Ask Father Josh (your Catholic Question And Answer Podcast)

Fr. Josh answers questions about waiting to enter the Church as an RCIA candidate, whether Catholics should join college fraternities and sororities, and what to do if you are feeling alone in the faith and yearning for community. Snippet From the Show Before joining a fraternity or sorority examine its roots and fruits. If it was founded by the Freemasons and promotes Masonic rituals, and if they are encouraging sin, then it is not the right fit for a Catholic. 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

Where is God in devastation? In this special episode, Fr. Mark Toups gives us an insight into the devastating impact of Hurricane on countless lives, communities, and parishes in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in Lousiana. Fr. Mark Toups encourages us to support survivors of Hurricane Ida, and reveals how God unfolds miracles in the midst of great loss and suffering. Support Hurricane Ida relief efforts in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux (https://catholiccharitiesht.org/ida) 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 honor of Mary's nativity celebrated by the Church this week, Fr. Josh answers questions about the biblical origin of the Hail Mary prayer, whether Mary is the new Ark of the Covenant, and how we can understand Mary's perpetual virginity. Snippet From the Show Mary is a bridge to Christ, we cannot reach Christ without knowing her. 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

Mari Pablo joins Fr. Josh to answer questions about saints who embody Catholic social teaching, how to make people from diverse cultural backgrounds feel welcome in the Church, and how to work with people who believe in some Church teachings, but not others. Snippet From the Show _Make sure your table isn’t with everybody who thinks exactly the same as you, because if it is, you can unintentionally make barriers where there needs to be bridges. _ * 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 importance of fasting and how to start fasting for beginners, how to navigate spiritual dryness, and how to prepare for the vocation of marriage as an engaged couple. Snippet From the Show "We may not see the fruit of our prayer on this side of heaven, but the goal is to persevere and never give up because our prayers do bear fruit in God's own ways." 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. Phillip Bochanski joins Fr. Josh to talk all about same-sex attraction and how the Catholic Church ministers to people who experience same-sex attraction so they can live in the freedom of Christ's love. Fr. Phillip Bochanski is the Executive Director of Courage International, an apostolate that provides pastoral support in the form of spiritual guidance, community prayer support, and fellowship for people who experience same-sex attraction. Snippet From the Show " God has a plan for our lives, which includes a plan for our body, our hearts, and our relationships." 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 dealing with shame, how to bring your young kids to adoration, and how to combat the power of evil. Snippet From the Show “Look at me, I want to rejoice in you, you are my beloved. I see you, I know everything about you, I know what you have done, I know what has been done to you, and I know what you will do in the future. I want you to know that I delight in you, I forgive you, and I love 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 Church's teaching on cremation and ashes, what the difference between crosses and crucifixes is, and whether the sins we forget during confession are forgiven. Snippet From the Show We preach Jesus crucified, because it’s Jesus' body on the Cross that gives the Cross its meaning and power, otherwise it’s just an instrument of death. 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 love and serve the homeless, how to handle discouragement when struggling with infertility, and how to come to terms with family members and friends turning away from God and leaving the Catholic Church. Snippet From the Show If we only love Jesus in our prayer but not in our nieghbor, including the homeless, then we don't truly love all of Jesus. 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 accompany the dying in prayer, how to pray a fruitful holy hour, and how to define vanity when it comes to caring about our appearance. Snippet From the Show “A happy death is not a death without pain or suffering, a happy death is a holy death united to Jesus Christ in the sacraments.” 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 Jesus' teaching on denying oneself, why God is referred to as "He" , and how to grow in our understanding of the Catholic social teaching. Snippet From the Show "God has both maternal and paternal attributes, but we refer to God as Father because we imitate Jesus, and Jesus himself referred to God as Father.” 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

Meg Hunter-Kilmer joins Fr. Josh to answer questions about the diverse lives of the saints from all over the world, saints who struggled with anxiety, and how the intercession of the saints works. Meg Hunter-Kilmer is a cradle Catholic and a revert, brought back to the fold by a grace-filled confession and the supreme logic of Catholic doctrine. She has a Bachelor’s in Theology from Notre Dame and a Master’s in Systematic Theology, also from ND. After 5 years as a full time religion teacher, she quit her job and packed everything into the trunk of her car to drive around the country and fly around the world as a hobo missionary. Snippet From the Show The Catholic Church and her canon of saints is full of saints from all different cultures, ethnicities, disabilities, family circumstances, and struggles because nobody is disqualified from becoming a saint. 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.Jos

Fr. Josh answers questions about orthodox christians and the different Catholic rites, the purpose of music in the Mass, and the necessity of Baptism for the salvation of our souls. Snippet From the Show "The fruit of Baptism, or baptismal grace, is a rich reality that includes forgiveness of original sin and all personal sins, birth into the new life by which man becomes an adoptive son of the Father, a member of Christ and a temple of the Holy Spirit."- CCC 1226 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 story of Jesus healing the demoniac in Matthew 8: 25-34, and the significance and accuracy of saints receiving the marks of Jesus' crucifixion wounds on their bodies known as the stigmata. Snippet From the Show The stigmata is a personal gift God gives his children to draw them into the mystery of Jesus Christ crucified. 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 restoring holy masculinity, why we shouldn’t tell people we’re sending them “good vibes”, and attending non-Catholic weddings. 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 make time for prayer when you are busy, what do when you are struggling to attend and participate in Mass as a new mom with a baby, and how Eucharistic miracles strengthen our belief in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Snippet From the Show When we pray in the morning, we give God the first fruits of our day. 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 Catholics should invite Protestants into the Catholic Church, how to cultivate a relationship with our patron saint, and the reality of the spiritual world. Snippet From the Show If our Catholic faith is a gift, then why would we want to keep it for ourselves? Gifts are meant to be shared with others. 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

The Church isn't for or against any person; the Church is for a person's salvation, and against anything that stands in the way. Fr. Josh answers questions about whether Catholics can fly the rainbow flag, what to do when you're angry with God, and how to forgive when the person who has hurt you won't apologize. 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 discerning marriage, cultivating friendships that help us grow in virtue, and the Church's teaching on tithing and being generous with our money. Snippet From the Show "Vocations are born from a relationship with Christ, and a relationship with Jesus is born from prayer." 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. Mark-Mary, CFR joins Fr. Josh to talk all about prayer. They answer questions about hearing God's voice in prayer, developing a close relationship with God, silent vs. vocal prayer, and praying for the conversion of loved ones. Fr. Mark-Mary also shares about his new book, Habits for Holiness. Snippet From the Show "For our loved ones far from Christ, prayer united with sacrifice can be more powerful than our own words of persuasion." 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