Bad Examples

Francis would say, "The time is coming when the Order beloved by God will be spoken ill of because of bad examples, so much so that it will be ashamed to show itself in public."

"...Woe to those who applaud themselves for the mere appearance of the religious life; they will grow numb with sloth and they will not be able to resist steadfastly for only those who have been tried will receive the crown of life, those whom meanwhile the malice of the wicked has put to the test."

Saint Francis of Assisi
Celano, Second Life
Chapter CXVI

T

Saturday of the 5th Week of Lent

Christ the King Chapel at the Franciscan University of Steubenville

I said: Here I am! Here I am!

To a nation that did not call upon my name.

I have stretched out my hands all day

to a rebellious people,

Who walk in evil paths

and follow their own thoughts,

People who provoke me

continually, to my face.

Isaiah 65: 1b-3a

Humility And Poverty

We must follow the example of humility and poverty more than the other religious because that i s what we have been called to do and have promised before God and man.

Saint Francis of Assisi
Legend of Perugia - 32

T

A Desire To Depart And To Be With Christ

"Death Fork" area at the Portiuncula Hermitage in Jerusalem, Ohio

The man of God Francis had been taught not to seek his own, but to seek especially what in his eyes would be helpful toward the salvation of others; but above everything else he desired to depart and to be with Christ...In the clefts of the rock he would build his nest and in the hollow places of the wall his dwelling.

Saint Francis of Assisi
Celano, First Life
CHAPTER XXVII

T

Brother Fire

So dearly did Francis love fire that, however pressing the need, he would never allow any friar to throw burning or smouldering wood from one placed to another, as is often done; he wished them to lay it properly on the ground out of reverence for God Who created it.

Saint Francis of Assisi
Mirror of Perfection - 116

T

A Fool And A Madman

An original tunic worn by St. Francis found in Cortuna, Italy

When St. Francis' relatives saw him, they covered him with insults, calling him a fool and a madman, and hurling stones and mud at him. Seeing him so changed, they thought he was out of his mind.

But God's servant paid no heed to all this; unmoved by insults, he thanked almighty God for everything.

Saint Francis of Assisi
THE LEGEND OF ST. FRANCIS
CHAPTER VI

T

Please Help!!!

The Portiuncula
Franciscan
Hermitage and Retreat Center
Needs Your Help!

As you know, I'm a supporter of Portiuncula Franciscan Hermitage and
Retreat Center and I want to share with you a simple way for you to help
support this organization.

WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR DONATIONS!!!!

Just download the GoodSearch – Portiuncula Franciscan Hermitage and
Retreat Center toolbar at
http://www.goodsearch.com/toolbar/portiuncula-franciscan-hermitage-and-retreat-center

THAT'S IT! PERIOD!

Each time you search the web with GoodSearch's Yahoo-powered search
engine, about a penny will go to the Portiuncula Hermitage.

Also, every time you shop online at 1,000 participating stores including
Amazon, eBay, Target, Apple, Staples, Expedia, etc., a percentage of your
purchase will be donated for free! The site also has thousands of
money-saving coupons! 

THAT'S IT! PERIOD!

Then please e-mail this page to 10 of your closest friends today.

Please remember that the Portiuncula Hermitage
tithes 10% of their income to BirthRight
(a loving alternative to Abortion).

T

"Listen" And "Silent" Are Spelled With The Same Letters

The Pond at the Portiuncula Hermitage in Jerusalem, Ohio

At certain times the blessed and venerable father Francis left behind the crowds of the world that were coming together daily with the greatest devotion to hear and see him, and he sought out a quiet and secret place of solitude, desiring to spend his time with God and to cleanse himself of any dust that may have clung to him for his association with men.

Saint Francis of Assisi
Celano, First Life
CHAPTER I

T

Quiet and Meditation

Where there is quiet and meditation, there is neither preoccupation nor dissipation.

Saint Francis of Assisi
THE ADMONITIONS
Admonition 27

T

Willingly Enduring Suffering, Insults, Humiliations, and Hardships

"Above all the graces and gifts of the Holy Spirit which Christ gives to His friends is that of conquering oneself and willingly enduring suffering, insults, humiliations, and hardships for the love of Christ. For as they are not ours but God's, as the Apostle says: 'What have you that you have not received?'"

Saint Francis of Assisi
Little Flowers of St. Francis - 8

T

The Portiuncula Is Most Dear To The Blessed Virgin

Several herds of Whitetail Deer share the magnificent beauty of the
fields surrounding the Portiuncula Hermitage in Jerusalem, Ohio

It was at the Portiuncula that St. Francis began his religious life in a very small way; it was here that he made such extraordinary progress, and it was here that he came to a happy end. When he was dying, he commended this spot above all others to the friars, because it was most dear to the Blessed Virgin.

Saint Francis of Assisi
Bonaventure, Major Life
Chapter II

T

A Mind Free To Fly To The Greatest Heights

It should not appear strange to anyone that the prophet of our time should stand forth with such privileges; in fact, freed from the darkness of earthly things and having brought into subjection the pleasures of the flesh, his mind was free to fly to the greatest heights and pure enough to enter into the light.

Saint Francis of Assisi
Celano, Second Life
CHAPTER XXIV

T

The Portiuncula Hermitage Needs Your Help

What if the Portiuncula Hermitage earned a penny every time you
searched the Internet? Or what if a percentage of every purchase
you made on-line went to support our cause? Well, now it can!

GoodSearch.com is a new Yahoo-powered search engine that
donates half of its advertising revenue, about a penny per search,
to the charities its users designate. Use it just as you would any
search engine, get quality search results from Yahoo, and watch
the donations add up!

Although this may not sound like a lot of money, if only 1000 of
our supporters use GoodSearch.com just 5 times per day for the
year, the Portiuncula Hermitage would receive over $18,000
towards its mission of spreading God's love!

It's easy. Just download the GoodSearch – Portiuncula Franciscan
Hermitage and Retreat Center toolbar at

http://www.goodsearch.com/toolbar/portiuncula-franciscan-hermitage-and-retreat-center

Website owners can also help by adding a customizable badge to
their homepage or blog.

So please, make a commitment to browsing the Internet with
GoodSearch.com with the Portiuncula Hermitage as your designated
charity. Set it as your homepage, or bookmark it so using it
becomes a habit.

As well, you can earn money for the Portiuncula Hermitage by
doing your online shopping through GoodShop.com. It is a new
online shopping mall which will donate up to 37 percent of
each purchase to the Portiuncula Hermitage. Hundreds of popular
stores, including Amazon, Target, Gap, Best Buy, Macy's and
Barnes & Noble have teamed up with GoodShop.com and every time
you place an order, you'll be supporting our valuable mission.

By simply surfing the web with GoodSearch.com and shopping
with GoodShop.com  you can raise much-needed funds for the
Portiuncula Hermitage!

PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO AT LEAST 10 OF YOUR CLOSEST FRIENDS!

Pax Et Bonum!

Fra Chris

CLICK HERE




T