Is Purgatory in the Bible?
Pat McCloskey, OFM
October 28, 2026
Why do Catholics teach that purgatory exists? I can’t find it in my Bible.
Posts from:
Pat McCloskey, OFM
Pat McCloskey, OFM, is the Franciscan advisor for St. Anthony Messenger and the writer of its "Ask a Franciscan" column.
Saint Joseph and Selling Property
Pat McCloskey, OFM
October 27, 2026
What is the origin of the tradition of burying a statue of Saint Joseph on property that someone wants to sell? I had never heard of this until a few years ago.
Answering Protestant Objections
Pat McCloskey, OFM
October 26, 2026
Most of my family are members of Scripture-alone groups. They say that praying to Mary is fruitless and that the Eucharist is not really Jesus’ body and blood. How can I respond?
For 800 years before Martin Luther, Christians had clarified that they adore God but venerate saints; that’s a big difference.
Still a Leper?
Pat McCloskey, OFM
October 23, 2026
In Matthew 26:6-13 and Mark 14:3-9, we read that Jesus was eating at the home of “Simon the leper” when Jesus was anointed with costly perfumed oil. Did Jesus heal Simon of his leprosy?
Did Jesus Have a Soul?
Pat McCloskey, OFM
October 22, 2026
As fully divine and fully human, Jesus must have had a human soul, right?
Baptizing Grandchildren Secretly
Pat McCloskey, OFM
October 21, 2026
At a recent meeting, the topic of unbaptized grandchildren came up.
Facing Up to Systemic Racism
Pat McCloskey, OFM
October 20, 2026
What do I tell the students in my CCD class when they ask me what the Catholic Church says about systemic racism?