Ask a Franciscan

Are the Knights of Columbus Anti-gay?

Q. I recently heard that the Knights of Columbus spent over $500,000 on anti-gay literature. Where is this hatred of gays coming from? Also, can my local pastor refuse me Communion at Mass if I tell him that I am a member of Call to Action?

Read More →

‘Consubstantial’ Explained

What exactly does consubstantial mean, and by what authority was it inserted into the Nicene Creed?
Read More →

Was Mary a Virgin During Childbirth?

From time to time, I have heard the expression that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a virgin in partu. What does this term mean?
Read More →
Priest offers a blessing | Photo by Josh Applegate on Unsplash

Examining My Conscience

Why aren’t the corporal works of mercy the focus of an examination of conscience before receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation?
Read More →

What Would Becoming Catholic Add?

My husband believes all that Catholics teach. He believes in his heart that Jesus is present in the Eucharist. There is one problem: My husband resists the idea of becoming Catholic, of converting to this faith.
Read More →

The Litany of the Blessed Virgin

Q. In our parish a group of us gather before Mass to pray the rosary and the Litany of the Blessed Mother. From where did the Litany of the Blessed Virgin come? And what do the titles “Mirror of Justice,” ...
Read More →

Did Jesus Have a Soul?

I’ve been a Catholic for 70 years and have tried to understand the mystery of the Trinity. The other day I wondered, Did Jesus have a soul? Nothing is ever easy.
Read More →