Catholic Answers Live

“What does it mean to say that marriage is sacred?” This question opens a discussion on the profound nature of marriage within the Catholic faith. Additional topics include how to support adult children during a parent’s annulment and navigating challenges in a marriage with an irreligious spouse. The conversation also touches on fostering virtue and healing after divorce.

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Questions Covered:

01:35 – What does it mean to say that marriage is sacred?

14:40 – I’m new to the Catholic faith. I have adult children, have received an annulment, and am getting married. How can I help my non-Catholic adult children deal with the fact that the Church is saying their mom and dad were not really married.

20:25 – I’m struggling with my husband who is mostly irreligious (nominally Lutheran) and very controlling. He doesn’t seem to be very interested in being part of the family. People tell me I shouldn’t stay in the marriage.

33:49 – As a friend of someone who recently went through a divorce, how can I bring my friend into a closer relationship with God, and help in healing from the divorce. He practices the faith but does not have a very close relationship with God.

41:29 – How can a wife approach her husband about growing in virtue. She is nervous about asking him to do something that would require him to sacrifice.

48:42 – I’ve been separated from my husband for 20 years. He is finally going to counseling, but won’t do marriage counseling because he says he needs to work on his own trauma first. Any advice?

53:10 – How does one learn to prepare for marriage? I’ve been married almost 40 years and wondering how to teach this to my kids.

“What is the most beautiful aspect of Catholic faith?” This question opens a discussion on the profound elements of faith that often go uncommunicated in apologetics. The conversation also touches on how to rekindle a personal relationship with God after conversion, finding beauty in the Mass despite familiarity, and responding to evangelical critiques.

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Questions Covered:

06:20 – What is the most beautiful aspect of the Catholic faith that you didn’t think you were communicating while doing apologetics?

18:50 – I’m in a similar situation. I converted due to a relationship but now I’m all head knowledge. How do I get back to the relationship part?

42:38 – How do you find beauty in the mass when you’ve gone all your life and have almost become desensitized to it?

49:00 – How would you respond to evangelical counters to what you’re saying?

“How can couples decide when they disagree?” This question addresses the complexities of decision-making in marriage, especially when spouses hold opposing views that could lead to sin. Additionally, the discussion touches on whether a Catholic can pray in a Bahai temple, how to counter Jehovah’s Witnesses’ views on the Church, and the connections between ancient Hebrew weddings and the Mass.

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Questions Covered:

03:45 – In a marriage, if the consciences of the husband and wife are formed to have an opposite opinion on something, such that if option A is chosen then the wife is sinning, and if option B is chosen the husband is sinning — how can they make a decision?

17:20 – I was invited by a friend to say a prayer in a Bahai temple. Is it okay for a Catholic to do that?

21:47 – I asked some Jehovah’s Witnesses how they justified their restorationist view of the Church. What scripture might they cite for their explanation, and how might I counter that?

29:18 – I have been studying ancient Hebrew weddings. And there are so many connections between that and the Mass. I’m wondering why we don’t see more catechesis based on this — is there some kind of danger in it?

42:25 – What language do you think Adam and Eve spoke?

“If Jesus was Jewish, why are we Christian?” This question opens a discussion on the roots of Christianity and its relationship to Judaism. The episode also addresses the necessity of seeking truth in a diverse worldview, the implications of practicing yoga or transcendental meditation for Catholics, and the annulment process for converts.

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Questions Covered:

02:20 – If Jesus was Jewish, why are we Christian?

12:50 – What is a succinct way to argue for the necessity of finding the truest thing? I see some non-Catholic friends happy that I’ve found a cohesive worldview, but they don’t see any reason why they should investigate such a thing.

20:30 – Is it objective grave matter for Catholics to practice yoga or transcendental meditation?

33:30 – Why do converts seeking annulments from marriages before their conversion have to go through that process? It seems like a barrier to evangelization — “Hey, you should be Catholic. But you might never be able to receive communion if you aren’t granted an annulment from a marriage you had before you were even Catholic.”

44:55 – Do you think the story about the woman with seven husbands that the Sadducees questioned Jesus about is the story of Tobit?

50:12 – I am theologically not committed. I see that Christianity seems evidence based, but I don’t feel drawn to it. Any thoughts?

“What would it take for Catholics and Orthodox to reunite?” This question opens a discussion on the complexities of Christian unity, while also addressing varied topics such as the validity of a non-Catholic marriage without civil ceremony, the necessity of confession after salvation, and the differences in gospel accounts of the women at the tomb.

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Questions Covered:

01:35 – What would it take for the Catholics and Orthodox to reunite?

14:48 – Is my mom’s marriage valid? She and he are non-Catholic but baptized. She didn’t get civilly married, but it was a public ceremony with witnesses. Both were married before, but those previous spouses have died.

18:30 – I was told that once you are saved there is no need for confession. How does a Catholic respond to that?

29:29 – I heard a Protestant say we have the same spirit that raised Lazarus from the dead. Is that true?

35:00 – Why do the four gospels list different women at the tomb?

40:16 – My wife and I are converts. We were non-Catholics when we married. It was a non-Church ceremony at an embassy. There were not vows. But it was a legal marriage. Are we married in the Church? Do we need to have it convalidated?

47:27 – Does the Church infallibly teach that Mary had no actual sin?

51:05 – Could you comment on how the prodigal son narrative relates to the act of confession? Is this parable an example of confession?