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Fr. Paul Born currently serves as the Parochial Vicar at Mary, Queen of Martyrs Parish in Plymouth, Massachusetts. In Today's Show: What do we say to those who believe there is no God? How can we as parishioners better understand the Mass? Can you live in true faith if Christ is not the center of your life? Why does Saint Thomas suggest life begins at birth in his writing? Is Harry Potter and Percy Jackson Demonic? Can you repair rosary beads? Does the Church teach against gambling? Should we put any trust in Protestant Bibles? Visit the show page at thestationofthecross.com/askapriest to listen live, check out the weekly lineup, listen to podcasts of past episodes, watch live video, find show resources, sign up for our mailing list of upcoming shows, and submit your question for Father!
By the design of God, the first second of our existence passes in a dark place, the womb of our mother. We remain in the darkness for three quarters of a year, growing, making the transition from an embryo to a fetus to an infant.Finally, the day comes when we emerge into this world and we get to see for the first time what sort of world we are born into. Our vision is at first very blurry and is limited to a range of about half a foot.The infant's perception of reality, of the world that he has newly entered, in his narrow range of sight, is dominated by one figure: his mother. She is the one whom his feeble sight is most often able to perceive. She is the one who always seems to be around when he is awake: the one who feeding him, the one clothing him, the one speaking to him, the one holding and kissing him.This is how God designed things for His human beings: that, coming out of the well of nothingness, we should spend nine months in the womb of our mothers; and then, coming into the world, our whole perception of that world should be dominated by the face and contact of our mother.God made it to be that way for us. And He made us to need it to be that way.If such is the way it is in the natural world and with our natural life, it should not be surprising to us that God should want something similar to be true for the supernatural world and our supernatural life.God wants us to have a mother. At the moment of our baptism, the first moment that our souls lives a supernatural life, the first moment it exists in the supernatural order, we receive the Church as our mother (we become members of the Church) and we receive Our Lady as our Mother.We go to our Mother the Church to receive our supernatural life. We get the sacraments from her, which nourish our soul. Especially confession and Communion.But God also gives Our Lady, His own Mother, to be our mother. She is a human being like us, but she is a human being who has been given a crucial role for the human race, the role of being the New Eve, the new Mother of all the living.And just as we saw with the natural order, so too must we say of the supernatural order: God made it to be that way for us. God has made us a supernatural world where we have Holy Mother Church and we have a human mother, the Mother of God, to be our mother.God made it to be that way for us. And He made us to need it to be that way.
Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time. World Mission Day -Year C - Sunday, 19 October 2025 (EPISODE: 552) Readings for Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time. World Mission Day- Year C FIRST READING: Exodus 17:8-13 Psalm 121:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8. “Our help is from the lord, who made heaven and earth” SECOND READING: 2 Timothy 3:14—4:2 GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Hebrews 4:12). Alleluia, alleluia! The Word of God is living and active. It probes the thoughts and motives of our heart. GOSPEL: Luke 18:1-8 Image Credit: https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/rrfa8RDi1DGERjYkuyC4?ru=Paul-Evangelion "However, we will never grow weary in prayer, and our faith will never falter if, after we have offered to God our prayers and requests, we add the perfect ending to every prayer as shown by the example of Christ's own prayer life and teaching… by always ending every prayer with: "however, not my will be done, O Lord, but yours!"## +++++ References: ##THE DAILY STUDY BIBLE SERIES. REVISED EDITION. THE GOSPEL OF LUKE. WILLIAM BARCLAY. THE WESTMINSTER PRESS. PHILADELPHIA. 1975 **THE DAILY STUDY BIBLE SERIES. REVISED EDITION. THE LETTERS TO TIMOTHY, TITUS, AND PHILEMON. WILLIAM BARCLAY. THE WESTMINSTER PRESS. PHILADELPHIA. 1975 Fr Paul W. Kelly ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PREFACE: Ordinary 5 Eucharistic Prayer 2 (theme variation: theme 3 ) (post version: v1-long) ++++ {13. Cheers and thanks everyone for this time of prayer and reflection - I hope you have a blessed week.} 3. Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life. ++++++++ Archive of homilies and reflections: http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au To contact Fr. Paul, please email: paulwkelly68@gmail.com To listen to the weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks You are welcome to subscribe to Fr Paul's homily mail-out by visting here: https://surfersparadiseparish.us7.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=85b9ddd594b242276d423bfe9&id=002282d9e0 Details relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog: "Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection" - Led by Rev Paul Kelly Prayers and chants — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL) Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA) "The Psalms" ©1963, 2009, The Grail - Collins publishers. Prayers of the Faithful - " Together we pray" by Robert Borg'. E.J. Dwyer, Publishers, (1993). (Sydney Australia). Sung "Mass in Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" - By Jeffrey M. Ostrowski. The Gloria, Copyright © 2011 ccwatershed.org. "Faith, Hope and Love" theme hymn - In memory of William John Kelly (1942-2017) - Inspired by 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019. “Quiet Time.” Instrumental Reflection music. Written by Paul W Kelly. 1988, 2007. & This arrangement: Stefan Kelk, 2020. “Today I Arise” - For Trisha J Kelly. Original words and music by Paul W. Kelly. Inspired by St Patrick's Prayer. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019. Sound Engineering and editing - P.W. Kelly. Microphones: - Shure Motiv MV5 Digital Condenser. And (2024+) Rode Nt-1 + AI-1 Sound Mixer. Editing equipment: -- MixPad Multitrack Studio Recording Software v10.49 (NCH Software). NCH – WavePad Audio Editing Software. Master's Edition v 17.63 (NCH Software) Sound Processing: iZotope RX 10 Audio Editor (Izotope Inc.) Text transcription as per the recorded podcast version is transcribed by TurboScribe.ai {excellent and accurate transcription from voice to text} [Production - KER - 2025] May God bless and keep you. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Fr. Paul Born currently serves as the Parochial Vicar at Mary, Queen of Martyrs Parish in Plymouth, Massachusetts. In Today's Show: What would we do if Satan infiltrated the church? Are AI videos of the deceased a first commandment problem? What books should I read to gain spiritual progress? Can homilies be aimed at those who are single? Is Homeopathy permissible for Catholics? Does the Old Testament accurately reflect God's divine will? Is it okay to go on a ghost tour? How do I overcome envy? Visit the show page at thestationofthecross.com/askapriest to listen live, check out the weekly lineup, listen to podcasts of past episodes, watch live video, find show resources, sign up for our mailing list of upcoming shows, and submit your question for Father!
God has created a law for the natural order such that what goes up must come down. God has made there to be the same law for the supernatural order: what goes up must come down, and what goes down must come up.If you are prideful in this life, if you make yourself out to be something greater than you are, if you despise others and are selfish, you will go down to hell after this life is over. If on the other hand, you are humble during this life, if you willingly accept corrections and humiliations, if you think well of others and poorly of yourself, if you are unselfish and sacrificial, then you will go up to Heaven after this life is over.This is the law of Divine Providence that Our Lord teaches us in today's Gospel, and also in other places of the Gospel: “everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted.”If we want to save our souls, we have to be humble. There is no other way. There are only prideful souls in hell and only humble souls in heaven.There is no one who has understood this plan of God better than the saints. For the saints, there are only two places: the first place and the last place. But the first place is already taken; it is occupied by God. Thus, the only other place available is the last place, and that is my place.The saints thought of Our Lord as speaking to them in today's Gospel when He says, “Take the last place.”
Robert Brennan on his piece on Charlie Kirk, Woodene Koenig Bricker on her book "Praying with the Saints," and Fr. Paul Zoghby has our Sunday Gospel Reflection.
#sspx #catholic #catholicism #priesthoodFr. James Chipperfield is a strange man. He is only 26 years old and he is already a priest. That is a strange and rare thing in today's world. It is what we call the young vocation.The average age of a newly ordained priest in the USA today is 34 years old, but Fr. Chipperfield was ordained when he was still 25 years old. The other Australian who was ordained with him was also 25 and the priests ordained for the SSPX are usually in their 20s.These young vocations are a consolation and a blessing because it means that young person has found his path early in life and been willing to commit himself to it. We know how Our Lord tells us in the Gospel that those who hear the call of God should answer right away, that they should drop everything to follow Him.His words even seem shocking. Here is the vocational direction He gave to someone approaching Him: “I will follow thee, Lord; but let me first take my leave of them that are at my house. Jesus said to him: No man putting his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Lk. 9:61-62)For those who become His priests, Our Lord wants generous hearts. He wants young men who are willing to leave behind a career in the world, leave behind a family, and offer all of their youth and talents to Him unreservedly.When they do that, when they become priests at a young age, it typically means that they will be able to minister to the salvation of souls for a long time.It also provides a powerful example to the world, for the world, which is so enamored with youth and is trying to remain forever young, to see a young man who has turned his back on the world.
#sspx #suffering #cross #catholic“The two persons in the world whom God loved best were Jesus and Mary, and the advantages which they possessed over all creatures on account of their virtue were that they suffered more than all. No two persons were ever so tried as they. Let us console ourselves then in sorrow, for the more of it we have, the more like shall we be to Jesus and to His Blessed Mother.”By this quotation from a saint, the Jesuit brother St. Alphonsus Rodriguez, we are taught the Catholic spirit in the face of suffering: suffering is the greatest and best way for us to imitate God and His holy Mother.Does this mean that we have to be unhappy our entire lives, if we want to live as good Catholics and become saints? No!The word “suffering” is different from the word “unhappiness”. We have many words to indicate unhappiness, such as “sadness”, “sorrow”, and “depression”, but none of these means the same thing as suffering. What this means is that while suffering can cause unhappiness, it can also be borne without unhappiness. You can suffer and be happy at the same time.You know that each person has a different measure of suffering in his life, but nobody is without suffering in this life. Everyone has suffering but suffering is not a condemnation to unhappiness.What our Catholic faith offers us is the possibility of enduring the sufferings of our life while at the same time being happy. How is this the case?
Fr. Paul Clark from Jefferson City and Fr. Scott Schilmoeller from Omaha join Fr. Garett to discuss their adventures in New York during the vocation directors conference as well as Fr. Paul's choreography expertise getting put to good use for seminary musicals. Then, Fr. Paul shares the story of his vocation, including how encounters with the saints inspired him to follow them in giving everything to the Lord.
Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. -Year C - Sunday, 21 September 2025 (EPISODE: 548) Readings for Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time.- Year C FIRST READING: Amos 8:4-7 Psalm 113:1-2, 4-6, 7-8. “Praise the Lord, who lifts up the poor.” SECOND READING: 1 Timothy 2:1-8 GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (cf. 2 Corinthians 8:9). Alleluia, alleluia! Jesus Christ was rich but he became poor. To make you rich out of his poverty. GOSPEL: Luke 16:1-13 or 16:10-13 Image Credit: https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/g78BDUh8BEd5Nlg2iDKo?ru=Paul-Evangelion (EPISODE: 548) +++++ References: Fr Paul W. Kelly; *https://bibleproject.com/podcast/finding-meaning-in-the-parables/ - ; %%Barclay, W. (1975). The Image Credit: https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/g78BDUh8BEd5Nlg2iDKo?ru=Paul-Evangelion Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C -(Sunday, 21 September 2025) (EPISODE: 548 ) 3. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (or/ The Lord be with You) +++++++++++++++++++++ Archive of homilies and reflections: http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au To contact Fr. Paul, please email: paulwkelly68@gmail.com To listen to the weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks You are welcome to subscribe to Fr Paul's homily mail-out by visting here: https://surfersparadiseparish.us7.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=85b9ddd594b242276d423bfe9&id=002282d9e0 Details relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog: "Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection" - Led by Rev Paul Kelly Prayers and chants — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL) Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA) "The Psalms" ©1963, 2009, The Grail - Collins publishers. Prayers of the Faithful - " Together we pray" by Robert Borg'. E.J. Dwyer, Publishers, (1993). (Sydney Australia). Sung "Mass in Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" - By Jeffrey M. Ostrowski. The Gloria, Copyright © 2011 ccwatershed.org. "Faith, Hope and Love" theme hymn - In memory of William John Kelly (1942-2017) - Inspired by 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019. “Quiet Time.” Instrumental Reflection music. Written by Paul W Kelly. 1988, 2007. & This arrangement: Stefan Kelk, 2020. “Today I Arise” - For Trisha J Kelly. Original words and music by Paul W. Kelly. Inspired by St Patrick's Prayer. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019. Sound Engineering and editing - P.W. Kelly. Microphones: - Shure Motiv MV5 Digital Condenser. And (2024+) Rode Nt-1 + AI-1 Sound Mixer. Editing equipment: -- MixPad Multitrack Studio Recording Software v10.49 (NCH Software). NCH – WavePad Audio Editing Software. Masters Edition v 17.63 (NCH Software) Sound Processing: iZotope RX 10 Audio Editor (Izotope Inc.) Text transcription as per recorded podcast version is transcribed by TurboScribe.ai {excellent and accurate transcription from voice to text} [Production - KER - 2025] May God bless and keep you.
Fr. Paul Born currently serves as the Parochial Vicar at Mary, Queen of Martyrs Parish in Plymouth, Massachusetts. In Today's Show: Do we need to know of Jesus to accept him? For financial reasons, can people live with their fiancé before marriage? What is baptism of desire/blood? Why was the Anointing of the Sick originally named "Extreme Unction" Unleavened Bread Vs. Leavened Bread Did Jesus travel to Persia? Is K-Pop Demon Hunters and Theology of the Body appropriate for school children? Visit the show page at thestationofthecross.com/askapriest to listen live, check out the weekly lineup, listen to podcasts of past episodes, watch live video, find show resources, sign up for our mailing list of upcoming shows, and submit your question for Father!
Fr. Paul Born currently serves as the Parochial Vicar at Mary, Queen of Martyrs Parish in Plymouth, Massachusetts. In Today's Show: Concern about demonic influence from violent video games. Befriending a Freemason to guide him into the Church. Requesting a later Mass time for working people. Favorite Catholic feast day foods. Why women stopped wearing head coverings at Mass. Can I put a picture of a love one on a rosary instead of a medallion? Visit the show page at thestationofthecross.com/askapriest to listen live, check out the weekly lineup, listen to podcasts of past episodes, watch live video, find show resources, sign up for our mailing list of upcoming shows, and submit your question for Father!
Fr. Paul Seil on his message Sunday after the shootings in Minneapolis full 317 Fri, 29 Aug 2025 07:36:00 +0000 jARx3uHOw9NOurB5EFU3bG4FrZVNuVCj news & politics,news WBEN Extras news & politics,news Fr. Paul Seil on his message Sunday after the shootings in Minneapolis Archive of various reports and news events 2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc. News & Politics News False https://player.amperwa
Fr. Paul Born currently serves as the Parochial Vicar at Mary, Queen of Martyrs Parish in Plymouth, Massachusetts. In Today's Show: Recapping some big show-related announcements What is Father's opinion on healing ministries? What is Father's favorite apparition of Mary? What are Jordan's and Father's favorite memories of the show over the past two years? When is my guardian angel's birthday: when I was conceived, the day I was born, or the day I was baptized? How did Father Born meet Father Brancich and become friends? Did Father Born ever consider joining the FSSP? Why are we here on this planet, or what is the "point" of human existence? Since the Bible describes heaven as a wedding feast, does that mean we'll actually eat in heaven? If so, what do you think will be on the menu? Do you think heaven sounds more like Gregorian chant, angelic choirs, or something we can't even imagine? Visit the show page at thestationofthecross.com/askapriest to listen live, check out the weekly lineup, listen to podcasts of past episodes, watch live video, find show resources, sign up for our mailing list of upcoming shows, and submit your question for Father!
8-25-25: Diocesan Vocations – Fr. Paul Sullivan by
In a relay race, there are typically four runners who have the job of passing a baton to one another until they get to the finish line. If any one of the runners drops the baton, his team is disqualified.The first runner begins the race with the baton; he does not receive the baton, but owns it. The other runners do not start the race with the baton. Rather, their job is to receive it from the runner behind them and then pass it on to the runner in front of them.This is exactly how it works with the Catholic faith. The human race is, as it were, running towards the end of time, which is the finishing of human history. That is when each of the runners will receive their reward through the resurrection of their bodies, which will rise in either a glorious state or a damned state.The baton that has to be passed on is the Catholic faith. The baton contains the beliefs of the Catholic faith, but it also contains the practices that enshrine and protect those beliefs.The first runner in the faith is Our Lord Jesus Christ. He owns the baton and puts in it all that we need to save our souls, that is, to reach the finish line and win the race. His role was only to give the faith, not to receive it. Our role is to both receive and give. We receive the faith from those who have gone before us and we give it to those who come after us.Already, in the first generation of Christianity, St. Paul is talking about this process of receiving and handing on. He tells the Corinthians that he received the faith from Our Lord and he handed that same faith on to them. He says, “I delivered to you a faith. You received it and are standing in it and it is saving you. I also received that same faith.”This is the very nature of our faith. We are traditional Catholics because our faith is a traditional faith. It is a handed-on faith, a received faith. Our faith works by way of a relay, a receiving from one and a handing on to another.
The Assumption of Our Lady into Heaven was the effect of the way that she lived her life and, particularly, three moments of her life: the moment of Our Lady's conception, the moment she became Mother of God, and the moment of her Son's death.Immaculate ConceptionThe moment of her conception is important because it is the first moment of her existence, the time of the creation of her soul and the making of her body. It was the first moment of the existence of the body that would one day rise from the dead and be taken up to Heaven.We know that the most important aspect of this moment is that God preserved her entire person from sin. Her body was taken from two souls afflicted by original sin, Joachim and Anna, but God prevented her soul from contracting any sin. As a result, we can speak of her body as being sinless as well, as having no contact with sin.You know that sin is the thing that causes death. And death is the thing that causes the corruption and destruction of our body. But God prevented this cause of death from touching Our Lady, at the first moment of her existence.Mother of GodThis blessed creature, who was conceived without any sin, began to grow up. She maintained the purity of body and soul that God had given to her. She was perfectly faithful to her gifts. She did not commit any sin. She lived in humble submission to God.This behavior, this holiness prepared her to become God's mother. It prepared her to receive into her body God Himself. And of course, that was what happened on the day of the Annunciation. Her body changed. God both came inside of her and gave her the power to form His body from her body.Her pure body became the source of the body of God.Co-RedemptrixOur Lord was born and she named Him Jesus or Savior, because He was to save the world from its sins by an act of Redemption.
Fr. Paul Born currently serves as the Parochial Vicar at Mary, Queen of Martyrs Parish in Plymouth, Massachusetts. In Today's Show: Do you recommend praying traditional prayers like the Pater Noster or Hail Mary in Latin for personal devotion? I've heard the joke that priests run on coffee and the Holy Spirit. Do you think that's true? What's your go-to beverage before morning Mass? How should I respond to a friend who wants to pursue medical assistance in dying (assisted suicide)? I am in the process of retuning to the church. Can I attend a mission trip with loose Protestant themes? Can a Catholic attend a Hindu "Mehndi" party? Pope Leo XIII and labor unions Visit the show page at thestationofthecross.com/askapriest to listen live, check out the weekly lineup, listen to podcasts of past episodes, watch live video, find show resources, sign up for our mailing list of upcoming shows, and submit your question for Father!
8-4-25: St. John Vianney – Fr. Paul Sullivan by
Tom McDonald covers the Fantastic 4, Dawn Beutner has our Saints of the Month for August, and Fr. Paul Zoghby has our Sunday Gospel Reflection.
On the day of our baptism, we came to the church alive with physical life but dead in supernatural life. It was because of this fact that our soul was dead with sin that we, or our godparents, had come to ask for eternal life.Then, we went through the ritual of the baptismal ceremony during which we underwent a symbolic death. The pouring of the water on our heads was like a burial in water from which we then rose again to a new life. The ceremony was a symbolic dying with Christ and a symbolic rising with Christ to a new life.What was not symbolic was that, when the water was poured upon our heads, the death of sin was driven from our souls and a new life started to dwell there, a supernatural life.This is what St. Paul means in today's epistle when he says, “we were buried with Him by means of Baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ has arisen from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also may walk in newness of life.”What this means is that, before Baptism, our soul was not capable of doing anything in the supernatural order. It could not move in the supernatural realm and was dead to that realm.We know that an animal is dead when it does not move, when it does not have self-movement. We go up to a dog that we are not sure whether it is sleeping or dead. We move it with our foot and nothing happens. Because the dog does not move, we conclude it does not have physical life.Our soul before Baptism was like that in the supernatural order. We were not able to make any supernatural movement.After Baptism, our soul becomes alive with a new type of life, a supernatural life. That life does not get rid of our physical life or lay on top of our physical life; rather, it goes inside of it.The life of God goes inside of our spiritual soul and gives it new capabilities.It goes inside of our mind and gives our mind the ability to believe the mysteries of the faith.It goes inside of our will and gives it the ability to choose a supernatural good, to love God above all things, to seek the salvation of our soul above all things.St. Paul focuses particularly on one new ability that the new life of Christ in our soul gives us the ability to do: it gives us the capacity to be dead to sin.
“What happens if someone confesses to murder?” This episode explores the complexities of confession and forgiveness, alongside questions about processing unconfessed sins and the requirements for receiving a plenary indulgence during a visit to Rome. Join us as we delve into these important topics and more in this thought-provoking discussion. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 03:41 – What happens if someone confesses to murder? 15:36 – How do I process unconfessed sins that I haven't thought of? 20:42 – What do I have to do to receive a plenary indulgence for my visit to Rome? 23:35 – Was Jesus ordaining the disciples at the washing of the feet? 30:22 – If God doesn’t weigh our deeds, what’s the point of Jesus weighing our deeds at the last judgement? 35:46 – Is it ok to publicly use a rite or celebrate a mass of a defunct rite? 38:04 – If a person has dementia, would that person still remember the people they met after dying while in purgatory? 43:02 – Regarding last Sunday's readings? Who were the 3 men Abraham met outside his tent? 47:01 – Why do we not read about gentiles believing in God until Jesus? Did the Jews not allow them to follow God? 50:18 – What happens at death? Do we sleep until the resurrection or do our souls move to either heaven or purgatory? 53:25 – Can people in purgatory pray for us?
Fr. Paul Born currently serves as the Parochial Vicar at Mary, Queen of Martyrs Parish in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Please enjoy this special pre-recorded mailbag episode of "Ask A Priest Live" with guest host Greg Vanhorn. In today's show: Why doesn't God appear to me? Are the Jews still considered God's chosen people? If Purgatory is so important, why didn't Jesus speak directly about it? Can you help me convince my grandfather to receive the sacrament of the sick, and that it doesn't necessarily mean that he will die? Can I still get an annulment of my first marriage even after many years have passed? My husband never received the Sacrament of Confirmation as a youth. How can I convince him it is still worth doing? You can get your question in for future shows with Fr. Born (or one of our other wonderful priests) by emailing us at priests@thestationofthecross.com, or by using our webform at https://thestationofthecross.com/askapriest
Today, we have one of the vocation stories in the Gospels. These are some of the most beautiful stories we read about in the Gospels, and we find them in all four Gospels.They all consist in three things: a meeting, an invitation, and a following.These stories are beautiful and powerful for us because they are a representation of our own life.Of course, they are particularly a representation of the life of a priest, a monk or a nun, those people who have given their lives for the service of Our Lord Jesus Christ.But they are also a representation of the lives of the Catholic faithful. All of the faithful are called by Our Lord to be holy, to follow Him, to love Him and serve Him in their lives.The vocation story in today's Gospel helps us understand what we need to do to answer the call of Our Lord. It is interesting that Our Lord was not content with preaching from the boats of these fishermen whom He was going to turn into fishers of men.He could have just stopped preaching and said, “Come, follow Me”. But, instead, He wanted to work a miracle before issuing the call. Why did He do this?Because great reverence is needed to follow the call of Our Lord. It is not enough that we see Him as a great preacher; we have to see Him as God.Our Lord works this miracle of a great catch of fish, so great that there are more fish than can be contained in one boat. Both boats were even sinking when they were filled with the fish. When St. Peter sees this, he has an immediate realization: this man is holy. I don't think St. Peter knew yet that Our Lord was God. But he knew that He was holy: only a holy man could work such a miracle.When St. Peter sees the miracle, a great reverence for Our Lord awakens in his heart. He casts himself on his knees, in an attitude of respect, submission, and petition. He realizes how sinful he is in comparison to Our Lord and tells Our Lord that he is not worthy to be in His presence.But, in fact, the truth is the contrary: the reverence of St. Peter for Our Lord is what is going to enable him to answer the call of Our Lord and fulfill his great vocation of being the first Pope.The same is true with answering the call to holiness. Our Lord calls all of us to a greater union with Him. It is reverence that will enable us to answer that call. Reverence will make us want to pray, will make us fervent in our prayer, will make us fear sin and keep a close watch over ourselves.Reverence is often what leads Catholics to traditional Catholicism. They start to realize the respect that is owed to God, that that respect is not given in the New Mass, and that the TLM treats God with the respect that He deserves.
Today, we celebrate the feast day of the pillars of the Catholic Church, Sts. Peter and Paul. St. Peter was chosen by Our Lord to be the first Pope. He preached the Gospel to the Jewish people and established the headquarters of the Church in Rome, where he was eventually martyred.St. Peter was buried on the Vatican Hill in Rome and a church was built on the spot. This is the same place where the Vatican Basilica is today. The bones of St. Peter are in the crypt below the Vatican and so the central church of the Catholic Church is literally built on St. Peter.St. Paul, meanwhile, spread the Gospel to the Gentiles, starting communities of Catholics all throughout the Roman Empire. He also ended his life in Rome, where he was likewise martyred.The institution for which these two saints died is the only divine institution on this earth. By this, I mean that it is the only institution specifically founded by God. When Our Lord came on this earth, He founded one institution before leaving this earth, what we call the Catholic Church. His association with this institution is so close that we speak of the Church as the Bride of Christ. God is married to the Church He founded.What this means is that Our Lord chose to make the Catholic Church the one institution on this earth that would communicate the fruits of His Redemption to mankind. Our Lord takes all of the graces that He merited on the Cross and He has them pass through the Catholic Church to souls, especially through the administration of the sacraments by the priests of the Church.It is for this reason that there is no salvation outside the Catholic Church. There is only one Savior, Jesus Christ. He has chosen to found only one divine institution on this earth, the Catholic Church, and He has only given to that Church the power to save souls, the power to communicate to men the graces that flow from the Cross for the salvation of souls.
Fr. Paul Born currently serves as the Parochial Vicar at Mary, Queen of Martyrs Parish in Plymouth, Massachusetts. In Today's Show: Can we believe in the multiverse and is it possible that there is a reality in which Adam and Eve did not eat the apple? If so, would that be another place with live people or would it just be heaven? Is there any reason why marrying or not marrying someone can be a sin if both are licitly available for marriage? Is it proper to have a funeral mass for a baptized Catholic that has walked away from the church? Would Father Born share his vocation story? So grateful for this show and the priests and team behind it! Visit the show page at thestationofthecross.com/askapriest to listen live, check out the weekly lineup, listen to podcasts of past episodes, watch live video, find show resources, sign up for our mailing list of upcoming shows, and submit your question for Father!
Tom McDonald on the Life of Chuck, Dr Larry Chapp on a grateful perspective, and Fr Paul Zoghby has our Sunday Gospel Reflection
In this episode of Catholic Answers Live, Fr. Paul Keller joins us to tackle a wide range of questions from Catholics seeking clarity and guidance. Can saints in Heaven and souls in purgatory communicate with us on earth? What can someone do to help a loved one return to the Catholic faith? For those new to the Church, Fr. Keller explains what to expect during Eucharistic adoration and how to participate with reverence. We also explore whether assurance of salvation is possible, especially during life's trials. What does it mean that the Holy Spirit “proceeds from the Father and the Son”? How can one support a vocation to the priesthood? Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 09:19 – What are the spiritual capabilities of the saints in Heaven and the souls in purgatory when it comes to communicating with people on earth? 20:31 – What guidance can be given to someone who wants to support a loved one in returning to active participation in the Catholic faith? 28:55 – What should someone new to the Church know about Eucharistic adoration—what to do during it, and any particular postures or gestures to observe? 34:13 – Can a person have any assurance of salvation, especially when facing life’s hardships and uncertainties? 42:49 – What does the phrase “proceeds from the Father and the Son” mean in the context of the Holy Spirit as stated in the Nicene Creed? 48:55 – How can someone support and encourage a family member who is discerning a vocation to the priesthood? 52:19 – What is meant by the term “Catholic guilt,” and how should it be understood within the context of the faith?
When Our Lord was in the middle of preaching His famous Sermon on the Mount, He took some time to instruct the people on how to pray.He said to them, “When you pray, go into your room, and closing your door, pray to your Father in secret: and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. But in praying, do not multiply words, as the Gentiles do; for they think that by saying a great deal they will be heard. So do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. In this manner therefore shall you pray: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.” (Matt. 6:6-9)What is interesting about this passage is that Our Lord speaks of God as our Father four times in a short space. He is not referring to the First Person of the Trinity so much as God in Three Persons.Almighty God is our Father in Heaven. He created us. He takes care of us. He is the source of everything for us. He wants us to join Him in Heaven. He is my Father because He created me. He is our Father because He created all of us.There are so many things that follow from this fact that God is our Father. But today, I want to highlight three of them.
Fr. Paul Hedman, a priest who's active on social media and has a computer programming background, discusses how technology can be used as a tool either for good or for evil. Hedman attended The Saint Paul Seminary and was ordained in 2020; he's currently assigned to the Church of the Epiphany in Coon Rapids, Minnesota. Hedman is also the owner and creator of canonlaw.ninja and a high-ranking Wikipedia editor. You can follow him on X at @BackwardsFeet. The Saint Paul Seminary is reliant on faithful Catholics and Christians like you. If you are able to make a small gift to support of work of priestly formation, you will be remembered in our prayers of gratitude: https://give.saintpaulseminary.org/give/142531/#!/donation/checkout
Fr. Paul Born currently serves as the Parochial Vicar at Mary, Queen of Martyrs Parish in Plymouth, Massachusetts. In Today's Show: Are there biblical passages that agree with Protestant belief that we are saved by Faith and Grace alone? Is it ever sinful to steal food, even in times of famine? My Catholic boyfriend and I want to get married but aren't financially ready. Any advice? Should we forgive Pilate? Is Jesus an example for families since he was not married nor had children? Is it possible that any of the saints have not undergone bodily assumption yet? Does culpability fall on parents who circumcise their sons? Is it sinful to work at places that are open Sundays? Visit the show page at thestationofthecross.com/askapriest to listen live, check out the weekly lineup, listen to podcasts of past episodes, watch live video, find show resources, sign up for our mailing list of upcoming shows, and submit your question for Father!
Fr. Paul Born currently serves as the Parochial Vicar at Mary, Queen of Martyrs Parish in Plymouth, Massachusetts. In Today's Show: Can you get a blessing from a priest if you can't receive the Eucharist? Is it sinful to throw religious mail in the garbage? Should the vigil of the Pentecost be a day of abstinence from meat? Should I donate to "Catholic" organizations who support teachings against the faith? Why were the Jesuits suppressed? What does the Church teach about spiritual communion when in a state of mortal sin? What language did Jesus and Pilate speak to each other in? Can Father clarify the role of the beatitude for morality? What is the difference between mercy and admonishing a sinner? Was Opus Dei terminated by Pope Leo XIV? How can I discuss gender confusion with my child? Visit the show page at thestationofthecross.com/askapriest to listen live, check out the weekly lineup, listen to podcasts of past episodes, watch live video, find show resources, sign up for our mailing list of upcoming shows, and submit your question for Father!
Just three weeks ago, we had a momentous event in the life of the Church, the election of a new Pope. Robert Cardinal Prevost became the 267th successor of St. Peter and so the oldest institution in the world continues.And yet there are some in the traditional Catholic world who do not accept that Leo XIV is the Pope of the Catholic Church. These people are called sedevacantists.Sedevacantists are Catholics who believe that there is no Pope of the Catholic Church because the Pope has fallen into heresy. Most believe that there has not been a legitimate Pope since Pope Pius XII died in 1958. I want to warn you against this opinion.The sedevacantists represent something new in the history of the Church. There have been bad Popes throughout the Church's history, as well as anti-Popes, but never a movement of people who have claimed that the Pope had no authority over them and yet claimed to remain Catholic. It is striking that Our Lord Himself was not a sedevacantist. The religious leaders of His time were evil, yet He supported their authority, “ The scribes and the Pharisees have sitten on the chair of Moses. All things therefore whatsoever they shall say to you, observe and do: but according to their works do ye not; for they say, and do not” (Matt. 23:2) Perhaps this example of Our Lord is why there has been no real sedevacantist movement until modern times, despite the fact that there have been plenty of bad Popes.Perhaps another reason why there have never been sedevacantists until the current crisis in the Church is that no one in the Church has the authority to depose the Pope. There is a principle in Canon Law which states that “No one judges the first seat”. There are theologians who have speculated that the Pope might automatically lose office if he falls into heresy. But it is clear that no individual Catholic is in a position to say whether that has happened or not. Our Lord certainly does not ask us to decide whether this or that person is the Pope or not. The Church could never have any real unity if that were the case. Just think what would happen if a company would run that way. For Abp. Lefebvre, it was theoretically possible that a Pope could lose his office by falling into heresy. But, in practice, he realized that he was not in a position to make that judgment and the prudent thing to do was to give the Pope the benefit of the doubt. That was why, while he recognized the terrible scandals that were happening in the pontificate of John Paul II, he yet went to the Pope and tried to work with him to get permission to consecrate bishops. We will obviously be doing the same with Pope Leo XIV. Unlike Abp. Lefebvre, the sedevacantists do believe that they are in a position to decide with certainty that there is no Pope. But this seems rash, imprudent and prideful. It also seems to represent a bad ecclesiology. The Church simply cannot work that way.
Guest Fr. Paul Abernathy is the rector of St. Moses the Black Orthodox Church in Pittsburgh, PA. His ministry emphasizes the church's role as a vehicle for bringing healing and reconciliation to traumatized communities. He also oversees the Neighborhood Resilience Project, which is dedicated to providing a framework for his community to flourish.
Yesterday was an important feast day for our parish, the feast of Our Lady Help of Christians. Before St. Isidore's existed, we had a chapel in Denver, on Winona Court and West 39th Avenue.The chapel was called Our Lady Help of Christians Chapel. When this church was built, it was decided that the church would be dedicated to St. Isidore the Farmer and that the school would be placed under the protection of Our Lady Help of Christians.It was in this way that we came to have two patrons, whereas in many SSPX parishes, the church and the school have the same patron.Today, I would like to help us get to know our patroness a bit better and remind us why we are dedicated to her. I think that it is especially appropriate to do that today, given that we are celebrating the results of our campaign and the faithful have been so generous contributing to the future of Our Lady Help of Christians Academy.The practice of referring to Our Lady as the “Help of Christians” goes all the way back to St. John Chrysostom.But the devotion to Our Lady under this title really started to take off in the 1500s. It was at that time that the Church was engaged in religious wars against the Muslims and the Protestants.We all know that Pope St. Pius V was asking the Christian world to pray the Rosary to Our Lady as the Catholic naval army was preparing to face off against the Muslims. But he was asking them to invoke Our Lady under the title of Help of Christians.After the victory at Lepanto, the invocation “Help of Christians” was added to the Litany of Our Lady, also known as the Litany of Loreto.But devotion to Our Lady Help of Christians really reached its high point in the 19th century. At the beginning of the century, Pope Pius VII was kidnapped by Napoleon and imprisoned by him at a place called Fontainebleau in France.Eventually, Napoleon fell from power and the Pope was able to return safely to Rome. Pius VII attributed his release to the intercession of Our Lady. As a way of thanking her, he added the feast of Our Lady Help of Christians to the calendar on May 24.This happened in 1815. It was in that same year that a great saint was born who was to be a promoter of devotion to Our Lady Help of Christians as well as a great educator.
Each one of us has the experience of attending a funeral. We assist at the Mass for the deceased and pray for his soul. We accompany the body to the cemetery and see the final rites performed over the body. Then we walk away.That's it. Nothing happens after that and we do not expect anything else to happen. We do not expect that the person buried in the ground is going to do anything. None of those who are at the cemetery do anything after they are buried. They do not move or get up. They all just stay in the ground.And the same will be true for us one day. We will also die; we will also be taken to the cemetery. We will be put in the ground, the people will walk away, and we will stay in the ground.The reason why we will stay in the ground and why everyone who is buried at the cemetery stays in the ground is that we do not have power over life and death.We are going to die when our soul will no longer be able to remain with our body and we will not be able to bring life back to our body. Neither will our loved ones. Neither will our friends.There is no one in this world that is able to restore life to a dead body. We have all of the body parts that we need. We have all kinds of technology and machines. But we cannot give life.In all of our experience, whatever dies remains dead and does not come back to life.Our Lord is the exceptionThe one exception to this, of course, is Our Lord Jesus Christ. Like everyone else, He was buried in a tomb. Like everyone else, those who buried Him walked away after His burial. Like everyone else, they thought that He would remain dead and would not come back to life.But that is not what happened. Our Lord did what no one else is capable of doing. He gave life back to Himself, He rose from the dead, and He came out of the tomb.How is it possible that He alone, of all the many people who have died in the history of the world, He alone was able to come back from the dead. It is because He is the only one who possesses the power necessary to do it. He alone has power over life and death. He alone is God.Our Lord promises He will raise us upThese two facts must be very clear in our mind: a) I am going to die one day and I will have no power to restore life to myself; b) Our Lord Jesus Christ is the only one Who has the power to restore life to someone who is dead.
Fr. Paul Born currently serves as the Parochial Vicar at Mary, Queen of Martyrs Parish in Plymouth, Massachusetts. In Today's Show: Is it sinful to wish harm on someone? Why is greed a sin? How many times per day should I deny myself pleasures? What are your thoughts on Pope Francis' comment that all religions lead to God? What were St. Robert Ballarmine's views on sede vacante and the papacy? Visit the show page at thestationofthecross.com/askapriest to listen live, check out the weekly lineup, listen to podcasts of past episodes, watch live video, find show resources, sign up for our mailing list of upcoming shows, and submit your question for Father!
The Springs in the Desert Podcast: Catholic Accompaniment Through Infertility
Sometimes going to the best place where we can be, Sunday Mass, can feel like a struggle in a season of loss or infertility. There can be so many triggers to our grief, like the big family sitting in front of us, or someone's prodding questions after Mass. Father Paul and licensed psychotherapist, Clare Kane, give us some practical tips on how to be more present during Mass so we can receive all of the comfort and blessings the Lord wants to pour down on us.Links: Changing Your Mindset with Eileen TullyDigital Toolkit
Fr. Paul Born currently serves as the Parochial Vicar at Mary, Queen of Martyrs Parish in Plymouth, Massachusetts. In Today's Show: Habemus papam! Pope Leo XIV: The Results of the Conclave. What do you know of Cardinal Prevost? (Pope Leo XIV): Summery Continuing the legacy of Pope Leo the XIII? His time in Peru/being a Canon Lawyer. The Chicago Cubs fan myth? His handling of abuse cases in the past. Did you know that he would be the one to become pope? The Return of the traditional Papal garments. The return of the papal red shoes? Should they return to the papal litter instead of the popemobile? What do you think of the election of Pope Leo XIV means for tradition? Does taking the name Leo refer to a return to tradition? (The history of the name) Are you going to miss the seagull? Signs of God's Providence: Our Lady of Pompeii A hope for this pontificate: The Apparition of St. Michael Feast. What do you think of the new Pope's intentions on cleaning up the Vatican? Visit the show page at thestationofthecross.com/askapriest to listen live, check out the weekly lineup, listen to podcasts of past episodes, watch live video, find show resources, sign up for our mailing list of upcoming shows, and submit your question for Father!
Fr. Paul Born currently serves as the Parochial Vicar at Mary, Queen of Martyrs Parish in Plymouth, Massachusetts. In Today's Show: Is the practice of burying a statue of St. Joseph to sell a house superstition? I went to receive communion with my hands held out and got a blessing instead, did I do something wrong? What was the relation between moral philosophy and spiritual theology? In the Glory Be prayer it says, "world without end." Won't this world eventually end? When Jesus broke the bread in the Road to Emmaus story, was that transubstantiation? Does leaving the Faith mean you never had faith to begin with? Dealing with public figures who are Catholic speaking on faith matters. When avoiding venal sin, is okay to feel annoyance and then offer it up? Should we not be cremated if God will reunite us with our bodies eventually? Can you define the difference between prayer and worship? Can I pray for my NHL team to win? Visit the show page at thestationofthecross.com/askapriest to listen live, check out the weekly lineup, listen to podcasts of past episodes, watch live video, find show resources, sign up for our mailing list of upcoming shows, and submit your question for Father!
