Ask Father Josh (your Catholic Question And Answer Podcast)

Fr. Josh answers regarding the issue of syncretism, how to face rejection when pursuing your vocation, and how to use Natural Family Planning (NFP) appropriately in marriage. Snippet From the Show “You are seen. You are known. You are wanted by God.” Text “askfrjosh” to 33-777 to subscribe to Fr. Josh’s shownotes or go to www.AscensionPress.com/askfatherjosh Submit your questions and feedback to Fr.Josh by filling out a form at www.ascensionpress.com/askfatherjosh

Fr. Josh answers questions regarding the use of medical marijuana, why an individual person does not possess all the spiritual gifts, and finally the reward of holiness and the sacrifices we make in our relationship with Jesus Christ. Snippet From the Show "We avoid sin because we’ve come to know the one who our hearts were created for." Text “askfrjosh” to 33-777 to subscribe to Fr. Josh’s shownotes or go to www.AscensionPress.com/askfatherjosh Submit your questions and feedback to Fr.Josh by filling out a form at www.ascensionpress.com/askfatherjosh

Fr. Josh answers questions about traveling with your significant other before marriage, how to prune long prayer lists when interceding for others, and how to charitably correct friends or family members who are not living virtuously. Snippet From the Show "The fruit of our belief system is our behavior." Text “askfrjosh” to 33-777 to subscribe to Fr. Josh’s shownotes or go to www.AscensionPress.com/askfatherjosh Submit your questions and feedback to Fr.Josh by filling out a form at www.ascensionpress.com/askfatherjosh

Fr. Josh answers questions on emotional chastity, growing in compassion, and seeing Christ in others. Snippet From the Show By the virtue of my Baptism, I am the Body of the Christ. When the Father sees me, the Father sees his beloved Son. Text “askfrjosh” to 33-777 to subscribe to Fr. Josh’s shownotes or go to www.AscensionPress.com/askfatherjosh Submit your questions and feedback to Fr.Josh by filling out a form at www.ascensionpress.com/askfatherjosh

Fr. Josh answers questions about what our prayers do for the souls in purgatory, why St. Michael the Archangel is considered a saint, and what was Jesus' nature as the Second Person of the Trinity before the incarnation. Snippet From the Show The Catholic Church uses the term "saint" to refer to any being who is in heaven, either an angel or a human being. Text “askfrjosh” to 33-777 to subscribe to Fr. Josh’s shownotes or go to www.AscensionPress.com/askfatherjosh Submit your questions and feedback to Fr.Josh by filling out a form at www.ascensionpress.com/askfatherjosh

Today, Fr. Josh encourages us to look at our vices and then to pursue the opposing virtue in the coming new year. Text “askfrjosh” to 33-777 to subscribe to Fr. Josh’s shownotes or go to www.AscensionPress.com/askfatherjosh Submit your questions and feedback to Fr.Josh by filling out a form at www.ascensionpress.com/askfatherjosh

This week in a Christmas special, Father Josh encourages us to pray with the Scriptures read during the Christmas Masses. As we listen to the genealogy of Jesus on Christmas Eve, he reminds us that Jesus came from a family of sinners and that Christ came to save all, no matter how great or how little the sinner. Snippet from the Show "Each and every one of us has a past and we shouldn't let our past mistakes dictate our future, our destiny, our calling to become saints in our walk towards eternity... God is bigger than our mess." Text “askfrjosh” to 33-777 to subscribe to Fr. Josh’s shownotes or go to www.AscensionPress.com/askfatherjosh Submit your questions and feedback to Fr. Josh by filling out a form at www.ascensionpress.com/askfatherjosh

Fr. Josh answers questions about how to properly use sacramentals and how to grow in relationship with God when prayer is tough. Snippet From the Show “Catholics sometimes approach sacramentals as if they are magic or having power in and of themselves, instead of approaching them as instruments of grace.” Text “askfrjosh” to 33-777 to subscribe to Fr. Josh’s shownotes or go to www.AscensionPress.com/askfatherjosh Submit your questions and feedback to Fr. Josh by filling out a form at www.ascensionpress.com/askfatherjosh

Fr. Josh answers questions about whether all world religions are the same, how to accept a partner’s sexual history in a dating relationship, and how to let go of past sufferings and hurts. *Please note: This episode contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children – parental discretion is advised. Snippet From the Show We can reverence the fact that there are true, good, and beautiful aspects of different world religions, but we should always invite people to discover Jesus Christ, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Text “askfrjosh” to 33-777 to subscribe to Fr. Josh’s shownotes or go to www.AscensionPress.com/askfatherjosh Submit your questions and feedback to Fr.Josh by filling out a form at www.ascensionpress.com/askfatherjosh

Fr. Josh answers questions about what is the meaning of "world without end" in the Glory Be, how are we ever worthy of reception of Holy Communion, and if the Catholic Church is a cult. Snippet From the Show We are purged and cleansed of our venial sins and imperfections each and every time we approach Jesus in Holy Communion. Text “askfrjosh” to 33-777 to subscribe to Fr. Josh’s shownotes or go to www.AscensionPress.com/askfatherjosh Submit your questions and feedback to Fr. Josh by filling out a form at www.ascensionpress.com/askfatherjosh

In this special Thanksgiving episode, Fr. Josh invites us to reflect on the ways God has been generous with us this year and guides us through a powerful meditation and a litany of gratitude. Snippet From the Show "Recognize to whom you owe the fact that you exist, that you breathe, that you understand, that you are wise, and, above all, that you know God and hope for the kingdom of heaven and the vision of glory, now darkly as in a mirror but then with greater fullness and purity. You have been made a son of God, co-heir with Christ. Where did you get all this, and from whom? "- St. Gregory of Nazianzen Text “askfrjosh” to 33-777 to subscribe to Fr. Josh’s shownotes or go to www.AscensionPress.com/askfatherjosh Submit your questions and feedback to Fr.Josh by filling out a form at www.ascensionpress.com/askfatherjosh

Fr. Josh answers questions about the official process of becoming Catholic, how to restore confidence in one's own worth, and how to navigate encounters and conversations with loved ones over thanksgiving. Snippet From the Show “Be rooted in daily prayer with the Lord and he will give you his mind, his words, his eyes, and his ears, to direct the conversations with those you hold dearest to your heart.” Text “askfrjosh” to 33-777 to subscribe to Fr. Josh’s shownotes or go to www.AscensionPress.com/askfatherjosh Submit your questions and feedback to Fr.Josh by filling out a form at www.ascensionpress.com/askfatherjosh

Fr. Josh answers questions about the Church's tradition of offering Gregorian Masses for the deceased, and whether a physical or mental disability can affect one's road to his or her vocation. Snippet From the Show The Sacred Congregation on Indulgences has declared that "the offering of Gregorian Masses has a special efficacy for obtaining from God the speedy deliverance of a suffering soul, and that this is a pious and reasonable belief of the faithful." Text “askfrjosh” to 33-777 to subscribe to Fr. Josh’s shownotes or go to www.AscensionPress.com/askfatherjosh Submit your questions and feedback to Fr.Josh by filling out a form at www.ascensionpress.com/askfatherjosh

Fr. Josh answers questions about what it looks like for a man to live out his identity as a beloved son of God, and how to properly understand mystical writings. Snippet From the Show “To be a son of the Father is the foundational identity of every man.” Text “askfrjosh” to 33-777 to subscribe to Fr. Josh’s shownotes or go to www.AscensionPress.com/askfatherjosh Submit your questions and feedback to Fr.Josh by filling out a form at www.ascensionpress.com/askfatherjosh

Fr. Josh answers questions about the origin of the Angelus prayer, why some Catholic priests give bad homilies, and whether or not we can call creation our "mother". Snippet From the Show "Nature is not our mother: Nature is our sister. We can be proud of her beauty, since we have the same father; but she has no authority over us; we have to admire, but not to imitate."- G.K. Chesterton Text “askfrjosh” to 33-777 to subscribe to Fr. Josh’s shownotes or go to www.AscensionPress.com/askfatherjosh Submit your questions and feedback to Fr.Josh by filling out a form at www.ascensionpress.com/askfatherjosh

Fr. Josh answers questions about experiencing confusion and doubts discerning one's vocation, and why taking the morning after pill is a serious sin, but a sin that God forgives through the sacrament of Reconciliation because there is no sin that God doesn't forgive in confession. Snippet From the Show "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 that 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." Text “askfrjosh” to 33-777 to subscribe to Fr. Josh’s shownotes or go to www.AscensionPress.com/askfatherjosh Submit your questions and feedback to Fr.Josh by filling out a form at www.ascensionpress.com/askfatherjosh

Fr. Josh answers questions about the difference between possessing others versus authentically loving them, and how to properly understand modesty, and why how we dress matters. Snippet From the Show Text “askfrjosh” to 33-777 to subscribe to Fr. Josh’s shownotes or go to www.AscensionPress.com/askfatherjosh Submit your questions and feedback to Fr.Josh by filling out a form at www.ascensionpress.com/askfatherjosh

Fr. Josh answers questions about how to cope with grief from a Catholic perspective, how to choose patron saint names for your child, and how to discern a vocation to the contemplative life. Snippet From the Show "Our Lady is called Our Lady of Sorrows for a reason, because she grieved at the foot of the Cross. Grief is human, healthy, and holy." Text “askfrjosh” to 33-777 to subscribe to Fr. Josh’s shownotes or go to www.AscensionPress.com/askfatherjosh Submit your questions and feedback to Fr.Josh by filling out a form at www.ascensionpress.com/askfatherjosh

Fr. Josh answers questions about how to hold on to the graces we receive on retreats once they are over, why young people today shouldn't be afraid of marriage, and how to find courage during an unplanned pregnancy. Snippet From the Show "If you want to encounter a tangible expression of the love of God, then go find a holy married couple, and if you can’t find any, then become one." Text “askfrjosh” to 33-777 to subscribe to Fr. Josh’s shownotes or go to www.AscensionPress.com/askfatherjosh Submit your questions and feedback to Fr.Josh by filling out a form at www.ascensionpress.com/askfatherjosh

Megan and Jared Braud join Fr. Josh to discuss how to cultivate a healthy and integrated lifestyle that enables us to physically and spiritually thrive as disciples of Christ. Snippet From the Show We can’t glorify God and serve others without creating healthy spiritual, physical, and emotional habits. Text “askfrjosh” to 33-777 to subscribe to Fr. Josh’s shownotes or go to www.AscensionPress.com/askfatherjosh Submit your questions and feedback to Fr.Josh by filling out a form at www.ascensionpress.com/askfatherjosh