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Pat McCloskey, OFM

Pat McCloskey, OFM, is the Franciscan advisor for St. Anthony Messenger and the writer of its "Ask a Franciscan" column.

Aren’t Martyrs Automatically Canonized?

Pat McCloskey, OFM February 10, 2026

Q: The feast of Saint Charles Lwanga and companion martyrs (June 3) recently raised a question for me. On July 17, 1794, 16 Carmelite nuns were guillotined in Compiègne, France, for their faith. As a secular Carmelite, I have always considered them a beacon of love and uncompromising faith. Doesn’t the fact that they were martyred for their faith automatically make them saints? Why would any miracles be needed?

Admitting Gross Historical Injustices

Pat McCloskey, OFM February 9, 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?

Still a Leper?

Pat McCloskey, OFM February 6, 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?

One of Life's Great Losses

Pat McCloskey, OFM February 5, 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.

Who Informed the Biblical Writers?

Pat McCloskey, OFM February 4, 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.

St. Francis and His Time with the Sultan

Pat McCloskey, OFM February 3, 2026

How did St. Francis of Assisi and Sultan Malik al-Kamil become friends?

people on a bench Photo by Mojor Zhu on Unsplash

Forgive an Adulterous Husband?

Pat McCloskey, OFM February 2, 2026

Is it wrong to divorce a husband who commits adultery? My husband and I were married in the Catholic Church almost 30 years ago. Several years ago he committed adultery, and the pain still remains with me. I have tried to forgive him but long for something much more important: healing.

No, a civil divorce is an option. Depending on evidence provided, a canonical “declaration of nullity ” may also be possible.