Ask a Priest

5,442 Responses

Steve, on March 23, 2016 at 10:52 pm said:

Dear Fr. Joe,

My question concerns praying for the souls of the dead. We know that God exists out of time. Therefore might God accept prayers offered today to be applied to the moment of death for someone who died several years ago? And thereby give that person the grace of conversion even though the prayers that obtained that grace would not be said for years in the future?

FATHER: The issue is that we live in time. You can pray for a soul in purgatory but once someone dies conversion is no longer possible. We cannot go back and rewrite chapters or an ending to other people’s life-stories. Remember as well, that within the economy of salvation, God does say NO to certain prayers.

Or can prayers said today for the dead only assist them if they are in purgatory? I have several deceased relatives I pray for who never practiced the faith. And I ask God to apply my prayers to convert them at their moment of death? Do prayers for conversion be retroactively applied?

Thank you.
Jodi, on March 23, 2016 at 5:12 pm said:

Father Joe, yesterday I went to confession and confessed that my husband and I had been involved in non-procreative marital acts. The priest asked if it had gone on for years, and I said yes. Here is where I’m concerned: He then asked if I knew those acts were wrong. I said no, but then felt uneasy because I realized at that point that I did know a couple acts were sin, but I didn’t know the others were. I felt like I had lied, but my intent was never to deceive the priest. I was so nervous (as I get whenever I confess anything), so I think that may have been a factor. I did get to later explain (in that same confession, after confessing other sins) that I had some knowledge before but was unsure until the past month. Also important to this was that when I converted to Catholicism in 2013, I confessed the acts I thought were wrong at that time. The ones I didn’t know were wrong, I did not confess until yesterday. Do I need to confess that I was inaccurate with the priest, or am I possibly being scrupulous? I tend to worry a lot, and have to constantly give matters to God in order to stop worrying so much.

FATHER JOE: I suspect the priest understood… both about the sins and about your anxiety. You received absolution. Put these past sins behind you. Continue to love your spouse, remain faithful to the Church and celebrate with joy the meaning of Easter. Do not allow worry or scrupulosity to destroy what the season is all about. Peace!
W. C., on March 23, 2016 at 4:13 am said:

Hello Father,
My question is the following: Is it sinful to work for aerospace engineering / defense contractors such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing, or Northrop Grumman? They undeniably play a pivotal role in the defense of the United States but also sell to countries which have less than stellar records on human rights, sometimes bombing civilian areas. (Though all sales need to be sanctioned by the US State Department and Congress)

FATHER JOE: I would say that you can work for them. The issue here is remote accountability. For instance, a gun-maker provides weapons for police and self-defense. But, unfortunately, some will use them for crimes. We can argue about the types of weapons and their need in a modern society, but the direct intention is not to supply either criminals or terrorists. The companies you mention also construct airplanes and rockets. If it were immoral to work for these companies then it would likewise be so for men and women to serve in our Armed Forces, and that simply is not the case in Catholic thinking. (The issue of pacifism is another question.)
sindy616p, on March 22, 2016 at 11:08 pm said:

today I went to confession and few hours later I got in a verbal fight with my mom, we argued…since Easter is coming do I have to go to confession again or is it not a big sin,and I can get ready for Easter?

FATHER JOE: Make a good Act of Contrition and tell your mother that you love her. Prepare for Easter together.
sindy616p, on March 22, 2016 at 11:06 pm said:

hi father,

was Jesus a vegetarian or not? someone told me he was, but today I read on the internet one priests comment in which he said that jesus wasn’t a vegetarian..

FATHER JOE: The Jews had dietary restrictions under the law but they were not vegetarians. There is no evidence that Jesus was. We know he regularly ate fish. The Seder presumably included lamb.
Benedict, on March 22, 2016 at 10:00 am said:

Father,

Thank you SO much for your kind and patient answers.

I just had a question, which may seem silly, but it is important for me, personally.

1. Are priests allowed to keep beards?

I do realize that Eastern Catholic and Eastern Orthodox priests keep beards (beards are the pride and boast of the East!). But it is quite lacking in Western priests.

I think I saw (though I am not sure now, since it was a while back) that the website of the FFSP said that either seminarians or priests (I do not remember which one now) are not allowed to keep beards.

What are your thoughts?

2. What is the canonical status of the SSPX, according to you?

3. Are there any other priestly societies which practice the old Rites, apart from the SSPX, the SSPX-MC and the FFSP?

Many thanks, sir!

The peace of Holy Jehovah be with you. 🙂

FATHER JOE:

Certain rites of the East and religious orders of the West prefer beards.

Many traditional groups, but not all, require that priests be clean-shaven and with hair cut above the priestly collar.

Various bishops may make rules about head and facial hair, but some are lenient about it… allowing moustaches and/or beards.

As far as I can tell, the SSPX still has no juridical standing in the Catholic Church. If they should decide to create an additional bishop, I suspect the censure of excommunication will be restored against them.

I have a preference for the Fraternity of St. Peter but there are a number of other communities offering the Tridentine Mass. A number of diocesan priests throughout the nation celebrate it as well. I would not have a comprehensive list of communities handy. I have a friend who likes to assist with the liturgies of the Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem.
amoiesu, on March 22, 2016 at 6:49 am said:

Hello Father!

I was listening to Catholic Radio one day and the hosts of the program were talking about how Holy Week is a really hard time for parish priests, but they never mentioned what it is that makes it hard. It has been my commitment since then to pray and fast for parish priests each Holy Week. I am curious, though, as to what it is that makes Holy Week so much harder than the other weeks of the year. Is it the increased Confession time, maybe?

Prayers!
Grace J.

FATHER JOE: It is just very busy with many special liturgies along with pastoral obligations.
Rick, on March 22, 2016 at 2:36 am said:

Hello Father,

For the past few years every night during my evening prayers i have prayed for God to end my life. I dont feel i am suicidal, i am just tired. And my family and job would be better off if i was gone. I have set everything up for my family with insurance that they will be taken care of. My work would be better off as they can replace me with someone who is motivated. So my question is why Father? Why have i been praying for years and i am still here.

FATHER JOE: We can pray for the wrong things. The proper posture is thanks to God for your life and the opportunity to embrace his providence in witnessing to the Cross.
fgm, on March 21, 2016 at 4:28 pm said:

Dear Fr Joe,
A readers question reminded me of a memory that troubled me for long. When I had just turned 8 I went with my classmates to our first confession. Being a group of maybe 80 and having lost the paper I had listed my sins and being an overly shy girl plus the priest was very old and had a heavy accent.
I just couldn’t remember the penance I was given.
This troubled me alot over the years and away from school the faith wasn’t taught at all so I didn’t know what to do.
Another related problem I got confirmed later 3 years down the road but don’t remember a pre confirmation confession session being made available though I remember no mortal sin then on my conscience.
I guess even as a child I tended to be scrupulous.
Over the years I have confessed about my first confession but I just felt so reassured reading your answer to Pam.
Thanks and God bless you and all the writers to your blog.
David, on March 21, 2016 at 2:50 pm said:

Hello Father. I apologize as this is a rather strange question but I figured it’s best to hear it from someone with experience. I also apologize that I’m not exactly a practicing Catholic anymore so my description of the scene will likely come across as rather literal and not sophisticated.

Anyways I’m writing a script at the moment and I’m at a scene that takes place at a funeral/burial. Everyone has surrounded the casket and it is about to be lowered into the ground. If you were the priest in charge of this, what sort of “final speech” would you give in this instance? Are there particular scriptures or bible passages you would quote? If it helps, the funeral is for a woman who died in her mid 50’s after a nearly 20 year fight with breast cancer. I’m looking for something authentic that truly sounds like something someone would say. I unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately) don’t have a lot of personal experience with this because I haven’t been to a lot of funerals in my life.

Thank you for your time.

FATHER JOE:

Much of the homily and his own words would be at the Funeral Mass in the church. Graveside ceremonies follow closely the funeral rites with little digression. The priest might remind the people that we pay respect to the body since it was a temple of the Holy Spirit and had contained a soul but that the deceased is not in the box or in the ground. The dead are with the Lord. If you want help with funeral Scriptures and the rituals I would recommend a $5 or so book we use to help families prepare funerals. Here is the link:

Please be aware that this is the current ritual. The translation was modified a few years ago. Before Vatican II they were even more different (Latin) and the priest wore black, not white or violet. I saw an episode of the Father Brown Mysteries and they got the liturgy all wrong… with vestments and in the direction the priest stood at Mass. The priest consultant must have been asleep that day.

If you want, you can email the scene to me at frjoe@erols.com and I could offer an opinion or correction.

Peace!
Pam Wright, on March 21, 2016 at 12:33 am said:

Father,

I went to Reconciliation and for penance I was asked to read a passage from the Bible. However, once I knelt down I couldn’t remember which passage the priest wanted me to read and it was too late for me to ask him, so I knelt down in the pew and said prayers. Did I commit a sin?

FATHER JOE: No sin, you’re okay… you did by right with prayers. Peace!
The Manang, on March 20, 2016 at 8:58 am said:

Hello, Father Joe.

Our neighbor committed suicide. I heard neighbors (who are also Catholics) said, “We entrust him in God’s mercy.” Others said, “We put him in God’s hand.” Can we pray for those who committed suicide? When we say we let God decide, do we still pray for it? Some people also said that the priest won’t bless his body or that the church won’t give final blessings. I include him in my prayers and hope that he is in purgatory and not hell. Is it helpful to pray for him? Does the Church pray for Judas Iscariot and all those who committed suicide?

Thank you so much for patiently answering my questions.

FATHER JOE:

Since the mid-1980’s, the Church gas been more lenient in regard to prayers and funeral services for those who commit suicide. We have come to a heightened appreciation of diseases of the mind. The effects of anguish and pain upon human psychology can become overwhelming for some. However, while elements can mitigate the subjective gravity, the objective matter of the sin is still serious.

Unless your neighbor committed suicide as an expressed act to repudiate God’s love and to cause scandal among the faithful, it is likely the Church would both pray for him and give him Christian burial. Those who would entrust him into God’s hands and the Lord’s mercy are making the proper response. It is God (not us) who ultimately judges souls. There may be many who die from natural causes who will become citizens of hell. We still pray for them because this is our posture before God and we do not know about the particular soul. When we pray for the dead by name and that person is either a saint of heaven or a damned soul of hell, the graces merited by our prayer will be applied to another poor soul (in purgatory) who is disposed toward such help.

Judas is reckoned as damned because he betrayed Christ and failed to repent like Peter. Instead of finding hope, he despaired and committed suicide. Our Lord says that it would have been better had he never been born. That judgment does not leave much room for salvation. His despair was not merely an emotional response but a moral rejection of divine mercy. Death makes these sins permanent, hence why suicide is often reckoned as the unforgiveable sin. If we die in mortal sin, we are damned to hell. Thus there is no tradition of praying for Judas. Other suicides may not be so cut-and-dry.

The prohibition for funerals and burials in consecrated church grounds was in part to provide deterrence against other suicides. Life could be very hard. Suicide was always reckoned a terrible scandal. The Church also confronted a monstrous heresy or false religion that made ritual suicide a type of sacrament. The Albigenses or Catharists repudiated the marriage bed because it attached us to the body and placed souls in captivity to matter. Matter was the negative side of their dualism. They recommended ritual suicide (suffocation) and starvation so that the soul might escape from the body. They did not believe in the bodily resurrection or in hell.

The National Catholic Partnership on Disability asserts the following from the CATECHISM:

Suicide contradicts the natural inclination of the human being to preserve and perpetuate his life. It is gravely contrary to the just love of self. It likewise offends love of neighbor because it unjustly breaks the ties of solidarity with family, nation, and other human societies to which we continue to have obligations. Suicide is contrary to love for the living God. (2281)

If suicide is committed with the intention of setting an example, especially to the young, it also takes on the gravity of scandal. Voluntary co-operation in suicide is contrary to the moral law. (2282)

Grave psychological disturbances, anguish, or grave fear of hardship, suffering, or torture can diminish the responsibility of the one committing suicide.

We should not despair of the eternal salvation of persons who have taken their own lives. By ways known to him alone, God can provide the opportunity for salutary repentance. The Church prays for persons who have taken their own lives. (2283)
Pat, on March 19, 2016 at 2:44 pm said:

I know that using the f-word is a mortal sin but is watching movies, and videos with the use of the f-word a mortal sin? Thank you and God bless.

FATHER JOE:

I am pained by the increased use of the “F” word but learned opinion suggests that much cussing or profanity is venial, especially when it emerges in situations of great fear or excitement. It is important to make distinctions. There is a difference between taking God’s name in vain, cursing someone or something, and salting general language with expletives. Some words deemed bad are not bad at all, like the word HELL or DAMN. However, it becomes wrong when directed at someone, as in “I damn you to hell.” It is God’s place to judge, not ours.

Modern vulgarity once focused upon scatological references. I recall the story of Bess Truman and her response to criticism of her husband’s constant use of the word “manure.” She returned, “It took me a long time to get him to substitute that word!”

Today, there is the increased general usage of sexually charged words. I find this particularly offensive because they are usually focused or targeted upon persons. They tend to destroy human dignity. The level of seriousness rises. The “F” word demeans the sacramental value and the holiness of the marital act. Along with this women are often impugned with the “B” word associated with a female dog. Women are even using such derogatory language about themselves. I find this sickening. It is not funny as certain comedians pretend.

Films both reflect and form society. While there are some programs that are morally offensive, others have value but are spiced with elements of vulgarity and nudity. Because of that each film or television show must be judged on its own merits and we must discern if it is appropriate to watch it. Bad elements might not mean that you sinned, but if the entertainment (and that includes music) are utterly irredeemable then it would be best to distance yourself from it.

Can we distinguish between the vulgar, the impolite and the profane? Mocking or taking God’s name is serious and should generally be shunned. But what if such were an accurate portrayal of a person’s life where he fought with God and in the end, God won? I knew a dying man who for a long time refused to see the “f-king” priest. However, the same lips that shouted “GD” this and “GD” that, would at that priest’s gentle urging, whisper, “Lord, have mercy on me a sinner.” That might be a story worth being told.
Benedict, on March 19, 2016 at 11:49 am said:

Sir,

Hi again. Just wanted to ask a few more questions on praying the Breviary every day.

1. I did not quite understand your answer. You write:

“We make time for prayer: Office of Readings, Morning (or Lauds), Daytime Prayer, Evening Prayer (or Vespers) and Compline (or Night Prayer).”
That’s FIVE times a day. By Daytime Prayer, do you mean Terce, Sext and None put together? Or do Priests have to pray only ONE of the Day Hours?

FATHER JOE: That is right, the priest may select one: either mid-morning, noon, or mid-afternoon. He does not do all three.

2. All of this put together, on a rough guess, how many hours do you put into prayer every day? A rough guess is all I ask.

FATHER JOE:

It varies from day to day. A perfect day without too many distractions would run like this:

REQUIRED

Invitatory & Morning Prayer – 15 to 20 minutes
Celebration of Mass – 25 minutes
Office of Readings – 30 minutes
Daytime Prayer – 10-15 minutes
Evening Prayer – 15 to 20 minutes
Night Prayer – 15 to 20 minutes

PERSONAL

Meditation (Sometimes Before Blessed Sacrament) – 30 minutes
Rosary – 30 minutes

This would not include other personal devotions like the Way of the Cross, the Miraculous Medal Novena, the Litany to the Sacred Heart, etc. But these would not be offered every day.

3. Do Priests get to choose WHICH office they want to pray from? Such as the Benedictine Office or the Pre-Vatican II Office? Or do they need special permission?

FATHER JOE: The priest must generally say the latest version of the Liturgy of the Hours (Breviary). This is available in Latin and all the vernacular languages. Pope Benedict XVI said that priests (Diocesan) may say the old Breviary and that it would satisfy for our daily obligation. But few priests do so as it requires a certain understanding of Latin that many priests do not possess. I have a beautiful but expensive three volume leather set of the BREVIARIUM ROMANUM and a four volume leather set of the LITURGY OF THE HOURS. We are awaiting a revision of the latter which will be more in sync with the corrected English Mass prayers and sanctoral calendar. There is also talk of an expanded Office of Readings. This element of the post-Vatican II Breviary makes available informative documents from the Church’s living tradition (like Clément’s Epistle to the Corinthians and the Didache) Special permission would be required for any other Offices besides these two.

4. Do Priests need to say Mass every day?

FATHER JOE: It is not absolutely required but most priests do so. Indeed, given the need for vocations, many priests say Mass two or even three times a day. The Archbishop gave clergy in Washington permission to trinate if necessary. I said two Masses daily for most of my priesthood. I offer three every weekend for Sunday. Priests are very busy.

Many thanks, sir.

God be with you.
Paulie, on March 19, 2016 at 4:18 am said:

How does one fight sinful lust and temptation in a sexually-charged world?

FATHER JOE: What can I say? It is not enough to close our eyes. I guess we just have to do the best we can and trust in the Lord’s mercy. We should redouble our efforts as witnesses to others that there is a better way… a way that respects the body and human persons. We can’t control the larger world around us; but we can make a nitch for the pure and holy in our lives and in our homes. There is a time for charging and there is a time for circling the wagons. Right now I think we are surrounded.
Ruth, on March 18, 2016 at 5:57 pm said:

Dear father
I have a big doubt. Its about my childhood best friend.
My problem is that if i talk to her about any guy i like she adds him on social media and tries to talk to him like she’s really interested in him. I myself would not have spoken to him but just noticed him around.

I keep telling her that she mustn’t do so since she’s married. She justifies by laughing it off and telling me that she’s getting a divorce and happily going to be single soon.

I’m very upset by her behaviour. The whole neighbourhood and my family have asked me to avoid this girl as she doesn’t have a very good name in society. But unfortunately she’s my best friend and i cant just abandon her. What must i do.

From what I have observed. .she loves to flirt with boys but later on doesn’t want them.

FATHER JOE: She is your best friend? Friendships should be mutual or reciprocal. It does not sound like she considers you her best friend… no respect for your feelings, deliberately targeting men you like, and unconcerned both about her reputation and yours. Her best friend should be her husband and she is wronging him too. You should face her with the issues you raise here and about what it means to be true friends.
Peter, on March 17, 2016 at 11:26 pm said:

Dear Father,
I am wondering if the music I have written and recorded is moral. (The words and rhythm…) If it isn’t, I will get rid of it. It is blues rock music. I know that Benedict XVI said that rock music is often not good for people. Could you tell me what you think? Here is a link to some of my songs that you can listen to:

https://soundcloud.com/peter-rist/sets/best-of-the-peter-rist-band

Thanks,
Peter

FATHER JOE: Bob Dylan sang for the Vatican when Pope John Paul II was Pope. The Jazz musician Dave Brubeck wrote a Mass and converted to the faith. The Church does not oppose all modern music. I only listened to a few songs but it sounds to me you have great talent and talent should not be wasted. We should make the most of God’s gifts to us. Music speaks to the human condition. As a priest I worry about our kids who are addicted to music (particularly rap) that espouses violence, derides persons and throws out one vulgarity after another (like the f-word). Your blues rock reminded me of some of the lyrics in Johnny Cash’s standards. And I loved a lot of his stuff… even the somewhat irreverent. Keep the faith. Blessings!
Darren, on March 17, 2016 at 10:45 am said:

Why all evil speaks latin ?? Even now when people excorsist

FATHER JOE: The devil can speak in any language.
Benedict, on March 17, 2016 at 2:27 am said:

Dear Sir,

Peace be to you, and Grace from Holy Jehovah and Jesus Christ!

I just had a question, though it may seem a bit odd. How do priests and religious manage to pray the entire Breviary all 8 times a day, with their busy schedule? This would seem especially difficult with the friars, who are so active in doing social work, such as the Dominicans and the Franciscans (St Dominic and St Francis pray for us!).

I ask this, because, if possible, and if God allows, I hope to become a religious one day, if God grants me strength against the many adversaries of man.

Thank you.

A Friend.

FATHER JOE: We make time for prayer: Office of Readings, Morning (or Lauds), Daytime Prayer, Evening Prayer (or Vespers) and Compline (or Night Prayer).
John Kreumzan, on March 16, 2016 at 4:19 pm said:

I’m having confusing thoughts about my Catholic upbringing, because I read so many negative things that have happened in our Church throughout history. I would really like a very reliable source of some kind that would set the record straight and separate the truths, lies and myths of the history of our Church. It needs to be reliable and unbiased. Would you please help? Thank you and God Bless!
– John

FATHER JOE: There are many good books. Many like The Catholic Church, the First 2000 Years: A Popular Survey and Study Guide to Church History by Martha Rasmussen.
chinonye, on March 16, 2016 at 1:44 pm said:

Hi Father
You didn’t say anything about her husband slapping her. Is it abusive for a man to slap his wife during an argument even if she can be foul-mouthed sometimes? Thanks.

FATHER JOE: No one should slap anyone during an argument.
CR, on March 16, 2016 at 4:50 am said:

Hello, Father. I am entering the Church this Easter and have a question about mortal sin. I recently went to my first confession (I’ve been a member of a Protestant church my whole life), and have struggled for years with sexual sin (lust, masturbation, pornography). Leading up to and after my confession, by the grace of God, I’ve been able to resist sexual temptation more effectively. But today, I looked at an article that I knew contained pictures of a woman dressed in a revealing fashion (bikini). I was motivated by curiosity because I wouldn’t have expected the person in question to take such pictures, and I did not entertain lustful thoughts about the pictures. But afterwards I thought about how the “curiosity” excuse is something that has led me to look at pornography before. So I knew better than to click into the article in the first place, even though I planned to close the page if I saw something that triggered impure thoughts. Because I deliberately looked at an the article and the pictures, even though it didn’t actually lead to lust, have I committed a mortal sin that I must confess before receiving the Eucharist for the first time? Thank you.

FATHER JOE: No lust but curiosity… uncertainty about sin… all this mitigates gravity. Mortal sin requires serious matter, knowing something is grievously wrong and freely/willfully doing it. If it were mortal you would probably not be uncertain. You cannot accidentally commit such sin. It must be deliberate.
D.F., on March 15, 2016 at 2:24 am said:

“You cannot gauge your own vocation or calling based upon matters like shortages, poor priests, etc. You and your calling must be judged according to your own gifts and abilities.” That’s not why I was called.. I never said that! I was called to be a priest which was 2011,5 years ago but I started struggling with math and philosophy in 2014, my second year in college because I’m the type of person who loves God,and is a man of God like people tell me.

FATHER JOE: You wrote the following… “17 years old I went to community college because I wanted to be a priest, i was the type of person that lived for God and not my self.”

I have a lot of good friends that are priests and they even said they saw a calling in me. 2010, I went to New Orleans for a week and did community service, did the same thing for 2012 in West Virginia. For 6 years, I was a ccd teacher. I was part of my youth group as a student and was also a leader of the youth group, I read at my church during mass, I put my friends first before myself, everyone comes to me for advice, I’m there for almost everyone. I believe those are good qualities for a priest.

FATHER JOE: They are good activities for sure, befitting faithful laity; but the discussion here is about the need for properly trained clergy and that such men must witness to hope and the goodness of God in his creation. Nothing would be gained by shortchanging the formation process. Your inability to get past the proverbial question of pain would make it hard if not impossible to minister as a priest. A man is not simply ordained because of shortages, but because he has a priestly heart and the mind of the Church. He must be called both by Christ and the Church. After eight years or more of seminary you might be ready. But it would be wrong to truncate the process.

You don’t understand my point, there are great men out there who feel like they can be good priests but can because the education is not easy. My friend is a deacon and even told me that” you would be a great priest but shouldn’t have to struggle with Math” I have a lot of friends that I know in my parish and don’t understand why priests need a lot of education, my friend from high school thought I just needed to be a man of God. When I talked about the shortage of priests to where my diocease is expected to go from 117 to 35 in ten years, that has nothing to do with my calling, what I meant is that maybe the shortage of priest should make the church consider changing the amount of education required.

FATHER JOE: I understand perfectly well, and it would be a mistake. We are talking about more than math. We are talking about a degree in philosophy and theology. We are talking about spiritual and pastoral formation. The priest is not made in a day. The priestly character or persona must be slowly developed. He is not like other men. While there is grace, there is no magic that comes with his sacramental transformation. We have many lay people with higher degrees. Some of them like your atheist philosophy professor would challenge the Church. We need priests who can respond to the academic challenges to the faith that emerge from the secular world. We need priests who can sustain apologetics against those from other denominations that would challenge Catholic teachings or seek to steal souls from the Church. We need priests who know how to respond to the hurt and pain of people suffering loss and abuse. Even eight years is not enough, but it is a start.

For example, when does a priest talk about Aristoltle(a philosopher) when giving the Eucharist,hearing confession and celebrating mass, they don’t, same thing with algebra. Sorry for coming out as thinking I’m attacking the church because I’m wasn’t, I’m just frustrated because have no idea what I wanna do with my life now, I’m 21 now, I was called at 16, I’m in student loan debt. I met with my pastor and vocation director at 17 and they said they were happy for me and glad I heard Gods call, they didn’t tell me I needed math, they didn’t ask me why I felt called but they both told me they saw a calling in me.

FATHER JOE: Without Aristotle and Aquinas how would you teach and understand transubstantiation where bread and wine become the substance of Christ’s body and blood behind the accidents or appearances of bread and wine? How would you contrast it with the figurative remembrance of Baptists, the spiritual presence of Calvinists, the consubstantiation of Lutherans, etc.? Where we find Christ’s body and blood, our Lord makes his soul and divinity also present. We receive in Holy Communion, the living Christ, whole and complete. Without philosophy and theology, how would you understand the Mass as a clean sacrifice where the oblation of Jesus on the Cross is re-presented upon the altar? How would you reconcile the understanding that Jesus died once-and-for-all with the belief that his presence and saving activity are accessed in the Mass? How would you speak of the Paschal Mystery being realized in all the sacraments? You harp a great deal about math. But a few classes of science and math will make you well rounded. The priest who would speak of Genesis and creation should also appreciate how the universe is made and the various theories of evolution and human development. Truth complements truth: Theology, Philosophy and Science. The priest should also be a man of letters, well read and able to write. He will have instructions to give and homilies to preach. I stand by what I have said. Natural gifts vary from person to person. Some priests were A-B students. Others got by with C’s. That was okay if it was the best you could do. But one should not run away from the classroom and still demand the priesthood.
D.F., on March 14, 2016 at 10:58 pm said:

You say my logic doesn’t make sense? Well my first year philosophy, we learned about Aristotle,the law of non contradiction,love of wisdom,friend of wisdom,ancient and modern philosophy,being epistemology, logic, metaphysics, ethics, and aesthetics); and by style of rational questioning. In fact, my philosophy professor named Professor Kelton told me and I quote “the bible contradicts itself on so many levels, I don’t believe in God so shouldn’t I be stoned to death?”

I said no Jesus died on the cross for our sins and he said to me in return ” you Christians take and choose parts from the bible but don’t follow it all” you say I’m against God but what about my philosophy class when all my professor did was attack my beliefs and tried everything to tell me God was fake?

FATHER JOE: You should have seen it as a challenge to speak about origins and intelligent design. Such professors require philosophical discourse informed by Scripture and divine positive law. Hum, have you seen the movie, “GOD IS NOT DEAD”?
D.F., on March 14, 2016 at 7:46 pm said:

You don’t even know the answer to that?

FATHER JOE: I gave the Catholic response to the problem of pain. Where is the confusion? There is nothing I can say to change the reality of the matter. While we can know joy, we are born into a veil of tears. The harmony of creation is disrupted by the misuse of human freedom or sin. You keep asking the same question so I can only surmise that you either do not want to understand or unable to do so. This touches upon basic Catholic soteriology. It is possible that you do not understand the issues of the fall, original sin, the promise of restoration, redemption, salvation, grace, the value of suffering, the meaning of the resurrection for us, and the intervention of the sacraments. It is also possible that you dissent from Catholic teaching. Which is it?

I love God and I believe in him but why does this world that he created has so much evil and diseases in it? No one has a answer to it except God.

FATHER JOE: I will say it again. The fault is sin. Our own sins confirm the brokenness that comes down to us from Adam. Our sins murdered Christ on the Cross. I am to blame. YOU are to blame. But we can know mercy.

If philosophy isn’t “The Devils Work” why did my philosophy professor tell me it is?

FATHER JOE: Maybe he was not teaching Catholic philosophy? Maybe you misunderstood him? A professor of philosophy who would say such a thing would be telling you that HE does the DEVIL’S WORK. Now who in his right mind would do this?

Why did we have a debate on why God was real or not? Why did I have to write s philosophy paper on why science is more important than religion? Why would we did my philosophy professor tell me “Why doesn’t God help Africa?” Is that what a philosophy class is suppose to be? Going against God and having debates on if he was real or not?

FATHER JOE: It sounds to me that you had an atheist philosophy professor. There are many of them these days. If so then I could see him deliberately messing with your mind. Such cruelty is not uncommon among certain contemporary philosophy teachers, more enamored by empirical science and the likes of Camus, Sartre, B. F. Skinner and Nietzsche than Augustine and Aquinas. He would use philosophy in an attempt to disprove the existence of God as something imagined by weak or beguiled minds.

My own pastor at my church said he saw the calling in me and my actions, then we met with the vocations director and he said, go to community college first and then the seminary. It’s not my fault on how it works, there should be a process before going to college and spending $5,000 a semester, they didn’t even interview me on if I had a vocation, they said “good for you and we are happy you heard Gods call”

FATHER JOE: I am not privy to what they saw or did not see in you. My remarks refer to the comments so far.

I never said I would be better than a child molestor, just saying the church should review who they accept as priests, just because they are smart doesn’t mean they’ll be good priests.

FATHER JOE: No, you brought up the issue of the scandalous priests. There was no need to put that into the mix… at least in this discussion.

Why do they molest children then? Why does the church face that problem? How do you expect the church to have more priests if no one wants to go to school for 8 years, by the year 2030, my diocease is expecting to have 15 priests, we barely have enough seminarians in our diocease. And yes we do live in hell, if this wasn’t hell, why would this world have so many problems, why does cancer kill so many innocent people? Obviously this is hell, if it wasn’t hell, cancer wouldn’t excist,wars wouldn’t exist etc.

FATHER JOE: If people nurture vocations then there will be vocations. The answer is not to ordain men who do not know the catechism. As for declaring this world hell, again that is a sign of despair. There is no hope in hell. How could you give hope to others as a priest when you have no hope for yourself. Sorry. You are not ready.