A Tunic That Bears A Likeness To The Cross

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The tunic worn by St. Francis at the time of his death

"Francis designed for himself a tunic that bore a likeness to the cross, that by means of it he might beat off all temptations of the devil; he designed a very rough tunic so that it might crucify the flesh with all its vices and sins, he designed a very poor tunic, one that would not excite the covetousness of the world."

Saint Francis of Assisi
Celano, First Life
Chapter IX

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The Eremitical Way Of Life

An early Franciscan Skete

"For many change the place of contemplation into a place of idleness and change the eremitical way of life, which was devised for the perfecting of souls, into a cesspool of pleasure. The norm for such hermits of the present time is to live as each one pleases...Would that the hermits of our time would not fall away from the primitive beauty, the praise of the righteousness of which remains forever."

Saint Francis of Assisi
Celano, Second Life
CHAPTER CXXXVI

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The Real Presence in the Eucharist

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The Portiuncula Franciscan Hermitage and Retreat Center talks about the Real Presence in the Eucharist; the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

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No Honeyed Words Of Flattery Or Blandishment

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Fra Volantino Verde

"Saint Francis wandered through the cities, villages, and hamlets, and began to preach with increasing perfection, not using learned words of human wisdom, but through the doctrine of virtue of the Holy Spirit most confidently proclaiming the kingdom of God. He was a genuine preacher confirmed by apostolic authority; therefore he spoke no honeyed words of flattery or blandishment; what he preached to others he had already put into practice himself and his teaching of the truth was full of assurance."

 

Saint Francis of Assisi

Legend of the Three Companions

Chapter XIII

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Live For The Benefit Of Our Fellow Men And Women

Spoleto, Italy

Brother Francis and his companions arrived at the Valley of Spoleto, still full of good dispositions, and there they fell to debating whether they should live among the people or seek refuge in solitude. Francis, who was a true servant of Christ, refused to trust in his own opinion or in the suggestions of his companions; instead, he sought to discover God's will by persevering prayer. Then, enlightened by a revelation from heaven, he realized he was sent by God to win for Christ the souls which the Devil was trying to snatch away. And so he chose to live for the benefit of his fellow men, rather than for himself alone, after the example of Him who was so good as to die for all men.

Saint Francis of Assisi
Bonaventure, Major Life
Chapter IV

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Adoration to the Most High Body and Blood

Kissing your feet with all the love I'm capable of, I beg you to render, as far as you can, all reverence and total adoration to the Most Holy Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom all in heaven and on earth are made peaceful and are reconciled to God the Almighty (cf. Col 1:20).

Saint Francis of Assisi

Letterr to the Whole Order

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Canticum Sola (Canticle of the Creatures) in Original Umbrian Dialect

The oldest written version of the Canticle of the Creatures in contained in ms 3...88 of the Municipal Library of Assisi (originally in the Sacro Convento of the Basilica of St. Francis) and dates from 1279 A.D.

CANTICUL SOLIS

Altissimu, onnipotente, bon Signore,
tue so' le laude, la gloria e l'honore et onne benedictione.
Ad te solo, Altissimo, se konfano,
et nullu homo ène dignu te mentovare.

Laudato sie, mi' Signore, cum tucte le tue creature,
spetialmente messor lo frate sole,
lo qual'è iorno, et allumini noi per lui.
Et ellu è bellu e radiante cum grande splendore:
de te, Altissimo, porta significatione.

Laudato si', mi' Signore, per sora luna e le stelle:
in celu l'ài formate clarite et pretiose et belle.

Laudato si', mi' Signore, per frate vento
et per aere et nubilo et sereno et onne tempo,
per lo quale a le tue creature dài sustentamento.

Laudato si', mi' Signore, per sor'aqua,
la quale è multo utile et humile et pretiosa et casta.

Laudato si', mi' Signore, per frate focu,
per lo quale ennallumini la nocte:
ed ello è bello et iocundo et robustoso et forte.

Laudato si', mi' Signore, per sora nostra matre terra,
la quale ne sustenta et governa,
et produce diversi fructi con coloriti flori et herba.

Laudato si', mi' Signore, per quelli ke perdonano per lo tuo amore
et sostengo infirmitate et tribulatione.
Beati quelli ke 'l sosterrano in pace,
ka da te, Altissimo, sirano incoronati.

Laudato si', mi' Signore, per sora nostra morte corporale,
da la quale nullu homo vivente pò skappare:
guai a quelli ke morrano ne le peccata mortali;
beati quelli ke trovarà ne le tue sanctissime voluntati,
ka la morte secunda no 'l farrà male.

Laudate e benedicete mi' Signore et rengratiate
e serviateli cum grande humilitate.

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Saint Clare of Assisi: A Contemplative And A Mystic

Photo of Father Murray Bodo, OFM, taken on Mount Subasio 

(just outside of Assisi, Italy)

"Saint Clare is a contemplative and a mystic. The way into her mystery is the way of mystical language, language like that of the Song of Songs. It is language that speaks of lover and beloved, bride and bridegroom. The way of the mystic is the way of poetry and metaphor and allegory..." ~ Father Murray Bodo, OFM

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Having A Greater Desire To Receive Shame And Insults

Because St. Francis and his companions had been called by God and chosen to bear the Cross of Christ in their hearts and in their actions and to preach it by their words, they appeared to be and they were crucified men, both in their clothing and their austere life and their deeds and their actions. Therefore, they had a greater desire to receive shame and insults for the love of Christ than the vain honors or respect or praise of the world. On the contrary, they rejoiced in being insulted, and they were made sad by being honored. And so they went through the world as pilgrims and strangers, taking with them nothing but Christ Crucified.

Saint Francis of Assisi
Little Flowers of St. Francis
Chapter 5

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St. Francis Built The First Christmas Crib in Greccio, Italy

Photo of the actual cave in Greccio, Italy where

St. Francis of Assisi built the very first Christmas Creche

 

Pace e bene! Peace and all good!

May the peace and love and joy of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you this Christmas and every day of your lives. We offer this little story about St. Francis at Greccio—from the Major Legend of St. Francis-- for your reflection and meditation. The tradition of the crèche (or crib) originates with St. Francis and is uniquely Franciscan contribution to the celebration of Christmas. Know that we, your Franciscan brothers, are keeping you in our prayers at this most sacred time as you continue to discern God’s will for you in your hearts and in your lives. Merry Christmas!

“It happened, three years prior to his death, that he (Francis) decided to celebrate at the town of Greccio the memory of the birth of the Child Jesus with the greatest possible solemnity, in order to arouse devotion. So that this would not be considered a type of novelty, he petitioned for and obtained permission from the Supreme Pontiff.

"He had a manger prepared, hay carried in and an ox and an ass led to the spot. The brethren are summoned, the people arrive, the forest amplifies with their cries, and that venerable night is rendered brilliant and solemn by a multitude of bright lights and by resonant and harmonious hymns of praise. The man of God stands before the manger, filled with piety, bathed in tears, and overcome with joy.

"A solemn Mass is celebrated over the manger, with Francis, a levite of Christ, chanting the holy Gospel. Then he preaches to the people standing around him about the birth of the poor King, whom, whenever he means to call him, he called in his tender love, the Babe from Bethlehem.

"A certain virtuous and truthful knight, Sir John of Greccio, who had abandoned worldly military activity out of love of Christ and had become an intimate friend of the man of God, claimed that he saw a beautiful little child asleep in that manger whom the blessed father Francis embraced in both of his arms and seemed to wake it from sleep.

"Not only does the holiness of the witness make credible the vision of the devout knight, but also the truth it expresses proves its validity and the subsequent miracles confirm it. For Francis's example, when considered by the world, is capable of arousing the hearts of those who are sluggish in the faith of Christ.

The hay from the crib was kept by the people and miraculously cured sick animals and drove away different kinds of pestilence. Thus God glorified his servant in every way and demonstrated the efficacy of his holy prayer by the evident signs of wonderful miracles.”

St. Francis of Assisi

Celano, First Life
Chapter XXX

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Christmas For Saint Francis

"The birthday of the Child Jesus St. Francis observed with inexpressible eagerness over all other feasts, saying that it was the feast of feasts, on which God, having become a tiny infant, clung to human breasts."

Saint Francis of Assisi
Celano, Second Life - 199

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Advent Message from the Portiuncula Hermitage

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God Chose An Unborn Child To Announce The Coming Of His Son!

As soon as Mary received the announcement from the angel, she went in haste to her cousin Elizabeth, who was with child. And the unborn child, John the Baptist, rejoiced in Elizabeth's womb. How wonderful it was...Almighty God chose an unborn child to announce the coming of His Son!

This was the first Eucharist: the gift of God's Son establishing Mary as the first altar, the first tabernacle. Mary is the only one able to confirm in complete sincerity, "This is my body!"

Happy Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception!

Pace e Bene!

Chris

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Franciscan Spirituality

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Forced To Have Arms

The brothers often asked the advice of the Bishop, who received Francis with kindness but said: "It seems to me that it is very hard and difficult to possess nothing in the world." To this blessed Francis replied: "My Lord, if we had any possessions we should also be forced to have arms to protect them, since possessions are a cause of disputes and strife, and in many ways we should be hindered from loving God and our neighbor."

Saint Francis of Assisi

Legend of the Three Companions - 35

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Cum Grande Humilitate: "Preach Humbly But Grandly!"

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"CUM GRANDE HUMILITATE"

Final verse of

"Canticle of the Creatures"

written by

St. Francis of Assisi

in the original Umbrian dialect:

Laudato er benedicite, misignore,

et rengratiate et serviate li

"cum grande humilitate."

Translation:

Praise and bless my Lord,

thank Him and serve Him

"Humbly but Grandly"

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We Are Now Taking "Come to the Quiet" Retreats ON THE ROAD!

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Cells Built Only of Wood and Clay

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One day, when Francis had left the cell, one of the friars went to look at it, and afterwards came to the place where blessed Francis was. Seeing him, the holy Father said to him, "Where have you come from, brother?" "I have come from your cell," he replied. Then blessed Francis said, "Because you have called it mine, some one else shall use it henceforward, and not I." For we who were with him have often heard him quote the saying, Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have resting-places; the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head... So, after His example, he would not have any house or cell that could be called his own, nor did he ever have one built. 

(Even at the time of his death Francis had it written in his Testament that all cells and houses of the friars were to be built only of wood and clay, the better to safeguard poverty and humility.)

Saint Francis of Assisi

Mirror of Perfection - 9

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Canticle of the Creatures

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il Cantico delle Creature

by
Angelo Branduardi

Lyrics

A te solo Buon Signore
Si confanno gloria e onore
A Te ogni laude et benedizione
A Te solo si confanno
Che laltissimo Tu sei
E nullomo degno e
Te mentovare.
Si laudato Mio Signore
Con le Tue creature
Specialmente Frate Sole
E la sua luce.
Tu ci illumini di lui
Che e bellezza e splendore
Di Te Altissimo Signore
Porta il segno.
Si laudato Mio Signore
Per sorelle Luna e Stelle
Che Tu in cielo le hai formate
Chiare e belle.
Si laudato per Frate Vento
Aria, nuvole e maltempo
Che alle Tue creature dan sostentamento.
Si laudato Mio Signore
Per sorella nostra Acqua
Ella e casta, molto utile
E preziosa.
Si laudato per Frate Foco
Che ci illumina la notte
Ed e bello, giocondo
E robusto e forte.
Si laudato Mio Signore
Per la nostra Madre Terra
Ella e che ci sostenta
E ci governa
Si laudato Mio Signore
Vari frutti lei produce
Molti fiori coloriti
E verde lerba.
Si laudato per coloro
Che perdonano per il Tuo amore
Sopportando infermite
E tribolazione
E beati sian coloro
Che cammineranno in pace
Che da Te Buon Signore
Avran corona.
Si laudato Mio Signore
Per la Morte Corporale
Che da lei nesun che vive
Pue scappare
E beati saran quelli
nella Tua volonte
che Sorella Morte
non gli fare male

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Remain Less In Your Own Eyes

"This is how, servant of God, you will know that you have the spirit of the Lord: If when the Lord does something good through you, the flesh does not get puffed up (for the flesh is ever in opposition to what is good); but instead, you remain less in your own eyes, less than all other people." 

~ Saint Francis of Assisi

Admonition 12

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"HOLIDAYS UNDER THE SPIRES" ~ OLDENBURG INDIANA, DECEMBER 3RD

Swing by the Portiuncula Hermitage "coffee table" on Hauptstrasse for a cup of "Mystic Monk Coffee!" We will be located where the Carriage Rides begin and end. Check out our special brew of "Jingle Bell Java" that is guaranteed to knock your sandals off or curl your habits!

Fra Chris

   

Eucharistic Healing

 

"Only say the word Lord, and I shall be healed"

The Portiuncula Franciscan Hermitage, located in Jerusalem, Ohio, Diocese of Steubenville, seeks the awesome power, grace, and mercy of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to bring divine healing and peace into your life through intercessory prayer and adoration before our Eucharistic Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.

Simply e-mail your Prayer Requests to: hermitage@parallax.ws

We encourage everyone to participate in our Healing Services and Retreats.

Thank you for visiting.

Pace e Bene!

Fra Chris

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Are You "Searching" For Jesus?

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We need to raise $120,000 to duplicate this Portiuncula Chapel
at the Franciscan University of Steubenville

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 Click on the GoodSearch Icon below and download the GoodSearch Toolbar – Then type "Portiuncula Franciscan Hermitage and Retreat Center" into the toolbar:

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 PRAYER REQUEST TO
EVERYONE YOU KNOW!

Pax Et Bonum!


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What It Means To Be Catholic

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St. Joseph's Shop in Batesville, Indiana Is Now Offering MYSTIC MONK COFFEE

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St. Joseph's Shop

Northside Avenue

(off 229 behind Dotty's Bulk Basket)

Batesville, Indiana

(812) 932-1286

St. Joseph's Shop is pleased to announce they are selling our

MYSTIC MONK COFFEE

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We Must Make Time To Be Alone

 

The woods above Eremo, Italy

If you wish to grow in your spiritual life, you must not allow yourself to be caught up in the workings of the world; you must find time alone, away from the noise and confusion, away from the allure of power and wealth.

THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
THOMAS A KEMPIS

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Rise Immediately To Pray

"If the servant of God, as may happen, is disturbed in any way, he should rise immediately to pray and he should remain in the presence of the heavenly Father until he restores unto him the joy of salvation."

Saint Francis of Assisi
Celano, Second Life
Chapter LXXXIX

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Sister Briege McKenna, OSC, Radio Talk Show Interview with Chris Dickson

"Could You Not Spend An Hour With Me?"

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How many people have you personally led to Jesus Christ?

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How The Third Order (Seculars) Are To Dress

"The men belonging to this brotherhood (Third Order of Franciscans) shall dress... in humble, undyed cloth, the price of which is not to exceed six Ravenna soldi en ell, unless evident and necessary cause a temporary dispensation be given.

The sisters in turn shall wear an outer garment and tunic made of cloth of the same price and humble quality"...

Saint Francis of Assisi
FIRST RULE OF THE THIRD ORDER of 1221 A.D.

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Retreat with Fr. Murray Bodo, OFM

 

 

"St. Francis' Song of Gratitude"

 November 18-20

 Sisters of St. Francis
Oldenburg, Indiana
This is a perfect opportunity to pause and prepare our hearts for the winter holidays, warmly kindled by St. Francis' ways of Gratitude!

RSVP - email: center@oldenburgosf.com

 

 

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Saint Francis Began A Lay Movement Within The Catholic Church

"Once when blessed Dominic and blessed Francis were together in the presence of the Lord Cardinal of Ostia, who later became Pope, Francis said to the Cardinal, "My Lord, my friars have already been raised to a noble state if they will only realize it; and so far as I am able, I will never permit them to obtain any shadow of dignity." Francis then bowed low to the Cardinal and said, "My Lord, my friars are called Minors so that they may not presume to become greater. Their vocation teaches them to remain in a humble place, and to follow in the footsteps of Christ's humility, so that by this means they may at last be exalted above others in the eyes of the Saints."

Saint Francis of Assisi

Mirror of Perfection - 43

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Wounded In The Most Exquisite Way

Bernini's Saint Teresa of Avila

"And as clearly as it hears a thunderclap, even though no sound is heard, the soul understands that it was called by God...It feels that it is wounded in the most exquisite way...It knows clearly that the wound is something precious, and it would never want to be cured...The wound satisfies it much more than the delightful and painless absorption of the prayer of quiet...a whisper so penetrating that the sould cannot help but hear it."

Saint Teresa of Avila

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In The Dark Recesses Of Our Own Hearts

"My friend, the fire often burns, but the flame does not ascend without the smoke. So, too, some people have a burning desire for heavenly things, but they are not yet free from feelings rooted deeply in the dark recesses of their own hearts." 

Thomas A Kempis

The Immitation of Christ

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How Secret Wisdom Is A Ladder

St. Francis of Assisi seen climbing the Monk's Ladder

"This secret wisdom can also be called a ladder because the same steps are used to ascend and descend. The transmissions that come through secret contemplation both raise he soul up to God and humble her to herself. On the path to God, to rise up is to drop down. She who humbles herself is exalted while she who exalts herself is humbled. God draws the soul high so that it can be submerged, and He lowers her so that she can be lifted back up to Him."

St. John of the Cross

Dark Night of the Soul

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Saint Francis of Assisi, 'giant of holiness,' honored October 4th

On Oct. 4, Roman Catholics celebrate the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the Italian deacon who brought renewal to the Church through his decision to follow Jesus' words as literally as possible.

In a January 2010 general audience, Pope Benedict XVI recalled this "giant of holiness" as a "great saint and a joyful man," who taught the Church that "the secret of true happiness" is "to become saints, close to God."

The future Saint Francis was born on an uncertain date in the early 1180s, one of the several children born to the wealthy merchant Pietro Bernardone and his wife Pica. He originally received the name Giovanni (or John), but became known as Francesco (or Francis) by his father's choice.

Unlike many medieval saints, St. Francis was neither studious nor pious in his youth. His father's wealth gave him access to a lively social life among the upper classes, where he was known for his flashy clothes and his readiness to burst into song. Later a patron of peacemakers, he aspired to great military feats in his youth and fought in a war with a rival Italian city-state.

A period of imprisonment during that conflict turned his mind toward more serious thoughts, as did a recurring dream that suggested his true "army" was not of this world. He returned to Assisi due to illness in 1205, and there began consider a life of voluntary poverty.

Three major incidents confirmed Francis in this path. In Assisi, he overcame his fear of disease to kiss the hand of a leper. Afterward, he made a pilgrimage to Rome, where he deposited his money at Saint Peter's tomb and exchanged clothes with a beggar. Soon after he returned home, Francis heard Christ tell him in a vision: "Go, Francis, and repair my house, which as you see is falling into ruin."

Francis began to use his father's wealth to restore churches. This led to a public quarrel in which the cloth-merchant's son removed his clothing and declared that he had no father except God. He regarded himself as the husband of "Lady Poverty," and resolved to serve Christ as "a herald of the Great King."

During the year 1208, the "herald" received the inspiration that would give rise to the Franciscan movement. At Mass one morning, he heard the Gospel reading in which Christ instructed the apostles to go forth without money, shoes, or extra clothing. This way of life soon became a papally-approved rule, which would attract huge number of followers within Francis' own lifetime.

Through his imitation of Christ, Francis also shared in the Lord's sufferings. He miraculously received Christ's wounds, the stigmata, in his own flesh during September of 1224. His health collapsed over the next two years, a "living sacrifice" made during two decades of missionary preaching and penance.

St. Francis of Assisi died on Oct. 3, 1226. Pope Gregory IX, his friend and devotee, canonized him in 1228.

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When The Time OF Death Was At Hand

When therefore St. Francis had rested for a few days in a place he greatly longed to be in and realized the time of death was at hand, he called to him two brothers and spiritual sons and commanded them to sing in a loud voice with joy of spirit the Praises of the Lord over his approaching death, or rather, over the life that was so near.

Saint Francis of Assisi
Celano, First Life
CHAPTER VIII

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October 3rd - the "Transitus" (Death) of St. Francis of Assisi

Francis began THE CANTICLE OF BROTHER SUN in the summer of 1225, at a time indeed when he was deep in suffering, but when he had already attained the mystical heights in his experience on Mount La Verna. But the joy he had experienced in that great privilege was tempered by the thought of how many men were greatly offending their Creator by misusing the creature world God had given them. "For His praise," he said, "I want to compose a new hymn about the Lord's creatures, of which we make daily use, without which we cannot live, and with which the human race greatly offends its Creator."

The first part of the Canticle, up to the verses about pardon and peace, he composed in the garden of the Poor Clare's convent at San Damiano, where he lay sick and in intense suffering for six or seven weeks. He then composed a melody for it and frequently urged his brothers to sing it when they were out preaching. The second part, consisting of the next two verses about pardon and peace, he composed a short time later in an effort to restore peace between the quarreling parties in a dispute between the civil and religious authorities of Assisi. The final verses about Sister Death Francis added shortly before his own death, after Brother Leo and Brother Angelo had sung the Canticle at his request. Celano adds that his last words were: "Welcome, my Sister Death."

St. Francis of Assisi
Omnibus of Sources
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October 3 - The "Transitus" (Death) of St. Francis of Assisi

The Canticle of the Creatures by St. Francis of Assisi

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il Cantico delle Creature

by
Angelo Branduardi

Lyrics:
A te solo Buon Signore
Si confanno gloria e onore
A Te ogni laude et benedizione
A Te solo si confanno
Che laltissimo Tu sei
E nullomo degno e
Te mentovare.
Si laudato Mio Signore
Con le Tue creature
Specialmente Frate Sole
E la sua luce.
Tu ci illumini di lui
Che e bellezza e splendore
Di Te Altissimo Signore
Porta il segno.
Si laudato Mio Signore
Per sorelle Luna e Stelle
Che Tu in cielo le hai formate
Chiare e belle.
Si laudato per Frate Vento
Aria, nuvole e maltempo
Che alle Tue creature dan sostentamento.
Si laudato Mio Signore
Per sorella nostra Acqua
Ella e casta, molto utile
E preziosa.
Si laudato per Frate Foco
Che ci illumina la notte
Ed e bello, giocondo
E robusto e forte.
Si laudato Mio Signore
Per la nostra Madre Terra
Ella e che ci sostenta
E ci governa
Si laudato Mio Signore
Vari frutti lei produce
Molti fiori coloriti
E verde lerba.
Si laudato per coloro
Che perdonano per il Tuo amore
Sopportando infermite
E tribolazione
E beati sian coloro
Che cammineranno in pace
Che da Te Buon Signore
Avran corona.
Si laudato Mio Signore
Per la Morte Corporale
Che da lei nesun che vive
Pue scappare
E beati saran quelli
nella Tua volonte
che Sorella Morte
non gli fare male

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Feast Day of St. Theresa of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church

"Draw me, we will run..." 

To ask to be drawn is to will intimate union with the object which holds the heart captive. If fire and iron were gifted with reason, and that the latter said to the fire: "Draw me," would not this prove that it desired to become identified with the fire even so far as to share its substance? Well, that is exactly my prayer. I beg of Jesus to draw me into the flames of His Love, to unite me so closely to Himself that He may live and act in me. I feel that the more the fire of love inflames my heart, the more I shall say: "Draw me," the more also will the souls who draw near to mine run swiftly in the fragrant odors of the Well-Beloved.

Saint Theresa
(the "Little Flower")

Story of A Soul

Chapter XI

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Vividly Wounded By The Flaming Blade Of Divine Love!

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The soul is singing about the fire of love. In this night of painful contemplation, the soul is ignited! Although the burning in some ways resembles what unfolded in the sensory part of the soul, in other ways it is as different as the soul is from the body. This is the love that blazes in the spirit! In the middle of her dark predicament, the soul feels herself vividly wounded by the flaming blade of divine love!

St. John of the Cross
Dark Night of the Soul

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Don't Look Back! God's Time Is Only In The Present...

"St. Antony himself gave no thought to the bygone time, but each day, as though then beginning his religious life, he made greater effort to advance, constantly repeating to himself St. Paul's saying: Forgetting the things that are behind, and reaching out to the things that are before (Phil. 3:13)"...

Saint Antony of the Desert

(251-356)

By St. Athanasius

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