The Eucharist- Center of Franciscan Life

Ask anyone what is characteristic of Franciscan spirituality and the likely answer is poverty.  Though this is not wrong, there is yet another aspect of Franciscan spirituality that the Poverello of Assisi had left as a legacy to his followers: an intense reverence for the Body and Blood of Christ, also known as the Eucharist.  In his letter to the Order; St. Francis urged “I implore all of you brothers to show all possible reverence and honor to the most Holy Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus.” (12)

In the Eucharist, St. Francis found the ideal form of poverty- Almighty God in the humble form of bread and wine.  The Eucharist is poverty made manifest.  It was a form of Incarnation of God’s Son that St. Francis found inspiration for his own way of life.    Read more...

Legends of St. Francis 

Perfect Joy

Brother Leonard related, in the same place (the Portiuncula), that one day at Saint Mary the blessed Francis called Brother Leo and said: “Brother Leo, write!”

He answered: “I’m ready.”

“Write.”  Francis said, “what true joy is: A message comes and says that all the masters in Paris have come into the Order write: this is not true joy.

Or that all the prelates beyond the mountains have entered the Order; as well as the archbishops and bishop; or that the king of France and the king of England have entered the Order; write: this is not true joy.    Read more...

God’s Call – Our Vocation-A Biblical Perspective

The Bible records God’s intervention in human history.  In this divine intervention, God did not work alone but constantly called individuals to co-operate in His saving acts.  God called Abraham form his city or Ur to the land of Canaan.  God called Moses top lead his enslaved people out of Egypt.  God called Isaiah to be his prophet in announcing repentance and redemption.  In the final analysis, God’s call is always a call to co-operate in bringing salvation to the world.  It is not limited to any specific role or function.  Indeed it is a gift from god firstly to encounter God Himself- or as the Bible says “to see the face of God.”  After this personal and life- changing encounter with God, then comes a specific role.

“Vocation” is used to describe this calling from God.  The dynamics of this call experience is reflected in many instances of the Bible.  The story of the blind beggar Bartimeus is a good example.  Read more...

Contemplation and Evangelization

by Sr. Sonia, OSC

How can a cloistered Poor Clare nun be a missionary?  Well, how can a contemplative not be a missionary?  After all, a cloistered Carmelite nun became the patroness of the Missions- St. Therese of Liseux!

There exists an intrinsic bond between contemplation and evangelization.  “Contemplation which does not give life to mission is condemned to frustration and failure… because contemplation engenders evangelization.” (John Paul II, Message to the Catholic Fraternity of Covenant Communities and Fellowships, June 22, 2001).  We pray and contemplate not in a void but in a specific time and space.  We cannot escape from the realities around us.  Contemplation is not escapism.

The contemplation of God leads us to the contemplation of the reality our world, to know it and take interest in the difficulty of the reality that we live: “a reality of living death.”  Therefore our prayer is incarnated; it is and must be a prayer that springs from the reality of the people and from the cry of the needs of the poorest.  True contemplative prayer shows God’s mercy in a way that is alive and convincing.  It is a call to bring life to prayer and prayer to life.  This is evangelization.    Read more...

What is Formation?

By,  Sister Mary Andre Lafferty, OSF

Formation is the process in which you learn above all about God’s will for you.  This is achieved through a variety of activities including formal studies, community living, worship and apostolic work.  These aim to integrate the spiritual, intellectual and psychological aspects of human development.  In the process you discern together with the community if this consecrated life is right for you.

A spiritual assistant or formator accompanies you during this period of study and self-discovery.  This is true for both religious and Secular Franciscan formations.  The formator assists you in discerning your vocation.  Honesty and trust are essential to a successful relation between you and your formator.    Read more...