Ask a Priest

5,435 Responses

Samantha, on June 14, 2017 at 11:36 pm said:

Thank you Father
Anonymous, on June 14, 2017 at 9:17 pm said:

If a teacher is in a union and has the opportunity to vote on a contract where the school district will potentially pay a larger portion of the insurance premium, I am wondering whether it could be sinful to vote yes on such a contract if the insurance plan covers contraceptives, or even abortion, etc.

Would this involve any type of cooperation in sin?

FATHER JOE: If the only issue presented to the membership is the premium payment, then what the insurance covers seems remote in this case. There is nothing wrong with employees wanting better benefits. If the immediate case was coverage, then faithful Catholics would be responsible for challenging contraceptives and abortifacients.
Samantha, on June 14, 2017 at 3:14 am said:

Hi Father I was reading one of the posts about lay people giving blessings and it not being appropriate. After confession when my priest says God Bless you as I leave the confessional as a sort of bye not the formal blessing part I say God bless you too. I often make the sign of the cross on my daughters forehead saying God bless you and may you have sweet dreams. Also when an ambulance goes by I make the sign of the cross blessing all inside and praying for them. Is what I am doing wrong since I’m not a priest?

FATHER JOE: You are doing nothing wrong. Informal blessings are fine. Parents and grandparents can extend their blessings upon children. The difference here is that such is not part of the Mass.

Also how is it possible to be detached from venial sin to obtain a plenary indulgence how would I know if I am in such a state? I commit venial sins daily like losing my patience or having negative and judgmental thoughts. I really don’t understand the concept. Could you explain it to me please. Sorry to trouble you.

FATHER JOE: Venial sins do not rupture our relationship with God. One examines the conscience and makes a good act of contrition.
Elizabeth, on June 13, 2017 at 12:59 pm said:

Hi,

When I go to confession as a Croatian, there is a short prayer at the end which says that I truly regret and am sorry for my sins, and I ask for penance and absolution so as to make amends for my wrongdoings.

I occasionally also have the odd confession in English here. I was wondering whether there is such thing in the English practice as well. There seems to be a discordance where that is concerned.

Many thanks and God bless!

FATHER JOE:

The Act of Contrition is said prior or during the priest’s absolution.

“O MY GOD, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of Heaven and the pains of Hell; but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.”
Marvin, on June 12, 2017 at 8:33 pm said:

Dear Father Joe

Im looking for a professional opinion on a spiritual topic, this is a serious matter and could have a Tragic end please Email me ASAP. This is about something found in a picture that was taken of me.

FATHER JOE: Your email address does not work.
anon, on June 11, 2017 at 7:50 pm said:

I have been having this problem for about a year now. I really want to be a martyr. Perfect sacrifice, instant Heaven, everlasting joy and peace forever and ever— just for just an instant of pain; it sounds like an awesome deal!

I have been having the whole heaven versus family struggle, if you get what I mean.

Sometimes it hurts and makes me feel a little selfish, even though I know I am not really being selfish.

It is not that I hate the world; I love it here and I want a good fulfilled life.

I just know that heaven is my true goal.

I want to get there sooner than later and in the best way possible.

It does not help that this morning on the way to Mass I read about Saint Ursula and her friends in my little sister’s saint book.

I proceeded to get all hyped up and begged for martyrdom yet again, during the entire ceremony. What do you think about this?

What advice can you get me?

FATHER JOE:

It seems to me that you do not understand the true meaning of martyrdom. The early martyrs did not desire to suffer and die. God the Father did not take any delight in his Son’s betrayal, scourging and crucifixion. It was faithfulness and not torture and murder that the Father desired. Jesus sets the pattern for all believers and was faithful to the Father and to his mission, regardless of the cost. Fidelity is the pattern given by Jesus and imitated by disciples who take up the Cross and followed him.

Dying for the faith is not necessarily martyrdom either, unless you surrender your life as a gift to God, forgiving and loving those who hate and hurt you.

Martyrdom is also not necessarily quick. Many saints were tortured and died slow deaths. They were also forced to watch their friends and family members suffer and die before them. If they were to renounce the faith, they might save both their own lives and those of loved ones. Many people broke under such duress.

Imagining that you have the stuff of martyrs might itself be an expression of selfishness and self-deception. You cannot know until you are up against it. The Lord’s Prayer would have us ask the Father that we might avoid the test or trial.

Heaven is our true goal but every venial sin, not to mention mortal, is the measure of how far we remain from that perfection. Saving faith is living out our discipleship in loving obedience. The essence of sacrifice is within this definition. What do you surrender for the Lord? Some visit the elderly and help them with their needs. Others work at soup kitchens or at local shelters. Volunteers assist children with reading skills and create inclusive environments for people with special needs. Many sacrifice their time, talent and treasure for Christ. A moment of martyrdom might come for a few, but most are called to daily lay down their lives for Christ. Disciples of Christ do not run away from the world but stand up to it as living signs of contradiction. Eternal life is not simply a reward that awaits us on the other side of the grave; it is also the measure of Christ’s presence that abides in us by grace right now.
Hannah, on June 11, 2017 at 5:07 pm said:

I finished watching a documentary and had a lingering question. When an illegitimate child grows up and marries and eventually fathers his own children, are those children legitimate since they were born from a marriage or illegitimate because their father is illegitimate?

FATHER JOE: If a child is born to a married couple then the child is legally legitimate, regardless of past history.
Dorothy Sears, on June 11, 2017 at 12:51 pm said:

A question came up after Mass yesterday. Can a Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister give a blessing when a Communicant request one for a child or themselves at the time of Communion or any other time for that matter? If so, how would they do that as I know that can’t give a Blessing like a priest would. I am very cautious of anyone praying over me

FATHER JOE:

Various parishes and parochial schools have instructed non-Catholics and those not spiritual prepared for the Blessed Sacrament to come up in the communion line with their arms crossed so as to receive a blessing and not to be left out.

Can According to the universal Church, can Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion extend blessings upon those who do not receive the Eucharist? Should blessings be given out during this time at all?

The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments responded to this question in 2008. Four reasons were given as to why this practice is not permitted by the universal Church.

(1.) A blessing is given to everyone after the distribution of Holy Communion, following the Closing Prayer and before the words of final dismissal. Making the sign of the cross, the priest says: “May Almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” This makes any particular or individual blessings redundant or unnecessary.

(2.) We must always act in accordance to our vocation or station. Lay people are not permitted to offer blessings during Mass. Outside of the liturgy, there are settings where the laity extend blessings as in the Filipino custom of receiving blessings from elders or parents. During Mass the emphasis or charge for benedictions belongs to the priest. The Book of Blessings also stipulates that “whenever a priest or deacon is present, the office of presiding [over a blessing] should be left to him” (#18). The instruction Ecclesia de Mysterio (1997) also stipulates that there should be no confusion of roles during the Mass and that lay people may not say prayers, make gestures or perform actions that are proper to the ordained priest. This would include the blessing as it is reserved to the priest.

(3.) The laying on of hands by the Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion is also explicitly discouraged as the gesture has a “sacramental significance,” i.e. Confirmation and Ordination.

(4.) Further, if one is spiritually or morally not worthy to receive the Eucharist then neither is one properly disposed to receive an individual blessing. This would include non-Catholics and those who are persisting in a state of mortal sin and/or who are excommunicated. A blessing might wrongly imply that they are in good standing or in full communion with the Church.

There is also a fifth reason…

(5.) Liturgical law stipulates that “no one may on a personal initiative add to or omit or alter anything in [liturgical] books” (Canon 846). Since the practice of blessing those who cannot receive Holy Communion does not appear in the GIRM or Mass rubrics, it is thus strictly prohibited.
Miguel, on June 10, 2017 at 2:22 pm said:

Hello Father,

This question concerns lustful thoughts. I do know that thinking, delighting in, and consenting in lustful thoughts for your pleasure is a grave sin. My question is, what exactly constitutes a lustful thought? Is any thought that sexually arouses you considered lustful? Is a lustful thought only when you, say, think of a woman you find attractive getting undressed, or thinking of performing sexual actions with her in your mind?

Thank you and God bless

FATHER JOE: The old Catholic Encyclopedia defined it as thus: “The inordinate craving for, or indulgence of, the carnal pleasure which is experienced in the human organs of generation.”
Hope, on June 8, 2017 at 11:33 am said:

Dear Fr Joe,
Some meditations for adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament I thought to share with your readers. If its ok with you.
God bless you father.
BLESSED SACRAMENT VISITS

[LINK DELETED}

FATHER JOE:

Sorry, but the site you linked was associated with the late Fr. Gruner who was disobedient to his lawful bishop and died without proper faculties. Never released by his home Ordinary, no other bishop could grant him proper faculties. While he was a validly ordained priest, much of his ministry was illicit and his Fatima organization had no juridical standing within the Catholic Church.

According to the the Congregation for the Clergy, his priestly faculties (jurisdiction permitting celebration of the sacraments) were suspended and his appeal of that suspension was rejected by the highest Church court, the Apostolic Signature. Despite the verdict from the Vatican, he rebelliously continued to celebrate public Masses and to hear Confessions, justifying himself with a spurious canonical argument that the suspension was invalid. I would suggest that we keep him in prayer as he will have to account to God for his disobedience toward his lawful bishop and disrespect toward the Holy See.

WIKEPEDIA – In 1989 Gruner was ordered by Bishop Gerardo Pierro, his ecclesiastical superior, to return to Avellino, Italy, the diocese of his incardination. When he did not respond, Cardinal Innocenti, Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, wrote to warn him that failure to return would result in his suspension a divinis. He did not undertake the action required of him. In 1994, the new Bishop of Avellino issued a decree declaring Gruner a vagus – “wandering” – priest. In 1996[12] Gruner was suspended from his priestly functions. He appealed the suspension, but was unsuccessful. In September 2001, the Congregation for the Clergy stated that Gruner’s suspension was “confirmed by a definitive sentence of the supreme tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura.”

Fr. Gruner’s assertion that he was never truly suspended was an outright deception. He later claimed incardination into the Archdiocese of Hyderabad but his suspension was never removed. The incardination was dubius given that a priest must first be released by his home bishop before another can pick him up. He was never released. A bishop has no authority to steal a priest belonging in holy obedience to another bishop. that is why the attempted incardination by an Indian bishop (not US or Canadian) in Hyderabad was deemed “tamquam non extans” (as if non-existent). The local bishops where Fr. Gruner continued to live and work never extended faculties for him to function. He gravitated more and more to the breakaway traditionalists who also had priests that ignored the need for permission and faculties from the local bishops to function. The Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto and the Diocese of London, Ontario, warned parishioners not to support Gruner or his organization that distorted the Fatima message and opposed the official interpretation of Rome, i.e. Pope John Paul II (about the third secret and the consecration of Russia), even when it was affirmed by Lucia the visionary.
Carla, on June 8, 2017 at 6:42 am said:

Dear Father Joe,
I am from the Philippines and I want to ask something about the rosary.
My country, the Philippines, is surrounded by many terrorists. We filipinos are freaking out by current events happening in our country. All we see is violence, war, crisis, disturbance, and madness. I am very worried about my fellow filipinos and to my family. I fear for their safety but not mine. The terrorists first occupied the southern part of the country and they kill many innocent lives, beheaded civilians, burned children alive, destroy churches that angered bishops, and even killing priests. The won’t stop killing and it’s very frustrating because they don’t know exactly what they are doing. I pray to the Father that He will forgive them for they do not know what they are doing. It’s an evil-doing and I have to pray for the people around me, my country and my family. There are reports that the terrorists might have already occupied some of the places in northern philippines and I don’t know exactly if it’s true.

I was praying the rosary for a month, last month of May, for 30 days I prayed the rosary every night. Today I continued praying the rosary every night before I sleep. I am praying the rosary not for the benefit of myself but I pray the rosary for the good benefit of my fellow filipinos and my family, but then they are not praying the rosary. I know that If we meditate in the mysteries of the rosary, we will receive the 15 promises of Mama Mary. We’ll also receive her special protection.

Father Joe, I want to ask that if I pray the rosary for the benefit of someone and not for myself, will they also receive the graces of the rosary even though they are not praying it? Will they also receive the special protection of Mama Mary even though they are not praying the rosary?

All I want is their safety and protection against war, crisis, violence and terrorists. This is the reason why I pray the rosary. I say my intentions on every mystery of the rosary.

Sincerely,
Carla

FATHER JOE: We can always pray that others might know God’s god graces and mercy. We can only hope that they are spiritually disposed to the gift. Any prayer, not just the Rosary, can be offered for our particular intentions, to glorify God and for the salvation of souls.
Chey, on June 8, 2017 at 3:37 am said:

Father,

I am from the Philippines. I just want to ask about the rosary. My country is surrounded by terrorists. Marawi City in the southern Philippines has been attacked by the Islamic State, Abu Sayyaf and Maute terrorist groups. They are freaking us out because they took many innocent lives, even those of children and a Catholic priest. Female Muslims are forced to cover themselves with their hijabs. The terrorists beheaded many of the civilians and burned children alive. There are many reports that the terror groups are also hiding in some areas of the northern Philippines. There are many bombing threats. Now, I am always praying the rosary. I am praying it not just for the benefit of myself. I pray the rosary— I ask for the maternal intercession of the Blessed Mother to bring peace and unity in my country. I pray that the Lord will protect us in this crisis against war, violence and the terrorists. I pray to the Lord through Mama Mary, that He will make those terrorists realize that what they are doing is totally wrong and is against His will. As I have said. I pray the rosary for the benefit of my fellow Filipinos and my country.

If I am praying the rosary not for my own benefit but for the safety and protection of others against violence, will they receive the graces of the rosary from Mary even though they themselves are not praying the rosary?

FATHER JOE: The very nature of intercessory prayer is that we pray for ourselves and for others. Indeed, we ask Mary and the saints to pray with and for us. The Lord will certainly hear and respond to your prayers. However, this does not mean that everyone will be disposed to the graces merited by prayer. We are also dealing with the mysterious providence of God. Some may be preserved from harm but others may be given courage to witness for Christ, including the suffering of martyrdom.
Samantha, on June 8, 2017 at 12:49 am said:

Thank you Father
Sarah, on June 7, 2017 at 8:07 pm said:

Hi Fr Joe
I did not see the older response. But thank you for the current response. I am not an introvert but have been formed to have an interior life. I also been traumatized and abused a lot when I was a child and followed up to adulthood. I find strength from God to fight the devil by praying with others. I call upon the saints that have influenced me. I know I am not the only one who suffers demonic attacks we all do. But I experience it visually and spiritually and physically. I was concerned as to what I was doing or not doing causing such attacks. Thank you for response and advice.
TheOrderCalls, on June 7, 2017 at 6:35 am said:

Dear Father Joe, I am from the Philippines. Thank you for giving attention to my post. I want your advice in my situation: My father is being or has been recruited by an evangelical Christian group who is heavily against Catholic beliefs. He works in one of the countries in the Middle East where Catholicism is just… more or less, hush hush.

Right now, he doesn’t like to go to Mass anymore, and wouldn’t believe in purgatory, intercession of saints, etc.

I, his daughter, apparently have a religious vocation and haven’t told him about it. Surely he will fume about this, and perhaps be the greatest hindrance to my entry.

I am praying for his conversion back to the Faith, and his acceptance of my vocation. Father, what should I do? Is there anything I can concretely do?

FATHER JOE:

I am amazed at the high numbers of Filipinos living and working in the Middle East, especially in Saudi Arabia. It is definitely a challenge, unable to attend Mass and living the faith in secret.

As for your father, it is unfortunate that he has succumbed to Evangelical Protestant proselytization. Such efforts prey upon the simple faith and ignorance of Catholic believers. Often a “strawman” Catholicism is presented that is ripped apart by isolated “proof text” biblical quotes. Of course, if not approached in a contextual way, the meaning of Scripture can be readily distorted. Fellowship and emotions are given the lead over genuine worship and truth.

Your vocation is your own and I would urge you not to be deterred by your father’s defection. Continue to pray for him and challenge him by passing on apologetic Catholic materials, especially pamphlets. However, until he enters a country that respects religious liberty, you do not want to give him anything that would get him arrested by the Islamic authorities.

An authentic study of Church history reveals that the Catholic Church is indeed the “Church” that was instituted by Christ. He should also discover that the Bible is no threat to Catholicism since the Catholic Church is the MOTHER of the inspired Word and the arbiter of the sacred canon.

Whatever ultimately happens is beyond your control. However, do not underestimate the power of your witness— no matter whether he approves or not. Place it all into God’s hands. God bless you!
Sarah, on June 6, 2017 at 5:41 pm said:

Father I have a question in regards to temptations and demonic attacks. If you are praying or at Mass and you experience the devil trying to scare you what would be the best course of action?

If you’ve gone to confession but are told by interior voice that your sins are not forgiven but you know you’ve made the best possible confession of your ability what should you do?

Father I asked you similar questions like these but they were taken off the blog so I ask again.

What do you do when you were faced with a demonic presence bugging you in prayer in Mass after confession and so forth?

Should I tell the priest immediately?

I wear the Carmelite scapular and Saint Benedict crucifix and for metal use holy water Holy oil and sometimes holy salt.

The demonic presence that has been confirmed as an impression tempts to sell harm or other harm. I see this is serious and as painful and embarrassing. Father what should I do or anyone should do who suffers like this? I know that I am not the only one who suffers this and I wanted your opinion on this thank you.

Sincerely
Sarah

FATHER JOE:

If the devil seeks to scare you during prayer or Mass, then just keep praying and worshiping God.

Discern spirits by the light of faith. Any inner voice that would disparage the power of absolution is one where scrupulosity and/or the devil are seeking to deceive us. As with the question of fear, ignore such a voice. It is not from God.

I have taken none of your questions off the blog. At the end of comments or questions there is a link to older comments.

The devil likes attention. He also likes invitations. Cast him out and ignore him.

You do not need to run to a priest because you are fearful of the devil. Given the absolution of your Confessor and the graces of the Eucharist, you should just stop being afraid. If you trust God then you will abide by his words. Jesus tells us, “Be not afraid.” We all confront the devil and powers and principalities. You are not special or singular in such spiritual battles. You may be an introvert but be wary of any self-absorption. Religion like other preoccupations (as with pleasure, appearance, etc.) can become its own variation upon narcissism. True spirituality focuses upon the love of God and neighbor… not upon ourselves.

Sacramentals are valuable but be wary that you do not turn them any of them into a charm or superstitious talisman. That would signify a corruption of their use and meaning.

I cannot confirm that you are under any outrageous demonic attack. Many cases as you relate are more diseases of the mind than ailments of the soul. Given that you are a member of the laity, I would urge against any undue preoccupation or obsession with the spiritual and the demonic. Such would hinder the genuine pursuit of your apostolate as a member of the laity.
John Kay, on June 6, 2017 at 2:27 am said:

Father- I am sure this question has been asked but I couldn’t find anything on the site so I’d like to ask here. How do I ‘come back’ to the church?

Is it even possible after a few decades? I stopped going to Mass because my family stopped when I was a kid. I used to ride my bike there on Sunday alone until I was around 14-15. Then my dad got stationed at another base.

There is a lot between back then and now but won’t bore you with the details. So is it possible to come back to the church?

If so, how do I reach out to the local church to talk though this?

Thanks in advance for any guidance that you can provide.

FATHER JOE: The first step is easy. Go to Confession and talk with a priest.
Rosemary, on June 5, 2017 at 6:05 pm said:

Hello, Father. I know this isn’t very important in the scheme of things, but I’ve got something on my mind. I’m 15 years old and this is sort of a matter of owning up to my mistakes.

My computer isn’t currently working, so my father lets me borrow his now and then. But it’s not really his–it’s his company computer, and they let him take it home with him for business purposes. A few days ago, I broke it–badly. I was being careless and I dropped it on the kitchen floor. The screen was smashed and hanging off by some loose wires.This isn’t the first time I’ve damaged it, and my father’s trust in me is already…not so good. But this time, it’s not repairable. Those other times, he was able to fix it himself.

I made things even worse after that. I tried to fix it, but I ended up breaking the screen off completely. I panicked and stuffed the pieces under my mattress. Then, to play it off, I asked my father if I could use the computer (to which he said yes) to make it seem like it’s functioning. I haven’t told my father yet, but my guilty conscious is weighing on me. I’m afraid to tell my dad because I know he’ll be angry and disappointed. I came close to telling him yesterday but I couldn’t go through with it. I prayed to God to give me the courage to tell him tonight, but I still don’t have any. The worst part of it is that it’s his WORK computer. Since it’s an older model, it wouldn’t be worth replacing–so now he’ll have to spend his own hard-earned money on something I destroyed. I’d pay for it myself, but I don’t have a job. I know the Christian thing to do is take responsibility for my mistakes and ask for forgiveness. I’ve asked for forgiveness, but the guilt is eating up at me, and I still can’t take responsibility for my actions. I know God will forgive me, but my father–I’m not so sure. He’ll never trust me again!

Please help me, Father! I’m typing this from my mother’s computer and I need help as soon as I can. I’m so sick from the stress of it that I’ve got a bad headache and can’t focus in school. I’ve made things even worse by lying, and I feel terrible. Please, help. Thank you in advance, and God bless you.

FATHER JOE: You have already revealed that you know what you have to do. Tell your father the truth about what happened. Do it now. Do not delay. He will probably be upset, but as your father he is called to love you and to grant forgiveness. You owe your father your honesty.
Miguel, on June 5, 2017 at 3:27 pm said:

Hi Father,

I tend to suffer from OCD and scruples, and was wondering if this scenario is a mortal sin. This past weekend we went to dinner for a friends birthday, and obviously had a few drinks. When we decided to go home, I took an uber back with a good friend who I find attractive but we are just friends (never have had any sort of physical relations). Since I feel comfortable around her, as we were walking to the car, I sort of jokingly asked if she wanted to go back and watch a movie (I have said this before to her). She said no and I did not press on after that at all and just went right home. The day after (and now) I feel as if my sexual impulse (and some alcohol) made me ask her to watch a movie, and who knows? maybe if she said yes I would have been tempted to do something sexual with her. Although the question to watch a movie was a sort of a joke, maybe be at that moment I was also sort of serious and was hoping she would say yes? I really cant remember what exactly I was feeling. We have watched a movie together in the past and just laid down together (and nothing else) but Im scared that this time my sexual impulse made me ask her to watch a movie.

Please give me some insight.
Thank you

FATHER JOE: You are right about the OCD and scruples. What you describe is not mortal sin but mental illness. I will keep you in prayer.
natalie, on June 4, 2017 at 5:14 pm said:

I am looking for the author of the book FROM PLAYBOY TO PRIEST. I was told that his name was Kenneth J. Roberts. He knew my dad.

FATHER JOE:

Here is a LINK with a few details. The priest is elderly and no longer in formal ministry. At this point I would suggest not pursuing the matter any further.
chris, on June 4, 2017 at 4:26 pm said:

hi Father.thanks for your answer.just now i readed an article about free will.the article said “our free will is reduced by our bad habit “.Does it means we still can choose good n right (stop smoking) but unable to stop smoking because we r addicted?

FATHER JOE: Addictions hamper discipline and the human will. That is why we need God’s grace and trust in a power greater than ourselves.
Sandra Rao, on June 4, 2017 at 7:23 am said:

Dear Father
how can I free myself frm someone talking in my head.No Im not schizofrenic.Bless me.

FATHER JOE: If you hear voices then you should see a doctor. Peace.
Anoymonous, on June 4, 2017 at 12:45 am said:

Father I have a question what do you do when you are attacked by evil? Is it good to imagine the saints when you are being attacked by the devil at Mass like they are with you? I imagined a whole row of saints in front of me to block what the devil was trying to do. I had St. Maximilian Kolbe, St. Francis, St. Clare, St. Faustina and St. Therese of the Little Flower.

After confession I’m attacked sometimes physically but always spiritually. What should I do? I made a good confession but I hear, “the voice the Lord does not forgive you” so when I leave the confessional I feel more sorrow than happiness at being forgiven. Sometimes I am attacked before confession or Mass. Last night I did not go to sleep until real late for fear of an attack by way of nightmares. What should I do? When there is holiness, I feel and see the presence of evil. It’s terrifying and sometimes I want to stop with Mass prayer at church. I’m attacked in prayer. Father what should I do? I do wear my scapular and St. Benedict medal and I use holy water. Why does the Lord allow these attacks when I’m trying to get close to him? Please help me Father.

FATHER JOE:

What do you mean by being attacked at Mass? While evil mortal men are summoned to churches for repentance and conversion, but sometimes spread mischief instead; spiritual evil or the demonic shies away from churches and the sacred space around the altar and tabernacle. As a child I once imagined the devil on the outer ledge of the large church windows, taunting us to come out and laughing at us. Our churches always seemed to be sanctuaries or safe places. That is one of the reasons why I am still upset by people who come late to Mass and leave early. We are associated or in union with the communion of the saints. Churches often have the images of saints in windows or displayed as statues. We are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses.

Please do not take this wrong but what you describe is not normal. What you describe is either a symptom of mental illness and/or demonic obsession, which is often described as attacks by obsessive thoughts, a spiritual depression, a preoccupation with death and a dark influence upon dreams (nightmares). Given the regular recourse of the sacraments and sacramentals, my suspicion is that the ailment is not spiritual at all but something that must be treated by a psychiatrist.
Chris Smith, on June 3, 2017 at 6:07 pm said:

Hello, Father. Recently, I went to confession and my assigned penance was to pray with my kids daily.

Yesterday, I was very tired and excused myself from dinner and went to bed, saying “God bless you” to my kids, but I didn’t actually have the normal prayer with them. Am I in violation of my penance, & if so, should I go to confession over this? My daughter did pray over dinner for us last night before we ate, but it wasn’t our normal nightly prayer. Thank you.

FATHER JOE: The penance given by a priest should not be open-ended. It should be something that you can do and readily complete. Praying daily for your family is more an element of your vocation as a parent than an imposed penance. If you have prayed for the children on one occasion since the sacrament then I would suggest that you regard the penance as satisfied.
Popescu, on June 3, 2017 at 5:02 am said:

An atheist had me thinking. He said: If God made us with free will (in the sense that we are not programmed to like God as robots) then why does God already know who is going to go to heaven or to hell? How can a christian prove that he loves God by choice and not by programming if God already knows the future?

FATHER JOE: First, what God knows does not strip us of our freedom. Second, God lives outside of time. He knows everything immediately (not in the future).