St. Francis and the Imitation of Christ
by Ivan Gobry (from St. Francis of Assisi: A Biography; Ignatius Press, 2006) The sentiment that would carry Francis away and govern the founding of his religious order was, from the very first moment of his conversion, a delirious love for Christ. Not a contemplative love, which is satisfied with a perceptible, mental vision of the Savior, which dwells at length upon his words and his sufferings, but rather an active love. Of course, Francis habitually possessed that contemplative fervor, too,...
Read MoreLetter from Friar Louis – Christmas 2012
Dear Sisters and Brothers in St. Francis and Clare, As we come to celebrate the solemnity of Christ’s birth we would do well to go back in history and join the shepherds of whom the gospel speaks. We too need to go to Bethlehem and see as we have never seen before this thing that has come to pass which the Lord has made known to us. What began in the quiet stillness of that first Christmas night has continued down through the centuries. It exists in our own time, for in the words of the...
Read MoreLetter from Friar Louis – November/December 2012
Dear Brothers and Sisters in St. Francis and Clare, This month of October began with the Transitus and feast of St. Francis as well as our Thanksgiving weekend for which we paused to give prayerful gratitude for the Creator’s many blessings and for the graces of this past year. Francis was clearly in tune with this in his Canticle of the Creatures which was written in his final days here on earth: “Praise be to You, my Lord, through our Sister Mother Earth, who sustains and governs...
Read MoreLetter from Friar Louis – September/October 2012
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Francis, As the summer months with their many activities and duties are drawing to a close, it is good to remember that those who operate through their own wills may tend to leave little space for God in their life’s journey. But if one genuinely desires union with God, then one must be prepared to have one’s “religious” world and path shattered. Jesus tells us: “I love you just the way you are. And I love you too much to let you stay the way...
Read MoreFranciscan Spirituality: The Art of Living
I have often found that people have a general sense of the life of St Francis of Assisi. They like a lot of what they hear… especially the bit about his love for creation. Franciscan spirituality has been jokingly described as “fresh air and frolics in the forest!” In truth the Franciscan vision is somewhat more substantial. Francis of Assisi (1182-1226) is a much loved saint, and not just within Christian circles, but the depth of his spiritual vision is frequently not grasped. He...
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