Ask a Franciscan
Why Do We Need Low-gluten Hosts?
Pat McCloskey, OFM
October 12, 2025
I don’t understand why someone who has celiac disease and is, therefore, allergic to gluten needs a low-gluten host. The bread at Mass changes substantially into the Body of Christ.
What Is the Church’s Teaching on Yoga?
Pat McCloskey, OFM
October 11, 2025
Speakers whom I greatly respect have said that Catholics should not do yoga or Pilates™. Does the Catholic Church allow this?
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What Is the Secular Franciscan Order?
Pat McCloskey, OFM
October 8, 2025
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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Why Roman Catholic?
Pat McCloskey, OFM
October 7, 2025
Why does the Roman Catholic Church call itself that? Jesus stood against everything that the Roman Empire represented—the power, the might and the violence. Rome figured mightily in his death on the cross.
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How Did Evil Begin?
Pat McCloskey, OFM
October 6, 2025
What is the absolute root cause of evil? How can an absolute evil (the devil) come from an absolute good (God)?
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Are Catholic Schools the Answer?
Pat McCloskey, OFM
October 5, 2025
Why do so many graduates of Catholic schools become agnostics or atheists or join other churches?
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Why Was St. Francis So Devoted to Mary?
Pat McCloskey, OFM
October 4, 2025
I have heard that St. Francis of Assisi was very devoted to Mary, the mother of Jesus. Why? Did Francis write about her?
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