In the Roman Catholic Church, by centuries-old tradition Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, this year falling on March 1. Ashes symbolize penitence and the frailty of human life.

But we pay particular attention to the spiritual dimension [of penance].

To me personally, the book is not blasphemous. This is just a thriller. But associating the events [described in the book] with real historical [events] is nonsense. We should bear in mind which genre the work belongs to.

The Church knew what the psalmist knew: Music praises God. Music is well or better able to praise him than the building of the church and all its decoration; it is the Church's greatest ornament.

My God, so much I like to drink Scotch that sometimes I think my name is Igor Stra-whiskey.

I joke that you give up low gas prices for Lent.