Dropping Hosts, Not Kneeling at Mass, and the Devil in Our Thoughts
Ask Father Josh (Your Catholic Question and Answer Podcast)
Ascension
4.9 • 2.7K Ratings
🗓️ 24 September 2019
⏱️ 32 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Fr. Josh answers questions about what to do when a consecrated Host is dropped during Communion, if the devil and demons can read our thoughts when we’re tempted, and what to do about a congregation that doesn’t kneel during Mass.
Snippet from the Show
“Fight the devil the same way Jesus fought the devil. Whenever you recognize some temptation, quote Scripture out loud, and say ‘Get behind me Satan’. The word of God will fight for us.”
SHOWNOTES
Glory Story (2:20)
Listener Feedback (4:58)
Dropping Hosts (6:51)
Last Sunday, during Communion, as I was peeking at the consecrated host from my hand I dropped it, and it fell to the floor by my feet. I gasped, and immediately grabbed it up and put it in my mouth. I was beyond mortified. I know part of it was embarrassment of those who may have seen me but I couldn't believe I’d been so careless with our Lord. Why wouldn’t I be more attentive during those few minutes I’m receiving Holy Communion. I prayed deeply about this and I heard him chuckle and say “Really, it’s okay.” I just can’t get that sight out of my mind: seeing him, Jesus, on the floor. I pray this never ever happens to me again, but if it does, what is the appropriate thing to do? Is there something more I should do now after making this awful blunder, is this a sin I need to confess?
–A Clumsy Lover of Christ
Devil in Our Thoughts (11:09)
Dear Father Josh,
My friend and I enjoy your podcast so very much. It is my favorite to listen to during commutes or travel, and some of the things you say are so profound to me I either have to stop the podcast and keep repeating it in my head, rewind and replay it over and over, and I usually write it down so I can meditate on the words even more. Your book is also amazing and I can’t wait for the new book to be released. You’re a blessing, keep up the awesome work. Here’s our question: does the devil have access to our minds? Does he know our thoughts as God knows our thoughts and our innermost being. We were thinking that the devil does not know our thoughts and the way that we can protect ourselves from his temptation and masterful lies was to never verbalize our thoughts and feelings, to never think out loud if you will. To keep thoughts inside so as to not allow the enemy to know our secrets. If he can’t access our thoughts then he can’t tempt us and control our minds, or use our thoughts and feelings against us. How exactly does the devil tempt us and can he get into our head?
–Two Friends from Texas
Not Kneeling at Mass (24:03)
Hi Father Josh,
Recently I moved away for college and started attending Mass at one of the local Catholic churches. I was a bit surprised when none of the congregation kneeled down during the Eucharistic prayers. In fact, the pews did not even have kneelers. I’ve since started attending a different Catholic church nearby. This was the first Catholic church I’d ever seen that doesn’t kneel, and it made me curious about the reason. Should I avoid going to this particular church because of this?
–Claire
Resources
- General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM)
- The Litany of Humility
- Broken and Blessed: An Invitation to My Generation by Fr. Josh
Support Ask Father Josh (Your Catholic Question and Answer Podcast)
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | What's up and welcome to Ask Father Josh to podcast why get to listen to your questions, |
| 0:07.9 | pray with them and hopefully respond in such a way that it's helpful for you and your |
| 0:11.3 | walk toward eternity and your walk toward becoming the particular saint that God will follow |
| 0:15.7 | the desires for you to be. |
| 0:17.4 | Here's how the show goes, you hit me up with three to five questions per episode, dealing |
| 0:22.0 | with anything from prayer, the interior life, spirituality, apologetics, evangelization, |
| 0:28.0 | and the keys to discipleship, relationship advice, morality issues, all of the above. |
| 0:34.1 | And then I was super deep questions, pray with them and try to respond in such a way that |
| 0:37.7 | it's helpful for you to grow and holiness for you to grow in virtue. |
| 0:41.2 | However, here's the disclaimer, I'm not perfect. |
| 0:44.8 | And so every now and then my advice that I give to you might not in fact be helpful, |
| 0:49.0 | it might not help you to grow in virtue to grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ |
| 0:53.4 | if that's the case. |
| 0:54.4 | I really want to encourage you to trash whatever it is that I say that is not good for you, |
| 0:58.9 | but if it is good for you, though difficult, then I really want to invite you to lean |
| 1:03.4 | into Jesus Christ and prayer more so that he can give you the grace for the full, the |
| 1:07.6 | demands of a discipleship. |
| 1:10.2 | You can also, if you're first time listener, hit me up with your own questions, comments |
| 1:13.7 | and critiques from today's showing all my shows and ask Father Josh at ascensionpress.com. |
| 1:19.3 | You can rate us on reviews on iTunes and other podcasts formats. |
| 1:22.8 | This helps other people find out about the show. |
| 1:25.0 | And finally, you can share this show on your social media pages, Facebook, Instagram, |
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