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.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
We Are To Overcome The World By The Most Profound Subjection And Humility
After the general Chapter of Assisi, at which more than five thousand brethren were assembled from every province, the holy father sent them two and two to preach the Word of God in all countries. Many of them returned to him complaining sorrowfully that some bishops were opposed to them and would not allow them to preach in their dioceses. "Father," said they, "we went to the places thou didst assign to us; we obeyed thy commands, but we could not fulfill our desires, nor those of the people; for many bishops expelled us from their dioceses, and, as often happens to the poor, being unknown and suspected, we had to endure many insults. We beg you, therefore, father, to obtain for us from the sovereign pontiff, permission and privilege to preach all over the world, without the consent of the bishops." At which the blessed father, filled with holy indignation, exclaimed, "O my brethren, you know not the will of God, and you seek by your foolishness to rob me of the conquest of the world. For our Lord Jesus Christ wishes that I should overcome the world by the most profound subjection and humility, and that I should perform the great work of drawing souls to him by the example of lowliness..."
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