Up until 1508, Secular Franciscans wore full habits. Then this changed to a large scapular held together by a piece of rope around the waist. Over time, the scapular became smaller until the rope was no longer needed to hold it in place and was was replaced by a string, and both were then worn underneath clothing. Humility, Holiness […]
Happy Feast Day! Blessed Day for all the Saints!
As we prayed today, “Father, all-powerful and ever-living God, today we rejoice in the holy men and women of every time and place. May their prayers bring us your forgiveness and love. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and Holy Spirit, one God, for ever […]
The Transitus
The Transitus is a Franciscan devotion to ritually remember the passing of Saint Francis from this life into God. This ritual takes place each year, with Franciscans around the world on the evening of October 3rd. (Feast Day is October 4th) Our fraternity will be having a Transitus Service on Thursday October 3rd from 7-7:30pm […]
Feast of St. Francis
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 […]
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 […]