Thoughts From Your Regional Formation Director - August, 2014

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

PEACE and good to each of you. As we begin this month of celebration with the Feast of Our Lady of the Angels of the Portiucula, we are reminded of the Portiuncula Indulgence, the first written document of which was dated October 31, 1277. The Portiuncula was the place where St. Clare received her religious habit at the hands of St. Francis in 1211. In a vision in 1216, St. Francis obtained from Our Lord the indulgence of the Pardon of Assisi which was approved by Pope Honoroius, III. We are the beneficiaries of this plenary
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Fr. Francis’ Reflections – August 2014

August 2014 (St. Francis of Assisi) O truly the most Christian of men, who strove by perfect imitation to be conformed while living to Christ living, dying to Christ dying, and dead to Christ dead, and deserved to be adorned with an expressed likeness! (Your) most holy soul was released from the flesh and absorbed into the abyss of divine light … You were borne aloft straight to heaven … (you) merited to enter the place of light and peace where (you) rest with Christ forever. (Pray for your family on earth that we may share your life with God
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Fr. Francis’ Greetings – August 2014

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 regional website: www.skdregion.org – email: pppgusa@gmail.com

 

August, 2014

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Sts. Francis and Clare,

The Lord give you his peace!

Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy (Leviticus 19:2). Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48). The “vocation” to holiness and “perfection” is a call directly
Continue reading: Fr. Francis’ Greetings – August 2014

Fr. Francis’ Greeting – July 2014

Dear Sisters and Brothers in St. Francis,

The Lord grant you his peace!

We continue this month, dedicated to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus, with our consideration of the Eucharist. We can note in the two passages taken one from our Seraphic Father and the other from one of his sons, Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, love for the Eucharist not only expects a certain composure but also promises definite effects on ourselves and others. We can speak about “charism” and “spirituality” and fulfillment of basic requisites to belong to the Franciscan Order, but if Jesus is not in our
Continue reading: Fr. Francis’ Greeting – July 2014

Thoughts from your Regional Formation Director – July 2014

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

May the Lord bless you! In honor of the 750th Anniversary of the death of St. Clare, our Sister, Sr. Claire Andre, OSC, wrote an article celebrating St. Clare, which was published in St. Anthony Messenger Press. It is rather lengthy, but gives us further insight into the life of St. Clare – her strength, her leadership, her ability to totally trust in the providence of God. As Sr. Claire Andre points out, the life and example of St. Clare remain relevant for us today. Consider what relevance her example holds for you and how, through
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Fr. Francis’ Reflections – July 2014

Embrace the poor Christ.

Look upon Him Who became contemptible for you,

and follow Him, making yourself contemptible in this world for Him.

… gaze, consider, contemplate desiring to imitate …

Who though more beautiful than the children of men became,

for your salvation, the lowest of men,

was despised, struck, scourged untold times

throughout His entire body,

and then died amid the suffering of the Cross.

(St. Clare of Assisi – Second Letter to St. Agnes
Continue reading: Fr. Francis’ Reflections – July 2014

From the Heart of Our Minister – July 2014

Dear Sisters and Brothers in St. Francis,

Peace to each of your hearts as we begin in earnest our journey through Summer! I hope each of you is able to steal some time away for some rest and relaxation!

Scenario … picture this. You’re out on a leisurely summer’s day. It’s hot, so you decide to take yourself to a nice, air-conditioned book store to just browse! All of a sudden, you’re back to your car with bags full of books which you fully intend to read … someday. You don’t know exactly why you bought them, but something tells
Continue reading: From the Heart of Our Minister – July 2014