The Portiuncula Franciscan Chapel, located adjacent to the Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Ozark, Ohio (Diocese of Steubenville) is humbly committed to imitating the Gospel life of Christ, and observing the Sacraments.
Placing ourselves under strict and holy obedience to Father Nick Ward, we follow the Medieval Penitential First Rule of the Third Order of St. Francis, dated 1221 A.D.
Portiuncula Franciscan Chapel in Ozark, Ohio
"CUM GRANDE HUMILITATE!"
PLEASE NOTE THAT WE DO NOT ACCEPT FINANCIAL DONATIONS
Servant General of the F.L.A. (Franciscan Lay Apostolate); Hermitage Scullion; Former Radio Talk Show Host; 3rd Degree Knights of Columbus, Former Staff Member of United States Senator Dan Coats; Retired Infantry Major: served with U.S. Army Intelligence in Vietnam and Europe; Wife: Karen (married 55 years), 5 children, 11 Grandchildren ...
To request your special intentions to be offered up before our Eucharistic Lord in intercessory prayer, please e-mail your Prayer Intentions to the Portiuncula Hermitage at: chrisdicksonfla@gmail.com
Mailing Address: Portiuncula Hermitage P.O. Box 34 Jerusalem, Ohio 43747
Monroe County, Ohio Catholics are being asked to collect all their cut sand stones and drop them off at the Portiuncula Chapel next to the Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery on Ozark-Eddy Bridge Road. They will be used along a walk way of the Stations of the Cross.
Francis set to begging for stones with which to restore the church of San Damiano. He called to the passers-by: "Whoever gives me one stone will have one reward; two stones, two rewards; three stones, a treble reward!"
Saint Francis of Assisi Legend of the Three Companions CHAPTER VII
Hating detractors deeply and more than any other kind of wicked men, Francis said that they carried poison on their tongues and infected others with their poison. Gossipers, therefore, those biting fleas, he avoided when they were speaking, and he averted his ears, as we ourselves have seen, lest they be defiled by hearing such things.
Saint Francis of Assisi Celano, Second Life CHAPTER CXXXVIII
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
il Cantico delle Creature (The Canticle of the Creatures - St. Francis of Assisi)
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
Saint Francis was very happy that this place had been given to the brothers because the church bore the name of the Mother of Christ, because it was very poor, and also because of its name of Portiuncula. The fact that it was called the church of the Portiuncula was indeed a presage that it would become the mother and head of the Order of the poor lesser brothers. The church had been given the name Portiuncula because the aforesaid place where the church had been built had already been called Portiuncula for a very long time.
In his love for true humility, St. Francis devoted himself to the lepers and lived with them, waiting on them all, for the love of God. He washed their feet and bound up their sores, drawing off the puss and wiping them clean. He was extraordinarily devoted to them and kissed their wounds, he who was soon to play a part of the worthy Good Samaritan in the Gospel. As a reward, God endowed him with such power to heal that his influence over ills of soul and body were miraculous.
All those are damned who see the sacrament of the Body of Christ which is consecrated on the altar in the form of bread and wine by the words of our Lord in the hands of the priest, and do not see or believe in spirit and in God that this is really the most holy Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is the Most High himself who told us, 'This is my Body and Blood of the new covenant' (Mark 14: 22-24), and, 'He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has life everlasting' (John 6:55).
By casting our hearts firmly on God, and we are of good conscience concerning our devotion and innocence, we have nothing to fear when others say things against us. Great blessings flow when we ignore these things, which is easy to do when we humble ourselves and trust in God more than ourselves. ~ Fra Chris
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
Starting now, the Portiuncula Franciscan Hermitage and Retreat Center will be serving these at our "Come to the Quiet" Retreats in Jesusalem.
Franciscans are itinerant ministers called to travel throughout the world preaching repentance and penance. At first, in the early thirteenth century, this exempted them from praying the Office of the Hours in a church or monastery. Also, the complete Office of the Hours was very large and bulky, consisting of several volumes of books, making it impossible to carry them all around when walking from town to town. Therefore, they developed a briefer version of the Office of Hours called the Breviary. As the friars carpeted Europe they spread the use of the Breviary throughout the entire Church. ~ Fra Chris
The emperor Constantine permitted Christians to legally worship in the Roman Empire in 313 after 250 years of persecution. In 335, he erected the Church of the Holy Sepulcher at the site where Jesus’ tomb was believed to have been. Processions of pilgrims to the church, especially during Holy Week, began soon after its completion.
Devotions to the Way of the Cross began in earnest after 1342, when the Franciscan friars were given custody of the holy sites in the Holy Land. The Franciscans have been closely identified with the devotion ever since; for years, Church regulations required a set of the stations to be blessed by a Franciscan when possible.
"Above all the graces and gifts of the Holy Spirit which Christ gives to His friends is that of conquering oneself and willingly enduring suffering, insults, humiliations, and hardships for the love of Christ. For as they are not ours but God's, as the Apostle says: 'What have you that you have not received?'"
Saint Francis of Assisi Little Flowers of St. Francis - 8
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 blessed Francis 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."
Wherever we are, wherever we go, we bring our cell with us. Our brother body is our Cell and our soul is the hermit living in that cell in order to pray to God and meditate. If our soul does not live in peace and solitude within its cell, of what avail is it to live in a man-made cell?
"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.
Saint Francis of Assisi FIRST RULE OF THE THIRD ORDER of 1221 A.D.
