Father Simon Says

Is 7:10-14 What does this prophecy in Isaiah actually mean?  Lk 1:26-38 Father connects this Gospel to Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass Hysteria: Father reads a letter from a mass cantor  Letters: Question about the fire of the Holy Spirit  Father talks about the homily of Bishop Don Hying Word of the day: Rema Callers:  Why do we say 'we dare to say' instead of 'We humbly dare to say' at the Our Father? Why did it take Christ so long to come into this world? Which tribes practiced human sacrifice?

Mt 1:1-17 Why are there different genealogies for Matthew and Luke? Father explains Mass Hysteria: Father talks about weddings! Letters: Father reads a letter about fruit in Genesis Father answers letter about liturgical abuse Father offers a book recommendation to a listener's nephew in prison.  Listener's daughter has been in therapy, and wonders where to find a psychologist   Question about time in purgatory  Can Catholics use aromatherapy?  Word of the day: O

Is 54:1-10 Father talks about various approaches to scripture and the book The Case for Christ Lk 7:24-30 Didn't John know that Jesus was the messiah?  Mass Hysteria: Father talks about singing all the verses at mass Letters:  Father talks about ecology and stewardship at green burials  Father reads a letter about images of aborted fetuses Why don't parish offer confessions between masses on Sunday? Word of the day: Hosts Callers: I'm a Christian, but not catholic, and I can't get over what appears to be deification of saints and Mary. Fr. Simon's take on Hebrews 5-10

Is 45:6c-8, 18, 21c-25 Does God create darkness and evil? Lk 7:18b-23  Father talks about St. Augustine’s interpretation of today’s Gospel Mass Hysteria: Father talks about canonizing the deceased at funeral masses Letters Father reads a letter about many are called but few are chosen. Question of fulfilling the obligation of receiving communion Letter about a same-sex relationship and a holiday party Word of the Day: Shabbat Callers I wonder if some songs I want for my funeral are appropriate Fast for 12 hours before communion? When I arranged my dad’s funeral, I asked the priest to pray for souls in purgatory

Zep 3:1-2, 9-13 Who was the prophet Zephaniah? Fr. Simon explains. Mt 21:28-32 What’s so bad about tax collectors? Mass Hysteria: Father talks about the origins of the prayers of the faithful Letters: Father reads a letter from girls that were abused by their father, and talks about the freeing power of forgiveness Word of Day: Forceful Caller: Our parish is growing and we’re even breaking new ground for a new church! Can divorced Catholics living as brother and sister go to confession? Father has been in and out of ICU the last few months. He is having bad nightmares about his salvation. Is there anything that could help him forgive himself from past sins?

Nm 24:2-7, 15-17a Father talks about Bl. Solanas Casey, Fr. Benedict Groeschel, and talking donkeys Mass Hysteria: Father talks about a music for Our Lady Letters: Letter clarifying blessing in the Orthodox church Father reads a letter from an evangelical listener who talks about issues in the pre-Reformation Church Question about Baptism and Judaism Do you think Mary was Baptized Word of the Day: Forceful Callers: I’m married, but someone I dated in the past, I’m always thinking about him and is this God’s way of punishing me? What does he think about mariachi music at the mass?

Is 48:17-19 Can laws be gifts? What does coveting actually mean? Father explains Mt 11:16-19 Our likes and dislikes have nothing to do with the truth of God. Mass Hysteria: Father talks about what’s wrong coffee table mass Letters Is there anything wrong with saying ‘spirit’ instead of Holy Spirit? Question about sins and red worms! Word of the Day: Vindicated Callers: We have a family member who is gay and she wanted to bring her partner for Christmas We have a ten year old son. What should I do? What is the meaning of the word beseech, like we ‘beseech’ you? In the parable of the vineyards, it says ‘few are chosen’  could you explain?

Is 41:13-20 What is the thrashing of grain? Mt 11:11-15 How can we be greater than John the Baptist? Mass Hysteria: Father talks more about Cardinal Francis George and the liturgy Letters: Question about religious art Why does the Eastern church make the sign of the cross differently Father reads a letter about the origins of liturgical abuse Father tells a story about a young boy who talks about the invisibility of God Word of the Day:  Myrtle tree Letters: What is  the Apostolic Pardon and does the priest always give it during the Last Rites? Does a solemnity last 7 days? If God made Jesus and Mary, who made God?

Gn 3:9-15, 20 Fr. Simon on the Fall from Grace w/Adam and Eve Eph 1:3-6, 11-12 Jesus invites us to allow him to transform us The Church has a bride Fr. Simon talks about the Immaculate Conception and it’s significance Fr. Simon talks about multi-heavens Mass Hysteria: The Mass is a Sacrifice and the purpose of life is sacrificial Letters: Question about missing mass on a Holy Day of Obligation and difference between countries Question about making jewelry using ashes Book recommendation on the Book of Relevation Word of the Day: Eve Callers: Should I attend a memorial where the ashes are being scattered What is the difference b/w forgiveness of sin and absolution Caller shared that her late husband was a fan of Fr. Simon

Is 40:1-11 Fr. Simon describes this reading as very beautiful Preparation for the coming of the Lord Mt 18:12-14 Father talks about why there’s rejoicing after finding that singular lost sheep You could always come back home to the Church Mass Hysteria: The reason our civilization is in chaos is because of liturgical abuse and abandoning the idea of sacrifice Letters: Father talks about a letter responding to a caller who’s husband had a porn addiction Question about the Shroud of Turin Question about Green Burials Word of the Day: Comfort Callers: Should I attend a wedding where someone is Jewish Question about doing English mass Ad Orientem Question about distributing communion during mass and disagreeing with my parish priest about this

Coal at 04:00 Lk 5:17-26 The Pharisees didn’t know what to make of Jesus, why? Father also talks about the significance of Jesus’ miracles Mass Hysteria: Father talks about an experience at a Byzantine Church and the significance of beauty Letters: Father suggests a website with a Catholic liturgical calendar What is an indulgence? Word of the Day: Papyrus Callers: How should I understand my spouse’s pornography’s addiction What if I don’t fulfill my penance from confession before I go back to mass on Wednesday Dec. 8th. Could I still receive communion? I was reading the Epic of Gilgamesh which mentioned the flood. Was the flood in Genesis written before Gilgamesh or after?    

Is 29:17-24 Father discusses Judaism and the Messiah Mass Hysteria: Father talks about mass tones Letters: Is there a liturgical calendar for android? How can you be persecuted without a hair of your head destroyed? Word of the day: Sternly Callers: Why is the Muslim God a God of Might? Question about the St. Andrew Novena and what happens if I forgot to say yesterday. In Acts 23:21, the Jews swore a vow that they’ll kill Paul.  What happened to that vow and to them? Good book or resource that explains the mass more and why no more communion rails? Is it permissible to ask the priest if the penance he gives is too hard and you want a different one?

Is 26:1-6 What is the righteousness of God? Mt 7:21, 24-27 Father talks about this passage in the context of Protestant and Catholic theology What happens if we have a religion of convenience? Mass Hysteria: Father continues the theme of choir lofts! Letters: Question about Catholic high school–we’ve lived in different cities, and all of them trained for college, not for vocational training. Why was Jesus buried in a cave and not in the ground? My Catholic nephew is marrying in the Ethiopian Church How can I dispose of broken rosaries? Word: Ptosis Callers: How do you know when you’ve done enough to be right with God? Why didn’t people listen to Simian if he knew who the savior was? Why does the priest bows low when he says the words of consecration?

Is 25:6-10a Father talks about his trip to the Holy Land Mt 15:29-37 Why did the crowds come to Jesus? Father talks about what the prayer of the believer is. Mass Hysteria: Father answers a question about what the choir loft is Letters: Father clarifies comments on Anglican Catholic Church What is remitted temporal punishment? Word of the Day: Juicy Callers: A  old friend of Father’s calls in Does Fr. Simon know the poem ‘A Priest’ by Lacordaire on the priesthood? In today’s readings, Immanuel spelled w/an ‘I’ and another place, it’s spelled w/an ‘E’, what’s the difference? Is the penitential rite at beginning of mass, the ‘I Confess to almighty God…’ a form of confession?

Rom 10:9-18 Father thinks we need to look at the Jewish liturgy to understand this passage. Why? Father explains. Mass Hysteria: Father talks about why we use bread at mass Letters: Father discusses the differences between High Mass and Low Mass in the extraordinary form. Father discusses the merits of the saints Letter asking about the ‘Anglican Catholic Church’ Word of the day: Hired men Letters: I like the show, and he’s great.  However, when you say, ‘it’s just my opinion’, you’re minimize it, and it’s really the teaching of the Church. When I pray for the Guardian Angels for my kids, should I pray to their Guardian Angel as well? My children have left the Church; what should I do?

Is 2:1-5 Father shares his theory of David and Israel Mt 8:5-11 What’s significant about a centurion humbling himself before a Jewish rabbi? Mass Hysteria: Father talks about a priest who cleared out the altar in a church and set up tables for a Thanksgiving dinner. Letters Father responds to a letter about incense at mass Letter who writes about male virginity in the context of Catholic teaching Letter who writes about Hillsong church. Father talks about the movie, The Apostle A choir member writes in about the placement of the choir during mass Dan writes in about the differences between faith and hope Word of the Day: Amazing Callers: Wedding Feast of Cana why did Jesus reveal himself to the waiter? The Roman Centurion in today’s Gospel, could it have been St. Longanius, the one who pierced Christ’s side? I’ve seen people kneeling and standing for communion; what are you thoughts about that?

1 Mc 4:36-37, 52-59 Father explains that this section of the book of Maccabees is about Hanukah Lk 19:45-48 Father connects this Gospel with the Maccabees Mass Hysteria: Father tells two liturgical experiences Letters: Tim has a question about purgatory and indulgences Father talks about the nature of superstition Word of the Day: House Callers What are the required days for fasting and required days for Abstinence? The ‘Weight of Revelation’ is a saying from Hildebrand, and does Fr. Simon recognize that or does he know about Hildebrand? is is possible for a loved one from purgatory to communicate with us here?

Wis 7:22b–8:1 What is real wisdom? Lk 17:20-25 Where will God’s royal nature appear? Is Jesus’ Kingdom political? Mass Hysteria: Father reads a letter about some of the church songs from the 70s Word of the day: Cross and Crucifix Letter: Do my prayers count? Question about the three days of darkness; what is it? Father talks about marriage in the ancient world Dad asks about his agnostic son who struggles with the Genesis story

Dn 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28 Father explains what it means to use the things of God for ourselves Lk 21:12-19 Father talks about Fulton Sheen’s preaching Mass Hysteria: Father talks about singing in the early Church Letters: Question about the devil and hell What is Hislev? Word of the Day: Defense Callers: Why is it easier to get the attention of a demon as opposed to getting the attention of an angel? He referenced ‘Palisade’ and that it meant ‘Wall of Sticks’.  what language was that being translated from What could be done about the house I bought, were previously someone killed themselves in the garbage? About today’s reading from Daniel? Reference to sacred vessels and has a question about those vessels What is the significance of promoting St. Cecilia as a virgin?

Dn 2:31-45 Father admits understanding Daniel’s prophecy is difficult and gives an account of what prophecies are. Lk 21:5-11 Father talks about the Lord appearing in glory Mass Hysteria: Father talks about coffee table mass Letters: Question about saints and self-mutilation Father cautions against drive by communion services Word of the Day: Name Callers: I’m a music director at a parish and I think back in the early church, they sang songs and sang psalms.  I agree with him on some things regarding music and disagree w/others What do you think about bringing a cell phone inside the confessional? Why medication given from the pharmacy is good, when the Bible says to avoid the pharmakia?