Q. I am a nineteen-year-old male, and I am obsessed with impure and dirty thoughts. I fear that I am constantly in the state of mortal sin.
A. You are not in the state of mortal sin; you are in the state of being a healthy human who experiences sexual thoughts and desires. Instead of judging each sexual impulse as bad or something to be repressed, why not choose instead to be grateful that you are alive, that you feel, and that you are a sexual being? Exactly the way that the Creator intended.
Q. A priest in his sermon hit a fragile point. He clearly said that the obligation to attend Sunday Mass is primary and that nothing can be more important than fulfilling that obligation. This seems to contradict what you often say, so now I am confused.
A. Let me help you with your confusion. The priest in his homily got carried away with his enthusiasm. It is simply not true. The Church provides ordinary examples of lived human experiences that dispense a person from the obligation of Sunday Mass; for example, severe weather, illness (yourself or someone who is dependent on you), the distance between you and the nearest church, and so forth.