Ask Father Josh (Your Catholic Question and Answer Podcast)

Fr. Josh answers questions about how to stop being selfish in relationships, whether it’s better to prioritize personal prayer or daily Mass, and how to tell family you’re thinking about entering seminary or religious life. If you have a question, comment, or response for Fr. Josh, email us at askfrjosh@ascensionpress.com. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podcast episode! Snippet from the Show “Don’t let the enemy speak lies and tempt you with discouragement. Whenever you feel those temptations, quote Scripture and say ‘Get behind me Satan.’” SHOWNOTES Glory Story (1:41) Fr. Josh shares a story about how Chris Benzinger (the husband of Michelle, host of the Abiding Together podcast) leans into prayer. Listener Feedback (7:26) Talking to Your Family About Discernment (10:02) Hi Fr. Josh, I’m a 20 year old cradle Catholic and about to be a junior in college. I’ve recently felt a pull to discern religious life, and I’m currently working on finding a spiritual director. Is this something I should be telling my family and friends at this point? My family is Catholic but we never really talk about our faith, unfortunately. I have one sister who shares zeal with me, and we have talked about this a lot. But I don’t know how - or even if it’s appropriate to - “break the news” in a sense to my parents and other siblings. It seems sketchy to me to not tell them about a huge leap of faith I’m embarking upon, but at the same time, I’m worried they won’t understand OR that if I decide not to enter then I’ll have worried them over nothing. I also feel this way about one of my very best friends who describes herself as a disaffiliated Catholic. I know that she would legitimately be mad at me if she knew I was thinking about doing this. I’m just not sure how to go about this and any advice you have on the topic would be so helpful, thank you so much. -A Discerning Friend Selfishness (15:02) Hey Fr. Josh. My boyfriend and I are both in our mid 20s. Before this relationship, my spiritual life was going very well and at some point I was discerning religious life. He was not the cause of my spiritual downfall; he’s actually the one that takes me to confession and adoration now. But, there have been plenty of recent types where my relationship with God has been nonexistent. I feel like I haven’t and can’t go back to the place I was before spirituality, even in the slightest. Also, I have always been very independent and ended up building barriers in my relationship, which ended up hurting my boyfriend emotionally many times. Although I’ve improved in many ways, he still says that he feels I don’t care about his feelings sometimes. There are times where he tells me how he feels and I just don’t know what to do with that information. He describes me as selfish, which is not a lie, because I always think about myself first, where he’s very selfless and always puts me first. I wanted to know what you think I could do to become a better girlfriend, how I can improve in my spiritual life, and how we can improve in our spiritual lives together (which I think is something we’re missing). -Someone Who is Trying to Become a Better Person Daily Mass (22:07) Dear Fr. Josh, I discovered your podcast only two weeks ago and thought, "What have I been missing for the past year?" As a high school theology teacher in my 20s, I am excited about the ways you have already influenced my own spiritual life, and am even more energized about the ways you can transform my students' lives. Your method of evangelization is what many iGenners and millennials need to return to the Church. Keep it up. My question is about daily Mass and personal prayer time. I struggle with knowing how to balance these two things in my life. On really busy days during the school year, is it better to prioritize Mass or personal prayer time? It seems to me that since we are receiving Jesus at Mass, then Mass should always take priority over personal prayer time. But I have also heard that personal prayer time each day outside of Mass should be the priority, and that if we only have time for one, we should choose personal prayer over Mass. On the other hand, during my free days during the summer, should I be attending Mass everyday since I can? I generally attend at least two days a week, but struggle with guilt on the days when I do not go. Some days I decide it would be less convenient since I want to sleep or avoid traffic, but these seem like bad excuses for not going to Mass every day. If I truly believe Jesus is present at Mass, shouldn't I be craving to receive Him each day? Sometimes I feel like a hypocrite since I tell my students of the blessing of daily Mass, but still only attend two out of five days a week even when my schedule would allow for me to go all five days. Am I being too scrupulous in my thinking or is it really the sin of sloth keeping me from attending Mass each day? -Anonymous Resources Want to browse the previous resources Fr. Josh has recommended in his show? Go to ascensionpress.com/askfrjosh to select an episode and view the shownotes. Broken and Blessed by Fr. Josh The Temperament God Gave You Which of the Four Personalities are You? YouTube Series The Five Love Languages Support Ask Father Josh (Your Catholic Question and Answer Podcast)

Fr. Josh answers questions about how to forgive deep wounds caused by family members, what to do if you’ve grown bored with prayer, and what are some prayers we can say for souls in purgatory. If you have a question, comment, or response for Fr. Josh, email us at askfrjosh@ascensionpress.com. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podcast episode! Snippet from the Show “As people were actively attacking Jesus on the cross—mocking him, cursing him, spitting on him—he said, ‘Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ He still felt hurt, betrayed, abandoned, and rejected, but he chose to turn that into intercession.” SHOWNOTES Glory Story (1:36) Fr. Josh discovered this song: Spirit Lead Me by Influence Music & Michael Ketterer! Listener Feedback (3:52) Forgiving Deep Wounds Caused by Family (10:49) Hello Fr. Josh. Thank you, first of all, for all you do. I stumbled upon your podcast and it is helping me examine things in myself that I otherwise wouldn’t have. It’s from this self reflection that this question came forth. I am struggling to forgive my family for their treatment of me, my new husband, and our new baby daughter. I was married previously to a man who abused me for five years, to the point that I had our priest telling me I was unsafe and giving me the resources to leave. My family, however, refuses to accept that I was right on leaving because I “shamed the family” by getting divorced. They still talk to and invite my ex husband to family functions on a regular basis. Nearly a year after the divorce and subsequent annulment, I met a wonderful man. He accepted my two previous children as his own and has been so patient with me. He is a Christ loving man who has shown me what love in a sacramental marriage should be. I had tolerated their behavior regarding me and my husband, but now their behavior affects my children. I had our daughter at 24 weeks gestation. Thanks be to God, she is now nine months old and doing very well all things considered. I have a large family. Aside from my parents and maternal grandparents, everyone in my family has refused to acknowledge her, much less meet her. We spent 143 days in the NICU and needed the support of family desperately. My family has refused. My husbands family has done everything humanly possible, with my mother in law staying with us for all but a month of our NICU stay to help with the older two children. They (the older children) have been asking why the family that used to be so present is ignoring us. I know an apology will likely never occur, so I am struggling how to forgive my family. How do I forgive when offenses have been so deeply felt? -Anonymous Mother Praying for the Souls in Purgatory (21:14) Hi Father Josh! I'm trying to figure out the right way to pray for souls in purgatory. Since I can't know (unless one of them is beatified) whether my family members who have died are in heaven, I don't know who exactly to pray for. But it feels exclusive just to pray "for my family in purgatory." It feels like if I'm being that general, I should just pray "for all souls in purgatory." But if I don't call them out by name, does it count or count less? Thanks for your help, Father, and all the good work you do! -Tamar Tired of Praying (28:20) Hello Father Josh, I listen to your podcast a lot, and I really like it. Thank you for the work you do. I am a junior in college, just striving to live out the Catholic faith. Earlier this year (January) I listened to a ton of talks on Mary, the power of the Rosary and all of that. I was strongly convicted to pray the Rosary more often. I made a decision to pray the Rosary everyday. I had made decisions like this in the past with reading my Bible, and other forms of prayers but after a month, that all disappeared into thin air. However, with the Rosary I have been pretty much consistent in praying it. So here’s the issue. Father Josh, honestly, on some days I am just exhausted, and really just don’t feel like praying the Rosary or any prayer in general. Although I still pray it, I often rush through it, or my mind wanders off occasionally, or I doze off in between. Frankly, sometimes I just pray it to keep my streak. I tell myself I have come too far to give up now. I don’t want to waste my time (or Jesus’s or Mary’s time). I feel like if it has become a game to me, or just really mechanical then I should stop. Still, I like to believe I receive some graces when I strive through it, even when I don’t feel like it or when I’m just doing it to fulfill all righteousness. I’m scared that if I stop now, I’m never going to have the courage to take up any other challenge to strengthen my prayer life. I may just give up this whole prayer thing in general, because Father, I’m legit tired, confused and need some advice. Thank you. -Legit Tired Resources Want to browse the previous resources Fr. Josh has recommended in his show? Go to ascensionpress.com/askfrjosh to select an episode and view the shownotes. Fr. Josh Johnson - Broken and Blessed book iBrevery app Fr. Josh’s Night Prayer on YouTube Strive 21: Freedom from Porn Prayer to Our Lady of the Smile Chaplet of the Holy Souls Divine Mercy Chaplet Rosary for Holy Souls Prayer for the Souls in Purgatory Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the masses said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen.Support Ask Father Josh (Your Catholic Question and Answer Podcast)

Fr. Josh answers questions about how to respond to a same-sex couple who wants their child baptized, how to help family understand Church teaching, and how to stop feeling guilty about sins from the past. If you have a question, comment, or response for Fr. Josh, email us at askfrjosh@ascensionpress.com. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podcast episode! Snippet from the Show “God, help me to see myself the way you see me. God, help me to love myself the way that you love me. God, help me to forgive myself the way that you forgive me.” SHOWNOTES Glory Story (1:03) Fr. Josh is writing another book! Stay tuned for more details :) Listener Feedback (4:53) Prayer from Thomas Merton: "My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always, though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone." Baptisms with Same-Sex Parents (9:59) I love your podcast! I look forward to listening every week. I've always been very fond of how you truly try to respond with the love of Christ while still remaining aware of your broken human nature. I pray for you, my man. (Pray for me too!) On to my question, this last Sunday my parish held a baptism for a child of a same-sex couple. While on the one hand, obviously it's not the child's fault that their parents are living in a sinful relationship, and they deserve the sacrament just as much as any other child. But, I do really wonder how our response as a community should be. Certainly these men should be allowed in our church and should be welcome to listen to the liturgy of the word so they may be touched by Jesus, but they partook of the Eucharist. How do I respond like Jesus here? I want to love them as Christ loves them, but what does that look like? I'm really struggling with how to process this and could really use some guidance. -Daniel Helping Family Understand Church Teachings (22:14) First, I heard you speak in Houston at Cafe Catholica, and I have to thank you because you spoke about focusing on God's mercy when it comes to our vices, rather than focusing on our anxiety and why we're not conquering our sins. I've been seriously struggling with my anxiety about that recently, and you help reorient my attention to the Lord, rather than being distracted by Satan. Second: My husband is a Catholic convert; he converted right before we got married. He comes from a completely nonreligious family. I'm not sure what, if anything, they believe. So my husband struggles with some of the Church teachings because it is so far from what he experienced for most of his life. He struggles, in particular, with Jesus' presence in the Eucharist and the teachings on sexuality (every sexual act must be unitive and procreative). He also doesn't understand the big deal about skipping Mass occasionally. So I guess my question is two parts. One, how do I encourage my husband to embrace Church teachings without lecturing him and making him feel inadequate? And two, how can I encourage my husband's family to be open to the Lord, also without lecturing them? -Anonymous Overwhelming Guilt (27:50) Father Josh, Thank you so much for your podcast. I’m enjoying listening frequently. I’m new to the faith and currently in RCIA and will be baptized this Easter vigil. I’m really new to any faith. I was an atheist since around the age the of 13. Unfortunately I let people turn me off to faith including my own father who claimed to be a man of faith but had no love for me. After God blessed me with my daughter 4 years ago I felt a love that I knew had to come from somewhere greater than myself. I began to study different religions and found myself coming to Catholicism through reason and now by faith. My family and I have been going to Mass for almost two years and thanks be to God I’ll able to receive the Eucharist this Easter along with my wife. Often times I have an overwhelming feeling of guilt for decisions I made as a nonbeliever and for denying God for so long. I know that God has forgiven me but how do I manage this guilt? Thank you for your advice, I appreciate it and your ministry is in my prayers. God Bless. -Todd Resources Want to browse the previous resources Fr. Josh has recommended in his show? Go to ascensionpress.com/askfrjosh select an episode and view the shownotes. Fr. Josh's book - Broken and Blessed The Heart of Perfection: How the Saints Taught Me to Trade My Dream of Perfect for God's by Colleen Carroll Campbell I Will Follow video Support Ask Father Josh (Your Catholic Question and Answer Podcast)

Fr. Josh answers questions about if our prayers can apply to people who are no longer alive, why there are priests who have been married, and if it’s OK to check someone out. If you have a question, comment, or response for Fr. Josh, email us at askfrjosh@ascensionpress.com. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podcast episode! Snippet from the Show “God can use our prayers to transcend time: past, present, and future.” SHOWNOTES Glory Story (0:56) Fr. Josh shares an amazing revelation about Moses and the face of God! Listener Feedback (4:17) Prayer Transcending Time (8:22) Fr. Josh, Hello and thank-you for your consideration of my question! I am wondering about the possibility for our prayers to transcend time. I have read about consoling the heart of Jesus, that even though He is now in heaven, I can comfort Him in His passion and death. I have also heard that God is present to me now as a 37 year old woman, just as He is present to me as a little girl. I am wondering if it is possible, through prayer, for us to bring consolation to ordinary people who have lived before us, or who will live in the future. I realize we are born into a time in history for a reason, and the present moment is a gift to us. But, as an example, if I hear about the atrocities of the holocaust and I pray for those who suffered in concentration camps, is it possible that my intercession now could have caused a consolation for someone who lived in a camp? Or, as another example, could a blessing I receive tomorrow be the result of a prayer made by my great, great grandchild decades from now? I'm sure it is good to pray and intercede for others, dead or living, whenever we feel inspired to. I'm just practically wondering if God can use those prayers to affect any time He chooses. -Julia Married Priests (14:44) Father Josh, Thank you for your podcast. I enjoy learning more about the Catholic Faith through your energetic and thoughtful style. I am confused on how men who were previously married, have had children and are divorced can then become a priest. I have heard the term “alluded” used, but cannot find a Catholic meaning for this term. Can you help explain how these men fit into the rules for becoming priests and if alluded is a Catholic process I should have known about? Thank you and please continue your wonderful podcast. God Bless. -Gary Checking Someone Out (20:11) Hi Fr. Josh, I'm a 16 year old guy. And I sometimes find myself checking girls out. I've been wondering recently whether it's wrong to do so. Is it okay to check people out? I think it depends on how often you do it and whether you're taking advantage of that person or genuinely admiring beauty. I'd really love to know your stance on the matter. And if I shouldn't be doing it, what are some ways to stop myself from my natural tendencies? I love your podcast, keep up the amazing work! Thank you for any help you can provide. -Dom Universal Call to Holiness Share this podcast with a friend and potentially be the reason they deepen their relationship with God! Resources Want to browse the previous resources Fr. Josh has recommended in his show? Go to ascensionpress.com/askfrjosh to select an episode and view the shownotes. Fr. Josh Johnson - Broken and Blessed book Unabridged Christianity - Fr. Mario Romario Rome Sweet Rome - Dr. Scott Hahn Consoling the Heart of Jesus by Fr. Michael Gaitley 33 Days to Morning Glory by Fr. Michael Gaitley 33 Days to Merciful Love by Fr. Michael Gaitley Support Ask Father Josh (Your Catholic Question and Answer Podcast)

Fr. Josh answers questions about whether bad confession experiences are valid, how to avoid scrupulosity (obsession with avoiding sin), and how to invite people back to the Church. If you have a question, comment, or response for Fr. Josh, email us at askfrjosh@ascensionpress.com. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podcast episode! Snippet from the Show “The second Peter took his eyes off of God, and fixed his eyes on the storm, he began to sink. The same thing happens to us.” SHOWNOTES Glory Story (1:11) Fr. Josh shares a story about the lay vocation to become a saint! Listener Feedback (6:15) Bad Confession Experiences (7:47) Dear Father Josh, Thank you so much for your ministry. I have enjoyed listening to your podcast and I can tell that you truly take all of our listeners’ questions to prayer seriously and answer them thoughtfully and prayerfully. My question is about what to do when you have a bad confession experience. I’m a lifelong Catholic and I truly believe that the sacrament of reconciliation is a sacrament of healing. I have experienced this love and healing many times over the years, so I believe in its power. I try to attend regularly. My younger brother has autism and had a very negative confession experience many years ago when he was in high school. My dad took him to confession and suggested to my brother that he let the priest know in advance about his autism to help give the priest context. When my brother entered the confessional and started off his confession by saying, “I have autism,” the priest told him that autism is a sin. He didn’t tell our family this happened until much later and he hasn’t been to confession since. This truly hurt my brother’s faith, understandably. I myself had a negative confession experience when I was in college. I was really struggling and hurting and was truly sorry for the sins I confessed and the priest told me, “I am absolutely appalled by what you have told me.” This had never ever happened to me and I was confused. When I asked for absolution, he scoffed and said, “I suppose!” I was worried that my confession wasn’t actually absolved, so I re-confessed everything to my regular priest and told him what happened. The difference between the two priests was like night and day even though the sins were the same. My regular priest told me that if I ever was made to feel uncomfortable like that again, I had permission to stand up and leave. I’m sure that everyone has bad experiences like these... I know sometimes people won’t visit certain priests for confession. I understand that a priest during confession is in persona Christi, but how am I supposed to feel when my brother, or a friend, or myself, have a negative experience with a priest who truly isn’t acting as Christ during confession? I have had nothing but positive experiences with the sacrament since that one bad time during college, but it’s always in the back of my mind. All it takes for some people is one negative experience to make them doubt the Church and the healing power of reconciliation. How can a priest truly be in persona Christi if they’re saying hurtful things? Is it ever okay to leave a confessional in an instance like this and can a negative confession experience be invalid? -Amy Scrupulosity (17:19) Hello Father Josh, I would like to start this email by thanking you for your podcast. It has been extremely helpful to me in understanding the teachings of the Church and applying them to real situations that I face. Your friendly attitude and ability to explain doctrine in an accessible way is refreshing, and I thank God for the gift he has given the Church in you. I am 25 years old and a cradle Catholic. I attended Catholic school up to 9th grade, although I fell away from practicing the faith in college. One of the main reasons for this was I didn't understand the Church's teachings on subjects like same-sex relationships and contraception, and saw them as out-of-touch and prejudiced. About two months ago I had an experience that brought me back to the Church, and I decided to start intentionally living my faith. This lead me to do research on the Church and its teachings, and I realized I was ignorant of many things, such as the precept of fasting from meat on all Fridays (I have never heard the precepts mentioned in school or church). What I realized through my research is that my conception of the Church was very different from the reality of it, and the reality is scary. I used to think that Hell was reserved for the worst of humanity, but Jesus himself says in the Gospel of Matthew that “broad” is the road to destruction and “only a few” find the gate of life. This passage in particular absolutely destroyed me. It seems that most of the world is destined for Hell instead of Heaven. Most of this Gospel is Jesus talking about Hell and the many things you can do that will send you there. After finishing the Gospel of Matthew I have been too scared to read the rest of the New Testament. I follow the Ten Commandments as best I can, and go to Confession regularly. I attend Mass on Sundays and try to go at least one other day a week. I cracked down on things in my life that were near occasions of sin. I pray daily, including a daily Rosary (praise the Lord for that prayer, and for the wonderful gift of our mother Mary). I fast once a week. I give money during the collection at Mass and donate to charitable organizations, and try to give money or buy food for the homeless when I encounter them. Despite doing these things I am still scared of God’s wrath and going to Hell. I feel like almost everything I do is a sin, even down to buying non-essential items like a roll of film for my camera. This fear is affecting my ability to get through the day and enjoy life, even good things like spending time with my friends. I also work in an industry that is very anti-Christian, and my coworkers are all pro-abortion, pro gay-marriage, etc. I have one friend that is a practicing Catholic, but he lives far away and I only see him in person every couple months. Returning to my faith helped me with some of the struggles I was facing, but it has also brought a host of new struggles I was not ready for. I desperately want to live a good Catholic life and be with our Lord in heaven, but I feel lost and am scared of ending up in Hell. I have been stuck in this mindset for weeks and don’t know how to get out of it. Any advice or words of encouragement you can give would be greatly appreciated. -Steven Young People Leaving the Church (27:09) Hello Father! My name is Liam and I have been listening to your podcasts for a while now and they are GREAT! I wanted to start off with a thank you because you have truly changed my life and, from what I can tell, you've done the same from many others. My question is about the future of Catholicism. Catholics I know, my friends, even my brothers seem to be slowly departing from the church. I understand that not everyone stays Catholic when they're older because they somehow don't believe in God or don't care enough to go to Mass, pray, or even acknowledge God. But, my generation seems to have fully departed from the faith for some reason. I don't know if it's just me that's seeing this issue but only very few people I know plan on staying members of the church after we graduate high school. This worries me for the future. What will the Church look like if this continues and how can I help bring these people back into the church without pushing them even farther away? -Liam Universal Call to Holiness Share this podcast with a friend and potentially be the reason they deepen their relationship with God! Resources Want to browse the previous resources Fr. Josh has recommended? Go to ascensionpress.com/askfrjosh to select an episode and view the shownotes. Fr. Josh Johnson - Broken and Blessed book Gabrielle Bossis - He and I book Matt Maher - Lord I Need You song Hillsong United - Oceans song Will Reagan - Break Every Chain song Support Ask Father Josh (Your Catholic Question and Answer Podcast)

Fr. Josh answers questions about why praying to the saints is different from worshiping them, how to remind people about the fast before receiving Communion, and whether it’s OK to go to a different parish for confession (so you don’t have to go to your pastor). If you have a question, comment, or response for Fr. Josh, email us at askfrjosh@ascensionpress.com. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podcast episode! Snippet from the Show “The word ‘pray’ actually means ‘to ask’. It’s become synonymous with ‘worship’ but that’s not what it means.” SHOWNOTES Glory Story (1:46) One of Fr. Josh’s parishioners recently gave birth to a beautiful baby girl! As he was leaving the hospital the women’s youngest son ran up to Fr. Josh thinking he was Jesus. Listener Feedback (6:51) Praying to the Saints (11:57) Fr. Josh, I absolutely love your podcast and haven't missed an episode! I am a cradle Catholic and your podcast, in addition to a few other awesome Catholic podcasts, have helped me to grow in my Faith and my love for Jesus more than I ever thought possible. My husband of 11 years joined the Church at the Easter Vigil in 2018. During RCIA classes, he learned a lot more than what I could have ever begun to tell him about; that being said, he still has a hangup with how we pray to Mary and to the Saints for their intercession for us. During our nightly prayer time, I've attempted to be more intentional with praying to saints for their intercession and have been trying to learn more about various saints. One night, I specifically prayed for our Blessed Mother to help us to parent more like her and to be patient like she was in raising Jesus. After we finished, he said that he wasn't sure it was right that I asked Mary for help. I tried to explain that Mary can only help us through the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and not of her own power. I think it was just the language I used during prayer that caused him to hesitate, so my questions are below: Is there a 'correct' way to pray to Mary or the Saints in such a way that it doesn't seem like we are worshiping them or asking them directly for their help through their own power? How can we properly explain that when we pray to Mary and the Saints that we are NOT worshiping them? We believe that they are the living Body of Christ in Heaven and they can pray for us and help us just as a member of the living Body of Christ here on earth can, right? Why is this so hard for non-Catholics to understand? Thanks so much, and may God continue to bless you as you walk with so many of us while we deepen our Faith. -Tammy The Communion Fast (22:33) Hi Fr. Josh! I have a tricky question for you regarding the hour fast before Holy Communion. It surprises me how many people of all ages do not know about this fast. I do understand that this is a fast before Communion and not the start of Mass, but there have been numerous times when friends, acquaintances, and various adults have been eating something or drinking coffee in that "grey area time" (where depending on the Mass length you may not meet the fast) or even a few minutes before Mass. I don't think God is "counting down the minutes" till you have met the hour fast, but I also believe that as Catholics we shouldn't want to cut it close just to eat food. We should be honoring this fast in devotion to Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. There have been a few instances where a friend has been about to eat something and out of charity I reminded them about the fast. But I am confused as to when it is right for me to do so and when I should just hold my tongue? Because if these people truly did not know about the fast, it would be good if I told them, but I also don't want to commit a sin by not speaking up when I have the opportunity to kindly remind them about the fast. -Jane Confession “Hopping” (26:59) Thank you so much for your podcast! It has been so helpful for me. I'm not really sure how to phrase this question, but it's something I've been thinking about lately so here goes.. I am quite involved in my parish now so my parish priests have gotten to know me a lot better than they used to. I have kinda been avoiding going to confession recently because the priests know me personally now, I'm no longer 'anonymous' as such. I would rather go to confession at a different parish (there are others close by) to do a good confession with a priest I don't know. Is this ok or should I just try and 'get over' this fear/embarrassment. I know it's a pride thing on my part, and they would just be happy that I go to receive the sacrament! Anyway I'm wondering what advice you may have on this? How do you do a good confession with a priest you work closely with?? Is it ok to avoid confession at your local parish and go to a different parish? Do you have any advice on how you've managed this in your own life? -Anonymous Universal Call Share this podcast with a friend and potentially be the reason they deepen their relationship with God! Resources See more resources at ascensionpress.com/askfrjosh Broken and Blessed book by Fr. Josh Johnson Support Ask Father Josh (Your Catholic Question and Answer Podcast)

Fr. Josh answers questions about why some Catholics seem to think traditional Latin Mass is better than the Norvus Ordo, whether witchcraft is demonic or fake, and why only some saints have mystic visions. If you have a question, comment, or response for Fr. Josh, email us at askfrjosh@ascensionpress.com. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podcast episode! Snippet from the Show “Just because a priest celebrates one of the liturgies sloppily doesn’t mean that liturgy is bad [traditional Latin Mass or Norvus Ordo]. It means that priest needs to be reformed.” SHOWNOTES Glory Story (2:08) Fr. Josh recalls the very first Catholic book he ever read outside of the Bible: The Mystical City of God by Venerable Mary Agreda. Read it. It will rock your world!! Listener Feedback (5:59) Witchcraft (8:29) Hello Father Josh, Could you please explain what the Church teaches on witchcraft and tarot cards and all that creepy stuff. I know it’s something we as Catholics shouldn’t be part of in general. However, I want to understand the Church’s reasoning behind this. Do we believe witchcraft is not real and it’s all fake? Or do we believe it’s the devil working in this world and that’s why we stay away? Do we believe tarot cards really reveal the future or do we believe it’s all fake or do we believe it’s real but it’s evil? Lol it gets pretty confusing. I mean I know we are not supposed to be superstitious... whatever that means... but being from Africa, I’ve seen some really crazy things happen in this life, that can low-key only be explained through witchcraft (which a lot of people still practice). Anyway, I just want to know what to think about all this and I trust the Church to guide me. Thank you Father Josh! I’ll be praying for you! And pray for me too! -Ozigbo Mystic Visions (17:04) Father, I’m reading the meditations of Christ and each day there is a new meditation about a saint. I’m reading all these saints and their experiences with miraculous appearances of Jesus or Mary or another holy figure and they instantly feel that change of heart and have immense faith. My question is, if we are all called to be saints how come some people have those miraculous visions and others don’t? Because you do need a miracle to become a saint, right? So it seems like Gods’ choosing specific people? -Andrew Traditional Latin Mass (22:15) Hi Fr. Josh, My parish priest has always made his opinion known on the Latin Mass following, like they are cultish, think they are better than people who follow the New Order Mass, etc. At first I wasn't sure what to think, but after some personal experience I'm a bit worried. It seems like Latin Mass followers go around saying that they are basically better than us: they refuse Communion if it’s not administered by the priests, say that the Novus Ordo celebrations of the Mass aren't valid, and even say that women should only wear dresses and are meant to stay at home to raise children. I get the feeling that they "groom" or "brainwash" people into following this extreme and fanatical form of Catholicism. What are your thoughts on this extreme Catholicism following? A google search leads to Novus Ordo Watch, Ad Orientum Masses--how the New Order Mass isn't really worship and isn't really Catholicism, etc., and I am so confused. There is so much division in our world--and now I come across this? I love being Catholic, but just feel that this is so wrong. We are all Catholics in the same universal Church, aren't we? Fr. Josh I'm sorry this isn't very articulate, but what are your thoughts? Thank you so much for your time!! -Maria Universal Call to Holiness (29:40) Resources Want to browse the previous resources Fr. Josh has recommended? Click here to select an episode and view the shownotes. Broken and Blessed book by Fr. Josh Johnson The Mystical City of God by Venerable Mary Agreda Support Ask Father Josh (Your Catholic Question and Answer Podcast)

Fr. Josh answers questions all about drinking alcohol including: Do I need to go to confession after drinking? Is it OK to drink underage? What if I get drunk without intending to? Is that old wives tale of rubbing whiskey on a teething baby’s gums safe? If you have a question, comment, or response for Fr. Josh, email us at askfrjosh@ascensionpress.com. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podcast episode! Snippet from the Show “Scripture gives witness to the fact that drinking can be a good thing, but getting drunk is not a good thing.” SHOWNOTES Glory Story (1:35) Fr. Josh flew up to Ascension for a filming of a new product! Stay tuned for more information! He was also able to visit with FOCUS and attended a Steubenville South Youth Conference where fifteen years ago Fr. Josh had his conversion. Listener Feedback (5:44) Drunkenness (8:08) What is the actual Catholic definition of being drunk? How do I know when I have passed the point of drinking too much? When would I need to go to Confession after drinking? -Brad Underage Drinking (16:34) Whats up Fr. Josh!? I've been so blessed by your podcasts. Please know I've been praying for you. I have a question about underage drinking...I'm 19 and my older brother is 25. He lets me drink when I'm hanging out at his place with all his friends. But I know it’s still against the law. I'm not purposefully getting drunk...I mean we mostly sit and talk about life, our relationships, and sometimes even theology and how to become better men. Am I doing something wrong? Or is it OK for me to keep drinking with them? -Gregory C Accidentally Getting Drunk (23:10) So I'm a mom of three and I never have the chance to go out with my girlfriends. Last weekend my two best friends and I were able to go out on a Friday night (thanks to our amazing husbands) and got a few drinks. Well........I must be from the stone ages (or maybe I just forgot to eat after feeding my kids ), but after my first drink I ordered what I thought would be a lighter mixed drink (just enough to keep loosening up you know?) but I ended up ordering something really strong and got drunk. My friends drove me home and my husband was really understanding, but I feel really guilty. Is that a mortal sin? Or because I didn't mean for that to happen could it be more of a venial sin? -Cassandra Whisky for Teething Children (29:46) Can I rub whisky on my toddler's gums to help him with teething? I'm running out of ideas, HELP!! -Marisa Resources Want to browse the previous resources Fr. Josh has recommended? Go to ascensionpress.com/askfrjosh to select an episode and view the shownotes. Broken and Blessed book by Fr. Josh Johnson Support Ask Father Josh (Your Catholic Question and Answer Podcast)

Delve into the complexities of same-sex love and Catholic teachings that shape the Church's stance. Explore how these teachings influence individuals' relationships and their search for fulfillment. Discover the challenges of navigating consumer choices, like boycotting Netflix, without straying into scrupulosity. The discussion touches on the emotional journey of priests leaving the ministry and the compassionate response needed from the Church community. It’s a deep dive into faith, identity, and collective action in modern society.

Fr. Josh answers questions about if watching Mass on television fulfills our Sunday obligation, how to find happiness when depressed from past trauma, and how to talk with “cafeteria Catholics” who pick and choose which parts of the Faith to follow. If you have a question, comment, or response for Fr. Josh, email us at askfrjosh@ascensionpress.com. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podcast episode! Snippet from the Show “Sometimes it takes a while to accept the difficult teachings that come from Christ. Many of the disciples who were with Jesus in John 6 left when he gave them the bread of life discourse … the ones who stayed did not really understand the teaching but they loved Jesus and over time Jesus gave them the grace to believe.” SHOWNOTES Glory Story (1:15) This past week, Louisiana experienced a few really bad storms. A tornado actually touched down in a few places near Our Lady of the Holy Rosary. Praise be to God, Fr. Josh and his parishioners were unharmed. However, his brother’s family wasn’t so lucky and their house was destroyed by the tornado. By the grace of God, the entire family happened to be in an area of the house that wasn’t completely destroyed and they walked away with cuts and bruises. Fr. Josh asks for your prayers for his family. He also wants to thank everyone who has been praying and those who have financially helped his family. Listener Feedback (6:49) TV Mass on Sunday (12:07) When does Mass on TV fill Sunday Mass obligation? We missed Mass this past Sunday due to severe weather conditions in our area. So we watched Mass on TV. Do I need to go to confession, or is that OK? -Erin Finding Happiness (15:58) [This question has been edited for length] Hi Fr Josh, I found your podcast from Abiding Together. I love it and I love how you answer questions. I started binge listening to all your podcasts. I was sexually assaulted a few times while growing up: by family, by my doctor, and my swimming instructor. I kept this all to myself, afraid to tell anyone. I kinda forgot about it; or so I thought. In addition to this, my siblings and I were so scared of dad, we would tiptoe around and only talk in whispers. He was physically and verbally abusive. As I grew older, I started to hate him despite mom telling me and my siblings not to because he is our father. I was diagnosed with depression earlier this year. I thought I was just tired. But when I started crying out of the blue while grocery shopping, and thinking about ramming my car into trees or anything while driving, sleeping or lying in bed from Friday to Sunday - waking up only for Mass - I realized this is not just tired. Dad passed away in 2017 and mom told me that he asked for a priest and had his confession and his last sacrament after so many years of being away from the Church. I love my family, so I try to do everything I can to help. They ask me for help whenever they're short on cash so I started doing part time jobs - 4 at the same time, plus my full time job. But it wasn't enough. I kept pushing myself, telling myself to be strong and this will pass. But I’ve started to have suicide thoughts. I often ask myself, how strong does God want me to be? I’ve reached out to members of my church and family but they don’t seem to care. I also don’t want to talk about my family’s secrets or open myself up to be vulnerable. I can't sleep. I don't even sing anymore, I don't clean my house. My days don’t have any meaning. I still pray but the peacefulness doesn't last long. I did get help medically but I’m still falling deeper. I also joined a meditation workshop by The World Community for Christian Meditation. Why Fr. did those things happen? Where was God when it happened? He can't stop people from doing bad things, but why can't God help me to forget or give me strength to fight or to scream when that happened? Is it really me? Is it my fault that I'm depressed and have anxiety? Should I be strong? I hate the word strong because I felt that I have been as strong as I can all these years. And now I need help but people are expecting me to ignore my feelings. They say that there are people out there that have it worse and I need to just move on. I am so sorry if my email is all over the place and doesn't make any sense. And I'm sorry if I'm taking so much of your time reading this. Help me Father Josh. I'm in so much pain and I don't know how to help and heal myself. -C. Cafeteria Catholics (30:08) Dear Fr. Josh, I am writing because I think I messed up! To summarize, my question is how to talk with "cafeteria Catholics," those who pick and choose which parts of the faith they will follow, without sounding like you are right and they are wrong. The bottom line is I accidentally offended a good friend and a recent Catholic convert and made her feel unwelcome in the church! Yikes! All our lives we have been a case of opposites attract: Her family was very liberal politically and on social issues and not religious and mine was politically conservative and Catholic. Knowing that she's always been pro choice (she's had an abortion) and pro gay marriage I asked her if she considered herself still liberal in social issues or more Catholic. She still thought that they should be able to be legally married and that she didn't see what religion had to do with it. She also said she regretted her abortion but didn't want to take that choice away from women. I kind of pushed back by asking, if she talked about this in RCIA? she said, "No". In the end, she felt that I thought she shouldn't be Catholic (even though I told her she belongs in the church but just missing out on some of the beauty of the faith). We essentially agreed to disagree and it just left a sour feeling to the reunion. Should I follow up with her in some way, share some other insights with her? and how should I have handled it? I wouldn't ask that of most people but I felt our long history gave me special permission. How do we talk with "cafeteria Catholics" without pushing them away? Thanks so much for your insight in this matter. I am so appreciative of your podcast and of you! -Please Don't Use My Name! Universal Call to Holiness (38:43) Lean into Jesus. Christ and his grace are enough for all of us. Resources Want to browse the previous resources Fr. Josh has recommended? Go to ascensionpress.com/askfrjosh to select an episode and view the shownotes. Broken and Blessed book by Fr. Josh Johnson Abiding Together Podcast Support Ask Father Josh (Your Catholic Question and Answer Podcast)