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 […]
First Sunday of Lent
Fr. Michael Cusato graciously led our Regional SFO Retreat at Priestfield last fall. Thank you Fr. Cusato!
The Priority of Prayer
In a letter to Saint Anthony, Francis wrote: Brother Francis sends greetings to Brother Anthony, my Bishop. I am pleased that you teach sacred theology to the brothers providing that, as is contained in the Rule, you “do not extinguish the Spirit of prayer and devotion” during study of this kind. “There is a great lesson […]
Preparing for Christmas
The following letter, between two saints , illuminates the importance of preparing well for Christmas. Let us prepare with prayer, charity, awareness of our brothers and sisters, and thankfulness of God’s creation. +++++++++++++++++++ Winter, 1224 My Dear Sister Clare, How kind of you to ask how you can help the brothers in Assisi prepare for Christmas while I […]
Happy Feast of St. Francis
On October 4th, the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Francis! Francis of Assisi was a poor little man who astounded and inspired the Church by taking the gospel literally—not in a narrow fundamentalist sense, but by actually following all that Jesus said and did, joyfully, without limit and without a sense of self-importance. Serious illness […]