Welcome To The Franciscan Lay Apostolate (F.L.A.)

 

Apostolicam Actuositatem is the Second Vatican Council's Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity. It defines the mission of the lay Christian faithful to both "lead non-believers to the faith and to instruct, strengthen, and encourage the faithful to a more fervent life". The lay apostolate are made up of laypeople and consecrated religious who exercise a ministry in cooperation with the Catholic Church, whose organizations cooperate with ecclesiastical authorities. They operate "under the direction of her pastors" but are not members of the official Church hierarchy nor in Holy Orders.

Apostolates operate with the permission of the local Ordinary of a Diocese, but without material support.

The Franciscan Lay Apostolate is currently under the direction of Fra Chris Dickson, F.L.A. Along with his staff, the F.L.A. works to foster the spread of the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ, and helps to raise the dignity of people's lives by imitating Jesus Christ.

Contact information:

The Portiuncula
P.O. Box 34
Jerusalem, Ohio 43737

 

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Lady Jacoba's Almond Cookie Recipe

While St. Francis fasted from food a lot, he also had a great love for a particular kind of almond cookie in Italy. And on his death bed he asked to have these cookies. Here is a recipe for those cookies. Make a batch and celebrate St. Francis of Assisi:

Mostaccioli - An Italian Almond Pastry

1 pound blanched almonds
1/2 cup honey
1 teaspoon cinnamon, or 1 teaspoon vanilla
2 egg whites, lightly beaten
Approximately 1 cup of flour

Chop the almonds very fine or coarsely grind in a blender.

In a bowl combine the nuts, honey, cinnamon, and egg whites. Mix thoroughly. Gradually stir in enough flour to form a thick paste. On a lightly floured surface, knead the paste until smooth and stiff. Roll out to about 1/4 inch. Cut into diamond shapes, about 2 1/2 inches long. Place the diamonds on a lightly buttered and floured baking sheet. Let dry for 1 to 2 hours.

Bake in a preheated 250°F oven for 20-30 minutes or until set. Do not let brown.

Yield: about 3 dozen



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DOLCE SENTIRE (BROTHER SUN SISTER MOON) BY ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI

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COME CELEBRATE THE 800TH FEAST DAY OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI AT NOON ON OCTOBER 4TH AT THE PORTIUNCULA CHAPEL IN OZARK, OHIO

 

THE PORTIUNCULA FRANCISCAN CHAPEL

49539 OZARK EDDY BRIDGE ROAD

OZARK, OHIO 43747

(NEXT TO THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CATHOLIC CEMETERY)

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JOIN US AT NOON ON OCTOBER 3RD TO CELEBRATE THE 800TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TRANSITUS F ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI

 

49539 Ozark Eddy Bridge Road

Ozark, Ohio 43747

(Next to the Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery)

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AUGUST 2ND: PORTIUNCULA PLENERY INDULGENCE AT OZARK, OHIO

The Portiuncula Plenery Indulgence is a special plenery indulgence granted to St. Francis of Assisi

Conditions:

Visit a Church: go to a Franciscan church or any non-Franciscan church designated by your bishop.

Prayers: Recite One Our Father, The Apostles Creed, and pray for the pope's intentions.

Sacrtaments: Receive Sacramental Confession and Holy Communion within 8 to 30 days of visit.

Detachment: maintain an interior dispostion of complete detachment from all sin.

The Portiuncula Franciscan Chapel located next to the Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery in Ozark, Ohio, will remain open between the hours of 10:00 A.M. until 4:00 P.M. on Sunday, August 2nd, for anyone wishing to join us in prayer.

Thank you and God bless you!

Pace e' Bene!

Fra Chris Dickson, F.L.A.

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You Are All I Need!

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We Need A Modern Day St. Francis To Save Our Church From Ruin

 

Pope Innocent recalled a certain vision he had had a few days before, which, he affirmed, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, would be fulfilled in Francis. He had seen in his sleep the Lateran basilica about to fall to ruin, when a certain religious, small and despised, propped it up by putting his own back under it lest it fall. "Surely," he said, "this is that man who, by his works and by teaching of Christ, will give support to the Church."

Saint Francis of Assisi
Celano, Second Life
CHAPTER XI

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Beware Of Accepting Lavish Churches And Houses

 

Photo of the Portiuncula Franciscan Chapel 

located adjacent to the Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Ozark, Ohio 

in the Diocese of Steubenville

As a sign of holy poverty and humility, blessed Francis decreed that the churches of the friars were to be small and their houses to be built with only wood and clay. For he wanted the friary of St. Mary of the Portiuncula to be a pattern especially for buildings constructed of wood and clay, so that it might be a permanent memorial for all friars, present and to come, since it was the first and chief house of the whole Order. But some of the friars opposed him in this matter, saying that in some Provinces timber was more costly than stone, so that it did not seem sensible that their houses should be built of wood and clay.

But blessed Francis refused to argue with them, especially since he was nearing death and seriously ill. So he had it to be written in his Testament: "Friars are to beware of accepting churches, houses, and all other places built for them unless they conform to holy poverty; and they are always to lodge in them as pilgrims and strangers."

Saint Francis of Assisi
Mirror of Perfection - 11

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Prone To Evil

 

Tomb of the Unborn Child on the campus of 

the Franciscan University of Steubenville

Take care lest, when the dung of worthlessness has been placed at your roots, you be found sterile, for then there will remain nothing but that the axe be put to you. Do not trust entirely the spirit that is in now in you, for man's senses are more prone to evil than to good, even though it may have been considerably separated from it.

Saint Francis of Assisi
Sacrum Commercium - 54

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Do Not Be Afraid To Put On The Crown Of Thorns. It Is A Crown Of Glory!

 

My room plunged into complete and utter pitch black darkness. Then very slowly a mist appeared, through which two hands appeared that were handing me a crown of thorns.

I took the crown of thorns from the outstretched hands and placed it upon my head. As the crown was being seated upon my head, I prematurely winced, fully expecting searing pain from those thorns to shoot through my head and throughout my entire body.

But instead of pain, a warm and wonderful feeling of joy and peace settled over me. I was being bathed in God’s love.

Simultaneously with the crown of thorns being placed upon my head, a vision appeared before me of a glass mirror “unfurling” like a window shade, even though it was glass.

Jesus then appeared in the glass before me.

I was immediately filled with shame because Jesus had caught me wearing his crown, and I immediately pulled it from my head.

As I did, Jesus disappeared.

I then placed the crown back onto my head.

As I did, the glass unfurled before me, and again Jesus was standing before me.

At that moment, the realization hit me that I was looking into a mirror and seeing my own reflection, and that reflection was my Savior and my Lord! And me! One and the same!

This vision greatly troubled me. After all, who did I think I was, anyway? Was I so vain as to think myself equal to Jesus? God forbid! The vision continued to frighten me long afterwards, fearing that my attitude was obviously not right with God…that is, until I heard these words:

“Do not be afraid to put on my crown of thorns.

It is My crown of glory!

Wear it as I did.

I will bear the pain so that you have none.

Then, and only then, will you see Me in glory.

Then we shall meet face to face.

You in me, and I in you.

People will see me in your image.

Give yourselves to Me fully,

And I will come to you in glory…”

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Catholics Need To Lighten Up!

 

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A Magnificent Painting of the Portiuncula Chapel by Claire Mary Newton

 

A very special "Thank You!" goes out to Claire Mary Newton for her magnificent painting of our little Portiuncula Chapel located on "Heavens Acres, LLC,"  adjacent to the Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Ozark, Ohio

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Seek Out Solitary And Wild Places

 

Photo of the Portiuncula Chapel in Ozark, Ohio

"For a matter as intimate as converse with God, one should choose that place which least occupies and most transcends the human side of our natures. And then it must not be a place that is pleasant and delectable to our feelings (such as some habitually contrive to find) for, so instead of the recollection of the spirit in God, naught is achieved but recreation and pleasure and feelings of delight. Therefore, that place is good which is solitary, and even wild, so that the spirit wholly and directly soars upward to God, not hindered nor detained by visible things: for even though these sometimes help to raise the spirit, that is better done by at once forgetting them and resting in God."

St. John of the Cross

The Ascent of Mount Carmel

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Obtaining The Treasure Of Heaven

 

Brother Bernard of Quintavalle, after he had taken the habit of St. Francis, was very rapt in God by the contemplation of heavenly things.

Thus one time it happened that while he was attending Mass in a church and his whole mind was on God, he became so absorbed and rapt in contemplation that during the Elevation of the Body of Christ he was not at all aware of it and did not kneel down when the others knelt, and he did not draw back his cowl as did the others who were there, but he stayed motionless, without blinking his eyes, gazing straight ahead, from morning until none.

But after none he came back to himself and went through the Place shouting in a voice filled with wonder: "Oh, Brothers! Oh, Brothers! Oh, Brothers! There is no man in all this country, no matter how great and noble he is, who, if he were promised a very beautiful palace full of gold, would not willingly carry a sack full of the most filthy manure in order to obtain heaven, that very noble treasure!"

Saint Francis of Assisi
Little Flowers of St. Francis - 28

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Wintertime At The Portiuncula Chapel In Ozark, Ohio (Diocese of Steubenville)

 

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The Vineyard Of Rieti

 

Rieti, Italy

Blessed Francis was staying near the church of St. Fabian in Rieti. A number of cardinals, accompanied by clerics, almost daily visited the saint out of respect and devotion.The church had a small vineyard and since the church had but one door, all those who came to visit passed through that one door, trampling the vineyard under foot. The priest was scandalized and disturbed: "This year," he said, "my vintage is lost. The vineyard is small but every year I harvest enough grapes for my needs."

St. Francis said to the priest: "Stop being disturbed and scandalized: nothing can be done about it. Place your trust in the Lord, because through me, his poor servant, he can repair the damage..."

The priest usually harvested thirteen loads of wine, but that year he harvested twenty from his destroyed vineyard.

Saint Francis of Assisi
Legend of Perugia - 25

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"Pants Suit Nuns" of Oldenberg, Indiana Going Ditzy Once Again!

 

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Winter At The Portiuncula Chapel in Ozark, Ohio (Diocese of Steubenville)

 

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"Special Year of Saint Francis"

 

To gain the plenary indulgence of Saint Francis, all it takes is - to go to confession - receive Communion - visit a Franciscan site, such as a convent, monastery, or place of devotion