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I have trouble placing mortification in perspective. I have heard that St. Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer advised, “Choose mortifications that don’t mortify others.” What does that mean?
Why is Ash Wednesday 40 days before Easter? What is the significance of the number 40? I know that it is used many times in the Bible (for example, Jesus was in the desert 40 days and 40 nights).
How can I learn more about the Church and where I could be useful, other than taking up pew space?
Is competing in a boxing or karate competition wrong? Am I sinning by training my body and mind to defeat my opponents? By risking injury to myself?
I recently came across the title “Our Lady of Sorrows” for Mary. I’ve never heard of this before and wonder about its origin and meaning.
How are bishops appointed in the United States? Does this vary from other parts of the world? Are Roman Catholic bishops appointed the same way as Eastern Catholic bishops?
What are the requirements for being a godparent? Do both godparents have to be Catholic? Must there be a man and a woman? Can godparents be changed later if the first ones turn out not to be very good role models?
A Protestant relative says that we must always give 10 percent even if that means not paying certain bills. I do not agree.
The Church decided that Catholics could eat meat on Fridays outside Lent. As I remember, there was a slight catch: We were to give up something else.
What can you tell me about the curse that Noah placed on his son Ham? What about Ham’s brothers, Shem and Japheth? Where is this story in the Bible?
