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Why do we pay for Masses for the dead?
by Fr. Hugh Vincent Dyer, OP Dear Father: I paid $20 for two Masses to be said for the repose of the souls of my husband and my daughter. Am I buying the Masses? Would it be just as efficacious if I offered the two Masses without paying for…
Ask Father: Describe the difference between meditation and contemplation
Can you describe the difference between meditation and contemplation? I’ve heard those terms used interchangeably, but I don’t think that is correct. Can you help me understand the differences in these kinds of prayers? – Anonymous …
Is the “common good” another name for the Golden Rule?
Is the “common good” another name for the Golden Rule? What should the common good mean for Catholics? — J. B. Dear J.B.: When put into practice, the Golden Rule — “do unto others what you would have them do unto you” — contributes to the…
Coping with the lack of a funeral Mass during COVID-19
QUESTION: During the COVID-19 pandemic, many Catholic families are coping with the lack of a funeral Mass for a deceased loved one. I don’t think a future memorial Mass carries the same weight as a proper funeral Mass. What can I do? I not…
Ask Father: I’m feeling a “tug” to return to confession — can you answer some…
Question: I haven’t been to confession in many years. But I feel something is tugging at me to go. Do I have to confess every sin since my last confession? What about ones I no longer remember? Are priests really bound not to tell anyone…
Can I receive Eucharist at non-Catholic churches?
by Msgr. Stuart Swetland, STD Q Dear Father: I will be attending my niece’s wedding at a Polish National Catholic Church. Would it be acceptable as a practicing Roman Catholic to receive the Eucharist during the wedding at this church? More…
Why can’t I have financial success?
Dear Father: My husband and I have been married for 14 years and have three children together. We both work (him full time and me part time), but for as long as I can remember we have struggled financially. We never seem to really get…
Should we play and work on Sunday?
Dear Father: The summer months are a busy time with lots of recreational activities, vacation time, and yard work. The garden and the lawn seem to always need attention, whether it’s watering, pulling weeds, or mowing. Is working in your…
When did Jesus know he was God?
DEAR FATHER: I have a question that you probably don’t have an answer for, but I will give it a shot. History tells us that Jesus did not start preaching until he was in his early 30s. Do you know why he waited so long before he started…
When should parents have ‘the talk’ with their children?
Dear Father: I grew up in a family where my parents never talked about sex or other sensitive topics. I was left to figure things out on my own and learned about sex from kids at school. It was not the best moral education! I am now married…
