If everyone goes to Mass on Ash Wednesday, why isn’t it a holy day of obligation?
Ash Wednesday feels like it should be a holy day of obligation. Churches are packed, and everyone comes for ashes. But it isn’t, and the reason is simple: holy days of obligation are feast days. Ash Wednesday (like Good Friday) is a day of fasting, not feasting.
In this episode of Ask A Priest, Father Tim explains how the Church has fast days and feast days and why the Church “obliges” us on days of celebration. Using examples like weddings and the 4th of July, he shows how Catholics worship first and then celebrate, because Jesus has already won.
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Are Science and God At Odds?
Is believing in science incompatible with believing in God? What about evolution, the age of the universe, or the Big Bang? In this episode of Ask A Priest, Father Edward explains why faith and science don’t contradict each other and never have. From the biblical account of Creation to modern scientific discoveries, learn how the Church understands time, truth, and the role of science in revealing the work of our Creator. Faith doesn’t fear science. When science is at the service of truth, it helps us better understand God.
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Can Priests Be Rich?
Can priests own fancy cars or expensive things? Do some priests make money? It’s a question people ask often, and the answer reveals something deeper about what it means to follow Jesus. From vows of poverty to promises of prayer and obedience, discover how the priesthood isn’t about possessions… It’s about purpose. In this episode of Ask A Priest, Father Edward Looney explains the difference between diocesan priests and religious order priests and why both are called to live lives of simplicity and service, not wealth.
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Holy Thursday (Holy Week Retreat)
What are you trying to be known for, and is it actually enough?
On Holy Thursday, Father Tim reflects on the gift of the priesthood and the Eucharist, but also something deeper about identity. The apostles changed the world, yet we don’t know their personalities, talents, or status. What we do know is this: they were friends of Jesus. And that was enough.
In a world where we’re constantly trying to prove ourselves, to be the smartest, funniest, or most successful, this episode invites a different question: what if being known by Jesus matters more than being known by everyone else?
Without the Eucharist, there is no Jesus. And without Jesus, nothing else satisfies. This Holy Week, can you let go of being “known” and choose to simply be His friend?
