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195 questions, answered.
You’ve got questions. Good. Here they’re answered on video by people who do this really well: Fr. Mike Schmitz, Bishop Barron, Catholic Answers, Dr. Brant Pitre and more. Each one comes with a one-line summary from the Catechism, and one next step.
God and the Trinity
Can you prove God exists? Ascension Presents · 10 minDoes science make God unnecessary? Bishop Robert Barron · 2 minWhat if I do not feel anything? Ascension Presents · 9 minIs the Trinity in the Bible? Dr. Brant Pitre · 11 minIs there anything God will not forgive? Ascension Presents · 6 minDo Catholics think Muslims worship a different God? Catholic Answers · 4 minDo Christians think Jesus is part God and part man? Bishop Robert Barron · 3 minWhy “Mother of God”? Ascension Presents · 5 minIf God is good, why is there so much suffering? Ascension Presents · 8 minIf God exists, why doesn’t He make it obvious? Catholic Answers · 5 minWhy confess to a priest, not straight to God? Ascension Presents · 9 minIs there a God at all? Catholic Answers · 5 minWhy does God allow suffering? Bishop Robert Barron · 14 minIs God male? Fr. Mike Schmitz · 4 minWho is the Holy Spirit? Bishop Robert Barron · 12 minWhy did God create us? Ascension Presents · 9 minDo Catholics believe in evolution? The Thomistic Institute (Dominican friars) · 8 minAre angels real? Ascension Presents · 6 minIs the devil real? Bishop Robert Barron · 11 minCan faith grow, or is it all or nothing? Ascension Presents · 7 minDo guardian angels have names? Catholic Answers · 3 min
Jesus
How do we know he rose from the dead? Bishop Robert Barron · 1 minCan’t I just follow Jesus on my own? Fr. Mike Schmitz · 9 minIs the Eucharist really Jesus? Catholic Answers · 3 minWho wrote the Gospels? Catholic Answers · 7 minDoes the Catholic Church think Protestants are Christians? Catholic Answers · 10 minDid Mary have other children? What about the “brothers of Jesus”? Dr. Brant Pitre · 17 minIs the bread only a symbol? Catholic Answers · 5 minWhy does the cross matter so much? Bishop Robert Barron · 5 minDid the first Christians believe the Eucharist is really Christ? Ascension Presents · 9 minIf Christ died once for all, why is the Mass a sacrifice? Dr. Brant Pitre · 11 minDidn’t Jesus say to call no man father? Catholic Answers · 3 minIsn’t the Rosary the vain repetition Jesus warned against? Ascension Presents · 7 minCan we trust the Gospels? Catholic Answers · 8 minIs Jesus God? Bishop Robert Barron · 7 minWhy did Jesus have to die? Ascension Presents · 4 minWas Jesus born of a virgin? Fr. Mike Schmitz · 4 minWhat does it mean that Jesus descended into hell? Dr. Brant Pitre · 15 minWhen will Jesus come again? Dr. Brant Pitre · 8 minWhat is the Ascension? Dr. Brant Pitre · 7 minDid Jesus rise from the dead? Bishop Robert Barron · 8 minDoesn’t honoring Mary take something from Jesus? Catholic Answers · 10 min
The Bible
Who decided which books are in the Bible? Catholic Answers · 1 minDo Catholics read the Bible? Bishop Robert Barron · 8 minHow does someone become a canonized saint? Fr. Mike Schmitz · 7 minWho wrote the New Testament? Dr. Brant Pitre · 10 minIsn’t Scripture alone enough? Catholic Answers · 2 minWhere is purgatory in the Bible? Dr. Brant Pitre · 14 minWhy does the Catholic Bible have extra books? Catholic Answers · 6 minDo Catholics take the Bible literally? Catholic Answers · 9 minWhy do Catholics have more books in the Bible? Catholic Answers · 4 minWhat is Sacred Tradition? Ascension Presents · 12 minDoes the Old Testament still matter? Ascension Presents · 7 min
Mary and the saints
Do Catholics worship Mary? Fr. Gregory Pine, OP on Pints with Aquinas · 7 minIf there is one mediator, why ask saints to pray? Catholic Answers · 8 minAren’t statues and icons forbidden images? Catholic Answers · 11 minDid Jesus have brothers and sisters? Dr. Brant Pitre · 17 minWhat is the Immaculate Conception? Ascension Presents · 8 minWhat is the Assumption of Mary? St. Paul Center · 4 minWas Mary always a virgin? Ascension Presents · 5 minWhy do Catholics pray to saints? Ascension Presents · 8 minWhy do Catholics venerate relics? Bishop Robert Barron · 7 minWhat is a patron saint? Catholic Answers · 4 minDo Catholics worship statues? Ascension Presents · 7 minWhy do Catholics pray to Mary? Catholic Answers · 5 minWhat’s the difference between devotion and idolatry? Catholic Answers · 5 min
The Church and the Pope
Why does the Church have a Pope? Ascension Presents · 13 minDoes the Church say people outside it cannot be saved? Catholic Answers · 3 minI was baptized in another church. Will I be baptized again? Catholic Answers · 3 minWhat should priests be like? Fr. Mike Schmitz · 9 minWhat if I cannot remember all my sins? Fr. Mark Goring on Pints with Aquinas · 5 minWhat about kids? Ascension Presents · 8 minWho carries the apostles’ authority today? Jimmy Akin · 6 minWasn’t the papacy invented centuries later? Catholic Answers · 6 minWhy trust a Church with so many scandals? Bishop Robert Barron · 8 minIs the Catholic Church the one true Church? Bishop Robert Barron · 1 minWhat is papal infallibility? Catholic Answers · 5 minWhy can't priests marry? Jimmy Akin · 10 minWhy can't women be priests? Bishop Robert Barron · 2 minWhat is the Magisterium? Catholic Answers · 20 minWhat about the Crusades and the Inquisition? Catholic Answers · 3 minWhy do Catholics call priests Father? Ascension Presents · 7 minWhat is OCIA? Fr. Mike Schmitz · 25 minHow do I return to the Church? Catholic Answers · 3 minWhat is the Catechism? Dr. Brant Pitre · 6 minWhy are there two creeds? Fr. Mike Schmitz · 9 minHas Church teaching changed? Catholic Answers · 4 minIs Peter the rock in Matthew 16? Catholic Answers · 7 minWhen was the word “Catholic” first used? Catholic Answers · 2 min
The Mass and the Eucharist
Can I receive Communion if I am not Catholic? Ascension Presents · 9 minCan I receive Communion before I go to confession? Fr. Mike Schmitz · 6 minWhy do Catholics go every Sunday? Ascension Presents · 8 minCan I receive Communion? Catholic Answers · 3 minIs missing Mass a sin? Catholic Answers · 2 minIs Jesus really present in the Eucharist? Catholic Answers · 6 minWhat is transubstantiation? The Thomistic Institute (Dominican friars) · 8 minWhy fast before Communion? Catholic Answers · 3 minIs the Mass a sacrifice? Dr. Brant Pitre · 9 minWhat are holy days of obligation? Catholic Answers · 1 minWhy is it called Mass? Dr. Brant Pitre · 6 minWhat is Eucharistic adoration? Ascension Presents · 7 minWhat is the Eucharist? Catholic Answers · 8 minWhat is the Real Presence? Bishop Robert Barron · 11 minWhy do some Catholics stay in the pew at Communion? Ascension Presents · 8 minDo I have to believe all of it? Jimmy Akin on Pints with Aquinas · 4 minHow can I offer my own life at Mass? Catholic Answers · 3 min
Confession and the sacraments
How long does becoming Catholic take? Catholic Answers · 8 minAre the sacraments just symbols? Catholic Answers · 5 minDo I have to confess small, everyday sins? Catholic Answers · 2 minWhy baptize babies who cannot yet believe? Ascension Presents · 19 minWhat are the seven sacraments? The Thomistic Institute (Dominican friars) · 5 minWhat is mortal sin? Catholic Answers · 2 minWhat is venial sin? The Thomistic Institute (Dominican friars) · 9 minHow often should I go to confession? Catholic Answers · 5 minWhy do Catholics baptize babies? Fr. Mike Schmitz · 7 minIs baptism necessary for salvation? Catholic Answers · 2 minWhat is confirmation? Ascension Presents · 8 minWhat is the anointing of the sick? The Thomistic Institute (Dominican friars) · 7 minWhy is marriage a sacrament? Bishop Robert Barron · 8 minWhat is an annulment? The Thomistic Institute (Dominican friars) · 8 minWhat is an indulgence? Catholic Answers · 7 minWhat is a plenary indulgence? Catholic Answers · 4 minHow do I go to confession? Ascension Presents · 6 minWhat if a catechumen dies before Baptism? Catholic Answers · 2 minWhat about our wedding? The Thomistic Institute (Dominican friars) · 7 minWhat if I die before I can confess a mortal sin? Catholic Answers · 6 minDoes baptism have to be full immersion? Catholic Answers · 2 minIf baptism washes away sin, why am I still tempted? Catholic Answers · 3 min
Prayer and the Church year
Why do my prayers seem unanswered? Ascension Presents · 8 minDo Catholics also pray for the dead? Ascension Presents · 7 minWhat is the Rosary? Bishop Robert Barron · 4 minWhat is the Liturgy of the Hours? Fr. Mike Schmitz · 11 minWhat is holy water for? Catholic Answers · 3 minHow do I pray? Fr. Mike Schmitz · 6 minWhat is the Our Father? Dr. Brant Pitre · 8 minWhy pray if God already knows? Ascension Presents · 7 minWhat is Lent? Ascension Presents · 7 minWhat is Advent? Ascension Presents · 8 minWhat is the Hail Mary? Ascension Presents · 18 minWhy do Catholics fast and give alms in Lent? Catholic Answers · 4 minIsn’t contacting the dead forbidden? Catholic Answers · 3 min
Salvation, heaven and hell
Do Catholics believe we are saved by grace? Catholic Answers · 2 minAren’t we saved by faith alone? Bishop Robert Barron · 14 minIs there salvation outside the Church? Fr. Mike Schmitz · 8 minHow are we saved? Ascension Presents · 12 minWhat is heaven like? Ascension Presents · 9 minIs hell real? Bishop Robert Barron · 7 minDoes God send people to hell? Ascension Presents · 8 minWhat is purgatory? Ascension Presents · 6 minWhat happens when we die? Bishop Robert Barron · 14 minWhat is the resurrection of the body? Dr. Brant Pitre · 12 minWhat is original sin? Bishop Robert Barron · 10 minWhat is grace? The Thomistic Institute (Dominican friars) · 9 minCan non-Christians be saved? Bishop Robert Barron · 7 minWhat happens to babies who die without baptism? Catholic Answers · 6 minDo Catholics believe in the rapture? Dr. Brant Pitre · 7 minHow could we be happy in heaven if people are in hell? Catholic Answers · 5 minIs purgatory a good thing? Catholic Answers · 4 minWhere is heaven? Catholic Answers · 4 minWhy is hell forever? Catholic Answers · 6 minHow could a loving God create hell? Catholic Answers · 5 minDoes an indulgence take time off purgatory? Catholic Answers · 5 minCan I know I am saved? Catholic Answers · 55 min
Living the faith
What do nuns and monks do? Ascension Presents · 10 minCan Catholics get divorced? Ascension Presents · 3 minCan Catholics marry non-Catholics? Ascension Presents · 11 minCan Catholics eat meat on Friday? Catholic Answers · 2 minDo people who die by suicide go to hell? Catholic Answers · 5 minWhy is the Church against abortion? Catholic Answers · 7 minWhy is the Church against contraception? Jason Evert · 8 minWhat does the Church say about IVF? Ascension Presents · 13 minWhat does the Church say about the death penalty? St. Paul Center · 5 minWhat does the Church say about euthanasia? Catholic Answers · 9 minWhy wait until marriage for sex? Ascension Presents · 8 minIs drinking alcohol a sin? Ascension Presents · 8 minDo Catholics have to tithe? Ascension Presents · 7 minWhat are the precepts of the Church? Ascension Presents · 7 minCan Catholics be cremated? Ascension Presents · 12 minCan Catholics donate organs? Catholic Answers · 3 minIs it ever okay to lie? Ascension Presents · 10 minIs war ever just? Catholic Answers · 4 minCan Catholics work on Sunday? Catholic Answers · 5 minWhat are the Ten Commandments? Bishop Robert Barron · 14 minWhat does the Church say about immigrants? Ascension Presents · 8 minWhat does the Church teach about homosexuality? Catholic Answers · 7 minIs pornography a sin? Ascension Presents · 8 min
Doubts and hard questions
Other faiths
Do Catholics believe in reincarnation? Catholic Answers · 6 minIs astrology a sin? The Thomistic Institute (Dominican friars) · 6 minWhy should one religion be right? Ascension Presents · 13 minWill they try to convert me? Ascension Presents · 7 minWhat if we just disagree? Bishop Robert Barron · 33 min
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