The Portiuncula, located in Jerusalem, Ohio, in the Diocese of Steubenville, is home to the Franciscan Lay Apostolate. We are humbly committed to imitating the Gospel life of Christ, and observing the Sacraments. Placing ourselves under strict and holy obedience to the Bishop of Steubenville, the Magisterium, and Father Nick Ward, we follow the Medieval Penitential First Rule of the Third Order of St. Francis, dated 1221 A.D.
I was talking on this very subject just this morning with a friend of mine, a Protestant Minister. He thought the whole idea of poverty was nuts and said to me, "I want to get rich!"
Litle does he know the abject poverty his desires have placed upon him. He will never know what fantastic riches St. Francis and his followers realize(d) in their daily lives; the true riches of heaven!
I am reminded of our Franciscan Rule of 1221, Chapter VIII: "We must not think that the utility and value of coin or money is greater than that of stones. The devil wants to bind those who do desire and value it more. And so let us who have left all things beware, lest for so little we lose the kingdom of heaven."
I was talking on this very subject just this morning with a friend of mine, a Protestant Minister. He thought the whole idea of poverty was nuts and said to me, "I want to get rich!"
ReplyDeleteLitle does he know the abject poverty his desires have placed upon him. He will never know what fantastic riches St. Francis and his followers realize(d) in their daily lives; the true riches of heaven!
I am reminded of our Franciscan Rule of 1221, Chapter VIII: "We must not think that the utility and value of coin or money is greater than that of stones. The devil wants to bind those who do desire and value it more. And so let us who have left all things beware, lest for so little we lose the kingdom of heaven."
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