Ask a Priest

5,442 Responses

MM, on November 17, 2019 at 12:51 pm said:

I had vasectomy about 7 years ago – getting it reversed in December. Is it a sin if I have marital relations with my wife until I have the reversal?

FATHER JOE: Even if the reversal were impossible, it would not be a sin to engage in the marital act given that there was regret and/or contrition.
ignasius fabio, on November 17, 2019 at 10:11 am said:

Fr joe, I struggle with scrupulosity, my question is can someone commit an act of apostasy if he switch to another religion for few seconds and then go back to jesus instantly afterwards? am I excommunicated?

FATHER JOE: You cannot switch to another religion and then immediately switch back in such a manner. You may not be well but you are not excommunicated.
Tosny, on November 17, 2019 at 9:22 am said:

Dear Father Joe,

I have become very interested in the Cristeros War. In fact, after learning about San Jose Sanchez del Rio, he has become one of my “go to” saints, for lack of a better Catholic phrase. I think of his martyrdom at such a young age. I think of his courage. This helps me get through the day and put up with whatever I need to, in order to remain a Catholic. I am not very brave, in fact I am a coward sometimes, but at this stage I will fight and die rather than renounce my faith. When I pray to the Virgin Mary, she helps me to be brave.

As am American, I was shocked by the recent statement by the Democrat politician “Beto” who was supposedly raised as a Catholic. He said he wanted to cut off tax exempt status for any religious organization that opposed gay marriage. This is an open assault on the Catholic Church as well as other Christian churches who uphold traditional family values.

I don’t care at this stage what the American government says about this. I look to the Church for what is right and wrong, not to the politicians of either party. If the so-called authorities wage war against the Church, so be it. It will be the duty of every Catholic to stand on the side of the Church in that case. I think every Catholic needs to be aware of the very dangerous situation we are in and pray every day for the victory of the politicians who stand for religious freedom.

I was very happy to learn that the Knights of Columbus sided with the Cristeros and some Knights went to fight with them against the evil Mexican government of Calles. I now have a new respect for the Knights. I had no idea of this history.

I think every Catholic in the USA should learn about the Cristero martyrs. This story has, I think, been suppressed in the USA. Although I learned a movie was made about it a few years ago. I haven’t seen it. I never even heard of it until recently. I came across this subject only by accident, when I heard the song “El Martes Me Fusilan” and wanted to know more about the Cristeros. Then I found out that Pope Francis had canonized San Jose Sanches del Rio.

I also have been learning about Our Lady of Guadalupe. I think she can be the key to unity between North American and Latin American Catholics.

Long live Christ the King and Our Lady of Guadalupe!
jason perryman, on November 17, 2019 at 3:45 am said:

Take me off your list. Your just spam at this point

Sent from my iPhone

FATHER JOE: I am not sure what you mean. Did you sign up for notification? That is not me sending emails. It is the manner that wordpress functions. I neither keep a list of names nor do I send out notifications. Peace!
Stacie, on November 17, 2019 at 12:47 am said:

Fr Joe,
I read the article about the woman who was ordained and then excommunicated.

Is it true that excommunication is a contract, and both parties have to agree? I find that assertion odd

FATHER JOE: No, excommunication is not a contract. It is an imposed penalty from the Church. Anyone involved with the ordination of a woman is excommunicated. A priest who attempts marriage is excommunicated. Anyone who physically attacks the Pope is excommunicated. Anyone who helps in the procuring of an abortion is (automatically) excommunicated.
freyalilly, on November 16, 2019 at 8:51 pm said:

Hello Father. I want to get laser hair removal but is this a sin since it’s permanent?

FATHER JOE: No, it is not a sin.
SLHR, on November 14, 2019 at 12:16 am said:

Fr Joe,
I read that for a plenary indulgence you can pray the rosary in church. I understand all the requirements associated, but what I’m unsure of is whether they mean a whole rosary (all 4 mysteries at one sitting) or does one mystery (which I generally pray daily) suffice?

Thank you!

FATHER JOE: Taking the usual conditions for granted, I was taught that five continuous decades had to be vocally prayed in the church for a plenary indulgence. One must also truly meditate on the mysteries. Mechanical recitation is valueless.
Anonymous, on November 12, 2019 at 6:14 pm said:

Fr Joe,
I went to confession this am, and went into the front of the church to do my penance and pray the rosary. I looked up at the tabernacle at one point and saw a man standing there with the door open. He did something then closed it, genuflected and left.

I’m very new to the parish and don’t know everyone, but he wasn’t one of our priests or deacons.

I also cannot say for certain what he was doing because I was praying and only saw what I described. I’m wondering if this is ok and whether I should say anything to anyone?

Also, if you are performing a requirement for an indulgence, does the act of holy communion have to be separate from that in your Sunday obligation? If I went to mass on Sunday and receive communion then, go to confession on Tuesday and perform the action Tuesday, does that fulfill the requirements? Or do I need to get to mass asap? I have another chance Thursday.

FATHER JOE: The person was probably an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion either taking or returning the sacrament that is given to the sick and homebound. As for the indulgence requirement, I am not sure which one you mean or what the expressed conditions might be. Please note that certain indulgences are now abrogated by the Holy See. Make sure it is current.
Max, on November 11, 2019 at 11:11 pm said:

Dear Father Joe,

When it comes to dating as a young adult, what specific activities are considered a sin? That is, are activities such as kissing, hugging, holding hands, or cuddling sinful acts? Which activities should I avoid?

FATHER JOE: Acts should be age appropriate. Acts that break down the will or which function as foreplay to intimate sexual expression are wrong for single people.
Marco Corrado, on November 11, 2019 at 9:13 pm said:

Hi I was wondering. Does God frown on liposuction I’m thinking about getting it on my stomach and chest if you can please let me know thank you!

FATHER JOE: The Church has no explicit teaching on it. One must judge whether it is warranted and not take unnecessary risks with human life.
aciafardini, on November 10, 2019 at 10:40 pm said:

Hi Father, since there were no real forms of contraception during the life of Christ, why is the church so firm in its stance? And only in recent history (last couple hundred years) did it take a position on it?

FATHER JOE:

Contraception is not a new question. The Egyptians prescribed the crocodile tongue almost 4,000 years ago. The Romans used an animal skin condom. Wool was applied to absorb sperm. Potions or poisons of various sorts were used by many during and after the time of Christ. Indeed, the New Testament prohibition against sorcery or pharmakia was in reference to contraceptives and especially to abortifacients. Coitus interruptus was condemned by the Jews as a variant of the sin of Onanism.

Borrowed from CATHOLIC ANSWERS:

Clement of Alexandria (195 AD): “Because of its divine institution for the propagation of man, the seed is not to be vainly ejaculated, nor is it to be damaged, nor is it to be wasted” (The Instructor of Children 2:10:91:2).

Hippolytus of Rome (255 AD): “On account of their prominent ancestry and great property, the so-called faithful [certain Christian women who had affairs with male servants] want no children from slaves or lowborn commoners, [so] they use drugs of sterility or bind themselves tightly in order to expel a fetus which has already been engendered” (Refutation of All Heresies 9:12).

Augustine (419 AD): “I am supposing, then, although you are not lying [with your wife] for the sake of procreating offspring, you are not for the sake of lust obstructing their procreation by an evil prayer or an evil deed. Those who do this, although they are called husband and wife, are not; nor do they retain any reality of marriage, but with a respectable name cover a shame. Sometimes this lustful cruelty, or cruel lust, comes to this, that they even procure poisons of sterility [oral contraceptives]” (Marriage and Concupiscence 1:15:17).

All Christian churches, Catholic and Protestant, unanimously condemned contraception until 1930 when the Anglicans voted that it might be allowed for married couples.
aciafardini, on November 10, 2019 at 10:23 pm said:

Father, I’m very confused on your response regarding the wife’s use of the pill and the husband’s attempt to ensure no abortive affect by using a condom. What about the doctrine of the lesser evil? Wouldn’t it be less bad to use a condom then to accidentally conceive a child that is aborted by the pill? Even if the wife is taking the pill for non-contraceptive reasons?

FATHER JOE: There is no doctrine of a lesser evil. That is a philosophical argument. Catholicism teaches that it is never right to commit an act that is intrinsically evil.
lambrem1, on November 9, 2019 at 3:47 pm said:

My question on this matter is if God created us to love and serve in this world and the next ..Is it possible in God’s Magnificent plan of love and salvation that those who do not deliberately ignore the church because of how they were raised as a child and certain other circumstances not of their doing and die before they have a chance to know or understand the Catholic Faith ? I have been a Catholic for 69 years and follow the Catholic Church but there still must be compassion and love for them also! How do we help them even Christians who are strong in their Faith but still fail the light of Christ through the Catholic Church!
When Christ died and descended into hell and freed all those waiting for the promise of the First Resurrection who were not Catholic or Christian or baptized! Would not God and Jesus in their infinite mercy find a way for those who thru no fault of their own are raised Jewish, Muslem , Or Christian and so on!
Is there anything we can do as Catholics when sharing our belief s to give them hope of Redemption and saying the old line you are not Catholic you will not go to heaven. Marcel!

FATHER JOE:

The catechism does indeed teach us that we were created so as to know, love and serve God in this world and to render him glory forever in the next. We are also taught that the Catholic Church is the living sacrament of saving encounter with God. As a clarification, you are asking what of those who do not come to the Church or those who fail to place faith in Christ because of how they were raised and circumstances beyond their control. There is no guarantee that those who have been baptized and formed in the Church will necessarily be saved. Faith can sour and many fall into mortal sin. While we are confident in the saving faith and sacraments, we also know that one must be properly disposed for sanctifying grace. We have to trust the Divine Mercy and that God saves whomever he wills. As believers we are confident that God is good and that there is nothing capricious in how he judges souls. Trusting in divine providence, we should make room for what is a profound mystery. If we want to be instruments of salvation then we need to invite the Holy Spirit to move us to witness and teach. Remember, that we can neither save ourselves nor others. God is the author of all life, both mortal existence and eternal life. “So should it be with you. When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do’” (Luke 17:10).

Jesus descended to the righteous dead (Jews and Gentles) in the limbo of the fathers and made possible their translation into heaven. He brought to them the benefits we know in faith and the sacraments. God made a covenant with the Jewish people and we are assured that God keeps his promises. As for others, God knows our hearts. We should also take note that salvation is an undeserved gift. It is not for us to judge. We could not even begin to discern such a question regarding others. Does God save Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Pagans, Atheists and others? The only answer we can give is “Only if he wants to do so.” If we want more certitude than that then one must accept the lordship of Jesus Christ, receive the sacraments and remain steadfast in the community of faith that he established. Anything more is mere supposition.
Jason, on November 8, 2019 at 7:12 am said:

I am going through a preliminary injunction because I tried to help people at my company not breath glass and have eyswashes and safety gear. I called whistleblowers and boli but got the run around they just want cash not take action.

People are being hurt and I’m trying to fight it but I’m no lawyer. They are using the courts and my contract to silence me.

If I can’t defend myself how can I help others and why did god choose the bottom of the barrel of people to help them.?? Me

About to go to court soon have recordings and pictures of them dumping to the ground chemicals blowing silica and silicon carbide to the air running scrubbers of acid and oil into the air with no abatement.

What do I do when I have already lost but I’m the one that is right? People are being hurt. My buddies shovel diamond hard glass and breathe it into their lungs. Other people walk in acid. We moved the sensors in the air to 10 feet because they kept going off. We killed Brandon with those fumes. I will live with that forever.

Could you ask god or Mary to help? I can claim bankrupts on this but it don’t help them.

I want to help them they came to me and asked for help.

I will probably get in trouble for this too.

Can you help me help them or fight off the bad people?

FATHER JOE: I will keep you in prayer.
Bob Frank, on November 6, 2019 at 11:52 pm said:

I recently watched a scary movie, and in that movie it said the name of a “real” demon and that name has been stuck in my head and every night before bed I get really scared and get anxiety and stressed and I cant sleep and can’t stop thinking the name, is this bad and how do I make it stop?

FATHER JOE: If you are obsessive about things of this sort then stop watching such movies. Say your prayers. Go to Church. Put your faith in what is real and good.
Jen, on November 5, 2019 at 1:12 am said:

Can you explain Matthew 7:11

FATHER JOE: “If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him.” It means what is says. Even bad people can be loving and caring about their children. If this is the case, think about how our heavenly Father, who is all good, will wonderfully treat his children.
Diana Strauss, on November 4, 2019 at 4:49 pm said:

Hello,

What do you think about this? What would priests/penitents be expected to do if such this were to become the law? And what if it wouldn’t stop there; what if priests would be expected to report confessed murderers or other serious crimes?

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/voices/2019/04/28/california-religious-freedom-catholic-sex-abuse-column/3574921002/

FATHER JOE: A priest must keep the seal and cannot divulge by word or intimation anything he knows from confession. A priest would suffer imprisonment or execution so as to keep this trust.
John, on November 4, 2019 at 4:42 pm said:

A close relative and spouse recently gave birth. They have strayed from the church and dont plan to baptize. Is there any allowance or guidance given for a family member to baptize the child in secret? Does the child have to wait until they are old enough to request it themselves? What would happen if the child dies with original sin?

FATHER JOE: Baptism is not magic. It presumes faith and formation. I know of concerned family members that secretly baptize children in kitchen sinks. However, the Church will not conduct a secret baptism that is against the wishes of parents. The catechism seems to imply that such children might go to heaven. But many of us are unsure. Traditionally the Church taught that unbaptized children went to an abode of natural happiness where they would be ignorant of God (limbo).
Steven Byczek, on November 3, 2019 at 10:32 pm said:

Dear Fr. Joe,

My wife and I are Practicing Catholics. We’re raising a daughter with Non-Verbal Autism. She’s physically 10 years old, but has the mentality of a 3-4 year old, due to her Developmental Delays.

Somebody gave us a Bible Story Picture Book entitled: “Bible Pictures for Toddlers.” It was published by an organization named: Christian Aid Ministries. I think they’re a Protestant Group. Is it acceptable for us to read this Book to our daughter?

Thank you in advance!

God bless you!

Sincerely,

Steven.

FATHER JOE: I am unfamiliar with the book. Moody Publishers in the past has not been very sympathetic to Catholics and tends to be fundamentalist. Straight bible stories would not be an issue. The problem might be the accompanying commentary. But, like I said I have never seen it. You may want to evaluate it for yourselves. Peace.
Nick, on November 2, 2019 at 1:18 pm said:

Hi again, Father. Thank you very much for answering my question on 13th October about self-Communication. For some reason I missed your reply until now. In the meantime I asked my Parish Priest about it. He said that he’d done it because they always offered Communion in both kinds at this pilgrimage site but that he had no Eucharist Minister and with only a small group it was okay for him to ask us to come up and self-Communicate. But from what you’ve said that is not a good reason and it was a liturgical abuse. That being the case, do you think there was any sin on my part to do this when, at the time, I wasn’t sure whether it was right or wrong (I ask for myself and also someone else who has asked me since what I thought)? Also, if this situation, or one like it, ever arose again would it be best to abstain from receiving Communion or can I self-Communicate if the priest makes this the only possible way to do so? Thanking you in advance for your reply. God bless, Nick.

FATHER JOE: There was no sin on your part because you did not know. The better course would be for the priest to commission one of you as an extraordinary minister or better yet, simply to give the sacrament through intinction.
anon, on October 30, 2019 at 2:44 pm said:

Fr Joe, I have a situation that I don’t quite know how to morally handle.

My sister is almost 43. She has, over her life, financially drained my parents, who at this point are both retired and living on medicare and social security. My dad has lung cancer. He is anxious about leaving money behind for my mother.

My sister had a child out of wedlock early, and my parents felt the need to support her for the case of the child. They didn’t want to kick her out of the house because she couldn’t afford to raise the kid on her own. Even after she married the father and subsequently divorced him, they continued to support her, paying for new water heaters when hers died, cosigning car loans, etc. Right now, she is again divorced and raising another child by the second husband. She is living in a house that my father bought “as an investment”. She is almost never on time with the rent. She works as a recruiter, and her line or work tends to work on contract, and when the contract is up, she is out of a job. Recently (within the last few years) she attempted to start her own business. She had an investor and was using his money to pay her salary and keep her business going while she tried to place candidates. He got fed up with a lack of return on investment and pulled out. Mom and Dad decided to help her try to keep the business afloat, and she now owes them >$30K.

The house she is living in but does not own. However, she has put a LOT of time and money into this house, replacing cabinets and countertops, the stairs, appliances, etc. She fully expects to get credit for this input when Dad sells her the house. However, she cannot afford to buy it. She recently told me that if Dad sold the house, he would get enough money from it to wipe out her debt. Since she did most of the work herself, I am unsure exactly how much value add her work actually is. So I believe she has zero intention of paying them back. Meanwhile, my mom gave her a credit card with a zero balance to pay to have her phone reinstated so she could work from home, and to buy groceries. The phone bill was $270 and mom expected groceries of about $100. She checked the balance and it was almost $700, with charges from walmart.com Paying off that bill will take half of my mom’s social security check. This is typical of how she works. She recently got rid of an economical car that she said needed $2200 dollars of work, but bought a new car that has a $700/mo payment. She is unbelievably careless with money and my parents have enabled this.

Her adult daughter is married and has 4 kids. My daughter is close to her and she apparently has the same spending habits as her mother. She purposely doesn’t pay car notes so that they have money to go out to eat. (This I got from my daughter, not first hand)

Yesterday at work my sister called me and told me her daughter had a leaking washer and the dryer was broken and wanted me to buy her a new washer and dryer to the tune of $1000, ostensibly to be paid back with tax refund money.

I have the money. I just didn’t want to give it to her. I feel that supporting and continuing bail these two out is doing nobody in the family any good. They aren’t being forced to grow up and make smart decisions. They all have iphones, they eat out and buy new stuff all the time. My sister smokes. There are tons of ways they could economize and sacrifice and live off of their own salaries, but they are leaning on my retired parents. And I don’t want to be the next person being asked for money once my parents are gone. I’m 50 and just requested to cut back at work, so my income will be less.

I realize that Jesus told us to be charitable and give without thought of repayment, and so on. But at what point does it become stupid to give them money? Did I sin by not wanting to just hand that cash out?

When she asked what she was supposed to do about the laundry, I told my sister: “Tell her to turn the water off to the machine and mop up the floor. Take the clothes to a laundromat to dry or hang them up in the yard. I will discuss the situation with my husband when we are not at work.”

She called later to say that the situation worked itself out. (apparently the husband is going to try to fix the dryer himself or “rig it”)

I try to be generous with the money God has placed in my care, but honestly, these two just have zero sense and don’t seem to have any compunction about asking for money, and obviously have little care for the burden that type of thing is to others.

FATHER JOE:

You did not sin. You have your own immediate family and household. We do not know what the future holds and you may need your savings for the days ahead, especially if there is illness. It sounds to me that you have been hard-working and frugal. The matter would be different if family members were current with their debts but you say they are not. It is likely no loan would be repaid. Speak to your husband and adapt what you told me and tell them the hard truth. Here is an example of what you could say:

“My own situation is somewhat precarious right now, particularly given changes at work. I am especially worried about debts owed our parents and whether they will be fully repaid given that they are aging and retired on Social Security and Medicare. They are often more charitable than for their own good. I want to be in a situation where I can help them if they need me. Speaking as one who loves our family, there are tons of ways you and other members could economize, sacrifice and live off your own salaries. We should all try to live within our means and not enable bad spending habits. Let me know if anyone wants my assistance in how to tighten money belts.”
aciafardini, on October 30, 2019 at 2:01 pm said:

But Father, I’d the birth control could cause an abortion, wouldn’t the lesser of two evils be to use a condom to prevent that potential outcome?

FATHER JOE: Such reasoning fails the test of double-effect. This variation of consequentialism is not accepted by the Catholic faith. One cannot opt to do a lesser evil so as to avoid a greater one. One must always seek to do what is right. When natural family planning is done correctly to space births, I am told that it is just as effective as the pill in avoiding births. Even condoms fails, some as much as 25% of the time. If you want an infallible plan to avoid births then you will have to totally abstain from sexual relations.
blueriver12, on October 30, 2019 at 9:34 am said:

hello, Im not sure if this is the right place to ask questions.. kind of confused by the layout so sorry if its not. My concern is about eating blood and how in the old and new testament (begining with noah) it says its the life force of the animal and not to eat it. Im really confused by this. Ive read The Council of Florence say that it had to do with the mosiac law and that it only applied to the early Church, but if so, why does Noah also abstain from blood since it came before then. The other parts of the new testament about nothing being unclean seems like it applies to animals since they were labelled unclean but I dont know if blood ever was. if you could reply soon Id really appreciate it. honestly I do have scrupulosity that makes me question things to the nth degree but its involentary and the part in the Bible about doubting whether something is right to do (the part about people with weak conciouses) makes me feel compelled to find out the right ansewr or else Im sinning. I did ask a priest about this already but he said the Jews would have written about Noah and thats why they transferred the thing about blood.. but then if they did, why did he tell Noah he could eat any animal, unlike them. I would go to the priest Im speaking with off and on but it may be a while before I can speak with him again and this is affecting me badly.. Im afraid to take my anti anxiety which imight be dangerous to go off of suddenly because I learned it probably contains animal by products, which might contain blood. Im sorry if this is too much pressure. Really don’t know what to do. -Christina

FATHER JOE:

The prohibition about blood was something the Jewish Church in Jerusalem carried over from the mosaic law of the ancient Hebrews. Leviticus 17:10-14:

“As for anyone, whether of the house of Israel or of the aliens residing among them, who consumes any blood, I will set myself against that individual and will cut that person off from among the people, since the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement on the altar for yourselves, because it is the blood as life that makes atonement. That is why I have told the Israelites: No one among you, not even a resident alien, may consume blood. Anyone hunting, whether of the Israelites or of the aliens residing among them, who catches an animal or a bird that may be eaten, shall pour out its blood and cover it with earth, since the life of all flesh is its blood. I have told the Israelites: You shall not consume the blood of any flesh. Since the life of all flesh is its blood, anyone who consumes it shall be cut off.”

As the Christian faith was embraced by increasing numbers of Gentiles, many of the Jewish practices of old fell by the wayside, i.e. circumcision, clean and unclean foods, etc. We see something of this movement at the Council of Jerusalem, although Gentiles were still asked to avoid blood and the food of strangled animals. Peter has a vision of all foods made clean by Christ:

“A voice said to him, ‘Get up, Peter. Slaughter and eat.’ But Peter said, ‘Certainly not, sir. For never have I eaten anything profane and unclean.’ The voice spoke to him again, a second time, ‘What God has made clean, you are not to call profane’” (Acts 10:13-15).
Elizabeth, on October 29, 2019 at 10:56 pm said:

Hi Father Joe — Hope this is not a dumb question, but in the Nicene Creed, what is the distinction being made between “God” and “True God” (when we say “God from God…True God from True God”)? What’s the difference? If not different, then why say it twice? Thanks!

FATHER JOE:

The Creed is speaking of the mystery of God and the Trinity. The Creed is a statement of faith that emerged in the early days of the Church about the nature of God and the identity of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit and the Church.

GOD THE FATHER – I believe in one God, the Father almighty,

GOD AS CREATOR – maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.

JESUS IS LORD – I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,

SECOND PERSON OF TRINITY – the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;

[Repetition is for the sake of emphasis. There were various heresies regarding Jesus. The Gnostics argued he was God but that he only pretended to be human. The Arians seemed to imply that he was more than a man but not quite God, as if he were a creature (demiurge). The Nestorians were also attacked for denying the divinity of Christ. Some would contend that he was just a man. The Adoptionists wrongly contended that he was a holy man spiritually adopted by the Father. The Creed was a correction to these many false ideas. There is also an emphasis here upon the equality of the Persons in the godhead (against subordinationism). There was even a heresy where some claimed that the gentle Father of Jesus could not be the harsh deity of the Hebrews portrayed in the Old Testament. The emphasis here is that as the second divine Person of the Trinity, he is eternally generated by the Father (God from God). The image of light is used as it has no parts to break down. There is a profound unity. As God he comes to us from eternity and pre-existed the incarnation. He is the eternal Word. He is true God, not in any sense a creature or adopted or a lesser deity. God is ONE. God is three divine Persons in one divine Nature (consubstantial or same stuff).

ETERNAL WORD OF GOD – through him all things were made.

INCARNATE GOD – For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.

TRULY HUMAN & SUFFERS AND DIES – For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,

RISEN LORD – and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.

CHRIST AS MEDIATOR – He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end.

HOLY SPIRIT AS SOURCE OF LIFE – I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

THIRD PERSON OF THE TRINITY – who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD – who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,

SOURCE OF INSPIRATION – who has spoken through the prophets.

The remainder speaks of the Catholic Church.
Marcel, on October 28, 2019 at 5:38 pm said:

To Daniel, I too have suffered from great depression so know the dark place you are in and feel like there is no way out. FR. Joe is correct you must start with the first step is a good confession may be even make appointment with a priest for Spiritual Guidance. I owe my life and soul to the Agustinians. Remeber to not let the depression rule your soul and mind. You will also need professional help for the two work hand in hand.Donnot for get the Holy Spirit and our Blessed Mother they are powerful resources! Just pray and talk to God Who is already waiting.
I will preay for you my brother in Christ! Peace of Christ be with you !