The Case for Catholicism with Patrick Madrid
The #1 question I’ve gotten (by far) since starting Sunday School is this: Why Catholicism? On today’s episode, I finally start to answer that question–in a serious and (I hope) inviting way–with my very special guest Patrick Madrid.
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About Patrick Madrid
Over the past 30 years, Patrick has published numerous popular articles on Scripture, Church history, patristics, apologetics, and evangelization in various Catholic and Protestant periodicals, and has contributed scholarly articles on apologetics in the New Catholic Encyclopedia.
He has authored or edited 25 books including, Why Be Catholic? (Random House), Life Lessons: 50 Things I Learned in My First 50 Years, How to do Apologetics, Pope Fiction, Search and Rescue, Does the Bible Really Say That? Envoy for Christ: 25 Years as a Catholic Apologist, and the multi-volume Surprised by Truth series. His total book sales exceed a million copies worldwide, including foreign-language editions.
PA
TRICK MADRID HOSTS the popular “Patrick Madrid Show” radio program on Relevant Radio, which airs daily on 140 stations across the U.S., Monday through Friday (9:00 am – Noon ET). 
He also wrote and hosted several EWTN television series, including “Pope Fiction,” “Search & Rescue,” and “Where Is That In the Bible?” He is a regular guest on the “Catholic Answers Live” radio program.
Patrick established the Envoy Institute in 1996 and, from 1996-2011, published the quarterly Catholic journal, Envoy Magazine. The Envoy Institute also conducts the Catholic Apologetics Academy and Catholic Apologetics Summer Camp.
From 1988 to 1996, Patrick worked at Catholic Answers, where he served as vice president and helped launch that organization’s flagship magazine, This Rock, in January of 1990. During his time at Catholic Answers, he co-authored the booklet Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth, tens of millions of copies of which have been printed (in English, Spanish, Arabic, German, French, Tagalog, and other languages) and distributed around the world.
Patrick is a life-long Catholic, not a convert. He was raised in the Catholic Faith and has been a practicing Catholic his entire life. Growing up in Southern California, he attended grammar school at the Mission San Juan Capistrano parish school, where for several years he served as an altar boy for the parish’s daily Traditional Latin Mass in the famed Serra Chapel.
Patrick earned a bachelor of science degree in business from the University of Phoenix, as well as a B.Phil. in philosophy and an M.A. in dogmatic theology from the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio.
He serves as an adjunct professor of apologetics on the faculties of Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Cromwell, Connecticut, and Saint Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park, California. He has also taught apologetics and the sacraments as an adjunct professor at Franciscan University of Steubenville and is a research fellow of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Studies.
Show Notes and Resources
The Hidden Manna: A Theology of the Eucharist, by Fr. O
Why Be Catholic by Patrick Madrid
Why Any Friend of God is a Friend of Mine by Patrick Madrid
Relevant Radio – Patrick Madrid’s 3-hour radio show
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This just shows helps illustrate the parable of the sower. Patrick Madrid planted seeds throughout his life and some have taken root and produced fruit (such as Pat Flynn). This just shows how one person can influence the lives of others over time. Sometimes we see fruit right away while other times it takes years.
Pat, your search for spiritual answers parallels mine except for Roman Catholicism. I left the Roman Catholic Church and joined a Christian church (Protestant). Having listened to your shows for over a year now, I’m fascinated by your fervent Catholic beliefs and I enjoy hearing why it’s Catholicism for you. As you might imagine, I have a curiosity in why you feel so strong about your Catholicism. Getting to hear Patrick Madrid’s take on things was even better. Pat and Pat, my biggest obstacles to Catholicism are priest/congregant confession and Mary worship. The question of transubstantiation has me on the fence as I can see things being interpreted either way based on Scripture (although I’d like to see the Scripture passages Patrick relies on for his Catholic doctrines). Although I was glad to hear on how and why you believe in doctrines about confession and Mary (based on letters from early church fathers), I think the Scriptures teach otherwise. That being said, this was a truly enjoyable and informative podcast. I look forward to hearing your comments.
Mike,
Thanks for chiming in. As always, I enjoy your reflections.
Anyway, I’m currently writing a post to examine what impacted and (ultimately) converted me to Catholicism, and will take your comments into consideration as I wrap this up. As mentioned in the interview, I was leaning Protestant in my conversion to Christianity, but as I studied the question of what the earliest Christians believed–especially the mass as a form of sacrifice, their conviction of the real presence of the Eucharist, and so on (even confession, as the Didache indicates something always done in church)–this, to my great surprise, completely spun me the other way around. It wasn’t an immediate “OK, now I’m Catholic”, or anything like that, but was enough to get me to look more seriously into the Catholic position (up to that point, I had mostly been reading/studying Protestant thinkers). I was also unsure of questions about Mary at first, for reasons I now see as being mere misunderstandings of what Marian doctrine entails. (For example: Catholics do not worship Mary, but venerate her, imitating Christ in this respect.) Fulton Sheen has a nice work on this, The World’s First Love. I think this is a read that anybody will enjoy, Catholic or otherwise.
More to come!
I’m really looking forward to that, Pat. I was raised Catholic. Served as an altar boy and received the sacraments up through Communion. Left the Catholic Church around 14 and joined a Baptist church. Fell away from Christianity until I was in my mid-40’s. Growing up in a Baptist church, I heard about all the reasons why Catholicism was not doctrinally sound and while I agree with some, I also realize the Roman Catholic faith isn’t evil incarnate as some would have me believe. I thought it was cool how Mr. Madrid brought up those early church letters concerning the terms Catholicism and the Apostolic tradition. This was new information for me so I’m curious to learn about it. Thanks for sharing the links Pat. Looking forward to seeing Mr. Madrid’s debate videos. I always enjoy watching intelligent debates about topics that are important to me. I am eager to hear why Catholicism works for you, particularly since I know you’ve studied Protestantism also. BTW, I ordered your book a few weeks back and can’t wait to get it!
This is very interesting!
I was raised Southern Baptist, and am a Christian, but for most of my adult life have been without a home church because I just don’t believe in how things work in current protestant structures. I’ve thought about visiting a Catholic church before, but I’ve been unsure if I’d be welcome there, either.
Protestant beliefs have often left me feeling the lack of any feminine component, and I curious about the veneration of Mary. I may do some more research into this in the future!
I was talking with someone a few years ago (a man) who converted to Catholicism because of the Mary. He grew up in a rather abusive relationship with his father, which–by his own, later admission–caused him to abandon all religion and authority, particularly Christianity. His unfortunate relationship with his paternal father blocked him on accepting God as father. He just hated the idea of dads, period. Yet, mysteriously, he was always drawn to Mary, and that clearly feminine component of Catholicism, which I think is what you’re speaking of. This eventually brought him through and back to Christ–and, amazingly–restoring his relationship with his paternal father, as well. He told me this is not an uncommon story with regards to a number of male converts to Catholicism who grew up in similar situations. I’ve also had people from a Protestant background tell me something similar to what you’re saying: they feel there’s, well, “just something about Mary”–pulled to her, in a way. I mentioned this to Mike, but you may enjoy it, as well. Fulton Sheen’s The World’s First Love is a lovely and well-presented explanation and defense of Marian doctrine. If you feel pulled by this, I would give it a read.
Lots of deep spiritual discussion and I hope I don’t sound shallow when I say, I can’t wait to use that napkin trick!
One of the best podcasts yet dealing with religion. Great analogy about learning about the fundamentals and falling in love. Anyone who looks into a religion is going to find they’re not going to find the answers to all the side issues (such as Adam and Eve, the ark) right away, but if you believe in the foundational elements, you can learn them later.
Another one of the gems I’ve found on your blog, Pat! It amazes me how the content and topics you tackle always are thought provoking. Perhaps it’s because it’s something I enjoy and want to learn more about. I’ve just been reading through your convo with Mike and I would definitely be interested on reading on your strong lean on Catholicism, although listening to your podcasts and some of your past write-ups I have an idea why you so strongly choose so. There are aspects on Roman Catholicism that I did not understand very well but perhaps it was the way on how it was taught or how others practiced it growing up, just like the “statue thing” and etc. I truly enjoyed this podcast, I can’t even point out which parts I liked because every back and forth convo between you and Pat (Madrid). I definitely learned a lot and have a better perspective on things now. Ha ha, what a coincidence, two awesome people named Pat. Thank you for introducing Pat (Madrid) to us! Definitely checking his work after this. Keep being awesome guys! Both of you. Hope you guys enjoy the holidays!