The gift of piety
July 16, 2014
In the last issue, Straight Answers reflected on the gift of the Holy Spirit identified as fear of the Lord. Recall that fear of the
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What are the gifts of the Holy Spirit?
June 4, 2014
Q: I received the sacrament of confirmation as an adult this past Easter Vigil Mass in my parish. Although I know that I received the
Disposal of religious items
May 21, 2014
Q: I understand that objects of devotion that have been blessed (such as palm branches, rosaries, crucifixes, etc.) should never be simply discarded in the
How old was St. Joseph?
March 26, 2014
Q: The celebration of St. Joseph’s feast day prompted me to ask: How old was St. Joseph when Jesus was born? Every year, I receive
Does the church possess the actual bones of St. Peter?
February 12, 2014
Q: I read where Pope Francis had the relics of St. Peter placed on public display for veneration during the Mass of Christ the King
What is Candlemas Day?
January 29, 2014
Q: What is Candlemas Day? I came across the term reading in my English literature class, and my teacher was not even sure. (Fairfax) A:
What does IHS mean?
January 15, 2014
Q: While attending Mass at an older church, I noticed engraved on the altar “IHS.” One of my family members said it means “I have
Was Jesus really born Dec. 25?
December 19, 2013
Q: At work, I was having a debate about whether Christ was really born on Dec. 25. One fellow worker – a professed atheist –
Why we offer Mass for the repose of souls
November 6, 2013
Q: A Protestant friend of mine recently lost her husband. She received several Mass cards for the repose of the soul of her husband. She
What’s the church’s teaching on use of chemical weapons?
September 11, 2013
Q: With the present situation in Syria, does the Catholic Church have any official teaching on the use of chemical weapons? (Washington) A: The moral
