Questions and Answers

By Father John A. Hardon, S.J. Q.  Recently, I asked God to spare the life of a seriously ill family member. She died. Since we must accept God’s will—when is it proper to petition God? Why are some petitions efficacious, but not others? Your answer will help me during this difficult time. A.  You asked two questions. […]

By Father John A. Hardon, S.J. Q.  Does Satan have power to put thoughts in our minds? How can we discern the influence of the evil one in our lives? —D.M., South Carolina A.  Yes, Satan can put thoughts in our minds. Strictly speaking, the devil can have direct and immediate contact only with what is corporeal, that […]

By Father John A. Hardon, S.J. Q.  How can evil exist if God did not create it? —M.C., Maryland A.  Evil in general is the privation of a good that should be present. It is the lack of a good that essentially belongs or is due to a being. Evil is therefore the absence of what ought to […]

By Father John A. Hardon, S.J. Q.  Could you inform us why Yoga is incompatible with Catholicism? —K.L.F., Bombay, India A.  Yoga is incompatible with Catholicism because the best known practice of Hindu spirituality is Yoga. “Inner” Hinduism professes pantheism, which denies that there is only one infinite Being who created the world out of nothing. This pantheistic […]

By Father John A. Hardon, S.J. Q.  Are the angels part of the Mystical Body of Christ? —T.H., Nebraska A.  The Mystical Body of Christ has three dimensions: the Church Triumphant in heaven, the Church Suffering in purgatory, and the Church Militant on earth. Strictly speaking, only human beings are members of the Mystical Body of Christ. Even […]

By Father John A. Hardon, S.J. Q.  What makes a Mass invalid or illicit? It is not uncommon to see variations occurring in the Eucharistic celebration at many parishes. They include substitution of inclusive language in the readings and the Eucharistic prayer, failure to add a drop of water to the wine at offertory and the […]

By Father John A. Hardon, S.J. Q.  Is it true that unless all the steps of the ritual for the Sacrament of Penance instituted in 1976 are followed, including the reading of Scripture by either the priest or the penitent, the Sacrament is illicit (though valid)? —Anonymous A.  There is no obligation for the reading of Scripture by […]

By Father John A. Hardon, S.J. Q.  How does someone who is mute or deaf go to Confession? —Anonymous A.  A mute or deaf person can go to confession in various ways. If he knows sign language, he can choose a confessor among priests who understand sign language. Or again a mute or deaf person can write out […]

By Father John A. Hardon, S.J. Q.  Is it correct to say that pets do not go to Heaven after death because animals do not have immortal souls? Are religious medals for pets wrong? Do they lead to misunderstanding about animals, souls, and Heaven? —I.R., Michigan A.  Pets, as pets, do not go to Heaven. But animals and […]

By Father John A. Hardon, S.J. Q.  How were Enoch and Elijah’s being taken directly into Heaven different from Our Lady’s Assumption into Heaven? —S.C., Georgia A.  Among others, Enoch and Elijah are identified in the Old Testament as having been taken from this world by God without apparently going through the act of dying. We know much […]

By Father John A. Hardon, S.J. Q.  Can a penitent release his confessor from the seal of confession regarding his own confession? —Anonymous A.  Yes, a penitent can release his confessor from the seal of confession, regarding his own confession of sin. One must be absolutely certain that the penitent does this with complete freedom on his part. […]

By Father John A. Hardon, S.J. Who is a Christian? A Christian is one who is baptized and believes and professes the doctrine of Jesus Christ. What does the word “Christian” mean? This word means a follower of Jesus Christ. Who is a Catholic? A Catholic is one who is baptized, and who believes and […]