Ask a Franciscan
The Pilgrim Statue of Fatima
Can you tell me anything about the pilgrim statue of Our Lady of Fatima? I’ve been to Fatima and am very interested in the statue which I see mentioned in our Catholic paper as being at various churches. What is the significance of it?
Why Mortify Myself?
I have trouble placing mortification in perspective. I have heard that St. Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer advised, "Choose mortifications that don't mortify others." What does that mean?
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Why 40? How Is Ash Wednesday’s Date Set?
Why is Ash Wednesday 40 days before Easter? What is the significance of the number 40? I know that it is used many times in the Bible (for example, Jesus was in the desert 40 days and 40 nights).
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Isn’t There Something More?
How can I learn more about the Church and where I could be useful, other than taking up pew space?
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Is Boxing a Sin?
Is competing in a boxing or karate competition wrong? Am I sinning by training my body and mind to defeat my opponents? By risking injury to myself?
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Spiritual Role of Fathers
What does the Catholic Church teach about the role of fathers in the family? This seems to be a neglected area.
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The Sorrowful Mother
I recently came across the title "Our Lady of Sorrows" for Mary. I've never heard of this before and wonder about its origin and meaning.
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