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Posted By Teresa Redder, on July 31st, 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 one day.)
(Major Legend by St. Bonaventure, chapter 14 – adapted)
Following are excerpts taken from The Romanticism of St. Francis by Father Cuthbert, O.F.M. Cap. ed.1924; Daily reflections are taken from Day by Day with by Pope John Paul II.
The Story of the Friars
1
For three years…Francis had been living a life of strict poverty, working with his hands and begging his bread. He had run the gauntlet of ridicule and now by sheer force of character and his evident sincerity, was winning the respect of his fellow citizens. – As soon as the Christian becomes aware of his supernatural vocation, he welcomes the mystery of God’s coming to his own soul.
2
One day hearing Mass when the words of the Gospel fell upon his ears…He at once cast aside his shoes and went forth barefooted and as he met people on the road, he began to admonish them to love God and save their souls. Thus to the life of poverty was added the apostolate. – The stable of Bethlehem is the primary place of man’s solidarity…chiefly with those for whom “there is no room in the inn”.
» Click to continue reading “Fr. Francis’ Reflections – August 2014” »
Posted By Teresa Redder, on July 31st, 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 from God. Life is a sign of God’s love for and trust in us, and his confident view for the future we are created to build. The world, this “Theater of Redemption” as Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen entitled it, is the place that prepares us for the fulness of Life with God. He knew us before we existed and God has a part for us to fulfill in the Divine Plan for creation. We are “destined” for greatness in God’s time, a “destiny” however that we can refuse with the gift of our free will. We are “called” to be and act in God’s Name; this is our “vocation”. After our assent to God’s invitation, we are “commissioned” to fulfill some specific purpose in our individual life for the glory of God and good of others as well as ourselves. Is this not the essence of holiness: to live unconditionally and totally in the will of God? Each “yes” we offer to what we believe to be God’s will, is a step further in holiness and perfection.
» Click to continue reading “Fr. Francis’ Greetings – August 2014” »
Posted By Teresa Redder, on July 20th, 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 hearts, if He is not the Center of our Life, nothing really matters. And, this “real presence” in our life will undoubtedly affect our lives visibly. » Click to continue reading “Fr. Francis’ Greeting – July 2014” »
Posted By Teresa Redder, on July 14th, 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 her intercession, you can be drawn closer to the Lord. Here’s the first installment – more to follow in August.
Peace and good,
Rosie
Celebrating St. Clare of Assisi, by Sister Claire Andre Gagliardi, OSC
Within each of us is the potential to be a light focusing attention on God’s presence in our world. Clare of Assisi’s life reveals just how much light she shed. » Click to continue reading “Thoughts from your Regional Formation Director – July 2014” »
Posted By Teresa Redder, on July 14th, 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 of Prague)
Following are excerpts taken from The Romanticism of St. Francis by Father Cuthbert, O.F.M. Cap. ed.1924. Daily reflections are taken from Day by Day with by Pope John Paul II. » Click to continue reading “Fr. Francis’ Reflections – July 2014” »
Posted By Teresa Redder, on July 13th, 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 you there’s a reason which will one day be revealed. I have a friend who is very much like this, and her bookshelves show it. I’m afraid, much to my chagrin, I’ve picked up the habit too, although my shelves are paltry in comparison to hers. Fortunately for my wallet, the bookstore is no longer in the area (although on-line purchases are always available). » Click to continue reading “From the Heart of Our Minister – July 2014” »
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