What is Divine Mercy, and why should we never give up praying for the people we love? Fr. Chris Alar joins A Reason For Hope Podcast to explore Saint Faustina’s message, the power of the Divine Mercy Chaplet, and common misconceptions about the Catholic faith.

Filmed at the National Shrine of Divine Mercy, this conversation with host Mario Costabile follows Father Chris Alar’s journey from a successful business career to the priesthood. He shares how his grandmother’s death by suicide led him to search for answers about salvation, prayer, and God’s mercy—and how that search transformed his life.

Drawing on the Diary of Saint Faustina, Scripture, and Catholic teaching, Fr. Chris discusses hope at the moment of death, praying for deceased loved ones, and trusting God even when we cannot see His grace at work. He also addresses questions about Mary, the Immaculate Conception, and the sacrifice of the Mass, while offering guidance on sharing the truth with love.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Divine Mercy and Saint Faustina’s influence on Fr. Chris’s vocation

• The Divine Mercy Chaplet and praying for loved ones who have died

• Why Catholics honor Mary and ask for her intercession

• The connection between the Immaculate Conception and God’s mercy

• How the Mass makes Christ’s one sacrifice present to us

• Loving others while remaining faithful to Catholic teaching

• Using social media and artificial intelligence for evangelization

Whether you’re rediscovering Catholicism, grieving a loved one, or seeking a deeper understanding of God’s mercy, this conversation offers encouragement to keep praying, keep learning, and draw closer to Jesus.

⏰TIMECODE⏰

00:00 Hook

02:13 Fr. Chris' Faith Journey

04:55 How did God confirmed the call to the priesthood

08:18 Why join the Marian Fathers?

09:53 The Importance of Sr. Faustina's Diary

12:39 How do we let more people know about Divine Mercy?

15:03 Fr. Chris' inspiration to catechize

21:02 The Importance of Digital Content for Catechesis

23:42 Importance of Knowing How to Defend Our Faith

26:38 What's the Biggest Misconception About the Catholic Faith

29:48 Fr. Chris' Relationship with The Blessed Virigin Mary

31:16 How was Mary sinless?

33:48 Fr. Chris' approach to Proselytizing

38:32 Advice to Deepen Your Faith

39:43 Fr. Chris' thoughts on A.I.

41:44 Benefits of becoming a Priest later in life

43:08 Becoming Provincial Superior

44:26 What's next for the M.I.C.?

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The A Reason for Hope podcast brings the richness of Catholic teaching into dialogue with the cultural moment. We address topics of relevance and areas of confusion in society and the Church through interviews with prominent Catholic speakers, candid conversations from the Array of Hope team, and discussions about Catholic doctrine with our Vice President of Theology & Evangelization, Dr. David Hajduk.

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You've heard about God's mercy for 60 years. You haven't heard about His judgment.

Dr. Ralph Martin says that's not mercy — that's half the Gospel. And Jesus Himself said the half you're missing will decide where you spend eternity.

The Church says it every Sunday: He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead. But when was the last time you heard what that actually means?

In this episode, Dr. Ralph Martin unpacks his new book The Coming Judgment: Are We Ready? — why modern Catholics are comfortable with love but uncomfortable with judgment, what Romans 11 means by "consider both the kindness and the severity of God," and why people don't go to hell unless they choose to love their sin more than God.



You'll hear what Simeon's prophecy, John the Baptist's winnowing fork, and St. Paul's warning about the great apostasy reveal about our time — and why Martin's message isn't "be scared," it's "be ready."

If you stick with Jesus, live a normal Catholic life, and repent when you fall — it's going to be great. This conversation will show you how.

⏰TIMECODE⏰

00:00 HOOK

01:59 Start of Interview

02:30 Why Are Catholics Uncomfortable About the Last Things?

05:57 Why did you feel this book was needed now?

09:09 Why is the Church not preaching about this anymore?

11:26 How can an All Loving God condemn people to Hell for eternity?

16:10 Jesus' Return

18:46 The Nature of Apostasy and Evil

20:17 Scriptural Evidence of the Final Judgement

23:53 Who actually goes to Hell?

24:37 Chapter: The Call to Holiness and Transformation

26:43 How can we get clergy to preach on this again?

28:09 Where is the Hope?

30:17 Ralph's New Book

30:58 Conclusion

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The A Reason For Hope Podcast is a Catholic podcast on a mission to help our culture decipher the truths of our Catholic Faith, sharing Catholic teaching on prayer, bible, Theology, the Eucharist, Catholic Mass, the Rosary, morning prayer Catholic, metanoia Catholic, and life in the Catholic Church.

Christendom is Dead. Why Msgr. James Shea Thinks This Is the Most Exciting Time to Be Alive!

What happened to the catholic church's influence in our culture — and what comes next?

In this episode of the A Reason For Hope Podcast, Monsignor James Shea, President of the University of Mary, sits down with Mario Costabile and breaks down the end of Christendom — the 300-year unraveling since the Enlightenment — and why we are now living in a new apostolic era.

Msgr. Shea explains why you can't lead with moral rules before winning minds and imaginations, using his baseball analogy: you don't teach a kid the infield fly rule before taking him to the game. You'll hear why faith is dynamic and atrophies if you don't give it away, how every lay person is sent to witness without needing a master's degree in theology , and why our post-christianity moment leaves people deeply thirsty for meaning.

Featuring stories from rural North Dakota, G.K. Chesterton on the Church burying its undertakers, and this line you’ll want to share: If God doesn't exist we can do anything we want, but nothing matters. If God does exist, we can't do anything we want, but everything matters.

If you want to learn how to share your faith and how to evangelize in a secular world, this conversation on catholic answers to modernity will give you cheerful endurance to not give up.

⏰TIMECODE⏰

00:00 Hook

01:30 Start of Interview

02:03 What does Christendom mean?

04:44 Was Christendom as Ideal as we Imagined it?

06:42 When did Christendom Start to Unravel?

10:05 What were the causes behind Christendom's collapse?

12:06 How does this affect the way the Church Evangelizes?

13:36 How do we evangelize to our secular culture?

19:21 Importance of Creating Encounters with Christ

22:26 What does it mean for the Church to enter an age of Apostolic Mission

23:52 The importance of personal witness

28:21 The Opportunities for Evangelization

32:58 Message of Hope for Non-Believers

34:15 Message of Hope to Believers

37:58 How is University of Mary Preparing Students for the Future?

41:06 Goodbyes

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The A Reason For Hope Podcast is a catholic podcast on a mission to help our culture decipher the truths of our catholic faith , sharing catholic teaching on prayer , bible , theology, the eucharist, catholic mass, the rosary, morning prayer catholic , metanoia catholic and life in the catholic church.

What does it take to create truly compelling Catholic media in today’s world?

In this powerful episode of A Reason For Hope Podcast, Mario Costabile sits down with Father David Guffey, National Director and Head of Production at Family Theater Productions in Hollywood. From his work consulting on The Chosen to producing meaningful, faith-filled content for modern audiences, Father David offers deep insight into the intersection of faith, storytelling, and media.

We explore:

The importance of high-quality Catholic content in a competitive media landscape

How to evangelize through storytelling without being preachy

What makes The Chosen so impactful across audiences

How the Church can better engage young people through digital media

Behind-the-scenes insight into Chime Travelers

The role of beauty, creativity, and excellence in encountering God

Whether you're a filmmaker, content creator, or someone passionate about sharing the faith, this episode is packed with inspiration and practical wisdom.

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What does the Catholic Church actually teach about same-sex attraction?

In today’s culture, this topic is often misunderstood, misrepresented, or avoided altogether. In this powerful and honest conversation, Host Dr. David Hajduk sits down with Catholic speaker Kim Zember as she shares her personal journey—from experiencing same-sex attraction and living a double life, to encountering Jesus Christ and rediscovering her true identity as a beloved daughter of God.

This episode goes beyond headlines and stereotypes to explore:

• The difference between same-sex attraction and identity
• What the Catholic Church really teaches (and why)
• How to live with both truth and authentic love
• The cultural pressures facing young people today
• Practical guidance for parents and grandparents walking with children navigating questions about sexuality

Whether you’re personally experiencing same-sex attraction, supporting a loved one, or simply seeking clarity on Catholic teaching, this conversation offers hope, truth, and compassion.

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Are right and wrong just social constructs—or is there a real moral law written into the human heart?

In this episode of A Reason for Hope, we explore the Catholic understanding of good vs evil, natural law, and conscience. Discover why moral relativism falls short, how we can truly know what is right, and why “following your conscience” isn’t as simple as it sounds.

We break down:

• The existence of a universal moral law
• Why good must be pursued and evil avoided
• How to actually make moral decisions
• The difference between intention, action, and circumstance
• What the Catholic Church really teaches about conscience

If you've ever wondered how to live a moral life in today’s confusing world, this conversation will challenge and clarify your thinking.

🙏 Subscribe for more Catholic content that explains the faith clearly and powerfully.

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What does it really take to build a strong Christian marriage that lasts a lifetime?

In this powerful conversation, Mario Costabile sits down with Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife Mary Beth to explore the role that faith in God plays in building a successful, Christ-centered marriage. After more than 40 years of marriage, our guests share the real story behind staying together through conflict, heartbreak, differences in personality, parenting challenges, and seasons of loss.

Instead of offering quick fixes, this conversation dives deep into the spiritual foundation of marriage—including how prayer, grace, forgiveness, and commitment help couples grow stronger together.

You’ll learn:

• Why God must be at the center of marriage

• How Christian couples can navigate conflict with grace

• The role of prayer in strengthening relationships

• Why marriage is one of God’s greatest tools for spiritual growth

• How faith helps couples stay committed through the hardest seasons

• Practical wisdom for couples who want a Christ-centered relationship

Whether you are newly married, engaged, or have been married for decades, this conversation offers hope, encouragement, and biblical wisdom for building a marriage rooted in faith.

If you're searching for guidance, this episode will encourage you to keep trusting God in your relationship.

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⏰TIMECODE⏰

00:00 Introduction

02:44 Start of Interview

08:23 How They Met

11:38 The motivating factor to write this book

16:59 When they realized Marriage would require a lot of effort

19:42 Why Adults Are Getting Married Later Now

24:25 How God Has Made Their Marriage Stronger

29:30 How God has refined their marriage

33:56 Advice on How to Navigate Struggles for Young Couples

41:02 Grace's Role In Marriage

46:54 How the Loss of a Child Affected Their Marriage and Faith

57:57 Explanation of Book Title

59:38 Final Remarks

Why are so many people converting to Catholicism today?

In a world marked by uncertainty, woke ideology, and the loss of traditional values, more and more people are turning to the Catholic Church in search of truth, beauty, order, and transcendence. This episode explores the rising wave of conversion stories—from atheists to evangelicals—who have found a spiritual home in the richness and stability of the Catholic faith.

We dive into why the Catholic Church continues to attract new believers, how Catholicism offers something deeper than modern culture can provide, and what it is about the Church's teachings that resonate so powerfully in today's world.

Whether you're a convert, a seeker, or someone rediscovering their faith, this conversation will help you understand why the Church is growing in unexpected places and among unlikely people.

👉 Like, comment, and subscribe for more stories of conversion, Catholic truth, and living the faith in a secular world.

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