Fr. Josh answers questions about how to cope with grief from a Catholic perspective, how to choose a name for your child that is biblical or inspired by a saint, and how to discern a vocation to the contemplative life.
Snippet from the Show
“Our Lady is called Our Lady of Sorrows for a reason, because she grieved at the foot of the Cross. Grief is human, healthy, and holy.”
Shownotes
Questions
Coping with Grief
Could you talk about how to navigate anticipatory grief from a Catholic perspective? My grandma’s health is declining. I’m coping with grieving the person she once was and the grief I know I will be experiencing in the future.
-Anonymous
Naming Children
Hey Fr. Josh! I have so loved listening to your podcast and find so much fruit from it. I’m currently 6 months pregnant with my first baby and having grown up Southern Baptist and converting in college, Catholic Baptism is still a bit mysterious to me. As my husband and I prepare to Welcome our small human to the world and the Church, how should we discern their patron Saint? I have a few ideas, but since this is my first I’m honestly not sure. Her name will be Sarah Elizabeth, and while I know these are both Saints of the Bible, I’m not sure if either is the right name to baptize her with (or honestly what that truly means). I look forward to hearing from you every week! Keep blessing souls.
-Anonymous
Discerning a Vocation to the Contemplative Life
Hey Fr. Josh,
I’ve recently been researching the monastic life/contemplative live and potentially feeling called to a vocation to it. There is something so radical about it that seems so attractive, and I think the world needs more prayers and sacrifices for the forgiveness of sins. However, it also seems scary to be so detached from the world. Could you talk a little bit about the monastic/ contemplative life and how to properly discern it? What is its role in building the Kingdom of God? I don’t want to consider it just because I want to escape this broken world. At the same time, I am amazed by saints like St. Therese who never left the convent yet is named a Doctor of the Church and I know there is something so powerful about it.
Thank you,
Tom
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Resources
- Submit your questions and feedback to Fr. Josh by filling out a form at www.ascensionpress.com/askfatherjosh
- Broken and Blessed by Fr. Josh Johnson
- Pocket Guide to Adoration by Fr. Josh Johnson
- Pocket Guide to Reconciliation by Fr. Josh Johnson & Fr. Mike Schmitz
- Ascension is pleased to offer our new and improved online bible study programs and sacramental preparation programs digitally to help you minister with flexibility. Go to ascensionpress.com to view all our offerings.
Meet Fr. Josh Johnson
While Fr. Josh was raised Catholic, he didn’t like the Church growing up. Then, one day in adoration, he fell in love with Jesus and received the call to become a priest.
Now, Fr. Josh is the Vocations Director of the Diocese of Baton Rouge in Louisiana. He is a presenter in four of Ascension’s programs: Altaration, YOU: Life, Love, and the Theology of the Body, The 99, and Connected: Catholic Social Teaching for This Generation, as well as the author of Broken and Blessed: An Invitation to My Generation, Pocket Guide to Adoration, and co-author of Pocket Guide to Reconciliation.
