Ask a Franciscan
How Can Mary Be the ‘Mother of God’?
In the second part of the Hail Mary, we say, “Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.” My fundamentalist brother wants to know how Mary can be the mother of God if God made Mary. How can I explain this?
When Does Jesus Become Present?
The Western Church asserted the body and blood are present at the completion of the words of consecration. The Eastern Church supported the view that the real presence takes place through the epiclesis (the prayer for the sending or coming ...
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Is Shopping on Sunday Immoral?
Is it all right to shop on Sunday if you really need something? Not long ago, my daughter asked me on a Sunday to check at a nearby store to get some special dishes for a party she was having. ...
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Attending Mass on Holy Days of Obligation
Can the obligation to attend Mass on holy days be fulfilled before or after the actual day?
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Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches Explained
How do the Orthodox Churches and Roman Catholic Church differ in faith, liturgy, and leadership? How do Eastern Catholic Churches fit in? The 21 Orthodox Churches are loosely linked under the ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul), but not all ...
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Origins of the Nicene Creed Explained
How did the Nicene Creed come about? In AD 325, 12 years after Christianity had become a “tolerated religion” in the Roman Empire, Emperor Constantine convoked and presided over the First Council of Nicaea (modern-day Izmir, Turkey). The council addressed ...
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The Bible As God’s Self-Revelation
My adult nephew recently asked me: “How do I know that the Bible is the Word of God and not simply a collection of human writings? How do I know that the people who decided what belongs in the Bible ...
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