r/AskAPriest

Good morning Father (s). I have been pondering something that I wanted to get an opinion on. Do you think that there has been increase of evil and demonic imagery being normalized ? I am referring to things like Labubus, Demons portrayed as cute cuddly plushies, fandom of serial killers and slasher movies. It has really been bothering me lately as I feel like it is pervasive. I dont think those physical objects hold power but I am wondering if it is building broad acceptance? Thank you for taking the time to answer. God Bless you

Hello Priests - I inherited a crucifix and religious medal from my grandmother. I was wondering if I needed to get them blessed again. I cannot imagine she did not have them blessed but I have no way to know for sure.

Is my best course of action to just get them blessed again or forgo having it done again?

Thank you so much.

During lunch with a close friend she shared with me that she has been struggling with romantic feelings for our priest. She also said she plans to share this with him this Saturday to find out if he has similar feelings.

I get it, as single Catholic women we love a God fearing man. However, I reminded her that having a crush on a priest is the same as having a crush on a married man. You can’t help how you feel but you can control your response.

I suggested seeking support with a priest in a neighboring parish and attending Mass there. I offered to start attending Mass in the new parish with her so she would have a friend to support her transition.

She strongly disagreed with all of my suggestions and told me I am not being a supportive friend and accused me of being judgmental. She said our priest is an adult and I need to stop acting like his mother. He can handle this. She also told me she thought I was more “chill”….. I am chill as in no judgement, let’s handle this. Not chill as in yeah, that’s a great idea.

My thought was that if she went to our neighboring parish it would provide distance, clarity and the support she needs. I am also considering the thoughts, feelings and pressure our priest is under. Yes, he is an adult and I’m sure he is 100% capable of handling the situation. Wouldn’t it be ideal if he didn’t have to?

I really didn’t mean to upset her. I sincerely was trying to provide healthy solutions that would support her in overcoming these emotions.

Isn’t it our job as Catholic women to step in when a friend could potentially be harmed? Or when their actions could harm someone else? To help avoid or at the very least minimize damage if at all possible?

How could I have handled this better? Should I have just listened and prayed for her? Did I cross a line?

Hey guys

I use to partake in casual sexual relationships

I've since started my journey in Catholicism (in OCIA) and tried to remain abstinent and stay away from lust

However, with this change.. one of my previous partner doesn't understand this. I feel like he has such a hold on me and its effecting my spiritual relationship w God.

I've fallen off my prayer routines and although I'm struggling to keep going w it, it's only gotten harder

Next thing I know, I'm more prone into going back to my previous habits such as p* or m*.

Deep down I wish this guy would find his path to God

But I don't know if he would ever - He claims to be Catholic, goes to church during Easter - but he doesn't think I'm being reasonable.

I want to not be in such a grip of worldly and physical desires.

Any advice?

Jesus asked us to love and pray for our enemies. Is there a wrong way to pray for an enemy? Like, if I am praying for someone who is doing really terrible things to other people, and I pray for their heart to be softened so they stop hurting people, is that in the spirit of what Jesus asks of us? Or, is Jesus really only asking us to pray for our enemies to be happy and have good fortune?

I've been challenging myself to pray more often for enemies, but I'm starting to wonder if my prayers are really in the spirit of what Jesus asks of us.

(You know like how people "apologize" by saying something like "I'm sorry your feelings got hurt when I told the truth" and it's definitely not a real apology, but they did technically say the words "I'm sorry"? I don't want to be like that...)

I struggle with sin. During the last week of Lent, I was able to stop doing this sin. I prayed more and fasted more during holy week. I heard fasting helps people be more holy. So that got me thinking maybe I can do a smaller fast. something that can distract me from wanting to do evil when I feel tempted.

My question for you is, how best can I ask one of my priests this question? Should I call the office to make an appointment? If so, do I just say I want to meet with the priest or say I want spiritual advice from him? He is chatty during confession, and when I go, usually nobody else is there at that time. Would asking him this be ok during a confession?

I say this because I don't really know when the best time to ask such a question is, or how to ask it.

thx you father.

Iam the only daughter of my father he got no one else to do his final rites
We are Hindus
Kindly help me with your words

Just curious and thought I would ask directly. I went to my first ever Mass with a friend Sunday evening for the Solemnity of the Ascension (I'm Protestant Methodist on the road to entering into full Communion with the Church) and loved it. I know the Nicene Creed is the Creed mainly used during Mass, but the Apostles' Creed can be used as well.

Edit: Ugh, misspelled Apostles' in title and can't change it!

After a couple of health scares apiece and just generally growing older, my wife and I have started having (hopefully premature) discussions about our funeral preferences. Both of us have an affection towards a priest who was just transferred to another parish in our city. Is it in any way improper to respectfully request a certain priest conduct a funeral Mass when the time comes if he is no longer of our parish? And is there a "best way" to approach this? Much thanks and appreciation, Fathers.

Good day Father,

In a way that changes you. In your behaviour or thoughts. Like, does it increase your focus during the day? Make you more altruistic? More at ease? Makes you industrious? More inclined to prayer? Or does it do nothing for you at all? That would be alright, it is food for the soul after all.

In the same way as some people hearing Mass and going to Holy Communion notice something that it does for them. Some people do not notice anything.

So do you, Father, notice anything from saying Mass? And ehm, as an edit, I actually mean more specifically, after the Mass. Are you different when you have said Mass as you were before saying it? Or if there are days you do not say Mass, do you think you are different then?

Thank you.

Forgive me, I have a feeling this is going to seem like a really stupid question, but in all the decades, I’ve been going to mass, I’ve seen masses are said for deceased priest in our parish or relatives of people who have passed away. Whenever the priest has had a relative pass, whether his mother or brother or sister, I’ve never seen a mass said for them, and I wondered if it was proper to do that. We have a priest in our parish who lost his grandmother who raised him, although she lived in a different city about an hour from here. Do people not have masses said for priests relatives because they can do it themselves when they celebrate mass or offer their own intentions?
Again, forgive me if this sounds stupid,but I’ve never seen it over the years when the priest had relatives pass and I would think that someone at the parish would’ve done it
Thank you

Do you find that your dedication to God protects you from a lot of the human emotions that we laity feel? For example, do you find that your faith and service keeps you from getting anxious because you trust Him more? Or that you mourn death less because you feel more secure in the afterlife? (Just as examples.)

To give some background to this question:

TW

I was abused for about 15 years by my father, both physically and emotionally. I was also SA’d by another adult male when I was 4 years old. Given this, I have a very adverse view to any adult male, especially those in authority.

Given that God is viewed as a father and a “figure” in a role of authority I find it very difficult to trust Him. Rather than believing he loves me, I view him how I viewed my father, someone who wants to punish me, wants me to suffer and takes enjoyment out of it.

I have built this wall between me and God, where logically I know he loves me, and he has proven it multiple times, but i don’t actually believe it. So I don’t let him love me if that makes sense? Ive been through RCIA and been confirmed but no matter how much I learn I still avoid Him and treat him as someone I beg mercy for when I mess up and then live on Ice in case of the next mess up

So how do I actually let Him love me?

I (44m) am going through OCIA right now and am excited about joining the Church next Easter season. My Wife (34f) is a baptized Catholic but not practicing or currently going to Church. We have 2 young children and I have an older teenage daughter from a previous relationship.

My Wife and I do not want to bring any more children into the world and my Wife would like for me to receive a vasectomy. I feel quite wrong about this procedure, and I wonder if every time we make love post procedure, won't we be sinning?

I am concerned that not going through with a vasectomy will cause marital disruption. I feel like going through with the procedure will ease potential problems in our marriage and help us remain harmonious partners as well as parents. I do worry that having more children would be a huge strain on not only my Wife, but our life in general. Just with the two little ones it's so hard to find the time and energy to be in a thriving marriage.

Any input is very appreciated.

God bless.

Does He think any of our buildings, art, performances, technology are cool?

Hi Fathers,

What are some things you do in your leisure time especially in your busy schedules. What are your passions. Where do most priests live? Whats your favorite TV show?

Do you, as a priest, care to know if God is doing wonderful and miraculous things in your parish? Would you take a meeting just to hear these things? Or would it be annoying?

I have had a couple of different experiences recently, including an amazing answer to a prayer after I lay prostrate before the Blessed Sacrament.

For some reason, I want to tell the priest these things that are happening under his roof, but I don’t want to bother him unnecessarily, and I don’t want to call extra attention to myself. I feel like a dope asking this.

For context, I was protestant my entire adult life until the Easter Vigil, and am now in full communion with the church. I want to live in perfect obedience, which is new in my life and if anyone who knew me 10 years ago saw me writing this, they would laugh and not believe it.

I have known God my whole life. But my assent to the Church represents my first inner assent to any earthly authority, ever.

I wish if someone could help me with that cuz in my country it’s not allowed for the people who haven’t born in Christian fam to get baptized
I've been a Christian for five years without baptism. During these years, I suffered a lot and cried for this moment. Now that there might be a chance, I want to take it and get baptized in China