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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How to Discover Authentic Happiness
February 16th, 2023 | 18 mins 13 secs
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How do you find authentic happiness? Every person has a desire to be happy, but it isn’t always clear how to attain it. Today, Fr. Josh shares what Scripture tells us in regards to finding happiness.
Snippet from the Show
We can find happiness by turning to the Word of God instead of seeking it in the world -
Forgive Like Christ Does
February 9th, 2023 | 15 mins 48 secs
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What does it mean to forgive like Christ does? Jesus tells us to forgive others, but what exactly does that look like? What is required of us in order to truly forgive someone? Fr. Josh answers these questions and offers an example of a woman who forgave in an incredible way.
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Caring for Elderly Parents
February 2nd, 2023 | 14 mins 8 secs
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What are our responsibilities when it comes to caring for our parents? As we get older, so do our parents. In this episode, Fr. Josh explains the duty we have to our parents but also how our relationships with our parents change as we get older. He also shares two stories of people that can be examples to us when it comes to caring for parents and the elderly.
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Reasons Priests Leave the Priesthood
January 26th, 2023 | 23 mins 53 secs
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Are you ever confused or hurt when you hear that a priest has left the priesthood? Fr. Josh takes on this issue in today’s podcast. He explains some of the more common reasons why a priest might leave the priesthood. Fr. Josh shares the impact this can have on others and offers advice on how to respond in these situations.
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Discerning Different Religious Orders
January 19th, 2023 | 24 mins 4 secs
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Is there such a thing as “red flags” when it comes to discerning religious life? Fr. Josh responds to a listener’s question regarding best practices when discerning religious life. He shares advice on what to look for and how to get to know different religious communities.
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Baptism and Salvation
January 12th, 2023 | 16 mins
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If you are baptized, do you automatically go to Heaven? Do you have to be baptized in order to get to Heaven? In this episode, Fr. Josh answers a question about baptism and how it is linked to salvation. He addresses some of the different situations that can arise when it comes to baptism or the lack of baptism.
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Singing vs. Speaking the Psalms
January 5th, 2023 | 16 mins 24 secs
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Why do we sing the psalms in Mass? In this episode, Fr. Josh explains why the psalms are most commonly sung and how singing can actually benefit our prayer. He also dives into the life of the author of the psalms: King David.
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How to Pray Together as Spouses
December 15th, 2022 | 19 mins 32 secs
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It is good for spouses to pray together, but how do you do it? What if one spouse is not as interested in praying together as the other? Fr. Josh shares the importance of praying together and also gives some advice and ideas on how to do it.
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Eucharistic Ministry
December 8th, 2022 | 17 mins 41 secs
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Fr. Josh explains what an Ordinary Eucharistic Minister and Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister is, and when it's appropriate to use Extraordinary Ministers. He also shares the proper way to receive Jesus in the Eucharist and young St. Tarcisius' story.
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Cultivating Unity with Our Protestant Brothers and Sisters
December 1st, 2022 | 17 mins 5 secs
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Fr. Josh answers a question about building bridges through Christlike relationships with our Protestant brothers and sisters. He also encourages us to dive into Scripture this Advent by following the example of St. Joseph, a man also rooted in the Word of God.
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Thanksgiving Special: Holidays and Expectations
November 23rd, 2022 | 6 mins 26 secs
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"It wasn't what I thought it would be." In this special Thanksgiving episode, Father Josh assures those who may be "poor in spirit" during this holiday season, inviting us to be so rooted in the love of God, that God's love is enough for us. God is all we need.
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Why Can Only Priests Consecrate the Eucharist?
November 17th, 2022 | 15 mins 40 secs
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Why is it that only priests are able to consecrate the Eucharist in the Mass? In this episode, Fr. Josh explains the Scriptural teachings as well as the teachings handed down by the Church behind this, and we also hear the story of St. Charles de Foucauld, who teaches us to listen to the voice of God, to follow where he leads us, and to trust he will sustain us in our ministry and in our daily life.
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Disposing of Sacramentals
November 10th, 2022 | 14 mins 57 secs
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Do you have a Rosary that is broken or a Bible that is worn out? Fr. Josh walks us through how to dispose of sacramentals that we no longer have need of or are no longer functional. He also introduces us to St. Vitalis of Gaza, a hermetic monk who teaches us always to assume the best in the intentions of others.
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Choosing Devotions
November 3rd, 2022 | 16 mins 27 secs
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How do we choose the devotion that's best for us to become a saint in our walk toward eternity? In this episode Fr. Josh encourages us not to compare ourselves to others or even our past self, but to choose devotions appropriate for whatever season of life we’re in. We also hear the courageous story of St. Jacinta and how her love for the devotion of the Rosary set many hearts ablaze for Christ.
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Suffering: An Invitation?
October 20th, 2022 | 18 mins 56 secs
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What good can come from suffering? In this episode, Fr. Josh answers a question about praying in the midst of suffering, encouraging us to receive it as an invitation rather than just pain. He also introduces us to Blessed Benedetta Bianchi Porro, who strived to do just that.
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Prayers to the Saints
October 13th, 2022 | 23 mins 21 secs
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When we pray, can we pray to the saints? Or should we focus our attention solely on Jesus? Fr. Josh explains what it means to pray to the saints and when to ask for their prayers.