*Producer’s note: * Father Josh is now live streaming his daily Masses to Ascension’s Facebook page every morning at 9:30 AM ET. Go to facebook.com/Ascensionpress and join us tomorrow for Mass with Father Josh at 9:30 AM! Hope you can join us! God bless.

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For more shownotes visit AscensionPress.com or text ASKFRJOSH to 33-777.

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Snippet from the Show
“Cardinal Ratzinger (who became Pope Benedict XVI) proposes that women who want to stay at home should be able to stay at home, and women to want to work outside of the home, should be able to work outside of the home.”

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Snippet from the Show
“God loves you. He has a plan for your life. And he is calling you to be a saint. ”

SHOWNOTES

Glory Story (5:20)

Listener Feedback (8:30)

Single, But Called to Marriage (12:20)
Hey Fr. Josh! I never thought I would be writing into a podcast, but yet here I am! You have brought so much light to my life and have helped me apply my Catholic faith to my daily life.

Ok, here's my question. I'm probably the most single person you could ever meet. I'm 26 years old and have never been asked on a date. My friends and family tell me that I would be such a catch and yet I cannot seem to get the attention of any man (Catholic or not)! [I'm not flirty by any means, yet I'm not shy … I guess just normal?]

I feel called to marriage and it is so hard to trust in God's timing. I'm open to religious life if that is His will, but even after spending time with several orders, I still feel a call to family life. I know you don't know me personally, but do you have any advice on how to live a fulfilling life as a single woman (possibly for my whole life at the rate I'm going lol) who still feels called to marriage? I'm so lost!

Thank you so much for any advice you may have. It’s tricky figuring out how to live in a potentially interim period yet also potentially permanent lifestyle. God bless you!
-Cristina

Desire Marriage but Not Ready for Kids (22:45)
Hi Fr. Josh, I really enjoy your podcast and wanted to ask a question of my own. I am a 21 year old college student and have been dating my boyfriend for over a year. We both want to go to graduate school. If we continue dating in the future, is it ok to get married shortly after we’re both done with grad school? When talking with some Catholic friends, they said you should only get married if you are ready to have children starting 9 months after your wedding date. Is it wrong to get married wanting to postpone having children a year or two? Financial reasons aside, I think having a strong foundation of marriage built over a year or so would be helpful before children come into the mix. I wanted to hear your thoughts. I love the Church and her teaching and want to know how I can best follow her guidance with my future vocation. Know of my prayers for you and all our priests.

-Julie

Dating a Non-Catholic (32:00)
Hey Father Josh. First off I wanted to say that your podcast is beyond incredible. I get something out of every podcast. Keep it up. My question is how do you go about dating someone who is not Catholic? I think he could be the one, but my Catholic faith is so important to me and I want him to be Catholic. He’s Christian, so that’s good but it’s not the same as being Catholic. I also want to help him get to heaven, but he’s pro-choice. He claims he is personally pro-life but doesn’t want to make that decision for the woman. SOS what do I do? Thank you for any advice. I will be praying for you Fr. Josh!

-Maggie and Lauren

Resources

• Pray, Decide, and Don’t Worry by Jackie and Bobby Angel * Broken and Blessed: An Invitation to My Generation by Fr. Josh
• PrayMoreNovenas.com

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 can use our prayers to transcend time: past, present, and future.”

SHOWNOTES

Glory Story (0:56)
Fr. Josh shares an amazing revelation about Moses and the face of God!

Listener Feedback (4:17)

Prayer Transcending Time (8:22)
Fr. Josh, Hello and thank-you for your consideration of my question! I am wondering about the possibility for our prayers to transcend time. I have read about consoling the heart of Jesus, that even though He is now in heaven, I can comfort Him in His passion and death. I have also heard that God is present to me now as a 37 year old woman, just as He is present to me as a little girl. I am wondering if it is possible, through prayer, for us to bring consolation to ordinary people who have lived before us, or who will live in the future. I realize we are born into a time in history for a reason, and the present moment is a gift to us. But, as an example, if I hear about the atrocities of the holocaust and I pray for those who suffered in concentration camps, is it possible that my intercession now could have caused a consolation for someone who lived in a camp? Or, as another example, could a blessing I receive tomorrow be the result of a prayer made by my great, great grandchild decades from now? I'm sure it is good to pray and intercede for others, dead or living, whenever we feel inspired to. I'm just practically wondering if God can use those prayers to affect any time He chooses.
-Julia

Married Priests (14:44)
Father Josh, Thank you for your podcast. I enjoy learning more about the Catholic Faith through your energetic and thoughtful style. I am confused on how men who were previously married, have had children and are divorced can then become a priest. I have heard the term “alluded” used, but cannot find a Catholic meaning for this term. Can you help explain how these men fit into the rules for becoming priests and if alluded is a Catholic process I should have known about? Thank you and please continue your wonderful podcast. God Bless.
-Gary

Checking Someone Out (20:11)
Hi Fr. Josh, I'm a 16 year old guy. And I sometimes find myself checking girls out. I've been wondering recently whether it's wrong to do so. Is it okay to check people out? I think it depends on how often you do it and whether you're taking advantage of that person or genuinely admiring beauty. I'd really love to know your stance on the matter. And if I shouldn't be doing it, what are some ways to stop myself from my natural tendencies? I love your podcast, keep up the amazing work! Thank you for any help you can provide.
-Dom

Universal Call to Holiness
Share this podcast with a friend and potentially be the reason they deepen their relationship with God!

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
• Unabridged Christianity - Fr. Mario Romario
• Rome Sweet Rome - Dr. Scott Hahn
• Consoling the Heart of Jesus by Fr. Michael Gaitley
• 33 Days to Morning Glory by Fr. Michael Gaitley
• 33 Days to Merciful Love by Fr. Michael Gaitley

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 word ‘pray’ actually means ‘to ask’. It’s become synonymous with ‘worship’ but that’s not what it means.”

SHOWNOTES

Glory Story (1:46)
One of Fr. Josh’s parishioners recently gave birth to a beautiful baby girl! As he was leaving the hospital the women’s youngest son ran up to Fr. Josh thinking he was Jesus.

Listener Feedback (6:51)

Praying to the Saints (11:57)
Fr. Josh, I absolutely love your podcast and haven't missed an episode! I am a cradle Catholic and your podcast, in addition to a few other awesome Catholic podcasts, have helped me to grow in my Faith and my love for Jesus more than I ever thought possible. My husband of 11 years joined the Church at the Easter Vigil in 2018. During RCIA classes, he learned a lot more than what I could have ever begun to tell him about; that being said, he still has a hangup with how we pray to Mary and to the Saints for their intercession for us. During our nightly prayer time, I've attempted to be more intentional with praying to saints for their intercession and have been trying to learn more about various saints. One night, I specifically prayed for our Blessed Mother to help us to parent more like her and to be patient like she was in raising Jesus. After we finished, he said that he wasn't sure it was right that I asked Mary for help. I tried to explain that Mary can only help us through the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and not of her own power. I think it was just the language I used during prayer that caused him to hesitate, so my questions are below:

1. Is there a 'correct' way to pray to Mary or the Saints in such a way that it doesn't seem like we are worshiping them or asking them directly for their help through their own power?

2. How can we properly explain that when we pray to Mary and the Saints that we are NOT worshiping them? We believe that they are the living Body of Christ in Heaven and they can pray for us and help us just as a member of the living Body of Christ here on earth can, right? Why is this so hard for non-Catholics to understand?

Thanks so much, and may God continue to bless you as you walk with so many of us while we deepen our Faith.
-Tammy

The Communion Fast (22:33)
Hi Fr. Josh! I have a tricky question for you regarding the hour fast before Holy Communion. It surprises me how many people of all ages do not know about this fast. I do understand that this is a fast before Communion and not the start of Mass, but there have been numerous times when friends, acquaintances, and various adults have been eating something or drinking coffee in that "grey area time" (where depending on the Mass length you may not meet the fast) or even a few minutes before Mass. I don't think God is "counting down the minutes" till you have met the hour fast, but I also believe that as Catholics we shouldn't want to cut it close just to eat food. We should be honoring this fast in devotion to Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. There have been a few instances where a friend has been about to eat something and out of charity I reminded them about the fast. But I am confused as to when it is right for me to do so and when I should just hold my tongue? Because if these people truly did not know about the fast, it would be good if I told them, but I also don't want to commit a sin by not speaking up when I have the opportunity to kindly remind them about the fast.
-Jane

Confession “Hopping” (26:59)
Thank you so much for your podcast! It has been so helpful for me. I'm not really sure how to phrase this question, but it's something I've been thinking about lately so here goes.. I am quite involved in my parish now so my parish priests have gotten to know me a lot better than they used to. I have kinda been avoiding going to confession recently because the priests know me personally now, I'm no longer 'anonymous' as such. I would rather go to confession at a different parish (there are others close by) to do a good confession with a priest I don't know. Is this ok or should I just try and 'get over' this fear/embarrassment. I know it's a pride thing on my part, and they would just be happy that I go to receive the sacrament! Anyway I'm wondering what advice you may have on this? How do you do a good confession with a priest you work closely with?? Is it ok to avoid confession at your local parish and go to a different parish? Do you have any advice on how you've managed this in your own life?
-Anonymous

Universal Call
Share this podcast with a friend and potentially be the reason they deepen their relationship with God!

Resources
See more resources at ascensionpress.com/askfrjosh

• Broken and Blessed book by Fr. Josh Johnson

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