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. God bless you!
NEW MESSAGES/HOMILIES CHRISTIAN REFLECTIONS DEFENDING THE FAITH
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. God bless you!
NEW MESSAGES/HOMILIES CHRISTIAN REFLECTIONS DEFENDING THE FAITH
xDear Fr. Joe,
Thank you again for answering my previous questions and for all that you do. I seem to have questions quite often. Thank you for you patience.
Could you shed some light on the Church’s understanding of the body and soul Bipartite teaching, and St. Paul’s somewhat confusing Tripartite statement(s).
I Thessalonians 5:23 and Hebrews 4:12…
The Catechism paragraph 367 states…
“Sometimes the soul is distinguished from the spirit: St. Paul for instance prays that God may sanctify his people “wholly”, with “spirit and soul and body” kept sound and blameless at the Lord’s coming. The Church teaches that this distinction does not introduce a duality into the soul. “Spirit” signifies that from creation man is ordered to a supernatural end and that his soul can gratuitously be raised beyond all it deserves to communion with God.”
This makes sense, but are there any supplemental writings – Church Father’s, Saints, etc… that might expand this further?
…something that might be more digestible to non-Catholics?
Thank you Father Joe. Please pray for all of us.
Sincerely,
eric
xHi Father,
Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about a grave sin that I committed almost 18 years ago. It was a difficult time in my life for many reasons. I eventually decided to go to confession, but it was more out of fear of having that sin on my soul than it was because I was sorry. At that time, I felt very little remorse. Now, years later, I carry it as my biggest regret.
My question is, was my confession years ago valid if I was confessing only out of fear of being in a state of mortal sin and not confessing with remorse? Can (or should) I re-confess this sin or is it wrong to confess the same sin more than one time?
Thank you Father.
Claire
xGood evening Father,
I am carrying out an investigation for a project I am undertaking concerning the Turin Shroud and I just wanted the expert opinion of a Catholic Priest. Part of my research is around uncovering a link between Science and Religion, and I just wanted to ask if you believe that there can be a link between Science and Religion?
I also wanted to ask if you believe that the scientific evidence behind the Turin Shroud can be used to prove the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and if the Shroud is enough evidence to prove the Resurrection?
I would really appreciate any information you have regarding this topic.
Many Thanks,
Lavina
xHello! I am 20 years old and was hanging out with a priest and some parishioners and I had a shot, even though I am underage and there was a girl there in like 4th grade and I was wondering at the time if I was giving scandal to that girl by drinking underage. Did I commit a mortal sin of scandal? Also I am very scrupulous and am worried that I’m not really sorry , so should I still go to confession? Thanks for your help!
xHi Fr. Joe,
I have thought about getting a “prayer journal.” I heard that the use of a journal with daily prayer can help you converse with God, and also keep a record of your spiritual journey.
What is your opinion on this?
Thank you and have a good day, father
Ever since I enrolled into Jeff Cavins Detailed Journey Through the Bible course, I been highly interested in and intrigued with all the books of the Bible especially those of the Old and New Testament. My mother also thought me how to connect the New and Old Testament together when took a detailed course at Divine Mercy Church about the Gospel of Matthew and that was how she encouraged me to take up Bible courses to know more about the Catholic faith. So I followed and was completely mesmerised by it especially with the apocalyptic visions of the Prophets Daniel and Ezekiel as well as Revelation. However, Revelation turned out to be my favourite.
xdoes the bible teach the earth is flat?
should the bible be taken literally?
xFather, in Revelation chapter 8, the first four of the seven trumpets represents judgment. However, I came across Catholic commentaries with differing views about the great blazing mountain that was tossed into the sea. Some said that it is the destruction of Jerusalem at the hands of the Romans but others said it is parallelling to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius with its rivers of molten lava flowing into the sea. So which one is correct?
xHi Father Joe,
Last weekend at Mass there was a little boy sitting with his mom in the pew in front of me. He was about 4 or 5 years old. As the priest was blessing the bread and wine, the little boy said rather loudly with wonder and enthusiasm, “Is it Jesus yet!?!”. Those of us around him all chuckled a little, out of the mouths of babes!! But, then it did make me wonder. At what point during the consecration doe the bread and wine become the body and blood?
Thank you, Lauren
According to the Jerusalem Bible commentary, it stated that the first rider of the Four Horsemen symbolises the Parthians who were the Romans’ worst enemy and whose favourite weapon was the bow. Is this the right interpretation?
Father, when we looked at all the catastrophic man-made calamities that plagued history from the medieval until the early modern period such as the bloody French Revolution, the two World Wars and many more. Do these events mirrored the Four Horsemen?
Father, the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are the allegories of the calamities placed upon mankind by the Lord and they mentioned by the prophet Zechariah and in Revelation. I had been reading many Catholic commentaries about the first horsemen and some of them said that it is Christ though they colour white represents victory and the horseman, conquest. Is it correct? Or there is something else?
Thank you Father for the astonishing commentaries.
thank you Father.
xHello Father,
Thank you for answering my previous question about placing children in foster and adoptive homes. Your answer really helped me.
I have a separate question, and I apologize if you’ve answered it before and I did not see. Does the Catholic Church take any stance on deceased individuals “visiting” the living through dreams? If a relative who has passed speaks to me in a dream, is it simply a dream, or is there any possibility that the true person is communicating through that dream? Thank you in advance.
xHello! So I’ve been reading Clement of Alexandria’s writings, and he says that it’s sinful for women to pluck their eyebrow hair. Other church fathers say that it’s sinful for women to wear colors other than white, or to walk outside without their faces covered, and I know some people who say it is a sin for a woman to shave her legs. What is the truth about this?
xGood afternoon Father,
Thank you for your wonderful explanation on Revelation.
(1) I wanted to know the true meaning of what did Jesus meant when he said in John 14:28, “the Father is greater than I.”
(2) When you mention the emperors before Nero could it be the previous emperors from the Julio-Claudian dynasty, the same Roman family from which Nero was descended? As for the successor, could he be either Vespasian or Titus?
(3) I attended a session at Saint Ignatius Church in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. A detailed history was given of the Catholic Church. The deacon gave a brief history about the identity of Lucifer by referring to Ezekiel 28. I would like to ask how is the King of Tyre personified as Lucifer?
(4) I would like to ask about these two enigmatic creatures in the last chapter in the Book of Job, the Behemoth and the Leviathan. What are they?
Hi Father,
How do I go back to previous posts? I had asked a question on salvation. “If salvation is for everyone, then why is it important to be Catholic?” … you had answered it really well, and I’m trying to look for it, can you help me please…. Thank you.
https://bloggerpriest.com/ask-a-priest/comment-page-125/#comments
xI am experiencing such weight lost that you would not believe it.
It is hard to talk about the situation. I am feeling the touch of darkness— I think there is something here. There is no sign of the light anymore. I am drawn to the occult. It won’t let me leave.
I am in great trouble. I don’t have much time. I am losing any will to seek help or to save myself. My will power is being rapidly drained. I need a priest or preacher to help me. I need help. Help me!
Please, I have no other way to communicate with anyone.
Zachery P. Wright
xFather, I have been suffering from depression for 4 years. I have been having suicidal thoughts but I know it’s a sin to take my own life. I’ve asked God to let me die, but I’m still here. Why won’t He release me? I’m not acting on my thoughts, just asking for release. Is it a sin to wish for death?
xHello, Father, I have been reading about the Whore of Babylon in Revelation and I seemed to have difficulty in understanding the seven heads of the beast, as quoted in the Bible, the first five have fallen, the one is still living during Saint John’s time (Nero) but who is the one that has yet to come but will remain for a short while?
Thank you, Father. I understand this better, now.
Hi Fr. Joe,
Sharing the story of my 1st Confession, sorry that it was difficult for you to read. The priest didn’t know about my reading problem. I’m sure if he did know about it, he wouldn’t have been so hard on me. Thinking of this makes it easier to forgive him. I didn’t have much self confidence as kid to begin with so that didn’t help me either.
But, there’s some good news! Today I called the rectory and spoke to the priest like you suggested. I asked if I could meet with him and I gave him the basics. That I haven’t been to confession since my 1st because it was a tough experience, that it’s been years since then and I’m unsure of how, that I’ve wanted to go but fear has prevented me, etc. So, I’m going tomorrow afternoon to talk with him. He was very reassuring and understanding and told me not to worry one bit. He told me to “be at peace”. He said we could talk and if I wanted to receive the sacrament, he’d walk me through it no problem. I know he is one of the many “good” priests out there. I’m still feeling a little anxious, but not nearly as much as I was. I’m hoping things go well and after almost 20 years, that I’ll receive God’s forgiveness tomorrow afternoon. Please pray for me if you can.
Thank you, Fr. Joe!
Anonymous
xFather, you said, “When they promised to raise children in the faith, I have baptized the children of gay couples.”, wouldn’t the fact that they are living together as a gay couple already have made that agreement wrong and worthless?
xHello. I might take a government job as a case worker for children in protective services and be involved with placing children in foster and adoptive homes, and I’m worried about how state laws concerning LGBT individuals might conflict with my Catholic beliefs. What would my responsibility be when it comes to following state laws allowing LGBT guardianship while not violating my conscience/going against the Church? Is it wrong or on par with condoning that lifestyle to place kids with them? How do I navigate this? Thank you.