Ask a Franciscan

In the Nicene Creed, we pray that Jesus “rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures.” In the Apostles’ Creed, we say, “On the third day he [Jesus] rose again.” Don’t these expressions suggest that Jesus has previously risen from the ...

Why does the Catholic Church emphasize Christ crucified instead of Christ risen?

In the Catholic Revised Standard Version of the Bible, there appears to be an error in Luke 6:16 and Acts 1:13 in speaking of “Judas the son of James.” The Douay Version, however, speaks in Matthew 13:55 about “Jude the ...

After my sister died last year, my niece cleaned up the apartment and gave me several religious statues and pictures. Is it a sin if I donate these things to someone else? Although I already have enough religious articles, I ...

I recently attended the ordination of a Catholic priest. One of the prayers spoke of him as being ordained “according to the order of Melchizedek.” Who was this person and why is he mentioned in the ordination ceremony?

During Pope Benedict XVI’s August 2011 visit to Madrid for World Youth Day, he told seminarians gathered at that city’s Almudena Cathedral that he would declare St. John of Avila the 34th Doctor of the Church. Who is this saint ...