;s mercy and a determined heart, discouragement loses its power.
Victory in the spiritual life isn&rsquo;t about perfection. It&rsquo;s about perseverance.
<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>.

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

Keep Getting Back Up (The Inner Life)

What did Jesus really mean when He said, “You are the salt of the earth”? On Father Simon Says, Fr. Richard Simon dives into the original Greek to uncover a meaning that’s both surprising and convicting.

In English, we hear, “If salt loses its taste…” But in Greek, the word used is moranthi — which literally means “to become foolish” or “to become stupid.” Fr. Simon explains that in the ancient world, salt wasn’t just seasoning. It was a preservative. Without refrigeration, salt kept meat from rotting. In fact, salt was so valuable that it was sometimes used as payment — which is where we get the word “salary.”

So when Jesus calls His followers “the salt of the earth,” He isn’t just talking about bringing vibrancy and flavor to life. He’s talking about preservation.

Salt, Fr. Simon notes, was even compared to the soul in the body. As long as the soul remains, the body does not decay. In the same way, Christians are meant to be a preserving force in the world, holding back corruption through holiness and truth. 

But what happens when salt “loses its edge”?

In homes with dirt floors, moisture could seep into a salt box and contaminate the bottom layer. Once polluted, it was useless and had to be thrown out. The salt itself had not preserved what touched it. Instead, it had been corrupted.

“If we are polluted with the dirt of the world,” Fr. Simon explains, “we’ve become stupid. We’ve become pointless. We’ve lost our edge.”

The warning is clear. Christians are called to transform the world, not be transformed by it. If the preservative becomes contaminated, who will preserve it?

Jesus’ words may be ancient, but they remain urgent. To be salt means to remain distinct, faithful, and grounded in Him, even and especially when the world resists.

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.

What did Jesus really mean when He said, &ldquo;You are the salt of the earth&rdquo;? On Father Simon Says, Fr. Richard Simon dives into the original Greek to uncover a meaning that&rsquo;s both surprising and convicting.
In English, we hear, &ldquo;If salt loses its taste&hellip;&rdquo; But in Greek, the word used is moranthi &mdash; which literally means &ldquo;to become foolish&rdquo; or &ldquo;to become stupid.&rdquo; Fr. Simon explains that in the ancient world, salt wasn&rsquo;t just seasoning. It was a preservative. Without refrigeration, salt kept meat from rotting. In fact, salt was so valuable that it was sometimes used as payment &mdash; which is where we get the word &ldquo;salary.&rdquo;
So when Jesus calls His followers &ldquo;the salt of the earth,&rdquo; He isn&rsquo;t just talking about bringing vibrancy and flavor to life. He&rsquo;s talking about preservation.
Salt, Fr. Simon notes, was even compared to the soul in the body. As long as the soul remains, the body does not decay. In the same way, Christians are meant to be a preserving force in the world, holding back corruption through holiness and truth.&nbsp;
But what happens when salt &ldquo;loses its edge&rdquo;?
In homes with dirt floors, moisture could seep into a salt box and contaminate the bottom layer. Once polluted, it was useless and had to be thrown out. The salt itself had not preserved what touched it. Instead, it had been corrupted.
&ldquo;If we are polluted with the dirt of the world,&rdquo; Fr. Simon explains, &ldquo;we&rsquo;ve become stupid. We&rsquo;ve become pointless. We&rsquo;ve lost our edge.&rdquo;
The warning is clear. Christians are called to transform the world, not be transformed by it. If the preservative becomes contaminated, who will preserve it?
Jesus&rsquo; words may be ancient, but they remain urgent. To be salt means to remain distinct, faithful, and grounded in Him, even and especially when the world resists.
<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>.

You Are the Salt of the Earth (Father Simon Says)

When Lent approaches, many mothers feel the pressure. More prayer. More sacrifices. More intentions. And somehow, less time.

On Morning Air, Rachel Bulman offered a refreshing perspective for moms who already feel stretched thin by children, work, car lines, laundry, and late nights waiting for teenagers to come home.

“I think that maybe the best thing going into Lent… is just to go in and not pile on the list,” Rachel said.

It’s tempting to declare, “This will be my best Lent ever,” and then create a checklist worthy of a monastery: daily Rosary, daily Mass, multiple spiritual books, extra devotions. But for a busy mom, that can lead to discouragement before Ash Wednesday even arrives.

Instead, Rachel encourages starting small.

“You know, I want to start my morning off and get up maybe 10 minutes earlier and spend that time with the Lord. That’s a really realistic thing to start out with.”

For mothers already living sacrificial love in hidden ways, Lent doesn’t begin from zero. Sleepless nights, selfless service, and patient endurance are already forms of participation in the Cross. That’s not a “free pass,” Rachel notes, but it is a reminder to begin within your real circumstances.

The same wisdom applies to children. Rather than policing every Lenten promise, Rachel suggests modeling devotion and allowing kids to grow in responsibility. When children see authentic faith lived out, they remember.

“Let me not ask for perfection. Let me ask for progress. Let me just grow closer to You.”

Rachel reminds us that true perfection looks like Jesus on the Cross, love poured out, even after falling and rising again. Lent is about returning to Christ, again and again.

Silence, too, can begin small. Five minutes in the car line. A simple night prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours. A morning offering that surrenders the day before it begins.

Because holiness in motherhood isn’t found in doing everything. It’s found in offering everything.

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.

When Lent approaches, many mothers feel the pressure. More prayer. More sacrifices. More intentions. And somehow, less time.
On Morning Air, Rachel Bulman offered a refreshing perspective for moms who already feel stretched thin by children, work, car lines, laundry, and late nights waiting for teenagers to come home.
&ldquo;I think that maybe the best thing going into Lent&hellip; is just to go in and not pile on the list,&rdquo; Rachel said.
It&rsquo;s tempting to declare, &ldquo;This will be my best Lent ever,&rdquo; and then create a checklist worthy of a monastery: daily Rosary, daily Mass, multiple spiritual books, extra devotions. But for a busy mom, that can lead to discouragement before Ash Wednesday even arrives.
Instead, Rachel encourages starting small.
&ldquo;You know, I want to start my morning off and get up maybe 10 minutes earlier and spend that time with the Lord. That&rsquo;s a really realistic thing to start out with.&rdquo;
For mothers already living sacrificial love in hidden ways, Lent doesn&rsquo;t begin from zero. Sleepless nights, selfless service, and patient endurance are already forms of participation in the Cross. That&rsquo;s not a &ldquo;free pass,&rdquo; Rachel notes, but it is a reminder to begin within your real circumstances.
The same wisdom applies to children. Rather than policing every Lenten promise, Rachel suggests modeling devotion and allowing kids to grow in responsibility. When children see authentic faith lived out, they remember.
&ldquo;Let me not ask for perfection. Let me ask for progress. Let me just grow closer to You.&rdquo;
Rachel reminds us that true perfection looks like Jesus on the Cross, love poured out, even after falling and rising again. Lent is about returning to Christ, again and again.
Silence, too, can begin small. Five minutes in the car line. A simple night prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours. A morning offering that surrenders the day before it begins.
Because holiness in motherhood isn&rsquo;t found in doing everything. It&rsquo;s found in offering everything.
<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>.

A Realistic Lent for Moms (Morning Air)

Major Announcement about Archbishop Fulton She

It’s news many Catholics have been waiting to hear: the cause for Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen is officially moving forward toward beatification.

On The Patrick Madrid Show, Patrick shared a letter from Bishop Louis Tilka of the Diocese of Peoria announcing that “the cause for the venerable servant of God, Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, can proceed to beatification.” The next step will be the formal celebration in which he will be declared “Blessed", the final stage before canonization.

Archbishop Sheen was declared Venerable by Pope Benedict XVI on June 28, 2012, in recognition of his heroic virtue. The miracle attributed to his intercession was approved by Pope Francis on July 6, 2019. Now, the Church is working with the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints to finalize details for the beatification ceremony.

Patrick took a moment to clarify the process. Beatification permits limited public veneration, typically in a region. Canonization, which requires a second miracle, allows universal veneration throughout the Church. But as Patrick explained, canonization doesn’t “upgrade” someone in heaven.

“The reason that we canonize saints is for us,” he said. Those in heaven already enjoy the fullness of glory. The Church formally recognizes them so that we can honor them publicly and confidently ask for their intercession.

Drawing from Hebrews 12:1, Patrick reminded listeners that we are “surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses.” The saints are not distant or asleep. They are alive in God’s presence, cheering us on as we run the race of faith.

Bishop Tilka praised Archbishop Sheen as “one of the greatest voices of evangelization in the Church, in the world, in the 20th century.” From radio and television to his global leadership of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, Sheen brought countless souls into deeper encounter with Jesus Christ.

His deep devotion to the Blessed Mother and the Eucharist fueled a life poured out in service, especially for the missions and for those longing to hear the Gospel. For many American Catholics, his beatification will be a moment of joy and gratitude. And, as Patrick noted, another miracle will be needed for canonization.

For now, the Church rejoices. A heroic shepherd who once proclaimed Christ through the airwaves may soon be honored among the Blessed.

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.

It&rsquo;s news many Catholics have been waiting to hear: the cause for Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen is officially moving forward toward beatification.
On The Patrick Madrid Show, Patrick shared a letter from Bishop Louis Tilka of the Diocese of Peoria announcing that &ldquo;the cause for the venerable servant of God, Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, can proceed to beatification.&rdquo; The next step will be the formal celebration in which he will be declared &ldquo;Blessed", the final stage before canonization.
Archbishop Sheen was declared Venerable by Pope Benedict XVI on June 28, 2012, in recognition of his heroic virtue. The miracle attributed to his intercession was approved by Pope Francis on July 6, 2019. Now, the Church is working with the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints to finalize details for the beatification ceremony.
Patrick took a moment to clarify the process. Beatification permits limited public veneration, typically in a region. Canonization, which requires a second miracle, allows universal veneration throughout the Church. But as Patrick explained, canonization doesn&rsquo;t &ldquo;upgrade&rdquo; someone in heaven.
&ldquo;The reason that we canonize saints is for us,&rdquo; he said. Those in heaven already enjoy the fullness of glory. The Church formally recognizes them so that we can honor them publicly and confidently ask for their intercession.
Drawing from Hebrews 12:1, Patrick reminded listeners that we are &ldquo;surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses.&rdquo; The saints are not distant or asleep. They are alive in God&rsquo;s presence, cheering us on as we run the race of faith.
Bishop Tilka praised Archbishop Sheen as &ldquo;one of the greatest voices of evangelization in the Church, in the world, in the 20th century.&rdquo; From radio and television to his global leadership of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, Sheen brought countless souls into deeper encounter with Jesus Christ.
His deep devotion to the Blessed Mother and the Eucharist fueled a life poured out in service, especially for the missions and for those longing to hear the Gospel. For many American Catholics, his beatification will be a moment of joy and gratitude. And, as Patrick noted, another miracle will be needed for canonization.
For now, the Church rejoices. A heroic shepherd who once proclaimed Christ through the airwaves may soon be honored among the Blessed.
<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>.

Keep Getting Back Up (The Inner Life)

The Best of the Week

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