The Best of the Week

A Birthday Blessing Over the Airwaves (Family Rosary Across America)

During the Family Rosary Across America, George from Rancho Cucamonga, California, called in with heartfelt prayer intentions for his wife, his three sons, and especially for his son Johan, who had just turned 16. When Fr. Rocky learned Johan was listening, he smiled. “We’re going to give him a special treat,” Fr. Rocky said before inviting Maggie to sing “Happy Birthday” live on the air. What followed was simple, warm, and unforgettable: > “Happy birthday to you > Happy birthday to you > Happy birthday, dear Johan who’s 16 > Happy birthday to you." Moments like these remind us that prayer is deeply personal. The Rosary unites families not only in times of suffering or worry, but also in gratitude, joy, and celebration. Even over the radio, the Relevant Radio family becomes a place where birthdays are remembered, prayers are lifted up, and hearts are connected through faith. For Johan and his family, this small moment became a beautiful reminder that God works through community, kindness, and the power of prayer. ---------------------------------------- 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 [https://relevantradio.com/listen/get-the-app/].

Learning to Love Like Christ (Father Simon Says)

Few moments in Scripture are as personal and piercing as Jesus’ conversation with Peter after the Resurrection. On Father Simon Says, Fr. Richard Simon reflected on John 21 and the three times Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love Me?” Peter, who had denied Christ three times before the Crucifixion, now stands before the risen Lord by the sea. Fr. Simon explains that the exchange carries a deeper meaning in the original Greek. Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him with agape — sacrificial, divine love. Peter responds instead with philia — brotherly affection. Again and again, Jesus asks. Again and again, Peter admits the limits of his love. Finally, Jesus lowers the question: “So you love Me like a brother?” Fr. Simon calls this “the first confession of the first pope.” Peter does not pretend to love perfectly. He simply offers the love he has. Yet Jesus still entrusts him with the mission to lead the Church. That is the hope of the Gospel. Christ does not wait for perfect people before calling them. Instead, He teaches us to grow in holiness through trust, surrender, and perseverance. Fr. Simon points to Jesus’ final words to Peter: “Follow Me.” Though Peter’s love was imperfect, Christ promised he would one day learn to love more deeply, even to the point of sacrifice. The same invitation is extended to every Christian. God receives our imperfect love and patiently transforms it into something greater. ---------------------------------------- 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 [https://relevantradio.com/listen/get-the-app/].

The Fruit That Comes from Walking with God (The Inner Life)

What does it mean to bear the “fruits of the Spirit”? On The Inner Life, Fr. John Paul Erickson joined Patrick Conley to explain that spiritual fruit is simply the visible evidence of God at work in a person’s life. Just as a healthy tree naturally bears good fruit, a soul united to God through grace begins to reflect His love, peace, patience, and mercy. Fr. Erickson described the Christian life as a process of growth. Trees need time, care, pruning, and nourishment before they flourish. The same is true spiritually. “When we are living in union with God,” he said, “our life will necessarily bear good fruit.” The conversation became especially moving when a caller named Ann shared the pain of family conflict, alcoholism, and mental illness. Feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, she admitted she was struggling to respond with charity while trying to maintain healthy boundaries. Fr. Erickson responded with compassion, encouraging her to draw close to Christ in prayer. He compared the Holy Spirit to a fire that sustains us during life’s storms. “The Lord knows your heart,” he reminded her. “He knows you’re trying the best that you can.” His words offered hope to anyone carrying difficult relationships or hidden suffering: even painful trials, when united to God, can bear fruit known fully only to Him. ---------------------------------------- The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here [https://relevantradio.com/listen/get-the-app/].

The Secret to a Strong Marriage Might Be Three Simple Words (Marriage Unhindered)

Every marriage experiences moments of hurt. A sharp tone, a careless joke, a distracted silence after a long day — these small wounds can slowly chip away at intimacy if they are left unaddressed. On Marriage Unhindered, Doug Hinderer explains why learning to apologize well is one of the most important skills a husband and wife can develop. Doug reminds listeners that apology should be a regular part of marriage because no spouse is perfect. “We all have flaws and defects,” he says. “And those flaws and defects are like little dents in our relationship.” A meaningful apology begins by taking responsibility. Vague statements like “mistakes were made” or “I’m sorry you feel hurt” fail to acknowledge the real offense. Instead, Doug encourages couples to be specific: “I’m sorry for my tone of voice,” or “I’m sorry I embarrassed you.” He also warns against overexplaining. Too many explanations can sound defensive or like excuses. Often, the best apology is simple and sincere: “I am sorry. Please forgive me.” But true repentance does not stop with words. Doug explains that good apologies include efforts to repair the damage and a genuine commitment to change. Finally, he reminds listeners that forgiveness is just as important as apology. “If you build your marriage on ‘I’m sorry’ and ‘I forgive you,’ you’re going to have a pretty good marriage.” Marriage flourishes when mercy becomes a habit. In a world that often encourages pride and resentment, Doug’s advice is a reminder that humility, forgiveness, and love remain the foundation of lasting relationships. ---------------------------------------- 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 [https://relevantradio.com/listen/get-the-app/].

When Science Opened the Door to Faith (The Drew Mariani Show)

Can a lifetime devoted to science lead someone to God? For oncologist Dr. Thomas Collins, the answer is yes. Speaking with Drew on The Drew Mariani Show, Dr. Collins shared his remarkable journey from agnosticism to Catholicism while working daily among cancer patients, suffering, and death. Though baptized Baptist as a child, he admitted he lost his faith as a teenager and spent years focused entirely on medicine and scientific achievement. “I just felt like it was all Santa Claus, basically,” he said of religion during his younger years. Driven by intellectual curiosity, Dr. Collins pursued oncology because of its complexity and promise. Yet over time, the suffering of patients began to soften what he described as a once “cold” outlook on life. Then came a moment he could never explain away. While discussing molecular biology research in a lab, an unexpected thought pierced through his skepticism: “Isn’t this a little too amazing to have just happened?” “That voice hit me like a hammer,” he recalled. “It woke me up.” That experience launched a deep search for truth through philosophy, theology, and eventually Christianity. But Dr. Collins says it was more than intellectual arguments that changed him. The love of his wife, the birth of his children, beauty in nature and music, and especially the witness of patients suffering with grace all pointed him toward God. One patient even asked him directly if he was a Christian. Another later gifted him a copy of Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis after discerning through prayer that he should do so. Through those encounters, Dr. Collins came to believe that human love, beauty, and suffering are not meaningless accidents, but signs pointing toward God Himself. As Drew reflected, those experiences reveal “the good, the true, and the beautiful” reflections of the Creator drawing souls back to Him. ---------------------------------------- The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here [https://relevantradio.com/listen/get-the-app/].