The seven sorrows and joys of St Joseph
- Published: 14 March 2012
Q: I have often heard people speak of the seven sorrows and joys of St Joseph, but I don’t know anything about them. Can you tell me anything about this devotion?
Shining light on the face of God
- Published: 23 November 2011
Q: Can you please tell me the meaning of the unusual expression “welcome them into the light of your face” in the new translation of the second Eucharist Prayer?
Some things had been lost in translation
- Published: 16 November 2011
Q: After 40 years of using an English translation of the Mass that had simple, easy to follow English, why has the Vatican given us this new translation which in many passages is difficult to follow and has some cumbersome phrases?
Why did Joseph send Mary away?
- Published: 09 November 2011
Q: I have always wondered why St Joseph felt he had to send Mary away when he found that she was carrying a child. Couldn’t he simply have married her and accepted the child?
Why is heaven not boring
- Published: 02 November 2011
Q: I was trying to explain heaven to my daughter recently and, among other comments, she said she would like to go to heaven but that it sounded boring. How can I answer her?
Tattoos: the devil is in the detail
- Published: 19 October 2011
Q: In recent years I have seen more and more young people with large tattoos and earrings on all parts of their face. Personally, I find them repugnant. Are they immoral?
And with your spirit: a greeting of meaning
- Published: 21 August 2011
Q: One of the aspects of the new translation of the Mass I find strange is the answer “And with your Spirit” after the priest says “The Lord be with you”. Why such an unusual expression, when “and also with you” is more normal English?
Everyone is free to walk into hell
- Published: 27 July 2011
Question: Does anyone go to hell? In recent years I have heard people say no one goes there, that a good God couldn’t send anyone to eternal torment. What does the Church say about this?
