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.
For silence is not God, nor speaking; fasting is not God, nor eating; solitude is not God, nor company; nor any other pair of opposites. He is hidden between them, and cannot be found by anything your soul does, but only by the love of your heart. He cannot be known by reason, he cannot be thought, caught, or sought by understanding. But he can be loved and chosen by the true, loving will of your heart.
One day, Theophilus of holy memory, the Bishop of Alexandria, came to Scetis. And the brothers who gathered said to Abba Pambo: "Say a word to the Bishop so that his soul may be benefited here." The old man replied: "If he is not inspired by my silence, he will not be inspired by my words either."
And all the brothers are to guard against speaking falsely of anyone and are to avoid verbal disputes. Rather, let them seek to keep quiet whenever God gives them the grace to do so. And they are not to argue among themselves, nor with others, but they are to strive to respond with humility, saying, "We are useless servants" (Luke 17:10).
For silence is not God, nor speaking; fasting is not God, nor eating; solitude is not God, nor company; nor any other pair of opposites. He is hidden between them, and cannot be found by anything your soul does, but only by the love of your heart. He cannot be known by reason, he cannot be thought, caught, or sought by understanding. But he can be loved and chosen by the true, loving will of your heart.
ReplyDeleteThe Cloud of Unknowing
One day, Theophilus of holy memory, the Bishop of Alexandria, came to Scetis. And the brothers who gathered said to Abba Pambo: "Say a word to the Bishop so that his soul may be benefited here." The old man replied: "If he is not inspired by my silence, he will not be inspired by my words either."
ReplyDeleteSayings of the Desert Fathers
And all the brothers are to guard against speaking falsely of anyone and are to avoid verbal disputes. Rather, let them seek to keep quiet whenever God gives them the grace to do so. And they are not to argue among themselves, nor with others, but they are to strive to respond with humility, saying, "We are useless servants" (Luke 17:10).
ReplyDeleteSaint Francis of Assisi
Rule of 1221
Chapter 11