Canticle of the Creatures: The Goodness of God and Creation

The Life of St. Francis by Thomas of Celano, The First Book, Chapter 29: Even for worms he had a warm love, since he had read this text about the Savior:  “I am a worm and not a man.”  That is why he used to pick them up from the road and put them inContinue reading “Canticle of the Creatures: The Goodness of God and Creation”

Petition and Supplication

Introduction:The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.– Amen. God, come to my assistance:– Lord, make haste to help me. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit: -As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.  Amen. Hymn: Just a Closer WalkContinue reading “Petition and Supplication”

The Good News of the Incarnation

The Story of Greccio from The Life of St. Francis by Thomas of Celano, Chapter XXX (A program for use in Fraternity Meetings or other similar settings.) Opening Hymn: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel; That mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear.Continue reading “The Good News of the Incarnation”

2: “I am the Resurrection and the Life”

John 11:17-37 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.  Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother.  When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meetContinue reading “2: “I am the Resurrection and the Life””

1: The Death of Lazarus

By way of introduction, this formation path contains six short reflections prepared for use during the Centenary Celebration of the Stigmata of St. Francis taking place in calendar year 2024, which is precisely 800 years after the actual event, which took place in 1224.  The first two entries come from a series of reflections forContinue reading “1: The Death of Lazarus”