In this week's installment of the 'Little Flowers of Saint Francis', we read about a small miracle in which Christ appears to Saint Francis and his first companions as they pray spontaneously under the inspiration of God's Holy Spirit. May we who follow Saint Francis be blessed with the grace to speak of God's good things and so be blessed by God's great grace! Saint Francis, pray for us! Saint Clare, pray for us! Our Lady of Angels, pray for us!
The Little Flowers of Saint Francis
Chapter XIII: Simple Tongues Speak of God's Grace
Chapter XIII: Simple Tongues Speak of God's Grace
In the beginning of his religious life, after retreating with his first companions to pray to Christ, Saint Francis asked one of them to speak about God with guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. When the brother fulfilled this request by speaking beautifully about God, Saint Francis imposed a silence on him. After this, Francis made the same request of another brother. And when that brother spoke beautifully about God, Francis imposed the same silence on him.
Francis then asked a third brother to speak about God through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. This brother spoke so profoundly about the secret things of God that Francis knew in his heart that like the other brothers, this one spoke only through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. But this was proven by a miraculous sign! As the third brother spoke, Christ appeared among them! He blessed the brothers, filling them with so much grace and sweetness that they were all filled with an intense joy! They were so joyful that felt as if they had been removed from this world into the eternal life of heaven.
Recovering from this blessed ecstasy, Saint Francis said to his brothers: "My beloved, give great thanks to God because He has willed that the words of the simple might reveal the treasure of divine wisdom! God has opened the mouths of we who are dumb and has made our simple tongues the instruments of his grace and wisdom! Amen!
This Week's Prayers
For our families & friends, we pray: Hail Mary...
For our parish communities, we pray: Hail Mary...
For our Holy Father, Pope Francis, we pray: Hail Mary...
For our Pope-Emeritus, Benedict XVI, we pray: Hail Mary...
For our departed brothers & sisters in faith, we pray: Hail Mary...
For the Catholic Church throughout the world, we pray: Hail Mary...
For peace & justice throughout the whole world, we pray: Hail Mary...
Our Father...
Almighty God and Father,
help us to love you above all things,
and to love our brothers and sisters
with a love that is worthy of you.
We make this prayer through Christ Jesus, our Lord.
Amen.
Saint Francis, pray for us!
Saint Clare, pray for us!
Our Lady of Angels, pray for us!
Holy Men & Women of Assisi, pray for us!
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NEW!
SEVENTH ANNUAL FALL PILGRIMAGE
FOOTSTEPS of SAINT FRANCIS of ASSISI
Rome | Assisi | Greccio | October 31-November 8, 2014
For the seventh consecutive year, the Assisi Project is sponsoring a week-long, small-group pilgrimage to Assisi and Rome, Italy from October 31st through November 8th. Last year, a nearly sold-out group of sixteen pilgrims (ranging in age from 14 to 88 years) from the United States and Canada literally walked in the footsteps of Saint Francis and Saint Clare.
This year, we will journey back to these holy pilgrimage sites. Each morning, we will begin with Morning Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours and Mass. Masses will be celebrated at the Church of San Damiano, the Carceri, the Porziuncola, and the Basilica of Saint Francis. Each afternoon, all pilgrims will be afforded the free time and guidance to explore the medieval city of Assisi at their own pace and to visit the countless churches, cafes, museums, and shops. Each evening, we will gather for Evening Prayer, followed by a conference and faith sharing.
As a fellowship of pilgrims, we will visit the historic Basilicas of Saint Francis and Saint Clare. Each of the these great basilicas contains the tombs of the saints, holy relics, and priceless works of art. But these baslicas are also pilgrimage sites for prayer, silent meditation, and worship. We will visit the Basilica of Saint Rufino, where Saint francis and Saint Clare were baptized. We will visit the Church of Saint Damian, where the famous crucifix spoke to Francis and hastened his conversion. And we will visit the little chapel known as the Porziuncola, which is considered the home church of the worldwide Franciscan community.
In addition, we will spend leisurely afternoons in and around the Piazza de Commune, Assisi's city center, with its ancient Roman temple (now a Catholic church), sidewalkk cafes, restaurants, and shops. The more adventurous will also have an opportunity to hike to the Rocca Maggiore, the great medieval fortress with its stunning views of Assisis, the Spoleto Valley, and Mount Subasio.
Finally, we will travel to Rome for visits to Vatican City and Saint Peter's Basilica, where we will celebrate Mass and hopefully see and hear Pope Francis deliver the Sunday Angelus Address. We will also offer special optional excursions to the Carceri (or hermitage) on Mount Subasio, where Saint Francis and his first followers retreated for prayer and contemplation; and Greccio, the little village near Assisi, where Saint Francis introduced the first Christmas creche.
The cost of this extraordinary pilgrimage and retreat is just $3,099 and includes all air and ground transportation (from Boston's Logan Airport only), guest house accommodations (single room) at the Convent of Saint Bridget of Sweden in Assisi, and hotel accommodations (double room; singe room option) at the historic Columbus Hotel (near Vatican City) in Rome. All meals are included. This price does not include recommended travel insurance (approximately $250) or transportation to the Carceri or Greccio (optional excursions). These prices are effective only until May 31, 2014. For more information about this pilgrimage or about any of our upcoming events, please contact Cliff Garvey at assisiproject@ymail.com. Please join us! Space is limited! May the Lord give you peace!
