How do you know when the Pope is speaking infallibly?
In this episode of Ask A Priest, Father Tim explains what papal infallibility actually means and why it happens far less often than many people think. The last time a pope spoke infallibly was on November 1, 1950, when Pope Pius XII declared the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Papal infallibility, also called ex cathedra, happens when the pope formally defines a teaching on faith or morals from the chair of Peter. It is not every homily, interview, opinion, or public statement. When it happens, it is clear, formal, and a major moment for the whole Church.
Father Tim also explains why the Assumption mattered so deeply in 1950: in a world wounded by war and ideologies that treated people like disposable parts of a machine, the Church proclaimed that the human body is good, sacred, and made for glory with God.
Papal infallibility is not something to fear. It is a gift Christ gives His Church to protect truth, strengthen faith, and remind us that the Lord continues to guide His people through the papacy.
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Do We Just Forgive and Forget?
Forgot a mortal sin in confession? Fr. Tim explains what happens, when to confess it later, and why honest forgetfulness does not invalidate confession.
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Will I Be Weird, If I Get Close To Jesus?
Ever wonder if getting close to Jesus will make you weird? Pop culture often paints Christians as out of touch, but the truth is the exact opposite. In this episode of Ask A Priest, Father Tim explains that friendship with Jesus doesn’t make us strange… it makes us more alive. From saints like Mother Teresa to modern disciples like Blessed Carlo Acutis, discover how holiness doesn’t erase your personality. It magnifies it. Jesus doesn’t take away what you love. He blesses it, sanctifies it, and makes it even better.
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Why Do Catholics Use Incense?
Why does the Catholic Church use incense and is it more than just smoke?
In this episode of Ask A Priest, Father Tim explains the meaning behind incense at Mass and why it has been part of worship from the Old Testament to Revelation. Incense is not just a smell or a visual effect, it is a sign of prayer, reverence, and the living worship of God.
From the thurible and charcoal to the resin of trees, incense reminds us that Catholic worship is earthy, physical, and alive. At Mass, it prepares us to hear the Gospel, honors the altar, and points us toward the King who is coming.
Father Tim also reflects on the beauty of incense itself: hard, closed-off resin becomes alive when placed on burning coals. In the same way, our hearts become alive when they are united with the Sacred Heart of Jesus and set on fire by the Holy Spirit.
Next time you see incense at Mass, remember: that smoke rising toward heaven is an image of what your heart is called to become.
