Father Simon Says

• (3:55) Bible Study:
  • Acts 25:13b-21
    • The dark politics going on around the Paul in the Acts of the Apostles.
  • John 21:15-19
    • Father shares the deep meaning of love in this passage.

(23:49) Break 1

• Letters:
  • (26:56) Don’t try to win praise. A listener writes in and asks what it means that Jesus descended into hell?

(39:27) Break 2

• (41:10) Word of the Day
  • Religion
• (42:37) Phones:
  • Sebastian - Explain why in the OT why did animals as well as humans have war sackcloth and ash?
  • Jackie - I think the problem with the Catholic church is that if you have a lot of money you can get an annulment. Could you address sketchy annulments?
  • Elijah - What's the tradition behind confirmation St. names.

• (5:28) Bible Study:
  • Acts 22:30; 23:6-11
    • Why was Paul trying to be a good Jew?

(21:22) Break 1

• (27:34) Letters:
  • Father explains the perseverance of the Saints and how it relates with the sacrament of penance. Father answers these and other questions. Send him a letter at [email protected]

(35:56) Break 2

• (36:26) Word of the Day
  • Mission
• (44:56) Phones:
  • Vee - I'm a non-Catholic; How do you view non Catholic Christians salvation?
  • Bob - Pentecost Sunday 'Receive the Holy Spirit' and 'Sins you retain'.  Since Pentecost is the reconnection of the Holy Spirit, don't we need Sacrament of Confession to regain the Holy Spirit.

• (2:27) Bible Study:
  • Acts 20:28-38
    • Who is the Holy Spirit? Father explains.

(23:08) Break 1

• (24:22) Letters:
  • What is involved in a blessing of a house? What is the Shekinah and how does it relate with the shroud of Turin? Father answers these and other questions. Send him a letter at [email protected]

(34:27) Break 2

• (35:05) Word of the Day
  • Consecrated in truth
• (42:52) Phones:
  • Regina - Was St. Joseph baptized? By whom and where?
  • Juan - why should we pray to Mary if Jesus died on the cross?
  • Margaret - how do you determine what is inspired by the holy spirit in reference to the canon?
  • Martha - my brother just left the catholic church. His son is getting married to a Jewish Christian. Should I attend the service as a catholic?

• (5:08) Bible Study:
  • Acts 20:17-27
    • Father shares the background of this passage.
  • John 17:1-11a
    • What does Jesus mean in this passage? Father explains

(22:42) Break 1

• (24:23) Letters:
  • Why can’t nuns go to funerals? What does it take to be guilty of presumption? Father answers these and other questions. Send him a letter at [email protected]

(31:39) Break 2

• (32:24) Word of the Day
  • Penetrating
• (38:24) Phones:
  • John - question about the lectionary number. does the number on the USCCB website correspond with the volumes at the church? (today is # 298)
  • Melissa - if two baptized people, one a catholic on not, get married outside the church why does the marriage need to get blessed if its considered sacramental already.
  • David - do you see a connection between the second creation account and the resurrection story.
  • Chris - why does the church allow for so many exceptions to rules of the church so that it seems like a new norm rather than an exception.

• Bible Study:
  • (2:56) Acts 19:1 – Apollos was a Jew from Alexandria from Ephesus who had been baptized with the baptism of John and had not received the Holy Spirit. He ends up being a very important member of the Church. John baptized with a baptism of repentance and that is what we see in the Gospel of John. John the Baptist is constantly saying in the Gospel of John that he is not the Messiah.

• Break 1

• Letters:
  • (25:05) David – Has a question about Evangelism and introducing someone to prayer.
  • (31:04) Jim – Does each cardinal consider a name he would choose as Pope just in case?
  • (33:30) Does the Pope have to take a new name?
  • (38:57) – Why are you down on people calling themselves “pet parents”.

• Break 2

• (38:57) Word Of the Day – Take Courage

• Phones:
• • (41:15) Roy - Does the Catholic Church believe in speaking in tongues. 
  • (44:11) Anne - It takes away the dignity of human life to use 'pet mom'. 

• • (48:09) – Marie - what’s the difference between presumption and trust?

• (5:22) Bible Study:
  • Acts 18:9-18
    • God picks the wrong person for the job?

(18:16) Break 1

• (20:07) Letters:
  • Father answers a question about the Cistercian witnesses and explains the origin of the Sistine Chapel, Father talks about these and other questions. Send him a letter at [email protected]

(35:47) Break 2

• (38:28) Word of the Day
  • Vow
• (40:28) Phones:
  • John - why is Elijah conserved a minor prophet instead of a major prophet?
  • Rosemarie - Plenary Indulgence. Site of Plenary Indulgence. if I go there what do I do? how does indulgence work?
  • Greg - we can go to Communion when we have venial sin. How can Jesus say we can receive him from venial sin yet at end of life we still have to go to Purgatory?

• (3:45) Bible Study:
  • Acts 18:1-8
    • Father explains the time line of the Acts of the Apostles.
  • John 16:16-20
    • What does Jesus mean in this passage? Father explains.

(21:09) Break 1

• (21:49) Letters:
  • How do pets fit into salvation? What are plenary indulgences? Father answers these and other questions. Send him a letter at [email protected]

(34:29) Break 2

• (36:18) Word of the Day
  • Worship
• (38:39) Phones:
  • Kim - my son and I talking about Pope Leo. when did Cardinals begin changing their names when they became Pope and why?
  • Sr. Maria Francesca - do we know the history of the Te Deum? where does this come from?
  • Noah - struggling with trusting God's Divine Will for me. how do I put my life in His hands?
  • Dolores - today is Ascension but deferred to Sunday. does that mean today is just a regular day?
  • Pam - question about Holy Spirit. saying Pope Francis was going to change date of Easter to coincide with Eastern Orthodox. I thought Eastern Orthodox didn’t believe in Filioque. I am confused

• (2:34) Bible Study:
  • Acts 17:15, 22—18:1
    • Father explains what Paul was doing in today’s readings.
  • John 16:12-15
    • How does God Prepare us

(22:28) Break 1

• (25:49) Letters:
  • Father answers some interesting letters about ethnicity, the Trinity and the Swiss guard. Father answers these and other questions. Send him a letter at [email protected]

(37:35) Break 2

• (38:34) Word of the Day
  • Exasperated and Escort
• (41:33) Phones:
  • Karen - rogation processions before Ascension Thursday. what happened to them and why don't they happen anymore?
  • Susanna - What is the difference between the Baltimore Catechism and the New Catechism. did the Baltimore Catechism get replaced?

• (3:17) Bible Study:
  • Acts 16:22-34
    • Father talks about the customs of Romans for prisoners.
  • John 16:5-11
    • What does it mean that it is better that Jesus goes?

(21:50) Break 1

• (24:02) Letters:
  • Father shares some insights about Chicago dialect and answers how many people really go to heaven. Father answers these and other questions. Send him a letter at [email protected]

(33:51) Break 2

• (34:54) Word of the Day
  • Annoyed
• (36:00) Phones:
  • Yolanda - My daughter told me she is corresponding with much older divorced men online. What is my role as a mother to help her to avoid this?
  • Walter - I want a clarification please. Did you say that we cannot receive the Holy Spirit if we do not go through the Father?
  • Scott - I am a convert and was married before I became Catholic. We had no issue having a Mass when we got married
  • Rose - I was raised as a Traditional Catholic Church not in communion with Rome. The bishop was from the SSPX. Is my confirmation valid?

• (3:00) Bible Study:
  • Acts 15:22-31
    • What is the structure of the Church? What does it mean to wait on the Holy Spirit?

(20:03) Break 1

• • John 15:12-17
    • What does it mean to speak in the name of Jesus?
• (25:48) Letters:
  • Father answers his letters that come in. Send him a letter at [email protected]

(34:59) Break 2

• (37:23) Word of the Day
  • Farewell
• (39:35) Phones:
  • Teresa - When Father does the sign of the cross, is that when he becomes Jesus in persona? I had an experience when a priest did the sign of the cross and I saw Jesus in him.
  • Maria - Can I win a plenary indulgence everyday this year by going to Daily Mass? Or just going through the Holy Door?
  • Tim - The Pope is not from Chicago, he is from Dolton, IL.
  • Dan - In the prayer, Hail Holy Queen, 'Mourning and Weeping in this Valley of tears' I have seen an older version 'Vail of tears'.
  • Joyce - Can I bless a Rosary at home myself with Holy Water?
  • Rob - Did everyone go to sheol?

Resources:

• • Triumph: The Power and the Glory of the Catholic Church
    • https://www.amazon.com/Triumph-Power-Glory-Catholic-Church/dp/0761516042