The Catholic Current

We welcome Father Dave Tomaszycki of the Archdiocese of Detroit to discuss his new collection of Fulton Sheen’s writings on the demonic. How does such a compilation come together, and why do Sheen’s warnings still matter today?   Show Notes On the Demonic God’s holy weapons against Satan, Part 1: The gift of prophecy God’s holy weapons against Satan, Part 2: The gift of kingship God’s holy weapons against Satan, Part 3: The gift of priesthood iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

Fr. Robert McTeigue examines why many women today seem unhappy despite political and cultural promises of liberation. He suggests a spiritual, even diabolical, root to the crisis. Watch on YouTube: Women Torn Apart?

We welcome convert and musician Josh Long to take a hard look at liturgical music. Why has the liturgy become more focused on entertainment than worship, and what would it take to restore sacred music to its proper place? Father finishes with Timely Thoughts.   Show Notes Vaguely Pious Noises What Many Priests No Longer Believe The Cantor Sings (The Yoo-Hoo Song) Messy Mondays: How to Write a Worship Song (In 5 Minutes or Less) The Worship Song Song by Random Action Verb Worship Parody Of Our Modern Church Service Why Catholics Can't Sing: Revised and Updated With New Grand Conclusions and Good Advice Sing Like a Catholic iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. examines alarming recent cases and cultural trends, and asks what is happening with women, such that so many women seem to embrace ending new life. Watch on YouTube: Women Overshadowed?

Father Robert McTeigue continues his "Novel Prophecies" series with Arthur Koestler’s Darkness at Noon. How does a society lose its sense of truth, and what happens when people stop questioning the claims of those in power? Father finishes with Weekend Readiness to help prepare you for Sunday Mass.   Show Notes Darkness at Noon: A Novel Perpetual Adorers of the Blessed Sacrament – Federation of the Holy Spirit (5 September 2026) Bishop Mutsaerts - Open letter to His Holiness on “Synodality” Bonnie Pierce, the Anti-Lindsay Clancy Daily Readings: Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

In this special episode, Father Robert McTeigue speaks candidly about the faith, the Church, and the moral challenges of our time. From St. Peter Claver and modern slavery to abortion and spiritual discipline, Father tackles the crises around us and the personal work of living the faith.   Show Notes Advice from an aging, repentant sinner St. Peter Claver iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

Fr. Robert McTeigue reacts to a striking recent phrase about Eucharistic adoration: "a God who has become bread." Can you guess which member of the people-who-should-really-know-better club said it? Watch on YouTube: Theological Proofreading

We welcome back Jeffrey Tucker, Founder and President of Brownstone Institute, to reflect upon the pandemic’s impact on religious freedom, media censorship, and public trust. May we find hope in a proposed COVID justice resolution that seeks clear repudiation of closures and censorship, defends civil and religious liberties, and calls for safeguards to prevent future abuses of unaccountable power? Show Notes Why the Resolution? COVID Justice Resolution Great Barrington Declaration iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

Fr. Robert McTeigue reflects on the deliberate destruction of the University of Leuven's historic library in World War I as an example of how tyrants attack beauty, truth, memory and identity — and warns that a subtler modern tyranny simply acts as if the past never existed. Watch on YouTube: Tyrant's Burn Libraries, Right?

We welcome author Michael O’Shea to discuss whether Pope Leo understands the deep cultural and spiritual crisis facing Europe: mass migration, demographic decline, and the secular liberalism reshaping nations previously formed by Christian principles. Father finishes with Timely Thoughts. Show Notes Pope Leo, Lampedusa, and The Camp of the Saints Vandalising Ireland: How the Government, NGOs, Academia and the Media Are Engineering a New Globalist Ireland The New Vichy Syndrome: Why European Intellectuals Surrender to Barbarism 25-year-old Noelia Castillo dies by legal euthanasia in case that drew national spotlight in Spain New Record: 14,000 Registered for Chartres Pilgrimage on First Day Spain: Christian procession in Oviedo disrupted by Muslims – “I’m not going to keep quiet just because of a bloody procession!”, “I’m a Muslim!” Nigeria's army rescues 31 hostages after church attack How Catholic Underground’s Eucharistic Adoration Draws Hundreds to Manhattan Church iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

Fr. Robert McTeigue dives into the deeper truth of the Resurrection: Christ has conquered sin and death, and that changes everything. Don't just "move on" from Easter. Live like it really happened. Watch on YouTube: I Am Not the Easter Bunny

We welcome Professor Bert Olivier of the University of the Free State in South Africa to examine the evolution of the term “liberal.” Are those who bear the label today truly aligned with its classical meaning, or has the concept undergone a fundamental transformation? What do these shifts reveal about contemporary understandings of freedom, authority, and the common good? Father finishes with Timely Thoughts. Show Notes Are the ‘Liberals’ of Today Really Liberals? The 2 reasons totalitarian states detest the Church A Republic, Not an Empire: Reclaiming America's Destiny A List of NO KINGS Financiers iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

Rumors are that the Vatican is broke. Father McTeigue has a plan: Stop spending money that doesn’t need to be spent; get more work done than ever for next to nothing. Father zeroes in on the budget for Synodality. His alternative may surprise you. Watch on YouTube: I Can Fix Vatican Finances

In part three of this special series on tyranny, Fr. McTeigue contends that neither virtue signaling nor continued synodal dialogue can adequately address the roots of modern oppression. As contemporary society remains entangled in networks of political, corporate, and ideological power, genuine freedom can only be found in the kingship of Christ.   Show Notes The Kingship of Christ According to the Principles of Saint Thomas Aquinas The Kingship of Christ and Organized Naturalism: A Study of the Social Reign of Christ in the Modern World The Church Speaks to the Modern World: The Social Teachings of Leo XIII QUAS PRIMAS - ENCYCLICAL OF POPE PIUS XI UBI ARCANO DEI CONSILIO - ENCYCLICAL OF POPE PIUS XI LONGINQUA - ENCYCLICAL OF POPE LEO XIII Citizens of The Heavenly City Vatican Announces Date of Archbishop Fulton Sheen's Beatification Daily Readings - Palm Sunday iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

We welcome author and radio host Leigh Fitzpatrick Snead to discuss her book Infertile but Fruitful: Finding Fulfillment When You Can’t Conceive. How can couples navigate the emotional and spiritual trials of infertility without losing hope, and what does it mean to live a truly fruitful life when parenthood does not unfold as expected? Show Notes Infertile but Fruitful: Finding Fulfillment When You Can’t Conceive Saint Paul VI Institute MyCatholicDoctor - Faithful Healthcare You Can Trust Leigh Fitzpatrick Snead - Website Conversations with Consequences - EWTN The Catholic Association Leigh Snead on Instagram iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

What happens when the stewards of Christ stop speaking and acting with the gravity their office demands? In this powerful reflection, Fr. Robert McTeigue argues that when Church leaders ignore truth, beauty, goodness, and sacrifice, it’s not just scandalous. It can become a form of tyranny. Watch on YouTube: Many Jesters—No King?

We welcome back Matt Archbold of Creative Minority Report to sift through some of the more bewildering headlines in the Church and the world. From eyebrow-raising religious imagery to baffling remarks from prominent Christian leaders, is it possible to stay sane, and even keep a sense of humor, when things seem to be going off the rails? Father finishes with Timely Thoughts. Show Notes Creative Minority Report Taylor Marshall: Cardinals elected ‘idolater and syncretist to the papacy’ if photos legit MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE LEO XIV ON THE OCCASION OF THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE POST-SYNODAL APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION AMORIS LAETITIA Pope Convenes Episcopal Conferences in Rome in October 2026 to Address Urgent Needs of Families Ted Cruz launches bizarre attack on Catholic integralism Archbishop’s statement ahead of the House of Lord’s votes on abortion decriminalization and ‘pills-by-post’ Send Us Thine Asteroid, O Lord Cardinal says Church cannot “continue to exist” without women’s ordination Cardinal Hollerich: There’s ‘space to expand’ Church teaching on all-male priesthood Dutch Bishop Accepts Teaching Children "Respect for Sexual Diversity" Loyola Student Shot Dead by Illegal Immigrant Released Twice I Have PTTSD | Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

Do you experience flashbacks when exposed to tiresome enthusiasms and poor theology? Fr. McTeigue does. Perhaps you too suffer from Poor Theology Traumatic Stress Disorder.   Watch on YouTube: I Have PTTSD

In part two of this special series of tyranny, Fr. McTeigue explains that one of the worst forms of tyranny is to pretend that language doesn't matter. He describes what Catholic defiance to tyranny has looked like throughout the ages, and how we are called to live our Faith with courage. Father finishes with Weekend Readiness to prepare you for Sunday Mass.   Show Notes On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century: Snyder, Timothy Reportage: Essays on the New World Order: Corbett, James, Webb, Whitney UNEARTHED: 1995 photo shows Pope Leo XIV participating in Pachamama ritual - LifeSite  Six Nations Will Help Guard Strait of Hormuz – PJ Media  Use an anonymous account online? AI can now reveal your identity. | Blaze Media  Japan's Yogurt Delivery Ladies Serve as a Support Net for Country's Aging Population  Daily Readings - Fifth Sunday of Lent We Are Being Contested For | Fr. Robert McTeigue’s Sermons

We welcome back Fr. John Perricone to examine how the term “traditional Catholic” has, in some contexts, taken on a derogatory connotation, even within sectors of the Church’s own hierarchy. What does it truly mean to be a “traditional Catholic,” and how can this identity be properly understood apart from caricature or misuse? How might a renewed embrace of the Church’s beautiful and sacred traditions prove beneficial for all Catholics? Show Notes Why Every Catholic Is a Traditional Catholic (Or Should Be) In Defense of Tradition: Collected Shorter Writings of Richard M. Weaver, 1929–1963 Abuse of Language, Abuse of Power Tradition: Concept and Claim The False Hope of a “More Apostolic Church” A Summa of the Summa Caring for Words in a Culture of Lies iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

What does it really mean to “use your words” in a world that seems increasingly hostile to truth and faith? Father Robert McTeigue unpacks how Christians can recognize modern tyranny and boldly choose courage, clarity, and conviction in the face of it. Watch on YouTube: Facing Down the Tyrants

We welcome back canon lawyer Fr. Gerald Murray to examine the canonical and ecclesial dimensions of the ongoing tensions between the Society of Saint Pius X and the Vatican. How should this disagreement be understood in light of Church law and authority, and what principles are at stake in evaluating its possible resolution? Why does the recent synodal document addressing the role of women in the Church raise further theological and canonical questions regarding the nature of sacred tradition? Father finishes with Timely Thoughts. Show Notes COMMUNIQUÉ FROM THE GENERAL HOUSE Bishop Schneider suggests Vatican excommunication of SSPX would not be valid Rome and St Pius X: the stages of an agreement that was always rejected When Fellay looked to Rome and feared schism For Lefebvrians, every Mass except their own is dubious On women's participation in the life and leadership of the Church What Happened to "Just War" Theory? | Prayerful Posse Sen. Cruz's Post on Catholic Role in GOP Gets Backlash Why Ireland Needs Saint Patrick Now More Than Ever iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

When an American cardinal issued a statement about the Iran War, it didn't ring true.  It wasn't wrong, but he seemed to lack moral credibility.  Father McTeigue takes a closer look. Watch on YouTube: A Cardinal's Conscience

Fr. Robert McTeigue suggests that modern tyranny may look very different from the familiar image of a single authoritarian ruler. How can such a system be recognized and effectively resisted, and what role can the Church play in forming the faithful to confront it? Father finishes with Weekend Readiness to help prepare you for Sunday Mass. Show Notes Now Is the Time of Monsters | Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. The 2 reasons totalitarian states detest the Church What does the noun tyranny mean? On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century The Corbett Report Episode 494 – Meet The Ellisons: Zionists, Technocrats, Moguls Who Is Bill Gates? How & Why Big Oil Conquered The World What Happened to the WEF? – Questions For Corbett The Strange Story of Peter Thiel Pfizer Papers: Pfizer's Crimes Against Humanity The Wire - March 12, 2026 Kind Restaurant Owners Take Entire Staff on Paid Bahamas Vacation Daily Readings - Fourth Sunday of Lent iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

We welcome back Eric Sammons, editor-in-chief of Crisis Magazine, to discuss his new science fiction novel Shard of Eden. Is there such a thing as authentically Catholic science fiction, and if so, what distinguishes it from other works within the genre? What is required to craft a compelling narrative that both captivates readers and faithfully reflects the teachings of the Church? Show Notes Shard of Eden Voyage to Alpha Centauri: A Novel A Canticle for Leibowitz Lord of the World: A Novel The Space Trilogy by C.S. Lewis Brother Astronomer: Adventures of a Vatican Scientist iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

The Church is in the business of defeating monsters and driving out devils. Fr. McTeigue explores how she's not a cruise ship, but a battleship.   Watch on YouTube: Now Is the Time of Monsters

We welcome back Kelly Salomon and Dr. Denise Donohue of The Cardinal Newman Society to discuss why it is so important to carefully evaluate Catholic schools to determine whether they truly uphold the faith they claim to represent. What “green flags” should parents and prospective students look for, and what warning signs might suggest that a school is best avoided? How can the resources of The Cardinal Newman Society help families navigate this process while seeking an authentically Catholic education? Show Notes The Newman Guide: Fulfilling St. John Henry Newman’s Vision for Catholic Education NAPCIS, The Cardinal Newman Society Announce New Partnership for School Accreditation ‘The Newman Guide’ Now Provides Seamless Path of Faithful Catholic Education Principles of Catholic Identity Overview The Newman Guide: 2025-2026 Edition Increasing Access to Faithful Education Principles Parent Guide Newman Guide Colleges Earn A+ Pro-Life Rating Christian Schools - Students for Life of America iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

So many of the words and phrases coming out of the Synod on Synodality don't seem to make sense. They barely seem like English. Perhaps we need a translation. Father McTeigue takes a closer look.   Watch on YouTube: Do You Speak Synodal?

Fr. Robert McTeigue provides guidance for those who are confused about worship. In a world that often appears increasingly disordered, why should the faithful approach divine worship with greater seriousness and reverence? If the Mass is frequently treated as a mere social obligation or an inconvenience, what responsibility do clergy and laity share in restoring a proper understanding of its sacred purpose as an act of reparation offered to God for debts that can never be fully repaid? Father finishes with Weekend Readiness to help prepare you for Sunday Mass. Show Notes Worship in a Time of War Learning in War-Time In Tune With The World The Holy Bread of Eternal Life: Restoring Eucharistic Reverence in an Age of Impiety Tolkien and the Great War: The Threshold of Middle-earth A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War Necessity of Chivalry by C. S. Lewis Croatia Declared Landmine-free After More Than 2 Decades of Demining Efforts Daily Readings - Third Sunday of Lent iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

We welcome back author and scholar Joseph Pearce to examine the cultural and spiritual decline of Europe in light of its increasing distance from its Christian heritage. Contemporary policy responses don't seem to be fostering positive change. Could Europe’s authentic renewal depend upon a rediscovery of the Christian foundations that once shaped its identity and institutions? Show Notes Caesar or Christ: Who Can Save Europe? Joseph Pearce's Website Christians at the End of the Pax Americana His Reign Shall Have No End: Catholic Social Teaching for the Lionhearted The Cube and the Cathedral: Europe, America, and Politics Without God The New Vichy Syndrome: Why European Intellectuals Surrender to Barbarism Catholic and Identitarian: From Protest to Reconquest The Death of Christian Culture iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

A student insisted that morality is whatever each person decides for themselves. One question can expose the uncomfortable consequences of that idea and stop a room cold. Father McTeigue takes a closer look. Watch on YouTube: Who Am I to Judge?

We welcome back Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse of the Ruth Institute for a rigorous examination of the social and developmental outcomes associated with same-sex parenting and alternative family structures. Research indicates elevated risks in areas such as emotional well-being, academic achievement, and long-term stability for children raised outside the traditional mother–father household. How did we get here, and are there any pastoral, educational, or civic efforts that might be able to help slow the growing trend? Father finishes with Timely Thoughts. Show Notes Greater Than Campaign Them Before Us Ruth Institute Family Research Council iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

What if the way that Blockbuster and RadioShack ran their businesses into the ground is the same way that the Church is being run? Watch on YouTube: The Church's Bad Business?

Fr. Robert McTeigue reminds us to embrace Lent as a time of true sacrifice and repentance, encouraging us to take an honest look in the mirror and avoid merely pretending that we believe that we are sinners in need of salvation. Father finishes with Weekend Readiness to help you prepare for Sunday Mass. Show Notes Lent: Sin Can Kill You; Shame Doesn’t Have To Why you need to be defiant and disobedient to pray well Who Needs Another Lent? | Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. German Bishops' Conference Accepts "Synodal Conference" to Rule Over Individual Bishops Pro-abortion Notre Dame professor withdraws from institute role after fierce criticism from bishops, cardinals Go Time? US Navy HQ in Bahrain Reportedly on 'Mission Critical' Status As Potential Iran Hostilities Loom Good Samaritans Sprang into Action to Save Baby That Fell into Lake Michigan Daily Readings - Second Sunday of Lent iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

We welcome back John Horvat of Tradition Family and Property to evaluate where socialism comes up short. While the prospect of free handouts can sound attractive to some, there are dangerous consequences that come with it, and the poor track record backs that up. Why does socialism undermine private property, human dignity, and incentives for virtue, family, and honest work, and what are some reasonable alternatives? Show Notes How a Trip to Poland Convinced Me that Socialism Works Can a Catholic Be a Socialist? The Myth of Scandinavian Socialism Order Your FREE Copy of Return to Order Workbook Animal Farm: 75th Anniversary Edition Ministry or Apostolate?: What Should the Catholic Laity Be Doing iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

Father Robert McTeigue reflects on a recent meeting of bishops from across the Americas and questions the substance and timing of their public call for unity and support of migrants. He challenges Church leaders to offer greater transparency, clearer rebuttals to public accusations, and more visible pastoral care for victims of violence. Watch on YouTube: Bishops + Slogans = ???

We welcome back Matt Archbold of Creative Minority Report to discuss what to do when panic looks attractive. The headline news grows more depressing with each passing day. How can a faithful Catholic hold firm and avoid despair, even when it appears to be the only option? Father finishes with Timely Thoughts. Show Notes No, it’s not time to panic. Here’s why Why the TFP Protest at the Religious Education Congress Matters Don't Get Too Excited Collapse Won’t Reset Society The Bishops and the Border | The American Spectator | USA News and Politics Gunman stopped at St. Mary school Mass in Sacramento - California Catholic Daily More evidence of a crisis in religious orders Cardinal Sarah on SSPX: ‘Faith can never lead us to renounce obedience to the Church’ Cardinal Müller: SSPX must stay ‘within the Church’ to have a ‘positive effect’ https://x.com/NuryVittachi/status/2025829366765383685 Mexico Fears More Violence after Army Kills Leader of Powerful Jalisco Cartel | Newsmax.com Is This Like Arresting Capone on Tax Evasion? – Creative Minority Report iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

The people who gave us such cultural highlights as Bell Bottoms, Leisure Suits and pink tuxedos took it upon themselves to design our vestments, our churches, and our sanctuaries. Father McTeigue takes a closer look. Watch on YouTube: A Church Without Polyester?

Fr. Robert McTeigue examines who truly “stands with Rome.” With traditional Catholic teaching and lessons from the Doctors of the Church often conflicting with statements from modern Church leadership, it is becoming increasingly difficult to understand what that phrase means. How can Catholics best navigate the inconsistencies? Father concludes with Weekend Readiness to help you prepare for Sunday Mass. Show Notes Communiqué from the General House: the Society’s response to Rome Msgr. Schneider responds to Tucho about the FSSPX: the pastoral documents of Vatican II can be corrected, only the Word of God is immutable Sic et non : a critical edition Commonitory for the Antiquity and Universality of the Catholic Faith, Against the Profane Novelties of All Heretics (Os Justi Theological Classics) Sixty Years After: Catholic Writers Assess the Legacy of Vatican II Bound by Truth: Authority, Obedience, Tradition, and the Common Good Ultramontanism and Tradition: The Role of Papal Authority in the Catholic Faith (Os Justi Studies in Catholic Tradition) Studies in the Spirituality of Jesuits Mysterious ‘Hero’ Dog Leads Police Straight to Missing 3-year-old Officer Says in Body Cam Video Daily Readings - First Sunday of Lent iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

We welcome back Mike Parrott to unravel the truth about silver, gold, and other forms of currency. Should surging silver prices be viewed as a resounding success, or is there more to the story? What is real money, where does it come from, and how should those things impact the way in which families navigate our current economic climate? Show Notes Silver Is Surging: But That’s Not the Story Why Gold Can't Displace Fiat? || Peter Zeihan Money Manipulation and Social Order The Creature from Jekyll Island: A Second Look at the Federal Reserve The Reconstruction of the Republic The Crash Course: An Honest Approach to Facing the Future of Our Economy, Energy, and Environment When Money Dies: The Nightmare of Deficit Spending, Devaluation, and Hyperinflation in Weimar Germany Leverage: How Cheap Money Will Destroy the World iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

What does it mean when we say that we "stand with Rome" in an era of so much ambivalence and confusion? Father McTeigue takes a closer look.  Watch on YouTube: Stand with Rome?

We welcome back Karl Denninger to take a look under the hood of major social media companies and examine why extensive use of their platforms often leaves users feeling anxious, angry, and unfulfilled. What is it that companies such as Meta and X have actually set out to accomplish, and do they really have their users' best interest in mind? Father finishes with Timely Thoughts. Show Notes How Social Media Fuels Apparent Insanity Today What If This Is Part of The Intent? How The Sexual Revolution Is Linked To School Shootings | Mary Eberstadt ‘Transgender’ shooter in Canada leaves 10 dead, 25 wounded BREAKING UPDATE: Trans suspect in mass shooting at RI hockey game identified as Robert 'Roberta' Dorgan The Echo Chambers That Form Killers Trans Father Shoots His Kids?! the informational abyss gazes also iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

Are you ready for Lent? Father McTeigue reflects on how to prevent your almsgiving from becoming mere bribery and your fasting from being distorted into dieting. Watch on YouTube: Who Needs Another Lent?

Fr. Robert McTeigue highlights some of the things that frustrate God and proposes how we can best avoid pitfalls. Are we really acting on the nature that God has given us and fulfilling His purposes for us? Father concludes with Weekend Readiness to help you prepare for Sunday Mass. Show Notes Mamdani Stiffs Catholics for Third Time FTC Probing Pediatrician Group, Non-Profit Over Gender Dysphoria Treatments For Kids Bishop Rhoades Expresses ‘Strong Opposition’ to Pro-Abortion Appointee at Notre Dame Venerable Fulton Sheen to be beatified Conservative Catholic member of Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission ousted in dispute over antisemitism Yes, Some Moral Acts Are Disordered—Here’s Why What We Can't Not Know Lead Pollution Has Dropped 100-Fold in the U.S. Over the Last Century Fulton Sheen’s Warning About Counterfeit Catholicism Daily Readings - Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

We welcome back Dr. Anne Hendershott to discuss her latest book, A Lamp in the Darkness: How Faithful Catholic Colleges Are Helping to Save the Church. It isn't always safe to assume that "Catholic colleges" are truly Catholic in practice. What warning signs might indicate the need for a closer look, and how should parents and prospective students evaluate educational institutions with higher education in a state of crisis? Show Notes A Lamp in the Darkness: How Faithful Catholic Colleges Are Helping to Save the Church - Dr. Anne Hendershott The Cardinal Newman Society The Poor Old Liberal Arts - Fr. Robert Gannon, S.J. The Dying of the Light: The Disengagement of Colleges and Universities from Their Christian Churches - James Tunstead Burtchaell Are we educating for freedom? An Unteachable Society and the Church Graduates: Are You Ready for the “Real World?” As Feminized Universities Falter, Faithful Catholic Colleges Flourish Another Sort of Learning - Fr. James Schall, S.J. iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

Is “shut up, he explained” really a strategy for parenting, teaching, or governing the Church? In the spirit of St. Thomas Aquinas, Father McTeigue imagines a Summa Contra Traddies that actually answers objections instead of dismissing them.   Watch on YouTube: Summa Contra Traddies?

We welcome back Fr. John Perricone to discuss the upcoming meeting between the SSPX and the Vatican regarding the consecration of new Bishops. In many ways this is considered a referendum on the Second Vatican Council, and the SSPX hasn't started cheering yet. What are we to make of the mixed signals, and how should we remember Vatican II all these years later? Father finishes with Timely Thoughts. Show Notes Sunset Boulevard and Vatican II Sunset Boulevard (Film) Best Council Ever—Now with Merch! | Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. Is African Catholicism a "Vatican II Success Story"? Questioning the Conventional Narrative Sixty Years After: Catholic Writers Assess the Legacy of Vatican II To Sanctify the World: The Vital Legacy of Vatican II iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

Fr. McTeigue takes a closer look at the legacy of Lateran V, asking us to consider how we view councils that were well intentioned but never met their goals... Watch on YouTube: Best Council Ever—Now with Merch!

Fr. Robert McTeigue concludes his three-part critique of the inconsistent consistory, this time focusing on the crisis of governance in the Church. What does it mean to “be in charge,” and what are the distinctions between power and authority? Father finishes with Weekend Readiness to prepare you for Sunday Mass. Show Notes POPE FRANCIS APOSTOLIC CONSTITUTION - PRAEDICATE EVANGELIUM Vatican doctrine chief to hold talks with SSPX leader Daily Readings - Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

We welcome back Ryan McMaken, editor-in-chief at the Mises Institute, to examine whether the state is a friend or a foe of families today. With birth rates steadily declining and many struggling to make ends meet, evidence suggests that families are in trouble. Is the federal government part of the solution or part of the problem? Show Notes Why “Pro-Family” Government Programs Don’t Increase the Fertility Rate Families Are the Key to Building Alternatives to the State Catholic Marriages in the USA Have Declined by 60% Since 2000 Hannah's Children: The Women Quietly Defying the Birth Dearth by Dr. Catherine Pakaluk The 2 reasons totalitarian states detest the Church iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

What happens when the Church speaks endlessly about listening, but grows strangely quiet when certain voices speak? Fr. McTeigue takes a closer look. Watch on YouTube: Who's in Charge?

We welcome back canon lawyer Fr. Gerald Murray to take a closer look at happenings in the Diocese of Charlotte. With sweeping changes banning the use of communion rails and placing restrictions on the Traditional Latin Mass, diocesan clergy have signed a dubia to the Holy See asking for clarification. What kind of outcome might we reasonably expect, and more curiously, what is the point of it all? Show Notes How the Charlotte ‘Dubia’ May Impact Liturgy Disputes Beyond North Carolina| National Catholic Register Priests in Charlotte diocese submit 'dubia' to Vatican over bishop’s liturgical changes - CatholicVote org Is kneeling before the Eucharist prohibited? One in four priests respond to their bishop (of Charlotte) with a letter to the Vatican - ZENIT Liturgical Norms - Diocese of Charlotte The Charlotte dubia test the limits of a bishop’s authority | Catholic Culture FSSPX Announces Consecration of New Bishops on July 1, 2026 iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

Fr. Robert McTeigue reflects on the challenges of melancholy and anxiety, contrasting them with the wisdom of Saint Francis de Sales and the guidance of Gandalf the White. Watch on YouTube: What I Learned from Gandalf

Fr. Robert McTeigue continues with his critique of the inconsistent consistory, this time focusing on remarks from Cardinal Fernández about preaching and intellectual humility. Father finishes with Weekend Readiness to prepare you for Sunday Mass. Show Notes “Do Not Ask the Light, but the Fire”. Opening Meditation of the Plenary Session of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (27 January 2026)  Fides et Ratio (14 September 1998) Veritatis Splendor (6 August 1993) Pascendi Dominici Gregis (September 8, 1907) Symposium on the Greatest Threats to the Church | New Oxford Review  Étienne Gilson – The Intelligence in the Service of Christ the King (1937)  St. Bonaventure's on the Reduction of the Arts to Theology  Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time | USCCB  Sacred Heart Catholic School to learn trade skills from local masters First woman to lead Church of England confirmed in ceremony  German Cardinal: ‘For Me the Synodal Way Is Over’| National Catholic Register Old church in Duquesne now home to retro-style arcade - CBS Pittsburgh  Fr. Robert McTeigue’s Sermon on St. Thomas Aquinas iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

We welcome Dr. Peter Kwasniewski to discuss the urgency of proclaiming Christ as King here and now, not merely as a future sovereign. He and Fr. McTeigue trace the shifts within the Church that have downplayed Christ’s reign, and they evaluate the consequences.  Show Notes His Reign Shall Have No End: Catholic Social Teaching for the Lionhearted iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

The venerable Mad Magazine warned about advertisement that was true but misleading. Father McTeigue read Cardinal Fernandez’s statement to the recent consistory, and began to wonder… Watch on YouTube: DDF Reads Mad Magazine?

We welcome Fr. Peter Stravinskas to discuss why many young priests are leaving the priesthood, from weak intellectual formation, cultural pressures, isolation, and the lure of celebrity. Father finishes with Timely Thoughts. Show Notes Opinion: Why do young priests leave?  Apostolic Letter A Fidelity that generates the Future of the Holy Father Leo Xiv on the Sixtieth Anniversary of the Conciliar Decrees Optatam Totius and Presbyterorum Ordinis (8 December 2025)  A candid conversation about the source of vocations iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

What happens when preaching the Gospel stops being urgent? Fr. Robert McTeigue reflects on the life-changing weight of the gospels, draws on Pope Benedict XV’s largely-unknown teaching, and asks whether parts of the Church are quietly sidelining the preacher’s role. Watch on YouTube: Who Wants to Cancel the Preachers?

In this special three-part series on the recent consistory, Father McTeigue begins an examination of the questionable claims made by Cardinal Roche about the liturgy. Father finishes with Weekend Readiness to prepare you for Sunday Mass. Show Notes ENGLISH EXCLUSIVE: Cardinal Roche Defends Traditionis Custodes at Extraordinary Consistory  Bishop Athanasius Schneider: Cardinal Roche’s Liturgy Report Is “Manipulative” and Distorts History  Does 'Traditionis Custodes' Pass the Juridical Rationality Test? – Os Justi Press  The Latin Mass and the Intellectuals: Petitions to Save the Ancient Mass from 1966 to 2007 Ottaviani Intervention (1969) | Latin Mass Society  The text Card. Roche gave the other Cardinals about the TLM, ‘Traditionis custodes’ and “unity” during the recent consistory: an examination of “The Roche Report” | Fr. Z's Blog  The Church Speaks to the Modern World: The Social Teachings of Leo XIII | Etienne Gilson Has the new liturgy changed you? | Charlotte was Both Franz Kafka, Nancy Drew and Charlie Parker Become Free to Use Ahead Of March For Life, Trump Admin Ends Funding For Research Using Aborted Baby Tissue Third Sunday in Ordinary Time | USCCB iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

We are joined by Theodore Dalrymple, who warns against the trend to dilute and degrade for the sake of attracting youth. Might we suggest a different approach? Show Notes Forever Young - Taki's Magazine iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

Father McTeigue invites you to take a closer look at the consistory that just took place. What are they really saying? Watch on YouTube: Meet the Inconsistent Consistory

We welcome Austin Habash, founder of Think Catholic, to explain the Summa In a Year project, in addition to a concept that most Catholics have never considered: door-to-door evangelization. Father finishes with Timely Thoughts. Show Notes Summa in a Year - Apple Podcasts Summa In a Year | Spotify  Think Catholic  A Summa of the Summa | Amazon The Elements of Philosophy: A Compendium for Philosophers and Theologians: William Wallace iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. reflects on the wedding feast at Cana to confront the loss of joy in a world that feels chaotic and burning. He calls us to rediscover peace and joy by clinging to Christ crucified, risen, and reigning.   Watch on YouTube: They Have No Wine—Now What?

Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. examines the “plan for success” long promised to young people and explains why it is no longer working. He shows how the system failed as a result of decisions whose consequences should have been obvious. Father concludes with Weekend Readiness to help you prepare for Sunday Mass. Show Notes New Oxford Review – Pax Americana The ‘Success Machine’ is Broken. Here's Why. | The Wade Show with Wade  Administration’s Regulatory Change is a Truly Significant Step to Support Essential Religious Services in the United States | USCCB Trump Admin Was Forced to Restore a Little Planned Parenthood Funding to Win Defunding Lawsuit - LifeNews.com  Peter Schiff asks,is a college degree worth the cost?  Seminarian Engagement Program | USCCB U.S. National Debt Clock in Realtime | USDebtClock.org iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

We welcome back Phil Lawler to discuss his new novel, Ghost Runner, and the story behind its creation. Truly good fiction that is also authentically Catholic is rare, and Lawler shows that it can be done. Show Notes Ghost Runner by Phil Lawler iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

From the promise of college and career to marriage, family, and retirement, Fr. McTeigue examines how the “Success Machine” was sold, why it’s broken, and why this isn’t just an economic crisis but a moral and spiritual one. Watch on YouTube: We Don't Deserve to be Believed

Dr. Craig Mullen joins us to discuss how we can continue to see the mercy of God, even when children suffer the horrors of cancer. Father finishes with Timely Thoughts.  Show Notes Childhood Cancer and the Problem of Evil - The Society of Catholic Scientists  Why didn’t God heal Mom?  The Problem of Evil: The Aquinas Lecture by Errol Harris Saint Thomas and the Problem of Evil (Aquinas Lecture 6) - Jacques Maritain Psalms and Compassions: A Jesuit's Journey Through Cancer When a Kid Like Me Fights Cancer What Happens When My Sibling Has Cancer: A Book for the Brothers and Sisters of Pediatric Cancer Patients): Olsher, Sara Support4Families for Children & Parents | Crossroads4Hope Support Networks for Parents of a Child with Cancer - Together by St. Jude™ The Problem of Pain: Lewis, C. S. PDQ® Cancer Information - NCI iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

We've been told for 60 years that we've been enjoying the fruits of Vatican II. And we've been told that we haven't had "the real Vatican II—yet." Which is it?Watch on YouTube: The Vatican II Merry Go Round?

Fr. Robert McTeigue takes a closer examination of the roles of Christ as Priest, Prophet, and King. Was the sacrifice of Christ inevitable in the way that the Kingship of Christ was? Father finishes with Weekend Readiness to prepare you for Sunday Mass. Show Notes iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

We welcome Jon Marcus of the Hechinger Report to discuss the trends in college admissions, which young people ought to seek college, and how college landscapes are changing. Father finishes with Timely Thoughts. Show Notes As the supply of applicants declines, college admissions gets kinder and gentler The number of 18-year-olds is about to drop sharply, packing a wallop for colleges — and the economy  Mississauga's Holy Name of Mary College to close | The Catholic Register  College of St. Joseph the Worker Peter Schiff asks,is a college degree worth the cost? iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

Why does the modern world bristle at the words Christ is King? Father Robert McTeigue examines Epiphany, modern resistance to divine authority, and why Christ’s kingship is not optional but foundational to reality itself. Watch on YouTube: Too Early for the End of Days?

Father McTeigue reflects on what the passage of time means for Christians, who aim for eternity, and how we ought to approach a year of uncertainty and potential trial. Show Notes Notes on The Gates of Hell – Maureen Mullarkey Against Fate: An Essay on Personal Dignity by Glenn Tinder  The Fabric of Hope: Glenn Tinder  Church Militant Field Manual: Special Forces Training for the Life in Christ iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

A short New Year’s reflection from Father Robert McTeigue on hope as a choice, God’s faithfulness, and walking into the future with Christ and His Mother.   Watch on YouTube: Hope on New Year's Eve?

We welcome Dr. Christian Bottenfield of Thinking West, who discusses Western decline, demographic collapse, and the urgent need to rebuild strong, generational families rooted in Christian tradition. Father finishes with Timely Thoughts. Show Notes The Solution to Western Decline? Building Generational Families | YouTube  ThinkingWest | Substack  ThinkingWest (@thinkingwest) on X  The Cube and the Cathedral: Europe, America, and Politics Without God Christians at the End of the Pax Americana | New Oxford Review The 2 reasons totalitarian states detest the Church iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

In this special edition of Let's Talk About This, Fr. McTeigue discusses the Christmas season and how we ought to live it uniquely as Catholics. Father finishes with Weekend Readiness. Show Notes The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola: Second... | Sacred Texts Archive A Woman Wrapped in Silence: John W. Lynch A REMAINING CHRISTMAS  1984 Sears Christmas Commercial Sears Christmas 1979 TV commercial 1970 Sears Christmas Wishbook Singing with Other People Improves Health More Than Singing Alone iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

On this Christmas Eve, Fr. Robert McTeigue wants to share with you a special message, The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ from the Roman Martyrology.   Watch on YouTube: A Christmas Proclamation

We are joined by Karl Denninger from Market Ticker to discuss the political and economic choices of last year, and what we can reasonably expect in 2026. Father finishes with Timely Thoughts. Show Notes 2025: The Year In Review, And Get Stuffed in [Market-Ticker] iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

Christmas is increasingly reduced to a celebration of vague “positive values.” But if God did not truly become Man, everything else collapses. Fr. McTeigue examines what’s at stake when the Incarnation is replaced with sentiment. Watch on YouTube: Christmas Without Christ?

In this week's Let's Talk About This, Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. reflects on tradition, warning against celebrations that keep the sentiment while sidelining Christ Himself. Drawing on Scripture, the Church Fathers, and emotive Christmas poetry, he identifies the most decisive event of human history. He concludes with Weekend Readiness, preparing you for Sunday Mass. Show Notes Are Your Christmas Traditions Fire or Ashes?  The O Antiphons: A Sacred Countdown to Christmas  Christmas Traditions:  Ashes or Fire  Can't Go Home for Christmas? | Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. Advent: Time to Take Out the Trash! (Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J.) iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

Fr. Robert McTeigue is joined by Holy Land expert Steve Ray to help listeners enter more deeply into the mystery of the Nativity. They walk through Bethlehem and beyond, illuminating what Christ, Mary, and Joseph encountered at His birth, and how this vivid "composition of place" can transform our prayer and worship today. Show Notes Pilgrimages with Steve and Janet Ray Hail, Holy Queen: The Mother of God in the Word of God: Scott Hahn iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

As Christmas approaches, Father Robert McTeigue, S.J. reflects on memory, tradition, and what it truly means to celebrate the birth of Christ. He challenges us to cherish what we have received at Christmas and faithfully hand it on to the next generation. Watch on YouTube: Christmas Traditions:  Ashes or Fire

We are joined by Dr. Darrick Taylor, to ask the question: How might Advent lead to a life of conversion? Moreover, what does Advent have to do with death? Father finishes with Timely Thoughts. Show Notes Christ Transforms the End: A Reflection for Advent - Crisis Magazine iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

Are you dreading returning home for Christmas? Perhaps your family has fallen away from the Faith or they treat you badly? Father McTeigue takes a closer look at how to handle these scenarios.  Watch on YouTube: Can't Go Home for Christmas?

Father McTeigue explores why Advent can only be fully understood in light of Christ's final return, how Natural Law restrains the man of lawlessness, and why every generation must remain vigilant in the spiritual battle that has raged since Calvary. Father finishes with Weekend Readiness to prepare you for Sunday Mass. Show Notes The Return of the King: Discourses on the Latter Days by Henry James Coleridge The Four Great Evils of the Day by Henry Edward Manning Please Don't Cancel Christmas | Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. A Brief History of Our Annihilation - Crisis Magazine iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

We welcome back Dr. Catherine Pakaluk to discuss the birth dearth, and how the way that children are raised plays a role in the decision to avoid having families. If economic incentives aren't enough, what should we be doing differently? Show Notes Why Children Became Useless: Faith and the Future of the Family | Catherine Ruth Pakaluk | 2025  Hannah's Children: The Women Quietly Defying the Birth Dearth Catherine Ruth Pakaluk | Washington, D.C. | The Busch School of Business, Washington, DC | CUA  Are There Good Reasons to Have Children Today? w/Dr. Catherine Ruth Pakaluk | Ep. 117 iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

What does taking out the trash have to do with Advent? Fr. McTeigue takes a closer look. Watch on YouTube: Advent: Time to Take Out the Trash!

We welcome Matt Archbold of Creative Minority Report to discuss how Christmas has changed over recent decades, and how we ought to approach the season. We end with special guest Viviana Falleti, who introduces us to the joy of her children's books, just in time for Christmas.  Show Notes Chevy's New Christmas Ad Marks the End of an Era - Cypher News The Happiest Christmas Tree Ever | Children's Book Books by Viviana Falleti iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

Our Lord came to us in history, remains with us in mystery, and will return to us in glory. That last part is often overlooked. Father McTeigue offers a corrective. Show Notes Get ready for the Apocalypse with this one neat trick! The Four Great Evils of the Day |  Henry Edward Manning Discourses On The Latter Days |  Father Henry James Coleridge S.J. Advent of the Heart: Seasonal Sermons and Prison Writings | Alfred Delp Superman No.1 Comic Book Found in Mom's Attic Bags $9.1 Million in Most Valuable Comic Auction Ever  Justice in the Church: Gender and Participation | Benedict Ashley  Women in the Priesthood?: A Systematic Analysis in the Light of the Order of Creation and Redemption iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

We welcome back Shawn Carney of 40 Days for Life, to discuss the fallacy of the so-called Seamless Garment. Is it true that a pro-lifer who exclusively fights against abortion is doing something wrong, or not doing enough?  Show Notes The "Seamless Garment" Is Quiet Propaganda for Abortion. – Padre Peregrino Unraveling the Seamless Garment | Catholic Answers Magazine  The Seamless Garment: Death for the Pro-Life Movement | EWTN  The Consistent—and Not So Seamless—Ethic of Life iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. warns of a ditty that you might hear in the coming days, "Mary did you know?" and explains how it cancels Christmas. Watch on YouTube: Please Don't Cancel Christmas   Show Notes  https://www.catholic.com/tract/immaculate-conception-and-assumption https://www.papalencyclicals.net/pius09/p9ineff.htm https://aleteia.org/2015/12/09/the-problem-with-mary-did-you-know/

We welcome Ryan McMaken from the Mises Institute to discuss why the SNAP program keeps expanding, and how it was originally designed not to alleviate poverty, but to raise food prices. Father closes the episode with Timely Thoughts. Show Notes Why Food Stamp Recipients (and Government Contractors) Should not Be Allowed to Vote | Mises Institute  41 Million (One in Eight) US Residents Are on Food Stamps | Mises Institute iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

In this first installment of his Advent reflection series, Father Robert McTeigue, S.J., shares his sermon for the First Sunday of Advent—an unflinching call to spiritual alertness. He invites listeners to pray for humility, clarity, and generosity this season as we live as people destined for glory.

In this week's edition of Let's Talk About This, Father McTeigue examines the fading of Christendom through history, culture, and theology, pushing back against claims that its decline is either inevitable or desirable. He challenges the Church to reckon with how we arrived here and what rebuilding authentic Catholic civilization must look like. Father finishes with Weekend Readiness to prepare you for Sunday Mass. Show Notes To a Hierarch…with Regret… | Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J.  [Catholic Caucus] Head of Italian bishops says 'the end of Christendom is not a defeat'  'We have no consensus to gain': Zuppi calls for new commitment to evangelization  Italian Cardinal Zuppi hails 'end of Christendom,' says it won't be a defeat - American Thinker  https://x.com/Monarchies2000/status/1992285831198015904  A Brief History of Our Annihilation - Crisis Magazine Catena Aurea: Commentary On the Four Gospels Collected Out of the Works of the Fathers Thomas Aquinas: Catena Aurea - Matthew: English  First Sunday of Advent | USCCB iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

What should we be doing this Advent? No, not about the lights, or the tree, or even the presents. What should we be doing as Catholics? Fr. McTeigue takes a closer look. Watch on YouTube: What Do You Want for Advent?

We welcome S.A. McCarthy from The American Spectator to the show, to discuss how Islam conquered Catholic Spain, and what American Catholics ought to learn from the mistakes of Europe. Father finishes with Timely Thoughts.  Show Notes How Islam Conquered Catholic Spain — Again | The American Spectator American Christians: Heed the Example of Decimated Europe | The American Spectator  Christianity, Islam and Atheism: The Struggle for the Soul of the West  What Catholics Need to Know About Islam: William Kilpatrick Gunmen abduct over 200 students from Catholic school in Nigeria Raymond Ibrahim Jihad Watch iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

What happens when a prominent Catholic hierarch seems to have made…ahem…a misstatement—on a world stage? Father McTeigue has a suggestion. Watch on YouTube: To a Hierarch…with Regret…

How do we consider the End Times without falling into hysteria or the date-guessing that contradicts scripture? In this week's Let's Talk About This, Father McTeigue explores what we can and should be doing. Father finishes with Weekend Readiness to prepare you for Sunday Mass. Show Notes The Return of the King: Discourses on the Latter Days The Four Great Evils of the Day The Temporal Power of the Vicar of Jesus Christ Soothsayers of the Second Advent iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

For two days only, Joe McClane will join Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. live, and together they'll examine today's hot topics with the light of Faith. Would you like to play a role in supporting the mission of The Station of the Cross? Donate now and pledge your gift.

The USCCB made an announcement on Instagram, regarding their recent Special Statement on immigration.  But should they be using Instagram at all? Watch on YouTube: Bishops on Instagram?!?   Show Notes The original USCCB reel: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQ_uiq8EoTd/?igsh=dmw2b2l6ZXNneTF1 Documentation of Crimes KAYLA HAMILTON: https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/police-teen-gang-member-charged-in-strangling-death-of-aberdeen-woman-with-autism RUBY GARCIA: https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2024/09/24/michigan-illegal-alien-pleads-guilty-murdering-ruby-garcia-execution-style/ LIZBETH MEDINA: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lizbeth-medina-death-arrest-rafael-govea-romero-edna-texas-cheerleader/ RACHEL MORIN: https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/rachel-morin-trial-killer-case-victor-martinez-hernandez-maryland-harford/ LAKEN RILEY: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Laken_Riley JOCELYN NUNGARY: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/crime/article/jocelyn-nungaray-death-what-know-houston-19540683.php MOLLIE TIBBETS: https://www.courthousenews.com/immigrant-found-guilty-of-murdering-university-of-iowa-student/ MELODIE WALDECKER: https://wtop.com/loudoun-county/2024/07/maryland-woman-dead-after-being-struck-by-her-own-vehicle-in-virginia-carjacking/