On Friday, January 5, 2024, at the Tuscan Sanctuary of La Verna, the Franciscan Family officially opened the VIII Centenary of the Stigmata of St. Francis, with an event entitled “From the wounds to new life.” Eight centuries ago this year, up on the same mountain, on September 17, 1224, he received the stigmata; that is, the wounds of Christ were revealed on his hands, feet, and side.
... We love, because he first loved us (Jn :19). In fact, God wants to lavishly expend His love upon us. God wants to live within us as we live in love with Him: God is love and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him (1Jn4:16). The love between the persons of the blessed Trinity is to be our model in this love. As St. Francis said, Praise Him and bless Him, thank and adore Him, the Lord Almighty, in Trinity and Unity. (ER XXI: 2). ...
“Love isn’t something we feel, it’s something we do.” We’ve all heard this quote time and time again, but what does it really mean? It simply means we can’t just talk about loving one another. Our actions, words, and intentions need to express love genuinely and concretely. That’s not easy to do when we speak of loving our younger generation. Not because we don’t have hearts for young people, but because it’s difficult to love them if they’re not in our presence. If there aren’t younger Catholics in our midst—how can we show them we love them? ...
“If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it?” (James 2: 15,16.) It could also be said, if we see a river of people wandering without protection, all their savings stolen, preyed upon by criminals and officials alike, huddled against our national border, and we say to them, “peace and all good,” and do nothing to help them obtain food, shelter, and safety, what good is that?
Think back to your profession and recall the words that you said as the Minister held your hands and you made your profession promise. I, by the grace of God, renew my baptismal promises and consecrate myself to the service of his Kingdom. ...
(This article originally appeared in the TAU-USA Summer 2024 Digital Issue #112)
by Fr. John De La Riva, OFM Cap.
President-in-turn, National Conference of Spiritual Assistants
I write to you as I am gazing on a nicely framed picture depicting the familiar […]
... how grateful I am for the gift of fraternity: “What is truly special and emotional for me, though, is to see how people of different backgrounds, languages, and cultures are so much alike in our love for one another, for God, and for our Franciscan vocation. The Holy Spirit has given each one of us the exact gifts and talents we need to allow us to get along and to be productive. It's a bit of a miracle to see what even a tiny "temporary" fraternity can accomplish if we are open to the Spirit and to one another.”
These Puzzles and Important Information originally appeared in the TAU-USA Spring 2024 Digital Issue #111 – GOSPEL TO LIFE BOOKSTORE INFORMATION IS UPDATED June 20, 2024.
This prayer is inspired by Laudate Deum, Pope Francis' apostolic exhortation on care for creation in follow-up to Laudato Si'. Laudate Deum is available on the Vatican website under “Apostolic Exhortations.”
With brilliance and insight, Jordan weaves a philosophical connection between beauty and God as proclaimed by St. Francis in the Canticle of the Sun. Jordan received a $100 prize and a Word of Fire Bible. We hope that you are inspired by the thoughtful writing of this young man. Praise be to God!