Inspiration

Francis: A Natural Spiritual Genius

If our only goal is to love, there is no such thing as failure. Francis succeeded in living in this single-hearted way and thus turned …

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Saint Francis and the Transitus

Transitus: St. Francis Embraces Sister Death

On October 3, 1226, Francis of Assisi died. Franciscans worldwide observe this day as the Transitus: his journey from this life to the next.
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peace prayer

A New Understanding of the Prayer of St. Francis 

This author shows how you can use this well-known prayer as a guide to inner healing and loving yourself. 
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Plate of almond cookies

Lady Jacoba and the Spirituality of Presence 

What do cookies have to do with Franciscan spirituality? When St. Francis was on his deathbed, a seemingly simple treat brought by his good friend Lady Jacoba lifted his spirits and soothed his suffering.
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creation illustration

I’d Like to Say: St. Francis Reminds Us of Our Place in Creation 

There weren’t ecologists in the Middle Ages, at least by our modern understanding of environmentalism. But St. Francis changed all that with a new vision of creation as a reflection of God’s love and the Incarnation.
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Cross for Secular Franciscans

Why I Became a Secular Franciscan

St. Francis established three different Orders. The first one is for the friars; the second is for nuns, such as the Poor Clares; and the third is the Secular Franciscan Order.
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Illustration of American icons

The Dangers of Christian Nationalism 

A growing movement seeks to blur the line between Church and state by imposing Christian values on others, which goes against the teaching of the Church and poses a threat to democracy. 
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