Ask a Priest

5,442 Responses

Skip Leleux, on May 9, 2023 at 7:48 pm said:

Hey Chris.
I deal with many families that experience homosexuality in their families.
It’s become more and more.
Just through much of my research, the environment we live in today has changed so very quickly in terms of age of the flesh.
I personally believe by the food we eat, the ongoing sin of generations, and the DNA of our emotional state of being at time of conception, and the exposure to technology/information world has a lot to do with the homosexuality activity we are seeing today.
Emotional feeling are at such of importance today that breads reactions more than practical thoughts to make decisions. The emotional stress hormones do NOT give us the ability to make wise decisions through our conscious. It just doesn’t happen. So in reference first to your son, there is a lot going on that we don’t know. And probably a lot he can’t answer either. Why this or why that, will end up with an answer of “I don’t know”

You most likely can’t answer why you were addicted to pornography. It’s the subconscious mind my friend. We live in a world today fast pace that if we don’t pay attention and BUILD A true wiser conscious , we are at risk to be loving a subconscious mind and that’s where emotions live to make us think certain things and act certain things. It becomes more like a perpetual motion machine. We think what we feel and we feel what we thing then we do what we feel and feel what we do and so on. You get the point……
As far as your position as a father, love him unconditionally. Stay true to your belief, do NOT confess your sin to others other than a priest by your Catholic faith. I’m careful to even have people use testimonies. That is a slippery slope.
Because why. What the Brian wants! It wants familiar. It wants to feel. And our thoughts alone can trigger those neurotransmitters to recreate a feeling JUST as the even is playing again.

So be careful using your “past sin” in conversation. Not saying I wouldn’t do it to your son,unless he sees you as this “perfect” person it may sometimes work to shed light in imperfection.

The best thing to help your son is to encounter small talk and activity as much as possible. If you have a serious talk especially about his sexuality, use the 6:1 rule. 6 times of relationship to one time to serious talk/discipline. We as parents think that just by design we have the right to discipline. If there is no relationship, discipline or any serious talks will always be cloudy.
Same as our relationship with God. The more we have relationship the clearer his voice becomes.

Peace be with you
James, on May 9, 2023 at 8:40 am said:

Dear Father,

I’m an American who was living overseas. My marriage broke down and I ended up divorced. I fell out of my faith in God and lived a sinful life until I met a new girl and had a baby with her. I was rejuvenated in my faith and We then made a commitment to raise the baby in a good home together. We stopped having sex and got seperate bedrooms. We got a civil marriage just before the baby was born so the baby could get American citizenship. Our child is now 8 years old and we are now living in America. We both obviously went to confession for our sins that lead up to our daughter being born and have been living free of sexual relations.

My mother says I still can’t go to communion. I tell her I should be able to, I’m not living in a sexual relationship, so I take communion. Can I have communion? It surely can’t be a sin to stay together to raise our child. I have also landed a job in a Catholic diocese teaching and I am being told I am at risk of losing the job without an annulment. Is this the case by law? Am I required to get an annulment to teach in a Catholic school?

FATHER JOE: I take it the first marriage was in the Church. That being the case I would urge you to apply for an annulment. The problem is that the Church does not recognize the civil bond and thus cohabitation sets up what would be construed as an adulterous situation. If you love each other and the child, you should desire to remove any stigma of scandal. Given that you and your civil law wife are abstaining from sexual intimacy, talk to your parish priest about the situation and follow his lead about the reception of Holy Communion.
Barb, on May 8, 2023 at 8:30 pm said:

Dear Father,
Yesterday I received Annointing of the Sick, it occurred to me later that the priest actually used some kind of ointment instead of oil, he is now out of town now on a retreat, so l cannot clarify with him what this was. Was this valid matter? Thanks

FATHER JOE: Priests are fully aware of the oil that must be used in the sacrament. Why would you doubt it?
Anonymous, on May 7, 2023 at 8:58 pm said:

Dear Fr. Joe,

I have a question about whether it is a sin to keep going on Sundays to church with this one family member who I know and they know that they should not go and receive Holy Communion yet go and do this regardless.

For a while, they had respected this rule and not received Communion, but recently they have started to come up, when I was not sitting next to them (for various reasons) and in spite of multiple times knowing what I had said, go and receive Communion. It is something that one day they go and receive Communion, another day they don’t, then the other time they do. And I know for certain that they do not go to confession, nor even actually care to go to church and only do it because I go.

I know they have an obligation to fulfill their Sunday obligation (which I doubt they do despite even being physically present there because they simply go on their phone half the time and certainly do not actually want to be there for the point of being there), but I know that this does not as well triumph or is even equal to the obligation to abstain from Holy Communion if one is in mortal sin.

Since I know that the only reason that this person goes to church is because of me, would I be sinning mortally by telling them to go to church with me?

Even though I had told them multiple times to not receive Holy Communion, and it is not as if they do not know they should not, rather they do not care.

So whether or not they go to church or not, they would be committing a mortal sin, yet certainly not going to church is less grave than them receiving Holy Communion sacrilegeously.

FATHER JOE: What someone else does or does not do at Mass is no sin for you. You admit that the person is aware of the contradiction. Anything more is between that person, the Lord and the priest. What should you do? Continue to be a good witness and pray for him or her.
Kat, on May 6, 2023 at 9:40 pm said:

Hello Father,

I figure there are other questions like this, but I was hoping to ask for advice regarding the bible’s teaching on same-sex attraction and marriage. To be frank I never saw the big deal with any of this, but since becoming Christian it is nearly impossible for me to deny to validity of any scripture, including those I disagree with personally. I feel deep compassion for queer people who feel God does not love them, I have gay friends myself (one of which I have lost partly because of this) and I don’t want to lose any others. To be clear I have never outright brought up this discussion with anyone, people have ALWAYS brought it up with me, so how do I go about it without being labeled as homophobic?

I believe that God does not endorse same-sex marriage according to scripture, at least if it involves actual sex, but I didn’t come up with any of that and I honestly wish the bible was more affirming so I didn’t have to deal with any of this , but at the same time I can’t because that would be denying God. This is one of the most difficult parts of my faith journey, and whenever I bring it up to other Christians I’m faced with some sort of judgement, as if there’s an easy answer to any of this. I’m trying my best but feel like I’m failing. I’m not being truthful with my friends about what I believe because I don’t know how to express how I feel, and Im disappointing God in the process. I know not a everyone’s going to like me but being seen as homophobic is honestly humiliating and I don’t want to let my friends down, but I also want to live truthfully.

Thank you

FATHER JOE:

While there are many homosexuals who find a home in the Church, many others feel alienated because of their lifestyle or because the Gospel fails to affirm their orientation. The fact remains that divine positive law as expressed in Scripture and in the teachings of the Church stamps homosexual acts as grievously sinful. Further, the traditional appreciation of natural law also bodes against same-sex attraction given the genuine complementarity of the male and female bodies and the power to generate new human life. Same sex unions require partners to feign the marital act and the sexual congress is inherently sterile.

The Church has no authority to approve what God has banned. Those who object to such teachings will do one of the following: dissent and fracture their union with God, keep their intimacies secret and live a lie, or they will seek to redefine the mystery of God and create a new religion that may or may not salvage elements from the old.

We cannot control whether or not we are labeled as homophobic. The authentically Christian response acknowledges the laws of God but seeks to live in peace with others. Loving the sinner but hating the sin will not fly because too many closely associate their personal identity with their sexual orientation and activity. Nevertheless, while we cannot condone same-sex intimacies, we can love them as our brothers and sisters— yes, even if they end up hating us. We need to communicate the truth that love and sex is not the same thing. Men and women can have chaste brotherly and sisterly relationships. They may accuse you of judging them but that is precisely what they are doing to you— demanding that you violate your conscience and approve of what you regard as sin— that or forfeit their friendship. True friends struggle to share what they believe and then keep loving each other despite a divergence in values. I am regarded by some as rigid in my moral theology. Admittedly I feel revulsion to sexual disorientation and misbehavior; however, I have cherished a deep and lasting friendship with a number of people from the homosexual camp. One of them has recently passed away and I remember him in my prayers. While we can make a determination about right and wrong; Pope Francis was quite correct that we leave the judgment of particular souls to almighty God. We are all broken and wounded in some way. I trust that God can heal and give happiness to those who truly love him.
Glen Isaacson, on May 4, 2023 at 10:56 am said:

Did Adam write down the names of each kind with a good drawing and hand out a pamphlet to Eve? I have read that he had a pre-fall memory and the animals were queued up in a precession but then how did everyone else including Eve learn the names, given they would have a post-fall meager memory capacity? I know I couldn’t be quickly told here’s what a few hundred animal kinds are called and remember it, even with the animals standing in front of me in a line. And what about the fish, am I to go swimming? Did the story forget to mention the volumes of encyclopedia printed with photographs? Why is this in the book? Why was it impossible to just figure Adam’s descendants named animals over a long period of time? And the thousands of plants cannot walk up to Adam in a line, right? Did Adam walk around showing his kids and Eve every plant, too? Honestly I am asking you. Honestly can this story possibly sound like a thing that happened? It sounds like a thing a kid would take at face value because he’s a kid and you just tell kids things. Were you told this as a grown educated man or did you grow up with it? You can keep god creating the animals if you want but this story is simply unnecessary. Why are people so concerned that they must know how animals became named? How can you not be so completely credulous of such a lacking cursory tale?

FATHER JOE: Neither the ancient Jews nor the Catholic faith would interpret this element from Genesis as you do. I am not even sure that the fundamentalist Protestants would take such a stand. We must read the book of Genesis from the perspective of faith. The essential elements are these: (1) God created the world and everything in it from nothing; (2) God established humanity as the steward over his creation; and (3) suffering and death enter the world through our rebellion and what we term original sin. The naming of the creatures in Genesis does not literally mean that Adam makes a rendering of every animal and plant by species and phylum. Rather, is the way the inspired biblical author expresses the truth that God gives dominion to man over all the other creatures of earth. The effort of naming something signifies ownership or authority over it. Notice that in Scripture God reveals his name as I AM and it is treated with the utmost respect. We are dependent upon God. He has jurisdiction over us. It will be in Jesus Christ that we as creatures of God are fully made into the adopted sons and daughters of the Father. Abram in the Old Testament is given a new name, Abraham. God starts anew, establishing a covenant with Abraham based upon obedience. Similarly, in the New Testament, some are given new names like Simon who is made Peter or “rock” of the Church and Saul who is renamed Paul. They belong wholly to Christ. When we are baptized, our parents give us names. We are subject to our parents and must obey them. Given the sacrament, we are given a name by which God will call us to holiness and justification.
Scarlette, on May 1, 2023 at 3:30 pm said:

Hello Father,
Can you answer why “John the Beloved” was so named? Why did Jesus love him so much that it even says in the Bible, “The one who Jesus loved” ?
Thank you, Father.

FATHER JOE: The incarnation is real. Why do you have some friends and family members who are closer to you than others? We are all loved, but in his mortal life there were some who were especially close and loved. While Jesus is God, this is just an element of what it means to be human and in how we interact with others.
Chris, on April 28, 2023 at 8:51 am said:

I have an adult homosexual son. He does not attend church although he has joined us for prayer before meals recently and this gives me hope that he believes in God. I have hoped that by witnessing our lifelong commitment to the faith my son might be swayed by our example but I don’t hold out much hope for this method.

We do not discuss his homosexuality nor do we discuss religious matters. I don’t want to alienate him and overall I find the subject deeply embarrassing. However, I recognize that homosexual sex is not a bigger sin than are the sins that heterosexuals might commit.

I was blessed with a miracle over 2½ years ago. God reached out and rescued me from an addiction to pornography. That addiction is humiliating to me. I really do not want to reveal it to my family (I have confessed it to my wife and of course to a priest in the sacrament of reconciliation) but I wonder if revealing this ugly sin to my son might be the means God is offering me to open up a discussion with my son about his sinful attractions and ultimately bring my son back to the church?

I realize you cannot predict the outcome but what is your sense? Is this a good idea or is it more likely to result in my personal humiliation and the alienation of my son?

FATHER JOE:

It is so very difficult to answer such questions from afar and with few details about the family. However, I can say a few general things. You are not obliged to share all the struggles you had with pornography. It may be sufficient to admit that you along with most men must deal with many sexual temptations and failings, including the lure of pornography. An addiction to gay pornography is a regular element in the homosexual lifestyle. This comes along with a heightened eroticized view of the human person and identity. Both heterosexuals and homosexuals buy the lie that they must have sexual encounters so as to be fulfilled and happy. Often the human person is objectified and there is manipulation. While sexual pleasure is real we must remember that not everything that feels good is ultimately good for us. No one should utterly define himself or herself by sexual desires or conquests.

I doubt one talk will make all things well and bring your son back to the faith. That is one of the reasons why I have always supported COURAGE which is an organization that encourages Catholics to maintain their relationship with God and the Church. They pray and live lives of celibate love and service. They know the friendship of one another and the Lord. But it is ever so hard getting men to join and to take advantage of all the good that God has instore for them.

What should you do? You are desperate but probably right that sharing too much would likely backfire. Ultimately, the most you can do is to love him and witness what it means to be a Christian. No matter what he does, he will always be your son.
Therese, on April 28, 2023 at 12:18 am said:

Father, so I heard a story about someone who prayed the rosary for a year for her spouse’s conversion and it worked . . . he converted to Catholicism. I know the rosary is powerful. I am not good at praying it. I guess I need discipline. But my question is this— I have a spouse who would like to convert. My daughter has temporarily fallen away. Can I knock out two birds with one stone by praying the rosary for both at same time or is it more powerful to pray separate rosaries for each one? Would it work?

FATHER JOE: Prayer is not magic. You can pray the rosary for both but any conversion or return to the faith relies upon the movement of divine grace and human disposition. God gives the gift of faith to whomever he wills. You may get that for which you pray but you must be humble enough to accept his will no matter what happens. Your witness in service and prayer will also have a part to play. Prayer is not about making wishes but about honoring almighty God and growing in holiness. Prayer is the necessary posture of a believer. The rosary is powerful but even more so is our regular participation at Mass, especially on Sundays. We are to bring an intention to every liturgy we attend. As for your husband, study in the faith will also be crucial.
Stationary Haddock, on April 26, 2023 at 11:18 pm said:

Hello Father, I am 53. I left the Church at age 17 when I went to college and returned to it in 2019. I am firmly intent on leading a holy life. My question is, I’ve confessed everything I can think of in a general sense, but I had 30 years of living a sinful life, so there are many little things I’ve forgotten. How should I approach this? I also can’t remember what I have and haven’t already confessed.

FATHER JOE: As far as the sacrament of penance is concerned, it is sufficient to confess the grievous sins that you remember. As long as you come to the Lord with a contrite heart, God understands and forgives. Trust the sacraments and the authority that Jesus has given priests in the ministry of mercy.
P.A.E, on April 26, 2023 at 2:35 am said:

Hi Father, I have this pearl white rosary that I have bought besides a church. But I’m thinking what is the meaning of “1XX1” written above the head of Jesus instead of “INRI”

FATHER JOE: I have no idea. Some crucifixes are poorly crafted and it is likely the INRI is poorly stamped upon it. Many of the cheap Asian rosaries have many flaws.
A.J., on April 26, 2023 at 12:14 am said:

Hello Father. I just finished reading True Devotion to Mary by St. Louis de Montfort. Am I correct in my understanding that we should only pray to Mary so that she might deliver our prayers to Jesus in a more worthy matter? I’m not saying praying to Jesus directly is bad, but this book seems to suggest praying only to Our Lady. Thank you!

FATHER JOE: Such would be a misreading of the book. “To Jesus thru Mary” has great value but no shepherd in the Church would forbid other forms of prayer. We invoke the Holy Spirit and acknowledge that Christ is our Mediator with the Father. Just look at the Mass prayers!
Sophia, on April 23, 2023 at 7:13 pm said:

Father,

Do we really have a choice?

I mean— as most religions believe— God is omniscient, right?

So he knows exactly which choice we’re making before we even make it. He knows we’re not choosing the other. So is it really a choice if the outcome is already known?

On top of that, is there really only one afterlife? What if you truly believed in a religion but didn’t want that afterlife? What if you wanted to be reincarnated or go to heaven or go somewhere else even become a ghost? Do you really spend only one place forever afterwards?

Why do religious people pick and choose which things are acceptable and which are not? Why is it now okay to where 2 fabrics mixed? Or to play with animal skin? Or eat meat? Why is it now okay to own unnecessary objects or own a big house when you don’t need one? Why is it okay for translations to change?

And if God made us in it’d own image, then why is everyone so different? If it says love one another as I have loved you, why doesn’t that happen? Why is it okay to judge and ridicule people for being different? Having different beliefs? Living a different life style? Why do you get to ridicule and yell and mistreat them? How does it affect your life if those are different?

And if God made us in it’d own image, then why is everyone so different? If it says love one another as I have loved you, why doesn’t that happen? Why is it okay to judge and ridicule people for being different? Having different beliefs? Living a different life style? Why do you get to ridicule and yell and mistreat them? How does it affect your life if those are different?

FATHER JOE:

Actually, the Buddhists claim no God and the multiple deities of Hindus can logically claim no infinite and omniscient deity given the multiplicity of their gods. Indeed, atheism constitutes a type of religion (or should I say anti-religion) that focuses upon man or deifies science or mathematics. However, with these qualifications said, the Judeo-Christian God is understood as possessing all perfections: goodness, beauty, truth, power, holiness and knowing.

This reminds me of the old conundrum in philosophy: if a tree falls down in the forest, does it make any noise? I would argue that just because we do no hear the sound does not mean that none is made. Similarly, regardless of what God knows, we still have the power of choice to do one thing over another. Having said this, there is a legitimate mystery in regards to human freedom and divine providence. The cost of sin alerts us that everything cannot be defined in a radical determinism. God is not the author of sin. Sin and its consequences, suffering and death, are the result of human disobedience. However, God’s providence will ultimately not be thwarted. God’s providence directly wills certain things and his passive will permits the misuse of the gift of freedom. The work of Christ in our redemption illustrates how God even uses our brokenness to bring us healing. But ours is a God who will not force himself upon us. He wants us to freely love him and to do what is good. This is possible by the gift of grace. We must cooperate and work with grace.

It should also be qualified that God does not predict the future. He knows everything within an eternal now. All is present to him at once. He stands outside human history and sees the entire picture.

This life should already sufficiently prepare us for the truth that we are not in full control. Many dreams and aspirations are left unfilled. Some hopes are unrealistic and some do not work hard enough to achieve their ends. Why should the afterlife be any different? As creatures we are utterly dependent upon God and one another. God has given us a glimpse of what awaits us but the door of death quickly slams shut. The faith offers a hope that appeals to the yearning that we have in our souls for happiness, life, reunion and healing. It will not be the crass materialistic afterlife of Moslems. We will not be the drop of water lost in the ocean claimed by the Buddhists. There will be no reincarnation as held out by the Hindus. Neither will there be the annihilation of the atheists. While death brings a separation of the body and soul, we will not be ghosts forever. The fire of divine love will purify those belonging to him and invite us into his heavenly house of many rooms. Those who reject God’s love will be permitted their alienation into the hell of their own making. We believe the just upon Judgment Day will be restored body and soul, never to die and suffer again. Human nature is perfected, not exchanged for an angelic nature. We will live with God and give him eternal glory. That is our purpose.

I am not sure what you mean by mixing things, one acceptable and another not. That which is right and wrong is derived either from divine positive law or natural law. Our Lord recommends evangelical poverty. Fasting and abstinence assist with spiritual discipline and maturity. Translations change because the meanings of words are constantly changing.

Being made in the image of God has to do with soul, not the flesh. Like God we can know and will and love. By grace we can be remade into his likeness. Others might see Christ in us.

The two-fold of commandment of Christ to love is often resisted by sinful men and women because of indifference and hatred. We are to love God so completely that this love spills over toward neighbor. Why does it so often fail to happen? I would ask you this . . . why have you failed to love in such a manner? Have you judged people of faith while remaining blind to your own hypocrisy? What is it you believe? Have you truly opened yourself to faith by study and prayer?

The posture of the believer is not to ridicule or to oppress others. Efforts to teach and admonish are expressions of love. We would save souls. We want to go to heaven and take as many of our friends (and enemies) along with us. We believe we have the truth and the truth must be shared. Peace!
alexandra, on April 22, 2023 at 3:52 pm said:

Christ is risen!

I am very sorry for my English, I live in a Balkan country.
When I was a teenager (15 years old) I listened to a lot of black metal, I wore gothic make-up and dressed in black. I also read a lot of philosophy, much of it pessimistic, including Nietzsche, Cioran, etc. Of course, at that age, I could not distinguish very well between a philosophical problem and real life.
My mother used to take me to Orthodox monasteries where she fell on her knees in front of the abbots asking them to save their daughter because she was lost. Some monks recommended me penance, sometimes they said that demons were speaking through me or that I was sick.
My mother also found me a priest that returned from Athos. He recommended her to take me to a friend of his, a lady who was an Orthodox psychiatrist.
She was very fanatical, I remember the way she cut the barcodes on any product she bought, she had a cabinet full of icons, and listened to religious music during the consultations.
She hospitalized me for 3 weeks. I remember that I suffered a lot during this period, it was hell. Her records of me had very basic observations, she remarked that I dressed strangely, that I didn’t socialize enough with my hospital roommates, that I used neologisms and that I had psychotic ideas (the philosophical answers I used to give).
Before she discharged me, she called me to her, at night to tell me that although she thought I had Asperger’s, I only had a period of disillusionment and to remember always that there is only “one Truth.”
Somehow I managed to mimic her way of thinking to get her to leave me alone. However, my teachers and colleagues found out about my hospitalization, and in high school I always felt like an outcast
After I left my hometown, to college, I consulted two more psychiatrists who told me that I had been misdiagnosed and that the psychiatrist was just an ”unskilled peasant”. They said I was perfectly normal, even if very shy.
Now I am 27 years old, I have completed two faculties, Letters and Law and I work in a bank where I am well paid.
In the last 10 years I participated in Catholic liturgies, sometimes I did one or two spiritual exercises, somehow, Loyola helped me a lot to understand my meaning in life and to pass over any anxieties. I have a lot of favorite saints, and I noticed that in Catholicism I need very little reading to be so happy.
Orthodox liturgies remind me of my adolescence and I feel more pain and struggle than consolation.
I know that I will have to get married (I have been in a relationship for 5 years), baptize my child, and confess at some point. (I haven’t done this in 13 years).
What should I say to the catholic priest? Should I not admit that my approach to Catholicism was due to my experience with Orthodoxy?
I am afraid to confront him. I am afraid that he will ask why I want to be a Catholic and I will have to tell him about all of this trauma and that he will judge me as I was judged before.
Above all, I am afraid that I will lose God, just as I lost him after the traumatic episode in my adolescence.
For me now, just the fact that I can watch others taking the Eucharist, or that I can say with them the act of contrition at the beginning of the liturgy is enough. I am happy as long as I know that God is in the Catholic church, in the sacraments I believe in even if I do not participate in them, and in my prayers that have a Catholic touch. If the priest rejects me, if he judges me, then I would feel like an orphan and my life without God would be useless because I would have no one to worship my successes, my good deeds.
I am sorry for my long text, thank you SO much!

FATHER JOE: You can tell the priest about your Catholic spiritual reading. That is often a factor for pious and literate persons. You do not have to tell him your whole life story. Having said this, I would hope that your attraction to Catholicism is not simply because of bad experiences with Orthodoxy. There is much beauty and truth in the Christian faith of the East. Indeed, that is why there are Eastern rites within Catholicism. I am sorry about how you were treated as a youth. Young people often go through phases and the gothic outlook and heavy metal is something that some pass through. It does not immediately mean possession or dire psychological issues. I would encourage you to talk with a priest, take whatever instruction might be required, and receive the sacraments. It has been many years but a Catholic priest friend who belongs to Communion and Liberation was involved with wonderful work in Eastern Europe after the fall of Soviet Communism. He did take some heat in that he was accused of proselytization by certain Orthodox leaders. In truth, he was effective in teaching the truth and he worked in locations where the Orthodox churchmen were purportedly plants for the defunct KGB. Many were upset at what they saw as complicity. This was especially true in countries like Romania. Hopefully, you will find a priest who will respect your journey of faith. Peace!
Lorik Ledion, on April 21, 2023 at 4:30 pm said:

Hello, i’ve been wondering something recently which hasen’t been sitting in my mind recently.
How can Jesus be the Son of God and also God?

FATHER JOE: It has to do with the revelation of the Trinity. We use an analogy. The Father perfectly knows himself and generates from all eternity the Word. This Word becomes incarnate as God’s only Son. While we use many words, the one Word of God contains everything and makes possible the expression or revelation of God. The Father and Son infinitely Love one another. The eternal generation of this Love is understood as the Holy Spirit.
Lawrence, on April 20, 2023 at 10:43 pm said:

I am a prophet. Mystic, stigmata I told the Catholic Church it is the apocolyose. God is harder on me then anyone. I used to love him and pray constantly. Now I have no faith, hate him and get disgusted when I pray and stop. He has always made a fool out of me and I hate Him. I hate him so f—ing much I f—ing hate him. My name is X also One. I f—ing hate him

FATHER JOE: People are suffering and dying for the faith and you are feeling sorry for yourself? You are no prophet. You are either a faithless person who is angry that God will not give you what you want or you are not well. I cannot tell which. Seek counseling and say your prayers. Hate as you express it is not from God but from the evil one.
Travis, on April 20, 2023 at 8:03 pm said:

I’ve had the thoughts that I’m transgender I want to transition take estrogen to change my body. I believe in God and his teaching but this it all overpowering. If I act on it and do that would I still be welcomed in heaven one day or would I be going to hell for it?

FATHER JOE: It sounds that you want to change your body on a whim. That is silly. You may be worried about hell but you should also desire to walk with the Lord in this world.
Peter, on April 20, 2023 at 4:19 pm said:

Hello father, I’m a homosexual but still avoiding every kind of gay act. But I daily struggle with masturbation. Really struggle. I must to do this because of my addiction and strong hormones and I thing this is less sinful. If I die in this sin because I can’t go every day to confess will I go to hell? Please answer me I’m desperate. Is there a forgiveness of habitual or wilfull sin?

FATHER JOE: Many people struggle with such a habitual sin. It is still serious but you should not despair. Make regular recourse to an act of contrition and regularly visit your confessor for the sacrament of penance. God does not ration his mercy for those who know true sorrow for sin and love him. Be careful that this vice does not lead you into the further addiction of pornography. God will give you the grace to be chaste and holy. Trust him.
Coleen, on April 20, 2023 at 1:45 pm said:

What is the difference between the spiritual gifts in Isaiah from Corinthians and why do we only use the ones in Isaiah?

FATHER JOE:

“To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. To one is given through the Spirit the expression of wisdom; to another the expression of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit; to another mighty deeds; to another prophecy; to another discernment of spirits; to another varieties of tongues; to another interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing them individually to each person as he wishes” (1 Corinthians 12:7-11).

The listing in 1 Corinthians is focusing on divine gifts that are given for the overall good of the Church. God empowers his people for the mission he gives them. The shepherds of the Church are moved by the truth so as to lead the faith community and to teach the truth. The sacraments are given efficacy by the Spirit of God. There are also charismatic gifts that are given some and not to others.

By contrast, Isaiah is speaking about universal virtues that will be made available with the coming of the Messiah. The Church would discern these gifts of the Holy Spirit as given on Pentecost. They are bestowed upon believers with faith and baptism. Indeed, confirmation would also be included as the conclusion or the “confirmation” of baptism.

“But a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD, and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD” (Isaiah 11:1-3).

The catechetical list is as follows: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord.
blossoms426, on April 18, 2023 at 3:59 am said:

Does the Church teach that a Gregorian Mass actually releases a soul of a deceased person from purgatory and sends it to heaven?

FATHER JOE: The Church would deem thirty consecutive Masses as a pious custom but the teaching about the release of a soul from purgatory is private revelation (not binding public). If the person for whom we pray is already in heaven or is damned then the fruits would be applied to another poor soul, much as indulgences. The difficulty with such Masses is in the scheduling as they must be on consecutive days without a break.
Jen Hutchinson, on April 16, 2023 at 7:21 pm said:

Hello Father,

Recently I remembered a possible sin from 25 years ago. At age 19, I made an appointment at a planned parenthood to be seen for possible birth control. I ended up not following through or going.
After this popped in my head recently, I felt unsure if I needed to bring this up in confession now. 13 years ago I made a general confession for all prior sins. I know for a fact that at that confession I confessed to using birth control. However, I don’t think I would have thought to confess making an appointment at a planned parenthood as sinful at 18. Of course now I’m very aware of the evil they do but in 1997, I don’t think that part would have crossed my mind. Is this something I should confess? I tend to be scrupulous so I am trying not to get into a habit of confessing doubtful sins from long ago. I just don’t think I would have understood the scandal of a planned parenthood at 18, in 1997. Plus I canceled the appointment.

FATHER JOE: If there was a sin with the intent it has long since been absolved.
siobhan, on April 16, 2023 at 12:14 pm said:

my parish priest came down from the alter and sprinkled holy water but missed me ..whst will happen.

FATHER JOE: Ah, he missed you with the water but you still received the blessing.
Christopher, on April 16, 2023 at 6:03 am said:

Dear Father for your information, and I hereby seek your sincere feedback whether to consider this a blessing. My dear late wife Priscilla passed on on the 21st April of the year 2000, Good Friday, and on the following Resurrection Sunday the 23rd April was Priscilla’s date of birth. A unique coincidence indeed don’t you think Father? Please advise whether this was to be considered a blessing or not. Thanking you kindly in advance.

FATHER JOE: Such things happen all the time. We are surrounded by God’s blessings!
Daniel, on April 13, 2023 at 9:02 pm said:

In grade school, the nuns told us we might be tested by angels disguised as a begger.
Throughout my life, I believe I have been so tested, and in most cases, I failed to offer charity appropriate to the blessings I have received.
Today, for instance, returning my cart after loading my car with my Costco purchases, I was approached by a woman carrying a young child. She said her baby needed food. Looking at the cute child playing with a cheap plastic squirt gun, I weighed my options. People who work with homeless have told me that it’s a bad idea to give money to people on the street, because it deters them from seeking help from established agencies and groups.
Still, if approached, I think of the nuns’ warnings, and hand out a small amount of cash. At Costco today, I opened my wallet, saw a 10 and a one, and gave the woman the one. Now I feel bad that I didn’t offer the ten. In fact, it seemed like the ten was glowing in my wallet.
I got in my car, looked around, and did not see the woman.
Would you say that I failed another test, and if so, can I make amends by sending a donation to a local charity?

FATHER JOE: Only the Lord can judge your soul. We are tested every day. It may be you feel bad because you know the difference between the measure of a dollar and what it costs to feed a hungry child. The day that stops bothering you will be the day you are damned. Let us both pray that day never comes. If you cannot find this woman, I am sure that many might benefit from any charity you offer. However, do not see it as heavenly insurance but rather as an expression of love. Let the sociologists worry about the rest. We as Christians focus on persons.
Kevin, on April 13, 2023 at 2:41 pm said:

Is this a message from God?

Hi 34 11 sorry for the 6667t3diiyttu

FATHER JOE: No, I am pretty certain it is gibberish.