Franciscan Spirit Blog

St. Anthony of Padua

St. Anthony, Help Me Find…Beauty

St. Anthony of Padua, that Hammer of Heretics, serves as a model to me that I am to preach against any dualism within myself that blocks an openness to beauty.
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Connecting Earth and Spirit

Every creature belongs, each one is beloved, and none of us are dispensable. Should we fail to appreciate and protect the likes of gnats, lilies, and sparrows, how on earth could we even hope to taste and see the goodness ...
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Person holding three roses

Embracing Our Own Mortality

Living a deep, intentional, fully present, values-aligned life is one of the most pleasurable and satisfying things you can do in the face of your mortality.
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painting of saint thomas more

The Franciscan Saints: Thomas More

Thomas More was one of the most highly respected men of his time. A successful barrister, an honest judge, a famous scholar, he rose to the highest status of any commoner in England.
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New Pathways of Prayer

The essence of prayer consists in humble waiting—in a childlike spirit of openness, expectation, and listening.
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Path in the woods

Walking the Underground Railroad

My walk became a priority for me for several reasons. It was foremost an opportunity to honor men and women who had lived their lives with great immediacy.
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A sign greets visitors to the meditation garden at the Franciscan Renewal Center in Scottsdale, Ariz., in this October 2014 photo. Pope Francis' long-anticipated encyclical on the environment was released at the Vatican June 18. (CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec)

Saints Anthony and Francis Loved Creation

As we strive to respect God’s earth, let us love the natural world as they did.
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