FRANCISCAN SPIRITUALITY 1

DEFINITIONS  Relationship between theology and spirituality.  Theology – the study of God  Spirituality – the process of personal transformation  Meaning of spirituality  Being animated by God  Driven by the Holy Spirit 2

CALL OF ST. FRANCIS Called in his special way:  To represent God (faith)  To speak of God (Evangelize)  To go towards God (Spiritual journey)  To treat with God (Prayer) 3

ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS IN A PENITENTIAL LIFE  A turning to God with all that one is  Loving one's neighbor as oneself.  Acknowledging and despising one's personal tendency to sin.  Receiving the Eucharist devoutly.  Allowing God's Spirit to dwell in us. 4

WHAT SHOWS IN YOUR LIFE  Joy, gratitude and care for the poor  Brought about by God’s transforming love  And by God’s giftedness of creation  Detachment from the things of this world  Brings about peace and joy – a gift of God  Unconditional love 5

PRAYER  Like Francis, we’re active and contemplative  Open one’s heart and mind to God  Love and praise Him – body, soul and mind  Daily prayer; Eucharist often 6

SISTERS AND BROTHERS  Foundation for everything – minority or littleness  See ourselves as brother/sister to all people and all creation  Brother/sister relationships with all are encounters with God’s love  It’s not what we do but how we do it and who we are  We walk with the poor and marginalized, those in need of healing, and those who hunger for God  We are committed to care for the earth 7

POVERTY  Living simply  Detachment  Everything is a gift  We are stewards  We seek justice for all 8

HUMILITY and CHARITY  Moment of Francis’ conversion – he kissed the leper  Confronted his fear  Embraced it  Began a life of penance  Seen in the incarnation  Seen in the Eucharist  Humbly reach out to all others 9

COMMUNITY  Called to live in community  We need one another  Can only experience humility and charity in community 10

SELF-DENIAL  Unite ourselves with Him.  Substitute His perfect thoughts, will & feelings for our imperfect ones.  Alone we can do nothing.  Through Him and with Him, we adore, praise and pray  Christ is dearer to us than we are to ourselves  We serve for Christ and with Christ 11

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION 1.Commitment assumes failure will be part of the process of change and growth. How do I handle failure in my life? Give examples. 2. Am I giving God my whole body, soul and mind? How do I know? What are some signs of taking the wide way instead of the narrow way? 3. What choices am I confronted with regularly that require me to think of and put God first, instead of myself? How do I make those choices? 4. Philippians 2:3-4 says: “Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than ourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but everyone for those of others.” In what ways do I do this – or not do it – in my home, in my work, in my fraternity, in my community? 5.How do I most often express my love to God? What do I most often complain to God about? What do I request of God most often? 12