AfterMass

It's my birthday! I'm turning 38, so here are 38 things every Catholic should know before they turn 40: the sacraments, the prayers to know by heart, practices that will change your spiritual life, sacramentals and your home, family life, and what the Church teaches about death and what comes after. How many did you already know?📋 THE LISTYou can go to confession at any parishThe Saturday vigil counts for SundayThe holy days of obligationThe one-hour Eucharistic fastAnointing of the Sick isn't only for the deathbedPerfect contritionThe Apostolic Pardon at deathThe five precepts of the ChurchAn Act of ContritionThe St. Michael PrayerThe MemorareA Morning OfferingA Spiritual CommunionThe Eternal Rest prayerThe daily examenEveryday plenary indulgencesFridays are penance days all yearFasting agesFind an adoration chapelThe Liturgy of the HoursGet a spiritual directorRead the CatechismRead the Bible in a yearGet your house blessed (and Epiphany chalk)Keep holy water at homeBless and properly dispose of sacramentalsCelebrate your baptism dayKnow your patron saints and name dayHave Masses offered for the livingGodparent requirementsWhat an annulment really isNatural Family PlanningThe works of mercyThe two judgmentsThe Church's rules on cremationPlan your Catholic funeralPray for the forgotten soulsMeditate on the Four Last ThingsSt. Leonard of Noblac, pray for us.#Catholic #CatholicFaith #CatholicTips #AfterMass

Democrats swept the House and Senate, and voters in Virginia and Nevada put abortion into their state constitutions. If you're a Catholic who woke up Wednesday feeling discouraged, this one's for you. I don't usually talk politics, but in this episode I break down what actually happened and why, what the results mean for the pro-life movement, why Catholics don't belong to any political party, and five reasons for real hope that go deeper than "just pray about it."Our Lady, Patroness of the United States, pray for us.Scripture referenced: Psalm 146, 1 Timothy 2.#Catholic #Midterms2026 #ProLife #CatholicSocialTeaching #AfterMass

🌹 Rosaries, Catholic apparel, and gifts from our sponsor Abundantly Yours: https://abundantlyyours.org/aftermassThe same company that makes Candy Land sells a board for talking to the dead. Exorcists warn that Ouija boards, tarot cards, horoscopes, “healing” crystals, and WitchTok are some of the most common doors into demonic trouble, and most people think they’re harmless. In this episode we look at the surprising history behind each one (including the hoax that started Spiritualism and the made-up origin of tarot), what the Catechism actually teaches about divination and magic, what exorcists say happens when these doors get opened, and exactly what to do if you’ve already used them.St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.Scripture referenced: Deuteronomy 18, 1 Samuel 28, Acts 16, Acts 19.#Exorcist #SpiritualWarfare #Ouija #Tarot #WitchTok #Catholic #AfterMass

🌹 Rosaries, Catholic apparel, and gifts from our sponsor Abundantly Yours: https://abundantlyyours.org/aftermassWhy do we keep confessing the same sins over and over? Neuroscience has discovered that the brain physically changes based on what we repeatedly do, and St. Augustine described the exact same experience 1,600 years ago. In this episode we look at the famous study of London taxi drivers’ brains, how habit loops, cues, and dopamine work, why your phone is designed to be hard to put down, and what the Church has always taught about vice, virtue, and grace.You’ll learn why “21 days to form a habit” is a myth, what a real study found instead, what researchers saw in the brains of praying nuns, and a practical five-step plan for breaking a sin habit, including St. Ignatius’s particular examen.Your brain was made to be renewed.Scripture referenced: Romans 7 and 12.#Catholic #Sin #Neuroscience #Habits #Confession #AfterMass

Rosaries, Catholic apparel and gifts from our sponsor Abundantly Yours: abundantlyyours.org/aftermassMost of the rosaries you see behind me come from Abundantly Yours, and they have beautiful Catholic apparel and gifts if you’re starting to think about Christmas. Shop at abundantlyyours.org/aftermassPeter and Judas both betrayed Jesus on the same night, and both were crushed with guilt. One ended in despair, and the other became the rock the Church was built on. What made the difference was where their guilt drove them.In this episode:• The difference between the Holy Spirit’s conviction and the enemy’s condemnation• Why Satan is called “the accuser,” and how his voice sounds before and after we sin• St. Ignatius of Loyola’s rules for discerning which voice you’re hearing• Four ways to tell conviction from condemnation in the moment• Scrupulosity, and what the Church actually teaches about mortal sin• King David, Psalm 51, and what real repentance sounds like• St. Francis de Sales on being gentle with yourself after you fall• Three questions to ask the next time guilt hitsScripture referenced:Matthew 27:3–5 (Judas’s remorse)Luke 22:54–62 (Peter’s denial)John 18:18 (the charcoal fire)John 16:8 (the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin)Revelation 12:10 (the accuser of our brethren)2 Corinthians 7:10 (godly sorrow vs. worldly sorrow)Genesis 3:8–10 (Adam and Eve hide)2 Samuel 12:1–13 (Nathan and David)Psalm 51 (David’s prayer of repentance)Romans 7:15–19 (I do what I hate)Romans 8:1 (no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus)John 21:7, 15–17 (Peter restored on the shore)Follow along: @anamunley on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok#Catholic #Confession #SpiritualWarfare #Scrupulosity #AfterMass

Rosaries, Catholic apparel and gifts from our sponsor Abundantly Yours: abundantlyyours.org/aftermass - Most of the rosaries you see behind me come from Abundantly Yours. If there was ever a week to pick up a rosary and pray for a priest, it’s this one. Shop at abundantlyyours.org/aftermassOn October 19, the Archdiocese of Denver announced that Archbishop James Golka asked Fr. Chad Ripperger to take a one-year “fast” from public speaking and interviews, and that Fr. Ripperger readily agreed. I think the world of this priest, and I’m upset about it. In this bonus episode I go through what’s been confirmed, how people are reacting online, a few possible reasons this may have happened, the enormous good his ministry has done, and why I’m choosing to follow his example of obedience, even though it’s one of the hardest things to do.Please pray for Fr. Ripperger, the Society of the Most Sorrowful Mother, and Archbishop Golka.Articles & sources mentioned in this video:Archdiocese of Denver official statementhttps://archden.org/archdiocese-of-denver-statement-on-fr-ripperger/National Catholic Register: Fr. Ripperger agrees to one-year “fast” from public speakinghttps://www.ncregister.com/news/golka-ripperger-public-speakingLifeSiteNews: Fr. Ripperger “silenced” for a yearhttps://www.lifesitenews.com/news/breaking-fr-chad-ripperger-silenced-by-his-bishop-for-a-yearLifeSiteNews: Fr. Ripperger briefly listed as “retired” on archdiocesan websitehttps://www.lifesitenews.com/news/breaking-fr-ripperger-listed-as-retired-on-archdiocesan-websiteDaily Caller: Fr. Ripperger’s podcast appearances (Tucker Carlson, Shawn Ryan)https://dailycaller.com/2026/10/19/catholic-exorcist-chad-ripperger-ordered-stop-speaking-interviews-joe-rogan-tucker-carlson-sean-ryan/InfoVaticana: Fr. Ripperger’s March 2026 comments on the hierarchyhttps://infovaticana.com/en/2026/03/08/chad-ripperger-denounces-a-compromised-hierarchy-and-speaks-of-dark-practices-in-the-vatican-upper-echelons/Eric Sammons on Xhttps://x.com/EricRSammons/status/2112284781048422754Archdiocese of Washington statement on Msgr. Stephen Rossetti (June 2026)https://adw.org/?p=69012Follow along: @anamunley on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok#FrRipperger #Catholic #SpiritualWarfare #Obedience #AfterMass

This episode is brought to you by Abundantly Yours.. where I get all my rosaries, Catholic apparel and gifts! Find them here: abundantlyyours.org/aftermassMary might be the most misunderstood woman who ever lived. Some say Catholics worship her, some treat her as a side character in the Gospel, and some worry that loving her takes something away from Jesus. With images of Mary in the headlines this week, it’s a good time to go back to Scripture and the Church and look at who she really is.Scripture referenced: Exodus 25, Numbers 21, 2 Kings 18, 1 Kings 2 and 6, 2 Samuel 6, Genesis 3:15, Luke 1, John 2, John 19, Revelation 11–12In this episode, I mention the incident that recently took place at Stedfast Baptist Church. Instead of making a reaction video that would not reach them, I decided to write them an email. Here is the email below:Jonathan Shelley and the staff of Stedfast Baptist Church,You stood in front of a room full of children, had them read the Word of God aloud, and then put a hammer in their hands and told them to smash the mother of Jesus Christ. I've watched a great deal of anti-Catholic content over the years, and I've rarely seen anything so cowardly, because you didn't even swing the hammer yourself. You handed it to children and let them carry it for you.You read them half a commandment. The very next verse says, "Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them," and a few chapters later the same God commands Moses to fashion golden cherubim for the Ark of the Covenant. He has Moses lift up a serpent of brass so the people who looked on it would live, and Jesus Himself points to that image as a figure of His Cross in John 3:14. Solomon carved cherubim and flowers across every wall of the temple, and the glory of the Lord filled it. Any pastor who preaches from the King James every Sunday knows these passages are there, which means those children were handed a carefully edited Bible right before they were handed a hammer.The woman whose image they destroyed is the one Scripture says all generations shall call blessed. On the very same Sunday, October 11, your church posted a sermon titled "Obey Mom And Dad Like Your Life Depends On It," and I'd love to know how you explained that one to the same children who had just taken a hammer to the mother of Jesus. Christ kept the commandment to honor His mother more perfectly than any man who has ever lived, so you spent one sermon telling those kids to honor their mothers and another teaching them to smash His. I'd ask you to imagine standing before Him and explaining that.Our Lord had something to say about the people responsible for children. He said that whoever causes one of these little ones to stumble would be better off with a millstone hung about his neck and drowned in the depth of the sea (Matthew 18:6). Those children trusted you. They will grow up with Catholic classmates, coworkers, neighbors, and maybe one day a Catholic husband or wife and the first thing their pastor ever taught them about those people was to pick up a hammer. That's a sin against them and they'll carry it long after the plaster is swept up.#Catholic #VirginMary #BlessedMother #CatholicApologetics #AfterMass

🌹 Abundantly Yours’ custom baby & children’s rosary sale is ON through 10/25, bigger than Black Friday! Order now for Christmas: https://abundantlyyours.org/aftermassIs Halloween spiritually dangerous? Can your kids take candy from the house with the gory decorations? Where’s the line on costumes? If you’re nervous about trick-or-treating this year, this one’s for you. Drawing on exorcists like Fr. Chad Ripperger, we cover what laypeople can and can’t do in spiritual warfare, seven prayers for protection, simple ways to protect your home, and what to do if someone in your family already opened a door to the occult.📸 SCREENSHOT THESE PRAYERS 👇✝️ 1. THE SIGN OF THE CROSS WITH HOLY WATERIn the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.⚔️ 2. ST. MICHAEL PRAYERSt. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.🛡️ 3. PSALM 91 (excerpt)He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, who abides in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” … You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness. … For He will give His angels charge of you, to guard you in all your ways.☘️ 4. ST. PATRICK’S BREASTPLATE (excerpt)Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.👼 5. GUARDIAN ANGEL PRAYERAngel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits me here, ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.🙏 6. A PARENT’S BLESSINGTrace a cross on your child’s forehead (with holy water if you have it):May the Lord bless you and keep you, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.🏠 7. NIGHT PRAYER BLESSING OVER YOUR HOMEVisit this house, we pray you, Lord: drive far away from it all the snares of the enemy. May your holy angels stay here and guard us in peace, and let your blessing be always upon us. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.⚡ SHORT PRAYERS FOR ANY MOMENTJesus, Mary, and Joseph, protect us.Most Precious Blood of Jesus, cover us.St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Holy guardian angels, protect our children.#Halloween #SpiritualWarfare #CatholicPrayer #StMichael #CatholicMom #AfterMass

🌹 Custom baby & children's rosary sale starts tomorrow 10/15, the biggest of the year! Shop Abundantly Yours: https://abundantlyyours.org/aftermassSydney Sweeney's nearly nude sports betting ad was called degrading to women. Weeks later, Shane Gillis was called a misogynist on SNL for criticizing what women wear to the gym. Our culture is arguing about modesty without realizing it.Today we look at what the Church actually teaches about modesty: the Catechism's surprising words about advertising, St. Thomas Aquinas's four kinds of modesty, modesty of the tongue, custody of the eyes, and the fruits of a culture that threw modesty away.📚 Books mentioned in this video:Introduction to the Devout Life: https://link.amazon/B02xBl5k0Training the Tongue and Growing Beyond Sins of Speech: https://link.amazon/B04KveGjTMary, Mother most pure, pray for us.#Modesty #Catholic #SydneySweeney #ShaneGillis #AfterMass

🌹 Custom baby & children’s rosary sale starts 10/15, the biggest of the year! Shop Abundantly Yours: https://abundantlyyours.org/aftermassThe Pentagon plans to livestream the December firing-squad execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan, which would be the first public execution in America in 90 years. The U.S. bishops called it “a barbaric promotion of a culture of death,” and the archbishop for the military told Catholic soldiers to ask to be excused.Online, many Catholics are pushing back, pointing out that Scripture, the Church Fathers, St. Thomas Aquinas, and even popes once accepted capital punishment. So is the Church contradicting herself? Today we go through what the Church actually taught, how doctrine develops, the honest debate over the word “inadmissible,” and why even the strongest defenders of the death penalty in Catholic history never defended making it a spectacle.Please pray for the victims of the Fort Hood shooting and their families.Our Lady of Good Counsel, pray for us.#Catholic #DeathPenalty #ChurchTeaching #CultureOfLife #AfterMass