Placement of the Tabernacle
Pat McCloskey, OFM
November 26, 2018
Why is the tabernacle not always on the main altar? Placing it elsewhere seems to show a lack of reverence.
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.
God the Warrior?
Pat McCloskey, OFM
October 24, 2018
Our faith teaches that peace overrides force. In the Old Testament, however, there are passages that describe how God cleared a path for the Hebrew people through war and displacement of other people and cultures. Isn’t that a contradiction?
Can Laypeople Give Blessings?
Pat McCloskey, OFM
October 24, 2018
Can someone give a blessing to a sick friend, or a birthday blessing, a blessing at a meal, or on other occasions? Does the person need the permission of the local bishop?
Quick Questions and Answers
Pat McCloskey, OFM
October 24, 2018
How can I fully convince myself and others that “Jesus is the only way to God “?
The integrity of your life is the best way. Cardinal Emmanuel Suhard of Paris (d. 1949) once wrote: “To be a witness does not consist in engaging in propaganda nor even in stirring people up, but in being a living mystery. It means to live in such a way that one’s life would not make sense if God did not exist. ” Unfortunately, the lives of some Christians might make perfect sense if God did not exist because God is more an ornament in their lives rather than the central focus.
Jesus and Slavery
Pat McCloskey, OFM
September 23, 2018
I have been a Catholic from birth but often have questions about some of the issues we are facing today, such as the evils associated with slavery. The Romans had slaves, but is there any evidence that Jesus condemned that institution?
Change on the Death Penalty
Pat McCloskey, OFM
September 23, 2018
How did Pope Francis recently change the Catholic Church’s teaching on the death penalty?
Why Gluten-Free Hosts?
Pat McCloskey, OFM
September 23, 2018
I understand the Church’s teaching on Eucharist. Transubstantiation means it changes completely from bread and wine to the flesh and blood of Jesus. I believe in the Eucharist, the source and summit of our faith. I also understand that our senses cannot tell the difference. Therefore, why are gluten-free hosts needed?