Ask a Franciscan
Why Go Barefoot?
I know that some Carmelites are referred to as “discalced,” meaning that they don’t wear shoes. Is this some form of mortification?
Why Two Judgments?
In parochial school, I learned that there is a particular judgment when a person dies and that there will also be a general judgment at the end of the world. Why?
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Did John the Baptist Doubt Jesus?
After John described Jesus as the “Lamb of God” (Jn 1:36), Andrew and another disciple left John to follow Jesus. Was John the Baptist having doubts about who Jesus was?
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Why Does the Celtic Cross Have a Ring?
A friend recently gave me a Celtic cross. I have always liked that design, but I have never known why it includes a ring. Please explain.
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Stages in the Canonization Process
What do the four stages in the canonization process (servant of God, venerable, blessed and saint) mean?
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Why Is the Pope Called the ‘Supreme Pontiff’?
According to Webster’s New World College Dictionary, the definition for the pope is “supreme pontiff.” Why is that?
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Did An All-good God Create Evil?
Evil: How did it begin? What is its root cause? Is the devil absolute? If so, how could absolute evil come from God, who is absolute good?
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