Ask A Franciscan

Are Catholics Allowed to Own Guns? 

Mar 26, 2021 Ask a Franciscan
In light of the chaos in the United States and around the world, are Catholics allowed to own guns or support the National Rifle Association? 
Are Catholics Allowed to Own Guns? 

Pilate’s Role in Jesus’ Death 

Mar 26, 2021 Ask a Franciscan
How are Christians to accept two completely different versions of Christ’s trial before Pilate?
Pilate’s Role in Jesus’ Death 

Quick Questions and Answers

Mar 26, 2021 Ask a Franciscan
Why is there no Gospel account of Jesus’ meeting with his mother right after his resurrection or in the 40 days before his ascension?
Quick Questions and Answers

Quick Questions and Answers

Feb 26, 2021 Ask a Franciscan
I would like a priest or layperson to recite the Chaplet of Divine Mercy beside me as I am dying. Is this a vital preparation for one’s soul to enter heaven?
Quick Questions and Answers

What Is the Meaning of the Tau Cross?

Feb 26, 2021 Ask a Franciscan
Why do Franciscans so often wear a Tau cross or use it in their artwork? Also, compared to the crosses we usually see, why doesn’t it have a top part?
What Is the Meaning of the Tau Cross?

Was St. Joseph a Virgin?

Feb 26, 2021 Ask a Franciscan
Eucharistic Prayer I refers to Mary, the mother of Jesus, as “ever virgin” but does not use the same expression for St. Joseph. Why?
Was St. Joseph a Virgin?

Quick Questions and Answers

Jan 29, 2021 Ask a Franciscan
How many times a day may one receive Communion?
Quick Questions and Answers

Share Your Reasons to Remain Catholic

Jan 29, 2021 Ask a Franciscan
Local parishes encourage us to bring nonpracticing Catholics “back into the fold.” I can’t get my adult kids to come regularly because they consider Mass an ancient practice with little or no relevance today. I know many other parents who are in the same situation. What can we do?
Share Your Reasons to Remain Catholic

What Did Jesus Mean by 'Poor in Spirit'?

Jan 29, 2021 Ask a Franciscan
In Matthew 5:3, Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” In Luke 6:20b, he says, “Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours.” Is he talking about two different groups of people? If not, what does “poor in spirit” mean? How can being “poor in spirit” make you blessed?
What Did Jesus Mean by 'Poor in Spirit'?
See More Articles

Do you have a question for our own Father Pat McCloskey? The author of St. Anthony Messenger’s popular “Ask a Franciscan” column is ready to answer your toughest questions!

Franciscan Media is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy, and we’ll only use your personal information to administer your account and to provide the products and services you requested from us. From time to time, we would like to contact you about our products and services, as well as other content that may be of interest to you. If you consent to us contacting you for this purpose, please tick below to say how you would like us to contact you:
In order to provide you the content requested, we need to store and process your personal data. If you consent to us storing your personal data for this purpose, please tick the checkbox below.