Fr. Josh answers questions regarding the issue of syncretism, how to face rejection when pursuing your vocation, and how to use Natural Family Planning (NFP) appropriately in marriage.
Snippet from the Show
“You are seen. You are known. You are wanted by God.”
Shownotes
Glory Story (2:45)
Questions
Syncretism (5:55)
Hi Fr Josh! Thanks a lot for your show, you’ve answered a lot of questions I had without having asked them! So my question is how do we deal with syncretism?
I believe you’re in New Orléans and there, just like in my country (Haiti) there’s A LOT of syncretism of the Church and voodoo . I wonder if you could answer kinda fast because this is the main issue I have in my converting to Catholicism process . God bless.
-Edouard
Discernment and Rejection (11:16)
Hey Fr. Josh! I have a really messy story. Part of it is that I didn’t think I was called to a religious order and was also going through some difficult mental health struggles when they gave me the chance to join, so I didn’t. Later on as I continued to pray through this, I tried to join them several times. I was rejected each time. I have tried multiple other orders and have been rejected by them as well, sometimes even only because I wanted to do a “Come and See.” I still think that at my core, one of my deepest desires is to bring people Jesus in the Eucharist, but I’m not even getting the chance. I can’t stop comparing myself to other men that get in, and wondering what’s wrong with me. I don’t know what to do, and I don’t know how to deal with all of the thoughts that accompany it. I feel awful, and terribly guilty. I know that the response is probably just move on, but how do I move on when I feel that I ruined God’s original plan for my life? How do I deal with the rejection? Should I just give up on this desire?
-Anonymous
The Proper Use of NFP (20:19)
Is it a sin to use Natural Family Planning to wait to have kids until you’ve discerned that you’re ready as a couple or do you have to try and have kids as soon as you’re married? In my discernment of marriage and future so far I have thought it was morally acceptable to avoid intercourse during the fertile period and to just be open to accepting that you may get pregnant while having intercourse during the infertile period. I’ve become confused by people’s interpretation of Pope Paul VI’s writings on this in Humanae Vitae. I am not married, but figured this would be helpful for me and my girlfriend in each of our discernments to know.
-Salem
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.
