St. Mary Magdalene said to St. Mechtilde: "Whoever shall give thanks to God for all the tears I shed upon the feet of Jesus, our most merciful God will grant them, through my intercession, remission of all their sins before their death, and a great increase of love of God."

Holy Holy Holy Mary Magdalene, lamp of the world ablaze with love, your faith has saved you, pray for me at the feet of our Redeemer. Amen.

"With agonied black tears,

Mary prostrate on the floor adores

Wipes His feet dry with her own hair

Then forth her precious perfume pours."

Question: How do I pray through this? I'm already looking for a new job.

* I'm not a parent and my time at the chapel doesn't detract from my vocation or duties at home.

---

I need some advice. I've been a practicing Catholic for 11 years and have been actively involved in my previous parish and adoration chapel.

I moved and a brand new 24/7 adoration chapel opened in my city two months ago. As soon as I signed up for weekly commitments at the chapel (I'm doing 4 days a week), all hell broke loose in my life. This all happened after I signed up to now:

-Tire spring snapped on my 2022 minivan and as soon as I got the vehicle out of the shop, had a tire issue.

-Got a big metal shard in my tire and had to replace it

-Permit I was getting help with, fell apart and people turned on me and no longer want to help me

-Job went really bad and turned abusive (got yelled at...)

-The apprenticeship I moved to a different state for ended after I found out the mentor was a sham and a scammer (taking advantage of people)

-My parent had a second stroke

- Everyday has been horrible at work due to my dysfunctional manager (she told us she was named after a witch. Isn't that fun.)

- My husband's new job took a turn for the worst

- My job had layoffs

- My music teacher became verbally abusive and I had to end the relationship

- I've had to get subs for about 2 weeks of adoration commitments

- I'm having trouble sleeping and eating, mostly due to the stress of the dysfunctional job.

....

Essentially, in the last two months, I've had 5 really abusive or highly dysfunctional work-related relationships that have manifested or ended.

We only give glory to God and I'm not complaining. It's just been a lot of crazy stuff that has happened in a short time and I don't know if I need to be praying differently. I don't think anyone is praying for protection for the adorers at the new chapel. The founding priest of the chapel is on sabbatical, but I did contact the chapel staff to learn more.

What do I do? Just wait it out? Do I pray differently? I told God he's got to fix this or I'm going to have to quit the chapel. This is too much.

(I am interviewing for new jobs).

Has anyone gone through this before?

Thanks for listening!

Edited: For clarity.

I want to clarify one thing first. I am not complaining about modern shapes or materials like concrete or steel.

The real tragedy of modern church architecture is the sudden disappearance of figurative art, statues, and visual storytelling. By stripping churches of images, we broke a long tradition and ignored basic human psychology.

Here is why this was a huge mistake.

1. A Break of Tradition

Sacred art was not a medieval invention. Dura Europos in Syria, one of the earliest Christian house churches from the third century, is covered in biblical frescoes. For nineteen hundred years, Christianity was a visual and narrative religion. Completely bare churches are a historical anomaly.

1. The Literacy Myth

People often claim we only used sacred art because past generations were illiterate. This is false. Monasteries, which were reserved for highly literate monks, were packed with frescoes. In the late nineteenth century, literacy in Western Europe was near one hundred percent, yet churches were built with more detailed art than ever. Humans need visual resonance regardless of their reading ability.

1. Psychology and the Intellectual Trap

Some theologians argue that a completely bare room is necessary for pure devotion because it removes visual distractions. However, this is a purely intellectual theory that completely ignores how the average person actually experiences prayer. We are highly visual creatures. Expecting everyday people to walk into a plain concrete room and instantly reach a state of mystical awe is absurd. It treats humans as abstract minds rather than embodied beings with senses.

1. The Loss of Attraction

A historic church is a visual treasure chest. Even an atheist can sit in a Baroque or Gothic church and spend an hour captivated by the details. In contrast, you can visually process a bare modern church in thirty seconds. After that, there is nothing left to explore. It feels like a sterile lecture hall.

By abandoning figurative art for total abstraction, an elite group of architects threw away our most powerful tool for emotional connection. We did not fail because we used concrete. We failed because we forgot that we need stories, faces, and forms.

I am currently pregnant with my third child, and my OB is telling me that I should get a tubal ligation to prevent another pregnancy since all my kids are born via Cesarean Delivery. My CS cut is too near in my bladder already and she said I can only deliver 3 kids based on my medical history and age.

I know its a grave sin to have your tubes tied. I don’t like to commit a sin but i am so confused right now. Can someone enlighten me on what to do. Thank you.

EDIT: I am SO SO SORRY for the title!! 😭😭 I totally didn't mean it like that. It was very poorly phrased on my part, I apologise for any confusion or negativity caused. When I was writing it, I genuinely didn't have the slightest clue it could be interpreted like that, at all. I'm Asian myself, so trust me I was not trying to be racist in any way!! I simply meant the whole DECOR and ARCHITECTURE was the COLOUR white. As in the sort of white you see when you put typical printer paper into sunlight, that sort of shade. NOT the race!!! But I cannot blame anyone but myself, apparently I do not have a way with words. Again, I'm sorry please forgive me.

For those who did answer about the church that is DECORATED in white, thank you!! I haven't found it yet, and there's a great chance I'm misremembering, but I have found looking into the churches you suggested really interesting, and I really really appreciate it <3

Also, does anyone know how to change the title???? Everyone's telling me to do it but I really don't know how to 😭😭

One time I went to France, I distinctly remember going to a 6pm mass.
It was spoken in French I think (we were trying to find an English one but I'm pretty sure we ended up at this French one), and I most vividly remember it being an all-white church.
Like blindingly white. Well, I could still see of course, but the floor, walls, pews, altar etc. all the purest shade of white.

Before going back there, I spent years truly believing it was in Lourdes, but when I went two years ago, I went everywhere I thought it could be but I couldn't find it!! I'm going again this year so I kind of what to know if it actually exists or not.

Another thing is I remember it being quite small, more like the size of a small chapel than a typical church building , and it wasn't on the ground floor, you had to walk up at least one flight of stairs to get there.

Does anyone know if this is real? or is my memory making things up lol?

Im unsure of what will happen to me after leaving this place. I believe in the Trinity and the Catholic canon but I've not been baptised or set foot in a catholic church, not even as a catechumen.

I believe in a few days I'll be gone and I'm unsure of my fate after that.

I've tried confessing everything to God directly but im not sure if it's valid without the involvement of a priest.

I've been a seeking convert since age 12 so about 6 years at this point, have covered some theology across the works of St.Augustine and St.Thomas Aquinas in that time period but haven't had the chance to receive the Sacraments.

Will appreciate any clarification.

Currently on Day 138 of The Bible in a Year Podcast, and I've heard enough. Joab stood on that business.

Hello everyone,

I wanted to share my story with you as I am a bit lost right now.

I am in my late 20s, I was raised in an atheist family, but with Catholic culture (sounds a bit confusing, I know - think wrapping advent wreath, very occasional church visit, suggestion to pray to the Virgin Mary but no specific prayer etc.).

Religion hasn’t play a big role in my life until a few years ago when I got closer to Israel and then subsequently started exploring Judaism, which really resonated with me - and especially the radical monotheism of Judaism, the belief in One God (compared to the Trinity). I still keep this belief.

I went very far with my conversion and even underwent the circumcision a year ago. Yet I am doubting things and I feel like I might have done a mistake with this. As much as I love the Jewish people and I have a sort of similar spirit, I still don’t feel like I fully belong to the “tribe”. And I dislike that a lot of emphasis is put on the community life, rather than the faith itself. The faith is rather secondary, keeping the commandments and being active in the community is what is valued. Of course this differs among the various streams.

Deep down I miss the bits of Catholicity I experienced and I still feel that it is my culture. But my believes still align with Judaism, especially when it comes to the teachings about God.

Thanks for any insight.

Hi! I guess this is more venting than asking for advice, but I thought maybe someone would have some insight I didn’t.

I’m a born and raised Catholic, never left the church, only attended two parishes in my life (and only because I moved from my hometown). Up until I got married I was heavily involved in the parish, volunteered for everything, from cleaning to planing events and to be honest I was always kinda overlooked for friendships with the other ladies at the parish, but I really didn’t mind, it was good enough for me. Then I met my husband when he started attending Mass. We got married very quickly, which I was told was one of the problems for people. We married 5 months after our first date, another thing is: he is very much older than me. I was freshly 26 and he was 48 at the time, didn’t matter to me and we got married quickly cause I wanted three kids before 30, and by the grace of God we did, our first child was born 10 months after our wedding and I’m currently pregnant with the third, I’ve been basically pregnant since our wedding night at this point. All of this means I don’t have enough time to do all the volunteering I did before and the ladies at the parish are incredibly mean to me and don’t want to even let their kids play with mine. One told me my marriage makes them uncomfortable and that my husband’s past doesn’t belong around children. Now, my husband used to be a musician and has struggled with addiction, he’s been sober for 5 years now is a wonderful person, so I don’t understand the prejudice, we are all sinners. I’ve talked to our priest, and as much as he is supportive of me and I do consider him a friend, he can’t exactly force people to be nice.

Is this a weird thing? Should we go to a different parish? Or is it just my hormonal brain malfunctioning? My husband says he doesn’t mind, it’s his cross to bear, but he says he’ll happily go to a different parish if that will make me happy.

Hello, I'm currently agnostic, but I'm considering converting to Catholicism. I agree with a lot of the intellectual arguments for Catholicism, but I struggle to believe in it emotionally, if that makes sense.

Anyways, I am a paralegal at a small law firm. I'm currently working on a paternity case where the father sexual abused their two year old son five years ago. I'm having to go through all of the evidence, including very explicit images of the boys torn up, naked body, and videos of the psychological damage it did to him for the next half decade.

I was wondering if there were any christian teachings that could help me process it all. Viewing this horrific content has made it near impossible for me to believe in God.

Why would a just god allow this to happen? There's no way a two year old deserves this. Or even if he allows it to happen, why was he allowed to evade any criminal charges. In fact, my client was the only one that got a charge because she put a tracker on his car after he threatened to kill her and the kid.

Sure, if god is real, he will be punished after his death. But when the father thought he was going to go to jail, he hung himself, only to be saved last minute by the grandfather. Why would God not just delay the grandfather by a mere minute? It would have helped this poor boy so much if his father was dead.

I understand the intellectual counter arguments to all of this, but seeing it firsthand makes the counter argument seem so weak. I want to believe in God so badly, but how can I when the world is this way?

***NOT LOOKING FOR MEDICAL ADVICE, but rather spiritual advice. I am not in a position to experiment with various medical interventions, as my husband works out of state 70% of the year and I have zero family or support with 3 children. BC is life saving and completely addresses the underlying issues for me at this time.***

Exactly as the title says…how do I reconcile with the relief of being 99% unable to get pregnant (3 kids, 3 c-sections, major post partum, we are done for now) and the fact that this medication is life saving for me. For years, I’ve experienced suicidal ideation, wanting to divorce my husband, and feel like running my car into a wall and ending it all from my PMDD symptoms. On birth control, I stop having a period, and PMDD vanishes. I am a better mother, wife and human, and I actually want to be alive. But I also appreciate the relief of the contraceptive effect. How do I reconcile this as a Catholic woman? Thank you.

Hi, I’m a Catholic nurse and I’m trying to deepen my understanding of the Church’s teaching on healthcare ethics.

In my work, I regularly encounter situations involving significant medical interventions such as tracheostomies, long-term mechanical ventilation, feeding tubes, dialysis, and other life-sustaining treatments. Many of these patients have severe chronic illnesses, complex genetic conditions, profound neurological impairments, or terminal diagnoses. Some interventions can prolong life for many years, while others may only extend it or delay an inevitable death.

I understand that the Church teaches the sanctity of human life and rejects euthanasia, but I’m hoping to better understand how Catholic moral theology distinguishes between ordinary/proportionate and extraordinary/disproportionate means.

Some other questions I’ve been thinking about:

Is there a point at which life-sustaining treatment can be morally declined or withdrawn?

How are quality of life considerations weighed, if at all?

What guidance does the Church provide to healthcare workers who must participate in these decisions?

Are there recommended Church documents, encyclicals, or writings from Catholic perspectives that address these issues in depth?

Thanks for any insight!

This appeared in Northwest Catholic Magazine, published by the Diocese of Seattle. I didn't realize that my pastor helped found it!

https://nwcatholic.org/news/andrew-foster/r-askapriest-the-internet-s-holiest-forum

First time I heard that I was shocked, what is thaat my brothers?!

Mortification of five senses, this is nuts!!!

They never said it's easy to be catholic

God have mercy on us

I want to live a Catholic life, but I engage in things everyday that I definitely shouldn't be doing, I don't go to Mass or confession and I live a life that is contradictory to the teachings of the Church.

I don't want to be eternally damned and I want to serve God and turn my life around.

Any advice on what I should do would be most welcome

I am relatively new to this forum, but I already read several posts of how difficult it is for some people to follow the rules of catholicism (i.e. avoiding 7 sins or following 10 commandments, etc.). Now for me these constraints have always been a relief, because they facilitate my decision making tremendously and I have to think less about the various options in most situations in life. For example: I am married, and a person starts flirting, I don‘t need to think if I am interested or „what would be …“ stuff, because I should not commit adultary and therefore there is no choice in how to handle this situation.

I hope I do not offend anyone with this question, I am just curious how you see these rules for yourself.

Was it a feeling? a Catholic friend? Or a Catholic you were dating? Being inside a Catholic church? Hearing a Catholic choir? Leaving a Protestant church? An illness or near death experience? Another hardship? A sudden moment of clarity? The Catholic doctrine itself? The Eucharist? A papal inauguration?

TIA :)

Hi everyone!
I’m 25 years old and recently came back to the Catholic Church around December after being away for quite a while. It has honestly been one of the biggest blessings in my life.
A few days ago I officially registered for Confirmation! I start OCIA in September, and my parish has already received my application and sent me the schedule.
I’m really excited, but I’m also a little nervous because I don’t really know what to expect. I’ll be working during the day and attending classes in the evening, which is completely fine. I think it’s just the unknown that’s making me anxious.
For anyone who went through OCIA as an adult:
What was your experience like?
Is there anything you wish you had known beforehand?
Any advice for someone who’s excited but also a little nervous?
I’d love to hear your stories.
Thank you!

My dear friend and her husband have been trying to have a baby for years with no luck. I truly believe that prayer can aid or change her situation - there is nothing medically wrong. Do any of you have special prayers or acts that you believe helped with infertility? I am Catholic, she is protestant. I believe prayer and invoking specific saints helped my husband and I conceive our first child when we were not sure if we could.

I have been praying for them via St. Gerard, St. Anne, and Mary. A lot of the prayers I have found for the intention regarding conception/fertility are focused on the person praying them. I have sent her prayers and novenas for this cause but she says she struggles with prayer.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

I’ve reached a point where I don’t know what to do anymore, honestly I’ll take any advice.

My entire childhood, both of my parents neglected me emotionally. They provided food and a home, but I never really knew what it felt like to be loved by them. I can’t remember receiving hugs or words of affection. When I was a teenager, I told my father that I wanted to end my life, and he told me I should do it.

I’ve always tried to live a good life. I’ve stayed away from drugs and other destructive habits, and I’m an honor student at my university. I’m not perfect, but I’ve genuinely tried to do the right thing.
Even so, I feel so alone for most of my life.

My parents are now separated, and I live with my mother because it’s closer to my university. Our relationship is polite but distant. I have two very close friends who have been incredibly supportive, and I’m grateful for them, but they come from loving families, so it’s difficult for them to fully understand what this kind of emptiness feels like.

Lately I’ve fallen into a deep depression. I’ve cried out to God over and over, but I feel like my prayers disappear into silence. I don’t feel His presence anymore.

To be honest, I’ve been struggling with suicidal thoughts. The only thing that has stopped me from doing it, is that I don’t want to gamble my soul. I don’t want to find out if I will be forgiven for it or not.

But I’m so tired that I’ve started wondering whether God would forgive me for simply not being strong enough anymore and just ending it.

More than anything, I’ve prayed for a family. For somewhere I truly can belong to and where I experience love that I’ve never had.

I’m not looking for theological arguments or debates. Has anyone else gone through something similar like this? How did you keep your faith when everything inside you told you that He had forgotten you?
Please pray for me.

Whenever I tell people I am catholic they just hate for no reason and throw comments that they don’t even understand. I am sure others have felt this before and I just don’t know what to do.

The title pretty much says it all. My brother and his wife are having a marriage convalidation next month and he asked me to be a witness. I am not Catholic and do not know what to expect. I also want to buy them a gift, what would be appropriate for this type of ceremony?

Hi guys,

I am a non-denominational Christian, but that will be changing soon. I'm considering converting either to Catholicism or to Eastern Orthodoxy. The Filioque debate is one which is very important to me but it is also so vast that I do not know how to start researching it. This is why I am asking you, Catholics, what proof of it exists. I am not trying to debate, I would just like some guidance. I will also ask the fellow believers on r/OrthodoxChristianity why they don't believe in it and I am hoping to gain some clarity.

If any of you have any suggestions for me, they would be very much appreciated.

God bless everyone!