Tag Archives: Franciscan life
Francis and the Wolf
Franciscan Way: Part Two Francis and the Wolf Sunday, October 6, 2019 Carlo Carretto (1910–1988) was a member of the Little Brothers of Jesus, a community of contemplatives based on the spirituality of St. Francis of Assisi and founded by Charles de Foucauld (1858–1916). Carretto’s life, like that of Francis, was a combination of action… Continue Reading Francis and the Wolf
Franciscan Way: Part One: Weekly Summary
Franciscan Way: Part One Summary: Sunday, September 29—Friday, October 4, 2019 Much of Francis of Assisi’s genius was that he was ready for absolute “newness” from God, and therefore could also trust fresh and new attitudes in himself. (Sunday) In his “Testament,” Francis said, “No one showed me what I ought to do,” and then,… Continue Reading Franciscan Way: Part One: Weekly Summary
Naked Before God
Franciscan Way: Part One Naked Before God Friday, October 4, 2019 Feast of St. Francis of Assisi Mirabai Starr is a friend, fellow New Mexican, and a respected author known for her work translating many mystics. Her words provide insight to a pivotal experience of St. Francis’ life. After Christ spoke to Francis from the… Continue Reading Naked Before God
A New Way of Thinking
Franciscan Way: Part One A New Way of Thinking Thursday, October 3, 2019 God gave St. Francis to history in a pivotal period when Western civilization began to move into rationality, functionality, consumerism, and perpetual war. Francis was himself a soldier, and his father was a tradesman in cloth. Francis came from the very world… Continue Reading A New Way of Thinking
To Live Lightly
Franciscan Way: Part One To Live Lightly Wednesday, October 2, 2019 Today, we will continue with my Franciscan brother and long-time friend John Quigley’s summary of Franciscanism. I’ve added my thoughts in italics within brackets. [Francis] knew that we share this earth, our loves and work with all of God’s creatures, our brothers and sisters.… Continue Reading To Live Lightly
The Minores
Franciscan Way: Part One The Minores Tuesday, October 1, 2019 Feast of Thérèse of Lisieux, “The Little Flower My friend since 1962 and fellow Franciscan, Father John Quigley, OFM, has written a helpful, succinct summary of Franciscanism. We worked closely together with the New Jerusalem Community in Ohio and could practically finish each other’s sentences,… Continue Reading The Minores
One World
Franciscan Way: Part One One World Monday, September 30, 2019 I hope to show what Francis of Assisi clearly changed and did differently and what flowed from his unique wholeness. We will see that Francis was at once very traditional and entirely new in the ways of holiness—a paradox. He stood barefoot on the earth… Continue Reading One World
Discovering Anew
Franciscan Way: Part One Discovering Anew Sunday, September 29, 2019 St. Francis of Assisi (1182–1226) was a master of making room for the new and letting go of that which was tired or empty. His first biographer described Francis as always hopeful, always new, always beginning again. [1] Much of Francis’ genius was that he… Continue Reading Discovering Anew
New Images Help Us See New Realities
Art: Week 1 New Images Help Us See New Realities Tuesday, May 15, 2018 Let there be light. —Genesis 1:3 The light of divine revelation . . . pierces but does not castigate the darkness. —Barbara Holmes [1] Just as Pope Francis has catalyzed a worldwide imaginal change today, Francis and Clare of Assisi created… Continue Reading New Images Help Us See New Realities
An Alternative Community
Community An Alternative Community Friday, May 11, 2018 One of the core principles at the Center for Action and Contemplation is “The best criticism of the bad is the practice of the better.” [1] Nonviolent activist and author John Dear shares the story of a woman and her family who are doing just that. A… Continue Reading An Alternative Community