|
Levels of OFS Fraternity
1. Local Fraternity:
The basic "cell"/group of members in a given locality. Members are animated & guided by an elected council & a Spiritual Assistant appointed by the Provincial Minister to which the local fraternity is "bonded" when established.
|
Posted By Teresa Redder, on September 1st, 2026 St. Katherine Drexel Regional Fraternity
Regional Spiritual Assistant
St. Francis of Assisi Friary
1901 Prior Road
Wilmington, Delaware 19809
tel: (302) 798-1454 fax: (302) 798-3360 website: skdsfo email: pppgusa@gmail.com
September 2026
Let us desire nothing else, let us wish for nothing else,
let nothing else please us and cause us delight, except our Creator and Redeemer and Savior,
the one true God, Who is fullness of Good, all Good, every Good, the true and Supreme Good,
Who alone is merciful and gentle, delectable and sweet,
Who alone is holy, just and true, holy and right,
Who alone is kind, innocent, pure, from Whom and through Whom and in Whom is all pardon, all grace, all glory.
Therefore, let nothing hinder us, nothing separate us or come between us. Let us all, wherever we are
Glorify and exalt, magnify and give thanks to the Most High and supreme eternal God.
The following excerpts for the days of the month are taken from Assisi Compilation #114 – #117.
The daily quotes are from various sources.
114 – HE CORRECTS A BROTHER WHO RASHLY JUDGED A POOR MAN
1 – When blessed Francis went to a hermitage of the brothers near Rocca di Brizio to preach to the people of that region, it happened that on the very day that he was to preach, a poor sick man came to him. When he saw him and noticed his poverty and illness, he was moved to piety for him and he began to speak to his companion about the man’s nakedness and illness. “It is true, brother,” his companion said to him, “that he is poor, but perhaps there is no one in the whole province who desires riches more.”
– The face is the mirror of the mind, and eyes without speaking confess the secrets of the heart.
2 – Blessed Francis rebuked him for not speaking well and he admitted his fault. Blessed Francis told him: “Do you want to do the penance I will tell you?” “Willingly” he replied.
– The friendship that can cease has never been real.
3 – “Go, strip off your tunic,” he said, “and go to that poor man naked, throw yourself at his feet, and tell him how you sinned against him, how you slandered him, and ask him to pray for you that God may forgive you.” So he went and did everything blessed Francis had told him. When he finished, he got up, put on his tunic, and returned to blessed Francis.
– Good, better, best. Never let it rest. Till your good is better and your better is best
4 – And blessed Francis said to him: “Do you want me to tell you how you sinned against him, and even against Christ?” And he said: “Whenever you see a poor person you ought to consider Him in whose name he comes, that is, Christ, who came to take on our poverty and weakness. This man’s poverty and weakness is a mirror for us in which we should see and consider lovingly the poverty and weakness of our Lord Jesus Christ which He endured in His body for the salvation of the human race.”
– Beauty when unadorned is adorned the most.
115 – A STRATEGY FOR CONVERTING THE ROBBERS OF BORGO SAN SEPOLCRO
5 – At one time robbers used to come sometimes to the hermitage of the brothers above Borgo San Sepolcro to ask the brothers for bread. They hid in the thick forest of that region, coming out from time to time to rob travelers on the streets and footpaths. Some of the brothers of that place said: “It is not right to give them alms because they are robbers and they do many very great evil things to people.” Others, taking into consideration that they begged humbly and were compelled by great necessity, used to give them alms sometimes, always admonishing them to be converted to penance.
– Begin now to be what you will be hereafter.
6 – Meanwhile blessed Francis arrived at that place. The brothers asked him whether they should give them bread, or not. “If you do as I tell you,” blessed Francis told them, “I trust in the Lord that you will win their souls. Go get some good bread and good wine and take it to them in the woods where you know they are staying, and cry out: ‘Come, Brother Robbers, come to us, because we are brothers and we are bringing you some good bread and good wine.’
– Early impressions are hard to eradicate from the mind. When wool has been dyed purple, who can restore it to its previous whiteness?
7 – They will immediately come to you. Then you spread out a table cloth on the ground, placing the bread and wine on it, and, while they are eating, humbly and joyfully wait on them. After the meal, speak to them some words of the Lord. Finally, for the love of the Lord ask them for this first request: make them promise you that they will not strike anyone or injure anyone’s person.
– Everything must have in it a sharp seasoning of truth.
8 – Do not ask for everything all at once, or they will not listen to you. Because of the humility and charity you show them, they will at once make you this promise. The next day, get up and, because of the promise they made to you, besides eggs and cheese, bring them the bread and wine, and take these to them, and wait on them while they eat.
– When we pray, we speak to God; but when we read, God speaks to us.
9 – After the meal, say to them: ‘Why do you stay here all day long, dying of hunger, suffering many evil things and in your actions doing many evil things for which you will lose your souls unless you are converted? It is better to serve the Lord, who will both supply your bodily needs in this world and save your souls in the end.’ Then the Lord in His mercy will inspire them to convert and they will be converted because of the humility and charity you show them.”
– It is worse still to be ignorant of your ignorance.
10 – So the brothers got up and did everything as blessed Francis told them. And by the mercy of God and His grace which descended on them, those men listened and observed to the letter point by point all the requests which the brothers asked of them.
– Whatever we read in the Old Testament we find in the Gospel; and what we read in the Gospel is deduced from the Old Testament. There is no discord between them, no disagreement.
11 – Further, because of the friendliness and charity the brothers showed them, they began carrying wood on their shoulders to the hermitage. By the mercy of God, through the charity and friendliness that the brothers showed them, some entered religion, others embraced penance, promising in the hands of the brothers no longer to commit these evil deeds, but to live by the work of their hands.
– To sin is human, to lay snares is diabolical.
12 – The brothers and others who heard or knew about this, were quite amazed, as they reflected on the holiness of blessed Francis, how he had predicted the conversion of these men who had been perfidious and wicked, and how quickly they converted to the Lord.
– They will learn how better it is, when one is uninformed, to put questions than to make assertions.
13 – After the meal, speak to them some words of the Lord. Finally, for the love of the Lord ask them for this first request: make them promise you that they will not strike anyone or injure anyone’s person. Do not ask for everything all at once, or they will not listen to you.
– The best advice I can give you is this: Church tradition – especially when they do not run counter to the Faith – are to be observed in the form in which previous generations have handed them down.
14 – Because of the humility and charity you show them, they will at once make you this promise. The next day, get up and, because of the promise they made to you, besides eggs and cheese, bring them the bread and wine, and take these to them, and wait on them while they eat. After the meal, say to them: ‘Why do you stay here all day long, dying of hunger, suffering many evil things and in your actions doing many evil things for which you will lose your souls unless you are converted?
– The one unbeliever is sanctified by his holy and believing family. For, when a man is surrounded by a believing crowd of children and grandchildren, he is as good as a candidate for the faith.
15 – It is better to serve the Lord, who will both supply your bodily needs in this world and save your souls in the end.’ Then the Lord in His mercy will inspire them to convert and they will be converted because of the humility and charity you show them.”
– Knowledge, when it is the right kind, is the handmaid to love, for without love, knowledge puffs up.
16 – So the brothers got up and did everything as blessed Francis told them. And by the mercy of God and His grace which descended on them, those men listened and observed to the letter point by point all the requests which the brothers asked of them. Further, because of the friendliness and charity the brothers showed them, they began carrying wood on their shoulders to the hermitage.
– All that the saints say is a prayer to God; their whole prayer and supplication a strong wrestling for the pity of God.
17 – By the mercy of God, through the charity and friendliness that the brothers showed them, some entered religion, others embraced penance, promising in the hands of the brothers no longer to commit these evil deeds, but to live by the work of their hands.
– The liberty of the soul is lost through the windows of the eyes.
18 – The brothers and others who heard or knew about this, were quite amazed, as they reflected on the holiness of blessed Francis, how he had predicted the conversion of these men who had been perfidious and wicked, and how quickly they converted to the Lord.
– To will and to run are mine, but they will cease to be mine unless God brings me His continual aid.
116 – HE REVEALS THAT A BROTHER CONSIDERED A SAINT IS AN IMPOSTOR
19 – There was a brother of a decent and holy way of living, who concerned himself with prayer day and night. He observed constant silence so that when he went to confession to a brother priest, he confessed with signs, not with words. He appeared so devout and fervent in the love of God, that sometimes when he sat down with the brothers, although he did not speak, he rejoiced so much internally and externally on hearing some good words that he moved all the brothers and others who saw him in devotion to God.
– A friend is long sought, hardly found, and with difficulty kept.
20 – He was willingly considered a saint by the brothers and others. After he had been living this way for several years, it happened that blessed Francis came to that place where he was staying. When he heard the brothers tell him about this brother’s way of life, he said: “Know for a truth that this is diabolical temptation and deception, because he does not want to confess.”
– Empower your mind anywhere anytime.
21 – In the meantime the general minister came there to visit blessed Francis and began to praise this brother in front of blessed Francis. “Believe me, brother,” blessed Francis told him, “this brother is led and deceived by an evil spirit.” The general minister replied to him: “I find it amazing and almost unbelievable that a man who shows so many signs and works of holiness, can be what you say he is.” “Test him then,” blessed Francis replied. “Tell him to go to confession twice or even once a week. If he does not listen to you, you will know what I told you is true.” One day when the general minister was speaking to this brother, he told him: “Brother, I want you to confess twice or at least once a week.”
– Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not.
22 – He put a finger to his lips and shook his head, showing by signs that he would in no way do that. The minister, however, fearing that he would scandalize him, let him go. A few days later he left the religion of his own will, and returned to the world wearing secular clothing. One day while two companions of blessed Francis were walking along some road, they met him. He was walking alone like a very poor pilgrim. Feeling compassion for him, they said: “You wretch, where is your holy and upright life? You used to love the solitary life so much that you did not want to show yourself to your brothers nor speak to them. And now you go wandering through the world like a man who does not know God or his servants.”
– Remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.
23 – He began to speak to them, often swearing on his faith like secular people. “Wretched man,” the brothers told him, “why do you swear on your faith like secular people? When you were in religion, you abstained not only from idle words, but from even good ones.” He told them: “It can’t be different.” They left him. And a few days later, he died. The brothers and others were quite amazed, as they reflected on the holiness of blessed Francis who had predicted his fall at a time when he was considered a saint by the brothers and others.
– The scars of others should teach us caution.
117 – HE IS BEATEN BY DEMONS WHILE STAYING IN A TOWEROF CARDINAL LEO OF SANTA CROCE
24 – Blessed Francis once went to Rome to visit the Lord Hugolino, the bishop of Ostia, who later became pope, and stayed with him a few days, and with his permission he visited Lord Leo, Cardinal of the Santa Croce, who was a very kind and courtly man. He was happy to see blessed Francis whom he greatly revered. With great devotion, he asked him to spend a few days with him, especially because it was winter and very cold and almost every day there was heavy wind and rain, as happens during that season. “Brother,” he said to him, “this weather is unsuitable for traveling. If it is agreeable to you, I want you to stay with me until there is good weather for travel. Since I feed a number of poor people in my house, you will receive food from me in place of one poor person.”
– Habit, if not resisted, soon becomes necessity.
25 – The Lord Cardinal said this, knowing that blessed Francis, because of his humility, always wanted to be received wherever he lodged as a poor person. And yet his holiness was so outstanding that the Lord Pope, the cardinals, and all the mighty of this world who knew him venerated him as a saint. And he added: “I will give you a good remote house where you can pray and eat if you wish.” Brother Angelo Tancredi, one of the first twelve brothers, was staying with the cardinal. He said to blessed Francis: “Brother, near here there is a beautiful tower on the city walls, quite ample and spacious on the inside, with nine chambers where you can stay as removed as in a hermitage.”
– An open enemy is better than a false friend.
26 – “Let us go to see it,” blessed Francis told him. On seeing it, he liked it, and returning to the Lord Cardinal said to him: “Lord, perhaps I will stay with you a few days.” The Lord Cardinal was pleased. So Brother Angelo went and prepared it so blessed Francis could stay there night and day with his companion. Blessed Francis did not wish to come down day or night as long as he was staying with the Lord Cardinal. Brother Angelo suggested that he bring food for blessed Francis and his companion each day, leaving it outside, for neither he nor any other was supposed to enter.
– A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep.
27 – Blessed Francis went to stay there with his companion. But when he wanted to sleep there on the first night, demons came and beat him severely. He immediately called his companion who was staying some distance away: “Come to me.” He got up at once and came to him. “Brother,” blessed Francis told him, “the demons have beaten me severely so I want you to stay next to me because I am afraid to stay here alone.” His companion stayed by him the whole night them remained awake that whole night. During that time, blessed Francis talked with his companion: “Why did the devils beat me? Why has the Lord given them the power to harm me?”
– Life is as tragic as you care to make it.
28 – And he began to say: “The devils are the police of our Lord. Just as the podestà sends his police to punish a wrong-doer, in the same way, the Lord punishes and corrects those whom He loves through the demons, who are His police and act as His ministers in this office. “Even a perfect religious very often sins in ignorance. Consequently if he does not realize his sin, he is punished by the devil so that he may see and carefully reflect internally and externally because of that punishment how he may have offended. For in this life the Lord leaves nothing unpunished in those whom He loves tenderly. By the mercy and grace of God, I do not know if I have offended Him in any way which I have not corrected by confession and satisfaction. Indeed the Lord in His mercy granted me this gift. He makes me understand through prayer any way in which I please or displease Him.
– The desire to appear clever often prevents one from becoming so.
29 – “It seems to me that it could be that the Lord punished me through His police because, although the Lord Cardinal gladly does this mercy to me and my body needs to accept, and I can accept it from him confidently, nevertheless, my brothers, who go through the world suffering hunger and many hardships, and other brothers who stay in poor little houses and hermitages, may have an occasion for grumbling against me when they hear that I am staying with the lord cardinal: ‘We are enduring so many hardships while he is having his comforts,’ I am bound always to give them good example; because I was given to them, especially for this. For the brothers are knew this, as we did, we who were with him for some time until the day of his death, and if they brought this back to mind, they would not be able to restrain their tears; and when they suffer some need or troubles, they would bear them with greater patience.
– To have doubted one’s own first principles is the mark of a civilized man.
30 – Very early in the morning, blessed Francis came down from the tower, and went to the Lord Cardinal, telling him all that had happened and everything that he said to his companion. And he added: “People have great faith in me and think that I am a holy man, and as you see the devils have driven me from the cell.” He wanted to stay there as if in a remote cell, not speaking to anyone except his companion. The Lord Cardinal was very happy with him. Nevertheless, since he knew and venerated him as a saint, he was satisfied with his decision not to stay there any longer. Thus, blessed Francis with permission returned to the hermitage of Saint Francis at Fonte Colombo near Rieti.
– We are made equal by the fact that Christ is the brother of us all.
Peace and Blessings
Fr. Francis A. Sariego, O.F.M. Cap.
Regional Spiritual Assistant
Posted By Teresa Redder, on September 1st, 2026 St. Katherine Drexel Regional Fraternity
Regional Spiritual Assistant
St. Francis of Assisi Friary
1901 Prior Road
Wilmington, Delaware 19809
tel: (302) 798-1454 fax: (302) 798-3360 website: skdsfo email: pppgusa@gmail.com
September 2026
Dear Sisters and Brothers in St. Francis,
Blessed are those who endure in peace
For by You, Most High, shall they be crowned.
Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death, from whom no one living can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin.
Blessed are those whom death will find in Your most holy will,
For the second death shall do them no harm.
Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks and serve Him with great humility.
Thus ends the beautiful poem/hymn that St. Francis of Assisi composed shortly before he died. His journey to eternity through the experiences of his life was adventuresome. The personality of Francis did not allow half measures. It was all or nothing. He partied well and spent his father’s money lavishly. He prayed intensely, ultimately being so conformed to the Object of his Love and prayers as to bear visibly the signs of a Love beyond all love, beyond all imagining.
Yet, here we are, at the end of his beautiful hymn praising God and His creation, and we see words like “death”, “mortal sin”, “second death”. The depth of meaning and true spiritual beauty in this last part of the Canticle is not recognized at first. When taken in the context of the whole Canticle praising God for His goodness and attributes in various areas of creation, the “godliness” St. Francis indirectly implied helps one to enter the heart of Francis. His was sadness for those who as yet have not realized the joy, peace, love that they have deprived themselves.
The closing words of St. Francis of Assisi’s Canticle of the Creatures present a profound theology of human existence: the human person is called to endure suffering peacefully, to confront mortality without despair, to live according to the will of God, and ultimately to praise the Creator in humility. The lines, Blessed are those who endure in peace, By You Most High, they will be crowned, followed by the praise of Sister Bodily Death, should not be understood simply as a meditation on dying. Rather, they articulate a distinctly Christian vision in which suffering, death, moral responsibility, and praise are gathered into one spiritual drama. Francis transforms experiences that ordinarily provoke fear – conflict, suffering, and death – into opportunities for communion with God.
The first significant idea is the blessing of those who endure in peace. Peace in Franciscan spirituality is not merely the absence of external conflict. It is an interior disposition grounded in trust in God. To endure does not mean passively accepting injustice or refusing to acknowledge suffering. Endurance signifies the spiritual capacity to remain oriented toward the good even when circumstances are painful, uncertain, or apparently unjust. Francis understands peace as something received, a “gift”, by You Most High. Authentic peace is ultimately theological rather than psychological. It does not depend entirely upon human control over circumstances. It arises from confidence that just being alive – existence – possesses a meaning beyond immediate suffering.
The promise that such persons will be crowned urges us to reflect upon the fulfillment of creation when there will be a new heaven and a new earth. Human suffering is placed within the horizon of eternity. The crown symbolizes fulfillment, victory, and participation in divine life. The Christian understanding of endurance differs fundamentally from accepting what you cannot change. Stoicism, as it is called, can emphasize self-mastery and independence from external circumstances, but Franciscan spirituality emphasizes dependence upon God. The person does not conquer suffering through sheer strength but discovers, through grace, how suffering can become a place of fidelity. The crown is consequently not a prize earned through human perfection but the completion of God’s “gift” of a life ordered toward God.
This theological movement prepares for the remarkable phrase, Praised be You, my Lord through Sister Bodily Death. Francis does something intellectually and spiritually radical by calling bodily death Sister. Death is normally imagined as an enemy, an interruption, or the negation of life. Francis does not deny its terror; rather, he places death as another piece of the puzzle of creation. It is part of the vocabulary of creation. If the sun, moon, water, fire, earth, and animals can be understood as brothers and sisters because they belong to the one Creator, then even death can be addressed within the framework of relationship.
Calling death Sister does not mean that death is necessarily good. Christianity maintains a distinction between creation as willed by God and death as an expression of humanity’s fallen condition. Yet Francis refuses to allow death to have the final word. Why, because the Creator is greater than death. Death itself can be incorporated into the mystery of divine providence. The phrase therefore expresses neither romanticism about dying nor indifference toward life. Instead, it represents a profound act of theological reorientation: Francis places death inside the larger reality of God.
The statement that death is from whom no-one living can escape introduces a great truth. Mortality is one of the fundamental conditions of human existence. Regardless of wealth, social status, intellectual achievement, or physical strength, every human being eventually encounters bodily death. Francis therefore confronts the illusion of human total control in all aspects and times of life. The question is about autonomy. Death exposes the limits of possession and control. What a person owns cannot ultimately be taken beyond mortality. What matters is the manner in which one has lived before God.
This insight gives particular significance to the warning, Woe to those who die in mortal sin! Francis immediately distinguishes between two ways of encountering death. The issue is not simply whether one dies, because everyone dies. The deeper question concerns the moral and spiritual condition in which one encounters death. Death reveals the orientation of the human person. A life fundamentally turned away from God cannot be reconciled with the vision of divine communion expressed throughout the Canticle. How sad for one to live in a state that deprives them of the serenity and joy of a deep relationship with Life Himself. Here we understand more the words: Woe to those who die in mortal sin. How sad! How unfortunate! These persons have deprived themselves, until they receive the grace of full forgiveness, of the joy of literally feeling the closeness of the soul with God. Such an intimacy can never be explained or even described completely. It can only be lived. It envelops the person with an inexplicable Presence. Francis’ “woe” is a sadly felt lament for those who failed to recognize the joy just within their reach. He prays they will hear and understand the joy just within reach. This joy would be a sign of the joy that is within the reach of every person.
The phrase Blessed are they whom Death will find in Your Will provides the positive counterpart. The blessed person is not described primarily as intellectually accomplished, materially successful, or socially powerful. The criterion is fidelity to divine will. This is central to Franciscan spirituality. The human person finds freedom not through absolute self-determination but through loving union with God. To do God’s will is to discover one’s proper relationship to the Creator, creation, other people, and oneself.
So it follows that No second death can do them harm, and the phrase deepens this distinction. Physical death is universal, but spiritual death is not inevitable. The language recalls the Christian conviction that separation from God is more serious than biological mortality. A person who dies physically while remaining oriented toward God does not experience death as ultimate destruction. The resurrection of Christ transforms the meaning of death: what appears to be an ending can become passage into fuller life.
St. Francis concludes not with fear but with praise: Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks, and serve Him with great humility. These last words summarize the entire spiritual logic of the Canticle. Praise, thanksgiving, service, and humility are inseparable. The proper response to life in this world is not domination but gratitude. The world is not merely an object available for human use, or worse, exploitation; it is a gift received from the Creator. Likewise, human life is not self-generated possession but a gift whose ultimate meaning lies in relationship with God.
We see then why humility is especially important. Francis does not conclude by claiming that human beings have mastered the mystery of life. Instead, they are called to serve. Humility recognizes both human dignity and human limitation. The human person is valuable because he or she is loved and created by God, yet is not God. Such humility liberates the individual from the illusion that everything must be controlled, possessed, or understood.
Taken together, these verses form a logical and consistent spiritual understanding that the human being is a mortal creature who nevertheless possesses an eternal vocation. Suffering tests fidelity; peace expresses trust; death reveals human dependence; moral action expresses orientation toward God; and humility becomes the appropriate response to the mystery of creation. Francis does not escape the realities of suffering and death by denying them. He transforms their meaning through faith.
The deepest message of the last words of the Canticle is therefore that Christian hope does not consist in avoiding mortality but in learning how to live faithfully within mortality. To endure in peace, to accept Sister Bodily Death, to reject mortal sin, to do God’s Will, and to serve with humility are dimensions of a single spiritual vocation. Francis ultimately teaches that the meaning of life is not found in conquering death but in living so completely in relationship with God that death itself cannot destroy that relationship. The final word is consequently praise: not because suffering and death are insignificant, but because neither possesses the power to overcome the love and life of the Creator.
Surrendering life to the Creator opens the heart view to a panorama of light, beauty, love, grace that otherwise would be in the cloudy oblivion of uncertainty and fear. Every prayer of trust is a little surrender. Every time we place another person’s needs before our own, we are learning the freedom of love. In this sense, Francis’s final words in the Canticle are a meditation not on death but really a meditation on discipleship. And that carries a promise that: No second death can do them harm, pointing beyond physical death toward the deeper spiritual reality of eternal life.
This is where the entire Canticle reaches its climax. Francis has been praising creation, but creation itself is not God. Everything points beyond itself. Creation is a sign. The created world teaches us gratitude, humility, dependence, wonder, and praise. But ultimately all created things are passing. The sun rises and sets. Flowers bloom and wither. Seasons change. Our bodies grow old. Relationships change. Life moves toward death. And still God remains.
Therefore, the final lesson of the Canticle is not simply to appreciate creation. It is to pass through creation toward the Creator. Francis’s vision is profoundly incarnational. He does not despise the material world. He loves it because it reveals God’s generosity. Yet he never confuses the gift with the Giver. This is perhaps why the last words are so simple: Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks, and serve Him with great humility.
For the beginning and the end of everything is God. And in God, even death cannot have the final word. Amen.
Peace and Blessings
Fr. Francis A. Sariego, O.F.M. Cap.
Regional Spiritual Assistant
Posted By Terri Leone, on August 30th, 2026 So sorry the link I sent the other day regarding “The Easter of Francis” didn’t work. Sorry for the inconvenience if you tried it and received an error message.
The one below works for me today so it should work for you as well.
Peace,
Terri
https://www.secularfranciscansusa.org/centenary-resources-the-easter-of-francis-of-assisi/
Posted By Terri Leone, on August 29th, 2026 Have you visited the Centenary pages for “The Easter of St. Francis” on our National website recently?
https://www.secularfranciscansusa.org/centenary-resour…rancis-of-assisi/
Some new items have been added that you might be able to use. Check it out!
Posted By Terri Leone, on August 12th, 2026 Peace and Joy!
Current/Up to Date “Regional Forms” may be found in right hand column in the alphabetical list under “Regional Documents, Procedures, etc.”
Please do not use forms listed with “Section 2 Regional Handbook” Thanks.
Posted By Teresa Redder, on August 11th, 2026 JOYFUL GOSPEL LIVING
August 9, 2026
“I wait for the Lord; my soul waits for His Word.”
Two weeks ago, my husband Jeff and I left on a trip to WV and KY. First, we stopped to visit our grandson at the National Scouting Jamboree in WV. In planning this trip, we visited the National Park Service website to see what new place we could visit in this part of the country. Searching by state, we found the Cumberland Gap National Historic Park in Middleboro, KY.
When we arrived at the Visitor Center, we went to the theater to watch a movie about the history of this area. Both of us were delighted to learn that this was the rugged terrain that Daniel Boone, the frontiersman, had explored and then led settlers through the Cumberland Gap in 1775 to homestead in new locations.
After leaving the Visitor Center, we drove to Pinnacle Overlook, where there was a trail that took us across the state line into VA. When we reached the lookout area, we could see VA, TN, and KY in rugged majesty. As we scanned the panoramic views, we could see caves overlooking deep gorges, surrounded by dense forest.
In this weekend’s first reading, the Prophet Elijah hides in a cave on Mount Horeb after a 40-day journey. He feared for his life after Jezebel threatened to kill him. Perhaps Elijah remembered the same words from Psalm 130 that are in our Gospel acclamation: “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits for His Word.”
After reading this passage, I remembered the caves that we had seen there in the Cumberland Gap, and I found myself wondering what fears those early settlers had as they trailblazed across the treacherous forest paths to find new places for settlement. In separate incidents, Daniel Boone lost two of his young sons to attacks by Native Americans. When settlers took refuge in caves, were they afraid? Did their faith carry them through times of loss and uncertainty?
As Elijah hid in that cave, the LORD told him to go and stand on the mountain because the LORD would be passing by. What did Elijah think when he heard the “strong and heavy wind…rending the mountains and crushing rocks”? As if that kind of wind wasn’t terrifying enough, then there was an earthquake, followed by fire! The LORD was not there. It was only when he heard the tiny whispering sound that Elijah hid his face in his cloak and waited for the LORD.
In the Gospel, St. Matthew tells us that Jesus sent His disciples ahead in a boat while He went up the mountain to pray. After they were a few miles from shore, a frightful storm came up, and they were being tossed around. Again, we can only imagine the fear that they must have felt as the wind relentlessly drove against them. Their terror only increased, though, when they saw Jesus walking on the water towards them, thinking He was a ghost!
Unlike the parables that we have heard recently, this Gospel account is a true story of Jesus and His followers. It is a crucial test of faith. When the situation became difficult and frightening, Jesus came to them and even invited Peter to walk to Him on the water. When Peter did that, he let the fierce wind distract and frighten him again, and he started to sink. When Jesus caught him with His hand, He addressed Peter’s lack of faith and questioned why he doubted. After Jesus and Peter were back in the boat, the terror of the wind subsided.
“Saint Clare Rescuing the Shipwrecked” by Giovanni de Paolo (c. 1445-1460)
Sometimes, we face difficulties and think that we need to control events. In many situations, it is true that we must be prepared for where we are going and what we will be doing. However, there will be times when we are tested and challenged, like Elijah and the disciples, and we will not always have in our own power what it takes to prevail. We may experience fear similar to those we heard about this weekend. This is what John Newton captured in the song “Amazing Grace” (verse 2) when he wrote:
“ ‘twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace my fears relieved;
how precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed!”
There are times in our lives when we are fearful, too. While we were on our trip to KY, a Secular Franciscan friend on Facebook asked for prayers for her brother and his family, who were affected by the forest fires in Spokane, WA. Several thousand residents of that area were evacuated due to immediate fire danger, and many people lost their homes. Due to a change in wind direction, the fire wondrously did not continue its destructive path. Similarly, the images of rampant fires in Spain, France, and Greece drove hundreds of thousands of people to seek safe havens. How would faith sustain people through such uncertainty?
Through faith, we develop a trusting relationship with God that enables us to hope for what we may not be able to see clearly when we are in distress or fear. During those times, we strengthen our awareness of God’s unwavering and merciful presence through prayer. God is there, as He promised Elijah and as Jesus showed His disciples. The responsorial psalm invites us to entreat our loving God confidently:
“Lord, let us see Your kindness…”
Teresa S. Redder, OFS
Saint Katharine Drexel Regional Minister
Posted By Teresa Redder, on July 31st, 2026 St. Katherine Drexel Regional Fraternity
Regional Spiritual Assistant
St. Francis of Assisi Friary
1901 Prior Road
Wilmington, Delaware 19809
tel: (302) 798-1454 fax: (302) 798-3360 website: skdsfo email: pppgusa@gmail.com
August 2026
I come, O Lord, unto Your sanctuary to see the life and food of my soul.
As I hope in You, O Lord, inspire me with that confidence which brings me to Your holy mountain.
Permit me, Divine Jesus, to come closer to You,
that my whole soul may do homage to the greatness of Your majesty;
that my heart, with its tenderest affections, may acknowledge Thine infinite love;
that my memory may dwell on the admirable mysteries here renewed every day,
and that the sacrifice of my whole being may accompany Thine.
What you hold may you always hold.
What you do, may you always do and never abandon.
But with swift pace, light step and unswerving feet,
so that even your steps stir up no dust,
Go forward, the spirit of our God has called you
St. Clare of Assisi – Prayer and Gentle Reminder
Excerpts from Franciscan Sources – Assisi Compilation #111- #115
Daily quotes from sayings of various writers
110 – HE IS CONSOLED AT THE PORTIUNCULA BY SISTER CRICKET
1 – One time during summer blessed Francis was at that same place and he stayed in the last cell next to the hedge of the garden behind the house, where, after his death, Brother Raineri, the gardener, stayed. It happened that one day, as he came down from that little cell, there was a cricket within on the branch of the fig tree next to that cell, and he could touch it.
– Peace. This word sums up every good to which every person and every human society aspires.
2 – Stretching out his hand, he said: “Sister Cricket, come to me.” The cricket immediately climbed onto the fingers of his hand, and with a finger of his other hand, he began to touch it, saying: “Sing, my Sister Cricket.” It obeyed him at once and began to chirp. This consoled blessed Francis greatly and he praised God. He held it in his hand that way for more than an hour. Afterward he put it back on the branch of the fig tree from which he had taken it.
– There is much that we can do to benefit the poor, the needy and those who suffer, and to favor justice, promote reconciliation and build peace.
3 – And in the same way, for eight days constantly, when he came down from the cell, he found it in the same place. And daily he would take it in his hand, and as soon as he told it to sing, touching it, it sang. After eight days, he said to his companions: “Let us give permission to our sister cricket to go where she wants. She has consoled us enough; and the flesh might vainglory from this.”
– God judges us by loving us. If I embrace His love then I am saved, if I refuse it, then I am condemned, not by Him, but my own self, because God never condemns, He only loves and saves.
4 – As soon as it had received permission, the cricket went away and never appeared there again. His companions admired how obedient and tame she was to him.
– Freedom is given to us so that we know how to make good decisions in life.
5 – Blessed Francis found so much joy in creatures because of love of the Creator, to console him in his inner and outer self, that the Lord made even those that are wild to people become tame to him.
– I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a Church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security.
111 – HE ENDURES THE COLD IN A HERMITAGE NEAR RIETI BECAUSE HE WANTS TO BE A MODEL TO THE OTHER BROTHERS
6 – At one time blessed Francis was staying at the hermitage of Sant’Eleuterio, near the town of Condigliano in the district of Rieti. Since he was wearing only one tunic, one day because of the extreme cold, and out of great necessity, he patched his tunic and that of his companion with scraps of cloth on the inside, so that his body began to be comforted a little.
– God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking His mercy.
7 – A short while afterwards, when he was returning from prayer one day, he said with great joy to his companion: “I must be the form and example of all the brothers; so, although it is necessary for my body to have a tunic with patches, nevertheless I must take into consideration my brothers who have the same need, but perhaps do not and cannot have this.
– Even if the life of a person has been a disaster… God is in this person’s life. You can, you must try to seek God in every human life.
8 – Therefore, I must stay down with them, and I must suffer those same necessities they suffer so that in seeing this, they may be able to bear them more patiently.”
– Before all else, the Gospel invites us to respond to the God of love who saves us, to see God in others, and to go forth from ourselves to seek the good of others.
9 – We who were with him could not say how many and how great were the necessities that he denied his body in food and clothing, to give good example to the brothers and so that they would endure their necessities in greater patience. At all times, especially after the brothers began to multiply and he resigned the office of prelate, blessed Francis had as his highest and principal goal to teach the brothers more by actions than by words what they ought to do and what they ought to avoid.
– Love is more powerful, love gives life, love makes hope blossom in the wilderness.
112 – HE IS SADDENED BY THE BROTHERS’ BAD EXAMPLE; THE LORD ASKS: “TELL ME, WHO FOUNDED THE ORDER OF THE BROTHERS?”
10 – Noticing and hearing at one time that some brothers were giving a bad example in religion and that the brothers were turning aside from the highest summit of their profession, moved inwardly with sorrow of heart, one time he said to the Lord in prayer: “Lord I give back to you the family You gave me.”
– All it takes is one good person to restore hope.
11 – And the Lord said to him: “Tell me, why are you so upset when one of the brothers leaves religion and when others do not walk the way I showed you? Also tell me: Who planted the religion of the brothers? Who makes a man convert and to do penance in it? Who gives the strength to persevere in it? Is it not I?”
– You pray for the hungry. Then you feed them. That’s how prayer works.
12 – And it was said to him in spirit: “I did not choose you as a learned or eloquent man to be over my family, but I chose you, a simple man, so that you and the others may know that I will watch over my flock.
– Holiness doesn’t mean doing extraordinary things, but doing ordinary things with love and faith.
13 – But I have placed you as a sign to them, so that the works that I work in you, they should see in you, emulate, and do them. Those who walk in my way have me and will have me more abundantly.
– Let us learn to live with kindness, to love everyone, even when they do not love us
14 – Those who refuse to walk in my way, that which they seem to have will be taken away from them. Therefore, I tell you, don’t be so sad; do what you do, work as you work, for I have planted the religion of the brothers in everlasting love.
– Human dignity is the same for all human beings: when I trample on the dignity of another, I am trampling on my own.
15 – Know that I love it so much that if any brother, returning to his vomit, dies outside religion I will replace him with another in religion who will have his crown in his place, and supposing that he has not been born, I will have him born. And so that you know that I love the life and religion of the brothers, suppose that in the whole life and religion of the brothers only three brothers remained: I would never abandon it.”
– Embrace with tender affection the whole of humanity, especially the poorest, the weakest, the least important.
16 – These words greatly comforted the mind of blessed Francis, for he was immensely saddened when he heard anything about bad example regarding the brothers.
– I believe in God, not in a Catholic God; there is no Catholic God. There is God, and I believe in Jesus Christ, His incarnation.”
17 – Although he could not totally restrain himself from becoming sad when he heard of something evil, nevertheless, after being comforted by the Lord in this way, he remembered this and spoke to his companions about it.
– Jesus on the cross feels the whole weight of the evil, and with the force of God’s love, He conquers it; He defeats it with His resurrection.
18 – Therefore blessed Francis often used to say to the brothers in chapters and also in his words of instruction: “I have sworn and declared to observe the Rule of the brothers and all the brothers also pledged the same. For this reason, after I resigned the office among the brothers, because of my illnesses and for the greater good of my soul and those of all the brothers, from now on I am bound in regard to the brothers only to show good example.
– Situations can change; people can change. Be the first to seek to bring good. Do not grow accustomed to evil, but defeat it with good.
19 – “I learned that from the Lord and know in truth that even if my illness had excused me, the greatest help I can render to the religion of the brothers is to spend time in prayer to the Lord for it everyday, that He govern, preserve, protect, and defend it.
– This is the struggle of every person: be free or be a slave.
20 – I have pledged myself to this, to the Lord and to the brothers, that if any one of the brothers perishes because of my bad example, I will be held to render an account to the Lord.”
– No one can grow if he does not accept his smallness.
21 – And even though from time to time a brother would tell him that he should occasionally put himself forward in the affairs of the religion, he used to reply with words like these: “The brothers have their Rule, and furthermore have sworn to it.
– Living together is an art. It’s a patient art, it’s a beautiful art, it’s fascinating.
22 – And so that they have no excuse, after it pleased the Lord to decide that I would be their prelate, I also swore to it in their presence and I want to observe it to the end.
– It is not ‘progressive’ to try to resolve problems by eliminating a human life.
23 – So, since the brothers already know what they should do and what to avoid, the only thing left for me to do is to teach them by actions, because this is why I have been given to them during my life and after my death.
– Kindness is firm and persevering intention to always will the good of others, even the unfriendly.
113 – HE IS ASHAMED TO MEET SOMEONE POORER THAN HIMSELF
24 – It happened once when blessed Francis was going about preaching in some region he met a poor man. Noticing his dire poverty, he said to his companion: “This man’s poverty brings great shame on us; it passes judgment on our poverty.”
– Too often we participate in the globalization of indifference. May we strive instead to live global solidarity.
25 – “How so, brother?” his companion replied. “I am greatly ashamed,” he answered, when I find someone poorer than myself. I chose holy poverty as my Lady, my delight and my riches of spirit and body. And the whole world has heard this news, that I professed poverty before God and people. Therefore, I ought to be ashamed when I come upon someone poorer than myself.”
– We must restore hope to young people, help the old, be open to the future, spread love. Be poor among the poor. We need to include the excluded and preach peace.
114 – HE CORRECTS A BROTHER WHO RASHLY JUDGED A POOR MAN
26 – When blessed Francis went to a hermitage of the brothers near Rocca di Brizio to preach to the people of that region, it happened that on the very day that he was to preach, a poor sick man came to him. When he saw him and noticed his poverty and illness, he was moved to piety for him and he began to speak to his companion placing the bread and wine on it, and, while they are eating, humbly and joyfully wait on them.
– We received this world as an inheritance from past generations, but also as a loan from future generations, to whom we will have to return it!
27 – After the meal, speak to them some words of the Lord. Finally, for the love of the Lord, ask them for this first request make them promise you that they will not strike anyone or injure anyone’s person. Do not ask for everything all at once, or they will not listen to you. Because of the humility and charity you show them, they will at once make you this promise.
– God always forgives, we men forgive sometimes, but nature never forgives. If you give her a slap, she will give you one. I believe that we have exploited nature too much.
28 – The next day, get up and, because of the promise they made to you, besides eggs and cheese, bring them the bread and wine, and take these to them, and wait on them while they eat. After the meal, say to them: ‘Why do you stay here all day long, dying of hunger, suffering many evil things and in your actions doing many evil things for which you will lose your souls unless you are converted?
– From my point of view, God is the light that illuminates the darkness, even if it does not dissolve it, and a spark of divine light is within each of us.
29 – It is better to serve the Lord, who will both supply your bodily needs in this world and save your souls in the end.’ Then the Lord in His mercy will inspire them to convert and they will be converted because of the humility and charity you show them.” So, the brothers got up and did everything as blessed Francis told them.
– It is impossible for peace to exist without dialogue. All the wars, all the strife, all the unsolved problems over which we clash are due to a lack of dialogue. When there is a problem, talk: this makes peace.
29 – And by the mercy of God and His grace which descended on them, those men listened and observed to the letter point by point all the requests which the brothers asked of them. Further, because of the friendliness and charity the brothers showed them, they began carrying wood on their shoulders to the hermitage.
– Life is a journey. When we stop, things don’t go right.
30 – By the mercy of God, through the charity and friendliness that the brothers showed them, some entered religion, others embraced penance, promising in the hands of the brothers no longer to commit these evil deeds, but to live by the work of their hands.
– It is impossible for peace to exist without dialogue. All the wars, all the strife, all the unsolved problems over which we clash are due to a lack of dialogue.
31 – The brothers and others who heard or knew about this, were quite amazed, as they reflected on the holiness of blessed Francis, how he had predicted the conversion of these men who had been perfidious sand wicked, and how quickly they converted to the Lord.
– Grace is not part of consciousness; it is the amount of light in our souls, not knowledge nor reason.
Peace and Blessings
Fr. Francis A. Sariego, O.F.M. Cap.
Regional Spiritual Assistant
Posted By Teresa Redder, on July 31st, 2026 St. Katherine Drexel Regional Fraternity
Regional Spiritual Assistant
St. Francis of Assisi Friary
1901 Prior Road
Wilmington, Delaware 19809
tel: (302) 798-1454 fax: (302) 798-3360 website: skdsfo email: pppgusa@gmail.com
August 2026
Dear Sisters and Brothers in St. Francis,
The Lord give you His peace
Through the gift of His presence in the beauty of creation
And in the wonderful image and likeness
Of our Creator in each one of us!
The Canticle of the Creatures stands as one of the most enlightening gifts that Saint Francis of Assisi offered to the Church and to the world. It is not merely a poem celebrating the beauty of creation. It is the song of a man whose heart had been transformed by grace, purified through suffering, and enlarged by forgiveness. It was composed near the end of Francis’ earthly life when blindness, illness, misunderstanding, and physical weakness had become his daily companions. Humanly speaking, he had every reason to lament. Yet instead he praised. His song emerged not from comfort but from communion, not from success but from surrender. It teaches every Franciscan that genuine praise does not ignore suffering but embraces it through trust in the goodness of God.
Francis learned to see creation not as an object to possess but as a family to receive. Brother Sun, Sister Moon, Brother Wind, Sister Water, Brother Fire, Sister Mother Earth, and finally Sister Bodily Death were not poetic devices created for literary beauty alone. They were expressions of a profound spiritual vision. Francis no longer stood above creation as its master. He stood within creation as a brother. Everything that existed pointed beyond itself to the Creator, and everything reflected something of God’s generosity. To call the sun “Brother” and the earth “Mother” was not sentimentality. It was an acknowledgment that all creatures have their origin in the same loving Father.
Yet there is a remarkable movement within the Canticle that deserves particular attention. After praising the visible elements of creation, Francis unexpectedly turns toward human relationships. He blesses those who forgive. Praised be You, my Lord, through those who give pardon for Your love and bear infirmity and tribulation. This verse is not an interruption of the Canticle. It is its climax. The harmony of creation reaches its fullest expression when human beings are reconciled with one another. The beauty of the sun and the stars finds its fulfillment in the beauty of mercy. Francis understood that a fractured human heart cannot fully join the song of creation until it has learned forgiveness.
Forgiveness is therefore not simply one Christian virtue among many. It is the restoration of creation’s original harmony. Sin introduced division into the world. Humanity became separated from God, from one another, from creation, and even from itself. Every refusal to forgive deepens these fractures. Every act of mercy becomes a participation in God’s work of recreating the world. The Canticle invites us to hear that work taking place around us continually. Every sunrise proclaims the faithfulness of God. Every stream speaks of His generosity. Every gentle breeze whispers His tenderness. But perhaps the clearest proclamation of God’s presence is found whenever one wounded heart forgives another.
Francis did not write these words from theory. His entire life had become an apprenticeship in forgiveness. Long before he embraced lepers, rebuilt churches, or gathered companions around him, he had known the wounds of family conflict. His relationship with his father, Pietro Bernardone, remains one of the defining stories of his conversion. Pietro was a successful cloth merchant, ambitious for his son and eager that Francis should inherit both his business and his social standing. Francis, however, found himself increasingly captivated by another inheritance. The Gospel awakened within him desires that no earthly wealth could satisfy.
The conflict between father and son became public and painful. Pietro believed Francis had betrayed his family, squandered property, and dishonored the expectations placed upon him. Francis had sold cloth and given the proceeds to repair the Church of San Damiano. Pietro demanded restitution and sought legal judgment against his son. Before the bishop of Assisi, Francis did something extraordinary. He returned not only the money but even the clothes he wore. Standing naked before those assembled, he declared that from that moment he could say only, Our Father who art in heaven, for he no longer belonged to Pietro Bernardone but entirely to God.
This dramatic gesture has often been remembered as the moment of Francis’ radical poverty. Indeed, it was. Yet it must also be understood as an act of freedom from bitterness. Francis did not reject his father because he hated him. He surrendered everything because he wished to belong wholly to Christ. There is a profound difference between renunciation born of anger and renunciation born of love. Francis did not spend the remainder of his life condemning Pietro. He did not define himself by his father’s rejection. He did not carry resentment as a hidden possession after relinquishing every visible possession.
The temptation would have been understandable. Few wounds cut more deeply than those inflicted within families. The longing for parental approval remains one of the strongest desires of the human heart. To be misunderstood by one’s own father can become a lifelong burden. Yet Francis refused to allow that wound to become the center of his identity. His identity rested instead in being the beloved son of the heavenly Father. Because he discovered this deeper sonship, he became capable of forgiving the earthly father who had failed to understand him.
Forgiveness does not erase memory. Francis undoubtedly remembered every painful conversation, every accusation, every misunderstanding. Forgiveness transforms memory by removing the poison that would otherwise continue to flow from it. The past remains, but it no longer dictates the future. The wound remains visible, yet it becomes a place where grace is revealed rather than resentment.
The traditions surrounding the final years of Pietro Bernardone suggest that reconciliation did eventually occur. Whether every historical detail can be verified is less important than recognizing the unmistakable direction of Francis’ heart. Nothing in his life suggests lingering hostility. Everything points toward mercy. The man who embraced lepers, reconciled feuding civic leaders, and blessed those who forgave for love of God could hardly have excluded his own father from that mercy. Francis’ life itself became the commentary on the verse he later inserted into the Canticle.
This should speak powerfully to every Franciscan today. It is possible to profess poverty while remaining rich in resentments. It is possible to embrace simplicity while carrying complicated grudges. One may wear the habit, recite the Divine Office, serve the poor, and yet preserve old injuries within the heart. Francis would recognize such contradictions immediately. True poverty includes surrendering the illusion that we possess the right to nurse hatred. Forgiveness becomes one more form of evangelical poverty because it relinquishes our claim to revenge and entrusts justice to God.
The Canticle reminds us that creation itself never ceases giving. The sun does not withhold its light because humanity has sinned. The rain does not refuse the fields because people have become selfish. Water continues to serve. Fire continues to warm. Earth continues to nourish. All creation reflects the lavish generosity of God. Human forgiveness participates in that same divine generosity. We forgive not because others deserve it but because God continues pouring His goodness upon those who have not deserved it, including ourselves.
This does not make forgiveness easy. Francis never suggested that mercy ignores suffering. The verse about forgiveness is joined immediately to bearing infirmity and tribulation. The two belong together. Only those who have suffered know the true cost of forgiving. Cheap forgiveness denies pain. Christian forgiveness acknowledges pain fully while refusing to let pain have the final word. It is not passive resignation. It is active participation in the Cross of Christ.
Francis understood that the Crucified Lord remained the measure of every act of forgiveness. The one who prayed before the crucifix at San Damiano spent his life contemplating the God who forgave while being rejected. Christ did not wait until humanity became worthy before extending mercy. He loved first. He forgave first. Francis learned that every disciple must enter the same pattern. To forgive is to imitate the crucified Christ, whose love proved stronger than violence, betrayal, and death itself.
There is another dimension of forgiveness that Francis quietly teaches. Forgiveness also restores our ability to praise. Hearts consumed by resentment cannot truly sing. They may recite prayers, but their praise remains restrained by the weight of unresolved anger. The Canticle emerged from a heart that had become spacious enough to include every creature because it excluded bitterness. Praise and forgiveness belong together because both arise from gratitude. The forgiven person becomes forgiving. The forgiving person becomes joyful. The joyful person becomes capable of praising God in every circumstance.
Our contemporary world often encourages another path. We are taught to preserve grievances as badges of identity. Injuries become defining narratives. Social divisions deepen because forgiveness appears weak or unrealistic. Francis offers a radically different witness. Strength is revealed not through domination but through mercy. Freedom is found not in winning every conflict but in surrendering hatred. Peace begins not with changing others but with allowing Christ to heal our own hearts.
Franciscan fraternity depends upon this truth. No community can survive without forgiveness. Differences in personality, misunderstandings, failures, disappointments, and human weakness inevitably arise wherever people live together. The question is not whether conflicts will occur but whether mercy will be stronger than conflict. Francis knew this from experience. Even among his beloved brothers there were tensions and disagreements. Yet he continually recalled them to humility, mutual service, and reconciliation. The fraternity existed not because everyone was perfect but because everyone depended upon the mercy of God.
The same applies to the wider human family. When Francis crossed battle lines to meet the Sultan, he demonstrated that dialogue begins with seeing another person first as a fellow creature loved by God. Forgiveness creates the possibility of encounters that fear would otherwise prevent. It breaks the endless cycle in which injury produces retaliation and retaliation produces deeper injury. Mercy interrupts history’s habit of repeating violence.
As Franciscans contemplate the Canticle today, we may ask ourselves whether our praise extends as far as Francis’ praise. It is easy to bless God for beautiful sunsets. It is more difficult to bless Him through those who forgive. Yet Francis deliberately included them because he knew that reconciled humanity is among God’s most beautiful creations. Every act of forgiveness becomes another verse in the ongoing canticle of creation. Every restored relationship adds another harmony to the song of the universe.
Francis’ forgiveness of Pietro Bernardone becomes especially significant because it reveals that holiness begins close to home. It is easier to forgive humanity in the abstract than particular people whose words have wounded us deeply. The father who misunderstood him represented not merely one difficult relationship but the deepest personal trial of Francis’ early life. By forgiving there, Francis learned to forgive everywhere. The grace received in one relationship expanded until it embraced all creation.
The Canticle concludes by praising those who endure in peace and those whom Sister Death finds living in God’s grace. There is profound wisdom here. Death cannot frighten those who have already surrendered resentment. They have died daily to pride, vengeance, and possessiveness. They have learned that nothing truly belongs to them except the love they have received from God and shared with others. Such people can welcome Sister Death because they have already entered the freedom of the Kingdom.
Francis leaves us not simply with beautiful words but with a demanding invitation. He asks us to look upon creation with reverence, upon suffering with trust, upon enemies with mercy, and upon God with unending praise. He reminds us that forgiveness is not separate from contemplation but one of its highest expressions. The contemplative heart sees the world as God sees it, and God always sees beyond sin toward redemption. To forgive is therefore to participate in the very vision of God.
May we learn from Francis that every creature points us toward the Creator, every wound can become a place of grace, every relationship can be touched by mercy, and every act of forgiveness restores something of the original harmony for which creation longs. May we discover that the Canticle is not only a hymn to the beauty of the world but also a summons to become instruments of reconciliation within it. Then our lives, like the life of the Poor Man of Assisi, will become living songs in which Brother Sun shines more brightly because hatred has been relinquished, Sister Water flows more clearly because bitterness has been washed away, and every human heart becomes capable of joining the eternal praise of the Father through the Son in the joy of the Holy Spirit.
What a wonderful legacy we have been left in the charism of the Poverello of Assisi! If only we would realize the power that what we believe has in transforming each person! Charism is a “gift” that is freely given by God to envelop us with His love and encourage us to let go and let God lift us above and beyond the mundane and enter an experience that only grace can offer.
Peace and Blessings
Fr. Francis A. Sariego, O.F.M. Cap.
Regional Spiritual Assistant
NB-There is no reliable source to date that speaks of a formal forgiveness and acceptance of forgiveness between Francis and Pietro. Francis’ actions speak of a forgiveness granted by his interaction with all creation, people included, thus, even to his father who in the sources seems never to have formally asked or accepted forgiveness of his son.
Posted By Teresa Redder, on July 25th, 2026 JOYFUL GOSPEL LIVING
“We know that all things work for good for those who love God…”
This weekend, the Church celebrates the 6th World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, inspired by the feast day of Saints Joachim and Anna, the grandparents of Jesus (July 26th). What a great opportunity this is to cherish the faith traditions that our grandparents passed on to their families!
Until I left home at age 22 for my first USAF assignment, I had the blessing of sharing life with my paternal grandparents (#10 of their 16 grandchildren). They lived around the block from us, so it was very easy to make a daily visit to them. There was always a special treat waiting at the house for us, like cooked chocolate pudding with real whipped cream. 😊
As Polish immigrants, my grandparents brought their strong faith heritage with them as they settled into a new community at age 17, married each other at age 20, and raised a family of nine children. In their daily prayer life and their ministry to others through the Altar-Rosary and Holy Name Societies, they embodied what St. Paul shared with the Romans: “We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.”
Every year, my grandparents made a special visit to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Doylestown, PA, for the celebration of the feast of St. Anne. Because they did not drive, my Dad would take all of us to this special place. All of the grandchildren could see our grandparents’ great love of God through the stories that they told us and the traditions that they shared.
When the late Pope Francis introduced this new celebration for the Church, it made me so happy to read about how greatly his own spiritual life was influenced by both his maternal and paternal grandparents. Their lives had been marked by many challenges, especially by World War I and then being immigrants from Italy in Argentina.
When my grandmother would tell us stories from the Bible, she always asked us to close our eyes and imagine that we were there. Her favorite stories were about the Holy Family. When we took time to imagine like that, I wondered if Jesus knew the same love of His grandparents that I had with mine: kind, loving, attentive, wise, generous, and joyful. What did Jesus learn from Sts. Joachim and Anna?
Art by Br. Mickey McGrath, OSFS
(“Jesus Has a Sleepover with His Grandparents”)
In his Message for the 6th World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly, Pope Leo XIV chose to reflect on Isaiah 49:15: “I will not forget you.” For many generations, those words from Scripture have offered hope and comfort, especially to those who may have felt abandoned by others. The Holy Father wrote:
“The celebration of the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly is an opportunity to rediscover that the Church is called to be a mother to all and that at any age it is always possible to recognize ourselves as sons and daughters of God. May this day, therefore, be an inspiration for everyone, especially the young, to revive the beautiful custom of visiting their grandparents, the elderly members of the family and even those who have no one to visit them. Bring them, through this message and your presence, the closeness and affection of the Pope. Ensure that the words of the prophet, ‘But I will never forget you,’ take the form of a tender and affectionate encounter.”
In our daily living, we may find many challenges to overcome with family members, our employment, our community living, and national/international events. Do we believe that “all things work for good for those who love God”? It requires faith and trust. Like this weekend’s Gospel reading, we have to appreciate the presence of the Kingdom of heaven and its value to us relative to the others things in our lives. What have we learned from the elderly about those values? How shall we thank them?
When Jeff and I visited Vietnam and Cambodia in January, we had daily excursions with young adult tour guides who shared their country’s culture and history with us. A consistent value that they shared was the role of grandparents in their lives and how many households had elderly family members living with them. One of our tour guides told us that because both of his parents were supportive of the South Vietnamese government during the war, they were executed, and he and his siblings were raised by their grandparents from a young age. He spoke of their courage and fidelity with such tenderness and respect, admitting that it was now his responsibility to pass on those values to his own children.
In cultures that have a great respect for the elderly, there is a shared honor paid to the wisdom of their years, formed by virtues, integrity, and fidelity. In the first reading, God appeared to Solomon when he was still a young man facing a challenging future. In a dream, God told him that He would give Solomon anything that he asked. The king’s answer greatly pleased God, who told him: “I give you a heart so wise and understanding that there has never been anyone like you up to now, and after you there will come no one to equal you.”
This weekend’s celebration of grandparents and the elderly gives us an opportunity to pay attention to those who may be lonely or in fragile states. They have so much to teach us, as we draw hope through shared encounters that God will not forget us. Solomon teaches us the petition that leads to wisdom:
“Give Your servant then an understanding heart.”
Teresa S. Redder, OFS
Saint Katharine Drexel Regional Minister
Posted By Teresa Redder, on July 1st, 2026 JOYFUL GOSPEL LIVING (June 2026)
“Living for God in Christ Jesus.”
At their Annual Plenary Session in Orlando, FL (June 10-12), the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) consecrated the USA to the Sacred Heart of Jesus after concluding a 9-day novena to the Sacred Heart. Bishop O’Connell visited Sacred Heart Parish (Mount Holly, NJ) on May 31st to lead us in this beautiful consecration. On June 3rd, our parish started the novena at our daily 7:00 and 8:30 AM Masses.
As the USA prepared to observe the 250th anniversary of Independence Day, the bishops likewise offered a focus for Catholics called “We Hold These Truths.” Although St. Paul wrote this weekend’s epistle to the Romans, it also speaks powerfully to the truths for all who believe in Christ today. What would our country be like if we truly lived for God in Christ Jesus?
In the news and special TV broadcasts for America’s 250th, we hear about both familiar and unknown stories about the founding of our country. Many of the earliest settlers to the colonies came to seek refuge from religious persecution, including Catholics. The bishops opened a doorway for us to explore living in Christ Jesus at this link:
https://www.usccb.org/weholdthesetruths
The America 250 video series offers five episodes of how Catholics contributed to the history of the US:
- Episode 1: Catholics and the Founding
- Episode 2: Immigration
- Episode 3: Devotions and Liturgy
- Episode 4: Healthcare
- Episode 5: Chaplains
It is never easy to live for God in Christ Jesus because the world’s ways are not always God’s ways.
At the bottom of the link for “We Hold These Truths,” there are links for resources to participate in 250 Hours of Adoration and 250 Works of Mercy. In the resource for the works of mercy, the bishops tell us:
“As the United States of America commemorates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, the U.S. bishops will consecrate the country to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. All Catholics are encouraged to join the bishops in praying for the unity and healing of our country. One opportunity for parishes and individuals to participate is by contributing to a collective 250 Hours of Adoration and 250 Works of Mercy. The seven Corporal Works of Mercy come to us directly from the Scriptures in the Gospel of Matthew. Rooted in our lives of faith, the actions that Jesus calls us to in feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, sheltering the homeless, visiting the sick and imprisoned, burying the dead, and giving alms are central elements of our Catholic identity. Pope Leo XIV instructs in Dilexi Te, ‘As we contemplate Christ’s love, ‘we too are inspired to be more attentive to the sufferings and needs of others, and confirmed in our efforts to share in His work of liberation as instruments for the spread of His love’ (no. 2).”
Here were some suggestions for how to serve:
- Assist women who face a crisis pregnancy;
- Donate to food pantries and clothing closets;
- Participate in a community beautification program;
- Raise money for an overseas development project;
- Sponsor a refugee family;
- Tutor children;
- Volunteer at homeless shelters.
Where is God calling us to live for Him in Christ Jesus? Where will we find Jesus when we show mercy?
One of my favorite activities as an OCIA catechist is to share perspectives on Catholic Social Teaching (CST) with people who are in formation to enter the Church. As Catholics, our living for God is grounded in both Sacred Scripture and the teachings of the Magisterium. The USCCB website has excellent resources to reflect on social teaching:
https://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catholic-social-teaching/seven-themes-of-catholic-social-teaching
Living in a democracy, we value the truths that our founding leaders captured in the US Constitution, an enduring blueprint for liberty and justice for all. Through the lens of CST, it is Jesus who encourages us to live our faith more deliberately. As the 4th of July approaches, there is an opportunity for us to look farther than just fireworks and historical commemoratives. As our country moves on toward the Tricentennial, how will we shape a better future that begins with the consideration of the life and dignity of the human person?
On the bishops’ link for the Seven Themes of CST, the first theme reminds us “that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society.” In his first encyclical on artificial intelligence, Pope Leo XIV took great care to address the potential for both the good and the harm of society when technology rapidly advances and fails to consider the life and dignity of human beings.
Image by Br. Mickey McGrath, OSFS, for USCCB Catholic Social Teaching
I have enjoyed exploring the “More” links for each of the seven themes because there is always a beautiful artwork by local artist Br, Mickey McGrath, OSFS, Scripture references that reinforce the theme, an insight into our Catholic tradition, a CST short video, and a downloadable prayer card for each theme. Prayer helps us greatly to live in Christ Jesus, as we see in the Life and Dignity Prayer:
“God of all life, help us to appreciate the great gift that is human life formed in Your image, a reflection of Your holiness. Help us to recognize You in all whom You have created: children not yet born, families affected by poverty and war, people of different abilities, people from other lands, and all who are victims of hatred and racism. Help us to bear witness to the dignity of all whom You have created, regardless of stage of life, or wealth, or ability, or color, or creed, for every person is fully equal in your loving eyes. Share with us Your holy knowledge that we are all Your children, each bestowed with inherent dignity. May Your justice reign forever! Amen.”
So, let us choose to live for God in Christ Jesus by seeing Him in those whom we encounter:
“Whoever receives Me receives the One who sent Me.”
Teresa S. Redder, OFS
Saint Katharine Drexel Regional Minister
|
|
