Son Rise Morning Show

How does devotion to the Holy Eucharist transform family life, inspire religious vocations, and fuel a culture of life? On The Son Rise Morning Show, host Matt Swaim welcomes Sr. Deirdre "DeDe" Byrne, POSC—active-duty military veteran, thoracic surgeon, superior of the Little Workers of the Sacred Hearts, and author of Sister Soldier Surgeon—to preview her upcoming All Saints Day event at St. Catherine of Siena Church in Fort Thomas, Kentucky.

Sr. Deirdre reflects on her upbringing in a devout Catholic home where her parents prioritized daily Mass and Eucharistic Adoration despite demanding schedules, demonstrating how the...

How do the upcoming solemnities of All Saints and All Souls reframe our understanding of mortality, holiness, and the universality of the Church? On The Son Rise Morning Show, host Matt Swaim welcomes back Fr. Duncan, priest of the Diocese of Charleston and host of the Bone Church Revival Podcast, to reflect on the rich Catholic traditions surrounding death, resurrection, and sanctity.

Fr. Duncan explores how the autumn transition into winter serves as a spiritual reminder of mortality, pointing directly to All Souls' Day and the Catholic Church's teaching on purgatory—affirming that Jesus Christ, not sin or...

How are shifting health trends affecting stroke incidence in younger demographics, and how can cutting-edge blood tests transform traumatic brain injury (TBI) detection? On The Son Rise Morning Show, host Matt Swaim welcomes Bobby Schindler, President of the Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network, to discuss recent scientific developments regarding brain health and vulnerable patients.

Schindler reviews a landmark study led by Dr. Emily Fisher at the University of Cincinnati (published in Neurology), which revealed that stroke incidence among adults aged 20 to 54 nearly doubled over a nearly three-decade period. Schindler highlights identified contributing factors, including rising rates of...

Why wait until January 1st to make life-changing resolutions when the Catholic Church offers a fresh spiritual start every Advent? On The Son Rise Morning Show, host Anna Mitchell welcomes back Greg Willits, author of God Doesn't Hate Me After All (Sophia Institute Press) and founder of Rosary Army, to discuss the concept of Liturgical New Year's resolutions.

Willits explains why the start of the liturgical year—beginning on the First Sunday of Advent—is the ideal time for Catholics to evaluate their spiritual lives and set intentional goals to grow in holiness. Referencing Paragraph 522 of the Cate...

Why is the beatification of the 16th-century Franciscan "Georgia Martyrs" such a historic milestone for American Catholic history, and what does their sacrifice reveal about the Church’s stance on marriage? On The Son Rise Morning Show, co-hosts Anna Mitchell and Matt Swaim discuss the legacy of these five Franciscan missionaries ahead of their beatification broadcast on EWTN.

Mitchell and Swaim trace the history of the beatification cause—from the initial 1941 petition by U.S. bishops to Pope Pius XII, to the formal opening of the cause in the Diocese of Savannah in 1981, and the approval of thei...

How does the Book of Revelation reveal the eternal connection between earthly worship and the heavenly liturgy, and why are Christians called to live as saints here and now? On The Son Rise Morning Show, host Anna Mitchell welcomes back Fr. Hezekias Carnazzo, founder and executive director of the Institute of Catholic Culture, to preview the readings for the Solemnity of All Saints (November 1).

Fr. Carnazzo breaks down the historical and liturgical context of Revelation 7, explaining how St. John, exiled on the island of Patmos, was given a vision of the heavenly mass while "in the Spirit...

How should Catholic faith shape surrounding culture rather than merely reacting to it as a market alternative? On The Son Rise Morning Show, host Matt Swaim welcomes back Andrew Petiprin from the Spe Salvi Institute to reflect on papal teaching regarding the dynamic synthesis between faith and culture.

Swaim and Petiprin discuss the limitations of viewing Christianity purely through a "countercultural" lens, contrasting commercialized alternatives with the historical reality of the Church as the foundational architect of Western culture—patronizing the arts, establishing universities, and ordering daily life around sacred truths.

Reflecting on Gaudium et Sp...

Who were the Georgia Martyrs, and how did five Franciscan friars lay down their lives in defense of Catholic marriage long before Jamestown or the California missions were founded? On The Son Rise Morning Show, host Anna Mitchell welcomes author, speaker, and blogger Amy Welborn (Charlotte Was Both) to uncover a forgotten chapter of early American Catholic history.

Welborn breaks down the extensive Spanish Franciscan missionary network that stretched across La Florida, Georgia, and present-day South Carolina in the 16th century. She details the martyrdom of five Franciscan friars in September 1597 along the Georgia coast and St...

Good morning! On today’s show, Matt Swaim and Anna Mitchell welcome Amy Welborn to discuss the heroic witness of the Georgia Martyrs, who will be beatified this weekend. Other guests include Andrew Petiprin to discuss Pope Leo’s recent comments on faith and culture, and Fr. Hezekias Carnazzo from the Institute of Catholic Culture and Fr. Jonathan Duncan from the Bone Church Revival podcast to preview the Sunday Mass readings. Plus news, weather, sports, and more… listen live!

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Come, Holy Spirit

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in the...

What is "natural philosophy," and why is an Aristotelian understanding of the natural world so vital for Catholic theology and the pursuit of human happiness? On The Son Rise Morning Show, host Anna Mitchell welcomes back Fr. Sebastian Walshe, O.Praem., Norbertine priest at St. Michael's Abbey and author of The Heart of the Gospel, to preview his upcoming lecture series for the Institute of Catholic Culture, "Concepts of Nature: Aristotelian Natural Philosophy."

Fr. Walshe breaks down the foundational definitions of philosophy—as the setting in order of ultimate causes accessible to human reason—and nature, defined by A...

Why is intellectual knowledge alone insufficient for living a vibrant Catholic life, and how can OCIA move past mere "information transfer" to foster true spiritual transformation? On The Son Rise Morning Show, host Matt Swaim welcomes back Michael Gormley, co-host of the Every Knee Shall Bow podcast and presenter for Ascension Press's new OCIA program, Invited.

Gormley and Swaim discuss the historical "crisis of catechesis" and the danger of overcorrecting into a purely academic approach to the faith. Highlighting the difference between simply informing the mind and holistically forming the heart, Gormley draws parallels to priestly formation...

How can audio storytelling and rich symbolism help children understand Theology of the Body through the lens of salvation history? On The Son Rise Morning Show, host Matt Swaim welcomes back Courtney Brown, Executive Director of the Ruah Woods Institute, to launch a multi-part series exploring their new six-episode audio drama, The Search for the Stolen Pearl.

Brown walks through Episode 1, which introduces two siblings embarking on a canyon adventure to find a stolen pearl and save their sick father. She contrasts the brother's police scanner—representing the noise of the world—with the sister's reading of Gene...

How does a Deuterocanonical passage from the Book of Wisdom offer one of the most astonishingly precise prophecies of Christ’s Passion in the entire Old Testament? On The Son Rise Morning Show, host Matt Swaim welcomes back Catholic apologist and author Gary Michuta (Messiah: Old Testament Prophecies Fulfilled in Christ) to explore Wisdom chapter 2.

Michuta breaks down Wisdom 2:12–20, explaining how the text depicts the plot against the "Just Man" entirely from the perspective of His persecutors—an orientation unique in Old Testament messianic literature. He highlights how the chief priests and elders at the foot of the cr...

How do the sacred celebrations of the Autumnal Triduum—All Hallows' Eve, All Saints' Day, and All Souls' Day—connect our faith, family traditions, and seasonal harvest foods? On The Son Rise Morning Show, host Matt Swaim welcomes back culinary expert Rita Heikenfeld from About Eating for her regular "Bible Foods" segment.

Heikenfeld and Swaim discuss the deep Catholic roots of Halloween as the vigil of All Saints' Day, sharing personal patron saint devotions like St. Rita and St. Teresa of Calcutta. They also highlight the spiritual significance of praying for the holy souls throughout November starting on A...

How does Jesus prove the resurrection of the dead using only the Torah, and what does it reveal about the afterlife as we enter the season of the Autumn Triduum? On The Son Rise Morning Show, host Anna Mitchell welcomes back renowned biblical scholar Dr. John Bergsma, author of Bible Basics for Catholics and co-author of A Catholic Introduction to the Bible: The Old Testament.

Dr. Bergsma provides crucial historical context on the Sadducees, explaining their priestly lineage claims, their rejection of the resurrection, and their acceptance of only the first five books of the Bible (the...

How does chronic sleep deprivation affect our emotional stability, cognitive focus, and overall mental health? On The Son Rise Morning Show, host Matt Swaim welcomes back licensed pastoral counselor Kevin Pendergast to explore the profound impact of sleep on our psychological and daily functioning.

Pendergast outlines the physical and mental health consequences of failing to hit target sleep goals, noting how sleep deprivation hyper-activates the amygdala, leading to mood swings, anxiety, and heightened irritability. He explains the "mind after midnight" phenomenon, detailing how poor sleep impairs executive function, memory consolidation, and workplace or driving safety. Pendergast encourages...

How does a normal teenager who played tennis, loved Snoopy, and struggled with math become a model of heroic Catholic virtue? On The Son Rise Morning Show, hosts Matt Swaim and Anna Mitchell celebrate the feast day and legacy of Blessed Chiara Luce Badano (1971–1990).

Swaim and Mitchell reflect on how Blessed Chiara offers a compelling example of Gen X holiness alongside figures like Blessed Carlo Acutis, showing that sanctity is accessible to everyday people. They discuss her profound offering of suffering without morphine while battling bone cancer at age 17, her joyous faith in preparing for her death as...

Happy feast of Bl. Chiara Badano! On today’s show, Matt Swaim and Anna Mitchell discuss why she’s come to be one of their favorite saints. Guests include Fr. Robert Nixon, OSB, with more thoughts on solitude and silence, Kevin Prendergast on good sleep habits in the midst of time changes, and Rita Heikenfeld with recipes for Halloween, All Saints’ Day, and All Souls Day. Plus news, weather, sports, and more…

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Prayer for the Intercession of Bl. Chiara Badano

Father, living source of all goodness,
we give you thanks for the admirabl...

Why is cultivating silence essential for spiritual growth and deeper union with God? On The Son Rise Morning Show, host Libby Reichert (filling in for Matt Swaim and Anna Mitchell) welcomes Benedictine monk Father Robert Nixon, translator for the TAN Resurrection series, to reflect on Thomas à Kempis's classic work, Solitude and Silence: The Cloister of the Heart.

Fr. Nixon and Reichert explore à Kempis's practical observation that while very few people suffer from speaking too little, the vast majority struggle with speaking too much. They discuss how constant talkativeness often stems from a desire for sensory stimulation and ex...

On the anniversary of the passing of Father Rob Jack, The Son Rise Morning Show hosts Matt Swaim and Anna Mitchell take time to honor his lasting legacy and reflect on the profound Catholic theology surrounding the Communion of Saints.

Anna and Matt share personal memories of Fr. Rob—a beloved priest, seminary professor, and foundational voice at Sacred Heart Radio who personally made thousands of rosaries. They reflect on the beauty of his voice continuing to lead the station in prayer and explore the distinct states of the Church: the Pilgrim Church on earth (Church Militant), th...

Can a ruler who failed by nearly every political and financial metric still become one of history’s most beloved saints? On The Son Rise Morning Show, host Matt Swaim welcomes back Benedictine monk Father Augustine Wetta to examine the life of St. Edward the Confessor as part of his reflection on "saints who were failures" by worldly standards.

Fr. Wetta details Edward's turbulent reign, marked by political manipulation, financial ruin, and an inability to produce an heir. Yet, despite his worldly shortcomings, St. Edward's enduring piety, humility, and deep prayer life earned him a lasting legacy as...

What can a 12th-century German Eucharistic miracle teach modern Catholics about reverence, conscience, and the proper way to receive the Blessed Sacrament? On The Son Rise Morning Show, host Matt Swaim welcomes back author Shaun McAfee, editor and compiler of The Compendium of Eucharistic Miracles, to explore the extraordinary history of the Flesh Miracle of Augsburg.

McAfee and Swaim discuss the origins of the miracle in 1194, when a woman kept a consecrated host at home before repenting in confession five years later—only for the Eucharist to visibly transform into bleeding human flesh. They examine the profound le...

How can the simple, daily act of gathering around the family dinner table transform our homes and restore human culture? On The Son Rise Morning Show, host Anna Mitchell welcomes back Marcy Stockman, founder of Well Read Mom and co-author of A Cloth Upon the Table: The Quiet Revolution of Eating Together, to share the inspiration behind her new book from Sophia Institute Press.

Stockman breaks down why intentional family meals are not about culinary perfection or rigid entertainment, but about faithful, practical hospitality that fosters deep belonging, healing, and communication. Connecting the practice to St. John...

Why celebrate All Hallows' Eve without fulfilling the feast of All Saints' Day? On The Son Rise Morning Show, host Matt Swaim welcomes back Father Philip Michael Tangorra, pastor and canon lawyer from the Diocese of Paterson, to explore the spiritual riches of the "Autumnal Triduum": All Hallows' Eve, All Saints' Day, and All Souls' Day.

Fr. Tangorra breaks down the unique liturgical privilege granted to priests on All Souls' Day to celebrate three distinct Masses consecutively for the intentions of the Holy Father, all the faithful departed, and personal intentions. He also shares how his parish...

How do stories and classic literature shape our moral imagination, reveal deep spiritual truths, and form us into virtuous human beings? On The Son Rise Morning Show, host Anna Mitchell welcomes back Dr. Ken Craycraft, host of Driving Home the Faith and professor at Mount St. Mary's Seminary, to continue exploring his book, Staying Sober, One Story at a Time.

Craycraft explains why coming to know the truth requires more than memorizing facts or following rules—it demands entering into a true narrative that orders our lives toward human flourishing. He details how serious fiction and classic li...

Happy feast of Sts. Simon and Jude! On today’s show, Matt Swaim and Anna Mitchell welcome Dr. Benjamin Lewis to look at the collect prayer from today’s Mass, and what it tells us about these two apostles who share a feast day on the Church’s calendar. Other guests include Fr. Philip-Michael Tangorra on the connection between Halloween, All Saints Day, and All Souls Day, and Deacon Nathan Beiersdorfer to continue our series on Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales. Plus news, weather, sports, and more… listen live!

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Collect Prayer f...

What should we do when our efforts to share the Catholic faith with loved ones meet resistance or indifference? On The Son Rise Morning Show, host Matt Swaim welcomes back author and speaker Gary Zimak from FollowingTheTruth.com to discuss the biblical secret to fruitful evangelization found in the Book of Acts.

Reflecting on Acts 16:14—where "the Lord opened [Lydia's] heart to listen to what was said by Paul"—Zimak and Swaim explore why relief from evangelization anxiety comes from recognizing that conversion is ultimately a work of divine grace, not human eloquence or intellectual dominance. They high...

How does receiving the Holy Eucharist transform from a routine habit into a profound exchange of love with Christ? On The Son Rise Morning Show, host Matt Swaim welcomes back Alan Smith, editor of America's Apostle: The Official Biography Resource for the Beatification of Fulton Sheen, to unpack Blessed Fulton Sheen's rich Eucharistic theology.

Drawing from Sheen’s classic work Calvary and the Mass, Smith explores the Lord's thirst for human souls and challenges listeners to consider what they bring to the altar during Holy Communion. He breaks down Sheen’s famous insight that in the Mass, we s...

Why does God continue to pour out His love and grace even when humanity misuses His gifts? On The Son Rise Morning Show, host Anna Mitchell welcomes back Kris McGregor from DiscerningHearts.com to reflect on a powerful selection from the Office of Readings featuring St. Catherine of Siena's Dialogue.

McGregor and Mitchell explore the conversation between the soul and God the Father, examining how human ignorance and self-inflicted cruelty fail to halt the relentless persistence of divine providence. Drawing on the vivid, real-world analogy of a mother's selfless love, McGregor highlights how God draws us beyond...

Today, Ken talks with Communio founder JP DeGance about the state of marriage in the American Church, Mary Rice Hassan from the Ethics and Public Policy Center about when professional organizations run amok, and much more — plus traffic and weather! Listen in at sacredheartradio.com/listen

Communio is at communio.org

Get “Not to Caesar But to Peter” at angelicopress.com

The Maria Stein Shrine of the Holy Relics is at mariasteinshrine.org

The Ethics and Public Policy Center is at eppc.org

The National Association of Catholic Church Musicia...

How can the Church offer true compassion and healing to those wounded by abortion amidst a hyper-politicized culture? On The Son Rise Morning Show, host Matt Swaim welcomes back Kathryn Jean Lopez, opinion columnist for National Review, to reflect on Respect Life Month and the personal legacy of Mother Angelica.

Lopez shares her experience of interviewing Mother Angelica just before her second stroke, highlighting how Mother Angelica’s deep reliance on the Holy Spirit allowed her to respond to women struggling with post-abortion trauma with profound perception, love, and mercy. Lopez and Swaim contrast the harsh noise of...

Are Christians truly called to forgive like Christ did from the cross, even in the face of deep betrayal or daily annoyances? On The Son Rise Morning Show, host Anna Mitchell welcomes back Marlon De La Torre, Senior Director of the Department of Evangelization for the Diocese of Columbus and writer at knowingisdoing.org, to reflect on the radical call to forgiveness.

De La Torre unpacks Jesus’s dying prayer for His executioners and explains how withholding mercy creates a form of spiritual slavery. He explores the dangerous traps of nursing grudges, adopting a perpetual victim mindset, an...

How do we keep praying with confidence when our petitions—whether for world peace, a loved one's conversion, or a terminal diagnosis—seem to go unanswered? On The Son Rise Morning Show, host Matt Swaim welcomes back Father Boniface Hicks, O.S.B., author of Personal Prayer: A Guide for Receiving the Father's Love, to reflect on perseverance in prayer as the Feast of St. Jude approaches.

Father Boniface explains how praying for seemingly impossible intentions expands our hearts, cultivating magnanimity (great-spiritedness) and aligning our desires with God's own will. Drawing from inspiring historical witness—including St. Giusep...

How do the hidden legacies of the Apostles continue to build up the Church today? On The Son Rise Morning Show, host Matt Swaim welcomes back Dr. Benjamin Lewis from the International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL) to unpack the Collect prayer for the Feast of Saints Simon and Jude (October 28).

Dr. Lewis discusses the shared apostolic mission of Sts. Simon the Zealot and Jude Thaddeus—two hand-chosen apostles whose lasting legacy lives on not primarily in written scripture, but in the vibrant Christian communities established through their witness. Examining the Latin roots of the Co...

How can a children's adventure story help young readers—and even adults—fall in love with praying the Rosary? On The Son Rise Morning Show, host Anna Mitchell welcomes back Catholic author Sally Read to discuss her new children's book from Word on Fire's Votive imprint, Belle and the Joyful Mysteries.

Read shares the inspiration behind the story, which follows 10-year-old Belle, an American girl sent to stay with her widowed grandmother in Rome for the summer. Reluctant to pray the Rosary at night, Belle suddenly finds herself mysteriously stepping directly into the Joyful Mysteries, encountering Our Lady...

How does our Catholic faith transform the way we understand legacy, material wealth, and the Communion of Saints? On The Son Rise Morning Show, host Anna Mitchell welcomes Matt Reinkemeyer from the Catholic Community Foundation (givecatholicohio.org) to reflect on All Saints' Day, All Souls' Day, and the spiritual purpose of legacy planning.

Reinkemeyer contrasts the secular view of legacy—clinging to earthly permanence—with the Catholic understanding of our souls' eternal destination. Drawing from the Catechism (CCC 962), he outlines the three states of the one Church (Militant, Suffering, and Triumphant) and shares a moving reflection from St...

How did an early 20th-century English apologist help a Nobel Prize–winning Norwegian author clear away centuries of historical anti-Catholic bias? On The Son Rise Morning Show, host Matt Swaim welcomes back Stephanie Mann, author of Supremacy and Survival: How Catholics Endured the English Reformation, to continue their series on the English Catholic literary tradition and its influence on Sigrid Undset.

Mann discusses Hilaire Belloc’s work The Catholic Church and History, which Undset personally funded to have translated into Norwegian. She explores Belloc's direct, unvarnished approach to historical controversies like the forged "Donation of Constantine." Mann and...

Can holiness truly bring harmony between mankind and the wild creation? On The Son Rise Morning Show, host Matt Swaim welcomes Catholic author, speaker, and Catholic Connection host Teresa Tomeo to explore the legendary story of St. Francis of Assisi and the Wolf of Gubbio.

Broadcasting from Italy, Tomeo takes listeners to the picturesque medieval town of Gubbio in Umbria. She details the famous account from around 1220 in which St. Francis confronted a ferocious wolf terrorizing the town, made the Sign of the Cross, and brokered a pact of peace between the creature and the local villagers...

How do the Ten Commandments guide us toward true spiritual harmony and freedom? On The Son Rise Morning Show, host Anna Mitchell welcomes back Fr. John Gavin, author of Mysteries of the Lord's Prayer and Growing into God, to explore paragraph 2067 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the insights of St. Augustine.

Fr. Gavin explains how the Catholic ordering and division of the Decalogue originates from St. Augustine’s Sermon 33—grouping the first three commandments on the first tablet (love of God) and the remaining seven on the second (love of neighbor). He discusses Augustine's rich...

How did a 4th-century battle change the course of Christian history, and how did a French priest help lay the foundations for the Church in pioneer Indiana? On The Son Rise Morning Show, host Matt Swaim welcomes back Church historian Kevin Schmiesing (Freedom and Virtue Institute, Catholic History Trek) for "This Week in Catholic History."

Schmiesing unpacks the monumental Battle of Milvian Bridge (October 28, 312), where Constantine saw a vision of the Cross, defeated Maxentius, and set the stage for the Edict of Milan and the legalization of Christianity. Moving forward to 1834, Schmiesing spotlights the consecration of Servant...