Mothers and Holiness
Pat McCloskey, OFM
October 13, 2026
Most new saints are either priests or women who belonged to religious communities. Which of the most recent saints is a wife and a mother?
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.
Did I Do the Right Thing?
Pat McCloskey, OFM
October 12, 2026
I am developing a scruple over how an inheritance from my mother was divided. I hope that I did not do anything wrong. Please help me put my mind at rest.
Did John the Baptist Doubt Jesus?
Pat McCloskey, OFM
October 9, 2026
After John described Jesus as the “Lamb of God” (Jn 1:36), Andrew and another disciple left John to follow Jesus. Was John the Baptist having doubts about who Jesus was?
Were All the Apostles Single?
Pat McCloskey, OFM
October 8, 2026
Were all the apostles single men when they began to follow Jesus? Is there anything in the Bible on this? Is that why the Catholic Church ordains only single men?
Stages in the Canonization Process
Pat McCloskey, OFM
October 7, 2026
What do the four stages in the canonization process (servant of God, venerable, blessed and saint) mean?
‘Asleep in Christ’
Pat McCloskey, OFM
October 6, 2026
In my Bible readings I come across passages about “those asleep in Christ.” What is meant by those “asleep in Christ?”
Suffering from Natural Disasters
Pat McCloskey, OFM
October 5, 2026
Why do you think God inflicts such natural disasters on many innocent, God-loving people?