When you go to receive your ashes, you may wonder if you're supposed to leave them on your forehead all day. Others may see you and wonder what they are, or they may make a comment about them.

So, what should you do as a Catholic? It turns out, there is some freedom involved.

Patrick Madrid discusses two schools of thought on this, first.


Some view wearing ashes throughout the day as a public witness to one's Christian faith, similar to wearing a cross lapel pin. They see it as a positive expression of belief in Jesus Christ's life, death, and resurrection.


Others interpret a passage from Matthew 6 about fasting, suggesting that wearing ashes might be considered ostentatious or seeking attention, which goes against the spirit of humility in fasting.

Patrick says that both options are just fine, as the Church imposes no requirement regarding the wearing of ashes. In other words, there's no official rule on this.

He leans towards wearing ashes throughout the day but acknowledges that some may prefer to wash them off to avoid drawing attention to themselves. Ultimately, he emphasizes your freedom to choose either approach based on what you feel convicted to do. He also says that in today's secular society, there's never been a better time to display your faith boldly.

If you choose to leave them on all day, don't be ashamed! It's a great way to evangelize! 

When you go to receive your ashes, you may wonder if you're supposed to leave them on your forehead all day. Others may see you and wonder what they are, or they may make a comment about them.
So, what should you do as a Catholic? It turns out, there is some freedom involved.
Patrick Madrid discusses two schools of thought on this, first.
<ol>
<li>
Some view wearing ashes throughout the day as a public witness to one's Christian faith, similar to wearing a cross lapel pin. They see it as a positive expression of belief in Jesus Christ's life, death, and resurrection.
</li>
<li>
Others interpret a passage from Matthew 6 about fasting, suggesting that wearing ashes might be considered ostentatious or seeking attention, which goes against the spirit of humility in fasting.
</li>
</ol>
Patrick says that both options are just fine, as the Church imposes no requirement regarding the wearing of ashes. In other words, there's no official rule on this.
He leans towards wearing ashes throughout the day but acknowledges that some may prefer to wash them off to avoid drawing attention to themselves. Ultimately, he emphasizes your freedom to choose either approach based on what you feel convicted to do. He also says that in today's secular society, there's never been a better time to display your faith boldly.
If you choose to leave them on all day, don't be ashamed! It's a great way to evangelize!

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

Should You Wipe Your Ashes Off? (The Patrick Madrid Show)

On The Inner Life with Patrick Conley, Laurie from Orlando, Florida, shared the painful road she and her husband walked after marriage. They had hoped for a large family, but instead endured two miscarriages. Finally, they were able to conceive, but heartbreak struck again when their baby daughter was born with a genetic condition and lived for only 12 days. Laurie recalled holding her child as she died.

Yet even in that suffering, Laurie chose trust. “God, Your will be done, not mine,” she said. “I don’t understand any of this, but Your will be done. And I trust in You.”

That trust did not erase the pain, but it opened her heart to God’s plan. In time, Laurie and her husband adopted two children, receiving both of them right from the hospital. What once looked like only loss became, by grace, a beautiful witness to God’s providence.

Laurie also shared where that faith was formed: in the example of her Catholic parents, whose steady trust in God shaped her own response to suffering. Their witness taught her that even when life does not unfold as expected, the Lord is still at work.

Patrick Conley was moved by Laurie’s story, calling it “that great story of faith in the midst of suffering, that great story of surrender.”

Her testimony is a reminder that Christian hope is not based on having every question answered. It is built on the conviction that God remains faithful, even in tragedy, and that His plans are always greater than our own.

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 Inner Life with Patrick Conley, Laurie from Orlando, Florida, shared the painful road she and her husband walked after marriage. They had hoped for a large family, but instead endured two miscarriages. Finally, they were able to conceive, but heartbreak struck again when their baby daughter was born with a genetic condition and lived for only 12 days. Laurie recalled holding her child as she died.
Yet even in that suffering, Laurie chose trust. &ldquo;God, Your will be done, not mine,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t understand any of this, but Your will be done. And I trust in You.&rdquo;
That trust did not erase the pain, but it opened her heart to God&rsquo;s plan. In time, Laurie and her husband adopted two children, receiving both of them right from the hospital. What once looked like only loss became, by grace, a beautiful witness to God&rsquo;s providence.
Laurie also shared where that faith was formed: in the example of her Catholic parents, whose steady trust in God shaped her own response to suffering. Their witness taught her that even when life does not unfold as expected, the Lord is still at work.
Patrick Conley was moved by Laurie&rsquo;s story, calling it &ldquo;that great story of faith in the midst of suffering, that great story of surrender.&rdquo;
Her testimony is a reminder that Christian hope is not based on having every question answered. It is built on the conviction that God remains faithful, even in tragedy, and that His plans are always greater than our own.
<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>.

Even in Tragedy, God's Has a Plan (The Inner Life)

Sometimes the smallest gift becomes the biggest consolation.

On Family Rosary Across America, Pat from Orland Park, Illinois, asked for prayers for her brother-in-law, Scott, who has suffered with younger-onset Alzheimer’s for eight years. She also asked for prayers for her sister, who has been caring for him so faithfully through this long trial.

Then Pat shared that after having received rosaries from Relevant Radio, she gave one to Scott. “He has not put it down,” she said. “He carries it everywhere he goes.”

Even as Alzheimer’s has taken so much, the rosary remains in his hands. In that simple devotion, Pat sees grace at work. Father Rocky responded tenderly, “That gives him hope.”

It is a powerful reminder that Our Lady draws near in suffering. When words fail, when memory fades, and when families grow weary under the weight of illness, Our Lady is still with us. Our connection to her through the rosary becomes a quiet sign of peace, comfort, and the love of God.

Pat’s call was a witness to the steady mercy of God in the middle of sorrow, and to the strength of a family that keeps praying.

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.

Sometimes the smallest gift becomes the biggest consolation.
On Family Rosary Across America, Pat from Orland Park, Illinois, asked for prayers for her brother-in-law, Scott, who has suffered with younger-onset Alzheimer&rsquo;s for eight years. She also asked for prayers for her sister, who has been caring for him so faithfully through this long trial.
Then Pat shared that after having received rosaries from Relevant Radio, she gave one to Scott. &ldquo;He has not put it down,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;He carries it everywhere he goes.&rdquo;
Even as Alzheimer&rsquo;s has taken so much, the rosary remains in his hands. In that simple devotion, Pat sees grace at work. Father Rocky responded tenderly, &ldquo;That gives him hope.&rdquo;
It is a powerful reminder that Our Lady draws near in suffering. When words fail, when memory fades, and when families grow weary under the weight of illness, Our Lady is still with us. Our connection to her through the rosary becomes a quiet sign of peace, comfort, and the love of God.
Pat&rsquo;s call was a witness to the steady mercy of God in the middle of sorrow, and to the strength of a family that keeps praying.
<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 Rosary in His Hands, Hope in His Heart (Family Rosary Across America)

What happens when a church drifts from truth in the name of being “flexible”? On Trending with Timmerie, Timmerie reflects on the growing instability within Anglicanism and contrasts it with the firm foundation of the Catholic Church.

Her point is simple: once truth is untethered from Christ and His Church, everything becomes arbitrary. What may look like openness or adaptability quickly turns into confusion about authority, morality, marriage, and even the meaning of the priesthood.

Timmerie points to one of the clearest examples: the question of women’s ordination. The Catholic Church does not make this teaching up as it goes. Rather, she follows the example of Christ Himself. Jesus chose men to serve as His Apostles, and the Church remains faithful to what He established. As Timmerie puts it, “We do what Jesus did.”

That fidelity matters because the Church is not a human invention. It is the Church founded by Christ, entrusted with Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition, and guided the faithful through the centuries with consistency. When those anchors are rejected, Timmerie argues, the consequences spread fast. The loss of belief in the sacramental priesthood affects belief in the Eucharist. The rejection of confession weakens the sense of sin. Confusion about marriage opens the door to confusion about the human person.

She also notes a striking trend: many Anglicans have entered the Catholic Church, including former Anglican clergy. Why? Because people long for more than religious preferences or shifting principles. They want truth. They want clarity. They want Christ.

At the heart of this conversation is not a criticism of individuals, but a reminder that God has given us a blueprint. His design for the Church, the sacraments, marriage, and the human person is not random or restrictive. It is loving, purposeful, and life-giving.

In a culture that often celebrates endless reinvention, Timmerie offers a needed reminder: boundaries are not the enemy. Truth is what makes freedom possible. And when the world grows uncertain, the Catholic Church remains a sure home built on the solid ground of Jesus Christ.

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 happens when a church drifts from truth in the name of being &ldquo;flexible&rdquo;? On Trending with Timmerie, Timmerie reflects on the growing instability within Anglicanism and contrasts it with the firm foundation of the Catholic Church.
Her point is simple: once truth is untethered from Christ and His Church, everything becomes arbitrary. What may look like openness or adaptability quickly turns into confusion about authority, morality, marriage, and even the meaning of the priesthood.
Timmerie points to one of the clearest examples: the question of women&rsquo;s ordination. The Catholic Church does not make this teaching up as it goes. Rather, she follows the example of Christ Himself. Jesus chose men to serve as His Apostles, and the Church remains faithful to what He established. As Timmerie puts it, &ldquo;We do what Jesus did.&rdquo;
That fidelity matters because the Church is not a human invention. It is the Church founded by Christ, entrusted with Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition, and guided the faithful through the centuries with consistency. When those anchors are rejected, Timmerie argues, the consequences spread fast. The loss of belief in the sacramental priesthood affects belief in the Eucharist. The rejection of confession weakens the sense of sin. Confusion about marriage opens the door to confusion about the human person.
She also notes a striking trend: many Anglicans have entered the Catholic Church, including former Anglican clergy. Why? Because people long for more than religious preferences or shifting principles. They want truth. They want clarity. They want Christ.
At the heart of this conversation is not a criticism of individuals, but a reminder that God has given us a blueprint. His design for the Church, the sacraments, marriage, and the human person is not random or restrictive. It is loving, purposeful, and life-giving.
In a culture that often celebrates endless reinvention, Timmerie offers a needed reminder: boundaries are not the enemy. Truth is what makes freedom possible. And when the world grows uncertain, the Catholic Church remains a sure home built on the solid ground of Jesus Christ.
<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>.

Should You Wipe Your Ashes Off? (The Patrick Madrid Show)

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