Snippet from the Show
“The Church in her two thousand year history has never condemned a single person to hell. We believe in hell, we believe it exists, but we have never said we know for sure that a person is in hell.”

Resources

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255
• Suicidepreventionlifeline.org
• Creighton Model Fertility Care System
• Broken and Blessed: An Invitation to My Generation by Fr. Josh
• Pocket Guide to the Rosary by Matt Fradd

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
“Don’t let the enemy speak lies and tempt you with discouragement. Whenever you feel those temptations, quote Scripture and say ‘Get behind me Satan.’”

SHOWNOTES

Glory Story (1:41)
Fr. Josh shares a story about how Chris Benzinger (the husband of Michelle, host of the Abiding Together podcast) leans into prayer.

Listener Feedback (7:26)

Talking to Your Family About Discernment (10:02)
Hi Fr. Josh, I’m a 20 year old cradle Catholic and about to be a junior in college. I’ve recently felt a pull to discern religious life, and I’m currently working on finding a spiritual director. Is this something I should be telling my family and friends at this point? My family is Catholic but we never really talk about our faith, unfortunately. I have one sister who shares zeal with me, and we have talked about this a lot. But I don’t know how - or even if it’s appropriate to - “break the news” in a sense to my parents and other siblings. It seems sketchy to me to not tell them about a huge leap of faith I’m embarking upon, but at the same time, I’m worried they won’t understand OR that if I decide not to enter then I’ll have worried them over nothing. I also feel this way about one of my very best friends who describes herself as a disaffiliated Catholic. I know that she would legitimately be mad at me if she knew I was thinking about doing this. I’m just not sure how to go about this and any advice you have on the topic would be so helpful, thank you so much.
-A Discerning Friend

Selfishness (15:02)
Hey Fr. Josh. My boyfriend and I are both in our mid 20s. Before this relationship, my spiritual life was going very well and at some point I was discerning religious life. He was not the cause of my spiritual downfall; he’s actually the one that takes me to confession and adoration now. But, there have been plenty of recent types where my relationship with God has been nonexistent. I feel like I haven’t and can’t go back to the place I was before spirituality, even in the slightest.

Also, I have always been very independent and ended up building barriers in my relationship, which ended up hurting my boyfriend emotionally many times. Although I’ve improved in many ways, he still says that he feels I don’t care about his feelings sometimes. There are times where he tells me how he feels and I just don’t know what to do with that information. He describes me as selfish, which is not a lie, because I always think about myself first, where he’s very selfless and always puts me first. I wanted to know what you think I could do to become a better girlfriend, how I can improve in my spiritual life, and how we can improve in our spiritual lives together (which I think is something we’re missing).
-Someone Who is Trying to Become a Better Person

Daily Mass (22:07)
Dear Fr. Josh, I discovered your podcast only two weeks ago and thought, "What have I been missing for the past year?" As a high school theology teacher in my 20s, I am excited about the ways you have already influenced my own spiritual life, and am even more energized about the ways you can transform my students' lives. Your method of evangelization is what many iGenners and millennials need to return to the Church. Keep it up.

My question is about daily Mass and personal prayer time. I struggle with knowing how to balance these two things in my life. On really busy days during the school year, is it better to prioritize Mass or personal prayer time? It seems to me that since we are receiving Jesus at Mass, then Mass should always take priority over personal prayer time. But I have also heard that personal prayer time each day outside of Mass should be the priority, and that if we only have time for one, we should choose personal prayer over Mass. On the other hand, during my free days during the summer, should I be attending Mass everyday since I can? I generally attend at least two days a week, but struggle with guilt on the days when I do not go. Some days I decide it would be less convenient since I want to sleep or avoid traffic, but these seem like bad excuses for not going to Mass every day. If I truly believe Jesus is present at Mass, shouldn't I be craving to receive Him each day? Sometimes I feel like a hypocrite since I tell my students of the blessing of daily Mass, but still only attend two out of five days a week even when my schedule would allow for me to go all five days. Am I being too scrupulous in my thinking or is it really the sin of sloth keeping me from attending Mass each day?
-Anonymous

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.

• Broken and Blessed by Fr. Josh
• The Temperament God Gave You
• Which of the Four Personalities are You? YouTube Series
• The Five Love Languages

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
“God, help me to see myself the way you see me. God, help me to love myself the way that you love me. God, help me to forgive myself the way that you forgive me.”

SHOWNOTES

Glory Story (1:03)
Fr. Josh is writing another book! Stay tuned for more details :)

Listener Feedback (4:53)
Prayer from Thomas Merton: "My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always, though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone."

Baptisms with Same-Sex Parents (9:59)
I love your podcast! I look forward to listening every week. I've always been very fond of how you truly try to respond with the love of Christ while still remaining aware of your broken human nature. I pray for you, my man. (Pray for me too!) On to my question, this last Sunday my parish held a baptism for a child of a same-sex couple. While on the one hand, obviously it's not the child's fault that their parents are living in a sinful relationship, and they deserve the sacrament just as much as any other child. But, I do really wonder how our response as a community should be. Certainly these men should be allowed in our church and should be welcome to listen to the liturgy of the word so they may be touched by Jesus, but they partook of the Eucharist. How do I respond like Jesus here? I want to love them as Christ loves them, but what does that look like? I'm really struggling with how to process this and could really use some guidance.
-Daniel

Helping Family Understand Church Teachings (22:14)
First, I heard you speak in Houston at Cafe Catholica, and I have to thank you because you spoke about focusing on God's mercy when it comes to our vices, rather than focusing on our anxiety and why we're not conquering our sins. I've been seriously struggling with my anxiety about that recently, and you help reorient my attention to the Lord, rather than being distracted by Satan. Second: My husband is a Catholic convert; he converted right before we got married. He comes from a completely nonreligious family. I'm not sure what, if anything, they believe. So my husband struggles with some of the Church teachings because it is so far from what he experienced for most of his life. He struggles, in particular, with Jesus' presence in the Eucharist and the teachings on sexuality (every sexual act must be unitive and procreative). He also doesn't understand the big deal about skipping Mass occasionally. So I guess my question is two parts. One, how do I encourage my husband to embrace Church teachings without lecturing him and making him feel inadequate? And two, how can I encourage my husband's family to be open to the Lord, also without lecturing them?
-Anonymous

Overwhelming Guilt (27:50)
Father Josh, Thank you so much for your podcast. I’m enjoying listening frequently. I’m new to the faith and currently in RCIA and will be baptized this Easter vigil. I’m really new to any faith. I was an atheist since around the age the of 13. Unfortunately I let people turn me off to faith including my own father who claimed to be a man of faith but had no love for me. After God blessed me with my daughter 4 years ago I felt a love that I knew had to come from somewhere greater than myself. I began to study different religions and found myself coming to Catholicism through reason and now by faith. My family and I have been going to Mass for almost two years and thanks be to God I’ll able to receive the Eucharist this Easter along with my wife. Often times I have an overwhelming feeling of guilt for decisions I made as a nonbeliever and for denying God for so long. I know that God has forgiven me but how do I manage this guilt? Thank you for your advice, I appreciate it and your ministry is in my prayers. God Bless.
-Todd

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

• Fr. Josh's book - Broken and Blessed
• The Heart of Perfection: How the Saints Taught Me to Trade My Dream of Perfect for God's by Colleen Carroll Campbell
• I Will Follow video

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
“Just because a priest celebrates one of the liturgies sloppily doesn’t mean that liturgy is bad [traditional Latin Mass or Norvus Ordo]. It means that priest needs to be reformed.”

SHOWNOTES

Glory Story (2:08)
Fr. Josh recalls the very first Catholic book he ever read outside of the Bible: The Mystical City of God by Venerable Mary Agreda. Read it. It will rock your world!!

Listener Feedback (5:59)

Witchcraft (8:29)
Hello Father Josh, Could you please explain what the Church teaches on witchcraft and tarot cards and all that creepy stuff. I know it’s something we as Catholics shouldn’t be part of in general. However, I want to understand the Church’s reasoning behind this. Do we believe witchcraft is not real and it’s all fake? Or do we believe it’s the devil working in this world and that’s why we stay away? Do we believe tarot cards really reveal the future or do we believe it’s all fake or do we believe it’s real but it’s evil? Lol it gets pretty confusing. I mean I know we are not supposed to be superstitious... whatever that means... but being from Africa, I’ve seen some really crazy things happen in this life, that can low-key only be explained through witchcraft (which a lot of people still practice). Anyway, I just want to know what to think about all this and I trust the Church to guide me. Thank you Father Josh! I’ll be praying for you! And pray for me too!
-Ozigbo

Mystic Visions (17:04)
Father, I’m reading the meditations of Christ and each day there is a new meditation about a saint. I’m reading all these saints and their experiences with miraculous appearances of Jesus or Mary or another holy figure and they instantly feel that change of heart and have immense faith. My question is, if we are all called to be saints how come some people have those miraculous visions and others don’t? Because you do need a miracle to become a saint, right? So it seems like Gods’ choosing specific people?
-Andrew

Traditional Latin Mass (22:15)
Hi Fr. Josh, My parish priest has always made his opinion known on the Latin Mass following, like they are cultish, think they are better than people who follow the New Order Mass, etc. At first I wasn't sure what to think, but after some personal experience I'm a bit worried. It seems like Latin Mass followers go around saying that they are basically better than us: they refuse Communion if it’s not administered by the priests, say that the Novus Ordo celebrations of the Mass aren't valid, and even say that women should only wear dresses and are meant to stay at home to raise children. I get the feeling that they "groom" or "brainwash" people into following this extreme and fanatical form of Catholicism.

What are your thoughts on this extreme Catholicism following? A google search leads to Novus Ordo Watch, Ad Orientum Masses--how the New Order Mass isn't really worship and isn't really Catholicism, etc., and I am so confused. There is so much division in our world--and now I come across this? I love being Catholic, but just feel that this is so wrong. We are all Catholics in the same universal Church, aren't we? Fr. Josh I'm sorry this isn't very articulate, but what are your thoughts? Thank you so much for your time!!
-Maria

Universal Call to Holiness (29:40)

Resources
Want to browse the previous resources Fr. Josh has recommended? Click here to select an episode and view the shownotes.

• Broken and Blessed book by Fr. Josh Johnson
• The Mystical City of God by Venerable Mary Agreda

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
“The degree of perfection experienced by those who are saved by the grace of God is proportioned to one’s merits, and the degree of punishment experienced by those who are damned to hell because of their choice is proportioned to each one of their sins.”

SHOWNOTES

Glory Story (2:10)
It is ordination season and a lot of Fr. Josh’s friends are being ordained! Also, as of May 31st Fr. Josh has celebrated five years of being a priest!

Listener Feedback (6:00)

What Does Hell Look Like (10:34)
Hi! I'm Kate! and I have a question about Dante's Inferno. Here's the history in case you did not know. Dante wrote a book in the middle ages called The Divine Comedy. It told us about his journey into heaven and hell. I have always pictured hell as this place full of fire where mad people have nothing to drink and only eat dust and rocks and sit in a cell with laser bars while you sit there and moan because the devil guy keeps poking you with a fork. (learned this info in a dream I had when I was 5 or 6 after I lied to my mom about cookies and dinner.) But Dante says there are different sins, different levels, different punishments. So, my question is: 'DO WE BELIEVE THIS IS WHAT HELL LOOKS LIKE?'
-Kate

Was Peter the First Pope (17:33)
Hi Fr. Josh! By the way, I think you’re an amazing, amazing priest. I had a question about St. Peter as the first pope of the Catholic Church. As an on-fire Catholic, I see evidence for why Jesus assigned Peter as the ‘rock’ of the Catholic Church, but how do I answer my sister’s dismissal of this statement when she says that this common Catholic fact “is just a Catholic’s interpretation of the Scripture, since Jesus doesn’t specifically use the word ‘pope’ to describe Peter in the Bible?” Furthermore, how do we know our Church was built on the 100% truths of Jesus Christ, and not just man’s interpretation of how Jesus wanted us to go about religion? Thank you for the help, and know that I’m still praying for you!
-Kennedy

Follow Up to Spiritual Intimacy (28:11)
Dear Fr Josh, I am a priest from Malta (Europe) and I came across your podcast quite by chance, through a young couple that I accompany spiritually. First of all I just want to thank you and encourage you for how beautifully and joyfully you share the Word of God and the Church's teachings with your listeners. The couple I'm journeying with have obtained a lot of strength and encouragement through your words.

I have a question - if I may - about one of your podcasts from February (the Valentine's day episode) because this young couple was a little confused by something you said and they asked me for guidance about it; and I have to admit that after listening to the podcast myself a couple of times, I still couldn't figure out how I could help them. Basically it's where, towards the end of the segment about spiritual intimacy, (around the 19-minute mark in the podcast) you say that there is some spiritual sharing that couples should reserve for engagement and an even deeper spiritual sharing that they should reserve for marriage. Now since I always encourage the couples I journey with to make prayer (together) a firm part of their courtship, I was wondering how you would distinguish one kind of spiritual sharing from the other... For instance, would that include a couple sharing with each other about spiritual consolations they might have received? Would it perhaps include sharing about doubts and spiritual dryness? Might it be a spiritual sharing that includes questions/issues about their sexuality?

So basically my question would be, what, in your mind, is the kind of spiritual sharing (or intimacy; I'm using the two words interchangeably, btw) that would ideally be reserved for a more committed part of their courtship, engagement and marriage? I thank you for your kind attention; And by the way, I read that you are a pastor in Louisiana. In 2000 I spent my gap "pastoral" year (between my philosophy and theology years in Seminary) at Our Lady of Mercy parish in Baton Rouge. Best months of my life; Louisiana still feels like home to me :) May God bless you, protect you, and keep filling you and your ministry with His joy.
-Fr. Brendan

Universal Call to Holiness (33:33)

Let us pray:
God give me the grace to experience the gift of tongues so that I can share that which you want me to share in relationships with people. So that I can share that which you want me to share when it comes to the Scriptures and catechesis with people. So that I share that which you want me to share, and only what you want me to share, when it comes to speaking about matters of salvation. Lord, give me the gift of tongues and give those who will receive my gift of tongues the interpretation of tongues so they hear only that which you want them to hear, which is what is good for them in their walk toward eternity. Amen.

Resources
Want to browse the previous resources Fr. Josh has recommended? Click here to select an episode and view the shownotes.

• Broken and Blessed book by Fr. Josh Johnson

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
“We need to have appropriate boundaries to protect our vocation—not just our state of life vocation, but our primary vocation to become saints.”

SHOWNOTES

Glory Story (1:16)
A glory story of gratitude! Fr. Josh shares some of the beauty and graces he experienced during his silent retreat this past week.

Listener Feedback (4:57)

Original Sin (11:22)
Dear Father Josh, Please help me to understand the concept of original sin. I came to Catholic church as an adult, and I LOVE studying the doctrine and history of the church. However, I don't understand this concept. I agree that God gives us free will, and as human beings we have this built in urge to do bad things. What I don't understand is how a newborn baby can be stained by original sin. How are we marred by original sin due to Adam's sin? I've read the Cathechism's passage on original sin, but I still don't quite get it. Please explain it to me or maybe direct me to a modern explanation.
-Kate

Explicit Music (19:20)
Father Josh, I'm a new listener and I got excited when you sang some songs on your podcast. Looked up "Sorry, Not Sorry" and Ericka, Ericka Jayne on youtube and they were explicit. A little girl in a Lebanese restaurant was grooving to "Sorry, Not Sorry"?! Yikes. And Ericka Jane was straight-up immodest! Is it okay to like this music? 'Cause then I can go back to loving me some Usher and DMX from my day. Gave that stuff up when I reverted.
-Anonymous

State of Life Vocations (27:26)
Hey Father! I have a question somewhere in the following statement... LOL

I was listening to Matt Fradd’s Pints with Aquinas podcast on Vocations and he brought up that there’s a reality that single people may need to begin to embrace in society at this moment in time and that’s the fact that we may not have "someone out there" for us-- essentially, that we just may not get married one day. He referenced pornography addiction as a big cause in this. I definitely agree with him as I am starting to realize at 26 (it really never occurred to me LOL) that I was never promised a husband by God-- but it is really hard to come to terms with this potentiality because I do really feel called to marriage and am working at bettering myself to be able to answer that call if/when it comes. Im still young and I still have time-- but I think its good to realize and pray with these things. BUT I have some questions-- in saying that this is true--are we saying that these people were never called to marriage in the first place? Ie-- could I be wrong about feeling called to marriage? OR are we saying that we could be called to marriage and because of the time/situation/state of society not able to fulfill that call? Its just really sad to think about an entire generation or generations of people who might be willing, capable of, and called to marriage but may never be able to.

All this being said-- I know that marriage is not and END goal of this life. Im slowly wrapping my mind around that and the Lord is moving in big ways to teach me that! I just wished this entire topic was talked about more in the church today and not just amping up marriage/priesthood/religious life like one of the three is guaranteed to us if it isn't. Thanks!
-Hailey

Can Priests and Women be Friends (36:54)
Hola from Central America, love love love your podcast, don't miss one! YOU are a blessing and I have to admit you are one of my spiritual directors.... 😊 I have been struggling with this question for quite some time now... Can a real friendship exist between a priest and a woman (when they click so much in personality)? Where should we draw the line? I have been consulting it and have very different answers.... so I want your input on this....Thank you and God Bless.... Gracias por todo lo que hace, es una gran Bendición para mucha gente en muchos países, no solo USA.
-Anonymous Spiritual Daughter

Universal Points (43:15)
(Please note that these are brief summaries of the answers Fr. Josh provides in the podcast and are intended to help you remember the advice given on the show.)

• Original Sin - It is more of a void and in baptism we receive the gift as a grace from God.
• Explicit Music - Some music will be gifts for us, and other music will not. We need to discern where the voice of God is speaking in the music and where the enemy is creeping in and affecting you negatively
• State of Life Vocations - We are all called to be saints. That is the primary vocation.
• Can Priests and Women be Friends - The Foundation Principle: How does this person bring me closer to Christ? Prioritize the near occasion of grace and avoid the near occasion of sin.

Resources
Want to browse the previous resources Fr. Josh has recommended? Check out this episode at ascensionpress.com/askfrjosh

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

Snippet from the Show
_If someone is around me for a week, and they have to ask, “Are you a Christian?” I’ve got a serious problem … If the love of our life is Jesus, let’s act like it.
_

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

Special Guest: Jeff Cavins.

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