(This article originally appeared in the TAU-USA Winter 2019 Issue 99 and the Power Point presentation can be found at Our Father Hail Mary ppt )

St. Clare — painting on glass by M. Lorin of Chartres, France, created in 1878.   

DAY 2 FORMATION

PRAYING AS CLARE DID

Layna and Francine led this session on Clare, and her powerful method of prayer which she shared in her letter to St. Agnes. Layna quoted: “Most Nobel Queen, gaze, consider, contemplate, desiring to imitate Your Spouse.”

Layna reminded everyone of the components of Clare’s prayer: gaze, consider, contemplate and imitate, and invited then to share their thoughts on the hallmarks of Clare’s Prayer.  Some responded: “Contemplative. Vivid. Passionate. Draws Close to Jesus. Feels His Embrace. Relational.”

They would experience it for themselves during the final session when Francine walked them through an intensely spiritual journey in prayer as they reflected on the painting of Francis embracing Christ on the Cross.

In quiet, personal solitude, she asked them to:

• Gaze – “To gaze is not simply to see. Rather gaze is to be drawn into the object one sees. Open arms are a gesture of the body reaching for the other…I want the other to be a part of who I am and I want to be a part of the other… Reflect upon the surface of the mirror. Are you drawn into his suffering? Look into yourself. Can you unite yourself to Jesus’ suffering? His humility? See Jesus’ love for others amidst His own suffering. See His love for you. How do you respond?”

• Consider – “Consider, which means to look at something whole to see it in its entirety, in my personal context and that of the Incarnate Word.”
• Contemplate — “With love which cannot be put into words. Soak in this love. You are face to face with the mystery and above all, with holiness.”
• Imitate – “We imitate because we share in the love of Christ and as Bonaventure describes it, as a fountain of love overflowing and never ending.”

The final prayer ended with Clare’s message to Agnes: “Totally love him who gave himself totally for your love.”

https://secularfranciscansusa.org/2020/03/04/our-secular-franciscan-spirituality-as-experienced-in-prayers-day-2/

(Minister’s Messages are available on News & Updates > National Minister’s Messages )

Dearest Sisters and Brothers,

May grace and peace be yours in this season of repentance..

The Holy Spirit led Jesus to the desert.  Let us simply ask the Holy Spirit to lead us, too, during this Lenten season.  I know God will give each of us a very personal answer.

I hope you saw our sister Carolyn’s wonderful Lenten message.  Along with her reminder about our H2O project, I’d like to add two more suggestions for almsgiving:  (1) donations to NAFRA’s Charitable Giving fund, and (2) donations to the Good Friday Collection for the Holy Land.

What is NAFRA’s Charitable Giving Fund?   Each year, prior to our annual Chapter, we ask everyone to submit names of charities that they would like to see our National OFS Family support.  Donations are then made to the particular charities chosen by the National Fraternity Council, oftentimes we are able to send nice donations to 8-10 charitable organizations.  The money for these donations comes from our Charitable Giving fund, and the donation is sent on behalf of the National Secular Franciscan Order..   In 2019, we were not able to make any donations as the fund had been depleted.  Donations for NAFRA’s Charitable Giving fund can be sent to our National Treasurer (see address below.)  Thank you for any contribution you are able to send.

Secondly, I encourage donations for the Franciscans’ ministry in the Holy Land.  The name of this collection is the “Pontifical Good Friday Collection” and contributions can be placed in the collection baskets on Good Friday at your local parish.  For more information, see https://myfranciscan.org/good-friday/

Please share this invitation with your local fraternities.  

I am thankful to be with you on this Lenten journey of prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

Your sister and minister,

Jan

Please make checks payable to “NAFRA”, noting “For Charitable Giving”, and mail to:

Claudia Kauzlarich OFS

2007 Maverick Trail

Harrisonville, MO 64701-1545

“May the fraternal bonds of community always be our help, so that we may reach the goal of perfect Christian love.” 

— from the Secular Franciscan Rite of Profession to the Gospel Life  

Jan Parker OFS

National Minister

Secular Franciscan Order – USA

Journey Together in Love and Compassion

2019-2020 OFS-USA Theme

https://secularfranciscansusa.org/2020/03/03/national-ministers-message-lent-2020/