Next week, on October 4th, the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Francis. Francis astounded and inspired the Church eight centuries ago by living the gospel literally. Literally not in a narrow fundamentalist sense, but by actually attempting to follow all that Jesus said and did, joyfully, without limit and without a sense of self-importance. View […]
Blessed Pope John XXIII – Meditation for the Feast Saint Francis of Assisi
On October 4th the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Francis. Here a reflection by Blessed John XXIII on wealth, generosity and the Franciscan charism for all. Blessed John XXIII, a Secular Franciscan himself, was a joy-filled Holy Father who gathered the Church for the Second Vatican Council. +++ “Francis was called “another Christ”, in […]
Day of Fasting and Prayer for Peace in Syria
Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Bishop of Rome has declared Saturday, September 7, 2013, as a Day of Fasting and Prayer for Peace in Syria, the Middle East, and throughout the world. In solidarity with Pope Francis there will be Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Worship […]
The Stigmata of St. Francis
The Chapel of the Stigmata is perched on the edge of the same sheer precipice where St. Francis stood two years before his death and where he was swept up into the mystery of God’s overwhelming love for him and for humanity. St. Bonaventure, in his Life of St. Francis, describes Francis as being more […]
Happy feast of St. Clare
Last year, throughout the world in 2012, the 800th anniversary of the founding of the Poor Clares was celebrated. The simple life of St. Clare, who lived in a small place outside Assisi’s medieval walls, still speaks to us. Why? Her spiritual quest resonates with our yearnings to live authentically from the fire of love […]