"Domine Jesu, dimitte nobis debita nostra, salva nos ab igne inferni, perduc in caelum omnes animas, praesertim eas, quae misericordie tuae maxime indigent. Amen
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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 Bishop Jeffrey Monforton of Steubenville, the Magisterium, and Father Timothy Davison, we follow the Medieval Penitential First Rule of the Third Order of St. Francis, dated 1221 A.D.
"Domine Jesu, dimitte nobis debita nostra, salva nos ab igne inferni, perduc in caelum omnes animas, praesertim eas, quae misericordie tuae maxime indigent. Amen
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Pour forth Thy grace from above, water my heart with the dew of Heaven, send down the waters of devotion to wash the face of the earth, to bring forth good and perfect fruit.
THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
THOMAS A' KEMPIS
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"Many follow Jesus to the breaking of the bread, but few to the drinking of the chalice of His Passion."
THE IMITATION OF CHRIS
THOMAS A' KEMPIS
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"Whosoever is not ready to suffer all things and to stand resigned to the will of his Beloved, is not worthy to be called a lover."
THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
THOMAS A' KEMPIS
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After pronouncing the words of Consecration, the priest never disjoins his fingers and thumbs, except when he is to take the Host, until after washing his fingers at the ablutions after Communion.
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Body of Christ, same me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O Good Jesus, hear me.
Within your wounds, hide me.
Permit me not to be separated from you.
From the wicked foe, defend me.
At the hour of my death, call me
And bid me come to you
that with your saints I may praise you
For ever and ever.
Amen.
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Over a period years attending the usus antiquior prior to Vatican II, I find myself noticing more and more the lost custom of the priest holding his thumb and forefinger together from the time of the consecration until the ablutions, a practice once called ‘canonical digits’ or ‘liturgical digits.’ You seldom see this any more in the New, Modern Catholic churches. Why is that? We all need to make the time to ask our local priests that question.
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An Italian woman from Australia heard of Saint Charbel Makhlouf in Lebanon and decided she wanted to go with her Lebanese friend and son to visit his shrine, as she was suffering from cancer. She arrived in Lebanon and went to the church only to discover that everything was closed. As she and her son walked back to the car a priest was walking by. The woman asked if the church was open and he answered “How can I help you?” She explained that she had come from Australia, was suffering from terminal cancer and just wanted to receive a blessing from the priest. The priest said to her that he would give her a blessing now. She asked her son to take a picture when the priest blessed her. She thanked the priest, got back in the car and left. As they were driving back to the hotel, she, with her Lebanese friend, went through the photos on her phone, and suddenly realised that the priest in the picture was actually St Charbel himself! She got back to Australia, went to the hospital and tests confirmed that she no longer had cancer. The miracle has been documented.
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Once blessed Francis had gone to the hermitage of the brothers near Roccabrizia to preach to the people of that region. Now, on the day of the sermon, a poor, miserable and sick man came in search of him. Blessed Francis was moved by his distress and spoke to his companion of his poverty and sickness. His companion answered him: "Brother, it is true, he is very poor, but perhaps there in no other man richer in desire in all providence than he." The saint chided him for having spoken so uncharitably, and the brother admitted his sin. Blessed Francis then said to him: "Are you willing to perform a penance I shall give you?" "Gladly," he said. "Well, take off your tunic and go throw yourself half clothed at the feet of the poor man; tell him how you have sinned against him, and ask him to pray that God may forgive you." The brother went and did what blessed Francis had prescribed...
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When Saint Francis heard those words from the mouth of the Lord, speaking through the San Damiano crucifix in a small, dilapidated church, he took them to mean simply rebuilding that little church outside Assisi. It was in the Portiuncula that he founded the Friars Minor; there that he clothed Clare in the religious habit and began the Order of Poor Clares; and there that Francis yearly gathered the friars in chapter to discuss the rule and renew their dedication to the Gospel life. And it was at the Portiuncula where St. Francis died in 1226.
That first tiny Portiuncula, a holy place and the center of St. Francis’ activity, will be recreated here on The Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Jerusalem, Ohio as a grace-filled haven for quiet meditation and Eucharistic Adoration. Nestled in a grove of trees visitors will be invited to “come and spend an hour with the Lord” in prayer.
This small chapel will be completed in the Fall of 2024, like St. Francis’ 13th-century original, it will become a place of adoration, conversion, and prayer. The simple beauty of the small stone structure will reverberate with the power of the Lord’s presence. The stillness, imbued with the peace of the Lord’s tender concern, will draw visitors in and focuses attention on the Eucharistic Lord.
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Beginning Friday, September 15th, Catholics across the state of Ohio will be joining in prayer for the protection of human life and dignity and the defeat of the dangerous constitutional amendment on the Ohio ballot this November. A 54-Day Rosary Novena will be prayed from September 15th through Election Day, November 7th. Visit www.pray54ohio.org for more information.
Fra Chris
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"I would take it to mean that you should be so on fire with life and holiness that the light of your example and the manner of your speaking would be a reproach to the wicked. So, as I understand it, your life shining and your goodness spreading like a sweet odor will proclaim to the wicked their own wickedness."
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