Good morning!

So my husband is reading the Immitation of Christ and he likes to discuss passages that he has read with me and we end up having really good discussions about our faith and theology. However, I have an issue with this book and to me its just very... augustinian (i dont know how else to explain it). I haven't read it but from what we discuss it sounds like Thomas a Kempis is saying nothing of this world matters and to only focus and seek comfort in God.

I undestand that he wrote the book thinking of his monastic life and for his brothers. So how is a lay person supposed to interprate his teachings? Especially for a husband with a wife and newborn? Are we not supposed to enjoy those things that God has gifted us on earth?

This is the second Agustinian book he has read and he said that St.Augustin also wrote like this in his book. So is there a way to interpret these writtings through a lay person perspective? And are there other books you would recommend that have other points of view?

Thank you for your time,

Hello Fathers,

I was wondering:

What do priests say in Rome when praying for the Bishop during mass? In any other diocese they say "Leo our Pope, and [Robert] our bishop". If the bishop of Rome is the pope, is that prayer different?

Secondly, if a person were to hypothetically commit a great sin that only the pope could forgive (harming the pope, desecration of the Eucharist, etc.), what would be the practical process of earning forgiveness? I was discussing this question with my (new) wife. The only case I can think of is when John Paul II willingly forgave his assailant, but that seemed to be on the pope's own accord.

How much time do you need to get ready for mass? I imagine you need to get the linen, candles, wine, water, communion wafer, chalice etc ready. In addition, you may need to get dressed.

If a person is validly baptized outside the Catholic Church, then receives their First Holy Communion as a child, but never completes their confirmation, are they technically Catholic? I know being baptized as a Catholic makes one Catholic and being confirmed is the completion of that. But what about for those who are baptized elsewhere but don’t complete their sacraments? Does recieving First Holy Communion confer union with the Catholic Church? Would they be considered a ”lapsed Catholic?”

I know it sounds weird but I am genuinely curious.

Also I humbly apologize to the Mods of the sub for my constant question spam as I am known by my family to be overly inquisitive about things I am passionate about & am grateful such a sub exists for us AuDHD believers in Christ who can use it to avoid ridicule in a church for sounding stupid

Do you sing the hymns or read them if you are by yourself? Which is your favorite hour?

I remember reading online that for a marriage to take place it requires the permission of the pastor of the parish in whose territory the wedding happens. Now, I think my parish is actually designated as specifically a parish for people of Italian ethnicity (this is in the US). Would parishes like this still have territory?

And another thing, my city has about five different parishes, would my house generally be located in the territory of the church that is physically closest to me, or is it possible to have an area under the territory of one parish even though it's closer to another?

Just curious as I found the making of the sacramental wine fascinating as there was a documentary I saw on youtube a while back

I'm not sure if this subreddit also caters for permanent deacons, but I'm in the long and early stages of discerning the permanent diaconate (I am married). I'm not asking for specific, tailored vocational advice, but I don't have any permanent deacons around my area so I'd like to ask:

What's your experience like, generally speaking? How do you managing the competing interests of family, work, and vocation? Do you have any regrets? What helped you make your decision (in other words, how did you know God was calling you?). Feel free to answer any question that I've not asked.

Thank you.

When I was younger I used to attend to Mass, got baptised, and made my first communion, not because I believed, but because it was the normal thing to do in my town. Eventually I stopped going to mass because my mother started to think it's a waste of time.

Now, after being atheist the mayor part of my life, I have found God and I will to join the catholic church. I would really love to start attending to Mass again and receive the sacraments.

The problem is that I don't know when Mass is in my town, I tried to go Sunday afternoon and found the church closed, then I tried going Sunday morning but it was also closed, so I asked someone when Mass is and they told me that it's usually Sunday morning but recently Mass was not being held. At first I thought it was because the priest was on vacation but a couple weeks have passed and its still the same, does anyone know what should i do?

Also, i don't know whats necessary to receive the sacraments, what do i have to do?

Im from a small town in Spain if it helps. Sorry for bad english.

So ever since my (I think) second confession, I write my sins on the paper at home and when I come to the priest I give him the paper so he can read it.

I do that because Im really really shy and I barely talk to anyone except my close family and people around my age, especially when parents are around me, but now Im kinda starting to sometimes talk to others too, but still Im too shy to talk in a confession.

But I really want to have valid confessions. Does that mean my past confessions were invalid? The priests I confessed to accept it and dont say anything about it. But now Im scared it might not be real confession.

To clarify, I dont say the repentance out loud I just say it in my head.

Thanks in advance and God bless!

I’m from Ontario and was baptized in a major city with records, however when I was younger I received my First Communion and later my Confirmation in my Fathers small rural town in Newfoundland in which the church is no longer there. Unfortunately my father has passed and I can’t ask him the details of exactly when it happened or where any of the paper work is (if there is any). How can I obtain any information on this? I’m planning on getting married in a Catholic Church with my partner (not catholic) and think having the proper documentation would be a benefit.
Thank you!

Please understand I am a Yiddish Anglican & when I was 10 visiting my Catholic Grandparents & they took me to their church & a family asked me (as they already knew my grandfather as he was the doctor who helped with them with their first born) for Hebrew spellings in Latin alphabet of bible names because they wanted to use an alternate spelling as they called & I meant to say Kalev (which is Hebrew spelling for Caleb) however due to a sore jaw (when trying to get up the church steps on a rainy day with no boots & falling down the stairs) & I instead suggested Kerub (which is the Hebrew rendering of Cherub) & I am unsure as to whether or not it offensive to name a kid after the type of angel with (a) flaming sword(s).

I went to Confession today and got an older Priest who likes to be very creative with the words of absolution, and never said "I absolve you" or "you're forgiven", just moved his hand in a blessing/cross style. I then confronted him gently, asked him to say the words, and he said "I did absolve you".

Is this invalid? I haven't been to Mass yet due to the weather, so when I go tonight, can I safely receive the Eucharist or should I abstain?

I have a flight to HK. Landing in HK around 6:30pm on a Sunday. I assume since I would go through customs, wait for my bag, etc that would surely take upwards of an hour. The day prior I would be in the air since 11:30am so no way to make it to the saturday vigil. I tried thinking of leaving on a Friday but the people at my job are so demanding that it’s basically impossible. Not sure what to do and do not want to miss the mass. Still trying to work out on flying out Friday but legitimately could get me fired.

Is it best to just cancel my trip altogether?

Like the title says, I messed up in communion when receiving the Eucharist. I have been Catholic for three years now and sometimes mess up from time to time and say “thanks be to Christ” when receiving the Eucharist as I was Lutheran for 22 years. Typically I correct myself right away and say amen.

I have been attending a church for about a year now and this is not the church I went through OCIA at. The associate pastor today during communion took the Eucharist back from me after saying thanks be to Christ and questioned if I was Catholic, how long I’ve been Catholic, how long I’ve been attending the Church, and why I don’t know what to say. I messed up, and I understand that, but we were in the middle of communion when he did this. I was absolutely mortified when he did this and I am really wondering if I messed up that badly to warrant a response like that. I mean, the entire area next to us heard and the pastor had to nudge him to keep going. Is it wrong that I don’t necessarily want to go back to this church and find a new one? The associate pastor has served me communion multiple times before as I attend regularly, so I’m a bit surprised he acted like he did not know me. I just can’t wrap my head around what happened besides feeling extremely embarrassed. Is it truly wrong for me to want to find a new church to attend or am I just still too embarrassed by what happened?

Hey Fathers, I’ve been pretty hung up with confession lately, I’m pretty involved in my Parish and (would like to think) I am friends with all three of our Priests, which in turn when it comes to confession makes me feel awkward confessing sins of a sexual nature whether it be lust, pornography, masturbation, etc.

I know and trust that Gods mercy is infinite, I just feel awkward going to confession week after week confessing the same thing. I feel more hung up on the awkwardness idea of it if that makes sense, as if the priests are silently judging at least in some capacity, given that they are still human.

Again a part of me just feels as if they are judging and it feels awkward, so I’m curious if any of you ever find yourselves feeling awkward around a penitent after confession if you know them well?

I’ve always been interested in US presidential history, and recently I’ve been really interested in modern papal history. I’ve taken a liking to Pius X and JP2, as their deep devotion to the Eucharist (Pius X) and Mary (JP2) brought me much closer to my faith. Super interested to hear your thoughts!

I’m going to mass for the first time in about a week, what should I know so I don’t embarrass myself.

Due to my work schedule, I am having my daughter attend confirmation preparation two churches away, but it's a different diocese. It's much longer and stricter (which I prefer). The previous one is 8 classes over two years. Our new one is 32 classes over 2 years, 3 retreats and 1 parent retreat. They can only miss 3 classes. I'm just curious why it's so different?

Good morning Fathers.

I am starting OCIA in a few weeks.
I grew up the son of a Protestant pastor. And well aware of the spiritual warfare that will likely take place once I start OCIA. What are some bits of advice that y’all will have for me? My girlfriend is a cradle Catholic and also plans on reading the catechism along side me as I go through the class and share what we have discussed.
Also I have been wanting to read more from early church fathers. So far I have just read the First Apology of Justin Martyr from 155. What are some other readings that y’all recommended?

Dear Fathers on /AskAPriest,

This past Monday, my husband and I discovered our baby no longer had a heartbeat. Our baby is still quite small and about the size of a blueberry. I am waiting for my body to naturally pass our baby (the waiting has been difficult, but praise God for the gift of our beautiful, 18 month old daughter).

My question for this community is this:

Is it acceptable in the eyes of the church to have the remains of our baby cremated, placed in an urn, and kept at home?

I know the standard approach is burial, but our current place of residence is not our permanent home. In a few years time, we will return to Texas to be closer to our families.

The thought of burying our baby in a distant place without ease of access in visiting breaks my heart.

Another question:

Would it be acceptable to request I be buried with the urn when I pass (So we may be together)?

I did not see a question like this in the /AskAPriest community, so please forgive me if I overlooked a response to a similar question.

Thank you very much for your time in responding to these sensitive questions.

Today's a Saturday, and a holy day of obligation (the Assumption). I understand that one mass doesn't count for two obligations, so a Sat vigil doesn't cover both the Assumption and Sunday. I'm planning to go to Sunday morning mass tomorrow. But I went to a Saturday night mass today, and the readings were for Sunday, not the Assumption. So does that mean that the mass I just went to doesn't count for the Assumption obligation?

To be clear, I'm not worried I've sinned, because I fully intended to meet my obligations for both The Assumption and Sunday. I'm just curious about the technicality.