Category Archives: ASK FATHER Question Box

ASK FATHER: Pagan amulet for protection

From a reader… QUAERITUR: I know a young couple. The man from indigenous descent who is converting to the faith and who will be baptized and confirmed this April. She has asked about an amulet her husband never takes off … Read More

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ASK FATHER: Francis said priests must NEVER deny absolution. True? Wherein Fr. Z rants.

I’m getting a lot of questions about something that Francis said to seminarians from Barcelona.  Story at the Catholic Herald HERE. As the tale goes, Francis delivered profanity-studded “off the cuff” remarks to seminarians, including “not to be clerical, to forgive everything”, adding … Read More

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ASK FATHER: Heretic priest

From a reader… QUAERITUR: My cousin’s parish priest said that there is no purgatory.  What say you? I say that, if he really thinks there is no Purgatory, then the priest is a heretic. I say that if he has … Read More

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ASK FATHER: Is it a sin to contribute for a side altar at an SSPX chapel?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: Is making a sponsorship to an SSPX church a sin, if one doesn’t support being in Schism.  I have a deep love for Our Lady of Guadalupe for example and would like to support the side … Read More

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ASK FATHER: Can we pray to the Poor Souls in Purgatory to intercede for us?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: On a recent podcast a priest said that asking a specific person in Purgatory to pray for you/us is necromancy. Thoughts? My first reaction is that Father seems not to understand the difference between conjuring spirits … Read More

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ASK FATHER: Penance and abstinence on Friday, 6 January, Epiphany

From a reader… QUAERITUR: The feast of the Epiphany is a Friday this year. Our FSSP calendar has it marked as a day of abstinence, according to 1962 law, but my TLM planner from The Liturgical Year calendar family does … Read More

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ASK FATHER: When can people begin to ask for Pope Benedict’s intercession?

This question comes from a comment under another post, but it stands on its own. From a reader… QUAERITUR: Father, quick question? I too believe that Benedict is a saint in heaven. Of course, when someone dies (including a pope), … Read More

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ASK FATHER: Friends returning to the Church say they can receive Communion without going to confession first

From a reader… QUAERITUR: After a number of years away from the faith of my childhood, I made the decision to return to the Catholic church.  After attending a few masses, my heart longed to receive the Eucharist, so I … Read More

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ASK FATHER: “I absolve you from THESE sins…”. Valid?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: I went to confession and the words said by the priest for absolution were “I absolve you from these sins” etc. Would this absolution be valid? Thank you for going to confession.  KEEP GOING. This is … Read More

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ASK FATHER: Father says part of the consecration inaudibly and the rest audibly. Valid?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: Our parish priest speaks in a very distinct way. He chants the Novus Ordo from “For on the night he was betrayed he himself took bread, and giving you thanks he said the blessing, broke the … Read More

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