Ask a Franciscan

Substituting for the Gloria

Pat McCloskey, OFM May 12, 2020

For the past few years, from midnight Christmas through Epiphany, the director of music in our parish has elected to use “Angels We Have Heard on High” instead of the Gloria. What is proper in this regard?

How Could Jesus ‘Be Sin’?

Pat McCloskey, OFM May 11, 2020

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that God made “him [Jesus] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (602). What does this mean? How can the Son of ...

People following the bridge and groom in black and white

Catholics and Prenuptial Agreements

Pat McCloskey, OFM May 9, 2020

Please clarify what the church teaches about prenuptial agreements and why.

Lenten Reflections with Friar Jim

Jim Van Vurst, OFM March 6, 2019

Friar Jim answers Lenten questions

a group of people walking on a dirt path | Photo by roya ann miller on Unsplash

How Can I Know God’s Will?

Pat McCloskey, OFM July 24, 2018

I have a very simple but important question: How can I know God's will in my life?

Two-Edged Sword?

Pat McCloskey, OFM June 25, 2018

What does Scripture mean when it uses the expression two-edged sword? How many times does it use this term?

Purgatory Seems Unnecessary

Pat McCloskey, OFM July 24, 2017

As Catholics, we believe that faith and works are needed to get to heaven. If Jesus died for our sins, why is purgatory needed? Didn't he already repair what was needed? Catholics don't regard faith and works as though they ...