Sharing Communion Is Rarely Permitted
Pat McCloskey, OFM
August 17, 2026
May a Catholic give or invite a non-Catholic to receive holy Communion? Wouldn’t that promote our efforts toward ecumenism?
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.
Who Informed the Biblical Writers?
Pat McCloskey, OFM
August 14, 2026
How did the gentlemen who gathered together to write the Bible do so? Where did their information come from? The holy Bible is beautifully written. When was it written? How did they know all the details?
Ultimately, God inspired them to convey the unique divine self-revelation that we find in the Bible. We need to accept the Bible on its own terms. We may mistakenly think of it as entirely eyewitness accounts in which the biblical writers act like court reporters, giving us a verbatim account.
One of Life's Great Losses
Pat McCloskey, OFM
August 13, 2026
How do I understand and find peace in the death of a parent?
Please accept my condolences on the death of your father or mother. Allow yourself to grieve properly but without being absolutely consumed or paralyzed by this death. Joining a support group for people who have recently lost a loved one may be helpful. If not, consider seeking individual grief counseling.
Admitting Gross Historical Injustices
Pat McCloskey, OFM
August 12, 2026
Call it tribalism, but I’ve always cast a skeptical eye on the Dominicans ever since I learned about their role in the Inquisition. Do you have any advice for thinking about historical misdeeds?
Is Social Justice Marxism?
Pat McCloskey, OFM
August 11, 2026
Q: I am a big supporter of Glenn Beck and all the work he is doing to save the country. On one of his programs, he was discussing social justice, which is Marxism, and how the government is trying to absorb the churches to run them as everything else—as the Communists do. He said there is a part of our Church that is tied into Marxism. What is it and how can we stop it?
When Did Jesus become a Catholic?
Pat McCloskey, OFM
August 10, 2026
Q: A few years ago, I overheard a Catholic woman ask her friend, “When did Jesus become a Catholic?” A few of us laughed but did try to explain that Jesus was the Christ. He was born Jewish and died Jewish.
One of my Jewish friends asked me, “When did Jesus become a Christian?” Soon after that, a relative asked me, “Well, when did he become a Catholic?” Please address these questions in your column.
Attending Mass on Holy Days of Obligation
Pat McCloskey, OFM
August 7, 2026
Can the obligation to attend Mass on holy days be fulfilled before or after the actual day?