One of the driving forces behind this website is the provision of easily accessible content geared specifically toward ongoing formation in a Franciscan setting. This formation material will seek to emphasize and draw together three main resources that are key in shaping Franciscan spirituality:
- Scripture, with special emphasis on the four gospels
- (To search for anything in the scriptures, try the website, Bible Gateway.)
- The Franciscan Sources
- (As found in Francis of Assisi: Early Documents. The entire collection is available free on line if you sign up at the website this link takes you to.)
- The OFS Rule
While many individual posts on the site are likely suitable for discussion in a formation setting, the series presented here are meant to take the professed members of the fraternity into the charism in especially deep and prayerful ways.
The first series, which was originally written for use in my own local fraternity when I was the formation director there, is called Journey thru John. Each entry gives a reflection based on my own experience praying over a single chapter in the gospel of John. While my reflections are suitable for formation, please understand that the purpose of the material is ultimately not for folks to discuss the outcome of my personal prayer. The idea is to help each individual read the gospels in such a way that God will speak to them as distinct persons in their own moment in time, affirming His Love for them and guiding them into His Will in the process.
Journey thru John will always have a special place in my heart. But I do also feel called to provide other avenues, other series, that will be useful to my Franciscan brothers and sisters as they seek ongoing conversion according to the inspiration of our holy father, St. Francis of Assisi. The reflections for Journey thru John will be posted here in their entirety over the next few weeks as they are final edited.
Along with that, another series will be opened shortly as well. Please stay tuned.
Timothy D. Short, OFS
OFS Ongoing 