Your Vocation Starts Today!

When I talk to those thinking about becoming a Franciscan, I sometimes hear them express a thought similar to, ‘I’m not ready yet, in a few more years I will begin my vocation.’ To that idea, I wish to respond: ‘You do not have to wait to start your vocation. Your vocation can start today!’ …

St. Francis on Bad Priests

On one occasion, a parishioner brought to the attention of St. Francis a priest involved in a scandalous affair. He asked St. Francis to go and correct the priest. The first thing St. Francis did was to kneel and kiss the hands of the priest. (From the Thirteenth-Century Testimonies #6.) St. Francis was not condoning…

Marytown

Recently, I visited our Conventual Franciscan Friar ministry at Marytown in Libertyville, IL. Marytown promotes our Franciscan Marian Spirituality, and is the National Shrine of Saint Maximillian Kolbe OFM Conv., who was a martyred in Auschwitz during World War II. St. Francis had a special devotion to Mary, Mother of God, and made Her the…

Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s

…and to God what is God’s.  These are Jesus’ words in answer to the challenge of the Pharisees trying to trap him, that we hear in the 29th Sunday of Ordinary Time Mass readings in the Gospel of Matthew (22:15-21). Does this mean that what we do in our social structures, such as in government…

Liturgy of the Hours

Each day Franciscan Friars gather in a community to pray the “Liturgy of the Hours” in addition to the daily celebration of the Eucharist, and our personal private prayer time. The Liturgy of the Hours is an official prayer of the Church. It consists of songs, recitation of psalms (with alternating sides of the chapel…

Why Do Franciscans Bless Animals?

The Feast of St. Francis is October 4th! In anticipation of the Feast, the Friars at Our Lady of Grace Parish in Castro Valley CA blessed the pets of our parishioners. Why do Franciscans Bless Animals? The answer might come from the book of Daniel in the Office of Readings today, the Feast of the…