Ask a Franciscan
Is the Church the ‘Pillar of Truth’?
One Catholic evangelist on TV is very fond of describing the Catholic Church as the “pillar of truth.” Doesn’t that make the Catholic Church greater than the Bible? Where in the Bible is the Church described that way?
When Prayers Are Answered ‘No’
Jesus told the apostles: “Whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it” (Jn 14:13–14). How can ...
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Can Drums Be Used at Mass?
According to one of my friends, the rules for celebrating Mass state that drums cannot be used with other musical instruments or with singers. Is that true?
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Mothers and Holiness
Most new saints are either priests or women who belonged to religious communities. Which of the most recent saints is a wife and a mother?
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Was Samuel Really Conjured Up?
In 1 Samuel 28:8-18, Saul asks the witch of Endor to conjure up the prophet Samuel. When she does, Samuel appears and tells Saul that he will lose a battle against the Philistines the following day. Did Samuel really appear?
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Tribulation Statements in the Bible
The Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke have several tribulation statements. So, too, do the Second Letter of Peter and other parts of Scripture. What do skilled exegetes say about these statements?
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Christ’s Real Presence
Why is it that some Catholics do not believe in Christ’s real presence in the Eucharist?
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