Ask Father Josh (Your Catholic Question and Answer Podcast)

Fr. Josh helps you navigate the tricky times in life when our Catholic Faith doesn’t give you an easy, “fill-in-the blank” answer.

About the show

Ask Fr. Josh is the podcast where I hear you out and do my best to help you navigate the tricky times in life when our Catholic Faith doesn’t give you an easy “fill-in-the blank” answer. On this show, we’ll listen to one another, problem solve together, and ultimately entrust everything to our Lord. If this is your first time tuning in, here’s how the show goes: Each episode, I'll address three to four of your questions. I’ll cover everything from Catholic teaching to moral dilemmas to relationship advice. I'm not perfect, and I can’t guarantee that my advice is going to make things easy, but I'll do my best to share what I've learned during my time as a priest, pastor, and friend.

Send me your questions at ascensionpress.com/askfatherjosh

Episodes

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    Nuns Without Habits, Explaining Past Mistakes to Children, and Fr. Josh’s Conversion

    April 9th, 2019  |  36 mins 24 secs
    ask fr. josh, catholic, catholic answers, children, conversion, explaining your past, fr. josh, nuns, nuns without habits, parenting, raising kids

    Today Fr. Josh answers questions about how to explain past mistakes to your children, how to react to nuns who don’t wear habits, and his own conversion story. If you have a question, comment, or response for Fr. Josh, email us at [email protected]. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podcast episode!

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    The Devil, Life After Rape, and Giving Communion to Unbelievers

    April 2nd, 2019  |  36 mins 1 sec
    catholic, catholic church, church, communion, crucifixion, death, devil, eucharistic minister, fallen angels, fr. josh, god, holy communion, host, jesus, mass, mortal sin, passion, prayer, priest, rape, sexual assault, sin, suffering, trauma

    Fr. Josh answers questions about why God created the devil, distributing Communion to people in a state of mortal sin, and how to return to God after a traumatic assault. If you have a question, comment, or response for Fr. Josh, email us at [email protected]. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podcast episode.

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    Be My Guest: Dr. Edward Sri, the Crucifixion, and St. Joseph

    March 26th, 2019  |  39 mins 27 secs
    bible, catholic, christian, crucifixion, dr. edward sri, easter, jesus, lent, passion, questions about jesus, scripture, scripture scholar, trinity

    Fr. Josh and scripture scholar Dr. Edward Sri answer questions about Jesus’ divine nature, why Jesus had to be crucified, and what happened to St. Joseph during Christ’s passion.
    If you have a question, comment, or response for Fr. Josh, email us at [email protected]. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podcast episode!

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    Depression, Sexism in the Church, Candy During Lent, and Posting on Facebook

    March 19th, 2019  |  33 mins 58 secs
    catholic, catholic priest, catholic questions, christian, church, depression, faith, fr. josh, fr. josh johnson, god, lent, lenten, priest, questions, religion, sexism, sexism in the church, suffering, why god allows suffering

    Fr. Josh answers questions about why God allows depression, sexism in the Church, choosing a good Lenten sacrifice, and posting religious images and quotes on social media. If you have a question, comment, or response for Fr. Josh, email us at [email protected]. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podcast episode!

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    Be My Guest: Jeff Cavins, Activated Discipleship, and Catholic Swag

    March 12th, 2019  |  42 mins 3 secs
    activated disciple, afj, ask fr. josh, catholic, catholic podcast, christ, christian, disciple, discipleship, fr. josh, fr. josh johnson, funny priest, gospel, jeff cavins, jesus, jesus christ, priest, walking towards eternity, young priest

    Fr. Josh interviews Jeff Cavins on his new book, The Activated Disciple, and how to be a true disciple of Christ. They also discuss Jeff’s journey to Catholicism, being a fan of Jesus vs. a follower of Jesus, cultivating a real relationship with the person of Jesus Christ, and how to share the Gospel with others.

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    Ash Wednesday, Dress Code for Mass, and Downplaying Mortal Sins During Confession

    March 5th, 2019  |  33 mins 20 secs
    ash wednesday, ashes in public, ask fr. josh, catholic, confession, dress code, dress codes at mass, dust to dust, fr. josh, lent, mass, millennial priest, mortal sin, priest, repentance, wearing ashes

    Fr. Josh answers questions about wearing ashes in public on Ash Wednesday, what to wear at daily Mass vs. Sunday Mass, and how detailed we need to be about mortal sins during confession. If you have a question, comment, or response for Fr. Josh, email us at [email protected]. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podcast episode!

    Snippet from the Show

    "Imagine the people who might ask you questions about your ashes. It’s a great opportunity to be a witness and to evangelize. It’s also a great opportunity for you to remember that you are dust, that you are called to daily repentance, and that you are called to be an intercessor for the world."

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    Do Pets Go to Heaven, Family Conflict, and Honor Thy Father and Mother

    February 26th, 2019  |  31 mins 40 secs
    ascension, ascension press, ask father josh podcast, do dogs go to heaven, do dogs have souls, family arguments, family conflict, family splits, fr. josh johnson, honor thy father and mother, honor your parents, how to honor your parents as an adult

    Today, Fr. Josh answers questions about if pets go to heaven, what to do if conflict begins to grow in a family, and how to honor your father and mother as an adult.

    If you have a question, comment, or response for Fr. Josh, email us at [email protected]. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podcast episode!

    Snippet from the Show

    Love is demanding at times. Sometimes we experience great joy and sometimes we won’t. But joy isn’t about a feeling—it’s about an action.

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    Saint Icons, Feeling Unwelcome at Church, and the War on Drugs

    February 19th, 2019  |  38 mins 55 secs
    ascension podcasts, ask father josh, black churches, catholic statues, ethnic parishes, fr. josh johnson, legalization of marijuana, portrayals of christ, war on drugs

    Today, Fr. Josh answers questions about why it seems that the majority of saint icons are European in appearance, how to approach visiting Catholic churches, and the criminalization of marijuana in the “war on drugs.”

    If you have a question, comment, or response for Fr. Josh, email us at [email protected]. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podcast episode!

    If listening on your iphone, scroll down to "Chapters" and automatically jump to your favorite questions!

    Visit www.ascensionpress.com/askfatherjosh to view the show notes for every episode.

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    Catholic Dating, How Far is Too Far Before Marriage, and Spiritual Intimacy

    February 12th, 2019  |  30 mins 5 secs
    ask father josh podcast, catholic dating, fr josh johnson, french kissing, how far is too far before marriage, kissing, making out, prolonged kissing, spiritual intimacy

    In this Valentines Day special, Fr. Josh answers questions about feeling invisible in the Catholic dating scene, how far is too far before marriage—especially in regards to kissing—and spiritual intimacy when not married.

    If you have a question, comment, or response for Fr. Josh, email us at [email protected]. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podcast episode!

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    Are Tattoos a Sin, the Covington Catholic Controversy, and Arguments Between Priests and Parish Staff

    February 5th, 2019  |  32 mins 30 secs
    are tattoos a sin, ask father josh podcast, can a catholic get a tattoo, can i get a tattoo, covington catholic controversy, covington catholic diocese, fr. josh johnson, maga hat, maga hat kid, tattoos

    Fr. Josh tells us if getting tattoos are a sin, and gives his personal thoughts on the incident involving the Covington Catholic High School student, and offers advice on how to approach disagreements between a priest and the parish office staff.

    If you have a question, comment, or response for Fr. Josh, email us at [email protected]. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podcast episode!

    Snippet from the Show

    We call Adoration exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, where Christ exposes himself body, blood, soul, and divinity to us in prayer. His invitation is for us to expose our hearts as well.

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    Eucharistic Adoration, Mary’s Perpetual Virginity, Single Moms, and Children Questioning the Catholic Faith

    January 29th, 2019  |  36 mins 14 secs
    adoration, ask father josh podcast, blessed virgin mary, children questioning their faith, eucharistic adoration, fr. josh johnson, mary's perpetual virginity, questioning the catholic faith, singe moms, virgin mary

    Fr. Josh answers questions about what to do in Eucharistic Adoration, why Mary and Joseph did not consummate their marriage, if single moms can practice the Catholic Faith, and how to help children who are questioning the Catholic Faith.

    If you have a question, comment, or response for Fr. Josh, email us at [email protected]. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podcast episode!

    Snippet from the Show

    “God calls man first. Man may forget his Creator or hide far from his face; he may run after idols or accuse the deity of having abandoned him; yet the living and true God tirelessly calls each person to that mysterious encounter known as prayer.” (CCC 2567)

    If listening on your phone, scroll down to "Chapters" and automatically jump to your favorite questions!

    Visit www.ascensionpress.com/askfatherjosh to view the show notes for every episode.

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    Spending the Night, Humility, the Paranormal, and Same Sex Adoption

    January 22nd, 2019  |  44 mins 4 secs
    ask father josh podcast. fr. josh johnson, ask fr. josh, demons, ghosts, homosexuality, humility, paranormal activity, same sex adoption, spending the night, the paranormal, virtue of humility

    Fr. Josh answers questions about whether or not spending the night together before marriage is OK, what true humility looks like, if Catholics believe in paranormal activity, and how to evangelize to friends who believe same sex adoption is good.

    If you have a question, comment, or response for Fr. Josh, email us at [email protected]. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podcast episode!

    Snippet from the Show

    Authentic love never sends the lover to the confessional because of sin. Authentic love always accompanies the lover to the confessional because of grace.

    If listening on your phone, scroll down to "Chapters" and automatically jump to your favorite questions!

    Visit www.ascensionpress.com/askfatherjosh to view the show notes for every episode.

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    Pray for Our Priests

    January 15th, 2019  |  1 min 30 secs
    ask father josh podcast, fr. josh johnson, pray for our priests, prayer for priests, priest prayers, priesthood, priests

    This week, Fr. Josh is at a priest conference with his diocese trying to grow and experience renewal in his priesthood. He invites you to pray for the priests of Baton Rouge so their hearts may be set on fire by our Lord to live holy lives and become saints.

    Snippet from the Show:
    They need your prayers, they need you to intercede for them to become holy.

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    Divorce, God’s Wrath in the Old Testament, and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass

    January 8th, 2019  |  40 mins 32 secs
    ask father josh podcast, divorce, god's wrath, marriage, priesthood, the eucharist, the holy sacrifice of the mass

    Fr. Josh answers questions about how to pray to God after a divorce, why God in the Old Testament is full of wrath yet in the New Testament he is full of mercy, and why only Catholic priests can consecrate the host into Jesus’ body, blood, soul, and divinity.

    If you have a question, comment, or response for Fr. Josh, email us at [email protected]. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podcast episode!

    Snippet from the Show

    According to Jesus, you are a gift. He spoke your true identity.

    Visit www.ascensionpress.com/askfatherjosh to view the show notes for every episode.

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    Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

    January 1st, 2019  |  12 mins 42 secs
    ask father josh, holy day of obligation, january 1 holy day of obligation 2019, marian devotion, mary mother of god, new ark of the covenant, solemnity of mary

    God the Father created each and every one of us for no other reason than because he desires for us to become saints. The greatest saint that God ever created is the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God. She desires us to join her in heaven and worship the Father and be in total communion with our bridegroom, Jesus. Today, on the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, Fr. Josh brings you a special episode all about Our Lady.

    Snippet from the Show:

    No Mary, no Christ. Know Mary, know Christ. The deeper we lean into Mary, the deeper we are going to lean into Jesus Christ, our savior.

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    Merry Christmas!

    December 25th, 2018  |  2 mins 48 secs

    Fr. Josh wishes you a Merry Christmas and sings a few songs.