#11939 Ask Me Anything - Jimmy Akin

Questions Covered: 02:20 – in the sacrament of Holy Orders, clergy progress through ranks—deacon, priest, and bishop—implying they receive the sacrament multiple times, each with additional spiritual authority. Does this mean they receive the full sacrament once, with additional authority “unlocked” at each level, or is each stage more akin to receiving a fuller portion of the sacrament over time? If they receive the same sacrament with varying levels of authority, wouldn’t that mean Holy Orders is actually three different types of sacraments that are slight variations of each other? 08:25 – Mt 7:13-14. Is it wrong for me to read this as a motivational passage instead of a somber one? 13:17 – Will you do an episode of Mysterious World on our Lady of Champion? 15:47 – What are your thoughts on the mystic Luisa Piccarreta? 20:38 – How do we find a happy balance between taking responsibility for actions that lead to bad thing happening to us vs bad things just happening? 29:03 – What are your thoughts on Exodus 4:24? 35:38 – What is the best way to dispose of Catholic literature? 43:27 – Why is it that Catholicism removes consent and stewardship from its moral philosophy? 52:04 – How do I respectfully approach my pastor to bring back passing around the basket for the offertory? It was discontinued during COVID and never brought back. …

Questions Covered: 06:00 – Is a Catholic obliged to believe there are some philosophical arguments that prove the existence of God? 14:42 – What does Romans 8:17-23 mean? 21:11 – Could you summarize some of your favorite arguments for God? 29:30 – Are we supposed to rest on holy days of obligation? 32:55 – Is it a venial or mortal sin to not pay a debt back? 34:32 – Did the Council of Trent infallibly declare monogamy? 38:40 – What is a good way to go about reading St. Ignatius of Antioch and his seven letters? 44:27 – When Jesus says no one goes to the Father but through him, does this mean that all prayer has to go through Jesus? 49:25 – Regarding CCC 600 and time being immediately present. If God cannot tell whether a person is going to sin before a person is born. Then how can he know whether a person will sin? …

Question Covered: 10:41 – Could you expound on the idea of spiritual communion? 24:46 – Nicodemus misunderstood born from about, but St Paul discussed being born again as well. Can you expound on this? 32:44 – Can I work at a place that sells alcohol or vapes? Is me selling this making me guilty of causing others to sin? 44:23 – How do I reconcile the teachings of St Paul on enduring love and the reality of heartbreak in breakups and being told that a young person can’t know love? …

Questions Covered: 07:51 – I’m a recent convert but my wife is not. What should we do with our children in regards to baptism? 21:06 – What book do you recommend on the ecumenical councils and books not approved in the bible? 37:37 – Who was the person that appeared to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the furnace? 46:22 – What is the criteria of deeming somebody a saint in heaven? …

Questions Covered: 09:45 – Does the Church allow for reception of the Eucharist outside of Mass? How has the Eucharist affected you personally? 21:15 – I got into a conversation with Baptists and after some back and forth they asked, from a Catholic perspective if it’s okay to be Baptist. How should I answer? 34:30 – What methodology do you use to know what parts of the bible to take literally? 43:24 – How would you respond to the question, who or what created God? …

Questions Covered: 09:06 – What is the Catholic view of Predestination? 22:39 – Are claims evidence? 32:08 – What is the consensus of the theologians and what degree of submission are we supposed to give to it? 41:09 – Will you have a relationship with your spouse after death? 49:03 – What are the best takeaways from the book of Jonah? …

Questions Covered: 07:16 – Why should we follow the natural law? 22:01 – Is it considered idolatry when protestants use grape juice for their communion? 32:12 – In John 17:12 it makes it sound like Judas is destined to be condemned. How is this not evidence for predestination? 37:57 – Why did the devil exist in the first place? 44:10 – How does my exploring Catholicism fit in with invincible ignorance? …

Question Covered: 06:07 – How can Catholics affirm evolution if we believe that Adam and Eve could not have experienced death and decay before they fell into sin? 11:25 – How does Prevenient grace work if the concept of total depravity is heretical? They seem like the same thing? 19:00 – Why is it necessary for Jesus to continually offer his body through priests? 23:30 – How can I discuss uniquely Catholics doctrines to my evangelical friends and family? 38:34 – I’m Catholic looking into Orthodoxy. Am I wrong to assume that papal primacy wasn’t as apparent as we claim because if it was, they wouldn’t have split? 47:52 – Is it true that souls in purgatory can’t pray for themselves but can pray for us? …

Questions Covered: 06:58 – When do thoughts become mortal sin? 15:57 – If you die wearing a brown scapular, do your loved ones have to pray for you? Do you have to go to purgatory? 20:42 – I’m just now returning to the Catholic faith. I’m meeting with my priest tomorrow. How do I properly prepare? What should I expect? Send words of eternal life and secrets from heaven 32:13 – I was in line for confession and the priest stopped right before I got to go. What do I do at that point? Can I receive communion since my intention was there? 42:02 – Will parents be culpable for their children’s sin before they reached the age of reason? 47:01 – What are the miracles attributed to the Miraculous Medal? Is it Just superstition? 51:50 – What is the Church position on immigration law? …

Cy and Matthew discuss the Synod on Synodality, recognition of saints among Catholics and Orthodox and the results of the 2024 U.S. election. …