Snippet from the Show
“If a person receives Holy Communion and says ‘Amen’ without believing in the True Presence, they act dishonestly.”

SHOWNOTES

Glory Story (2:13)

Listener Feedback (5:37)

Holy Communion to Non-Catholics (7:45)

Hi Fr Josh,
Thank you for the gift that is your podcast and for all of the wisdom, guidance, and advice you offer to us, your brothers and sisters.

I am recently engaged to the love of my life. I am a devout Catholic and he is a devout non-Catholic Christian. We have come a long way in our relationship with understanding each other‘s faith and beliefs and are excited to venture into the sacrament of marriage. One thing that we continue to struggle with and have conversation about is taking Communion at Mass. He feels rejected by the Church knowing that he cannot take Communion and it breaks my heart to see how it affects him. I understand that we believe the bread is the Body and wine the Blood and must protect the sacred Eucharist but if Jesus says “come to me all who are hungry, and you will be fed”, I don’t understand why someone of such great faith as my fiancé cannot receive Communion at Mass. There is a Catholic Church in Bend, Oregon, recognized by the archdiocese as a Catholic Church, that offers Communion to any Christian person. I have not had the opportunity to attend Mass there but this is the first church I’ve heard of doing this. Curious on your thoughts on this as well. Looking for any guidance and advice on understanding the Church’s teaching on the Eucharist for myself and my fiancé.
Thank you so much for your desire and dedication to bringing people closer to the Lord. You are a gift!

• Jordan

Essential Oils (18:05)

Hey Father Josh, loving the podcasts. I listen to them to help me focus before my theology homework. Anyways, I have a follow up question. A few episodes ago you mentioned that essential oils may lead to the devil or evil. Can you elaborate on that?
Thanks! Praying for you!

• Emma

St. Paul and the Book of Galatians (23:13)

Hey Father Josh,
Thank you so much for constantly reading and answering my emails on your podcast. Your explanation of St. Peter as the first pope helped me a ton and affirmed what I already believed to be true in my heart. Another question, could you help me process the book of Galatians? In Galatians, Paul talks about how the law does not justify you but it is through faith that a person has life. Reading this entire book my head goes straight to the Protestant view on salvation and how they can use the book of Galatians to justify their beliefs that faith alone leads to salvation. I just need help understanding what Paul’s saying and what that means for us Catholics, help a girl out! Also shoutout to my homegirl Olivia K. for being the best Catholic friend I could ever ask for, could you say a special prayer for her?

• Kennedy

Resources
Broken and Blessed: An Invitation to My Generation by Fr. Josh
Romans: The Gospel of Salvation with Dr. Andrew Swafford and Jeff Cavins
Email Fr. Josh: askfatherjosh@ascensionpress.com
Walking with God: A Journey Through the Bible
Galatians: Set Free to Live with Jeff Cavins & Gayle Somers

Support Ask Father Josh (Your Catholic Question and Answer Podcast)

If you have a question, comment, or response for Fr. Josh, email us at askfrjosh@ascensionpress.com. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podcast episode!

Snippet from the Show
“When you pray with someone, it’s not about the level of revelation that you have, it’s about when you finish, does that person feel like they’ve been kissed by Jesus.”

SHOWNOTES

Glory Story (1:39)

Listener Feedback (4:08)

Kevin’s Story (7:22)

Praying for a Sign (26:44)
Hi Father Josh, I really love your Podcast. Thanks so much for helping me grow in my faith. I was raised in a Christian home but never attended Catholic school. I became Catholic as an adult. I still feel like I have so much to learn. ( I just graduated from a medical residency, so I struggle with finding time and constantly working on balance) I was wondering when you pray is it ok to ask for a sign from God? Or like say “Lord show me this sign, so I know this is what your leading me to do?” Is it wrong to pray for a sign? I never really have done this before but I have been so busy. I just said it in a prayer real quick.

I met this really cool guy on a plane and felt an instant connection to him. We kept in contact just as friends because we both been in the Navy. Later I found out he was raised Catholic. I felt like it was a sign from God that he might be the spouse I have been praying for. I kind of brushed it off and just focused on my life/residency saying God if it is really you please let him win this really hard fitness award out of like 45 people. I didn't tell him what I prayed for and like one day he just texts me a picture his award. He has a girlfriend now and I am nervous and I want to tell him how I feel now before he is married....or forever hold my peace” I know that he can always say “No”. I guess I am just trying to understand are these signs from God? I honestly am a pretty scientific and logical person so I really don't know what to make of it and to understand better Catholic teaching.
-Bridget

Building a Relationship with the Holy Spirit (32:51)
How do you “have a relationship” with the Holy Spirit? He seems like an idea.. not a person. I’ve been told to have faith and ask Him to come, but I’m sort of weary of doing that anymore because when I put my faith or expectation in God to show up to the other side of my prayer, I get let down. If I keep doing that, I’m scared I will lose my faith all together.
-Kathryn

Resources

• Fr. Josh Johnson - Broken and Blessed: An Invitation to My Generation

Support Ask Father Josh (Your Catholic Question and Answer Podcast)

If you have a question, comment, or response for Fr. Josh, email us at askfrjosh@ascensionpress.com. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podcast episode!

Snippet from the Show
“As people were actively attacking Jesus on the cross—mocking him, cursing him, spitting on him—he said, ‘Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ He still felt hurt, betrayed, abandoned, and rejected, but he chose to turn that into intercession.”

SHOWNOTES

Glory Story (1:36)
Fr. Josh discovered this song: Spirit Lead Me by Influence Music & Michael Ketterer!

Listener Feedback (3:52)

Forgiving Deep Wounds Caused by Family (10:49)
Hello Fr. Josh. Thank you, first of all, for all you do. I stumbled upon your podcast and it is helping me examine things in myself that I otherwise wouldn’t have. It’s from this self reflection that this question came forth. I am struggling to forgive my family for their treatment of me, my new husband, and our new baby daughter. I was married previously to a man who abused me for five years, to the point that I had our priest telling me I was unsafe and giving me the resources to leave. My family, however, refuses to accept that I was right on leaving because I “shamed the family” by getting divorced. They still talk to and invite my ex husband to family functions on a regular basis. Nearly a year after the divorce and subsequent annulment, I met a wonderful man. He accepted my two previous children as his own and has been so patient with me. He is a Christ loving man who has shown me what love in a sacramental marriage should be. I had tolerated their behavior regarding me and my husband, but now their behavior affects my children. I had our daughter at 24 weeks gestation. Thanks be to God, she is now nine months old and doing very well all things considered. I have a large family. Aside from my parents and maternal grandparents, everyone in my family has refused to acknowledge her, much less meet her. We spent 143 days in the NICU and needed the support of family desperately. My family has refused. My husbands family has done everything humanly possible, with my mother in law staying with us for all but a month of our NICU stay to help with the older two children. They (the older children) have been asking why the family that used to be so present is ignoring us. I know an apology will likely never occur, so I am struggling how to forgive my family. How do I forgive when offenses have been so deeply felt?
-Anonymous Mother

Praying for the Souls in Purgatory (21:14)
Hi Father Josh! I'm trying to figure out the right way to pray for souls in purgatory. Since I can't know (unless one of them is beatified) whether my family members who have died are in heaven, I don't know who exactly to pray for. But it feels exclusive just to pray "for my family in purgatory." It feels like if I'm being that general, I should just pray "for all souls in purgatory." But if I don't call them out by name, does it count or count less? Thanks for your help, Father, and all the good work you do!
-Tamar

Tired of Praying (28:20)
Hello Father Josh, I listen to your podcast a lot, and I really like it. Thank you for the work you do. I am a junior in college, just striving to live out the Catholic faith. Earlier this year (January) I listened to a ton of talks on Mary, the power of the Rosary and all of that. I was strongly convicted to pray the Rosary more often. I made a decision to pray the Rosary everyday. I had made decisions like this in the past with reading my Bible, and other forms of prayers but after a month, that all disappeared into thin air. However, with the Rosary I have been pretty much consistent in praying it. So here’s the issue. Father Josh, honestly, on some days I am just exhausted, and really just don’t feel like praying the Rosary or any prayer in general. Although I still pray it, I often rush through it, or my mind wanders off occasionally, or I doze off in between. Frankly, sometimes I just pray it to keep my streak. I tell myself I have come too far to give up now. I don’t want to waste my time (or Jesus’s or Mary’s time). I feel like if it has become a game to me, or just really mechanical then I should stop. Still, I like to believe I receive some graces when I strive through it, even when I don’t feel like it or when I’m just doing it to fulfill all righteousness. I’m scared that if I stop now, I’m never going to have the courage to take up any other challenge to strengthen my prayer life. I may just give up this whole prayer thing in general, because Father, I’m legit tired, confused and need some advice. Thank you.
-Legit Tired

Resources
Want to browse the previous resources Fr. Josh has recommended in his show? Go to ascensionpress.com/askfrjosh to select an episode and view the shownotes.

• Fr. Josh Johnson - Broken and Blessed book
• iBrevery app
• Fr. Josh’s Night Prayer on YouTube
• Strive 21: Freedom from Porn
• Prayer to Our Lady of the Smile
• Chaplet of the Holy Souls
• Divine Mercy Chaplet
• Rosary for Holy Souls

Prayer for the Souls in Purgatory
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the masses said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen.

Support Ask Father Josh (Your Catholic Question and Answer Podcast)

If you have a question, comment, or response for Fr. Josh, email us at askfrjosh@ascensionpress.com. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podcast episode!

Snippet from the Show
“Sometimes it takes a while to accept the difficult teachings that come from Christ. Many of the disciples who were with Jesus in John 6 left when he gave them the bread of life discourse … the ones who stayed did not really understand the teaching but they loved Jesus and over time Jesus gave them the grace to believe.”

SHOWNOTES

Glory Story (1:15)
This past week, Louisiana experienced a few really bad storms. A tornado actually touched down in a few places near Our Lady of the Holy Rosary. Praise be to God, Fr. Josh and his parishioners were unharmed. However, his brother’s family wasn’t so lucky and their house was destroyed by the tornado. By the grace of God, the entire family happened to be in an area of the house that wasn’t completely destroyed and they walked away with cuts and bruises.

Fr. Josh asks for your prayers for his family. He also wants to thank everyone who has been praying and those who have financially helped his family.

Listener Feedback (6:49)

TV Mass on Sunday (12:07)
When does Mass on TV fill Sunday Mass obligation? We missed Mass this past Sunday due to severe weather conditions in our area. So we watched Mass on TV. Do I need to go to confession, or is that OK?

-Erin

Finding Happiness (15:58)
[This question has been edited for length] Hi Fr Josh, I found your podcast from Abiding Together. I love it and I love how you answer questions. I started binge listening to all your podcasts.

I was sexually assaulted a few times while growing up: by family, by my doctor, and my swimming instructor. I kept this all to myself, afraid to tell anyone. I kinda forgot about it; or so I thought. In addition to this, my siblings and I were so scared of dad, we would tiptoe around and only talk in whispers. He was physically and verbally abusive. As I grew older, I started to hate him despite mom telling me and my siblings not to because he is our father.

I was diagnosed with depression earlier this year. I thought I was just tired. But when I started crying out of the blue while grocery shopping, and thinking about ramming my car into trees or anything while driving, sleeping or lying in bed from Friday to Sunday - waking up only for Mass - I realized this is not just tired. Dad passed away in 2017 and mom told me that he asked for a priest and had his confession and his last sacrament after so many years of being away from the Church.

I love my family, so I try to do everything I can to help. They ask me for help whenever they're short on cash so I started doing part time jobs - 4 at the same time, plus my full time job. But it wasn't enough. I kept pushing myself, telling myself to be strong and this will pass. But I’ve started to have suicide thoughts.

I often ask myself, how strong does God want me to be? I’ve reached out to members of my church and family but they don’t seem to care. I also don’t want to talk about my family’s secrets or open myself up to be vulnerable. I can't sleep. I don't even sing anymore, I don't clean my house. My days don’t have any meaning. I still pray but the peacefulness doesn't last long. I did get help medically but I’m still falling deeper. I also joined a meditation workshop by The World Community for Christian Meditation.

Why Fr. did those things happen? Where was God when it happened? He can't stop people from doing bad things, but why can't God help me to forget or give me strength to fight or to scream when that happened?

Is it really me? Is it my fault that I'm depressed and have anxiety? Should I be strong? I hate the word strong because I felt that I have been as strong as I can all these years. And now I need help but people are expecting me to ignore my feelings. They say that there are people out there that have it worse and I need to just move on. I am so sorry if my email is all over the place and doesn't make any sense. And I'm sorry if I'm taking so much of your time reading this. Help me Father Josh. I'm in so much pain and I don't know how to help and heal myself.
-C.

Cafeteria Catholics (30:08)
Dear Fr. Josh, I am writing because I think I messed up! To summarize, my question is how to talk with "cafeteria Catholics," those who pick and choose which parts of the faith they will follow, without sounding like you are right and they are wrong. The bottom line is I accidentally offended a good friend and a recent Catholic convert and made her feel unwelcome in the church! Yikes! All our lives we have been a case of opposites attract: Her family was very liberal politically and on social issues and not religious and mine was politically conservative and Catholic. Knowing that she's always been pro choice (she's had an abortion) and pro gay marriage I asked her if she considered herself still liberal in social issues or more Catholic. She still thought that they should be able to be legally married and that she didn't see what religion had to do with it. She also said she regretted her abortion but didn't want to take that choice away from women. I kind of pushed back by asking, if she talked about this in RCIA? she said, "No". In the end, she felt that I thought she shouldn't be Catholic (even though I told her she belongs in the church but just missing out on some of the beauty of the faith). We essentially agreed to disagree and it just left a sour feeling to the reunion.

Should I follow up with her in some way, share some other insights with her? and how should I have handled it? I wouldn't ask that of most people but I felt our long history gave me special permission. How do we talk with "cafeteria Catholics" without pushing them away? Thanks so much for your insight in this matter. I am so appreciative of your podcast and of you!
-Please Don't Use My Name!

Universal Call to Holiness (38:43)
Lean into Jesus. Christ and his grace are enough for all of us.

Resources
Want to browse the previous resources Fr. Josh has recommended? Go to ascensionpress.com/askfrjosh to select an episode and view the shownotes.

• Broken and Blessed book by Fr. Josh Johnson
• Abiding Together Podcast

Support Ask Father Josh (Your Catholic Question and Answer Podcast)