Ask a Franciscan
How Can Mary Be the ‘Mother of God’?
In the second part of the Hail Mary, we say, “Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. ” My fundamentalist brother wants to know how Mary can be the mother of God if God made Mary. How can I explain this?
Although Mary is not the mother of God in the sense that she is the mother of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit (the Trinity), she is the mother of Jesus Christ, who is fully human and fully divine.
Purgatory Seems Unnecessary
As Catholics, we believe that faith and works are needed to get to heaven. If Jesus died for our sins, why is purgatory needed? Didn't he already repair what was needed? Catholics don't regard faith and works as though they ...
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Will My Husband Know Me in Heaven?
I believe and hope to be with my loved ones someday in heaven. Will my husband, who died almost two years ago, know me and still love me? How will he look? If I have hurt anyone in my lifetime, ...
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Understanding the Term ‘Born Again’
Q. The term born again has become very popular among many Christians now, but I am not sure of its meaning. I suspect that it is misused or misunderstood by many people who proudly use it. Also, we read in ...
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Questions about Heaven
Where is heaven? Will my husband who died two years ago know me and still love me? If we have hurt people, will they have forgiven us by the time we get to heaven? What if there's nothing beyond a ...
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Why Pray to Mary and the Saints?
Why do Catholics pray to the Blessed Virgin Mary and to various saints? Is there anything in the Bible to back this up? Can't this be considered idol worship? Why not pray directly to God? The mother of Jesus Christ ...
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Why Does God Make the Devil So Powerful?
If God created the angel Lucifer, who failed God through pride, why didn't God simply dump him in hell instead of allowing him to torment and wreck so many human lives? Isn't God more powerful than Satan? I have heard ...
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