A few random questions

[tatripp]

I hope i’m posting this in the right place. sorry if i’m not.
Okay so here are my questions:

1. If a doctor has told you that you are sterile, is it a sin to have sex with your wife if you want kids? (There could be a miracle right?)
2. Is it a sin to have sex with your pregnant wife?
3. When was it allowed for the mass to be said in languages other than latin?
4. On Ash Wednesday the reading is about being humble. I think it even says something to the effect of don’t pray in public if you are doing it to make people notice you. but on ash wednesday, a ton of people who never go to mass on sunday, daily mass, or holy days go and receive ashes for the sole purpose to show off that they are Catholic. Isn’t that a little ironic? shouldn’t the priest raise up that point?

 

[TheDoctor]

Welcome to the forums.

1. If a doctor has told you that you are sterile, is it a sin to have sex with your wife if you want kids? (There could be a miracle right?)

Nope.

1. Is it a sin to have sex with your pregnant wife?

Nope.

1. When was it allowed for the mass to be said in languages other than latin?

Vatican II. For the United States, the 1973 Missal translation of the 1970 Latin Missal (if I recall my dates correctly).

1. On Ash Wednesday the reading is about being humble. I think it even says something to the effect of don’t pray in public if you are doing it to make people notice you. but on ash wednesday, a ton of people who never go to mass on sunday, daily mass, or holy days go and receive ashes for the sole purpose to show off that they are Catholic. Isn’t that a little ironic? shouldn’t the priest raise up that point?

How do you know who goes and does not go on Ash Wednesday? How do you know the state of their soul or the thoughts of their mind?

At my parish, it only looks like a ton of people because we have only 3 masses to give out ashes for the 4000+ people who usually attend on Sunday. Remember also that you do not have to be Catholic to get ashes. As for me, my job is such that I can leave them on all day, which I do as my small way to evangelize and if that is “showing off that I am Catholic” I am happy to do it.

 

[Poco]

TheDoctor’s got it right!

I would only add, receiving ashes is not only for Catholics. I know Episcopalians do it as well. I’m not sure about other denominations. In any case, I don’t think it’s a matter of “showing off” or trying to say “I’m holier than thou!”. Although that may be true in some instances. I think it is merely indicating one’s faith.

 

[jonpd]

1. When was it allowed for the mass to be said in languages other than latin?

Just note that for many churches that use rites other than the Latin Rite such as the various Byzantine churches in communion with Rome they never used Latin.

 

[catholicpublish]

Could you tell us where you got the idea for these first few questions? It concerns me you would think some of these are sins!

Regarding Ash Wednesday…
Yes, plenty of people only show up on dates like this; Easter, Christmas, New Years, St. Patrick’s, Ash Wednesday, Lenten Masses, etc. But you should never pray just for people to notice you; you should pray to grow closer to God. Then again, if you’re praying to convert people by example I can’t think of anybody that would tell you you’re in the wrong to do so - because you’re now praying for God. Ok, back to the topic, I get a bit too into the theological debates sometimes…

We are not to judge. You really can’t be sure if they go to mass or not. Some people go to mass at other locations, have an illness and watch mass on television, may be entering the church, etc. The best way to be humble, in my personal opinion, is just to be happy they’re at mass - even if they aren’t there on other days.

 

[TheDoctor]

Just note that for many churches that use rites other than the Latin Rite such as the various Byzantine churches in communion with Rome they never used Latin.

Great point. I meant no slight to my Eastern brothers and sisters, just assumed the OP’s was talking about the Latin Rite.

 

[Claire_from_DE]

I hope i’m posting this in the right place. sorry if i’m not.
Okay so here are my questions:

1. If a doctor has told you that you are sterile, is it a sin to have sex with your wife if you want kids? (There could be a miracle right?) No sin at all, in fact, even if you’re sterile, you must have sex with your wife at least once after the marriage for it to be valid. It’s OK to have sex even if you don’t particularly want kids (but would accept them). It’s fine even when your wife is no longer of child bearing age. The only requirement is that you take no action to prevent having a child (other than periodic abstinence when done for a good reason). The Catholic Church teaches that sex is for the union of the two people as well as for begetting children. Even if children are impossible, the unitive aspect alone is a valid reason to have sex. In fact, to refuse sex with your spouse would be an injustice to that person.
2. Is it a sin to have sex with your pregnant wife? No. As long as both of you wish it and the doctor says it wouldn’t hurt the baby.
3. When was it allowed for the mass to be said in languages other than latin? From the time of the last supper until the council of Trent.
4. On Ash Wednesday the reading is about being humble. I think it even says something to the effect of don’t pray in public if you are doing it to make people notice you. but on ash wednesday, a ton of people who never go to mass on sunday, daily mass, or holy days go and receive ashes for the sole purpose to show off that they are Catholic. Isn’t that a little ironic? shouldn’t the priest raise up that point? It’s humble and charitable to assume other people are acting from good motives.

 

[tatripp]

All of your answers are wonderful.
The reason i asked the questions about sex is because I thought that sex without the intent to have children was a sin. I guess i was wrong though. I’m not married and i don’t plan to anytime soon. I was just curious.
Oh and I didn’t know that other rites said mass languages other than latin. Thank you for your responses.

 

[laszlo]

I hope i’m posting this in the right place. sorry if i’m not.
Okay so here are my questions:

1. If a doctor has told you that you are sterile, is it a sin to have sex with your wife if you want kids? (There could be a miracle right?)
2. Is it a sin to have sex with your pregnant wife?
3. When was it allowed for the mass to be said in languages other than latin?
4. On Ash Wednesday the reading is about being humble. I think it even says something to the effect of don’t pray in public if you are doing it to make people notice you. but on ash wednesday, a ton of people who never go to mass on sunday, daily mass, or holy days go and receive ashes for the sole purpose to show off that they are Catholic. Isn’t that a little ironic? shouldn’t the priest raise up that point?

For one and two the answer is that old women over the reproductive age rightfully marry, so this is true for the naturally sterile copulation too.

The mass originally was Greek, changed to Latin when that became the vernacular. There were attempts to the vernacular immediately after the Latin ceased to be the written language. The Western Church froze the Latin, lost the majority of the countries who spoke non Romance language (Most parts of Germany, Skandinavia, England, North America). The vernacular was allowed after Vatican II.

We all are sinners.

 

[converting2024]

All of your answers are wonderful.
The reason i asked the questions about sex is because I thought that sex without the intent to have children was a sin. I guess i was wrong though. I’m not married and i don’t plan to anytime soon. I was just curious.
Oh and I didn’t know that other rites said mass languages other than latin. Thank you for your responses.

Sex using contraceptives is a sin, that is sex without the intent to have children. If you are deemed sterile by a doctor that is no reason to not copulate with your spouse, for as others have said “miracles happen.”

 

[GiveMePeace]

…you must have sex with your wife at least once after the marriage for it to be valid.

I think this is incorrect, although the rest of your answer seems right. An unconsummated marriage can be valid; although it is not indissoluble. For example, the marriage of Mary and Joseph was never consummated (Mary is perpetually a virgin) but Jesus’ parents were certainly married! Look up Josephite marriages for more information. For a different example, if a couple has a valid wedding ceremony with all of the required Catholic elements, and then an unexpected medical condition develops or injury occurs that prevents the couple from consummating, they are still validly married.

Other than that, I think Claire’s answer to this question is spot on.