Holy Communion without Confession
Pat McCloskey, OFM
June 5, 2026
I am a 79-year-old Catholic who doesn’t believe in the Sacrament of Penance.
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.
The Holy Family’s Arrival in Nazareth
Pat McCloskey, OFM
June 4, 2026
According to Luke, the Holy Family went to Nazareth a little more than 40 days after Jesus was born. Matthew’s Gospel suggests it may have been several years later. Which was it?
The Our Father, Amen, and Holding Hands
Pat McCloskey, OFM
June 3, 2026
Would you say if there is still an amen at the end of the Our Father? At Mass, I realize a prayer has been inserted between the main body of the prayer and when the priest says amen.
Anointing the Sick and Baptism
Pat McCloskey, OFM
June 2, 2026
The catechumens in my RCIA group asked me these questions: Can permanent deacons administer the Sacrament of the Sick? Can a non-baptized person receive the Sacrament of the Sick? Can a baptized person who is not a Catholic receive the Sacrament of the Sick? If not, why not?
Can We Sing the Our Father?
Pat McCloskey, OFM
June 1, 2026
Why can’t we sing the Our Father at Mass? When I asked our parish organist, the response was that our parish was told not to do this.
Why Is God’s Name So Important?
Pat McCloskey, OFM
May 29, 2026
I don’t understand why the name of God was so important to the Israelites. I thought God’s name was simply “God.”
Is There More Power in Praying for One Person?
Pat McCloskey, OFM
May 28, 2026
Q: When I pray a petition, I can’t help feeling that if I pray for one person only, the prayer will be stronger or more effective than if I pray for 20 people at once. For example, is “Please help David” a stronger prayer than “Please help all my family”?