Father Simon Says

First Reading Acts 18:1-8 Paul went to Athens to try to win the people over with intellectual arguments because the people of Corinth were living a life of immorality with the Priestess of the false goddess Venus. Letters: Email – Have you ever heard the phrase “learn to Obey oh Dust”? Email - How can I get more summer visitation with my daughter? My Ex doesn't want to give me more time with her. Email - Were the Athenians into trending things? Word of the Day: “Tentmaker” Calls Pam - Is there a good book on Mother Teresa? Mike - Stories that the Catholic Church restricted people from reading the bible in the Middle Ages. Charles - Comment:  Eucharist was still Eucharist.  Wants to share story of little Chinese girl licking the Eucharist floor Deedee - Regarding the Ascension of the Lord.  According to my Catholic calendar, on the 26th, is the Ascension of the Lord.  But Sunday, it says the Ascension of the Lord?  Could you help

First Reading - Acts 17:15, 22—18:1 While we should try to inflict suffering on ourselves, the Christian doesn't try to avoid pain, but rather embrace it. We find meaning in suffering by uniting it to Jesus Christ  and the suffering he endured with his Cross.  Letters: Abe - Is it okay to sing Pan de Vida in Church? Jesus – Would an Angel show up to a person as an Angel showed up to me? Jordan - Since Jesus is part of the Trinity can we say we receive God when we receive communion. Email - I am a 26 year old man and many of my piers don't go to church. Why don't more young people attend Catholic Church? Word of the day Escort Callers Matt - About being able to pray for somebody's soul, and they died years before.  God being outside of time.  Could you help me with this? Dave - I feel a little lost in my faith.  I've strayed away and how to get back into it. Maryanne - What is mortal sin and venial sin and how could tell the difference? Bill -&nbs

Acts 16:22-34 What do Paul and Silas show us?  Jn 16:5-11 Why is it good that Jesus is on the heavenly throne?   Letters My 10-year old son wants to know what "take what I say with a grain of salt" means Why do the readings talk about a certain number of fish caught There seems to be a lot of antisemitism in early Christianity; how do we understand this? Word of Day: Convict Callers Is there any reason why we can't have Gregorian masses for someone that's alive? Question about baptism: I have a friend who hasn't been baptized.  He wonders why Catholics baptize babies; what should I say?  Can women expose the Blessed Sacrament for adoration?  Did St. Joseph and the Blessed Virgin Mary have any children after Jesus? I'm going through a divorce does Fr. Simon had any words of encouragement for me?

Acts 16:11-15 Why do we use Holy water at mass? Jn 15:26—16:4a How do we hear the voice of the Holy Spirit? Letters What should I do if my co-worker is into crystals?  Father answers a question on divination Word of the day: Intoxicate Callers Some cultures use marijuana spiritually; what does Father think about that? I smoked since teen years Marijuana, but stopped, and I just want to share the negative effects that it had on me. What does it mean to say "He's going to send another paraclete," could you explain?

Acts 15:22-31 Can we eat meat sacrificed to idols? Letters Why did Pilate and Herod become friends? Why is Egg Harbor called Egg Harbor? When Ez says water is flowing from the side of the Temple, where was that? Word of the Day: Eucharist Callers Is it a sin to smoke marijuana?  Can Father help me distinguish these passages? Matthew 5:39 & 1 Corinthians 5:13

Acts 15:7-21 How did one become a priest in ancient times?  Jn 15:9-11 How did the Father love Jesus?  Word of the day: Apocalypse  Letters When we kneel during the Passion narrative, what are we supposed to do?  Can God do evil?  Will the promises made by the Lord for those who pray the chaplet apply to me?  What does eternal security mean (Jn 10) Is my confirmation valid?  What are the steps of forgiveness? Listener has a question about ancient Lebanon 

Acts 15:1-6 Father discusses the religious and cultural dimensions of circumcision Jn 15:1-8 God’s purpose is to do what in our lives? Letters Can Catholics see R-rated movies? My friend is being charged $200 for a baptism; is that OK? Can priests watch secular TV shows? Why does Father talk about Pentecostalism? What’s the tradition about where Lazarus went? What is spy Wednesday? What was the follow-up after the soldiers rolled the dice? Word of the Day: NEW

Acts 14:19-28 When has the Church been strong? Jn 14:27-31a What was one of the great messianic expectations? Letters What is the Holy Communion fast? What's Father's take on Ez 20:25-26? Listener talks about her experience of confession and forgiveness Listener asks Father Simon about Milton's Paradise Lost Word of the Day: Believe! Callers  When we die do we go right to heaven?  Is it a sin to go to a Protestant service, while also still going to mass on Sunday?  Is it a sin to not play music for mass, when you have the ability to do that? I'm a cabinet maker, and I have Indian clients that want me to build a temple. Is that okay? I'm unclear about the Gods like Zeus, Jupiter;  did they have power?

Jn 14:21-26 What does Logos really mean? How can we speak by the Holy Spirit? Father explains both Letters Father explains some Church customs in light of Grecian bonfires Listener asks about the "Lamb of God" at mass Sam asks if Judas had to betray Jesus to fulfill Scripture?  Someone told me that the Eucharist isn't Jesus if the host touches the ground; what should I say?  Word of the Day: Zeus  Callers  'Despise not my petitions' sounds like an insult from the Memorare Fr. quoted something in Latin about confession--what was that?  Prayers for my cousin w with glaucoma issues Why do we have "suffered under Pilate" in the Creed?

Acts 13:26-33 Father explains the linguistic details of today's reading Jn 14:1-6 Does the Bible talk about paved streets of gold?  Letters Listener thanks Father for talking about the Shroud of Turin  If a person created a robot, would it have a soul?  What's the virtue of Christian hope?  Listener has an idea about how to get Catholics to pray the rosary  Was Tiberius a Christian?  Word of the day: Men Callers Why do we have to do the sign of the cross with the right hand? Being hanged on wood has a different translation in the Jewish context.  I don't think Thomas gets enough credit about regarding first reading. Also did Jesus try to get to Paul earlier? Was St. Joseph still alive when Jesus was crucified?

Acts 13:13-25 What does it mean to be born from water and wind? Letters Jeff asks for prayers for his son What do I do if I'm struggling to listen to both the Church and my husband? Is lying always a mortal sin? Erin enjoyed what Father said about notional faith? Word of the Day: Men Callers Could the thorn in Paul's side have been blindness or visual impairment? What is the kabbalah?

Acts 12:24—13:5a Where was the first chancery office? Jn 12:44-50 What's the main benefit to being a Christian? Letters Do we respond to the priest at mass when he says alleluia? Listener disagrees with Fr. Simon's take on altar servers Word of the Day: Synagogue Callers Why does Apostles Creed use 'creator' and Nicene creed says 'Maker' If Father wants beauty, maybe we should go back to the Tridentine Mass in English  Our obsession with sciences one reason people leaving the Church.  What was the reason that God would have Judas pick Jesus out of the crowd? Didn't people know who Jesus was? If someone is pregnant and the baby has issues, could the person be anointed for the baby? Are there more than two dogmas that have been declared infallible?

Acts 11:19-26 What's Hanukkah? Father Simon explains Jn 10:22-30 What does it mean that Jesus and the Father are one? Letters Listener has a question about the TV show, 'The Chosen' Do Josephite marriages in modern times? Listener writes in about women who celebrate abortions Ashley Judd wore a green scapular, but she supported abortion in the past; can someone who is pro-choice become a Catholic? Word of the Day: Christian Callers  Responding to yesterday's story-- did Fr. Simon know whether his father had anything to do with the termination of that person who was at his company. A Protestant friend felt the presence of the Holy Spirit, similar to what Fr. Simon has talked about, and how should I interpret her experience as a Catholic? Question about 'retirement' in the Bible.  Should we work until we are no longer actually about to work?

Acts 11:1-18 Who was a Centurian and why was he important?  Letters Father receives a question about abortion  Did Judas go to hell?  What is a novena?  Word of the day: Discriminating  Callers What does one do with Easter Candles that are half used?  And what does Father think of crosses with the resurrected Christ?  Why are young people attracted to Christianity, but not going to Catholic Church and also why do many young people don't go to Church at all? Question of the role of Pope Pius XII in the bombing of Monte Cassino and how much do you know about it?

Father discusses the recent Supreme Court draft on abortion Acts 8:26-40 We're comfortable with structure, but are we comfortable with miracles? Jn 6:44-51 Father talks about the connection between today's Gospel and the Eucharist Letters Father answers a question about, judgement St. Paul and the angels Do we receive God in the Eucharist? Word of the Day: Chariot Callers Can I consecrate my marriage to the Immaculate Heart of Mary? Do animals have souls? What is necessary for the formula of Baptism?

Acts 8:1b-8 Father explains the first persecution of the Church  Jn 6:35-40 What do Jesus' words "I will not reject anyone who comes to me" mean?  Letters Can we have bells during Lent?  Does Jesus reference the Eucharist when he says 'Feed my sheep?' What happened the Pharisees that called for Jesus' death?  Word of the day: Unclean Callers So should I go to my godson's wedding when he's marrying a non-Catholic, and they may not continue going to Catholic Church? Could you explain the biography of Sr. Pascalina?

1 Cor 15:1-8 What does it mean to say the Creed?  Jn 14:6-14 Father talks about what it actually means to do something in the name of Jesus  Letters Father reads a letter about apostrophe rules in the English language  Reader asks about the wound in Jesus' side Why does Father say 'take what I say this a grain of salt?' Is morbid obesity sinful?  Why wasn't Mary stoned to death for being pregnant and unmarried? Word of the Day: AM Callers Why in the Apostles Creed, why Jesus sit at the Right Hand of the Father? How is Stephen full of grace?  Wasn't there someone with the woman who committed adultery and what happened to him? I saw this in an Italian movie where Joseph was married and widowed and left his kids and then when he came back w/Mary, he met his kids?  Is this true? 

Acts 6:8-15 Father talks about the reality of miracles  Jn 6:22-29 Father talks about the difficulty of trust Last Sunday's Sunday's Gospel: Father explains the different words for love Letters Is it OK to use an iPad to follow along with the readings?  If God has accepted the death of Jesus, why do RR hosts pray that God would accept the payment of Jesus on the cross?  Word of the Day: Hierarchy  Callers John 21:15-17 | why did Jesus change from Feed my Lambs to Tend my sheep? 

Acts 5:34-42 Father explains Jewish belief in life after death Letters Father riffs more about silence in church I saw someone selling a relic of John Henry Newman; what should I have done?  Can we substitute Psalm 51 for the psalm of the day during Lent? Father answers a question about marriage and communion  Word of the Day: Sat Down, going up Callers: How to identify venial sins and what does it mean when my priest says he can't be my spiritual advisor? If Fr. Simon were to sell a relic, would he be 'Fr. Simony'? Can Father explain Matthew 7:21 Can we inset belief in the Eucharist into the Creed? 

Acts 5:27-33 Father gives context about the book of Acts  Jn 3:31-36 Father talks more about the Trinity  Letters Father reads a letter from a retired priest friend who bemoans the lack of respect during mass Listener writes in about her marriage and temptation  Father clarifies if Jesus had more siblings (*He didn't!) Word of the Day: Ration Callers  Is purgatory closed?  Could you explain to me Apophatic Theology? Who is the great harlot and who are the ten kings in Rev. 17?