Snippet From the Show

Jesus is pleased with our desire to spend time with him no matter how many devotions we are able to fit into our day.

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Snippet From the Show
When we accept the reality that Jesus Christ is real, we have to make changes in our lives.

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SHOWNOTES
Fr. Josh prays a Lectio Divina Rosary, where he will read a piece of scripture, pray on it, and then apply the section to his decade.

"And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyre′ne, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus." Luke 23:26

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SHOWNOTES
Fr. Josh prays a Lectio Divina Rosary, where he will read a piece of scripture, pray on it, and then apply the section to his decade.

The Agony in the Garden
Luke 22:44 - “And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down upon the ground.”

• Text “askfrjosh” to 33-777 to subscribe to Fr. Josh’s shownotes or go to media.ascensionpress.com.
• Email your questions and feedback to Fr. Josh at askfrjosh@ascensionpress.com.

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Is it sacrilegious to wear a rosary? Is a rosary without a crucifix still a rosary? Should Catholics engage in Taize prayer, or is Taize prayer a new age practice? Lastly, what’s the difference between spiritual direction and pastoral counseling?

Snippet from the Show
Spiritual direction is the art of leading souls progressively from the beginning of the spiritual life to the heights of Christian perfection.

SHOWNOTES

Glory Story (2:40)

Listener Feedback (6:08)

*Wearing Rosaries (9:03)
*
Hi, Father Josh!
I've been listening to your podcast for some time now and first wanted to thank you so much for the good work you do. There really is no-one out there doing this type of podcast and I'm so thankful that I'm able to tune in weekly and get your insight on so many topics!!
I had a twofold question regarding rosaries. One of my hobbies is making rosaries. I restore and use antique crucifixes and centerpieces and do all the wire work by hand. As you can imagine, much time and love goes into each one! I am part of a rosary making group on Facebook and some of the things I see in there make me question what I had been taught about the rosary itself. Firstly, I was always taught that you should NEVER wear a rosary like jewelry, as the rosary is a tool for prayer and not something to be worn and made a spectacle of. Similarly a rosary is not a car ornament and should not be hung from a rear view mirror like a pair of fuzzy dice. Was I taught properly or am I being too uptight? Secondly, I was taught that rosaries MUST have a crucifix, not just a cross. Is this true?
Thank you so much in advance for your time!!!

• VeiledInLove

Taize Prayer (13:21)

Hi Fr. Josh - I’m really glad I found your podcast a couple of months ago. I really appreciate how you handle questions from both the head and the heart. My question is about Taize prayer. In college I attended some ecumenical Taize prayer services and found this type of meditative prayer through beautiful songs to be very moving. I’ve thought about asking to coordinate a service through music ministry at my parish, but I’ve never really been sure about the theology behind Taize - it does seem a bit “new age-y” and I know it has some Protestant origins, but I also don’t know that there’s anything wrong with it. Does the Catholic Church have an official perspective on Taize prayer? Is Taize a theologically sound way for us to pray?

• Sam

Spiritual Direction (18:45)

Hi Fr. Josh,
I, as many others, listen to your podcast and appreciate all the time and effort you put into your podcasts. Your desire to become a saint and help others along their journey is truly inspiring. In listening to a recent episode, I heard you were taking questions for a possible discernment themed episode. This is one that I feel is not talked about enough when in regards to discernment. I have recently been discerning the call to the sisterhood. I have been able to get involved in one of the Little Sisters of the Poor's homes where I live. It has been such a blessing and helped me open my heart more to the Father's will. I recently have felt called to enter into spiritual direction, however, I have never gone before. How does someone begin spiritual direction? Would it be better to do it with a sister or a priest? Are only certain religious able to offer spiritual direction? Any and all advice is greatly appreciated! May Peace be with you.

• Sarah

Resources
Broken and Blessed: An Invitation to My Generation by Fr. Josh
Text “askfrjosh” to 33-777 to receive weekly emails for Fr. Josh’s podcast
1 Corinthians 10:31
Cardinal Sarah’s The Power of Silence
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
Sirah 32:18-19
The Three Ages of the Interior Life - Volume 1 by Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange (pg. 256-264)
The Theology of Christian Perfection (pg. 593-614)

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
Blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus ... who revealed himself again and again to his disciples. Lord you keep coming to the disciples, no matter how many times they hurt you, you pursue them. You are the same Jesus, yesterday, today, and forever, so I know you also pursue me. You are relentless in your pursuit of me. You’re never going to give up on me ... Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

SHOWNOTES

Glory Story (2:48)
Fr. Josh shares about his trip to Canada and the time he spent with the ladies of the Abiding Together podcast. He was a speaker at their Restore the Beauty conference. The feedback he received and the stories shared by you, the Ask Father Josh listeners, meant so much. Thank you.

The Glorious Mystery: The Resurrection of Jesus Christ (8:59)

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Snippet from the Show:

No disciple of Jesus, not one of them, understands our Lord and has a deeper intimacy with him than Mary. She has the most profound, personal, beautiful relationship with Jesus. And so when we pray the Rosary, what we are doing is asking Mary to pray for us and with us, that we may be able to penetrate the mysteries of the gospel that reveals the life of Jesus to us.

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!

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