Ask a Priest

5,442 Responses

Anonymous, on April 27, 2018 at 8:16 am said:

Hi Father. Thank you for answering my question regarding the Seal of Confession. I’d like to ask another scenario, if a priest heard confessions of a class and said to their teacher that several of them had been using drugs, was the Seal of Confession broken? I mean there was a lead as to which people had been using drugs. Hope you can enlighten. God bless!

FATHER JOE: A priest would not tell the teacher anything he heard in confession. The seal is absolute. To do as you suggest would violate the seal and earn the priest excommunication. No hints can be given and the priest must also be alert that his behavior toward persons does not give away matters as well.
John, on April 26, 2018 at 2:34 am said:

Father Joe – do you know where I can find a spiritual advisor online? Is there a website or an organization that I can contact? Anyone will not do — I need to form a connection with the individual. Thanks.

FATHER JOE: I would recommend your local Catholic priest.
Nathan, on April 26, 2018 at 2:23 am said:

Hi Father-
If you don’t mind, could you share your story about becoming a priest? When did you know? Did you go along willingly or did you try to fight it? What is the best part about the life of a priest? What is the hardest part?
Thanks,
Nathan

FATHER JOE: Fr. Lubey placed me as a baby on the altar when I was baptized. My father prayed that I would be a priest. I played priest with wafer candies as a young boy. A voracious reader, I was inspired by stories of heroic priests. I entered the seminary out of high school. I studied philosophy, history, english and theology. Seminary formation lasted eight years. I worked at a juvenile detention home, taught catechism to children with intellectual disabilities, tutored children at a Boy’s Club, volunteered to help adults with mental and emotional illness, ministered at a hospital and hospice, and associated with the homeless and hungry at a church shelter in DC. Saying Mass and hearing Confessions are at the heart of my priesthood. The administrative stuff is the hardest. I never felt worthy of the priesthood. I think I was the one most surprised on my ordination day. Peace!
Evan, on April 25, 2018 at 10:11 pm said:

I’m ashamed of my sin, Father! I will pray everyday to over come this sin so Jesus doesn’t deny me before the Heavenly Father! My heart is heavy at this thought. Most people hide and lie about the bad stuff they do, but I’m hiding and telling lies about good. I do not want to deny God any longer, but it’s hard to change old habits.
There are no practing Catholics in my family or extended family. No one even practices a Christian religion. As a kid, like 9 or 10 years old, I felt like I had a heart very open to God. I wished for my parents to take me to church. I would go off to a secret place to talk to God so no one else would see me. That’s how it started, when I was just a kid. I love my family, but I often feel misunderstood or out of place. It was good i ended up at a Catholic college, and my life changed! I am joyful in my faith and prayer life now, but I never broke free of my habit of being secretive and hiding. I ignored this sin until recently when God stirred up my awareness of it. This sin will be “on my Radar” because it is consuming me at the moment. If I get married someday and have kids, I know that I will make sure they have a much different experience than I did.
Thanks for answering my question. I am praying there is hope for me.
Evan
Evan, on April 25, 2018 at 5:28 pm said:

Hello Fr. Joe,
I have an ongoing sin where I hide my faith and relationship with God from my family and friends. Usually I omit anything related to my faith, (like going to Mass) when I share what I did during the weekend, etc. I went on a men’s retreat this spring and told my family that I was going away with friends from college in order to hide from them that I was going on a retreat. There are plenty more examples, but that’s the idea. I omit info and tell lies to hide my faith. I admit that I am denying God, denying my faith, and denying my relationship with God when I do this.

I went to confession last weekend and confessed this for the first time. I really want to overcome this sin because I know how much I’m hurting God and myself. It makes me feel really bad. I’ve been doing this for a very long time, actually all my life almost.

I meant to ask the priest and forgot, so I was wondering if you answer this question for me. I am really going to try to not do this anymore, but to be honest, I’m sure it will happen again. If it does happen again, is this something that I can ask God’s forgiveness for on my own and do an act of contrition and still receive communion? Or, is this a grave sin that needs to be confessed again? I would say recently that this is a sin that happens 2-4 times a week. But, I’m hoping with His help, I can be better.

Thank you Father Joe,
Evan

FATHER JOE: I would think that an act of contrition might immediately suffice; however, I have to wonder why you feel the need to hide your faith. Are your family and friends utterly inimical to religion? It is a sin that should definitely stay on your radar. “Everyone who acknowledges me [Jesus] before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father” (Matthew 10:32-33).
Anonymous, on April 25, 2018 at 12:10 pm said:

Hi Father. If I knew someone’s sin and he might’ve confessed it without hearing his confession, have I broken the Seal of Confession? I mean I didn’t hear the confession, but he might have confessed the sin.

Also if a priest broke the seal of confession, is the one who heard the priest breaking the seal also now bound in the seal?

FATHER JOE: When it comes to violation of the seal, a layperson would either have to overhear or to transmit through gossip what another overheard from a confession. Knowing another’s wrong through other associations is distinct from the sacrament. However gossip and calumny are also sins. As for the penitent, he or she is not absolutely required to keep the confession secret. The penitent is not “legally” under the seal. However, prudential silence should be pursued as any revelation may wrongly or even immorally place the priest confessor in a difficult or even in a scandalous situation.
Rebecca, on April 24, 2018 at 5:00 pm said:

Hi Father,
I’m glad that I came across this site.
How does someone return to the Church after being away for a long time? I grew up Catholic and practiced through college and for a while after.Then I moved around a lot and I fell away, not for any particular reason. It just happened unfortunately, and I feel badly about that. I think I just got so wrapped up in the details of my life that I neglected my faith and God. Now it’s been at least 7 years. I’m feeling in my heart that I want to come back, but I don’t know what I need to do. I’m in a more settled place now. I actually went to Church on Easter and sat in the back row to observe, but I haven’t been back since. It really made me want to return and receive Communion. But, I don’t know anyone, and I’m a little intimidated. I’m struggling between some fear of returning and not really knowing what to do. Do I just call to register? Do I just show up to Mass? Do I stop by the rectory? Do I call? Do I make an appointment with the priest? What do I say? “Hi, I’m Rebecca and I haven’t been to Church in several years”?. It’s hard not knowing anyone. I know that God is missing from my life, and I know I have disappointed him. I really didn’t mean for it to happen. I’m a little stuck or frozen from moving forward since I’ve been away for so long. Any help or suggestions you have for me would be great. Thank you Father!
Rebecca

FATHER JOE: “How does someone return to the Church after being away for a long time?” You go to a priest and make a good confession. He gives you absolution and you are back in good standing.
Dennis Long, on April 24, 2018 at 3:07 pm said:

Father, my friend often invites me to take history tours in our community. One is a “mob tour” I believe it is a walking tour that discusses crime. Is this ok for a Catholic to attend? I don’t want to be vulnerable to evil. Also, it is on a Sunday. Although they are volunteers and shouldn’t be forced to work, if it is ok to attend would it be ok to go on the Lord’s day?

FATHER JOE: Given current leniency about Sunday, I suspect that if you go to Mass the the tour would be okay.
Kandee Seaver, on April 24, 2018 at 1:28 pm said:

I was summoned from by bed to a room that had walls of marble with many burning candles.I was standing there when a very tall being appeared. He had long shiny black ccurly hair and a black robe. He had a face of glimmering silver brown and 4 sets of wings that were silky black. In a flash I was kneeling on the ground and the being came behind me and wrapped his upper wings around me. He said to me”Do not worry for you are going to heaven”. He was real and I could make out every detail of his wings that lay in front of me as well as smell them. I know this was a magnificent angel but I am not sure who he is. I have read in the bible about angels who have faces that are burnished bronze. Could he have been an Arch Angel?

FATHER JOE: The impression I have is that it is a deception and/or delusion.
samantha, on April 23, 2018 at 8:16 pm said:

Thanks Sarah I will pray for you too
Mo, on April 22, 2018 at 5:40 pm said:

Dear Father,

I hope I can get my question across properly, but a few years ago I denounced my faith in Jesus and our Lord in the hopes that I would not go to heaven because I did not wish for eternal life but instead to die. However I still did believe in my heart but convinced myself I did not, and prayed to God to not let me go to Heaven. Since I had thoughts of taking God’s gift of life away from myself and Jesus taught that thoughts are as bad as actions, does this count as a mortal sin, is there any way I can be forgiven through my repentance? I have now re-embraced the Lord and my faith and am hoping has this lapse in health and judgement hasn’t caused irreparable damage.
Thank you.

FATHER JOE: Such damage is real and serious but not irreparable. Mortal sin of any sort is a denouncement of the Lordship of Christ. If we turn back to Jesus we find a Savior always ready and willing to forgive us. Jesus is the Divine Mercy. Make a good act of contrition. Repent. If you are a Catholic then go to confession. Do not try to make excuses or parse what you did. Admit the guilt and aim to make amends and do better. You may have walked away for a while but you can still walk with Jesus.
Sarah, on April 22, 2018 at 1:29 am said:

I am praying for you, Samantha!
I share with you a marriage that is so constantly heavy, heartbreaking, and overwhelming. When it’s especially hard, I remember the following:
I are His.
I am so loved.
I am never alone.
Hope….my hope is in the Lord, and He has me in the palm of His hand.

That helps me at least.
God Bless,
Sarah

I
samantha, on April 21, 2018 at 10:50 pm said:

Hi can everyone please pray for my marriage I asked my husband why he doesn’t say I love you anymore and he said it’s because he doesn’t feel that way neither do I to be honest but I pretend and do nice things for him and pray for us everyday. We have a 3 year old together and he was Catholic when we got married and we baptized her then after two miscarriages well actually after the first one he lost faith. I’m scared he will divorce me he is very nasty and hurtful but I am tolerant and hold my tongue I cannot share custody of my daughter I feel like I couldn’t bear that loss. I feel anxious all the time. The things he says he doesn’t like about me I change and then it’s something else. NO HE WONT GO TO MARRIAGE COUNSELING. He is prideful and always believes he’s right. I am broken I have Psychiatric illness due to childhood trauma so living with me is expensive and difficult.

FATHER JOE: Many heartfelt prayers.
Pedro Baquedano, on April 21, 2018 at 11:37 am said:

Thank you Father, I was born Catholic, I’m now 74, not assisting to Mass in 60 years. my heart tells me to follow Catholic religion, but have unclear issues related to Eucharist, I have been reading John 6:47 – 55 trying to understand it, and I want to, is a beautiful thing to believe in.
If Jesus is in that wafer, I would be eating it 24-7, father, can you explain to me when was this practice of the Eucharist first established by the church?, … By the way, I do thank the Lord every time I remember and not being like a glutton, but when I eat and drink I elevate my mind remembering Him as He asked us to do.
My wife is a strong believer, non Catholic, but we pray together every day at 3 pm the Chaplet of Mercy, hardly ever missed. We study the Bible following online at 6:30 am Les Feldick Monday through Friday.
Thanks again and for your blessing time.

FATHER JOE:

Jesus prepared the Church for this mystery prior to the institution of the Eucharist. Look at the Gospel of the Mass over the past few days:

April 19 (John 6:44-51)

Jesus said to the crowds: “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day. It is written in the prophets: They shall all be taught by God. Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my Flesh for the life of the world.”

April 20 (John 6:52-59)

The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his Flesh to eat?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my Flesh is true food, and my Blood is true drink. Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.” These things he said while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

Jesus affirms his words in today’s Gospel and says, “The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life.” This is a colloquialism which literally means that what he has said is real or prophetic truth. On a natural level what Jesus has said seems absurd; but the Spirit of God has revealed it as the truth. (It is not a renunciation of everything that Jesus spoke about at length as certain non-Catholic exegetes argue. Jesus does not change his mind or develop a convenient amnesia.)

St. Paul gives us the oldest narration of the Lord’s Supper (maybe around 53-57 AD). He writes (1 Corinthians 11:23-32):

For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes. Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord. A person should examine himself, and so eat the bread and drink the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among you are ill and infirm, and a considerable number are dying. If we discerned ourselves, we would not be under judgment; but since we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

Today’s Gospel reading at Mass has the Jews murmuring who refuse to accept Christ’s Eucharistic teaching. Many walk away. Jesus lets them walk. You cannot make a covenant with a fake sacrifice. His flesh and blood is real, albeit sacramental. Failure to acknowledge the presence brings judgment. The Eucharist is a wondrous manner by which our Lord abides with us and feeds us with his very self. Holy Communion is our sacramental encounter with the risen Lord. It is an extension of his incarnation. God has entered his creation.

A number of the saints lived, not from day to day but from Eucharist to Eucharist by participating at daily Mass (our participation in the supper of the Lamb and the clean re-presentation of Christ’s one-time sacrifice on the Cross of Calvary).
Jason, on April 19, 2018 at 11:58 pm said:

Father I am a grown adult with a beautiful wife and 4 children. My dad passed away last from a long difficult struggle with Alzheimer’s. My mom and father did not have the greatest relationship but my father loved my mom and she tolerated him. They had issues. When my father began to suffer with memory loss things were hard and she would not care for him very well to the point of elder abuse. I have learned that my mom was in a relationship with a man who was married. This had went on for many years. My mom wants me to accept this man a be a part of their lives. I just can’t it hurts too bad. I can’t forgive her and I know that’s wrong. I feel so mad and upset. My kids are effected by this also. She is not present on our lives now. What advice can you give me?

Thank you

J.

FATHER JOE: Christ’s message of forgiveness is a difficult one to accept and live out, particularly when resentment, disappointment and anger would urge us to close the doors to mercy. You assert that while your mother wronged your father, he loved her all the same. I would suggest honoring your father by loving her as well. I cannot speak to her new relationship and do not know what kind of man she has now taken into her life. Let her know that, good or bad, no one will ever replace your father in your heart. Be civil and kind, as she is still your mother, and your overtures to her may bring her to repentance and invite God’s healing grace into your family. I will keep you in prayer.
Daylight, on April 19, 2018 at 8:06 am said:

I need guidance. I’ve been with the father of my children for 23 years on and off. We are not close nor friends with each other. He is a good provider but l don’t think l love him anymore. I want to find love and get married in the house of God. I have a friend whom l love very much. We both love God and wish to have his blessing. I don’t know what to do.

FATHER JOE: Twenty-three years is a long time. How is it that you are not close or friends after so many years and having children? You also write, “I don’t THINK I love him anymore.” You don’t know? I would suggest trying to repair and make right this relationship instead of running away and starting a new one. Peace.
Lauren, on April 19, 2018 at 1:46 am said:

Hi Fr Joe,
You get asked some challenging questions.
But I have a few simple ones.

-We have a “Monsenior” at our church. What exactly is a Monsenior. What is the distinction? How does one become one? And, if you are confessing to a “Monsenior”, do you still say “Bless me Father” or use “Monsenior” instead?

-I’m intrigued by a Cursillo. From my limited knowledge of what a Cursillo is, it sounds like something I might enjoy/benefit from. Do you have any insight to share of the purpose, goal, and mission of a Cursillo? Is there expectations after a person has been on one?

Thanks so much!
God Bless!!!
Lauren

FATHER JOE:

Monsignor is an honorific title that is awarded to certain clergy. They are made honorary prelates. They are still priests and can also be addressed as “Father.”

Looking at the Cursillo website, we read: “Cursillos in Christianity is a Movement which, by its own Method, attempts from within the Church, to give life to the essential Christian truths in the singularity, originality and creativity of the person. In discovering their potential and accepting their limitations, they will direct their freedom with their conviction, reinforce their will with decisiveness and direct their friendship with the virtue of constancy in their day-to-day life, personally and with others.”
John, on April 18, 2018 at 8:50 pm said:

Hello Father!

Thank you in advance for your help. I have a question about confession. When I was a teenager I had a dramatic conversion to the faith. I was never outwardly crazy, but as a kid I committed some serious sins and had bad habits. Either way, I went to confession then but I remember how daunting the examination of conscience was. I would examine using the 10 commandments and I remember once even writing stuff down, but at some point I would sort of stop my mind because it would just keep going. This eventually lead me to just asking the priest to help me confess each time. I believe I always told him everything, though I don’t remember how vague I was or how much I would excuse myself. I developed OCD, but I had no idea what it was at the time, I just believed the intrusive thoughts I was having were sinful, which made me extremely discouraged. Eventually I started slipping away from the faith and started falling back into sin. I would confess every so often, but there was a particular sin I didn’t really have a strong purpose of amendment towards. I would tell myself “ We’ll try”, but I gave up way too easy. My questions is, after having left the church for a while I came back. Sadly, which a huge debt to the Lord. I have tried to go to confession, but each time I just don’t feel peace. I began to wonder if the confessions I made as a teen weren’t valid due to everything I mentioned above. I tried to make a general confession, but it actually turned out to be a disaster. Now I am even more confused, to the point that I don’t even know what to confess or how to start. I am not wondering if I should try to make a general confession again because I believe I didn’t confess correctly. I am in a pretty cold spiritual place and it’s causing me a lot of pain and doubt. My question is, thought I know I gave you very little information, do you believe I am a good candidate for a general confession?

FATHER JOE: A general confession requires some time for reflection or deliberation. It can be quite useful when a person is preparing for a major change in spiritual direction and/or the reception of a religious vocation. However, I would not recommend it when it is merely symptomatic of a heightened scrupulosity. Neither would it somehow improve any firm purpose of amendment. You need to trust the sacrament and the priest’s absolution. Contrition is not so much about feelings as it is an acknowledgment that we should love God above all else and that we do not want to suffer the loss of heaven or the pains of hell. Even sins forgotten are absolved by the priest.
john winchester, on April 18, 2018 at 1:27 am said:

hello father i have a question about our lord and savaieur jesus crist why god had to be born like a normale human being because if that so adem would be better then him cause he didn’t had a father nor a mother and jesus needed to eat and sleep why???? cause the god that created the sun the solare system our galaxy and the unverse from nothing really needed to sleep an eat like us petty humen

TRANSLATION:

Hello Father, I have a question about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Why did God have to be born like a normal human being? Adam would be better than him because he did not have a father or a mother. Did Jesus need to eat and sleep? Why? God created from nothing the sun, the solar system, our galaxy and the universe. Did he really need to sleep and eat like us petty humans?

FATHER JOE: You seem somewhat confused. Because of the sin of Adam, suffering and death entered the world. God was dishonored and heaven and earth were breached from one another by sin. The Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, God’s Son, enters the human family through the incarnation so as to save us. The distance between life and death is infinite. The dishonor showed to God was also infinite. We owed the debt and deserved punishment. We had no means of paying the debt as finite creatures. Jesus redeems us and prays the debt by offering his life in the passion and crucifixion. He is our sin-offering for atonement. As a human being he makes restitution and satisfaction as one of us; as a divine person he has the infinite power and jurisdiction to save us. Remember, only God could save us.
Joie, on April 16, 2018 at 11:23 pm said:

Thank you Father, in advance for your time. Question: I had given my priests and Monsignor an Easter card with a gift card in it. I had just finished RCIA class and wanted to give a gift of appreciation. It basically was a thank you for all they do in their ministry. I am wondering if I did something wrong? I did not hear anything from them in return.example: thank you? Mind you, they all know me. I am now wondering if I did something wrong and that is why they have not acknowledged the card or money gift? Now, i am mindful that I did this from the heart and believe me, i was not looking for recognition in the gift. But still I am perplexed why I see them a few times a week and not even a thank you for kind words or gesture? Unless, is it a rule not to acknowledge gifts or give thanks to your priest? I am now embarrassed that i did something wrong. My sister said maybe it was not appropriate at Easter? But confused as we practice almsgiving? HELP. It was from the heart, in thanks for all the things they do for our parish. I had received a blessing (work bonus) and wanted to share with them also. What do you think? Please and thank you. Joie

FATHER JOE: You did nothing wrong. Priests, and here I include myself, often become flustered by the hectic activity of Easter and fail to be as appreciative or as gracious as they should be. The failing is ours, not yours. Peace!
Sarah, on April 16, 2018 at 8:51 pm said:

Thank you, Judy!
I appreciate that.
God Bless you.
Sarah
Stacie, on April 16, 2018 at 1:20 pm said:

Father,

over 20 years ago, my husband got a vasectomy, with my consent. I realize now that was a grave sin. I never knew the gravity of the offense back then, though admittedly I should have. Even if I wasn’t taught properly, I should have found out for myself once I was of age. I accept this and truly feel awful about it. I have confessed and received absolution, but I still feel terrible about myself (partially because I never wanted a huge family, so I’m not particularly upset with the small number of kids I have, so I feel slightly hypocritical about the issue as well) My husband is not catholic and does not have a problem with birth control. How do I get by this?

Also…I am reading conflicting things about what is moral in the marriage bed. We don’t watch porn or use devices. But there is oral sex as a precursor to normal relations. Some catholic websites say this is ok, others that it is evil. I don’t know which end is up. My husband enjoys this and if I decide to put a stop to it, he won’t like it or understand it. Additionally, enjoyment by both parties will be impaired. What is your take on this?

One would think I would have had pricking of my conscience much earlier in my 26 year marriage, but no…

FATHER JOE:

What is done is done. Your part in the matter is resolved with confession. The tragedy of sterilization is that a door is deliberately closed that might have opened to a beautiful surprise or gift from God. I know a family that had a daughter late in life— years after the others were grown. She proved to be their special treasure, caring for them and remembering them when the others did not. God had saved the best for last.

As a celibate priest I shy away from detailed discussions of the marriage bed. It may be enough to say that traditional moral teaching would permit certain elements of intimacy that lead to or facilitate the marital act. What would be immoral on its own is seen as an extension of a larger act, the renewal of the marital covenant through vaginal intercourse. There are also degrees of touching and relating to each other that are definitely sexual but unavoidable for a man and woman sharing the same bed. The Church would promote passion over lust. Every gesture or embrace should celebrate the dignity or worth of the spouse. You belong to each other. You are one flesh. Catholics are not puritans. Sexual intimacy between a man and woman is natural and in God is made holy.
Stacie, on April 16, 2018 at 12:19 pm said:

Father,

I have two questions:

1: is it a sin to patronize a company that you are aware donates to Planned Parenthood? Say I like a certain cosmetic brand because of its product, but they are on a list of PP donors. Am I morally obligated to boycott? The list of companies that donate to PP is quite large and avoiding them all is seemingly an impossible task at this point. Plus, we own property in Disney, a large donor (found out around 15 years after purchase. Husband is not willing to sell; he is not Catholic and does not think this is a problem, even though he is strongly pro-life. He believes this is America, and people can do what they like with their money and do not have to consult him, which I cannot say I disagree with).

FATHER JOE: There are efforts today, as with the Knights of Columbus, to invest in corporations that reflect our values about human life, the dignity of persons, the furtherance of peace, good stewardship of the planet, etc. If I recall correctly the Knights divested themselves of Disney stock. We should be conscious about what companies do with the money we give to them. There may culpability on our part, as either part of the problem or as part of the solution. As you said it may be difficult or even impossible to avoid all such associations. It is then that individuals have to make practical choices for themselves. While direct cooperation is forbidden (i.e. performing, having or enabling an abortion); much of what you mention would probably fall into the category of remote cooperation. Your investment or cooperation is very small (as with buying a movie ticket) and while it may make possible their evil acts, it does not directly lead to the commission of the acts. If there is a proportionately good reason for the investment than you would not be held guilty. This requires a discussion between the two of you on a case-by-case basis. How much involvement can you comfortably live with in conscience.

2: For some reason that I cannot understand, I remembered yesterday, just before mass, that I had skipped Palm Sunday mass once as a college student. This was over 25 yrs ago. I do not recall specifically having confessed it, but do remember that it was my habit to ask for forgiveness in confession for any sins I may have forgotten to mention (I have a habit of getting flustered in the confessional and forgetting some of why I was there). I went ahead and received communion this weekend. Did I commit a sacrilege? I feel this is crackers…who just sits and remembers 25 year old sins out of the blue? At the time I did it, I knew I was wrong, but not that it was a grave offense.

FATHER JOE: Sins that we forgot to confess were also forgiven by the priest’s absolution. You were right to take Holy Communion.
anthony m davi, on April 15, 2018 at 6:54 pm said:

Hello Fr. Joe,

Thank you for all you do for the Catholic faith! I read something recently that ,if the source can be confirmed, would seem to be a tremendous boost to prove that from the earliest times, prayer for the dead was an apostolic tradition. Have you ever heard of the reference below and if so, do you know it’s source???

St Clement (the pontiff from (88-97 AD) stated that St Peter liked to offer prayers for the relief of those who had passed away

With kind regards,

Anthony M. Davi
a_davi@msn.com

FATHER JOE: I have read St. Clement’s epistle to the Corinthians and other works traditionally attributed to him. I am unfamiliar of the purported passage about Peter praying for the dead. Like you I have noted the claim from others, but lamented that it is always without citation. The stronger argument might be St. Paul and Scripture where he prays for the dead Onesiphorus. Peace!
Anon, on April 15, 2018 at 3:58 pm said:

Hello Father!
Is it a sin, venial or mortal, to think a general thought of “I want to have sex one day?” obviously within marriage. because i was thinking about my Vocation and then i thought that thought and I don’t know if it’s sinful to have that desire. Also I am confused about lust and attraction. Is it considered lust to look at men’s faces and think they are cute/handsome and enjoy that? (not thinking about sexual things, just their good looks) Thanks for your help.

FATHER JOE: This is a question that frequently arises from young people who are trying to be good Catholics. Straight to the point, it is not a sin to ponder hopefully upon the future joy of being a spouse and parent, even if pleasure should also be elicited. It is a proper reflection upon vocation and the human condition. Similarly, it is not wrong to be moved with awe and/or happiness in looking into the face or at the form of a person of the opposite sex. Indeed, how one feels is an expression of our identity and the goodness of God’s creation. Girls take delight in handsome boys and boys feel like men in the presence of pretty girls. We are not angels or robots. All this is a part of what it means to be human. Those who would condemn such things are in fact cursing God’s creation. That would be a sin.