Fr. Josh answers questions about receiving the sacraments and staying engaged in a virtual mass during COVID-19. Snippet from the Show _When it comes to making the act of spiritual communion, this practice can be done anywhere, anytime. And ask God to transport your soul to the nearest tabernacle if you can’t get out of your home to be in the presence of Jesus. _ For more shownotes visit media.ascensionpress.com or text “askfrjosh” to 33-777 to subscribe to Fr. Josh’s shownotes Email your questi...
Apr 07, 2020•29 min
Fr. Josh is joined by Chika Anyanwu, Catholic speaker and author, to answer questions about being disappointed with homilies, teaching the Faith to a child with ADHD, and how much we need to divulge in order to make a good confession. Email your questions about Lent and other topics and feedback to Fr. Josh at [email protected] Text “askfrjosh” to 33-777 to subscribe to Fr. Josh’s shownotes
Mar 31, 2020•40 min
On today’s episode, Father Josh is joined by his good friend Fr. Brad to answer questions about the ethics of fertility testing and birth control for medical reasons. *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. For full shownotes, text ASKFRJOSH to 33-777 or visit AscensionPress/com....
Mar 25, 2020•41 min
Father Josh shares a message of hope and perseverance for these escalating times of COVID-19. He reminds us how to pray Lectio Divina, modeling this spiritual exercise as he reflects on the way the apostle John responded when Jesus was taken away from him. For more shownotes visit AscensionPress.com or text ASKFRJOSH to 33-777.
Mar 17, 2020•11 min
Father Josh and Father Paul Gros answer questions about OCD and anxiety, family members with mental illness, and navigating life changes after therapy. For full episode shownotes, visit AscensionPress.com (http://media.ascensionpress.com/?post_type=podcast&p=34967) or text ASKFRJOSH to 33-777.
Mar 10, 2020•42 min
Fr. Josh answers questions all about Christian fasting. Learn about fasting before Mass, fasting if you have an eating disorder, and the spiritual benefits of fasting. For full episode shownotes, text ASKFRJOSH to 33-777.
Mar 03, 2020•36 min
Fr. Josh answers the question, “What’s the point of Lent?" He then asks a set of questions to help you determine which Lenten practices will be best for your soul this year. Snippet from the Show When we enter into the Lenten season, we enter into spiritual warfare. Expect Satan to discourage you, but don’t talk to the snake … go directly to Jesus. Glory Story (3:10) What’s the Point of Lent? (5:40) Figuring Out What Your Soul Needs This Lent Add more silence to your day: give God so...
Feb 25, 2020•24 min
Fr. Josh answers questions about whether Catholics should do yoga, whether we should forgive the Devil, and whether Mary truly had free will. **Glory Story (5:00) **Feedback (9:19) *Yoga (10:58) * Hi Fr. Josh, I thank the Lord for leading me to your podcast. I am learning a lot with regards to the beauty of our Catholic faith, though late in the game. Anyway, my question is about yoga. I have read that it stems from another religion and it's called a practice. I am currently attending classes at...
Feb 18, 2020•38 min
What kinds of physical acts are morally acceptable when it comes to sex in marriage? What do you do when one spouse embraces NFP and the other insists on using contraception? How can an engaged couple recover chastity and peace after giving into sexual temptation together? *Disclaimer: Parents may want to listen to the podcast before sharing with young kids, as we discuss some very mature topics about intimate relationships. Snippet from the Show "When you bring to the Mass all that you’ve exper...
Feb 11, 2020•34 min
Father Josh answers questions about fear of the Lord, explaining transubstantiation to children, and whether a grandparent should secretly baptize their unbaptized grandchild. Glory Story (2:49) Feedback (6:32) Baptizing a Grandchild (11:15) Hi Fr. Josh! Thank you so much for your priesthood and your ministry via this podcast. It has been so encouraging to me and many friends too! Here’s my question—my oldest daughter is married to a very nice Jewish man and now has a one year old ba...
Feb 04, 2020•31 min
Fr. Josh answers three questions about the priesthood: Why can’t women be priests? Why can’t priests get married? And how can you look past the human flaws of the priest when he is acting in persona Christi? Snippet from the Show Jesus Christ was radical, he broke many customs. If he had wanted women to be priests, he would have chosen them to be priests … Mary [Mother of God] was far holier than Peter. Mary Magdalene showed up to the foot of the Cross. Guess who wasn’t at the foot of the Cross—...
Jan 28, 2020•39 min
In this week’s pro life themed episode, Father Josh addresses questions about abortion after rape, the often-misunderstood Church teaching on excommunication, and a unique challenge of single motherhood. Glory Story (2:39) Feedback (6:16) Rape and Abortion (10:50) My name is Brianna and I live in Kyle, Texas! I absolutely love your podcast and a lot of your episodes have brought so much clarity to my life and helped me grow in my faith, so thank you! My question is, with new abortion laws being ...
Jan 21, 2020•36 min
In today’s episode, Father Josh answers questions about the call and the challenge to pursue a chaste life. He answers a question from a mother who suspects her son is gay, a young woman who wants to enter the religious life but lost her virginity in college, and a listener looking for recommended chastity speakers. *Snippet from the Show *There’s no person in this world that can ever satiate the infinite ache that exists in your heart—only the infinite God can quench that thirst. *My Son Might ...
Jan 14, 2020•25 min
Andy Lesnefsky from Vagabond Ministries joins Father Josh to discuss how to find/build Catholic community, being judged by Catholics for having tattoos, why you shouldn’t worry about fitting a perfect Catholic mold, and how to avoid burnout when you’re always serving others. Today’s podcast was recorded live last week in Phoenix Arizona at the FOCUS Student Leadership SLS conference. Tune in to hear the first ever glory stories from audience members and a even a question from the audience. Thank...
Jan 07, 2020•39 min
Happy New Years Y'all! I'm taking one more week off from my regular recording schedule, but tune in next week when we kick off 2020 with the first ever LIVE recording of Ask Father Josh! Sidenote: this week I'm in Phoenix, Arizona for the FOCUS SLS20 conference, so if you're here too, come say hi and see me podcast LIVE on Tuesday at 4:15 at the Media Feed (check the FOCUS app for the location). I'm hoping I'll get to meet some of y'all there!
Dec 31, 2019•2 min
Father Josh prays for grace and peace to fill your soul as you approach this Christmas season.
Dec 24, 2019•5 min
In today’s special episode, Sister Miriam James Heidland joins Father Josh to talk favorite childhood Christmas memories, YouTube videos, books, saints, and more. Snippet from the Show Christmas is a tender time that reminds us that we must become like little children to inherit the kingdom of God. Favorite Christmas Memories Fr. Josh—Christmas Eve Mass and then opening a present before bed Sr. Miriam—seeing Christmas lights and the magic of waking up and to all the presents under the tree; havi...
Dec 17, 2019•28 min
Father Josh answers questions about how to talk about corruption in the Church’s history, whether the saints know our thoughts, and whether Mary knew that Jesus was God. **Glory Story (2:05) Feedback (3:59) ** Do Saints Know Our Thoughts? (9:04) Dear Fr. Josh, In one of your podcasts, you said that the Devil does not know our thoughts. Do the saints know our thoughts? I have always prayed silently to them. Thank you. Angela Corrupt Church History (11:22) Hey Father! Thank you for your ministry. ...
Dec 10, 2019•27 min
Father Josh answers questions about how to live Advent in a meaningful way, whether Catholics should listen to Christmas music during Advent, and what the “Christmas season” is according to the liturgical calendar. Snippet from the Show _For the secular world, Christmas season begins on Black Friday and ends on Christmas day. For Catholics, Christmas season begins on Christmas day and continues until the Baptism of Christ the Lord in mid-January. _ SHOWNOTES Glory Story (1:56) Feedback (4:20) Ho...
Dec 03, 2019•27 min
Father Josh shares four things he’s grateful for and wishes you a Happy Thanksgiving! He also encourages you to send all your Advent and Christmas related questions to him at [email protected] for a special themed episode in the coming weeks. SHOWNOTES What I’m Grateful For: Sickness: being sick allowed me to draw closer to the Lord and spend more time with him My Brother Priests: they were so kind and helpful to me while I was sick My community: and its beautiful support of religious...
Nov 26, 2019•7 min
Can Catholics support feminism? Why do some people believe women shouldn’t work outside the home? How do the promises of devotional prayers work—can they guarantee salvation? Should we be embracing the current interest in Christianity due to Kanye West and his album, Jesus is King? Fr. Josh answers this and more in today’s episode. 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 wan...
Nov 19, 2019•27 min
Father Josh answers questions about how to find healing in the midst of anxiety or depression, how to get involved in your parish, and whether or not Catholics can be Freemasons. Snippet from the Show If a Catholic man joins the freemasons, he automatically excommunicates himself from the Catholic Church. SHOWNOTES ** Glory Story (2:13) Listener Feedback (6:30) Anxiety, Depression, and Mental Illness (11:17)** Hi Fr Josh, My boyfriend introduced me to your podcast a few months ago, and absolutel...
Nov 12, 2019•32 min
Fr. Josh goes in depth on two questions: What principles should Catholics turn to when it comes to voting for a political candidate? And is celebrating Halloween morally acceptable? Snippet from the Show “Why would any follower of Jesus Christ vote for a candidate whose policies are diametrically and directly opposed to the core beliefs we hold sacred as Catholics?” SHOWNOTES Glory Story (2:08) Listener Feedback (4:20) Celebrating Halloween (9:49) Hi Father Josh!! First off, thank God for your e...
Nov 05, 2019•29 min
Father Josh answers questions about wearing rosaries, taize prayer, and spiritual direction. 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 perfect...
Oct 29, 2019•28 min
Fr. Josh answers questions about non-Catholics receiving Communion in the Catholic Church, whether using essential oils is spiritually dangerous, and what St. Paul teaches about salvation and grace. Snippet from the Show “If a person receives Holy Communion and says ‘Amen’ without believing in the True Presence, they act dishonestly.” SHOWNOTES Glory Story (2:13) Listener Feedback (5:37) Holy Communion to Non-Catholics (7:45) Hi Fr Josh, Thank you for the gift that is your podcast and for all of...
Oct 22, 2019•30 min
Fr. Josh answers questions about what happens to our guardian angels after we die, whether it’s OK to listen to explicit lyrics if you only pay attention to the music, and how to respond to someone who says all you have to do is love Jesus to get to heaven. Snippet from the Show “We cannot name our guardian angels because we’re implying that we have authority over them, and we don’t.” SHOWNOTES Glory Story (2:55) Listener Feedback (7:41) Guardian Angels (10:18) Good evening! I listened to your p...
Oct 15, 2019•30 min
Fr. Josh answers questions about what to do when you feel angry at God because of unanswered prayers to alleviate the suffering of a loved one, if cohabitation is a good solution to handle an unexpected pregnancy before marriage, and which translation of the Bible is the best to get started with. Snippet from the Show “The more you perceive your prayer to be unanswered, the more intense your prayer becomes and the more you lean into the person of Jesus Christ and are drawn into an intimacy with ...
Oct 08, 2019•26 min
Fr. Josh answers questions about how to minister to a coworker who looks at horoscopes and practices “white” witchcraft, what’s the deal with ember days (periods of fasting for vocations throughout the year), and why Catholics venerate saint relics and images. Snippet from the Show “Vatican II invites lay people to go out into the work environment (a place where clergy can’t go) and be the image of the body of Jesus Christ.” SHOWNOTES Glory Story (2:14) Listener Feedback (6:00) Ministering to Co...
Oct 01, 2019•30 min
Fr. Josh answers questions about what to do when a consecrated Host is dropped during Communion, if the devil and demons can read our thoughts when we’re tempted, and what to do about a congregation that doesn’t kneel during Mass. Snippet from the Show “Fight the devil the same way Jesus fought the devil. Whenever you recognize some temptation, quote Scripture out loud, and say ‘Get behind me Satan’. The word of God will fight for us.” SHOWNOTES Glory Story (2:20) Listener Feedback (4:58) Droppi...
Sep 24, 2019•31 min
Fr. Josh answers questions about what to do when you’re single but feel called to marriage, what to do when you’re discerning marriage but aren’t ready for kids, and what to do when the person you’re dating isn’t Catholic. Get 15% off Jackie and Bobby’s new book, [Pray, Decide and Don’t Worry](https://ascensionpress.com/products/pray-decide-and-don-t-worry-five-steps-to-discerning-god-s-will?utmsource=podcast&utmmedium=media&utmcampaign=discernment&utmcontent=afjangels) at ascensionpress.com wit...
Sep 17, 2019•42 min
