Resources
Positive Opposites - Monthly Spiritual Message February 2020
There are certain basic elements or components of growth that have to work in harmony if there is to be development. Many of these elements are pairs of opposites that are all in themselves positive. Here is a sample of four pairs of positive opposites: formal - informal permanent - ..
FRANCIS, TEACH US TO PRAY (Part 3) - Monthly Spiritual Message January 2020
“Francis Teach us to Understand.” From the moment of his mystical experience of the crucified Christ[1] (applewebdata://7A16203C-C9C2-4ADD-84AA-A0927CC2C257#_ftn1)until his stigmata on La Verna and even to his transitus from this world, Saint Francis’ inner vision and personal relationsh ..
FRANCIS, TEACH US TO PRAY (Part 2) - Monthly Spiritual Message December 2019
The prayer of adoration that Saint Francis taught the friars at Rivo Torto flows out of a profound mystical experience of Christ Crucified that only Saint Bonaventure,[1] (applewebdata://535A8D2A-A911-4100-9066-FE0D2A2E48D1#_ftn1) of all the sources, tells us happened to Saint Francis. It was ju ..
FRANCIS, TEACH US TO PRAY (Part 1) - Monthly Spiritual Message NOVEMBER 2019
Thomas of Celanotells us that coming back from Rome, where they had received verbal permission from Pope Innocent III to live their way of life, Saint Francis and his twelve companions[1] (applewebdata://A483F3CE-7BEB-4744-B4DD-10776A5AD568#_ftn1)found an abandoned hut near Rivo Torto and began ..
SECULAR FRANCISCAN PRIORITIES (Part 2) - Monthly Spiritual Message OCTOBER 2019
In Part One, last month, I quoted Pope Paul VI’s Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii nuntiandi n.72, and drew out three priorities of the laity, and specifically of the Secular Franciscans, in the world. “Hence the active presence of the laity in the temporal realities takes on all its importance” ..
SECULAR FRANCISCAN PRIORITIES (Part 1) - Monthly Spiritual Message SEPTEMBER 2019
Jesus says in the Gospel according to Matthew: "Go, therefore, make disciples of all the nations" (Mt 28:18). The gospel calls every person who believes in Jesus Christ to spread the Good News. Every Christian is a missionary by vocation. In 1975, Pope Paul VI wrote a ground-breaking Apostol ..
ORIGINS OF THE SECULAR FRANCISCAN ORDER - Monthly Spiritual Message AUGUST 2019
The Secular Franciscan Order traces its origins back to St Francis of Assisi (1182-1226), who gathered round him the “Brothers and Sisters of Penance of Assisi”. Let us read what the early biographers of St Francis have to say about them. Friar Thomas of Celano, who knew St Francis, wr ..
THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS - Monthly Spiritual Message JULY 2019
We usually interpret the parable of the talents in Matthew’s gospel (Mat 25:14-30), and of the pounds in Luke’s gospel (Lk 19:11-28), as an exhortation to develop our God-given gifts and to make them productive in building the Kingdom of God. Our heroes are the servants who returned their talent ..
LAUDATO SI’ ON THE ENVIRONMENT - Monthly Spiritual Message MARCH 2019
LAUDATO SI’ ON THE ENVIRONMENT Carl Schafer OFM St Pauls Publication describes Pope Francis’s Laudato Si’, as An Encyclical Letter on Ecology and Climate, although the Letter is about much more than ecology and climate. The text consists of 246 paragraphs in 191 pages. Climate i ..
CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF THE RULE OF THE SECULAR FRANCISCAN ORDER (Part 15) - Monthly Spiritual Message May 2019
Mary in the midst of our Fraternity – a Meditation The Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order gives us a simple and beautiful example of how we are to live our fraternal life. It presents us with the image of Mary, the mother of Jesus as a person of “self-giving service.” We need to p ..
CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF THE RULE OF THE SECULAR FRANCISCAN ORDER (Part 14) - Monthly Spiritual Message April 2019
5. and build a more fraternal and evangelical world Ritual Ch. 3. Yes, fraternity begins with a smile! Then it leads to talking together and sharing our joyful memories and becoming friends. A good friend is also someone with whom we can share our troubles. Joyful memories strengthen us, b ..
OFS Australia National Council's submission to the Plenary Council
What do you think God is asking of us in Australia at this time? We believe God desires a holier church where everyday lay Catholics can be more deeply united in the life of the church, and where the laity can play an important role in rebuilding the church. We believe that God desires t ..
Recent Articles
- Positive Opposites - Monthly Spiritual Message February 2020
- FRANCIS, TEACH US TO PRAY (Part 3) - Monthly Spiritual Message January 2020
- FRANCIS, TEACH US TO PRAY (Part 2) - Monthly Spiritual Message December 2019
- FRANCIS, TEACH US TO PRAY (Part 1) - Monthly Spiritual Message NOVEMBER 2019
- SECULAR FRANCISCAN PRIORITIES (Part 2) - Monthly Spiritual Message OCTOBER 2019
Categories
Are You Being Called?
If you sometimes feel the need, or an inner urging, to do a little more than just attend Mass and be a good parishioner, please...
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