A Secular Franciscan

11/08/2025

Become Poor:

How do we center ourselves in the love of God?

Clare’s answer is simple and disarming: Become poor.

Clare wrote to encourage Agnes to pursue a life of poverty, to become poor enough to embrace the poor Spouse. It is hard to admit in a consumer culture that poverty is the key to the fullness of life. To the secular mind it seems absurd. Western culture is immersed in a capitalism based on the idea that worldly success is a blessing of God. The type of poverty that Clare and the Franciscans speak of is opposed to the spirit of capitalism. It means to be dependent on others. That is exactly what Clare and Francis saw in the mystery of Jesus Christ.

— from the book “Clare of Assisi: A Heart Full of Love” by Ilia Delio, OSF

02/08/2025

Happy Feast of the dedication of the Chapel of St. Mary of the Angels in Assisi.

Francis desired that everyone experience the overwhelming love and mercy of God in this place just as he had and so, according to tradition, in 1216, he persuaded Pope Honorius III to grant a plenary indulgence to all persons who visit this chapel, prayerful and repentant, on the feast of its dedication. On 2 August, thousands of pilgrims still converge here to receive the “Pardon of Assisi, “ as this indulgence is common,y called in Italy.

Today, this plenary indulgence may be gained in any Franciscan church or chapel and in all parish churches throughout the world from noon on 1 August through midnight of 2 August to honour Our Lady of the Angels.

The usual conditions for this indulgence apply: sacramental confession (up to a week prior or after) , Mass with Holy Communion, recitation of the Apostle Creed and the Our Father, prayer for the intentions of the Pope.

St. John Paul II once said that the message of the Portiuncula Indulgence is one of “pardon and reconciliation”, that is, of grace, which divine goodness pours out on us if we are well disposed because God is truly rich in mercy.”

- Materials from Franciscan Intellectual-Spiritual Tradition.

30/07/2025

Peace be with you.

In all his preaching, before he set forth the word of God to those gathered about, Francis first prayed that they might have peace. “The Lord give you peace,” he would greet them.
- Thomas of Celano

19/07/2025

Joy - fruit of the Holy Spirit, a sign of divine life.

15/07/2025

Today, 15 July, together with the church, we celebrate the feast of St. Bonaventure. He is considered by some as the second founder of the Franciscan Order.

A Doctor of the Church, he wrote extensively on philosophy and theology but he always insisted that the simple and uneducated could have a clearer knowledge of God than the wise.

For him, Jesus Christ is the centre of everything.

What about us, Secular Franciscans?

OFS Rule Art 4 states: The rule and life of the Secular Franciscans is to observe the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ by following the example of St. Francis of Assisi, who made Christ the inspiration and the centre of his life with God and people.

. Bonaventure

12/07/2025

09/07/2025

“Go, repair my church, for you see, it is falling into ruins.” St Francis heard his call at the church of San Damiano.

Initially he went about repairing physical churches but he later realised it was to repair the lives of others.

He was never the same. And by the examples of his life, many flocked to follow him. The Franciscan Family are:

- 1st Order of the Friars Minor
- 2nd Order of the Poor Clares
- 3rd Order of the Secular Franciscan Order

13/06/2025

Happy Feast Day of St Antony.

What do I ask him to pray for me?

Good health. Amen.

“The life of the body is the soul. The life of the soul is Christ.”
—St. Anthony of Padua

Celebrate the feast of this beloved Franciscan saint with us today, and we invite you to read the final entry in our blog series dedicated to the legacy and inspiration of St. Anthony!

Check out "St. Anthony, Help Me Find Beauty" here: https://hubs.ly/Q03rWYG60

08/06/2025

Mindful that the Holy Spirit is the source of their vocation and the animator of fraternal life and mission, secular Franciscans should seek to imitate the faithfulness of Francis to His inspiration. They should listen to the exhortation of the Saint to desire above all things “the Spirit of God at work with them.” - OFS GC 11

Come, Holy Spirit, renew and strengthen us!

28/05/2025

“Afterward the Lord gave me and still gives me such faith in priests who live according to the manner of the holy Roman Church because of their order, that if they were to prosecute me, I would [still] have recourse to them.
- Testament of St Francis

11/05/2025

Today is Vocation Sunday and I acknowledge with praise, gratitude and thanksgiving to God, the Father for his great gift of my vocation in the Secular Franciscan Order.

10/05/2025

May, the month of Our Lady. Let us come together in prayer during this special month dedicated to Our Lady 🙏💫🌹