Canon Stephen Sharpe, ICKSP serves as Parochial Vicar at St. Joseph Oratory in Detroit, Michigan. He was ordained in 2020.

 

 

• I am starting to pray the Auxilium Christianorum prayers. Should I be praying them, or any other private prayers for that matter, in Latin as opposed to English? I would have a diminished if not total lack of understanding of some of the prayers, as I am not very learned in Latin yet, but I know Latin is a sacred language and, if I understand correctly, can be more efficacious.
• In 1st Corinthians, Chapter 15 verse 1-4, St. Paul talks about death, burial and resurrection saving people by itself.  Why does the Catholic church add on to that?
• Why are Catholic priests who commit abuse being protected and the dioceses covering up for them instead of turning them over to the authorities for prosecution?
• Is it a sin to inadvertently use "preferred pronouns"? I work in a place where someone goes by "they/them" and I referred to her this way without thinking about it. Do I have to take it to Confession?
• I know we don't fulfill our Sunday obligation if we don't make it in time for the beginning of the Mass of the Faithful. Is there also a point (when we arrive late) where we should abstain from receiving Holy Communion? What are the theological/liturgical reasons behind why those exact points of the mass are chosen?
• How can one better maintain focus when praying the Rosary?
• Is it ever okay to change the words of the Hail Mary when praying alone?
• Is it correct to state that it is Catholics who bring to fulfillment the mysteries of the Rosary?
• While at Mass, is it appropriate to ponder the notion that New Testament readings are oftentimes the fulfillment of Old Testament passages?
• Can we freely choose which church calendar we follow in our private lives? And, do you have any advice for keeping cohesion when attending both rites?
• Do we have any examples in the present day of women that would emulate St. Catherine of Siena? Or St. Bernardino of Siena for the men? Do you approve of a Bible study based on that?

 

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