Saint Joseph Apostolate Center

02/10/2026

CAN THE DEAD SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING ON EARTH? WHAT DOES CATHOLIC TEACHING ACTUALLY SAY?

Have you ever wondered whether a loved one who has died can still see what is happening here on earth? Can they see us when we cry? Do they know when we celebrate them? Can they hear our prayers? These are questions many people ask after losing someone they love. The Catholic Church gives us an important answer, but it also recognizes where Scripture and Church teaching do not give us a definite answer.

1. THE CHURCH DOES NOT TEACH THAT EVERY DEAD PERSON CAN SEE EVERYTHING WE DO.
There is no Catholic teaching that says every soul after death is able to watch everything happening on earth. The Church teaches that after death, each person undergoes particular judgment and enters Heaven, Purgatory or Hell, awaiting the final resurrection and judgment.
Therefore, we should be careful with statements such as, “Your loved one is watching you from Heaven every day.” It may be a comforting thought, but it is not something Catholic doctrine tells us we can know with certainty.

2. BUT THOSE IN HEAVEN ARE NOT CUT OFF FROM US.
This does not mean that the saints in Heaven are completely unaware of the Church on earth. Catholic teaching speaks of the communion of saints, the spiritual union between the faithful on earth, the souls being purified and the blessed in Heaven.
The saints continue to intercede for us before God. The Book of Revelation presents the saints in Heaven offering prayers to God, including prayers connected with the Church on earth (Revelation 5:8; 8:3-4).
So Heaven is not a place of isolation.

3. CAN THE SAINTS KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING ON EARTH?
The Catholic Church allows us to affirm that the blessed in Heaven can participate in the life of the Church through their intercession, but Scripture does not give us a complete explanation of how much they know about individual events happening on earth.
God could certainly allow a saint to know something happening on earth if it serves His purposes. But that is different from saying that every saint continuously watches every person and every event.
God is omniscient. The saints are not.
Their knowledge remains dependent upon God.

4. WHAT ABOUT THE SOULS IN PURGATORY?
The souls in Purgatory are also part of the communion of saints, but they are undergoing purification. The Church encourages us to pray for them because our prayers can assist them.
However, Catholic teaching does not say that souls in Purgatory are sitting somewhere watching everything their families are doing on earth.
We should therefore avoid turning comforting traditions or personal experiences into official Church teaching.

5. WHAT ABOUT OUR LOVED ONES WHO ARE IN HEAVEN?
This is perhaps the most comforting part.
We do not need to know whether a deceased loved one can see us every moment to remain united with them in Christ.
If they are with God, they are not lost.
The Church teaches that death does not destroy the communion that exists in Christ. We can pray for those who have died, and we can ask the saints in Heaven to intercede for us.
And ultimately, Catholic hope is not that our loved ones will remain invisible observers of our earthly lives.
Our hope is much greater:
the resurrection of the dead and eternal life.
At the end of time, Christ will raise the dead, and those who belong to Him will live with God forever.

In simple words, can the dead see what is happening on earth?
The Catholic Church does not teach that every deceased person can see everything happening in the world. Scripture does not give us enough information to make that claim.
We can confidently say that the saints in Heaven are alive in Christ and intercede for the Church. We can also confidently pray for the souls in Purgatory.
But when someone says, “Your mother is watching you every day,” or “Your father sees everything you do,” we should recognize that these may be expressions of personal belief or comfort rather than established Catholic doctrine.
Our faith does not require us to believe that the dead are constantly watching us.
It asks us to believe something even more beautiful:
Those who die in Christ are alive with Him, and death cannot separate the members of Christ's Body from one another.
One day, we hope to be reunited, not merely by memories, photographs or stories, but through the resurrection and eternal life in Christ.

NOW YOU KNOW.

Do you think knowing what the Church actually teaches about the dead changes the way we pray for our departed loved ones?

SOURCES

Sacred Scripture: Revelation 5:8; Revelation 8:3-4; Luke 16:19-31; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:12-58.

Catechism of the Catholic Church: §§958, 1020-1065, especially §§1021-1022 and 1030-1032.

© Catholic Dailies
Be Prayerful. Be Inspired.

24/09/2026

07/09/2026

02/09/2026

In today’s uncertain housing market, many Catholic families turn to St. Joseph, protector of the Holy Family, when buying or selling a home. One longstanding custom involves a small statue of the saint—sometimes buried in the yard—as a visible sign of prayer. Yet this practice is often misunderstood as mere superstition.

Its roots likely trace to Europe, where religious sisters once buried St. Joseph medals to claim land for convents. Over generations the custom grew into placing or burying a statue while praying for a successful sale. After the home sold, the statue was typically given a place of honor in the new house as a reminder of St. Joseph’s quiet care and provision.

The Church views such outward gestures as expressions of interior faith, not magical formulas. Burying a statue does not “cause” a sale. The real power lies in turning to St. Joseph as a powerful intercessor before God, entrusting practical needs to divine providence while remaining open to His will. Details about depth, direction, or exact placement are later additions that can distract from authentic devotion. A statue displayed respectfully in the home works just as well, serving as a daily invitation to prayer.

A simple prayer captures the spirit of the tradition:
O Saint Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires. Assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings. Saint Joseph, pray for me. Amen.

Whether the house sells quickly or the process takes longer than hoped, the devotion ultimately points beyond real-estate results. It invites families to place their homes, futures, and daily needs under St. Joseph’s fatherly protection and to trust that God provides according to His wisdom and timing. In that trust, the custom remains a genuine Catholic tradition rather than superstition.

29/08/2026

Tempted by Lust? Pray This Powerful Prayer for Purity...

Let us Pray:

Saint Joseph, strong spiritual father, defend me against sins of the flesh. Jesus said: “Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.” Saint Joseph, Terror of Demons, protect me from lust, immoral desires in my heart, and impure actions in my body.

Help me not to offend God. Here and now, I chain myself to you and sacrifice everything for the good, the true, and the beautiful. I love you, St. Joseph, and I thank you for being my spiritual father. Amen.

St. Joseph, pure and most chaste spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, protect us from all impurity and intercede for us! Amen. 🙏

(Prayer by: Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC)

12/08/2026

https://x.com/JustAdaugoijele/status/2087173966808986052/video/1?s=46

08/08/2026

18/07/2026

12 MORTAL SINS WHICH MUST BE CONFESSED FIRST BEFORE RECEIVING COMMUNION:

Receiving Our Lord in Holy Communion is neither a reward, a right, nor a prize for being present in the Holy Mass. Our Lord wants us to have a genuine respect and reverence towards Him in the Holy Eucharist by making sure that we are in the state of grace before receiving Him in the Holy Communion.

During the Last Supper, Jesus already indicated the necessity of being clean and purified so as to take part with Him before the institution of the Holy Eucharist upon replying to Peter’s insistence not to be washed by Him.

Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part in me.”
Jn 13; 8

When our Lord speaks about the Apostles being clean, now, just before the institution of the Blessed Eucharist, he is referring to the need for the soul to be free from sin if it is to receive this Sacrament.

St Paul repeats this teaching when he says:

“Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord” (1 Cor 11:27).

On the basis of these teachings of Jesus and the Apostles, the Church lays down that anyone who is conscious of having committed a grave sin, or who has any positive doubt on that score, must go to Confession before receiving Holy Communion.

If one has not gone to confession first, one must NOT receive Holy Communion if HE OR SHE IS GUILTY of having committed the following MORTAL sins, KNOWING that they are GRAVE and in spite of that, FREELY CHOSE to do it:

1. Having MISSED a SUNDAY or HOLY DAY MASS WITHOUT a valid reason (i. e., out of laziness, giving priority to sports, shopping, parties etc.)

2. Having S*X OUTSIDE of marriage, with ONE’S SELF (ma********on) or with SOMEONE else (either opposite or same s*x); having voluntarily indulged in po*******hy.

3. COHABITING with someone WITHOUT BEING MARRIED IN THE CHURCH and LIVING as if they were spouses (either with opposite or same s*x)

4. Having DESECRATED the Holy Eucharist or committed the sin of SACRILEGE (by receiving Holy Communion without being in the state of grace, i.e., free of any mortal sins)

5. Having used CONTRACEPTIVES (pills, condoms, IUD’s, patches)

6. Having committed ABORTION, encouraged someone to abort, or participated in the abortion

7. Having committed MURDER or participated in the destruction of lives, including embryos and mercy-killing or euthanasia. Having committed acts of violence, physical, verbal, psychological abuse against other persons and their integrity.

8. Having committed GRAVE INJUSTICE towards one’s subordinates or co-employees etc. or in the exercise of one’s profession (for example, unjust wages, retainment of wages, unjust accusation, false testimony, defamation, calumnies, unjust firing of employees, kickbacks, corruption)

9. Refusing to ACKNOWLEDGE or PAY ONE’S DEBTS when one is already capable of doing so.

10. Having STOLEN VALUABLE GOODS OR MONEY from someone.

11. HARBORING HATRED OR deep-seated ANGER towards someone.

12. HAVING COMMITTED GRAVE SINS OF PRIDE, GREED, LAZINESS, ENVY… etc.

If we have committed any mortal sin, let us go first and receive God’s mercy and pardon in the Sacrament of Confession before receiving Him in Holy Communion; by not doing so, and proceeding to Communion in the state of mortal sin, one would commit another sin, which is the sin of sacrilege.

Dear brethren in Christ, let us show our love and reverence to Jesus truly and substantially present in the Holy Eucharist, making sure that we have the proper dispositions to receive Him in the Holy Communion.

-Fr. Rolly Arjonillo

18/07/2026

https://catholicexchange.com/the-consecration-of-the-philippines-to-our-lady-of-guadalupe/

In June, Mexico gifted a pilgrim image of Our Lady of Guadalupe to the Philippines, carrying a message of hope for a nation facing many trials.

16/07/2026

How the Devil Dances in Modern Catholic Worship
A Demon’s Confession:
"They keep joining gatherings, keep calling out—but they ignore the Woman’s message. No invocation of the Woman, no repentance, no humility. Yes, they go to Mass, they receive Communion—but none of them are humble or repentant. Their worship and reception of the Host are worthless. They still belong to us. They think they are on the side of our enemy—but they are not.”

If the devil can make you believe you are holy without repentance, saved without obedience, and close to God without being in a state of grace—then his trap is complete. He feeds you pride disguised as faith.

The devil is not afraid of people gathering if their hearts remain proud and unrepentant.

As this demon’s confession reveals, he even rejoices when people receive Communion regularly yet live without humility, repentance, or obedience—especially to the call of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

This should wake up every Catholic soul.

Satan is not afraid of crowds.
He is not moved by voices raised in song or hands lifted in prayer.
What he truly fears is:

genuine repentance,

humility,

sacramental grace, and

devotion to Our Lady.

Emotion Is Not Salvation – A Warning from the Saints
Today, many Catholics equate being “spiritually alive” with emotional highs: chills during worship, tears in prayer, or peace after praise songs.
But the saints were clear: feelings are not proof of grace.

St. John of the Cross warned against spiritual gluttony—where the soul seeks feelings more than God Himself.

St. Teresa of Avila taught that true union with God produces obedience, humility, and self-denial—not just pleasant feelings.

St. Ignatius of Loyola taught discernment: Not every good feeling comes from God. We must ask, Does this lead to virtue and holiness?

Satan can stir emotions. He can make a soul feel “blessed” even while it is drowning in pride, unrepentant sin, and rebellion against God’s truth.

“Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily
will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord.”
— 1 Corinthians 11:27

To receive the Eucharist while in a state of mortal sin is not a blessing—it is a curse.
It is not an encounter with mercy—it is an act of sacrilege.
The devil rejoices when a soul receives the Body of Christ while far from God.

Mary Does Not Call Us to Worship Her—She Leads Us to Jesus
Mary does not ask us to worship her. Her message is clear: follow her example.

She is the Mother who always points us to Jesus,
intercedes for us when we fall,
and crushes the serpent beneath her Immaculate Heart.

If you want to truly be on God’s side—not just feel like it—follow Mama Mary.

Because those who ignore her fall into the very trap this demon described:
full of emotion, but spiritually dead.