Tell Me about Indulgences
Pat McCloskey, OFM
October 15, 2025
What is the basis of the Church’s authority to grant indulgences? Our Lord did not mention indulgences specifically to my knowledge.
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.
Is There an Official Catholic Bible?
Pat McCloskey, OFM
October 13, 2025
Years ago in parochial school, I recall that we were told that the Douay-Rheims version was the only one that we were allowed to read. The teacher even said that reading any “Protestant” Bible, especially the King James Version, was sinful.
The Lord’s Way
Pat McCloskey, OFM
October 12, 2025
Sometimes we resist conversion to the Lord’s way because we fear giving it full freedom will shrink our world, will make us more closed in.
Why Do We Need Low-gluten Hosts?
Pat McCloskey, OFM
October 12, 2025
I don’t understand why someone who has celiac disease and is, therefore, allergic to gluten needs a low-gluten host. The bread at Mass changes substantially into the Body of Christ.
What Is the Church’s Teaching on Yoga?
Pat McCloskey, OFM
October 11, 2025
Speakers whom I greatly respect have said that Catholics should not do yoga or Pilates™. Does the Catholic Church allow this?
What Is the Secular Franciscan Order?
Pat McCloskey, OFM
October 8, 2025
Even though I have long known that there are Franciscan sisters, brothers, and priests, a friend recently told me about a group that is completely new to me: the Secular Franciscan Order.
Why Roman Catholic?
Pat McCloskey, OFM
October 7, 2025
Why does the Roman Catholic Church call itself that? Jesus stood against everything that the Roman Empire represented—the power, the might and the violence. Rome figured mightily in his death on the cross.