We Must Primarily Concern Ourselves With The Salvation Of Souls

 

Deep concern within the Franciscan Order today is that we are becoming far less concerned about winning souls to Christ than we are of pushing Social Engineering, Climate Change and New Age Rieke

"They then began to long miserably for the fleshpots of Egypt, which they had left behind; and what they had once despised with a generous heart, they now shamefully wanted. They were sad in walking in the way of the commandments of God, and they were arid of heart in following his injunctions...Gaiety filled their countenance; their gait was without modesty; their garments were soft and delicate, carefully cut, and even more carefully sewn...they had no care for spiritual exercises, no interest in the salvation of souls."


St. Francis of Assisi
Sacrum Commercium
CHAPTER IV:47
Lady Poverty Continues to Speak

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Oh God, My Flesh Faints For You (Psalm 63)

 

The Chapel at Mogliano, Italy

Once when Brother John was staying in the Place of Mogliano of the Custody of Fermo in the Province of the Marches...when he had proceeded as far as the Preface of the Blessed Virgin, the supernatural illumination and sweet consolation of God's love increased so much within him that when he reached the Qui pridie he could hardly endure such overwhelming sweetness. Finally, when he came to the Consecration itself and began to pronounce the words of the Consecration over the Host, he kept repeating the first of the formula - Hoc est - Hoc est - very often, and he was unable to go any further. And the reason why he could not go on was that e felt and saw the presence of Christ and of a throng of angels and saints, so that he almost fainted because of their grandur which he felt in his soul.

St. Francis of Assisi
Little Flowers of St. Francis - 53

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Do What You Have To Do And Do It Well

 

Do what you have to do and do it well; apply yourself to your work, for I have planted the Order of the brothers in an everlasting charity.

Saint Francis of Assisi

Legend of Perugia - 86

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The Portiuncula Chapel in Ozark, Ohio is Considering A "Chapter Of The Mats" in 2026

 

When blessed Francis was at the Chapter General held at Saint Mary of the Portiuncula - known as the Chapter of Mats, because the only shelters there consisted of rush-mats, which were used by five thousand friars - a number of prudent and learned friars went to the Lord Cardinal of Ostia who was present, and said to him, 'My Lord, we wish that you would persuade Brother Francis to follow the advice of the wiser brethren, and allow himself to be guided by them.' And they quoted Rules of Saint Benedict, Saint Augustine, and Saint Bernard, which lay down the principles of the regular life.

Saint Francis replied, 'My brothers! My brothers! God has called me by the way of simplicity and humility, and has in truth revealed this way for me and for all who are willing to trust and follow me...The Lord told me he wished me to be a new kind of simpleton in this world, and He does not wish us to live by any other wisdom but this. God will confound you through your own prudence and learning.'

Saint Francis of Assisi

Mirror of Perfection - 68

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Exaggerated Self-Denial Is A Form Of Pride

 

Francis did his utmost to encourage the friars to lead austere lives, but he had no time for exaggerated self-denial which excluded tender compassion or was not tempered with discretion.

Saint Francis of Assisi
Bonaventure, Major Life
CHAPTER V

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October 3rd: The Transitus Of St. Francis of Assisi

 

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Parresia: A Quality Of A Monk To Perform Miracles

 

Athanasius comments: "For Anthony [St. Anthony of Padua] did not heal by issuing commands, but by praying and calling upon the name of Christ, so that it was evident to everyone that it was not he who did this, but the Lord manifesting his compassion to men and, through Anthony, was healing those who suffered." (Matthew 17:19 and John 16:23-24)

Vita Antonii 83-84

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When you no longer love yourself (from Self-Annihilation and Charity Lead the Soul...)

 

Jacapone da Todi (Jacapone Benedetti)

(1230-1306)

An early companion of St. Francis of Assisi

When you no longer love yourself
But love Goodness,
You and your Beloved will become one.
When you love Him, He must love you in return;
In His charity you are drawn to Him
And the two are made one.
This is true union
That admits of no divisions.

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St. Clare Addresses Her Sisters

The Lord himself has not only placed us as examples and mirrors to others, but also for our own sisters whom the Lord has called to our way of life, so that they in their turn will be mirrors and examples to those living in the world.

The Testament of St. Clare - 6

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St. Mary of the Portiuncula, The Mirror of the Order

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.

Saint Francis of Assisi

Legend of Perugia - 8

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The Third Secret Of Fatima?

In May 1994, a French priest named Fr. Raymond Arnette claimed he was given a locution revealing what the Third Secret of Fatima originally was:

"There will be a wicked council planned and prepared that will change the countenance of the Church. Many will lose the Faith; confusion will reign everywhere. The sheep will search for their shepherds in vain. A schism will tear apart the holy tunic of My Son. This will be the end of times, foretold in the Holy Scriptures and recalled to memory by Me in many places. The abomination of abominations will reach its peak and it will bring the chastisement announced at La Salette. My Son’s arm, which I will not be able to hold back anymore, will punish this poor world, which must expiate its crimes. One will only speak about wars and revolutions. The elements of nature will be unchained and will cause anguish even among the best (the most courageous). The Church will bleed from all Her wounds. Happy are they who will persevere and search for refuge in My Heart, because in the end My Immaculate Heart will triumph."

Fr. Dave Nix

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Loving Our Creator Through His Creation And Not The Other Way Around!

 

We should be worshiping God through His creation, rather than worshiping creation!

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When Visted By God In Prayer

 

Photo of the Portiuncula Chapel next to the Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Ozark, Ohio 

(the diocese of Steubenville)

"If anyone is visited by God in his prayer, he should say, 'Lord, you have sent this comfort from heaven even though I am a sinner and unworthy, and I entrust it to your keeping because I know that I only steal your treasures.' When you leave his prayer, such a person should seem as much a sinner and worthy of contempt as if he had received no new favor." ~ Bonaventure, Major Life

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Devoted To True Humility

 

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. 

~ Bonaventure, Major Life

 

 

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PADRE PIOGHI DA PIETRELCINA

 

Lascia perdere, figliuolo, lascia pubblicare quello che si vuole. Temo il giudizio di Dio e non quello degli uomini. Ci spaventi solo il peccato perché offende Dio e ci disonora.

(Pensieri di San Pio)

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The Real Presence: The Body, Blood, Soul And Divinity Of Our Lord Jesus Christ

 

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).

Saint Francis of Assisi

Admonition I

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Casting Our Hearts Firmly On God

 

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

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Portiuncula Cookie Recipe From Assisi, Italy!

 

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.

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The Breviary Originated From The Franciscans

 ,

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

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"Stations of the Cross" Originated From The Franciscans

 

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.

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Steubenville Summer Youth Conferences

 

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Get Stubinated !!!!!!

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Willingly Enduring Suffering, Insults, Humiliations, and Hardships

 

"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

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St. Mary of the Portiuncula Friary To Be A Pattern

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."

Saint Francis of Assisi
Mirror of Perfection - 11

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Our Body Is Our Cell

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?

Saint Francis of Assisi

Legend of Perugia - 80

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"I have done what was mine to do; may Christ teach you what you are to do."

 

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.

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

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Cardinal Burke: The Third Secret of Fatima

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Rosalia Misseri - Dolce sentire

 

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Il Cantico delle Creature - Angelo Branduardi

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