Ask a Franciscan

I am the youngest in a large family. Many of my siblings suffered physical or verbal abuse from our father when we were growing up. Although he has abused our mother verbally and continues to do so, she has stayed ...

In reading the Bible, I’m noticing numerous references to the number three or sets of three. For example, the three calls of Samuel, three temptations of Jesus in the desert, the Trinity, three days in the tomb, Jesus’ three-year ministry, ...

I will be attending a family wedding in an Orthodox church. May I receive Communion during the wedding Mass?

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 ...

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?

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).