Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation #2 (We will return to the series on the Rule in May.) Thank you to Joe Makely, OFS, National JPIC Animator for contributing this piece.   Following the Gospel: Footnotes to Apostolic Creativity   Our Pauline Rule has 45 references, most of which point to one of three…

  Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation (We will return to the series on the Rule in May) Thank you to Joe Makely, OFS, National JPIC Animator for contributing this piece. The members of our order have a special call as lay people in the Church. We are to live the Gospel, each in…

The OFS-USA National Fraternity has recently published “From Gospel to Life,” the OFS Rule with Commentary. This occasional series highlights the Prologue (See November 17th and 24th) and the articles of the Rule, the commentary, and questions based on this publication for fraternity discussion. You may order “Gospel to Life” at this link: https://www.secularfranciscansusa.org/wp-content/uploads/Order-Form_October_2023rev.pdf Rule…

Since today is Good Friday, it is an extra special time to follow Saint Clare’s Gazing on the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ as found in her second letter to Saint Agnes of Prague. 19“Look upon Him Who became contemptible for you, and follow Him, making yourself contemptible in this world for Him. 20Most…

The OFS-USA National Fraternity has recently published “From Gospel to Life,” the OFS Rule with Commentary. This occasional series highlights the Prologue (See November 17th and 24th) and the articles of the Rule, the commentary, and questions based on this publication for fraternity discussion. You may order “Gospel to Life” at this link: https://www.secularfranciscansusa.org/wp-content/uploads/Order-Form_October_2023rev.pdf Rule…

The OFS-USA National Fraternity has recently published “From Gospel to Life,” the OFS Rule with Commentary. This occasional series highlights the Prologue (See November 17th and 24th) and the articles of the Rule, the commentary, and questions based on this publication for fraternity discussion. You may order “Gospel to Life” at this link: https://www.secularfranciscansusa.org/wp-content/uploads/Order-Form_October_2023rev.pdf Rule…

The OFS-USA National Fraternity has recently published “From Gospel to Life,” the OFS Rule with Commentary. This occasional series highlights the Prologue (See November 17th and 24th) and the articles of the Rule, the commentary, and questions based on this publication for fraternity discussion. You may order “Gospel to Life” at this link: https://www.secularfranciscansusa.org/wp-content/uploads/Order-Form_October_2023rev.pdf Rule…

Catholic Social Teaching—From St. Francis to the Secular Franciscan Rule In the Legend of the Three Companions we read: He [Francis] used to tell them: “As you announce peace with your mouth, make sure that greater peace is in your hearts. Let no one be provoked to anger or scandal through you, but may everyone…

  The OFS-USA National Fraternity has recently published “From Gospel to Life,” the OFS Rule with Commentary. This occasional series highlights the Prologue (See November 17th and 24th) and the articles of the Rule, the commentary, and questions based on this publication for fraternity discussion. You may order “Gospel to Life” at this link: https://www.secularfranciscansusa.org/wp-content/uploads/Order-Form_October_2023rev.pdf…

The OFS-USA National Fraternity has recently published “From Gospel to Life,” the OFS Rule with Commentary. This occasional series highlights the Prologue (See November 17th and 24th) and the articles of the Rule, the commentary, and questions based on this publication for fraternity discussion. You may order “Gospel to Life” at this link: https://www.secularfranciscansusa.org/wp-content/uploads/Order-Form_October_2023rev.pdf Rule…

We have interrupted our series on the Rule with commentary for some Lenten inspiration. We publish the resources below each year in hopes that they will help everyone to focus on penance and conversion, so important in the life of a Secular Franciscan.   Thank you to the National Formation Commission for collaborating on this…

The OFS-USA National Fraternity has recently published “From Gospel to Life,” the OFS Rule with Commentary. This occasional series highlights the Prologue (See November 17th and 24th) and the articles of the Rule, the commentary, and questions based on this publication for fraternity discussion. You may order “Gospel to Life” at this link: https://www.secularfranciscansusa.org/wp-content/uploads/Order-Form_October_2023rev.pdf Rule…

The OFS-USA National Fraternity has recently published “From Gospel to Life,” the OFS Rule with Commentary. This occasional series highlights the Prologue (See November 17th and 24th) and the articles of the Rule, the commentary, and questions based on this publication for fraternity discussion. You may order “Gospel to Life” at this link: https://www.secularfranciscansusa.org/wp-content/uploads/Order-Form_October_2023rev.pdf Rule…

  Focus on the Admonitions (#2 and #3) https://franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-saint/writings-of-francis/the-undated-writings/the-admonitions/145-fa-ed-1-page-129 [II. The Evil of Self-Will]b 1The Lord said to Adam: Eat of every tree; you may not eat, however, of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Gn 2:16 Gn 2:17 2He was able to eat of every tree of paradise, because he did…

As we begin 2024, we turn from Greccio to Mt. Alverna, (LaVerna) from the Crib to the Cross. This year the Franciscan family will be commemorating St. Francis’s marking with the Stigmata. Although the actual day is September 17, 1224, there will be many opportunities during this year to allow these special marks to mark…

Taking Stock 2024 Our Lives of Prayer as Secular Franciscans “As Minister General of a large Order, St. Bonaventure provided, among other things, spiritual direction for those seeking God. In a letter to Poor Clare nuns, he offered directives as to how we might enter into prayer by way of ‘descent.’ “The steps are summarized…

2024—Time to Examine our Love and Commitment • CONVERSION: the letting go of one’s ego…” • “One is dying to a false self that tries to BE God, that tries to always be in control.” • This is a reversal, a “TURNING TOWARD” the Holy Spirit at work within us. – Francis and Jesus by…

The Centenary of Christmas at Greccio and the newly granted Plenary Indulgence …Celebrating the centenary of Christmas in Greccio as a Franciscan Family is an invitation to pause before the mystery of the Incarnation to contemplate the greatness of divine love for humanity. The Son of God also becomes the Son of man, he becomes…

Please share with your local fraternity Did you ever notice the relationship between the Praises of God and the O Antiphons? Now might be a good time to take a look. “Leo of Assisi, who was with Francis on LaVerna in the Fall of 1224, wrote in red ink on one side of this piece…

Advent is a time of waiting and meditation. We think about the coming of our Lord and Savior in the Incarnation and the part that Mary and Joseph played in his life. During this month we can use the words in the graphic (or the word bank below) in our prayer and meditation to focus…