Ask a Franciscan

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What Is the Secular Franciscan Order? 

Even though I have long known that there are Franciscan sisters, brothers, and priests, a friend recently told me about a group that is completely new to me: the Secular Franciscan Order.
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Statue of Virgin Mary weeping

Discerning Supernatural Phenomena 

In May, it was reported that the Vatican had released new guidelines for judging reports about Marian apparitions. What’s the whole story here?  In fact, those guidelines address much more than such reports. The May 17, 2024, document from the ...
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Curious Detail Supports Jesus’ Resurrection 

I realize that the New Testament Gospels differ on some details about the women who found Jesus’ tomb empty on Easter Sunday morning.
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The Bible and Social Media

What does the Bible say about our use of social media? 
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Illustration of the holy Eucharist

Why Closed Communion?

I am in the process of becoming a Catholic but am having difficulty accepting closed Communion.
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Illustration of Pope Francis

Does Pope Francis Believe in Hell?

During a recent interview, Pope Francis raised the possibility that no one is in hell. Really? If so, doesn’t that mean, “Anything goes”?  In his January 20 “Letter from Rome” for La Croix International’s e-newsletter, Robert Mickens wrote that the ...
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Painting of Bartolomé de las Casas

Admitting Gross Historical Injustices

Call it tribalism, but I’ve always cast a skeptical eye on the Dominicans ever since I learned about their role in the Inquisition. Do you have any advice for thinking about historical misdeeds?
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Do you have a question for Father Pat McCloskey, OFM? The author of St. Anthony Messenger’s popular “Ask a Franciscan” column is ready to answer your toughest questions!

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Ask a Franciscan

Do you have a question for Father Pat McCloskey, OFM? The author of St. Anthony Messenger's popular "Ask a Franciscan" column in ready to answer your toughest questions!

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