The Church celebrates the Feast of the Apostles Saints Simon and Jude. Their names occur together in the Canon of the Mass and are also celebrated on the same day. They may be paired together because they both preached the Gospel in Mesopotamia and Persia where it is said they had both been sent, but in actual fact we know nothing for certain about them beyond what is told us of their being called as Apostles in the New Testament. St. Jude is the author of the short Epistle which forms part of the New Testament.

As in the case of all the apostles except for Peter, James and John, we are faced with men who are really unknown, and we are struck by the fact that their holiness is simply taken to be a gift of Christ. He chose some unlikely people: a former Zealot, a former (crooked) tax collector, an impetuous fisherman, two “sons of thunder,” and a man named Judas Iscariot.

It is a reminder that we cannot receive too often. Holiness does not depend on human merit, culture, personality, effort, or achievement. It is entirely God’s creation and gift. God needs no Zealots to bring about the kingdom by force. Jude, like all the saints, is the saint of the impossible: Only God can create his divine life in human beings. And God wills to do so, for all of us.

Please pardon me- first time posting here. Just putting this out as a warning as per my post title.

If I see a YouTube video with a topic that seems interesting to me- animation, comedy, literature and fantasy, history, geopolitics, current events, art and music, science and technology, etc.- I either immediately click to watch or save it on my "Watch Later" playlist.

Naturally, this also includes religious and particularly Catholic topics, and so I added the one linked here to it.

I skimmed and jumped through it when I first saw it to quickly get to the info I specifically wanted. That was I think a week ago and only got to watch the video in its entirety today.

I got suspicious when, being curious what order or community "Brother Anselm" was part of, I looked through his videos and channel description and found... nothing. No mention of anything. That was odd because YouTubers and social media influencers who present themselves as religious at least openly and clearly disclose for transparency what they're part of and where they are. "Brother Anselm" had the look and trappings of a monk and I'd assumed (yes, I know the old crass but still wise adage about "assuming") this was a Catholic channel and video, but it dawned on me that he could be Orthodox or something else.

That's another thing, thus red flag #2: the hashtags and video titles markets "Brother Anselm"'s videos as "Christian". You know, "generically" Christian. No specific denomination.

I clicked on his homepage to see if I could get more info, and my browser warned me that his page wasn't secure. This is red flag #3.

I wanted the truth to be sure and took the risk by clicking on the link. "Brother Anselm" is selling a book, "The Complete Christian Household". That's red flag #4.

Is "Brother Anselm" a generative AI creation and an AI channel? Putting it all together and checking out some of his less religious and more domestic and gardening videos: why does "Brother Anselm" always speak from exactly the same room and angle? He talks about raising vegetables and cooking food, but he never shows himself actually working in the garden or the kitchen even as he offers advice on the topic. That's a whole bunch of red flags marching about there.

Now, my eclectic interests and tastes in YouTube videos led me to learn some time ago about unscrupulous people who create AI-generated YouTube videos and channels pretending to be real and seemingly offering bonafide knowledge and expertise to sell products online, usually courses and books. However, what they're selling are usually either

a) ripped off from real people who did the actual work and possess the genuine knowledge they pretend to have, or

b) riddled with errors and nonsense.

It can be both, TBH; they're not mutually exclusive within the product. But the point is that the second can be particularly grave where whoever is running this channel may be presenting ideas and principles that are not actually Catholic doctrine or even remotely Christian. While sounding religiously and spiritually wholesome, they may not really do anything for a person or may even be a burden that distracts from what's really important in our faith. Kind of like the petty scrupulosity and hypocrisy our Lord criticized in Luke 11:42.

I'll be honest: it's not like I watched all his videos and checked for everything he said for validity. But falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus. That's the problem with AI being used to present something as real: if you're being deceitful about actually being a human being to begin with (much less a member of a religious order), then the odds are great that you're being deceitful in other areas as well.

I've said that "Brother Anselm" is trying to sell a book. It's also possible that it's much worse and they're not even really selling anything- they just want your credit card details and intend to extract as much money as they can from you.

So, putting this out there out of concern. It's easy to not notice that what you're watching is fake as you pursue your interests or try to grow in faith. We're all busy and easily distracted. That's how insidious the unscrupulous use of AI has become.

Stay safe, all. Matthew 10:16 "be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves."

First of all, there is so much great Catholic art that has been made by real human beings over the past 2000 years that you are neglecting in favor of kitsch AI thumbnails.

Secondly, I think that there is a real and true danger of at least sort of ‘commoditizing’ the faith and at worst pushing would-be converts away with these Catholic YouTube videos with AI art, especially those with clickbait titles like: “You need THIS from your guardian angel”

Hello to my fellow brother and sisters in Christ,

Would really appreciate some thoughts/counsels and above all prayers for my discernment. Note: I have never lived in the USA and would like to keep my home country confidential.

I spent a total of 12.5 years in religious life in two Latin Mass convents just after graduating from university: 6.5 in a teaching order in Australia (gained teaching qualifications) and then another 6 in a semi-contemplative congregation in France (organising retreats, service with the elderly).

Life as a teaching sister was enjoyable but stressful and my superiors did not admit me to renew my vows as my anxiety and depression did not improve. They did encourage me to try another congregation. After a gap year I joined one with a different pace of life and apostolate and it really suited me. I foresaw myself persevering with no issues and my superiors admitted me to renew my vows. However, I had a stomach malady which only became increasingly severe and tests revealed no physical causes. I was then told to leave as it was determined that something in the environment was causing it. I started becoming better weeks after leaving and my health is almost back to normal.

I returned home in February this year and started freelance work as an assistant to elderly patients at a public hospital. It pays decently, allows me sufficient time for prayer and I do love my elderly. In a month’s time I will be heading to France again to volunteer at a Dominican school/ convent for a sabbatical year.

My main spiritual director is not very enthusiastic about this step; he thinks that I should eventually choose a suitable profession in education or health services. However, I do not feel ready at all to undertake training in these professions. I have thought carefully about the possibility of becoming a nurse, a care assistant, an occupational therapist, a teacher of students with disabilities, and even a farmer, etc. I have also been told by others to stop discerning any further call to consecrated religious life after two failed attempts so far.

However it is still a challenge for me to adapt properly to secular life, despite the great privilege of daily Mass and other means of sanctification. There seems to be always a dissonance between my current reality (working in a secular environment, the physical and psychological fatigue after only 32–36 hours of work per week, the very materialistic views of the world around me, the lack of structure in prayer and daily duty outside religious life) and my spiritual ideal.

Anyway, we are only pilgrims on this earth. The world (and I myself) thirst for God, and the solution to all the problems around us lies in a true life of union with God. I want with all my heart to find something (working for a Catholic institution, for example) that allows me to act directly for the salvation of souls and to lead a true life of recollection more easily. I also have a perpetual and private vow of chastity.

In any case, I have the possibility of keeping my current position after a year of leave if I still want it. For the moment, it seems to me that it would be ideal if I could do a mix of work (manual tasks, teaching, caring for others, etc mixed in with prayer times) instead of remaining confined to a single profession. But I don’t know where I can find such a combination of work/prayer schedules outside of religious life. I really don’t mind becoming a perpetual volunteer for some religious community but I still have to provide for my own retirement.

Yes, perhaps I am overthinking, and it also takes quite a lot of time to adapt to life in the secular world. I have had also lots of things on my plate since I returned: getting my driving license, dealing with an extended family fairly hostile to Catholicism and who opposed the baptism of my grandmother (now quite ill) in March, the paperwork of getting a new visa to France etc. I have felt quite overwhelmed until recently.

I just really hope I will be able to find out what the good Lord wants of me for the long term after the upcoming sabbatical year. It is hard feeling like an émigrée into the secular world and living in a certain kind of limbo. Thankfully I have no debt and my parents are currently in good health. So at least I have the space to consider various options….

Thanks to all for any prayers or advice offered…

Shortly before my wedding Mass began I asked the priest to make sure not to forget to announce that only practicing Catholics should come to receive communion, but he said he wouldn’t make that kind of announcement because it would sound too harsh and unwelcoming, and that non Catholics will know not to receive anyway. I recently watched the Mass recording and saw a couple protestant family members received communion. I am not 100% certain if they’re aware of the rules- but I am fairly sure they are, especially since other members of their immediate family knew to cross their arms when they came up

I guess I’m just upset that the priest knowingly didn’t make that announcement and the thing I was afraid of happening did happen. I also recognize it’s possible they would have done it even if he did make the announcement.

I don’t see this family very often and I don’t have contact info for the ones who actually received, so I feel uneasy about going out of my way to contact them just to talk specifically about this

I saw that my church hosted a concert and the group played on the sanctuary. What is the proper decorum for this situation in regards to Jesus in the Tabernacle? Should the priest relocate Jesus for this event?

No official report on why or how he went missing and then found, Fr. Morales had been allegedly threatened previously.

I am 17. I've been feeling nothing but intense sadness every single day, but no one can tell in real life because I still do good in my academics, laugh a lot, and so on. Today, I took three medicine tablets without looking at their labels and expiration date and accompanied it with an energy drink because something really terrible happened today.

This is probably too shallow and acting like this is irrational. But, today, I just lose a contest I value really much. Last year, I was the champion for News Writing and this year, I went unplaced (thus, ending my five-year journey as a student-journalist) . It drove me crazy that I broke down at class. Everyone keeps telling me it's a lesson, but the only time I had ever won was last year. And the rest were loses. Everyone tells me it's a redirection. But everything that had happened after those loses are just misery and more suicidal thoughts.

I feel so useless and worthless. Everyone has talents, while my only talent is failing and pretending I am good at something. I really really thought that writing was God's gift.

Got mad at God because what the hell did I do to experience this? I really love writing so much. And He just made me feel so terrible about myself that I cultivated suicidal thoughts that escalated into a suicidal attempt.

In addendum, my life is a hellhole. I never felt like I belonged everywhere. It's like I am looking at the world in a glass that I cannot enter and participate. My family feeds me verbal abuse for breakfast. So achieving in fields (writing) I love is the only thing that could heal me temporarily. I sought God, prayed the rosary and to saints, but I still feel so alone. I am convinced God is punishing me for an unknown reason. So I decided to punish myself tonight severely so everything will finally end.

But as I've said, I wanted to kill myself; but when did God had ever favor me? It's been 2 hours and nothing is happening. I just want to leave this place and never wake up tomorrow.

As the title says, I (19) was raised a sedevacantist until I was 16, at which point my family jumped ship to SSPX. This move really shook my unquestioning faith in everything they'd told me, and I started to question more. In May this year I stopped going to the SSPX and have been driving 40min-1hr for reverent Masses. I've been doing a lot of reading and research into what I see as the three positions: sedevacantist, SSPX and mainstream Catholicism.

I experienced a lot of emotional and spiritual abuse in sedevacantism, and the Church we attended was like a cult in a lot of ways. I've also seen so much evil within the SSPX, and hypocritical or half-truthful propaganda for their positions being taught by the priests. It would take far too long to elaborate everything I experienced in those places, but I never, ever want to go back to sedevacantism or the SSPX again. I'm terrified that they're true and I'm going against God's will by leaving them.

I've been very surprised by the reverent NO Masses or diocesan TLMs I've found, as well as orthodox teaching from places like Fr Mike's podcasts or the Catholic Answers website. I've met mainstream Catholics who are very serious about their beliefs, and full of charity and joy. I was raised to believe that the "Novus Ordo Anti-Church" was nothing but clown masses and heretics, so I feel like I was lied to in this regard.

But I am very confused about a lot of things. Vatican II and various later encyclicals really do seem to contradict a lot of previous teachings, especially about religious liberty, ecumenism, the church and the state, other religions, etc. Yes, you can do mental gymnastics to try to justify it all, but at some point it gets beyond a joke. There's no end of ambiguous or downright heretical statements from the last 6 popes (I'm pretty sure they're popes now). It's really hard not to believe there's some sort of agenda when the TLM procession can't enter St Peter's but the Anglican female archbishop can give a blessing in the vatican. The pope seems to be more focused on talking about immigration than in stopping the 90% of Catholics who use birth control or the synodal people who want to ordain women. He's spoken recently about how Masses should be more reverent, but that's just wishful thinking, when he has the power to immediately ban irreverent practices or reverse TC, etc. I know these are common trad talking points but they hold weight to me. There really is a crisis in catechesis, vocations, reverence, doctrinal clarity and no one seems to CARE except the horrible trads. I've seen a few very nice reverent NO Masses, but also more than enough that are irreverent or have liturgical abuses (like 4 Eucharist ministers for a church with 40 people in it). Most Novus Ordo Catholics that I know rarely, if ever, attend Church, and live in mortal sin.

So I feel like I'm not at home in any of the 3 positions. I've researched Orthodoxy and Protestantism but they just don't hold up to me. I believe in God, and I believe in Jesus as His Son, but I'm so confused about the state of the Church. What good is an infallible Church if it contradicts itself? On the other hand, what good is a Church that can fall into apostasy all at once and leave everyone without a pope for 60+ years? And what good is a pope if you don't have to do a thing he says?

Tl;dr I need advise on how to understand the crisis in the Church. Please pray for me.

Healings, miraculously answered prayers, spiritual gifts, etc..

Greetings, my name is Berat, I am 22 years old, I live in Turkey, and I am Turkish. I lived as a Muslim until I was 15 years old. At age 15, I realized that Muhammad was a repulsive person, that the marriages he made involved children, and that the religion of Islam was merely Arab culture. After that, I became an atheist and remained an atheist until the middle of my 21st year. Around November 2025, I saw Jesus in my dream, after which I researched the Christian faith and encountered Turkey's biggest problem: the difficulty of finding information about Christianity. First, I looked on YouTube and the internet, then I went to a Turkish Protestant church; they invited me. I received a Bible and a Torah from them. Although I didn't have a denomination at first, they tried to force me to become a Protestant. While I was still researching denominations, they tried to trick me by saying, 'Become a Protestant, other denominations are heretical traditions that corrupt the religion, only the Holy Book matters.' So I became a Protestant. Then, they wanted to baptize me very quickly. I told them, 'I have only been a Christian for 2 months, I cannot get baptized this fast because you haven't taught me theology, tradition, or philosophy.' They just taught me a few verses from the Bible and the Torah and said, 'Okay, now you can be baptized.' Instead, I went to the Catholic church in the city where I live (Mersin), and there they told me the truth. Then I went back to the Protestant church and talked to them about the sinlessness of the Mother Mary, the authority of the Pope, and why traditions are necessary. They called me apostate and heretical and threw me out of the church. Because my foot is broken, I can't go to the Catholic church either. Could you help me with the Catholic Catechism?"

I don't frequently struggle with rage, but recently I lost my temper and it resulted in my losing my livelihood and facing charges. I am miserable. I am lost.

I am sorry if this is not the right place to post all of that. I am also sorry for not knowing how to title this post. I am just looking for some prayer suggestions, like the Litany of Humilty has been a really good one...

Thank You.

​

Hello everyone,

I’ve been pondering something fascinating regarding conversions and church history. Why is it that some people from a strict Protestant background experience a sudden spiritual awakening or intellectual realization that draws them to the Catholic Church, while their family members or peers—living in the exact same situation and environment—never feel it at all? What makes certain individuals open to seeing the historical and sacramental fullness of Catholicism while others remain completely closed to it?

Additionally, looking deeper into this dynamic, I wanted to ask: What is the underlying spiritual "sin" or core flaw that drives anti-Catholic hatred, and what is considered the foundational underlying flaw or "sin" of the Protestant movement itself from a historical and theological perspective?

I would love to hear your insights, especially from converts or theologians!

Hi everyone! So i'm currently reading St. Faustina's diary and i'm not sure how to feel about it. I would like to start off saying her prayers are beautiful as well as her love for God, but that's all I enjoy about it and I feel bad. I feel no connection to her and I find it a bit boring. Im 400 pages deep but Im not sure if I should keep reading. What are your thoughts?

I've been deeply against the idea of Catholicism my entire life. I have been very inconsistent and luke-warm in my faith for most of my life as well. I'm in the beginning steps of fully converting to Roman Catholicism and I am in the process of getting my girlfriend who is religious to convert as well. I understand prayer is the best way to go about it but I don't know where to start and because of my current predicament I am unable to go to a catholic church and seek advice that way. I imagine there are saints for this type of thing and i've heard praying the rosary is also a good idea, but i'm just a bit intimidated by all the new information I need to learn and things I need to do. Any help would be great! Thank you, for your help and god bless.

Hello my friends,

I [28M] reverted back to the church about four years ago. As a kid, it felt like more of an obligation to my family than a desire, and took time away from other things adolescents typically would prefer doing, so I stopped attending after I made my confirmation except for the typical Easter and Christmas mass. After many mistakes and sins, I felt called home. I went back to regular Sunday mass at the novus ordo church I received my first communion and confirmation at and made my first confession in over 10 years.

I never sought out any other denominations, not on purpose though. At first, I simply returned to what I was familiar with, but the more learning and growing I do in my faith, the more firm I become in the belief that this is the church founded by Jesus Christ and the apostles.

A Greek Orthodox friend recommended the Pints with Aquinas podcast to me. One episode I listened to had a profound impact on me. The discussion Matt Frad had with Fr. John Perricone frankly left me feeling robbed of the beautiful and sacred tradition that the church embraced for centuries. To be clear, I love the novus ordo and still attend, but I felt the need to seek out the traditional liturgy that I knew was celebrated by the ancestors of my own Catholic family. I was lucky enough to be within a 20 minute drive of an ICKSP church, which I attended the following Sunday and have continued to attend for the past six months. The beauty and reverence I’ve seen not only from the liturgy, but from the laity there as well, are hard to describe.

I in no way intended to be disparaging towards the novus ordo or its attendees, I only want to share what I’ve found with you all. I understand that the TLM has been painted in somewhat of a bad light by some recent excommunications of a group which I will not name, but luckily there is the ICKSP and FSSP, which are in full communion with Rome. I encourage you all to seek out the TLM, even if only to experience the liturgy that has endured for centuries and formed countless saints in the Catholic faith. You can find churches that offer it at the link below.

God Bless!

https://www.latinmass.com/find-latin-mass

heavy topic, I know.

i started attending mass earlier this year as I’ve felt a calling to the Catholic Church for the last couple of years. I’m in OCIA now and lately I can’t help but feel like I would be a fraud if I were to go through confirmation knowing I’ve had 2 abortions in the past.

ill save the sob story-but I truly didn’t think it was a big deal at the time. now my thoughts have changed obviously..and I’ve since had 2 children. I sometimes block it all out because the shame and guilt is too painful. but i digress. anyways, I just don’t know how to get past this. I feel like I’m being fraudulent towards the church for going against one of their biggest teachings, which is to respect life. (although I appreciate how outspoken the CC is compared to most other sects of Christianity because the CC is what made me confront my choices and realize what a mistake I had made)

Anyways..if anyone has any advice, I could use it. thank you.

I’ve contacted my parish about RCIA. I’m waiting for them to contact me. I’m in no rush: I first felt the presence of God many years ago. I was 12, I was singing in a choir, and we were singing Vivaldi’s Gloria. And there I felt God. 

But my family was not an option, I had no adult I could trust. Although my parents had me baptized in the Catholic Church when I was a baby (my grandmother insisted), they did not go to church (my mother was strongly anti-religion by the time I was a teenager), and the people in my life who were the most outspoken Catholics were awful to others, it gave me a very distorted image of Catholics.

However: I got a copy of the Bible, read it (I got the general idea: flood, exodus, Jesus said to be kind to people). I lived in a place with lots of churches, so I learned the Our Father and Hail Mary, and over the years, I would pop in, and praying to the Virgin Mary became my go-to: when I was scared, when I wanted to give thanks when something good had happened, etc.

As an adult, I started looking for a more structured relationship with God. So I looked... and I looked at other religions. Of course, none of the other religions felt right (now I know why), like in Goldilocks: this one is too hard, this one is too soft... I was still praying the Virgin regularly on my own, still grabbing my Bible to read a soothing passage every once in a while, and casually keeping an eye on what the Pope had to say. I didn't even think about it, it was instinctive that's where my heart went (this one is just right!). I felt incredibly alone in my spiritual life, and unable to discuss the topic with anyone.

That brings us to June this year. I went to the city of Quebec. I visited the cathedral, and I saw the Holy Door. I was submerged by two feelings: gratitude that the Church had given such a gift to the Catholic people of Quebec (the church is huge in the history of the province). And an immense sadness that I was not Catholic, and therefore could never appreciate it fully.

I know. I laugh at myself now. But I did buy a new Bible when I got home, my old copy was getting damaged (although still cherished), and I have been reading it daily since that trip. So you know, thick but not completely deaf to God's call?

It's a good thing God is patient. It still took until this month (October) to have that lightbulb moment, but I got there. I finally went to mass. And it felt like I was coming home at last: I could not be happier. Full disclosure, it took a few years of therapy, but finally feeling safe to nurture my spiritual life is such a gift.

While I wait for the parish to respond to my RCIA request, I’m praying my rosary, reading the catechism, listening to a couple of podcasts… With a smile and feeling happy.

I just got downvoted HARD in r/orthodoxy because I said I didn’t think Joseph was actually a super old man when he married Mary.

Partially because I remember Mother Angelica arguing that “old men don’t walk to egypt”.

Anyways I got dog piled about “this is holy tradition, who are you to deny it” and also a quote from Josephus that was actually fabricated when I said the protoevangelium of James is not reliable (I pointed out that it talked about temple virgins which did not exist, and they claimed Josephus backed that up even though that’s a fabrication). They also brought up Abraham being 100 when he had Isaac (but it claims people in that time lived 100s of years so how is that comparable?)

On our end is it heresy or incorrect to hold a belief that Joseph was probably not some 75 year old guy and instead like maybe 30 or some reasonable younger age based on the contextual clues and logic?

I grew up catholic. Being raised by my catholic family and going to mass at least once a week. I moved away for university for one year, I stopped going to mass. I still prayed, but I started to question my alignment with certain catholic stances.

Eventually when I came back to live at home. I felt so much shame from my parents and sibling about not going to mass anymore. The more they shamed me the less I wanted to go. For example, my sibling would sometimes unprompted retort that I’m not even catholic, that I don’t pray, that I don’t believe. Without ever asking me if I still believe or if I still pray. At times, I’ve wanted to go to mass - I’ve asked my sibling if they were going to church and I would only angrily get a reply along the lines of “why would you care? You’re not catholic”. Each time this has pushed me more and more away from the idea of going.

It’s been 5 years since I’ve moved back home. And I’ve felt so pushed away. When my mom tries to pray with me, I feel my throat close up and no words come out. I can only pray along internally. When my sibling prays aloud next to me, I feel my whole body tense up and I don’t even feel like praying along internally, I just drown her out in my head. How can I fix this? I absolutely hate feeling like this when praying used to only make me feel peaceful.

Even when I’m alone praying, it doesn’t feel as peaceful as it used to. At times, it feels like I’m emptilly reciting words in my head.

Hi all,

I’m a young Catholic from Ireland. There are still a lot of people here with a general faith, but I feel the Church has stopped being the centre of the community the way it used to be. At the same time, a lot of people, particularly younger people, are really looking for a sense of community and belonging.

I’m currently researching how to help with this, and whether technology, more events, or a bit of both is the way to go. The idea isn’t to replace anything that happens in person, but to make it easier to find out what’s on, meet people and get involved, especially for younger people and families.

So I’d love to hear from you:

• What makes you feel like you belong in your parish? Or what’s missing?
• Are there any events or meet-ups you particularly like? Young adult groups, retreats, coffee after Mass, Alpha, volunteering, anything.
• If you’ve drifted away a bit, what would bring you back?
• If you came back to the Church after time away, what helped most during that time?
• And for converts, what helped you feel at home in a parish when you were new?

Any experiences are really welcome, wherever you are in the world. Thanks so much!