Ask Father Josh (Your Catholic Question and Answer Podcast)

What Does God Think of Divorce?

November 14th, 2024  |  20 mins 38 secs

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Divorce is a difficult topic. Fr. Josh Johnson shares sympathy and advice based on Catholic teaching for anyone struggling in this season. We are reminded that throughout the hardest times, Jesus is inviting us to join Him on the cross. He is calling us to bless those who curse us, pray for those who hurt us, and forgive those who do not apologize.

The Truth About IVF (with Dr. Sarah Denny Lorio)

November 7th, 2024  |  29 mins 52 secs

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Why is IVF wrong? Fr. Josh Johnson and Dr. Sarah Denny Lorio broach the topic of in vitro fertilization (IVF). They look at the ethics of this subject with a human dignity lens while being sensitive to how deep this cross is for many of us.

Do I Need to Go to Mass In-Person Every Week?

October 31st, 2024  |  22 mins 3 secs

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Going to Mass in-person can be hard. Can we make our lives easier by streaming Sunday Mass from home? Fr. Josh Johnson explains that going to Mass is not about what we can get out of it, but what we are offering to God. God deserves our worship, and we are invited to show up as we are. Fr. Josh also shares helpful tips on how to prepare for Mass to enrich our experience and dive deeper into the scriptures.

Natural Family Planning: What It Is and What It Isn’t (with Dr. Sarah Denny Lorio)

October 24th, 2024  |  29 mins 31 secs

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Fr. Josh Johnson and Dr. Sarah Denny Lorio discuss the many facets of Natural Family Planning (NFP) and share resources if this is something that you are learning or struggling with. There is no one size fits all approach when it comes to fertility awareness methods. There are many approved methods depending on your personality, season of life, etc. While looking at the potential challenges of any method, we must keep our hearts close to Jesus and His mercy. Without His love, we can do nothing.

Suffering: How Can We Carry Our Cross Like Jesus?

October 17th, 2024  |  21 mins 43 secs

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Is there a right way to suffer? Should we be suffering in silence or bringing others into our pain? Fr. Josh Johnson reminds us to start by crying out to the Lord in prayer. God can show us if it is time to keep our suffering close to our heart or share our suffering with others and ask for help. Allow Jesus to show you how this suffering can glorify Him.

The Church and Contraception (with Dr. Sarah Denny Lorio)

October 10th, 2024  |  29 mins 38 secs

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What is the Church’s stance on contraception? Fr. Josh Johnson and Dr. Sarah Denny Lorio answer questions about contraception and abortion. They break down the historic Christian stance on contraception, contraception within marriage, and different types of sexual education. While the world continues to change and shift, the Church has remained steadfast in its teachings on this subject. We can benefit from continuing to learn and wrestle with these teachings in order to better understand for ourselves and future generations.

Am I Worthy to Walk with Jesus?

October 3rd, 2024  |  23 mins 3 secs

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Am I enough? Do my past mistakes prevent me from living a life for Jesus? These are questions we may ask ourselves as we examine our conscience. Fr. Josh Jonson addresses these fears and emphasizes that we cannot let shame or past sin stand in our way of being with Jesus. Throughout Church history we hear about disciples and saints falling to sin but finding redemption. Jesus wants you. He is calling each one of us to follow Him.

Is It Ever OK to Use Contraception? (with Dr. Sarah Denny Lorio)

September 26th, 2024  |  31 mins 57 secs

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Do you ever wonder about the church’s teachings regarding contraception? Fr. Josh Johnson and Dr. Sarah Denny Lorio address this topic from both a moral reasoning and medical application standpoint. They also look at the broader picture of holistic understanding of fertility, fertility awareness methods and restorative reproductive medicine. Dr. Sarah advocates for improved education about these topics and acknowledges that it is valid to still be learning, growing, and wrestling with this complex area as long as we maintain our trust in the Lord.

Can a Baptism Be Invalid?

September 19th, 2024  |  22 mins 18 secs

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Is baptism the only way to enter the Kingdom of God? What is the difference between valid and invalid baptism? How do we baptize? Are we living our baptism? Baptism is the foundational and necessary sacrament in which all other sacraments build. Fr. Josh Johnson dives into all things baptism and explains the responsibility of this gift.

Waiting vs. Searching for a Spouse: What’s Right? (with Dr. Sarah Denny Lorio)

September 12th, 2024  |  30 mins 53 secs

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What is the right way to find your future spouse? As Catholics, it can feel like a battle between waiting/trusting in God’s plan and taking action. This battle often comes up in the search for a spouse. Do I simply pray for my future spouse and wait for them to come to me? Or, do I need to join every dating site and find him myself? Fr. Josh Johnson is joined by Dr. Sarah Denny Lorio to discuss whether or not there is a “right” way to find your future spouse.

What Is a Charism and Do I Have Any?

September 5th, 2024  |  25 mins 24 secs

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To start off a brand new season of Ask Fr. Josh, Fr. Josh Johnson addresses the topic of charisms. Whether or not you have heard about charisms beforet, you may not have a clear understanding of what they are. Or perhaps, you know what they are, but you are not sure how to discover your own charisms. Fr. Josh explains what charisms are, their purpose, and tools for discovering your unique charisms.

Struggling with Infertility

August 29th, 2024  |  13 mins 33 secs

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Hello Father Josh I enjoy your podcast very much and it has help me in picking up the bible and attending adoration I am forever grateful. My husband and I recently started our fertility journey because we have been unsuccessful for two years. I find myself discourage, sadness and alone sometimes because this process is not easy however, I do understand that God is not giving me something I can not handle. I was wondering if you have a prayer, scripture, or Saint in mind to help me through this process? I understand I have to be very patient in my fertility journey. It just seems so hard when everyone is trying to give you advice or say you are doing the wrong thing. I feel that if God did not want me to take this step he would hold hurdles but I do not feel that from Him. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this message. May God continue to bless you and provide you health so you can continue to guide us through this world.

-Cristina

Is Cremation Allowed in the Catholic Church?

August 22nd, 2024  |  7 mins 12 secs

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My aunt always says that when she dies she would like her ashes to be turned into a tree or put to sea to become a reef (something she read about), but my mom is always telling her her ashes have to be buried. Why is this the case? What does the bible and/or the catechism have to say on the matter?

-Frankie

Can I Read/Watch Harry Potter?

August 15th, 2024  |  7 mins 55 secs

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What is the Catholic view on the Harry Potter series?

-Yara

What Is Emotional Chastity and Who Needs It?

August 8th, 2024  |  7 mins 9 secs

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What exactly is emotional chastity and can men and women partake in close friendships? Over my life I have developed a lot of beautiful and fruitful friendships with men that have never become more than friendship nor have I ever intended them to, however, recently I was accused of breaking emotional chastity within these friendships. It’s a concept that I have never heard of before. I’ve asked around and it seems like something fairly controversial as some people don’t even believe in it. I know that God delights in all friendships, but perhaps friendships of the opposite sex need more boundaries?
-Delaney

Facing Loneliness in Your Faith Journey

August 1st, 2024  |  6 mins 16 secs

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Dear Fr. Josh,

I am a 37 year old cradle Catholic from the Netherlands and the proud mom of a wonderful baby boy.
Over the last ten years (yeah I know) I’ve been slowly finding my way back to the church. I am now attending mass regularly, have made prayer a part of my daily life and am working up the courage to go to confession for the first time in my life. The journey has brought me closer to God and I am experiencing a profound feeling of peace, because I know God is with me always.

But this is also a very lonely journey. It is extremely difficult to find a practicing Catholic amongst my peers, my family and partner are not religious and a lot of people are downright hostile when they find out about my beliefs, or just think there is something wrong with me. This is very common in my country.
On top of that my fellow churchgoers are all senior citizens and the fellowship I’ve been craving is nowhere to be found.

I listen to some podcasts and follow a couple of YouTube channels to fill that void, but it’s a poor substitute.
My only friends who do believe in God are protestants, as most of the Netherlands is Protestant. I have even thought about converting. Not because I think their way is is the true way to God, but just to not feel so alone in my faith. I just want to share my joy. I could do with some advice. Keep on singing, I love it!
-Anke