Stages in the Canonization Process
Pat McCloskey, OFM
November 22, 2025
What do the four stages in the canonization process (servant of God, venerable, blessed and saint) mean?
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.
Were All the Apostles Single?
Pat McCloskey, OFM
November 21, 2025
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?
Did John the Baptist Doubt Jesus?
Pat McCloskey, OFM
November 20, 2025
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?
Must I Obey All Laws?
Pat McCloskey, OFM
November 19, 2025
Aren’t immigration laws as binding as all other laws? Even though someone can campaign to change a law, isn’t that person obliged to obey all current laws?
Is Marriage Really a Sacrament?
Pat McCloskey, OFM
November 18, 2025
How can marriage possibly be a sacrament? Yes, Jesus attended a wedding feast, spoke of the Kingdom of God in terms of a wedding banquet, and used the Genesis creation story to support the idea of union.
Eucharist: Symbol or Reality?
Pat McCloskey, OFM
November 17, 2025
In our missalette for the Solemnity of the Epiphany the prayer over the gifts, the bread and wine, speaks of them as symbolizing Christ. But don’t most priests say they are really the body and blood of Jesus Christ?
Who Assigns Patron Saints?
Pat McCloskey, OFM
November 16, 2025
How is the patron saint of an occupation, a country, or a group of people decided? Specifically, how did St. Nicholas come to be the patron saint of brides, grooms, children, bakers, and pawnbrokers?