When we whisper a prayer —”Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord” —we’re doing more than remembering; we’re loving. Even when someone has already reached eternal life, our prayers still echo, increasing their joy in God’s presence and deepening our own hope in the life to come.
In this Ask A Priest episode, Fr. Edward reflects on the meaning behind our prayers for the departed, the hope of Heaven, the mystery of resting with the Lord, and how our prayers can help our loved ones draw closer to Heaven.
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Why Do Catholics Call Priests Father?
Didn’t Jesus say, “Call no man father”? So why do Catholics still call priests “Father”?
In this episode of Ask A Priest, Father Tim explains what Jesus really meant in Matthew 23:9. Looking at Scripture, St. Paul, the early Church, and the meaning of spiritual fatherhood, he shows that Jesus wasn’t banning the word “father”. He was warning against ego, pride, and religious titles used for self-importance.
A priest is called “Father” not because he replaces God the Father, but because he shares in and points back to the fatherhood of God. For priests, the title is meant to be humbling: a reminder to love, serve, sacrifice, and become better spiritual fathers.
There is only one true Father. Priests simply share in His fatherhood, and point us back to Him.
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Why Confess To A Priest?
Why tell your sins to a priest when you can go straight to God? It’s one of the most common questions Catholics ask. In this episode of Ask A Priest, Fr. Edward Looney unpacks the Scriptural roots of confession, from Jesus breathing on the apostles and giving them authority to forgive sins, to the deep peace that comes from hearing the words, “I absolve you.” If you’ve been away from confession for a while, maybe it’s time to come home.
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Can You Receive Communion with Mortal Sin?
Should you receive Communion if you’re not sure you’re in mortal sin?
This question has confused a lot of people, and for good reason. In this episode, Father Tim clears up the tension between two things we often hear: “never let sin keep you from Communion” and “never receive in mortal sin.”
The Church teaches that the Eucharist is medicine for the sick—but not for the spiritually dead. Mortal sin is serious: it involves grave matter, full knowledge, and full consent, and it breaks our relationship with God. That’s why we’re invited to go to Confession before receiving Communion again.
But there’s also real encouragement here. If you’re unsure, if you’re trying to follow God, if your heart is seeking Him, Jesus meets you there. And if you’re in a place where you choose not to receive yet, that act of reverence and honesty matters more than you think.
The Eucharist is powerful. So we approach it with both hunger and honesty.
Wherever you are right now, God’s mercy is ready for you.
