Feel free to submit a new question or concern in the comment box below. Various topics and questions are archived here for easy retrieval. Please be courteous. Comments are moderated so please be patient in waiting for them to appear and for any responses. God bless you!
NEW MESSAGES/HOMILIES CHRISTIAN REFLECTIONS DEFENDING THE FAITH
Dear Father Joe,
In 1978, the Pope approved an ecclesial review and approval for revelations, which includes private revelations. The Trent Council also approved a process to private revelations in the 1500s.
Pope Benedict said
“A private revelation can introduce new emphases, give rise to new forms of piety, or deepen older ones,” Pope Benedict continued. “It can have a certain prophetic character and can be a valuable aid for better understanding and living the Gospel at a certain time; consequently it should not be treated lightly. It is a help which is proffered, but its use is not obligatory.”
https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19780225_norme-apparizioni_en.html
Private revelations are not meant to remain private to a lay Catholic, especially if there is viable and physical proof. They are suppose to go through RCC approved process. GOD meant the revelation for education and behavioural purposes.
The problem is local archdioceses are not structured or trained to handle this, because the official process is not part of day to day work clergy do. There is no one trained in my local archdiocese to properly handle a revelation.
I am not sure who to talk to who will take a serious look at evidence, and know how to proceed. Even the Spiritual chancellery doesn’t have expertise.
At the eod, a revelation that is communication from GOD, needs a serious look, than be dismissed.
Any guidance you can share on this topic will be super appreciated.
Best Regards,
Gerry
Hi saw an angel in my dreams last night he was wearing black armor with golden wings endowed with multiple kinds of different color flowers and a belt of flowers and a sword made of gold gems and different color flowers n golden pinkish halo and moca color skin with long dark hair and was very tall but said something in another language that I don’t know and pointed to me then to a golden crest of what looked like a woman holding a child in her arms do you know what that means please and thank you for your time God bless you
I have a birthmark that is of an upside-down explanation point on my left upper arm that’s brown what does this mean please n God bless you
Father, I have a question to which I haven’t had any response from other priests. I’m a non-religious Jewish man and I’m engaged to a beautiful Christian woman. We both believe in God. We have a 26 year age gap between us; but our love is not based on age or color of skin or religion. We base it on our hearts and minds.
I plan on marrying this woman. Her name is Mercedes. My name is Cliff. We plan on marrying in Orlando, Florida. She’s picking the date.
Question: How can I be a “reborn” Christian if possible? Will there be any problems in a church setting for us to be married?
Hello and to whom it may concern * I have a question not a comment. I have ask 2 of the biggest TV Show Pastors this and never received a reply… If Adam and Eve were the 1st then how does one explain the Caveman? I am a Christian btw. Thanks
Hello my wife and I were married in 2020 and have a strong faith in God and in the Catholic Church. We always try to live by the commandments and the teachings of the church. I recently came across something I did not know about sexual acts in married couples. It was talking about unnatural sexual acts. My wife and I are in our 50s and our children are grown. I have always used oral , or manual stimulation for my wife right after intercourse because she cannot. Reach climax during natural sex acts. I discussed this with my wife and has troubled us and has caused a great deal of distress . We want to follow the church, but also don’t want anything to put a strain on our marriage. Please help Thank you
I work with people all over the world (they are not in the same company). I frequently get emails where they lie, deliberately misunderstand to try to get out of fines, etc. Sometimes its just ridiculous. I frequently insult them in my head or verbally to myself. It relieves stress and they will never know so it doesn’t hurt them. My emails are polite and fact based. Is this a sin? And if so is it mortal sin as Im potentially bearing false to their intelligence or character?
I thought you might find this interesting:
Priest’s Title Prompts a Formality Question
Dear Abby by by Abigail Van Buren
DEAR ABBY
|
APRIL 25TH, 2022
|
DEAR ABBY: I was wondering, even though we call our priests “Father,” can I also call him “Dad”? Why or why not? — PONDERING IN THE WEST
DEAR PONDERING: I posed your question to Father Guy Gurath, a longtime friend in the Milwaukee archdiocese. He chuckled and told me this is a standing joke among Catholics, who have been known to refer to the rectory as the “Home for Unwed Fathers.” (!) He went on to say the formal answer to your question is no. Calling a priest “Dad” is likely to offend some people. He suggests the correct terms “Father,” “Reverend” or “Pastor” be used. Thank you, Father Guy.
Hello Father, I made an appointment to see my priest to talk about some things weighing on me. I suffer from OCD and am quite scrupulous. One thing I talked to him about would have been a mortal sin, and he talked to me about it. After we talked, l asked to go to confession, and received absolution. After I said my penance and left, I questioned if I had mentioned, during my Confession, the mortal sin, I had talked to him about earlier. I felt guilty and sorry about it. Would receiving Absolution, removed that sin as well? I don’t want to keep worrying about it.
Hi Fr. Joe,
Recently I was reading about Saint Catherine of Siena. It said that her head was in one Basilica and her body in another. I remember when Saint John Vianney’s heart was traveling around our diocese and people we getting pictures with it. Then I’ve heard that some of the Saints have had fingers removed so that fragments of bone can be make into relics.
This is a very odd practice to me. Why is it in our Catholic tradition do we dismember our Saints in this way? Don’t we believe that the whole body must remain together in burial or cremation for the time when we rise in our glorified body? The body left behind is void of the soul at this point. Do we believe that these body parts of holy? How did this tradition start. Is it not the least bit strange? How would I explain this to a non-Catholic friend? Thank you!
Hi, Father Joe
I am a college student and we are assigned to ask people with different vocations and one of them is a priest. I found your site and if it’s alright with you, it would be a big help if I could ask you a few questions about your chosen vocation.
1. What made you decide to be a priest? I read that you attended multiple seminaries. Has it always been your plan since you were a child to pursue this path?
2. What commitments must one be ready for in pursuing a religious vocation? Are there any challenges that you experience as a priest? If so, what are they?
3. Do you have any piece of wisdom you can give that you only got when you became a priest?
Thank you so much for your time, Father Joe.