Patrick gives thoughtful guidance to a listener struggling to return to faith after a long absence, offers compassionate advice on repairing family relationships, and discusses spiritual joy found through sacrifice by referencing the lives of the saints.

• Monique (email) - is it a mortal sin NOT to vote?
• Rachel - Are you morally obligated to vote? (03:58)
• Jason (email) - I recently returned to faith after 29 years away (raised Baptist). Should I convert to Catholicism because my wife’s family is Catholic? Our marriage is in crisis—she wants to separate over past sins on both sides—but I feel God is telling me to stay patient for our kids. What should I do? (16:42)
• Diane - Would it be wrong to give Lutheran grandchildren a Catholic Bible for Christmas? (27:21)
• Daniel - I once heard, in the spiritual world, that people in hell can see people in heaven. Is this true? (32:12)
• Liz (email) - On the old calendar lent went through Holy Saturday. 40 days. On the new calendar it goes to Holy Thursday and the Holy Triduum is considered its own liturgical season. That makes Lent less than 40 days. Why do we still say lent is 40 days if it’s not?
• Madeline (email) - You often say that God wants us to be happy. Why, then, did many of the saints deprive themselves of things such as food, or a comfortable bed to sleep in, or any of the other extreme measures that they took? Doesn't doing that counter God's desire that we be happy?