Articles and Reflections

On the Integrity of Creation

by Ron Semenoff OFS, J.P.I.C. Animator for St. Mary’s Fraternity As Franciscans, we members of the O.F.S., are called into a special relationship with all of God’s creation. As Article 11 of our rules states: “Let the Secular Franciscan seek a proper spirit of detachment from all temporal goods by simplifying their own material needs. Let them be mindful that according to the gospel they are stewards of the goods received for the benefit of God’s children.” Our relationship...

On Justice and Peace

By Ron Semenoff OFS, J.P.I.C. Animator for St. Mary’s Fraternity As Franciscans we are called to live in a spirit of Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation (JPIC). In our Rule of Life we read in Article 4: “The rule and life of the Secular Franciscans is this: to observe the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ by following the example of Saint Francis of Assisi, who made Christ the inspiration and the center of his life with God and people. Christ, the gift of the Father’s...

A Reflection on Living the Spirituality of Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation (JPIC)

by Ron Semenoff OFS, JPIC Animator, St. Mary’s Fraternity INTRODUCTION Over the past short while I have had the pleasure of examining three pivotal works within our Franciscan family on gaining an understanding of what it means for us to have a spirituality of Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation. These works include two works written especially for the Friars Minor, “Pilgrims and Strangers in this World: Resource for Ongoing Formation, From Chapter IV of the OFM General...

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,...

Franciscan 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...

The Tau as our Franciscan Symbol

Where did the Tau come from and what does it mean? Simply and basically, the Tau (rhymes with “how”) represents the cross. It is also the last letter of the Hebrew Alphabet. However, the two major influences on Francis concerning the TAU were the Antonians and the Fourth Lateran Council. St. Francis borrowed the Tau and what it meant to him from the Antonians. They were a religious community of men founded in 1095 whose sole function was to care for lepers. The Church disbanded them...